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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Sammael99" data-source="post: 635084" data-attributes="member: 1157">Prelude (Part 2) - In EnglishBuenaventura Cervantès Rollas de Hazat, eldest son of Baron Emiliano Cervantès Rollas de Hazat looked through the tiny window of his cramped cabin onto Spacestation Cumulus, with the blue sphere of Byzantium Secundus as a backdrop. He’d been told about the station, of course, but nothing had prepared him for such a vision. In a world where technology was often little but an old memory, such a debauchery of mechanical wonders was a shocking sight... Buenaventura had left Vera Cruz a few weeks earlier, tired of the repeated « welcome home » parties, tired of the inevitable condolences regarding his sister’s disappearance, tired of the never-ending whines of his family regarding the heretic kurgans and the Emperor’s inadequacies… When he had learned that his uncle Arturo was leaving for Byzantium Secundus to attend the coronation anniversary, he jumped on the opportunity and convinced his dad to let him tag along.There was a knock on his cabin’s door : - Sir, we are starting our approach. Your uncle requests your presence in the control room.Buenaventura walked to the control room as he had done for each ship maneuver since they had left Vera Cruz, and he strapped himself into one of the seats. His uncle seemed to like company in these moments, and Buenaventura suspected that he wasn’t entirely at ease in these instants when your life depended so much on mechanical processes…« So, your decision is final ? », his uncle asked for the sixth time.- Yes, uncle. I have never had the chance to visit a place such as Cumulus. I’m sure it will be very educational. I will catch up with you later on Byzantium Secundus.- So be it. A few minutes later, the ship rocked a little as it was being stabilised by the tractor beam that carried it gently into the docking bay. Buenaventura returned to his cabin and picked up his travel bag before walking towards the exit door. They had to wait a few minutes for the docking bay doors to shut and the atmosphere to be replenished before he, his uncle and the pilot could walk out.His uncle and the pilot moved towards the Customs officer walking in to quickly settle the formalities of docking, but they immediately noticed two more people entering the bay. They wore long black hooded robes. The inquisition …Arturo Cervantès Rollas walked towards them. - A problem, sirs ?Calling inquisitors “sirs” was a definite insult. Buenaventura remembered that, although a religious man, his uncle had had trouble with the inquisition during the Emperor Wars over the military use of psychic troops. It seemed he hadn’t forgotten…The inquisitors didn’t react to the insult in appearance, and one of them answered in a deep tone : - We have been ordered to inspect all incoming ships, cargo, personnel and passengers. Thank you in advance for your co-operation. There was a silence, then Arturo Hazat answered with a voice that cut like a cold knife : - It is out of the question. I am Arturo Cervantès Rollas de Hazat, vassal to the Marquis Alberto Rollas de Hazat, and sent to meet the Emperor on a special mission by my family. I have come straight from Vera Cruz and these people are part of my retinue. Your request is intolerable !The youngest inquisitor was ready to answer in anger when the older one stopped him by putting his hand on his shoulder.- You arrive straight from Vera Cruz, you say. Any stops on the way ?- We transited through Aragon to replenish our fuel, answered the pilot. Here are all the relevant papers.The inquisitor examined the papers, and handed them back to the pilot. He slowly turned towards Buenaventura’s uncle and, in a harsh voice, he said :- I have no time to loose arguing with you, and your origin makes it unlikely you’d be involved in the affair that brings us here. However, you would do well to remember that we are working the will of the Pancreator and that no status, no noble title, no privilege have more value to His eyes than piety and devotion. This will be all for now, but your name is known to us, and your face is unlikely to be forgotten…Arturo paled with rage at such an insult, but before he could find his voice againand retort, the inquisitors were gone.- What a welcoming place … said Buenaventura in a feeble attempt to defuse the atmosphere … Uncle, I’d better leave you quickly so you can be on your way to a more civilised place and forget this unfortunate event.- You are right. Good luck, nephew, and take care of yourself. Remember we will need you when the Emperor finally proclaims the Crusade on Kurga…Buenaventura left the bay and quickly found himself amongst a heavy crowd all walking towards the end of a large corridor. The crowd waited there in front of a series of metallic double-doors that opened once in a while. People would then enter the small square room behind the door and the door would close again. When it opened a few minutes later, the people were gone.« So that’s what they call an elevator… », Buenaventura thought. He waited a few minutes in the hope that the crows would subside, but in the end he moved into one of these tin boxes. Several people pushed him, and he glared at them in such a manner that they moved back, leaving him a little bit of breathing space. Despite the odd sensation in his stomach when the carriage lurched upwards, he let no emotion show. He waited for the last stop and stepped out of the machine. He walked down a long corridor and emerged at last…He stood how in the middle of a street at the heart of a large city ! The stars filled the sky above him, neatly cutting out the silhouette of huge buildings seemingly made of glass. For Buenaventura, who was used to the low haciendas of Vera Cruz, this sight caused an odd vertigo sensation. He was drawn out of his stupor when a man pushed him. He caught him by the sleeve. - Hey, you !- Yes, my Lord, the man answered uneasily. - How does one go to Byzantium Secundus ?- One takes a shuttle, my Lord.- And where does one find the shuttle ?- You need to go to the Known Worlds Company, they have the most reliable service. Their shop is down Consul Larch Avenue, over there. You can’t miss it.Pleased with the information, Buenaventura walked to the shop the man had indicated. As soon as he stepped in, a clerk addressed him with deference.- What can I do for you, my Lord ?- I wish to travel to Byzantium Secundus tomorrow.- Of course. I have some seats left on the 19 UT shuttle.- That will do…- Does my Lord wish to travel first or second class ?- What do you think ?- Yes of course. My pardon, my Lord. The price is 5 phenix, my Lord.Buenaventura left with his ticket in his pocket and entered the first restaurant in sight. It was called « The Emperor’s Chopsticks». The owner bowed low when he came in. :- My L…- A table please.- This way, my Lord …</blockquote>

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