Over the next several weeks, both the tracker, and the Axis, came and went several times. Supplies, parts, and the first prototypes of the portable airlocks – fully tested on the road to Urv – were delivered, traded, bartered and presented. Though things had returned to a semblance of normalcy in Urv, there was no indication that The Council would back down on their new directives.
Zins, who flew with the Axis on her second voyage out of The Outpost, reported that the streets of the city were almost as busy as they'd been upon their last departure. There were crews currently working on all the roads out of Urv, and they had actually been required to hover for half a day to get a berth at the air towers. Rumor had it that High Councilor Cumby had commissioned the construction of a third tower with a larger airlock to be built as soon as all roads were complete, and the workers were available.
The air in the city had already increased in quality. Cyril had been as good as his word. Though there was still some resistance in The Temple, he'd begun a program to study the pumps. As yet, they had made only minor changes to their rituals, but they had managed to increase efficiency, and had located and replaced several parts that were on the verge of failure. There was also a small contingent of priests working to painstakingly recreate the manuals so that a copy could be presented to the city's engineers. The hope was that, with some time and patience, they might be able to machine parts to build more pumps and increase the breathable atmosphere in the city, the roads, and eventually throughout the range of the First Veil.
Priests had also been flying with the airships, reaching out to The Temples in the other cities. They had to spread the word that there was a new High Priest, and to pass on Cyril's changes to the rituals. Most of the other cities had already experienced more trouble with their pumps and air than Urv had and were happy to comply. Councilor Cumby believed that the few pockets of resistance would crumble once the roads were opened up. The entire world was changing, but Euphrankes, for all his involvement, felt detached from it.
He was focused on the Tangent. He'd spent nearly every waking moment on board the great ship, changing design criteria, working side-by-side with his own people and those of Zins' crew who'd been assigned to the task. Others had flown in – volunteers from different engineering disciplines and airship crews who'd heard of the great mission and wanted to be a part of it.
"We may actually have to draw straws to see who gets to accompany us through the veil," Euprhankes said.
He and Zins stood alone on the bridge of the Tangent. The interior was fully pressurized and the air was fresh and clean. They'd managed to use bits of design copied from Cyril's manual to improve on their designs, and now all that remained on the interior of the ship was the control and propulsion panels, and the wiring of the major systems. Everything gleamed. The metal was polished, every other surface was painted. She was a beautiful ship.
"It's a fool’s mission," Zins said gruffly. "Everyone is probably going to die. They all know this. It's why they are so eager to sign on."
The two of them laughed softly.
"We're really going to do it," Euphrankes said. "We're going to pass through the Second Veil."
"And what will we find on the other side, do you think?" Zins asked. "I have found myself wondering this more and more as the day grows near. Slyphie estimates that the Tangent will be ready to fly within a week. After a shakedown between the veils, what then? Do you have a plan?"
Euprhankes shook his head. "We need to test the propulsion, and the range," he said. "Our telescopes are not powerful enough to reach much beyond our moons, and the nearest planets. My hope is that there will be other worlds that could sustain life – maybe even other cities and people we can learn from."
"And if they don't want to teach?" Zins asked. "If we only fly out to find barren rock, or worse yet, new enemies that will fall upon us and take what little we have?"
Euphrankes shook his head.
"That can't be all there is," he said. "All of this," he waved his arm to encompass the veils, the airship, the compound below, and the planet, "came from somewhere. At least one civilization much more advanced than ours has existed, and if they were the predators you speak of, they would hardly have put all of these protective measures in place."
"I'm not sure sometimes," Zins said, "if they are protections, or a cage. I hear what you're saying, though, and I agree. I'm just thinking out loud. I don't doubt that we will find something amazing out there, the only question is will we find it soon enough, and close enough, to do our planet any good."
Outside the view port they saw a shadow coming into view.
"The Axis is returning," Zins said. "They should have the last of the Imperium we need to be certain we're sealed in tight."
"Let's go and greet them," Euphrankes said. "I'd like to know what new things have happened in Urv since we last heard. It's been so many years since there was any good news at all that I find myself looking forward to it more than I would have believed."
They climbed down through the airlock and onto the platform. The Axis would dock at the next tower, but it would take half an hour or so to get her into position, so they had time. They climbed down and walked over from the base of one tower to the next. In the distance, the cargo carriers were rolling out of the complex and making their way slowly to the base of the tower.
By the time the airlock opened and the crew began their initial descent, half the workers in The Compound were gathered. When Lyones came down the ladder two rungs at a time, his hair wild around his head, they cleared the way for him. He ran straight to Euphrankes.
"You have to come!" he said. "You have to come to Urv. The Council gave the debris to the priests – to Cyril. You have to see what they've found."
"What…"
Lyones shook his head.
"I'm under oath to say nothing. You have to come. Frankes, it's important. Before you pass the veil, you need to see this."
Euphrankes turned to Zins in consternation. Zins shrugged.
"When can we be ready to leave?" Euphrankes asked.
"Dawn," Lyones said. "We have to unload the cargo, and it's full. It will take at least that long, and we'll need a crew. Can you go back and make preparations?"
"Why not take the Vector?" Zins asked. "We can fly that with a skeleton crew. She's been unloaded and waiting for more than a week. If we leave within the hour, we could be there by morning."
"Let's do it," Euphrankes said. "Let's get back to the complex. I'll get Aria, and Bonymede, and we can be back here within the hour.
"I'm going too," Zins said. "I wouldn't miss this for the world."