The thinderin are a modern galactic species and members of the society of contemporary races. They exist in two forms, the motile phase also called "seedlings" and then an adult phase when they take root within a grove that becomes the centre of a local community. As adults, the wisdom of the grove is a permanent consciousness which pervades the trunks and root systems of the individuals who add their memories to it when they mature and cease to move. Active seedlings can consult with the grove and care for it. This image is the thinderin grove at Eduoma. Eduoma is an artificial moon of the planet Hequidar I which is known to have been built by the Cata-Zin, a mysterious race extinct for nine million years. The thinderin have been undertaking long term studies into the ancient Cata-Zin ruins of this artificial moon for about fifteen thousand years in their currently active program. Earlier work began as long ago as thirty thousand years but this was interrupted for a long interval.