The next month passed in a relentless cycle of progress and struggle as Sera and her growing group worked to clear and restore the landship. Every corner they revealed within the ship spoke of its age, and with each new discovery, it became clear just how damaged it truly was. The enormity of the task they faced became more overwhelming with each passing day. Resources were scarce, and the repairs they needed seemed endless.
Key areas like the command center on the upper deck were found, but the state of disrepair was alarming. Once a vital hub where operators directed the landship's operations, the command center was now little more than a rusted shell of its former self. The control panels were corroded, and the displays were shattered or faded beyond recognition. Still, the group took it as a small victory. In time, and with more resources, they could potentially restore it to working order.
Other areas were less promising but still important. They discovered a section that had been used for growing food, though its original systems had long since decayed. Repurposing it for the future was an option, but right now, it was just one more piece of the landship that needed repair. On the same level as the cargo bay, they also found what seemed to be the ship's internal security station, with a rusted sign still hanging on one of the doors.
In another part of the ship, they stumbled upon what could only be described as a jungle—a garden that had been overtaken by nature. Vines had claimed every inch of the walls, turning the area into a dense and unwelcoming space. And hidden within the lower levels, tucked away behind sealed doors, they found a morgue—a grim reminder of Terra II's unforgiving nature. The bodies stored there were long gone, but the purpose of the room was unmistakable.
As they cleared out the landship and restored power, they realized that the ship could stay operational for about two months, at best, before further repairs were needed. The energy they had managed to restore was fragile and required constant maintenance. Fortunately, during their efforts, they had gathered resources like wood, metal, and small tools scattered throughout the landship—useful for repairs, though not enough to fully restore the ship. Weapons, such as Dmitri's crossbow, needed maintenance, but with the limited tools at their disposal, they could only patch things together.
However, as they worked, their activity drew the attention of others. The landship, positioned near fertile land controlled by the Kjera Industrial Company, was beginning to attract small nomadic groups. The Kjera Industrial Company was infamous for its unethical practices, including the use of illegal slave labor and mining forbidden territories. Their operations were shrouded in controversy, but the fertile region they controlled was highly coveted. Many of the new arrivals had come looking for a way to escape Kjera's control or perhaps to claim the landship for themselves.
The land itself was valuable, and the region attracted not just desperate refugees, but opportunists with their own agendas. The Kjera Industrial Company held the power over much of the land, but nomads and smaller factions had begun to challenge their authority.
To add to the complexity, the year was 1372, and vehicles—something once seen only in nomadic cities—had begun to be used outside of these cities by smaller factions. It was a relatively new development, marking the first time in over 319 years that vehicles were seen regularly traveling through the wilderness. The harsh environment of Terra II made these vehicles essential for travel across the desolate regions between cities. However, Dmitri's group had not been fortunate enough to secure such a vehicle, forcing them to rely on foot travel. The advanced vehicles that roamed Terra II were highly modified to withstand the planet's brutal conditions, making them rare and valuable commodities.
These vehicles weren't the only powerful transportation, though. Aerial warships had been used heavily in the past, particularly during the Nomad Suppression War in the year 1259, when the Soma Empire launched a devastating campaign against many of the nomadic city-states. These warships, massive airborne fortresses, had the ability to wipe out entire cities, leaving ruin in their wake. The legacy of the Nomad Suppression War still loomed over Terra II, and though many nations now possessed such warships, their use had become less frequent, limited to smaller conflicts. Still, the threat of such power was a constant reminder of the fragility of peace.
Back on the landship, tensions were rising. Dmitri's group and the nomadic arrivals clashed over control. Arguments were frequent, as each group had its own vision for the landship's future. Some saw it as a potential base to launch attacks on Kjera or other powerful factions. Others saw it as an opportunity to explore uncharted lands, searching for new resources or undiscovered territories.
Sera was learning firsthand just how difficult leadership could be. While she had been thrust into the role out of necessity, the pressure of making decisions that would affect the lives of so many was weighing heavily on her. She made mistakes—some of them small, others that could have had far worse consequences—and each failure chipped away at her confidence. Disputes were growing more frequent, and she was running out of ways to keep the peace.
The growing numbers only made things worse. Not everyone respected her authority, and small fights frequently broke out between factions. Some people saw the landship as a potential fortress from which they could wage war, while others were desperate to use it as a tool for exploration and discovery. As the tension mounted, it became clear that a major conflict was brewing. Sera could feel it—the situation was slipping out of her control.
Her thoughts were interrupted one evening as she sat alone in the dim command center, trying to make sense of the situation. Why is this so damn hard? she thought, rubbing her temples. Why can't they just cooperate?
"Sera," Dmitri's voice cut through the silence, and she looked up to see him enter the room. He sat down across from her, his face grim.
"We've got a problem," he said, leaning back in his chair. "The new arrivals are pushing harder. Some of them want to use the landship to launch attacks on Kjera's operations. If we don't get ahead of this, things are going to get ugly fast."
Sera groaned, slumping further into her chair. "They don't get it. This place isn't ready for something like that. It's barely holding together as it is."
"Yeah, but they don't care," Dmitri replied. "They see this place as a weapon. They don't care what happens to it in the long run—they just want to use it."
Zyra, who had been standing near the door, spoke up. "We've seen small groups gathering nearby. We're not the only ones who've noticed the landship's power coming back online. If we're not careful, we'll have more than internal disputes to deal with."
"Are they hostile?" Sera asked, her voice flat.
"It's hard to say," Zyra replied, her expression unreadable. "But I wouldn't take any chances. We're vulnerable right now."
Alaric stepped into the room, his face as calm as ever but with an undercurrent of worry. "We don't have the manpower to defend this place if things get serious. We've got enough to survive, but not to fend off an attack. And these arguments are making it harder to keep people in line."
Sera let out a long, frustrated sigh. "We need to figure out our next move. We can't keep everyone happy, and we can't let this place turn into a battleground."
Dmitri nodded. "It's only a matter of time before these factions collide. If we don't make a decision soon, we're going to lose control of this place entirely."
The decision was heavy, and Sera could feel the pressure of it weighing down on her shoulders. The landship was more than just a base—it was becoming a symbol of power, a battleground for those looking to control the future of Terra II. But the ship couldn't withstand another conflict, not in its current state. And neither could she.
"We need to talk to the others," Sera said, her voice quiet but firm. "We need to figure out who's with us and who's not. And we need to make it clear what this place is going to be. We can't let it become a war machine."
The others nodded in agreement, though they all understood the gravity of the situation. The conflicts brewing within their ranks would soon force Sera to make a choice—a choice that would shape their future and later be known as the Predecessor Conflict, an event recorded in the archives of Frontier Limited, the company Sera and others would go on to create that focused on exploration and humanitarian efforts' though this would cause them the militarize their operations and bringing them many future conflicts with many individuals.
But for now, Sera could only sigh. She was tired—exhausted from the constant struggle of leadership. I just want a break, she thought. But on Terra II, breaks were a luxury she couldn't afford.