World Burner

The World Burner is a working label used at the Convox for a squat grey “egg” seen mounted on the Geometers’ ship. High‑resolution phototypes show it bracketed directly to a shock‑absorber strut within a lattice that carries small thrusters, antennae, and spherical tanks. The mounting brackets are strangely oversized; scaling them from images implies extraordinary mass, best explained by a super‑heavy, fissionable core. From this, analysts infer that the pod is a thermonuclear device several orders of magnitude larger than any made on Arbre.

Convox calculations further note that the surrounding tanks appear sized to give the pod enough reaction mass to maneuver on its own, potentially taking up a position in an orbit antipodal to the mother craft. If detonated there, it would flood the visible hemisphere with radiant energy sufficient to ignite it—hence the nickname “World Burner.” This reading is an inference from imagery and scaling; the visitors’ intent is unknown.

Usage of the name has spread among avout and Sæculars while the Convox studies new images of the Geometers and the Geometers’ ship. One official remarks that the prospect of such a device has focused attention and resources. As seen in the latest images under discussion, the pod remains attached to the ship; no separation or detonation has been observed.