Звездопад / Starfall: Глава 16

Chapter 16

Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 20:55

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Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 20:55

The yacht, gently illuminated by the blue glow of the onboard lights, gently approached the Melato House guest station, gradually leveling up and preparing to land.

Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 20:56

They left behind a twelve-hour jump to Estella, a meeting with the House Bentar escort, which turned out to be unexpectedly impressive - six fighters and a light corvette-and a four-hour flight from the jump zone to the planet because after a meeting with the captain, and given the difficult navigational situation, the in-system jump had been abandoned. It was unlikely, of course, that something could be on the trajectory that would noticeably damage the yacht, but the captain did not want to embarrass himself in front of the Bentars by crashing into some stray asteroid. Taer was in complete agreement with him on that.

Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 20:58

Milord, who had acted like a thirteen-year-old on a free tour of a military museum, had finally settled down and was no longer tantalizing Taher and the captain with endless questions of "What is it?", "How does it work?", "May I...?" and was quiet, literally sticking to the huge panoramic window in the bow. He kept his eyes fixed on the fighter jets circling in a figure-of-eight pattern as they periodically approached the yacht.

Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 20:59

After escorting the yacht to the station, the escort fighters bid farewell shook their gravistabilizers, and moved at full speed into the interior of the system, almost instantly transforming into small dimly glowing dots that disappeared a few seconds later. The Corvette, on the other hand, had slowed to a crawl, according to the Tactical Terminal, and had kept well behind the yacht. He must have intended to wait for a landing.

Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 21:01

//Bloody bastards! Taer looked with admiration at the disappearing fighters.

Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 21:02

The lap of honor was performed in defiance of all regulations dangerously close to the yacht, but - impeccably precise, perfect - she never once noticed the characteristic flare and haze that appears when the forcefield is hit.

Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 21:04

The triangular silhouettes of the latest Tallan-built Iskra were covered in mounds of blaster ports and launchers. Their charcoal-black hulls were covered in a painting of two golden branches, starting from the middle of the "wings" and joining around the golden cockpit dome, surrounding it in a delicate ligature as if it were a frame.

Camrad_RIP 27.02.23 в 21:05

The black-and-gold machines suddenly leaped out of the void and, with an eerie screech as if someone was scraping glass with a blade, whizzed by the observation deck, covering the large panoramic window entirely for a moment before disappearing into a small, shimmering star. They came so close you could make out the silhouettes of the pilots, hidden beneath the golden veil of the cockpit lantern.

Camrad_RIP 01.03.23 в 15:38

"Impressive!" Alex stood closest to the panoramic window and could see the Sparks almost at arm's length.

Camrad_RIP 01.03.23 в 15:39

The Taer didn't answer, shrugging as if to say, we've seen better. She was not proud of her naval pride to admit out loud that the Bentarians, who didn't even have a fleet, were capable of anything impressive.

Camrad_RIP 01.03.23 в 15:40

//You have to admit they have at least six very experienced pilots, she added mentally. //Well, or the pilot module on the Sparks is something very special.

Camrad_RIP 01.03.23 в 15:41

The Lord turned to her with a slightly embarrassed expression on his face and asked:

Camrad_RIP 01.03.23 в 15:59

"Hm... Taer, what was that about?"

Camrad_RIP 02.03.23 в 09:51

"Circle of honor as interpreted by Bentar."

Camrad_RIP 02.03.23 в 09:52

"No, I mean the squealing that was heard as they flew past," he was even more embarrassed.

Camrad_RIP 02.03.23 в 09:56

"Well..." she sighed. "The machines were passing very close, requiring great precision in positioning, so the gravity keel and grav stabilizers were likely to have peak power, and they were coming very close, so it was a bit loud."

Camrad_RIP 02.03.23 в 09:57

Alex made a disgruntled grimace as if he'd eaten something sour:

Camrad_RIP 02.03.23 в 09:58

"Maybe I'm wrong," he began cautiously. "But it seemed to me that in space," he waved his hand towards the panoramic window. "Sounds can't be heard because there's no environment that transmits vibrations..."

Camrad_RIP 02.03.23 в 09:59

Taher smirked //it's always nice to be the smartest person in the room" - and to avoid yelling across the observation deck, she came down from the command gallery and walked over to the lord and sat down in a nearby chair:

Camrad_RIP 02.03.23 в 10:00

"The point is that we don't hear the sound of a passing fighter, but the resonance of our bio-protection field, which reacts to the radiation from that fighter's engines and generators... and, in general, to all tangible energy sources in the vicinity or directly affecting the ship..."

Camrad_RIP 02.03.23 в 10:03

Taer didn't want to go into the physical stuff, which she had forgotten after her navigator training, so she tried to explain things as simply as possible:

Camrad_RIP 02.03.23 в 10:09

When a bio-protection field comes into contact with an energy source, such as a radiation stream, it resonates, partly absorbing and partly reflecting this energy, thus protecting the ship. And because the structure of the bio-protection field is in direct contact with the intra-ship atmosphere - this resonance causes the sonic vibrations that we hear.

Camrad_RIP 02.03.23 в 10:11

Alex was silent for a moment, staring at the ceiling and digesting what he had heard, then asked again:

Camrad_RIP 02.03.23 в 10:11

"Then why can't we hear our engine or the noise of the star in whose light we fly?"

Camrad_RIP 02.03.23 в 10:12

"Because Istal is a very, very expensive yacht!" Taer smiled sadly. "She has a special noise suppression system installed on her. The fighters came very close, and their energetic imprint was very strong - so we heard them. On regular ships, where no such system is installed, you can indeed hear the hum of engines and stabilization systems, and you can also hear the "whisper of the stars" or "starburst" - the bio-protection response to radiation from nearby stars."

Camrad_RIP 02.03.23 в 10:14

//It's also stunningly beautiful, she mentally added with a sentimental smile.

Camrad_RIP 02.03.23 в 10:15

"Isn't that disturbing?" Alex watched the expression on Taer's face with interest.

Camrad_RIP 02.03.23 в 10:15

"Nope," she shook her head. "It is said to help - one quickly gets used to it and stops noticing the hum of the engine. Many people even like "stars' whispering". Silence, on the other hand, is a signal that the bio-protection field is overloaded or disabled, which means there is a threat of irradiation or depressurization."

Camrad_RIP 02.03.23 в 10:17

//Because of this, those who have been flying for a long time develop a real fear of silence.

Camrad_RIP 02.03.23 в 11:54

"Interesting..." Alex exhaled, staring out the window again, where the Melato House guest station had already changed from a tiny star to an identifiable object.

Camrad_RIP 02.03.23 в 11:55

As they approached, the station grew larger and larger, filling the screen and the portholes of the forward observation deck. His lordship Lord Allesandro Cassard stared at the approaching station without looking away.

Camrad_RIP 02.03.23 в 11:56

//There really is a lot to see, though, Taer grudgingly admitted, catching herself staring at the station as well:

Camrad_RIP 02.03.23 в 11:57

In the cold abyss of space, a huge white castle, built in the classic Melatian style, floated on the green disk of Voigrom, tucked into the green of the gardens. The central dome was slightly pointed and formed a cupola. Luminous windows of light pink crystals, starting from the top and running to the middle of the dome, cut through the structure. It was as if a huge pink flower covered the dome. The building had two wide wings that covered the inner garden and, of course, columns... Classical Melatian architecture - and without columns? There is no such thing!

Camrad_RIP 02.03.23 в 11:58

Four massive columns of light marble with fine pink veins, twined with vines of dark bronze, towered above the castle, ending just above the dome. The tower was crowned by the figures of dragons, patrons of the hunt, spreading their wings and opening their mouths.

Camrad_RIP 02.03.23 в 11:59

The castle and the gardens surrounding it rested on a circular metal base - about three chambers in diameter and about two hundred steps high - which must have been where the technical floors with their support systems were hidden.

Camrad_RIP 02.03.23 в 11:59

//Great shadows, how much does it cost? - Taer mentally exclaimed

Camrad_RIP 02.03.23 в 12:00

The huge open zone, which a pair of heavy cruisers would have easily entered, required enormous field strength, for the bio-protection and forcefields were the only barrier between the blooming gardens of the station and interstellar space with its void of radiation and fluxes of micrometeorites.

Camrad_RIP 02.03.23 в 12:32

She glanced at the focusing blocks around the perimeter of the disk on which the castle stood. They were clearly not standard - instead of the usual sheaves of needles there were something resembling druses of crystals, and there were many of them. The protection system must have been repeatedly backed up in case the main generator failed.

Camrad_RIP 02.03.23 в 12:33

"I heard the Melatians had something special planned for this Voigrom, but it seems they've managed to exceed even their wildest expectations," Marquis Degrasto's husky voice came from behind her and made Taer wince as she did not see him enter the observation deck.

Camrad_RIP 02.03.23 в 12:34

//So good "security specialist". All the hope is in the guidance system!"

Camrad_RIP 02.03.23 в 12:35

"The castle and sculptures are stunning!" The marquis continued. "I think the interior decoration will also surprise us. It would be interesting to know the name of the architect..."

Camrad_RIP 02.03.23 в 12:36

"I think our hosts will allow us to do so," said Taer.

Camrad_RIP 02.03.23 в 12:36

//The castle is pure posturing. It would be much more interesting to know what company supplied the field generators. It would also be interesting to see the specifications for these generators. However, the owners will certainly not give us such an opportunity.

Camrad_RIP 02.03.23 в 12:37

"I take it that the stations usually look a little different?" Alex wasn't addressing anyone in particular.

Camrad_RIP 02.03.23 в 12:37

"Yes," Taer and the Marquis replied at the same time.

Camrad_RIP 02.03.23 в 12:37

There was an awkward pause. The Marquis, with a look, tried to let the Marquis know that he was sorry and was silent in the face of his experience and age, and the Marquis, also with a look, apologized to the Marquis and hinted that, of course, he was conceding the right to speak to the lady and so on...

Camrad_RIP 02.03.23 в 12:49

The staring game with the Marquis dragged on. so Taer sighed and continued:

Camrad_RIP 02.03.23 в 12:50

"Usually, the stations look much simpler - some chaotic jumble of residential and technical modules. Or a spheroid of some kind, at best decorated with flowers and the logo of the House to which the station belongs."

Camrad_RIP 02.03.23 в 12:51