Imperatrix Fallen: Alith's Cradle

XVI

Daughter of a landowner in Amán, County of the King, she changed her last name to Kuth when she secretly married Arthur Celante...
Her family in Amán refuses to speak of her. Only a cousin, Pilar Contri, refers to her as "...A bit unbalanced..." and "Capricious to the utmost..."
The autopsy conducted by Frontier III Hospital, led by Dr. Chele, reveals that she died a virgin. The current decomposition of the body prevents a re-check, but it's assumed to be an error.
— Excerpts from the report on subject Alana Kuth, by Rola Mantis.

The room was in turmoil. Papers piled up quickly on the central table. A projector was hastily set up against the largest wall, blurry images beginning to flash on screen. Quinta sat surrounded by her Cardinals. Valeria entered the room, followed closely by Rola.

"Gentlemen, we are under attack," Valeria exclaimed, while Rola moved behind her to take control of the projector. She was the only one moving in the room after Valeria's words had frozen everyone in place.

Rola began projecting images. The first one clearly showed Makia and his friends sitting in the central courtyard of their Institute.

"Did you install a motion capture device at the Institute?" Quinta asked.

"Several," Rola replied. "Next image..."

A young girl in a floral dress and hat appeared in the frame, from below.

"Next image..."

The young girl extended her arm, and a bright blue flash appeared where her hand should have been.

"Next image..."

"Can you stop saying that?" Valeria snapped at Rola, but she ignored her.

The projection of the blue flash extended toward Makia and his friends.

"Next image..."

A great blue flare and static.

"Final image..."

Makia lay on the ground, his torso torn open. A black figure appeared beside him, seemingly a charred, leaning pillar. His friends were farther back, conscious and shielding themselves from the explosion. Quinta was devastated by the image, covering her mouth but managing to hold back her tears.

"In conclusion..." Valeria said, "the Angel has returned. New images show her heading toward us on foot, probably to finish what she started with my cousin. We've already set up several checkpoints to assess her advance..."

"She'll kill us all!" One of the cardinals lost his composure.

"No one is to make contact; they will only verify her theoretical path. She should take the most direct route, from here, passing through here," Valeria pointed at the city map on one of the walls.

"And if she flies?" another cardinal asked.

"The plan we have to stop her takes that possibility into account. Rola, please explain the technical details of the operation."

"Mm... it's about time you let me speak... We believe that the Angel, being a techno-created entity, was able to concentrate the energy that powers her and direct it in a single attack, which is what tore apart our good friend Makia. The generous gift from the County of Heaven—thank you for that, Miss Quinta—allows us to direct energy in a similar way. For now, it's our most potent weapon. Marvelous technology..."

"Will that kill the damn thing?" Quinta asked furiously, addressing Rola.

"There's a 65% chance if she comes by land, a 55% chance if she comes from the air. We're installing the weapon; it will be ready in 15 minutes. We need to delay her..."