The streets of the city thronged with people. They were going to witness something that had never happened in the past 2500 years of their empire's history. Their Princess, who was the heir apparent, had been arrested on charges of treason to the empire and was now facing a public trial, This was preposterous since she was a kind and generous lady always helping those in need. She had never even raised her voice in anger except when someone was trying to exploit the weak and defenceless.
So they were going to the public trial grounds in the capital city of Ambapuram. This city was built on a vast land spread over 5,00,000
500,000
acres. This city was built in such a way that it looked like a lotus from the sky. It had several overlapping levels making it very difficult for invading forces to conquer.
The first level had iron walls that were 130 feet wide and 100 feet thick. The wall had sentry posts at regular intervals. The wall had gun turrets placed strategically to decimate the invading forces with ease. Next were the cannons placed on the top most levels along the whole length of the wall. They would blast any forces that tried climbing the walls. These were supplemented by the fire slingers who sent of balls of fire on the enemy burning anyone that was not hit by bullets, arrows or cannons.
The archers were placed behind the cannons in a safe place and were used to rain arrows on the main forces. They had two types of archers; the long range Garudaksha – literally meaning Eagle's eyes – had a range of 10,000 feet. The second type was the short range archers – Manava Chakshu – meaning human's eye – had a range of 1000 feet. Between them they destroyed far more forces than a normal defence force.
If the enemy managed to survive these and somehow reached the walls, they would have to face the Sila Ghataka – meaning Stone Hitters – who would rain huge boulders that buried at least ten to fifteen Platoons in a single strike. They also wielded stone hammers during close combat. This made them one of the deadliest and feared forces.
If the enemy somehow managed to breach the Iron Walls, they would be facing the second level – The Reinforced Steel Walls. The walls were made of reinforced-steel that was double the length and thickness of the iron walls. The defences on this wall were also similar to those on the iron walls. The only difference was the addition of electric fences that electrocuted any enemy forces that came in contact with them. There were sprinklers placed strategically to spray water on the enemy forces drenching them with water before unleashing the electricity making it a hundred times more effective.
Most of the enemy forces would have been decimated by now. If the enemy somehow still had forces left to conquer this level, they would have to face the third level. This was made of a thin layer of mud only 10 feet thick and 10 feet wide. It was easy to topple and the enemy would be free to enter unopposed. Once the enemy had moved forward by a 1000 feet, they would be drenched by oil suddenly poured from the roof tops of the houses along the path. The ground would suddenly turn muddy and sticky and the troops would be held firmly in place unable to move. Manava Chakshu archers would then rain fire lit arrows on the enemy burning them to ashes.
The next level was a deep moat of water filled with terrifying crocodiles. These would tear apart any forces that managed to reach this level. Usually there were vehicles available to transport civilians and defending troops over the moat during peace times. But these would be withdrawn to the fort that was placed in the heart of the land.
The final level was built from a single stone hill. The walls were cemented with reinforced concrete that held the huge boulders that had been used to build these walls. An outsider would think that these walls were a single stone which was partly true. This fort had been carved inside a hill with great skill. The walls were carved out of the outer regions of the hill, while the fort was carved out of the remaining portions of the hill. If the enemy managed to reach this level it would be a battle to the death.
No enemy force had ever reached this part of the kingdom ever. It was the most jealously guarded part of the capital city. The best forces were deployed here to protect the capital and the royal family. Breaching this fort was almost unheard of. The smooth walls made climbing almost impossible. Then there were the defenders who would rain bombs, fire and oil, arrows, boulders, etc on the invaders. The relentless onslaught demoralised even the most barbaric forces.
The citizens who had been invited to this trial were hurrying into the fort using vehicles authorised by the crown. Each of these vehicles had been given a special authorisation code and they were scanned for occupants as they went through the screening area set up for this purpose. Each occupant had been assigned a special identity card that allowed the security forces to scan and identify the occupants in the vehicles. If the vehicle had any unauthorised person on board, it was simply ejected from the city and thrown into the water moat. The crocodiles in the moat would tear the vehicle into pieces and devour the occupants. This was an effective way of discouraging anyone from bringing traitors or unauthorised persons into the city.
Once the vehicles had been parked in the parking area, the occupants would then be screened for any unauthorised weapons. Then they would be given an entry pass that had to be submitted to the gatekeeper to enter into the outer hall of the trial room. The gate keeper would issue another pass that would help them enter the middle hall of the court room. After detoxifying the visitors with medicated sprays, the gatekeeper here would issue the final pass that took the visitors to the trial room.
The trial room was a vast room with arrangements to seat 1,00,000
100,000
visitors. This was the number of common citizens allowed to witness trials of public importance. Several galleries with fixed seats were made available for these citizens. Each seat had the royal emblem and the Empire's flag carved on them. The seats were very comfortable and would adjust according to the occupant.
There was a second set of galleries to accommodate 5692 representatives that ruled the provinces of the empire. These were on raised platforms that hovered a hundred feet above ground. Each of these seats was like a cubicle that could accommodate up to a hundred occupants according to the status of the ruler. Each of these cubicles had a defence shield that could stop the most advanced weapons that the empire and its allies had ever come up with.
Then at a height of 200 feet were the smaller domes that accommodated the royalty. The princes and princesses who were held responsible for the administration of the 826 sectors of the empire. Each sector had at least 50 provinces. Some had even more. It depended on the status level and the position of inheritance to the throne. So naturally, the heir apparent had the largest sector with the maximum number of provinces.
The next level was at a height of 300 feet from the ground. This level had 413 miniature thrones surrounded by a ray shield bubble. Each throne had a king/queen/emperor/empress/Ambassador/President etc who were heads of their respective states. They were allowed up to a hundred body guard as per their status and need. These were assigned a higher level above the princes and princesses including the heir apparent since they were the real rulers of their states.
The final level was at a height of 500 feet holding a single, majestic, gigantic throne that had the royal crest and flag. On this throne sat the monarch and his/her consort during such trials. The throne had the royal emblem as described below:
There was a broad shield that was embossed with a crossed stone hammer and a bow. Below the bow and hammer was a stone boulder that had a sword and a cannon sprouting from the stone. Above the hammer and bow was an eagle with a backdrop of the sun and moon. Over this was an umbrella.
Each level had entrances from inside that allowed the security forces to control the entry and exit of the people. The whole ground was circular in shape with a ceiling that reflected the sky. A single gate led from outside to the open arena where the accused would stand trial.
Each level was further guarded by plain clothes officers who mixed in the crowds like commoners and neutralised any potential trouble makers or rebels who might have managed to reach the trial area.
