Look to Windward

The Chelgrian 'ambassador', Major Quilan - previously aboard the Culture ROU (Rapid Offensive Unit) 'Nuisance Value' - had now been passed to the Superlifter 'Vulgarian' for transfer to the next stage of his journey.

The GSV (General Systems Vehicle) 'Sanctioned Parts List' appeared on the forward view screen as just another point of light in the starfield.
It rapidly expanded to a silver dot and grew quickly to fill the viewscreen. "That'll be it then - I thought it might look a little more grand" said Quilan. "They always looking pretty unimposing from the outside" said his 'passenger'.

The Superlifter plunged into the centre of the silver surface. Passing through multiple membrane-like surfaces in quick succession, they finally burst through the last membrane, and emerged into a great hazy space. They were above and aft of the craft's stern. The ship was twenty-five kilometres long. Part of the upper surface was parkland; wooded hills and ridges separated by and studded with rivers and lakes.

Bracketed by colossal ribbed and buttressed outriggers chevroned in red and blue, the GSV's sheer sides were punctured by a bewildering variety of brightly lit openings, like a glowing vertical city set into cliffs three kilometres high.
The air swarmed with craft of every type Quilan had ever seen or heard of, and more besides. Some were tiny, some were the size of the Superlifter. Still smaller dots were individual people, floating in the air.
"It is a little more impressive on the inside, isn't it?" murmured his 'guest'....

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