Звездопад / Starfall: Глава 23

Chapter 23

Camrad_RIP 28.08.23 в 05:31

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Camrad_RIP 28.08.23 в 05:31

The gas giant that filled two-thirds of the huge window slowly melted into a silver shadow as the sun rose. The thin needles of the distant towers already glittered gold at their tops, but just below, the predawn twilight still reigned, tinged with the lights of the central part of the capital. Down below, like a great lazy river, the haze of the cloud layer slowly flowed, above which, looping among the towers, ran the lights of flyers and aircars, stretching one after another like an endless string of luminous beads.

Camrad_RIP 28.08.23 в 05:35

His lordship Prince Cassard, naked to the waist, walked along the window, waving his arms, and sometimes he paused for a minute or two in thought, only to resume his occupation shortly afterward.

Camrad_RIP 28.08.23 в 05:36

"What would I do if I were in their shoes?" Alex muttered to himself under his nose, making another stop near the window and looking down at all this splendor. "There aren't many options...."

Camrad_RIP 28.08.23 в 05:42

He'd been looking at the contents of the infostick as soon as they'd gotten into the aerocar. The contents were a huge scattering of videos, which he had begun to look at with interest after Dudo had helped him connect the headset to the infoblock. Not that - Krain and Dudo posed any particular risk of leakage - he just didn't want to embarrass others with the murky political secrets that were pouring into his ears. And the secrets were very murky, and the fact that the records were not organized did nothing to dispel the murk.

Camrad_RIP 28.08.23 в 05:44

When he got back to the tower, he went up to his room and was only distracted for the first time an hour and a half later when, as always, the thoughtful Liora brought a huge tray of snacks that were convenient to eat with one hand. Thanks to that, the second break-in absorption of information came only after eight hours. At the end of the night, he simply began to cramp.

Camrad_RIP 28.08.23 в 05:46

He had been warned, but still, the sudden twisted fingers, the hands in a strange sort of fetal position, and the savage pain in every muscle in his arms took him by surprise. Involuntarily dropping the infoblock, he hissed in pain in his chair for about half a minute. It felt like a dozen thin, narrow blades had been shoved into his hands. It was also a little scary:

Camrad_RIP 28.08.23 в 05:48

// How long will it last?" - He was almost helpless, his hands and fingers completely disobedient.

Camrad_RIP 28.08.23 в 05:50

He didn't know what to do. When his leg cramped, it was obvious: prick or pinch the cramped muscle, try to straighten the cramped leg. // "What about the arm?" His arm was cramped for the first time in his life. - "How do you pinch it if both of them are cramped? Bite it...?".

Camrad_RIP 28.08.23 в 05:51

For lack of better ideas, he even tried to bite, but he just couldn't reach it. The tight muscles pulled his arms up to his chest, and he couldn't reach them with his teeth.

Camrad_RIP 28.08.23 в 05:53

He clumsily climbed out of the chair and tried to straighten one arm, resting it against the doorjamb. It must have been incredibly hilarious from the outside, but Alex was not amused, and he concentrated on the jamb, trying to get his right arm caught and straightened. To his surprise, it worked-it took him about a fifth attempt to straighten his right arm, the pain subsided, and more importantly, he regained some control over his arm. The left arm was much easier, and he was able to help with the other hand. He pulled off his shirt and kneaded the aching muscles in his naughty hands for a while:

Camrad_RIP 28.08.23 в 05:56

// "Actually, it's a cause for celebration." he urged himself, looking for some positivity. - "The cramp means that the new muscles with the altered structure have taken root, finished growing, and are ready to work."

Camrad_RIP 28.08.23 в 06:17

It wasn't that he had gained any enviable relief; his arms looked rather swollen and inflamed. But, after all, this wasn't about appearance. It was about improving his chances:

Camrad_RIP 28.08.23 в 06:18

// "Damn, but it hurts so bad..."

Camrad_RIP 28.08.23 в 06:19

Regular exercise was recommended for his cramp problems, and he'd just gotten the first wake-up call that it was time to get in on it. There was a full-fledged gym inside the tower's "personal area." But the pain had receded and he was too lazy to go to the gym, so Alex did an impromptu workout in his room, using this change of activity to organize the jumble of new information in his head.

Camrad_RIP 28.08.23 в 06:21

Roughly speaking, there were two types of records on the infostick: one with Baron Assaro in the main role where he, usually sitting in a luxurious chair, emotionally denounced his former companions, not hiding his desire to cause them as much trouble as possible in case of his premature death. There were only three such recordings with the Baron, the rest of the array of information was formed by recordings of the second type. With a twitching picture and grinding sound, taken from under his jacket or from a great distance, these were "operational recordings" that were supposed to confirm the Baron's accusations. There were a lot of them, but it was very difficult to deal with such information. The footage was devoid of any context, only the time and with whom the meeting was held. And it was impossible to verify even these crumbs of information - often the quality of the recordings was so terrible that it was unclear even with whom the conversation was held.

Camrad_RIP 28.08.23 в 06:26

// It's probably a case for forensics and analytical machines." - Alex suggested, pacing along the window and making vigorous waving of his arms.

Camrad_RIP 28.08.23 в 06:27

It didn't matter for now. It was not a court hearing, and there was no need to prove the authenticity of the material.

Camrad_RIP 28.08.23 в 06:28

The Baron, quite obviously, presented everything in the light he wanted, but if you believe him, it was an interesting picture:

Camrad_RIP 28.08.23 в 06:28

Some time ago, a prediction was made of the Emperor's death. The Baron did not go into details, obviously implying that his majesty, to whom these accusatory notes were addressed, knew everything perfectly well. When the prediction was confirmed, as the Baron mentioned in the very first record, a piece of which Alex saw during the shootout at the "Alley of Heroes," the powers that be decided to act. A certain circle of power-seekers was formed - House Peltar, House Melato, and the Inquisition. The Inquisition wasn't exactly a sure thing. Alex got the impression from the Baron's notes that Lord Quezox was speaking on behalf of the capital's bureaucracy rather than his department. With the other two participants, it was clearer: House Melato was to provide force support, using both its fleet and the position of many of its nobles at the top of the organizational pyramid of the Imperial fleet. House Peltar, on the other hand, to Alex's surprise, was in charge of crime. It was responsible for the actions of rebels, pirates, and other antisocial elements that the Baron felt House Peltar had great influence over.

Camrad_RIP 28.08.23 в 06:33

// And, interestingly enough, according to the Baron, the plans of the "conspirators", if they could be called so, were characterized by a noticeable piety towards the Emperor" - Alex thought again, having stuck for a few seconds at the window.

Camrad_RIP 02.09.23 в 18:44

They did not imply any action against his majesty. Not at all. The plan was to wait for his death from causes beyond their control and only then to act. For now, their actions were reduced to "preparing the ground" so that they would be in a more favorable position to share power.

Camrad_RIP 28.08.23 в 06:34

The events on Tallana and the assassination attempts on him were part of that preparation.

Camrad_RIP 02.09.23 в 18:45

// Nothing personal, buddy - just politics." Alex grinned involuntarily.

Camrad_RIP 02.09.23 в 18:46

There was no personal motive, of course. Lord Cassard's death was meant to distract House Fyron and cause unrest that, with any luck, would bring that planet's Cassard into the Imperial deployment zone. Same with Tallana. The riots were just an excuse to bring in the troops. The trick was that House Melato had every reason to expect their men to lead those troops.

Camrad_RIP 02.09.23 в 18:48

And then, when the power-sharing begins after the emperor dies, it's much easier to get what you already control.

Camrad_RIP 02.09.23 в 18:49

// "Especially if Lord Quezox becomes the new emperor."

Camrad_RIP 28.08.23 в 05:56

Baron Assaro was tactfully silent about it, but Alex got the impression that it was part of the deal, Houses Pletar and Melato helping him become the new Emperor, and he helped to make the state of emergency regions officially theirs.

Camrad_RIP 28.08.23 в 05:57

// I don't know what House Peltar's interest is. They have a lot of work to do, but what are they supposed to get for it?" - Alex wondered. - "The Melatians were supposed to be in charge of the emergency zones, and they would have gotten them, but the Peltarians would have gotten what? They didn't get into this for the idea, did they?"

Camrad_RIP 02.09.23 в 18:51

The latter was unlikely, but it was more likely another white spot carefully left by Baron Assaro. And there were plenty of such white spots. For example, he could not find a single word about how it was planned to sneak Lord Quezox into the Emperor's office. There were at least two problems to be solved: that the Senate would think that the situation was critical enough for the introduction of an Emperium and that the Empire would be entrusted to Lord Quezox.

Camrad_RIP 02.09.23 в 18:53

// "Let's assume that these guys have some experience in creating critical situations..." Alex hummed, remembering what they had planned to do on Tallana and what they had managed to do there. - "On the other hand, last time, it took almost losing the war. Or to convince everyone that the war was almost lost..... A terrorist attack is a bit small, even if it is a nuclear bomb. But they must have had some options if they went for it."

Camrad_RIP 02.09.23 в 19:01

In any case, the conception was not without elegance.

Camrad_RIP 28.08.23 в 05:58

// But something went wrong ..." . - And this disruption of plans posed a simple question for him:

Camrad_RIP 02.09.23 в 19:02

"What would I do in their place?" Alex muttered again, pausing at the window. The sky was getting lighter and lighter, and the golden disk of the rising light almost completely drowned the running beads of air traffic in its light. "This place is pretty nerve-wracking for conspirators."

Camrad_RIP 02.09.23 в 19:04

They knew, or thought - it didn't matter - that Baron was under suspicion and could compromise them.

Camrad_RIP 02.09.23 в 19:27

// And they must have known the Baron's character. He wasn't the kind of man who would keep quiet. That's why the Baron was killed." Alex started pacing along the window again, immersed in his thoughts. - "Who killed him is not important yet. Although, criminal actions are the area of expertise of the House of Peltar. And by the way, Baron was dating someone with a slender build, probably a woman."

Camrad_RIP 02.09.23 в 19:28

Alex paused for a moment, wondering if Lady Pell herself could have been the Baron's murderer.

Camrad_RIP 02.09.23 в 19:29

"Don't... .-" He mentally waved it away, remembering Nadina's reaction at the sight of the corpse. - "She's too much of an exalted person for something like that. And a princess of a great House probably has someone else to do this sort of thing besides herself. If the Peltarians did it...".

Camrad_RIP 02.09.23 в 19:30

That wasn't certain, but bringing in rebels to attack Lord Lister was very Peltarians. In his suicide notes, Baron claimed they wielded enormous influence over the "Anti-Imperial Alliance."

Camrad_RIP 02.09.23 в 19:31

// The conspirators knew about the Baron's suicide note, too," Alex concluded. - Alex concluded. "They made two attempts to destroy it. A break-in into Lord Lister's palace rooms and an attempted kidnapping. It didn't work..."

Camrad_RIP 02.09.23 в 19:32

// So what would I do if I were them? Getting the droid didn't work. Moreover, there's the risk of expanding the leak just by interrogating the attackers. They'll easily find out who was helping Lord Lister. So what do we do?

Camrad_RIP 02.09.23 в 19:40

In fact, there were only three options: sprinkle their heads in ashes and go to repent to his majesty. After all, they hadn't done anything against him personally. Obviously, it was a bad option, so bad that they preferred to kill one of their own. The second option was to try to negotiate a good deal.

Camrad_RIP 02.09.23 в 19:41

// "But what can they offer me?" - Alex wondered sincerely. He didn't know what to offer him to get away from them. And he wasn't going to get away from them at all. - "It's nothing personal, but people who try to kill me should be punished in some way so others won't repeat it."

Camrad_RIP 02.09.23 в 19:42

There remained a third option - forceful action.

Camrad_RIP 28.08.23 в 05:59

// "But where exactly the droid is, we don't know. They're not going to break through all the layers of security, are they?". - Not that he doubted the House of Melato could muster enough forces for something like this. "But what would be the point of such an operation? It's practically a war, and there's no way to hide it."

Camrad_RIP 02.09.23 в 19:43

Direct attack wasn't an option.

Camrad_RIP 02.09.23 в 19:44

// What else can you do if you can't kill or buy?" - It was a good question.

Camrad_RIP 02.09.23 в 19:46

In thought, he made several more passes along the window until he had a working hypothesis:

Camrad_RIP 28.08.23 в 05:58

// "If a person has nothing to offer, you can create a problem and then offer a solution." -that sounded like common sense and in the spirit of bureaucrats. - "And if we assume that House Peltar tried to solve the problem first, with the help of the rebels, and that the power of House Melato is the last resort of kings when there is nothing left to lose. So now it's Lord Quezox's turn to try his hand. And he's in charge of the bureaucracy..."

Camrad_RIP 02.09.23 в 19:47