The Keel Chamber was the spine of the giant beast.
A vast, echoing cave running three hundred feet along the bottom of the hull, the chamber was built entirely of blackened, cold-rolled titan-iron. Dominating the center of the room was the main load-bearing keel beam: a massive, five-foot-thick girder of solid star-fallen iron that bore the entire load-bearing tension of the ten-thousand-ton warship.
Bolted along the keel beam were eighteen massive gyroscopic floating housings. Huge bronze spheres, each twelve feet in width, spinning at faster-than-sound speed on zero-drag magnetic bearings.
Inside those bronze spheres were the captive stellar crystals that held the dreadnought anchored against the earth.
At the far end of the narrow high walkway stood the Keel Warden. An eight-foot build of brass armor and clockwork gears, wielding a massive, two-handed steam-air-powered maul.
The Warden raised its maul, steam hissing from its faceplate. “Restricted area. By order of the Grand Astromancer, secret personnel shall be—”
Apostate Ren didn’t even slow down.
The Astrologer raised his shattered brass star-compass, flicking the outer dial with his thumb.
