OOC: Do our days still correspond? A bit of parallelity would help.
AM:
LoyalistsIC:
-Planet Zháril--Spaceport, Day 3 after the Sharding-The crouds huddled together in the spaceport's terminal woke from the rustle of the port's loudspeaker.
"All Internal Security members, report at the former Headquarters. All Internal Security members, report at the Headquarters."
The voice spoke in a commanding, unforgiving tone, emphasising the "All".
Immediately, several of the refugees rose to their feet and silently left the dark hall.
IS Headquarters, Day 4 after the Sharding-Paevarn eyed his surroundings. The once proud building was barely recognisable. The Internal Security's headquarters had once been a architectural masterpiece of steel and glass. After the quakes, only the bare metal skeleton remained and glass lay strewn about the building's remains. As he moved towards the door, he started, seeing a dark shape on the floor. Paevarn carefully bent down to examine it.
A young boy lay sprawled on the dirt by the entrance. A large shard had struck him between the eyes and had killed him on the spot.
One after one, the men and women who filed into the square stepped over the body and entered.
Before long, the hall was filled. The gloomy walls were lit with lanterns. Internal Security has confiscated the wares from abandoned hardware stores and were attempting to use battery-driven devices as a means of temporary supply of electricity, a speaker, the Head of Internal Security, explained from the central stage. when everyone has settled. However, he continued, he would address a more imminent issue.
"Down at the spaceport, technicians are working to restore our means of interstellar travel. They hope that we can travel to one of our allies or our colony to escape the dire situation we are in."
He paused. "However, the following things have to be considered. One. Our colony could not possible hold even a
part of the
remaining population, and our allies could refuse giving us refuge. Two. As we are technically limited, this assumption is not absoltely secured, but we have reasons to believe that out planet, our solar system is not the only affected by this sudden cataclysm. Three. Considering our problems, we are handling the problems well. Several power plants on this shard - the major shard, if I am correctly informed - are still easily capable of operating. Our temporary measures should be sufficient to guarantee survival till we can restore a working electric supply."
He cleared his throat. "In conclusion, it isn't wise to allow these travel plans to continue. Internal Security, which has never fallen despite the events, will stop them immediately."
The speakers changed. An wizened Iyrlen, presumeably in his late fifties, stepped onto the stage.
"Most of you will know me. I was - am - responsible for climatic issues in our society. With the destruction of the star that provided light and warmth for us, the temperature will rapidly decrease till - ",he interrupted his speech , making a dramatic pause, "it will sink below the point where any significant polycellular life can be sustained."
A sharp intake of breath followed. Already, it was extremely cold outside. But that had always seemed a minor problem compared with energy providence, casualties and the danger of "political instability".
"I doubt that we have more time than a few weeks. The heat stored in our planet will soon be expended. We therefore
have to restore energy production and group our communities in the largest halls availaible to us, and heat them there. After survival is possible, we can work on larger projects that may, given the time, restore our regular city life.
As morbid as it sounds, it is beneficial that we have lost a large part of our population. This way, we can produce enough energy to keep them all alive, preventing further casualties and potential revolts of those doomed to their deaths for the benefit of the few."
The speakers swapped places again.
"You thirty - he counted out a number of Iyrlen in the front rows - stop all travel plans." The Head of Internal Security moved along the stage. "These thirty aid restoration of Power Plant B. Take technicians along with you as necessay. Same goes for you thirty...", he counted out again, "for C. G and H are also still operable..."
The assignments continued. Paevarn and his immediate neighbours were left to the end.
"And the rest divides, returns to the spaceport or stays with other large groupings. Surpress any potential uprising against our authority."
Power Plants B, C, G, H, Day 4 after the ShardingAt dawn, the reparation was fully orgagised. After a number of technicians had examined the situation, Internal Security, provided with banana suits to protect them from radiation, moved in for the rough work. They shifted heavy stones from cables and half-broken terminals, cleared paths and reinforced cracked walls with any rubble that served the task reasonably well.
When they were finally done and sat, exhausted, before the building in the darkness when dawn would have been due, the more skilled began the hard work of restoring the plants to a state of full operability.
Spaceport Entrance Hall, Day 4 after the ShardingA small number of those who had left for the meeting, barely a dozen, returned to the group. Most refugees were still asleep. Instead of joining them again, the Internal Secuity members sat a small distance away from the rest, only sitting with their comrades and carefully surveying the situation.
Spaceport, engine room of the shuttle "Ambition"Anne knelt in front of the connection between fuel combustor and the large exhaust pipes of the spaceship. There was a fault that wouldn't allow the heat to escape and that would lead to immediate failure.
Suddenly, a rough hand pulled her up by the arm. She gazed at the hard face of an IS agent, eyes hidden behind a visor as usual.
"The reperation of all spacecraft has been postponed till inner-planar stability is guaranteed. Please go back to the group."
Anne opened her mouth to say something, but before any words came out, she hastily shut it again. It was forbidden to contradict any members of the state.
When she didn't budge, the man impatiently shoved her towards the hatch and slammed the door shut behind them.
