Звездопад / Starfall: Глава 32

Chapter 32

Camrad_RIP 31.03.23 в 06:54

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Camrad_RIP 31.03.23 в 06:54

The thin, ribbed metal steps rang in time with the footsteps of the rising Taer, filling the narrow well of the spiral staircase with multiple echoes bouncing off the walls. As she ascended, a low humming noise grew from above, gradually drowning out all other sounds. The shield generators were operating at full power, and a bio-defense field resonating in unison filled the interior of the frigate with a piercing low hum that sounded like infrasound and echoed deep within the solar plexus. After a few turns the stairs ended, hitting a massive hatch that slid gently upward to reveal an exit to the observation deck.

Camrad_RIP 04.04.23 в 17:36

Upstairs, near the hatch, she was met by an impenetrably calm Carpathian, wearing a white tunic with black embroidery - the Rionale colors - with a scanner in his hands and one of Countess Durlurl's men. The scout was armed with a "shorty" and dressed in a gray-green planetary uniform without insignia, over which he wore a white anti-blaster waistcoat. After the attack on the castle, the lord was careful not to be left alone, even in perfectly safe places.

Camrad_RIP 04.04.23 в 17:38

The observation deck was a small transparent dome on the sloping foredeck of the frigate, with seating inside and a pair of navigation terminals, which were now switched off. In a chair at the left-hand edge, Lord Cassard sat broodingly with his head resting on his hand. Above his head, a fighter glided like a black cloud. On its short, downward-facing grav stabilizer wings glowed scarlet, griffins standing. Two more fighters glided left and right. They looked like giant needles or black stilettoes, with short, crescent-shaped wings at their hilted ends. In the distance, near the horizon, the grey blurred silhouettes of the many towers of the business center could be seen, against which the chain of police aircars of the outer cordon was strewn in white drops.

Camrad_RIP 04.04.23 в 17:45

While the Carpathian scanned her, Taer sent a questioning look to the scout, pointing her eyes at the lord, "How is he?" He only shrugged his shoulders slightly in response.

Camrad_RIP 04.04.23 в 17:45

Having finished scanning her, the Carpathian bowed courteously and stepped aside, clearing the way.

Camrad_RIP 04.04.23 в 17:46

"Your Lordship..." Taer gently touched the lord's shoulder. "We're already at the castle, landing in a few minutes. You told me to warn you."

Camrad_RIP 04.04.23 в 17:47

"Is it always so... red around here?" Alex asked her without turning around.

Camrad_RIP 04.04.23 в 17:47

From above, the parks of the historic center of Cassard looked like a patchwork of red. Lush crowns of reddish foliage hung in scarlet clouds over the black lines of the paths, merging into a continuous hilly field, the gaps between them revealing glades of yellowed grass.

Camrad_RIP 04.04.23 в 17:48

"Only in winter," she replied. "In winter, most Cassards trees have reddish leaves."

Camrad_RIP 04.04.23 в 17:49

The Lord, for some reason, was very sharply taken by the fact that his domain included the entire planet, and though the flight from Copeira had helped him come to terms with the idea, he still looked somewhat dejected, staring down as if searching for something, and must have turned to the Taer before he could find it.

Camrad_RIP 04.04.23 в 17:50

"Doesn't it snow here in winter?"

Camrad_RIP 04.04.23 в 17:51

"As far as I know - it doesn't happen in this zone. But I have seen snow caps in the mountains at the Pole."

Camrad_RIP 04.04.23 в 17:51

At the mention of mountains, curiosity sparkled in Alex's eyes:

Camrad_RIP 04.04.23 в 17:51

"And high mountains?"

Camrad_RIP 04.04.23 в 17:53

"I don't know," Taer shrugged uncertainly. "I wasn't interested, a few comers probably."

Camrad_RIP 04.04.23 в 17:54

"Are there any rides?"

Camrad_RIP 05.04.23 в 09:14

"Unlikely, individuals are banned from owning flyers on Cassard."

Camrad_RIP 05.04.23 в 09:15

"What do flyers have to do with it," Alex wondered. "Forget it, though," he waved."

Camrad_RIP 05.04.23 в 09:15

As they spoke the frigate turned slightly to the right and began to descend. From below, engulfed in an orange glow, the Flame Incarnate, or as it was called, the Face of Fire, a gigantic statue of the second incarnation of Ir' Raine at full height and with a flaming sword in her outstretched hand, was swiftly looming over them. It was located directly across from Istal Palace, separated from it by a long square that was now filled with a motley mass of people who had come to see their lord.

Camrad_RIP 04.04.23 в 19:01

The original plan had been to land at the foot of the statue and travel to the palace on an open platform, but this idea had been abandoned for security reasons, despite all the resistance of the protocol committee, who did not want to disappoint the visitors. Though, as Taer guessed, it wasn't just about the loyalist sentiments of those gathered. Information of attempts on the lord's life has clearly reached Cassard, and the rumors here must be the most bizarre, and the municipality wanted to dispel them with a demonstration of the lord, so to speak, from close up.

Camrad_RIP 04.04.23 в 19:04

As they descended, the top of the white palace loomed up directly in front of them. Two enormous towers of incredible height, rising from a low and very wide base, shaped like an eight-pointed star. The towers were flush with each other and only near the tops of the towers curved to make room for the orange glass sphere that glinted in the sunlight. They were tapered at the tops to resemble two hands clutching a ball of flame.

Camrad_RIP 04.04.23 в 19:06

"We've already arrived," she said aloud, pointing her eyes in the direction of the Face of Fire. "We have to go now."

Camrad_RIP 04.04.23 в 19:06

When the lord turned around the frigate was just passing across the face of the titanic statue. Against the dark gray stone glowed, orange gaps of eyes filled with roaring flames, each of which could easily fit a fighter jet. A huge torch of lemon-yellow fire enveloped the statue's head, forming a sheaf of short hair flowing in the wind with a slight black fringe of smoke.

Camrad_RIP 04.04.23 в 19:10

"So huge..." the lord stretched out in shock as he appraised the size of the outstretched arm that had floated by. If the palm clutching the sword had been extended, the frigate could have used it as a landing pad.

Camrad_RIP 04.04.23 в 19:11

Even though Taer had seen Flame Incarnate many times, even she was still impressed by the scale, especially up close. She was in the midst of it, and her own insignificance was felt more keenly than ever.

Camrad_RIP 04.04.23 в 19:12

"Is it even real?" Alex asked, turning to the specialist again. "Or is it a hologram?"

Camrad_RIP 04.04.23 в 19:12

The descending frigate ducked under the outstretched sword in Ir'Ryan's hands, and for a moment, the sky was obscured by the blazing canvas of the blade. The fighter coming over them must have passed too close to the sword, and the hitherto invisible protective field gleamed, reacting to the heat.

Camrad_RIP 04.04.23 в 19:13

"Perfectly real," Taer assured him and made an inviting gesture, pointing to the open hatch. "The tallest statue of Ir'Ryan in known space, but we have to go anyway."

Camrad_RIP 04.04.23 в 19:14

The palace of Istal, which gave its name to the capital of Cassard and marked its beginning, was a very old building. It started as a fortress, then was rebuilt over many centuries to suit the needs of new generations. Because of its past, the outer gates of the hangar were large enough to allow a frigate and escort to enter and not risk unnecessarily landing in an open area.

Camrad_RIP 04.04.23 в 19:15

The frigate did not have a separate passenger gangway, so they descended into the hold. The wide cargo ramp had already been lowered, revealing an empty hangar from which everything had been removed before they arrived at the Taer's request. At the edge of the ramp, colorful groups of greeters were huddled in a lonely huddle.

Camrad_RIP 04.04.23 в 19:16

Directly in front of them on the ramp were two blurred red blobs - part of the advanced team. The fields were still running at full power, so everything within their structure was distorted.

Camrad_RIP 05.04.23 в 04:38

"We could have taken our time," Alex murmured softly so that only the Taer could hear. "I'd look at the castle from the outside..."

Camrad_RIP 05.04.23 в 04:39

They had been standing in the hold for several minutes, waiting for the advance teams to establish contact with the rendezvous and once again check the room and set up a perimeter.

Camrad_RIP 05.04.23 в 04:40

After a few minutes, Taer felt a slight tingling under her communicator bracelet and nodded to the lord:

Camrad_RIP 05.04.23 в 04:40

"It's all right, we can go down."

Camrad_RIP 05.04.23 в 05:01

"I don't like all this officiousness," Alex complained quietly, taking on a nonchalant, arrogant look. "It makes me nervous and angry."

Camrad_RIP 05.04.23 в 05:02

When they finally descended onto the humming metal slabs of the hangar, passing through the thick fluctuating haze of the force shield, an unusually thin chain of "admitted to rapturous gazing" appeared before them.

Camrad_RIP 05.04.23 в 05:02

Taer had already been with the lord at the two Days of Gifts, and usually, his lordship was simply greeted by crowds of various officials, of course, of the highest rank. This time because of the unprecedented security measures, there were fewer greeters than guards.

Camrad_RIP 05.04.23 в 05:03

First, at the edge of the ramp, was a small group of secretaries in white livery, led by General Secretary Rist Gyom. Behind them were not the usual representatives of the Municipality but a group of House Fyron scouts in dark scarlet tunics. They were the ones tasked with catching the instigators among the Cholans and tacitly searching for their municipality's associate. Just behind the scouts, a trio in bright scarlet robes stood out: Prelate and the universal benefactor Teessir, accompanied by two young aides. The head of the Church of the Flame, conversing quietly with a not-so-elderly man in the snow-white uniform of a Sain Major of Imperial Intelligence standing beside him. The last to be seated, a little apart from the others, were the representatives of the municipality, as grim as their uniforms.

Camrad_RIP 05.04.23 в 05:07

//It seems that information about the investigation has leaked out to the Office," Taer decided as she looked around at the strange arrangement of greeters. - "And the current composition of the municipality has already been put to rest."

Camrad_RIP 05.04.23 в 05:08

As soon as the lord stepped down the ramp, the secretaries and officials bowed and stood still, awaiting "his lordship's" attention. The others confined themselves to a courteous tilt of their heads.

Camrad_RIP 05.04.23 в 05:09

The lord paused beside the secretaries, looking around the motley crowd with a somewhat bewildered look.

Camrad_RIP 05.04.23 в 05:09

Taer wanted to hint to Alex to raise the bowed ones but changed her mind, deciding that in this position, she liked the secretariat much better.

Camrad_RIP 05.04.23 в 05:12

A few seconds passed, and the first of the bowed tops, gleaming with baldness and grey in the liquid brown hair, lifted, revealing the round face of the general secretary. Seeing that their lordship was not going to pay any attention to the secretaries, Rist Giom, despite his more than sizable bulk, slipped gracefully out of the cramped ranks as an agile white ball and froze one step from the lord:

Camrad_RIP 05.04.23 в 05:14

"Your Lordship." The General Secretary bowed once more. "Such a joy for all of us to see you here, safe and sound."

Camrad_RIP 05.04.23 в 05:14

"I'm so glad too." Alex nodded sarcastically. "How's that going for you?"

Camrad_RIP 05.04.23 в 05:18

Rist's brown eyes darted around as if searching for the best answer:

Camrad_RIP 05.04.23 в 05:19

"As your lordship already knows," he continued, devouring the lord with his eyes. "The over-achievement of the master plan is twenty-four percent. The annual report is ready and will be presented to you after the ceremonies." The Secretary-General paused for a moment as if contemplating whether or not to continue and then continued with assertive energy in his voice. "But this year's planetary performance is far from ideal. And if it pleases Your Lordship. The secretariat has prepared a program to examine the spending and the transformation of planetary governance..."

Camrad_RIP 05.04.23 в 05:21