For the officers that remained at the Imperial reception a closer inspection of those attending the event could occupy their time. The guests appeared to be happy. They were conversing, eating, and drinking as if it were a grand party. There was something else past the casual glance From time to time, the guests would sequester into small groups appearing to console each other rather than engaging in merry-making. The more dour moments were very fleeting and were something one would need to catch out of the corner of their eye versus readily observe. If one was lucky enough to witness one of these more gloomy interactions, it always ended with the participants pressing their foreheads together followed by a toast. The ending felt more like a ritual being performed than a casual action.

Not having much to do but mingle, the Genesis officers would have a long time to take in the splendor of the room as only a wallflower could. Aside from the marble statues and fountains, the art of the room seemed to have specific patterns. All the statues bore the expression of someone in profound grief or triumphant pride. While the statues were scattered throughout the room, every face on them was pointed up as if looking to the sky. They were also all angled to be looking at a single point in the celestial sky no matter where they were in the room.

Aside from the statues, the art on the walls was one of two categories: images of the Beltran royal family in various backgrounds or images of the moon in the Beltran sky against various backgrounds. Some of the art was abstract making one contemplate if it was Beltrans paying homage to the celestial object or maybe it was just large skinny trees on a forest landscape. Some of the moon art was on soothing blues and greens invoking a sense of peace and tranquility. Other paintings were in reds, blacks, and oranges giving a sense of danger, anxiety, and fear.

The Federation reports had not mentioned this seeming obsession with the moon or its lunar cycle, however, it was clear as day once one noticed it.

GM Kate