A member of Milan's Mafia-like Camorra family, Carlo is a playboy who abandons his wife Gina and their infant daughter Celestina to take a male lover. Carlo's colorful aged aunt condemns his whoring and believes that Gina is better off without him. Carlo must constantly look over his shoulder for his unpampered sister Carmella, a fine businesswoman with ambitions to head the family. Carlo looks to gain fame and fortune on the planet Rakhat, funding the costly mission of the Giordano Bruno. He denies that it is out of jealousy that he kidnaps protagonist Emilio Sandoz for the expedition, which begins when Gina's divorce is finalized and Emilio is on the verge of marrying her.