Besides the basic information, little is known about the Machine Faction or how it came about. Our greatest hint at its original purpose comes from Paine, who wonders if Gippal founded the organization in order to create a countermeasure against Vegnagun, i.e. they began to build the Superweapon that the Al Bheds of Djose seem so very proud of.

I tend to agree with this theory. Gippal is a determined, active young man. He never sat around when a job needed to be done, nor did he hesitate to take decisive action when he felt the time was right. Furthermore, he seemed incredibly awed by the contraption after surfacing from the Den of Woe; he states that he had "never seen anything like it". These are quite important words coming from an Al Bhed who has probably seen and built more technology than the majority of Spira. Imagine believing you are an expert on something, then suddenly discovering that you have evidently managed to miss a very important, very serious aspect of it. This probably wouldn't set well with you, and I doubt it did with Gippal. Creating a Counter-Vegnagun would serve the dual purpose of safeguarding Spira, as well as possibly giving Gippal some sort of identification with just what it is.

It is also easy to surmise that being a member of the Al Bhed race put Gippal at the forefront of the technological movement sweeping across Spira. Al Bheds are heavily focused on progress, and breaking away from even traditional Al Bhed beliefs about machina is a revolutionary concept. Gippal is enough of a forward thinker to pull just such a feat off.

The Machine Faction would also have given Al Bheds a place to turn after Home was destroyed, as well as provide occupations for Yevonites who might find a new way of life within the group. Forcing the two people to work side-by-side would help form common bonds between them, much like Gippal and Baralai discovered years before. Perhaps both sides could realize that their prejudice was unfounded, and a harmonious outlook would benefit all.

Finally, there is always the idea that perhaps the Machine Faction served as a vital distraction. We know that after the Den of Woe and Mi'ihen, Paine felt lost and alone; it is easy to conclude that Gippal felt much the same way, especially hiding out the desert. Coming up with the idea of a Machine Faction and the Superweapon they would build may have occupied his mind enough that he wasn't forced to replay the events of the Squad's demise over and over. Gippal appears to be just resilient enough that such an action is entirely plausible.

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