"Ah." She considers how to describe it. "The extent and availability of the technology varies from House to House. Speaking broadly, it is possible to combine the genetic information of any two partners in a laboratory setting. From there the fetus can either be implanted in a human womb or a mechanical incubator."

"Resurrected humans have difficulty with fertility, especially with a necromantic parent, and of course it's simply safer and more comfortable to use an incubator. I believe the majority of children in the Empire are decanted rather than born."

"The Ninth's access to such technology is quite low, and we cannot afford the kind of equipment we would need to rebuild from our current population."