Benedict Arnaud

[Lightfoot]

Grand Master Cagliostro sat in his small, cramped quarters in the bowels of Grenoble Base, poring over a treatise on the "Emerald Tablets" of "Thoth", also known to his Order as "Hermes Trismigestus", or "Hermes Thrice-blessed". Thoth was considered by some Illuminists to be one of the original "Ascended Masters", responsible for introducing the secrets of Ascension to mortal man.



The Comte was suddenly startled by the raucous bleating of his Holo unit, and was even more surprised when he noted that the caller was the Maquis Commandant of Grenoble. Cagliostro knew the Commandant only slightly, from conversations when he and his Brothers of the Nine Sisters Lodge first sought sanctuary here among the Maquis.



The Brothers had been tolerated, if not accepted, by the regular Maquis forces, after they had offerred their lives and their vessels in support of the Maquis' activities.



He pushed the "receive" button on the unit, and the image of the Commandant appeared in the air before him.



"Yes, Commandant, how may I assist you this day?" said Cagliostro.



"M'sieur le Comte, I require the use of your l'Ane and its crew for a delicate and urgent mission. All of our larger combat ships and trading vessels are currently occupied, and yours is the only ship up to the task." continued the Commandant, the look on his face underlying the importance of this "mission".



"But of course, M'sieur! A votre service! Anything the Lodge can do to repay your hospitality...."



"Ah, merci," the Commandant abruptly interjected. "Then please report to the Control Center immediately for a briefing." The Holo image winked out.



"Curious.." muttered Cagliostro as he exited his quarters and proceeded to the lift which would take him to the Command levels.



As the lift began the brief ascent, he mused on what possible rich cargo the Maquis had "acquired" which would need the huge cavernous bays of his transport.



Within moments, the Comte was striding briskly towards the large Control Center. As he entered he noticed the Commandant and his Aides, along with some other Officers in...



He came up short, transfixed, his jaw working in a futile attempt to speak. Eventually he composed himself, and waited for the strange tableau before him to unfold.

---

<span style="font-family:Trebuchet Ms">Brotherhood of Light ~ Grenoble ~ Belfast



LVX|Cagliostro ~ LVX|Eye.of.Privas</span>