The Sun rose over the Imperial capital of Rome Italy, modern buildings sticking up over the historical remnants of a once-great Empire. The Imperial Palace, built over the ruins of the Roman Forum, was a grand palace the likes of which had not been seen in centuries painted white to symbolize Terran purity. Servants mostly Xeno slaves, were busy setting up for the ceremony that night. Tables, chairs, the finest dining linens, and the best silverware, along with the Commemorative glasses which each guest would be able to take home with them, as a gift from their gracious Empress. Food was being delivered and unloaded into the grand kitchens, for the team of 100 Terran chefs to cook the meals, that the Palace Inhabitants and servents would need for the day as well as the ceremony. Many passers-by would wonder what was happening, as well as those that delivered the necessities. However, all knew better than to ask questions when it came to the Imperial Palace! The centerpiece of the evening was an ice sculpture, in the shape of the Helmet of Hades, surrounded by 9 other smaller sculptures. Cerberus, Persephone, Hydra, Cyclops, Medusa, Minotaur, Kracken, Chimara and the Harpy. Things stayed very busy around the great palace as the day went on, soon the Imperial Gardens were prepared and ready.

As the sun began to set, all the staff of the palace began to get ready for the arrival of the guests of honor. 10 captains that were members of the very Secret Organization known as the Knights of Hades, were arriving to receive the crowning glory to their careers. Waiting to greet them at the front door was the Hand of the Empress. she was a tall woman, that could easily have been the scariest woman in the galaxy! her steel-grey hair cut short and messy, though was hidden by a long hood, she had a face not even a mother could love, featuring a snaggle tooth that hung over her lower lip, and a mole on her cheek, a big bulbous nose, and dark soul trapping eyes. luckily unlike most women in the empire, her outfit covered all of her skeletal thin frame, a dark blood red cloak with gold embroidery made her look like death itself. beside her was her own personal Xeno slave, a small mousy and very submissive Andorian girl of no more than 17, she carried a clipboard which held the names of the guests and everything else that the Hand needed to keep track of.

ST Phoenix