But let's return to our Great Regent who, not content with being from the planet named "Earth" - one more to the count - is also the first representative of a species not integrated into the Great Regency to reach this coveted status of galactic leader. As explained in the foreword, my role as the Grand Scribe is to document the life, customs, tribulations, and past of our new Great Regent from his emergence.

Indeed, each Great Regent is replaced upon the arrival of a new one, according to always extremely precise rules, for, on the Golden Star, the Great Tower of Annunciation can proclaim, at any time, the arrival of the new Great Regent. The incumbent Great Regent must then settle his affairs and prepare the ground for his successor within two days (give or take a cow, as the new Great Regent might be slightly delayed due to traffic jams, constipation, the reasons are multiple and fortuitous. But in general, the Great Tower of Annunciation is quite accurate in terms of timing, a rarity these days).

My apartment is located in one of the trenches that cross the Golden Star over a distance of about three thousand kilometers, inside one of the two opposing walls, and my position allows me a view across to the other wall - and even of the starry sky if I lean sufficiently against the thick glass. The distance separating the wall in which I live from the other is such that sometimes, I can see large cargo ships and other vessels pass in front of my bay window. As for the depth of this trench, this artificial ravine, it is such that an observer located at its base would see the sky as nothing but a thin fine line of barely visible light.

It is said that beneath the heap of refuse covering the ground at the bottom, lies the original planet that would have served as the foundation for the construction of the Golden Star. But the latter being so ancient, its design so mysterious, and since nobody has information on this, these are only assumptions and conjectures on which it is pointless to dwell for the work at hand.

Although.

I personally find it hard to imagine that an artificial celestial body such as the Golden Star was abandoned. It's difficult for me to grasp the idea that such a daring, gigantic, and powerful machine could drift through the confines of the galaxy unnoticed, before being found somewhat by chance by the first Grand Regent, Salbatien Métrapor the Valiant, as he was passing by after having a spat with his wife, escaping the marital skirmish in search of peace to ponder, all aboard his small scrapping ship.

I struggle to accept that he landed on the Golden Star, just like that, without an invitation or permission, and that he managed to enter the heart of the Star by bypassing the security systems of the time, suddenly being entrusted with this mission.

Finally, it's hard for me to believe that for the rest of his life, he recruited, recruited, and recruited some more to populate the Golden Star and to offer existing peoples to join his banner.

What I can accept, however, is that he made up with his partner, according to the writings. He returned, in orbit of his planet, aboard the Golden Star, brought her up, and would have said, "Look, hey, it's alright, let's forget it, hey, check out the gold plating, you see, it's not fake, love."

The original subject of their disagreement, however, was lost to History.

Nevertheless, I was going about my business in my apartment when one of the call liquids, all arranged on a piece of furniture made for this purpose, lit up. Intrigued - I am not often called - I picked it up, then took a sip which I held in my mouth. I then saw the Grand Secretary appear.

"Grand Scribe, I see you and greet you. I contact you to announce that the time has come, the Great Tower of Annunciation has spoken."

I swallowed the liquid so I could respond to him.

For those unfamiliar with call liquids, an exclusive biotechnology to the Golden Star, a bit of call liquid in the mouth allows you to contact your correspondent, or receive a call if you are the recipient, swallowing it allows you to respond. So, one must gauge their conversation lest they run out of liquid. However, this poses a major hygiene issue within the Golden Star, given that its population urinates far more than many others in the Great Regency.

In the meantime, it's super convenient.

"Grand Secretary," I stammered mentally, "I see you and greet you as well. It's an honor. So... I assume this means I am chosen?

- Exactly. You are expected at the Core as soon as possible. It turns out the new Great Regent has just docked on the surface and is on his way under good escort.

- And the current Great Regent?

- He is gathering his belongings.

- No, I mean, how is he doing? I ask because since my arrival on the Golden Star, I have, so to speak, only known him.

- Oh... Well, I would say he is relieved. I can understand him. A lifetime spent governing the galaxy is not restful.

- Of course.

- Anyway, time is of the essence, and you know our traditions. The Great Biography must be written as quickly as possible. When you arrive at the Core, the new Great Regent will be available for the interview. A shuttle is waiting for you at the platform assigned to your apartment. I would ask you to please use it to go to the vertical transport 5-Frougne and report immediately upon arrival. Thank you."

The Grand Secretary vanished, leaving me speechless in my apartment. I was torn between immense excitement and abyssal terror. A life dedicated to this moment that finally made sense. All those hours spent at the Great Scribe Academy, learning writing and the publication processes specific to the great regencies, mental collection, and also, everything I left behind to pursue this career. My family, my people, my planet... I collected myself, went to my room to open my chest, and haphazardly packed underwear, hygiene products, ceremonial robe, biographical tablet, and other miscellaneous accessories.

Once done, I closed the chest and uttered the binding words, making it float and then follow me to the front door. Opening the door with a gesture of my hand, I turned back thinking, "When I return here, I will be free." I closed the door, which bumped into the chest. "Stupid chest... Come here, heel!" The door, now unobstructed, finally closed with a hiss, and I headed to the station followed by my chest to catch the shuttle.

The shuttles of the Golden Star are rather ordinary. Compact, designed to carry up to 15 people, they are above all practical. The official shuttles stand out in every way from all known models. Bright yellow, with a soft light emanating from their base, panoramic windows encircling the craft, a structure reminiscent of an arrow, pointed at the front, both wide and thin at the back. And most importantly, it takes up a monstrous amount of space, so when I arrived, I saw many shuttles queuing at the entrance of the hangar.

I approached the official shuttle, and a receptionist greeted me. After a quick check, I was allowed into the shuttle. The ship's artificial intelligence spoke to me through the speakers.

"Agatam Sissi Dobruel, I see you and greet you.

- I see you and greet you as well. I need to go to the vertical transport 5-Frougne.

- As agreed. We will head there without delay. You can secure your chest to the gravitational harness on your left.

- Thank you.

- Please take a seat and enjoy the view. Refreshment?

- No, thank you.

- Snack?

- No, thank you.

- I have a selection of entertainment available in holovape if you-

- Really, it's okay, thank you.

- Very well.

- How long will it take to reach the vertical transport?

- At this hour, I won't hide that there's a bit of a traffic jam on the Grand Ring Road. Let's say about an hour.

- By going through the Abrocades district, we can save some time if I remember correctly.

- Yes, but that was before the construction work. The Grand Prefect of the Abrocades thought it wise to redo all the plumbing infrastructure in one go, and of course, there are issues. I fear the Grand Ring Road is our only chance.

- Well then, the Grand Ring Road it is."

And the shuttle majestically exited the hangar in reverse, then gained altitude following a secured corridor leading to the Grand Ring Road. By the time we got there, I had plenty of time to observe the Golden Star receding, its surface showing no bumps, no slopes, just uniformly flat and golden ground, from one horizon to the other, occasionally interrupted by a huge trench, similar to where my apartment is located, bustling with the coming and going of ships of all sizes, entering and exiting for commercial, tourist, military, or diplomatic reasons.

After about an hour, we soon dived towards one of these trenches, well below the surface, heading towards a circular entrance in one of the walls, in front of which dozens and dozens of shuttles were stopped.