The man clothed in white entered the endless void. He pocketed his Imperial Insignia as the door shut behind him. Black touched every surface, the room looked like it went on for eternity. The disorientation that would come from such conditions had long disappeared.

He walked to the center of the room. The floor felt like it was going to freeze his feet off. A faint hum was the only thing that suggested he still walked upon the earth.

Without having to think he reached the core of the chamber. The man got to one knee, the humming halted. The sound of metal warping echoed. Seven monoliths appeared out of thin air. They themselves were made of pure mirror, carved in them was the Eagle of Septem Tenebrae. Six out of seven glowed white.

The Council had yet to replace the Seventh, curious, he thought to himself. “My Lords, I have prepared everything for the inquisition of Carolina.”

“Very good, High Inquisitor Orion,” the First said.

Orion didn’t move; the Council took note. “Is something that matter Inquisitor?” the Fourth inquired.

“The death of the head scientists of the A.I. Project. The fact that a former Deep Science Officer, an ally to the late Seventh, survived the purge and has allied himself with the-”

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“And you think those are the only issues?” the Second asked.

Orion said nothing.

“Oh Inquisitor, I thought you’d be less naive,” the First remarked.

He cringed. Of course, there were more issues with the Empire. But to think that the project was dashed to pieces coinciding with open rebellion… “I don’t understand.”

“There is rot in this Empire,” he continued. “It has been there even before the Seventh’s heresy. The Seventh was only a product of it, one purge will not fix it, nor a hundred. Once Ambiguity occurs, everything will be as it should be. You must only keep the Empire from collapsing until then.”

Orion nodded and looked towards the monoliths, “What of Jackson’s request?”

The Fourth made their position clear, “Cater to it the best you can, but do not let it hinder you from accomplishing your mission.”

The Inquisitor stood up, “Very good, I shall ensure everything will be schedule.” The monoliths started to disappear. Orion turned around and headed for the exit.

“One more thing, Orion.”

He turned around. The First’s monolith was all that stood.

“Keep your new Acolyte close, he still might have a use. He believes the Third Child lives.”

Orion pressed his lips in a firm line. “So there is still hope. We might not have to start at square one again.”

The monolith disappeared without saying anything else, leaving Orion to his operation.