As they stepped through the doors, the group emerged onto a wide, raised platform that overlooked the core of Civilian District Alpha. Ambrosius and Callex moved to the railing, their heightened senses taking in the view below. Rows of quiet streets stretched out into the distance, lined with neat, identical houses and small shops, each one pristine and untouched, bathed in the soft glow of artificial daylight. A scattering of trees and patches of green gave the space a peculiar charm, but the district had an eerie, silent quality to it.

Ambrosius tilted his helm toward Guide, who hovered beside him, bathed in his usual cool, blue light. “How large is this place?”

Guide’s core pulsed as he answered. “Civilian District Alpha spans 1 kilometer in width, 2.5 kilometers in length, and a height of 60 meters, with a capacity to house up to 15,000 people.”

Ambrosius and Callex exchanged a look, their curiosity tempered by the unfamiliarity of it all. This was a self-contained city.

After watching for a while, Ambrosius turns to Guide "You said there were four districts? are they all the same size?"

Guide's core pulsed softly before he answered. "Civil district Alpha and Civil district Beta are of the same size, Civil district Gamma can house up to 150,000 people. and Civil district Omega can house up to 250,000 people."

Ambrosius turned his view back to the city. "So A.R.K can house up to half a million people?"

"That if you exclude all those who can live in the other districts." Answered Guide.

After a few moments, Guide drifted toward one of the staircases that led down to the streets below. “Come along, and we’ll show you where you may find accommodations for rest and food,” he said, his voice gentle but persistent as he began descending the stairs, Nurse floating closely behind.

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The civilians followed in silence, their eyes wide as they took in the seemingly perfect but lifeless cityscape around them. The Space Marines moved protectively at the rear, their senses sharp, scanning every shadow as they wound their way down to the streets below. But as they walked, a strange feeling grew in the Astartes—a nagging sense of something missing. Ambrosius’s gaze lingered on empty shopfronts, the displays within stocked with untouched items, waiting as though expecting someone to browse.

Finally, Callex voiced what they both felt. “Where are all the people?” he asked, his voice a low rumble as they passed a vacant clothing shop, racks neatly filled with garments that had never seen use.

Guide turned back to them, his light pulsing steadily. “Right now, this group is the only people on this ship.”

The words hit like a shockwave, and the entire group came to a halt. Ambrosius and Callex immediately stepped into defensive stances, bolters raised, scanning every angle around the civilians, who huddled closer together, their faces stricken with confusion and fear.

“What do you mean we are the only ones?” Callex demanded, his voice sharp with suspicion. “What happened to the people who were meant to live here?”

Nurse floated forward, her red-pink light flickering, as though struggling to convey something difficult. “No one has ever lived here. You are the first humans to set foot on A.R.K. since it was launched.”

Ambrosius lowered his bolter slightly, though his voice remained stern. “How can that be? This place—” he gestured around them— “is built for thousands. Why would it be empty?”

Before Nurse or Guide could respond, a new voice joined them, calm and efficient, with a hint of dry authority. “Perhaps I can offer some insight into that mystery.”

The group turned as another construct floated toward them, similar in design to Guide and Nurse, but with a deeper violet glow at its core. Its bearing was sharper, more calculating, and it emanated a presence that was precise and unyielding. The voice it emitted had a faintly bureaucratic tone, cool but not unkind.

“Hello, I am The Archivist, though you may call me Chi,” the construct said, its purple light pulsing gently as it floated beside them.