There proved to be very little opposition as we marched to the Basilica of the Blessed Sight.  There were a few wary looking fraternus militia, identified as loyalists of Primate Von Mandlebrot by strips of gold fabric tied around their upper arms or worn as cowls. Evidence of spirited theological debate lay scattered everywhere: shell casings, dropped weapons, the occasional severed finger. There were few bodies, though judging by long blood trails on the cobblestones this might have been because the various factions were cleaning up after themselves. Graffiti was everywhere, daubed on elegant temple pediments and porticos. Hildebrand the Heretic. The Emperor Chooses Mandlebrot. Hear the Voice with a large M. Only once did we see a body, a thin musuclar man who had been stripped naked and crucified, though judging by the autogun rounds that had riddled his lower body, this might have been post mortem. 

"Nay fate'n'um," one of our spacers groused, spitting as we passed one of the longing zealots to communicate his point. I was walking in the center of the column, though it might have been better for my cover to be carried, Hadrian had not wanted to highlight me for snipers if there were any working around. This concern apparently didn't extend to his own well being, as he was marching at the front of the column.

"Its the colors," I explained to the spacer, "they don't know who we are and they don't want to start something they cant finish." The faction colors were gold and white, so the appearance of a contingent dressed in blue was enough to throw the calculus off.

"Heh, we'rn'ta Empres sid," he boasted. Aren't they all? I thought to myself but didn't voice it. The enemy must have some reasons for wanting this tangle of factional infighting to go on, and that meant it was bad for us and the Imperium.

________

"Primate Ostenheld Von Mandlebrot!" a silver masked monk declared in a ringing soprano voice. The doors to the audience chamber swung open with ponderous grace to reveal a massive audience chamber flanked on both sides by enormous stained glass windows. White robed men stood every few feet holding incense censors from the end of long staves of polished wood. On a guilded throne at the end of the hall sat a surprisingly fit looking man in simple unadorned robes. He swatted irritably at a cyber cherub that floated too close to him, before straightening. He was a surprsingly young man for such a senior position, he looked to be in his early forties, though research said he was nearly eighty. There was a blandness to his face that was at odds with the keen intelligence in his eyes. A cluster of senior looking clergy in much more elaborate robes surrounded him. All were looking at us, some with skepticism, some with hostility.

"Ah Lord Deckard, and the most excellent Liebowitz! This is good fortune!" Von Mandlebrot declared in an orators voice that rang through the hall. He stood up and strode down the long red rug which ran the length of the hall, the cyber cherubs buzzing to catch up.

"I am Primate ... well I was just announced, but you may call me Osten," he declared shaking Hadrian's hand.

"And Lady Deckard," he said turning to me, "I am surprised to find you with your husband in such... uncertain conditions. Pleased of course, most women I get to speak with are Sororitas, but surprised."  I offered a slight curtsey.

"Your Grace," I responded formally, "I would be more comfortable aboard our vessel, but alas my vow of pilgrimage does not permit it."

"Ah, a pious woman," he approved, "Come, come." The Primate led us through several galleries into a sitting room in which a skeletal man in brown robes waited. He made a formal bow to the Primate as he entered.

"This is Salavere, he is the Principle of Electors. A man I have spent rather too much time with these last few months," the Primate said. Salavere gave Hadrian a bow, though much slighter than he had given the Primate. The Principle of Electors was a lifetime position granted to an obscure monk, the only duties assigned were tallying votes and presiding over the election of new cardinals. This kept the position as neutral as possible, and meant that the Principle only had to do actual work when an election took place. Given that the hierarchs of the Church had access to rejuv treatment and lowly monks didn't this might mean a Principle never had to work a single day in his life. Salavere was apparently getting a lifetime of excitement in all at once.

"Salavere, this is Lord Deckard whom we discussed, I think he will be an ideal solution to our problem." Salavere looked skeptical but spread his hands.

"Lord Deckard..." his eyes cut to me but he opted not to comment. "It is my sacred duty to tally the votes." He made a sweeping gesture to the table. Thirty four silver scepters, each the size of a tea spoon lay on a red velvet cloth. Thirty three scepters in gold lay beside them.

"These are the votes as the stand, thirty four for Primate von Mandlebrot, and thirty three for Primate Hildebrant," Salavere explained. Hadrian nodded and then glanced at von Mandlebrot.

"Are congratulations in order Your Grace?" he asked. In actual fact, Hadrian already knew that it took Thirty nine votes to reach the threshold for election, but he asked the question to probe for a reaction. Salavere made a condecening snort.

"According to Cannon Lore a man cannot be elected to the Cardinal's chair without thirty nine votes, symbolic of the thirty nine worlds that were converted to His worship by Saint Eustace in the time of Blessed Macharius."

"Ah..." Hadrian responded, looking suitably impressed.

"When can we expect the remaining Cardinals to cast their votes then? My men should not be seen to be partisan to one side or the other."

Von Mandlebrot nodded his understanding and turned his body to draw our attention to a large and somewhat baroque map of the Cathedral City.

"Unfortunately we don't know, there have been two... accidents already, besides the Blessed Ratsini of course, and the remaining Cardinals are reluctant to come forward. With the riots and the clashes between my ...ahhhh adherents and Hiderbrant's thugs, they are afraid to come forward. The Church would like you, a neutral party, to find these missing cardinals and encourage them to cast their votes."