At the Central Orthodox Fortress.
Millions of projectiles tore through the night sky, streaking lines of fire across the darkness as they curved toward the gigantic fortress—a structure large enough to house tens of millions of people.
The roar of the thrusters followed immediately, a ceaseless thunder that shook the ground for kilometers around the walls.
Down below, the animals scattered throughout the surrounding forests and plains could only lift their heads and watch.
The countless trails of light gradually turned into clouds of black smoke as the capsules spun in midair, their thrusters pointing downward to slow their descent. The thunder grew deeper.
Entire herds bolted in panic. Flocks of birds abandoned the treetops all at once.
At the heart of the fortress, only twelve capsules came down, in perfect formation, forming an exact circle over the central courtyard.
The thirteenth capsule, the one that should have been right in the middle of that formation, was not there.
