The planet could be seen coming into view through a small window that was placed behind the dining room table. It was a large snowy planet that seemed like an oddity when you compared it to your “goldilocks zone” planets. It was just large enough to be able to hold and atmosphere, but still far enough away from the sun that it was entirely covered in snow. It was as if some great cosmic wizard had cast an eternal shroud of winter over the planet. It’s large mountains and continents of icebergs were occasionally broken up by the oceans that peppered the equator of the planet in what could only be assumed as the planet’s tropical zones. It was called Malkut, well that’s what it said on StarNet (Couldn’t they have found a more original name?) and it was home to only one notable feature.
A small concrete path lead away from the group of landing pads and into the great stone fortress known as The Den. It was a massive structure that had a look of absolute authority about it. It’s spires leapt gloriously into the sky and seemed like they could intimidate even the bravest of men. Under different circumstances, the place wouldn’t have been one that anyone would have visited with the black brick seeming to absorb all light somehow making it appear even darker than the night sky itself. From within it’s many ornate gothic windows the warm yellow light of candles and fires could be seen making the grim place seem oddly welcoming when contrasted against the cold snowy evening. Even from here Julius could hear the sounds of music, talking, and large bursts of laughter as world-weary men traded stories over a nice cold cup up beer or glass of wine.
