Meanwhile, below the private observation area, the service continued.
The crowd was now standing. Closer observation of its composition revealed stratification, that towards the front of the crowd, resplendent in finery, were Holders, Imperial Officials and Officers of the Imperial Forces . Behind them, were their assistants and wealthy commoners. And last, slaves and their handlers and other assorted persons in the Empire.
Incense rose from Acoyltes swinging censers and further above the vast open space above the assembly from hovering drones. As the Prelate took his seat, the Abbess slowly proceeded to a raised platform on the side of the main altar, her hands folded and her face a carefully composed mask of piety. A drone slid upwards along sides a wall of the Chapel until it among the various scrolls and datacubes that stretched upwards in innumerable numbers, it selected an old scroll, continued to move, and then selected a data cube. Thereafter, the drone dropped down to a hooded Acolyte who took it in his hands. The crowd remained intent in focus, again daring not to make noise or to seem inattentive as the robed security officers carefully surveyed the crowd.
Amidst a cloud of incense, the scroll and the datacube was then delivered to the Abbess. She first carefully unrolled the scroll and began to read:
A reading from the Scriptures, Book II 2:1
Our Lord visited his flock and saw that all was not good.
Blasphemy and heresy ruled the land.
The Lord punished the sinners and drowned them in their own blood.
But the people of Amarr lived righteously and in fear of God.
Thus they were saved and became God's chosen."
She glances at the crowd and they intoned “By his Light and his Will.”
After a suitable interval, the Abbess re-rolled the scroll and inserted the datacube into a reader at her podium, and began to read again.
A reading from The Scriptures, Book of Reclaiming 3.19 - 3.21:
And the Lord spake, and said, Lo, my people,
Witness, for I have made the worlds of Heaven;
And these worlds I give to you, My Chosen,
So Amarr shall rule the worlds of the Heavens.
None shall stand higher than you save the Sefrim,
Who serve Me as others shall serve you,
For all things under Me serve one higher;
So Amarr shall rule the worlds of the Heavens.
As Garrulor rules the skies; as Frisceas rules the sea;
As Emperor rules Holder; as Holder rules Serf;
Yet all under Heaven serve Me;
So shall Amarr rule the worlds of the Heavens.
She glances at the crowd and they again intoned “By his Light and his Will.”