After another twenty minutes inside the Capital Sector, the low vibration running through the cruiser began to change. The vehicle gradually reduced its velocity as it left the high-speed transit corridor, and the featureless layer of cloud beneath them drew closer.
The cruiser descended through it, briefly surrounding the windows with pale gray before the cloud cover broke apart and revealed the Capital far below.
Zaeryn shifted closer to the window.
Near the center of the enormous city, an elevated district rose above everything surrounding it. Even from their current altitude, he could see the immense collection of towers, protected airways and connected structures forming the palace complex.
"We have begun our final approach," the operator announced from the forward compartment. "We will arrive shortly."
'So I am finally going to meet Athea face-to-face,' Zaeryn thought.
