A pleasant chime like wind chimes came through the neural link. Bercetia, seated upon the Throne of Dominion, slowly opened her eyes.
There were not many people moving about in the vast control hall. The Stellar Sanctuary, cruising in low-power mode, was slowly returning from the border region of the Highland Kingdom. Faint streams of light flowed between the graceful supporting structures lined with pale golden arcs at the edge of the hall. Amid the deep, gentle hum of machinery, the soft buzzing of some system could occasionally be heard.
Yet beyond those sounds audible to human ears, Bercetia could hear a deeper "echo" from within the sanctuary through the neural links directly connected to the fortress core. That echo sounded low and gentle.
Ever since Master Verania had led the astrologers in inspecting the depths of the Stellar Sanctuary and replaced the utterly failed ancient systems with new energy arrays, this ancient Sky Fortress, which had weathered countless millennia, had finally broken free a little from its countdown toward decay and collapse. Its overburdened Energy System had gained a brief reprieve, and the Anti-gravity Engine arrays, which had operated under overload year-round, had improved after receiving auxiliary power. In Bercetia's memory, this was almost the calmest, most comfortable low hum she had heard from the fortress through the neural link since taking the Throne of Dominion.
But she knew that this relief was only temporary... The Stellar Sanctuary was simply too ancient. The problems it faced could not be fixed merely by replacing some energy arrays and engines. Magic-Conducting Technology was useful, but it was far from omnipotent.
The Technical Personnel had bought time for this Aerial Fortress—and only bought time. One day, the elves would still need to find a truly lasting way out.
But that was not