Talk:Excalibur/Umbra/@comment-31.201.226.108-20171224063108/@comment-2600:6C47:B280:15:4535:A9E3:AC29:C32F-20180101014648

I have a sneaking suspicion that Ballas isn't wholly evil. After reviewing his resume, the projects he was involved with, and the timeline of events that led to the Orokin's collapse, I'd have to say that Ballas was a chief engineer behind the Orokin's fall.

Think about it. We know that Ballas was involved (he practically set up the council's authorization) with the development of Sentients; and he manipulated the council into approving the sentient program mere minutes after Margulis (presumed) was executed.

Following that, we have reason to suspect (given his station in the orokinempire) that Ballas authorized developmet of the Infested as a means to counter the Sentient threat. When that backfired (noticing a theme here?), Ballas DESIGNED the Warframes to handle both the infested and the Sentients, before the Tenno ultimately turned on the Orokin Empre.

Following the execution of Margulis, every major project that Ballas was involved in always seemed to result in singularity; where the perfectly created turned against their obsolete creators. Ballas somehow survived the fall of the Orokin Empire, and judging from the latest hint, Ballas and Natah knew each other long before the Apostacy prologue. It's even suggested by their mannerisms that they've been colluding with one another for quite some time.

Given the fact that Ballas abstained from harming our exposed Operator, and his rather romantic attitude towards the Lotus, I can't help but suspect that Ballas is impartial to the Tenno's existence. For all we know; Balllas could actually be an ally of the Tenno. Beyond being reunited with Margulis, we really have no concept of his agenda post-Orokin Empire.

Witherway, it seems to me taht Ballas sought to avenge Margulis's death by slaying the Orokin, and even "resurrected" Margulis via conditioning Natah through her role as the Lotus. Now that the Orokin are gone, Ballas doesn't have to defend Margulis from them anymore.However, the system is loaded with potential advseraies; most of which are on hostile terms with the Lotus.

The Umbra frames may even be "Gifts" to the tenno from Ballas, seeing as the Umbra frames were orginally constructed to serve a guards for the Orokin Nobility. It's quite possible that Ballas intends to empower the Tenno through these gifts, so that they may better serve as defenders of the Lotus.

Just some gamer theory. Probably faulty. Regardless, it would be an interesting direction for the narritive, if Ballas were to actually serve as an ally.

Now I just want to figure out where "The Man in the Wall" fits in. For all we know, letting the Void drive us insane may actually result in some pretty terrifying Tenno upgrades. 'Case in point: Rell was fucking immortal, and an absolute bitch to fight before we located his grave. wouldn't mind having some of those "Shadow Operator" abilities that Rell seamed to have access to...