Astares Amauricanum wrote:"From 1941 to 1943." replies Agatha with a smile to Damir.
"Originally, he was supposed to be built a bit more up north, near the Potomac on the same bank, but the architects and local authorities quickly realized that building it in that place would hide the view of the capital from the Arlington National Necropolis." continues the Dowager Empress as she points to west of the Pentagon, to a large area covered in grass and trees, roads going through the hill, and rows of white tombstones aligned in neat rows.
"So, the building site was relocated southern, in place of an old airfield. The Pentagon-shape was chosen considering the fact that since our mythology revolves around stars, the polygon you get when linking the five points of a five-branch star is a pentagon." continues Jane, as the helicopter new crosses the Potomac.
A few seconds later, they fly over a basin next to the Potomac, with grass and trees covered in snow surrounding it, and a building with a small cupola on the southern most part, while a bit further on the west side of the basin, another building of a similar size, but with no cupola and a flat roof stands in a garden.
These two buildings are two of the Primarch Family Memorials," explains Constantin to the Kyrenaians. "The south one with the cupola is the one honoring our family, the Melnin Family, and the west one honors the Morozov Family. They also house the crypts where the remains of the family members rest."
Now the MH-53K moves further north, the Potomac now to their left, and arrives on top of another building, large and rectangular, built in ghe same kind of stone as the Silver Palace. Starting from this building and going eastwards, a large avenue of grass, with a rectangular basin at the start, and some monuments visible along the way, with the avenue ending near a white building with a large cupola.
""We are now overlooking the Blachkor Family Memorial," says Agatha as she designates the building to the delegation. " the resting place of all Keisaers and Keisaerinas. Extending from it all the way down to the Capitol, the National Mall, surrounded by various landmarks." continues the Dowager Empress, as the hell turns right and preprares to fly now over the Mall.
And so, having positioned itself correctly, the helicopter carrying the guests now advances over the Mall.
First, it passes over the Blachkor Reflecting Pool, with to the right, he Korean War Memorial, and to the left, the Vietnam War Memorial. Further away from the latter, the Imperial Academy of Sciences and the Morozov Building, the Department of State Headquarters building and Foxter's workplace.
Then, as they continue, they now have the Ymir Gardens to the left, and the Colonial Wars Memorial (to honor the lives lost during the time the Europeans, namely the British, Spanish and French, occupied our land in the 16th century.) And below them, the World War Two Memorial.
On the right side, a few blocks away, the delegation might be able to now see clearer the explosion site, with the black smoke still rising but not as intense, and with various firetrucks pouring water with their hoses ovr it, while various ambulances and police cars are parked nearby.
As the large helo banks a bit to the right, Aurelia, Damir and the rest of the group will now see the Adrean Blachkor The First Monument, a white obelisk, 171-meter high, built in 1855 to honor the frist Keisaer and founder of the Imperium.
As it gets to the second part of the Mall now, they will now see:
First, to their right, the Holocaust Museum and the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, (responsible for emitting various secure materials for government use, including bank notes.)
Next to them, the Department of Agriculture Headquarters Building, along with the Federalis Communicatio Commission.
To the left, across them on the other side of the Mall, two buildings of the Vanga Natural History Museum, who belong to the greater Vanga Institution, a scientific institution and union of 19 museums and research centers, named after the Astarian deity of Intelligence, Science and Culture.
Going on to the right again, a garden surrounded by three other Vanga museums, one of them the Afro-Amaurican Culture Museum. behind them, the Headquarters of the Department of Energy and the International Spy Museum.
Across them to the left, the Sculpture Garden of the National Gallery of Arts and the National Archives Museum behind them, where many important documents of the Astarian History are preserved.
To the right again, the Vanga National Air and Space Museum, housing a vast collection of planes and some spacecrafts. Next to them, the Columbia Public Observatory.
Across them to the left, the National Gallery of Art Main Building.
And finally, just before they reach the Capitol Building, the Native Astarian Museum to the right, and the East Building of the National Art Gallery to the left.
Now, they reach thethe Astarian Capitol Building. Its grey and white tone reflecting the daylight in its surroundings, its massive dome at the center, the stairs leading to it, the gardens and park surrounding the building. Contrary to other buildings though, the roof was green in color, most likely from copper tiles.
To the right, aka the south side, one would see three other buildings, each one 5-story high, with an inner courtyard, aligned in a row, and to the left, aka the north side, three other buildings as well, but with a slightly different designs.
"The South Wing," explains Foxter, "the one closest to us, houses the
Represae Huset, House of Representatives, the lower house, while the North Wing houses the
Forsta Styres the Senate, the Upper House. The buildings you see on each side are the office buildings used by their members. The south ones for the Representatives, the north ones for the Senators. To get from their office to the chambers proper, they can either cross the road or take an underground passageway."
As well, located between those two sets of offices, two other buildings who also belong to the greater Capitol Complex, the Headquarters of the Astarian Supreme Court, the head of our judiciary branch, and the Library of Congress, where major works in literature, music and cinema are conserved.
On some of the building's roofs, the Kyrenaian delegation may see a few SAM turrets, spinning slowly as they're tracking the helicopter's path.
The fly over the Mall and Capitol now completed, the MH-53K now takes a U-turn to the left, leaving the Mall now to their left.
After a few seconds of flying over Downtown, they now fly above the Columbia District City Hall, built in the same silver-white stone as some others they've passed before, his roof flat in certain places, but mostly covered by red tiles.
5 stories-high, in a U-shape, large stairs leading to a grand entry, with a large courtyard dominated by a large fountain (currently frozen) at the center. On the rear side, some cars were getting in and out of an underground parking garage.
And finally, on the other side of the large avenue, a 15-meter high wall stands proudly, with guardtowers every twenty meters or so, Astarian flags flying proudly over them.
Just across the City Hall and its Courtyard, a large portal, 11 meter high and 8 wide, set into a gate of stone, and flanked by two towers, with on the front, statues representing a Silver Eagle and an Astarian Wolf, two of he Imperium's endemic animals.
As for the Silver Portal, (actually plated in stainless steel mostly, with only a few silver parts.), on it can be seen what some people may recognize as the Keiserlig Seal, or Imperial Seal: a Silver Eagle, his head turned to the right, holding a sword in one of its talons and a crossbow in the other, and in his beak, a banner reading the Imperium's motto, but in Astarian.
Beyond the wall, the guests will now be able to see their destination: the Silver Palace. With its inner courtyards and various aisles, named the Silver Palace for a good reason, for the large cupola gilded in Silver, which reflect the sunlight rays, and the light grey marble stone used to build it, which gives an eery silver glow to the entire structure. The roofs are covered in slate tiles.
Next to it, a hundred meters to the left, one would see a smaller building built in a similar manner, built with the same stones and slate tiles.
"This building is the Keiserlig Custos Headquarters." simply says Constantin to the guests.
In the background, various other buildings can be seen as well, apartment building for the most part, as well as a small airfield on the West side, jouxting the wall separating the Compound from the Potomoac River.
Below them, as they now pass over the wall and into the Silver Palace's grounds proper, one can see that the paved road going from the Portal quickly separates in two, one going to the left, towards the Keiserlig Custos Headquarters, the four story building with black slates tiles being visible a few hundred meters away.
Going to the right though, is the path leading to the Silver Palace, flanked by tall, maple trees covered in snow, and some statues as well.
All around, a thick blanket of snow covers the lawn.
The MH-53K now follows the path going to the right, and after a few seconds (or two hundred meters), the treeline stops, and now reveals the Silver Palave Couryard in all its glory.
To the left, a large fountain, representing a young woman, in a simple, white sleeveless dress, holding a sword in her right hand and a basket of fruits in her left hand.
To the right, another fountain, this one representing a man in armor, with a light beard, holding a crossbow and aiming down the sights.
And finally, revealing itself close to the eye, the Silver Palace in itself. Built in a very special kind of grey-white marble with a slight silver glow seemingly emanating from it. The front entrance, with a set of large stairs leading to a set of massive wodden doors, currently opened. There were also columns supporting a balcony overlooking the entrance
And finally, now taking the main part of someone's view if they were to raise their eyes up, the Silver Dome, located just after the entrance aisle it seemed.
In the courtyard, the snow had been cleared and tamped, leaving only a small layer of it.
On the roof, some flagpoles were located, currently flying the Kyrenaian flag.
And in the courtyard, a red carpet was going from the Palace's entrance to a few meters away from the helicopter, flanked on either sides by three rows each of Imperial Guards in their armor, their Ensidur swords and daggers strapped to their backs, their black capes worn over their backs, and their Langasta lances held straight at their sides. They wear also wearing their Keiserlig helmets which concealed their faces.
Additionally, they were also carrying some modern equipment, as each one had his pistol strapped to his right thigh, and an M14 rifle slung around their chest.
Near the entrance, a military fanfare ready to play, all of them in Keiserlig Custos Dress Uniform.
"And we have arrived." simply says Jane as she stands up as the large helicopter touches the ground, before the two guards sitting in the back stand up, open the door and unfold the stairs, before getting out and standing at attention on each side of the helicopter.
"Princesses, Princes, Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the SIlver Palace." says Agatha, as she stands up and get out first of the helicopter, inviting the delegation to follow her.