Звездопад / Starfall: Глава 7

Chapter 7

Camrad_RIP 19.05.23 в 15:58

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Camrad_RIP 19.05.23 в 15:59

The large, glowing projection of the galaxy, riddled with colored sectors, blinked out, and the "conference room" was once again in darkness, leaving only a brightly lit long table of slightly rough gray metal and nine men in dazzling white admiral uniforms seated around them in high armchairs.

Camrad_RIP 21.05.23 в 05:04

"So, gentlemen, no later than the end of the decade, I await your suggestions." The emperor ended the meeting. The instant communication went off, and the five present scattered golden sparks. Those that proved tangible headed for the exit, escorted by the master of the office. Soon the farewells were over, and the large wooden door closed, cutting off the brightly lit corridor and the guardsmen from the personal guard.

Camrad_RIP 21.05.23 в 05:05

"Is there anything left?" Asked the emperor to the aide-de-camp, who kept silent

Camrad_RIP 21.05.23 в 05:06

"Stack-Captain Estrem." The adjutant replied, not looking at the infoblock. "Waiting for your audience."

Camrad_RIP 21.05.23 в 05:07

"Ah, checking of Lord Cassard..." He hummed, settling back in his chair. "Call him in. And summon Eight, too. Let's see what he has to say."

Camrad_RIP 21.05.23 в 05:11

The adjutant nodded silently, and collecting the infoblocks left on the table, slipped out of the office, and soon the door opened again in front of a short brunette in a black security uniform. He had an unexpectedly thin face, elongated with sunken cheeks and light brown eyes, in which there was something feline, the kind of cats that like to play with their prey.

Camrad_RIP 21.05.23 в 05:14

As he entered, he ducked reflexively as if afraid of hitting his head. The low ceilings of the "conference room," with their black color and the shrouding semi-darkness, seemed even lower, overhanging like a crushing press.

Camrad_RIP 21.05.23 в 05:19

After the captain, the emperor's aide slipped into the study and immediately retreated to the side, practically disappearing into one of the dark corners.

Camrad_RIP 21.05.23 в 05:19

"Your Majesty." The captain bowed his head again, pulling himself up at attention, which was somewhat awkward because of the two infoblocks he was holding.

Camrad_RIP 21.05.23 в 05:20

"Come in, come in," the Emperor impatiently beckoned him with his hand and pointed to one of the chairs. "Have a seat. Will you please me with something interesting?"

Camrad_RIP 21.05.23 в 05:21

"Thank you." Captain Estrem sat down opposite and held out one infoblock to the emperor. "There are a few curious points, Your Majesty. But they are rather curiosities. The analysis so far hasn't shown anything directly incriminating or just 'interesting' from a professional point of view. But there are still quite a few gaps in the dossier. Before the recent events on Tallana and Cassard, the prince was somewhat out of the focus of our sectoral control."

Camrad_RIP 21.05.23 в 05:24

The emperor took the infoblock, immersed himself in the reading, and asked without raising his eyes from the screen. "And what would you emphasize?"

Camrad_RIP 21.05.23 в 05:26

"Prince Cassard, indeed, has changed greatly since the poisoning and loss of memory." Answered the captain and added after a short pause. "Well, the assassination attempt must have played an equally important role. He doesn't behave as you'd expect from a sovereign prince, but not because he's up to something. It's because of the trauma. And as it seemed to me from personal experience, this change creates a kind of aura of suspicion around the prince. During communication, there is a sense that he is not telling you something. He does sometimes miss the point, but for the most part, he simply has nothing to say.

Camrad_RIP 21.05.23 в 05:29

"Did you have any personal contact with him?"

Camrad_RIP 21.05.23 в 05:30

"Had no honor. I judge by the records."

Camrad_RIP 21.05.23 в 05:31

"Well, the record is a twisted matter, you should know..." The Emperor muttered. "I see you have discovered the Prince's 'guidance'?

Camrad_RIP 21.05.23 в 05:32

"Exactly, Your Majesty."

Camrad_RIP 21.05.23 в 05:33

"And what's he got there? I guess weapons skills and languages?"

Camrad_RIP 21.05.23 в 05:41

Only languages, or rather one, native. The prince suffered from dyslexia as a child. This is an officially made induced reaction, but we confirmed its existence on two levels. And there are a few oddities there." Added Captain Estrem and raised his infoblock to his eyes and read, "During the flight, the object showed a striking tendency to increase the length of the day, primarily increasing the time spent in a state of fatigue."

Camrad_RIP 21.05.23 в 05:49

"As you must know, Your Majesty, in a state of fatigue or intoxication, controllers of behavior are depressed in the first place, and such behavior by the prince may be a subconscious attempt to throw off some kind of control or restriction. And this is certainly a circumstantial sign." The captain hastily added, seeing the question in the emperor's eyes. "There has been no opportunity for a detailed analysis of the thought flow."

Camrad_RIP 21.05.23 в 05:50

The Emperor indefinitely hummed again, left the infoblock, and asked:

Camrad_RIP 21.05.23 в 05:51

"Are these all curious moments?"

Camrad_RIP 21.05.23 в 05:52

"No, not at all, Your Majesty." The captain fussed somewhat, looking for something in his infoblock. "There are two entries, but the analysis machine thought the material was important, and I've included them in the report. I can run the projection, but I think you would be more comfortable with..."

Camrad_RIP 21.05.23 в 05:54

"Connect the captain's infoblock, and begin visual record playback." The emperor commanded in a neutral voice.

Camrad_RIP 21.05.23 в 05:55

A large holo-screen began to form behind the emperor, and his majesty spun around in his chair, turning his back to the captain.

Camrad_RIP 21.05.23 в 05:56

The tape showed an excited crowd of drunken youth being purposefully led by a brown-jacketed speaker standing on an overturned forklift. The cameraman finished filming the crowd and took a close-up look at the "leader's" face. A little above average height, with dark brown hair, he really looked like Prince Cassard, and at the bottom appeared the text, obviously added later - "Talana, sixth transit station, recorded by rebels."

Camrad_RIP 21.05.23 в 05:57

"However..." The Emperor grinned strangely. "Is that Prince Cassard?" He asked without turning around. "He looked rather like..."

Camrad_RIP 21.05.23 в 05:58

"Unfortunately, Your Majesty, it is probably not Prince Cassard. This recording, due to its compromising contents, has been particularly scrutinized. Specialists believe it is authentic and not synthesized, but in their opinion, the man on the tape is not Prince Cassard. A comparison with previous recordings of Prince Cassard's public speeches revealed that the manner of speech, the micro-movements of the eyes and hands are not the same."

Camrad_RIP 21.05.23 в 05:59

"Yes?" The emperor gestured to stop the replay and turned to the captain. "Maybe he was in a state of affect or under disguise?"

Camrad_RIP 21.05.23 в 06:00

"It is quite possible, Your Majesty. But, unfortunately, at the time of the events on Tallana, he was in his castle on Copeira, with his fiancée Lady Valerie Bellar, as several records confirm, most likely also authentic."

Camrad_RIP 21.05.23 в 06:02

"If the records there and there are authentic, then who is it?"

Camrad_RIP 21.05.23 в 06:02

"A clone, or, more likely, a pheno-twin. Tallana is a very populous planet, and with a certain amount of persistence, finding a doppelganger is possible."

Camrad_RIP 21.05.23 в 06:03

The emperor looked at the captain with genuine curiosity:

Camrad_RIP 21.05.23 в 06:03

"And what is the fate of this "pheno-twin"?"

Camrad_RIP 21.05.23 в 06:05

"Pheno-twin" sounded with some sneer, and the captain clearly hesitated:

Camrad_RIP 21.05.23 в 06:05

"Um... Tracks get lost." He admitted. "Missing at Tallana Transit Station Six, right where the recording was made, during a fight with a group of sororitas. There's a suggestion that he was captured by them."

Camrad_RIP 21.05.23 в 06:07

"With a group of sororitas?" His Majesty did not bother to hide the obvious surprise in his voice.

Camrad_RIP 21.05.23 в 06:09

"There is no direct evidence. But a well-coordinated group in heavy scarlet armor went through the terrorist posts like a knife through butter."

Camrad_RIP 21.05.23 в 06:10

"Interesting, interesting. And what do you think they were doing at a station captured by terrorists?"

Camrad_RIP 21.05.23 в 06:11

"It is not known. An official request has been sent to the Order's representatives, but no answer has been received yet. All we can say is that they landed in two Aegis-type yachts, paralyzed or isolated the resisters, put the navigation computer under control, and left the station."

Camrad_RIP 21.05.23 в 06:12

"Admirable impudence." Said the emperor. I couldn't tell from his tone whether he was amused or angry. "We'll have to contact the Order. We can't leave it like that." He remarked aloud. "Let's see what else you've got..."

Camrad_RIP 21.05.23 в 06:14

On the second record, there was no doubt Prince Cassard, and next to him at a small table sat Princess Pell. They looked bored, and their leisurely conversation was clearly about nothing to do, and as you might expect from people of their circle, it was about politics anyway. A line at the bottom of the screen said the recording was made during the arrival ceremony.

Camrad_RIP 21.05.23 в 06:16

The Emperor watched the record with approving interest, and only the appearance on the screen of people from the Security Service made him frown:

Camrad_RIP 21.05.23 в 06:16

"And in whose interest was this recording made?" He asked, with a wave of his hand, stopping the playback.

Camrad_RIP 21.05.23 в 06:17

"She was produced by Palace Security."

Camrad_RIP 21.05.23 в 06:17

"I see..." The Emperor stretched and drummed his fingers on the armrest and turned to the Captain. "Well, that's it?"

Camrad_RIP 21.05.23 в 06:41

"Unfortunately, for now, Your Majesty, but if you authorize more direct observation, I'm sure we can gather much more information."

Camrad_RIP 21.05.23 в 06:42

"Absolutely not." There was a clang of metal in the emperor's voice and his palm cut the air cutting off any possible objections. "Only general analytical work." And he added in an already calm tone. "Right now, I don't need another political scandal with the Great Houses. Thank you, captain, you are dismissed."

Camrad_RIP 21.05.23 в 06:43