The Grey Area was a Culture GCU of unspecified class. It was infamous within the Culture for its habit of nonconsensual mind reading using its effectors, which earned it the derogatory nickname "Meatfucker".
Personality[]
The Grey Area possessed a fascination with torture, war, and genocide, and travelled the universe investigating such acts and punishing those responsible. In the book Excession the Grey Area comes across as an intimidating presence who possesses a near psychopathic sense of righteousness.
Description[]
Interior[]
The Grey Area's obsession with torture, war and genocide was reflected in the way it designed its interior. Due to having no crew, it was able to turn its interior into a museum of pain, displaying implements of torture from all technological levels, with a detailed description on the use of each.
Excession[]
When the Grey Area first enters the story, it is investigating a genocide on a distant planet by manipulating the dreams of one of its perpetrators in order to learn the truth. It halts its investigation in order to deliver Byr Genar-Hofoen to the GSV Sleeper Service. Once on board the Sleeper Service, it travels with it to the Excession only being released from its field enclosure as the Sleeper Service prepares to battle the Affront fleet of tricked Culture warcraft. At the end of the novel it attempts to communicate with the Excession. While what was said to it is unknown it did launch itself into the Excession after this discussion seemingly being destroyed as it crashed in to the Energy grid. It is revealed later that the Grey Area is still alive but as to where is unknown.[1]