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the Imperator and not the Senators
who bickered among themselves in the smaller building which stood
in its shadow. Dressed in royal purple, a golden olive crown rested
upon his gray brow, Julius Romulus Giovanni watched his ship enter
foldspace from the comfort of his plush eagle throne. He knew he
had done a good thing for his people. Expansion alone would ensure
his citizens safety and the journey into space had become necessary
to seek resources which would allow his Imperium to grow more
powerful.
    Senators from the provinces stood with their
Imperator to watch the launch. Many held they should not have
allied themselves with the British in this project. It was a
sentiment born out of resentment from the actions of many Europeans
after the last war.
    JR Giovanni, old as he had become, was still
a fierce figure. A crown of once black hair remained cut in its
sleek military style. Even with the disease which slithered inside
his bones and threatened to make him weak, he still continued to
inspire awe. U.S. Marine training let him survive the wastelands
and bring together the warring factions to form his new great
Imperium. A promise of glory he would keep at all costs.
    The Imperator at last rose from his chair
and walked the room. Each of the twelve Senators watched him, a
calculating gleam in their eyes. All wondered who would take
Romulus's place when he died. He had no children of his own and
trusted only his Praetorian Guard. Surely his favorite among them
would take his place? Senator Viktor Paxton bowed. “Your
Excellency, the DSV Excalibur is indeed a fine vessel –”
    “But you still think a captain from the
Imperium should be in command,” JR Giovanni finished. “The alliance
called for a Brit to be in authority over this vessel. We have
centurions aboard, and a security officer has been assigned to
overlook Captain Braden in this most perilous, but important
mission.”
    “What may I ask, are their orders?” Senator
Paxton carefully inquired. The Imperium's Senate had been kept in
the dark about what the ship's inaugural mission would be. Now they
knew exploration was part of it, but they remained unaware of
Romulus's true intents for his space fleet.
    “No, you may not.” Even the DSV
Excalibur 's command crew knew nothing of the Imperator's
orders. Not until they reached the Imperium’s first deep space
outpost would they open the sealed commands to learn the true
objective of their voyage. Romulus glared at the old man. “For the
time being the mission is secret.”
    The senator did not look pleased, yet he
accepted what his Imperator told him with all due respect. This man
had saved all that remained of a fallen America, and so Victor
Paxton figured he owed him that much gratitude at least.
    “ DSV Excalibur is a mighty ship,” a
voice echoed in the room. “It’s a perfect chariot to carry the
Enlightened to the stars.” Each of the senators cringed at the
metallic noise, which sounded as if it were modulated through a
synthesizer, or as if someone scratched nails on rusted steel.
    Imperator Romulus for his part remained
oblivious to the sound, surprised that the owner of the grating
voice hadn't appeared sooner. “Welcome back, Styx.”
    Styx's face remained hidden, concealed under
a golden bucket shaped helmet. No one ever saw his true face. Even
his eyes were obscured by a black rectangular shield that made it
impossible to know what Styx actually looked like or if he even
ever were human at all. The bishop clothed himself in a scarlet
robe from head to toe. On a heavy chain dangled a golden cross that
rested at his waist. He tucked his gloved hands away in the folds
of his sleeves. Styx deliberately turned his head to glance at each
of the senators. He grinned as he watched them cower, despite their
attempts to hide it. None were among his flock. All were sworn to
Romulus and his Legion. The Imperator would let him take the truth
to the stars. For that reason alone, he suffered the