Species: Human
Birthplace: Aphrodite
Affiliation: Penqu
Occupation: Local guide
Cenek is a native of Aphrodite and a member of the Penqu ethnic group, descendants of construction workers and engineers who originally settled the planet. Deeply nationalistic and suspicious of outsiders, Cenek serves as Weiss’s guide during her mission to investigate the buried automaton in Sphinx Rising.
He often rants about Kolkat conspiracies and the injustices inflicted upon the Penqu, reflecting the deep, long-running ethnic tensions on Aphrodite. Despite his bluster, he fulfills his duty by leading Weiss into the desert where the ancient machine is discovered. Unfortunately, when the automaton activates and collapses, Cenek is severely injured, suffering massive skeletal trauma. He is placed into a regen tank and subjected to rejuvenation therapy, regardless of his personal wishes.
Notable Traits:
- Fiercely partisan and distrustful of both Kolkats and the Compact
- Somewhat poorly educated in languages, despite frequent nationalist claims
- Ultimately more tragic than malicious, a casualty of both Aphrodite’s war and the Compact’s larger conflicts
Appearances: Sphinx Rising