There are reasons, [ he allows, and by his tone he clearly means good reasons. not the bantha shit a lot of people are citing about the Cause™. he doesn't sound any less frustrated. ] Harmonizing has advantages — it gives people access to supplies, money, housing, resources. Access. Information, probably. They can more easily talk to Cyrus or Yima, depending on what they chose. I've heard they give things to Shard-Bearers, too. Meridian gives beads that are supposed to let you see your galaxy, still alive. Zenith gives you Shards of people you care about.

[ he shakes his head, looking away for a moment. not at anything in particular, just into the moonlit distance. his gaze catches hers again, presently. ]

Most people want you to Harmonize, and quickly, but the factions are serious about their opposition. Once you choose, you've chosen.

[ ironically, defecting might've been more easily done in their war. ]

But they'll work together if they have to. Some of them, at least.