Boots splashed on the coast line as a score of men jumped off of the zodiac.The men fanned out and went deeper inland to secure the beachhead. Cpt. Abrams urged his team forward. They were exposed out in the open on the beach, and ran to the brush some hundred meters ahead. The entire process took several minutes, but the radio came alive "All clear." The beach would soon be swarming with activity as the refugees and the crew finally could walk on land after so long at sea. The coast seemed clear, and these people found a new place to call home. People started clearing the area and the island in general and buildings started to rise.

Some time would pass and the first settlement of the Bastion, Wolf's Haven, was up and running. Thanks to the extra power generated by the Enterprise, the settlement had plenty of power to operate tools and machinery. The Mercy set up shop on land with a large medical center/research lab among the first things created on the island. The doctors and scientists were hard at work trying to learn more about these lands and the native organisms. There was a real concern among the doctors that there might be a native species similar to human that had diseases that could be transmitted to humans and vice versa... however, they had yet to find anything substantial, a small blessing.

The Laramie went off to explore the coast and nearby islands for resources as the engineers were in a rush to find a source of oil while the Zumwalt escorted it. These were strange lands. They had found giant crabs along the coast, which were a nice treat to supplement the crew's diet. But the native life here seemed to be larger than those back in the old world. It seemed that there were large stretches of unsettled land as otherwise these animals would never have become this large. Regardless, they all had to be ready for the worst. Every day for an hour, the marines, led by Cpt. Abrams helped train everyone in drills and practice so that if need be then they could raise a trained militia. Other than that, the settlers were busy building and civilizing these strange lands.

It had been a week since they went through the portal. Most of the equipment was unloaded and the basics were set up in this settlement. The Bastion landed in an island close to the southern part of the continent. Fields were plowed and seeded. Small factories and workshops were noisy, trying to pump out enough processed goods to meet the demand for building material. Things seemed to be going well, which is why Lothar called for a meeting with the council. At the council, Lothar proposed something drastic. That the fleet return to the Old World. This was not to just leave this strange continent. Rather, it was to help other refugees who sought to leave the war torn and damned lands of Earth. The entire trip was expected to last a month, but it would require splitting the fleet, a dangerous proposal. The Captain of the Mercy agreed with the plan. The Laramie was neutral while the Captain of the Zumwalt raised concern that splitting the fleet would weaken it in these uncertain times.

Lothar was confident that the settlement would be fine even without half the fleet as much of the precious equipment and cargo was now safe. However, he did agree that it was a bit of a risk... a risk worth taking. Thus, within a week of arriving, the Mercy and the Zumwalt had set out to the gate once more to help others who sought to leave the god forsaken Old World.

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Summary:

The Bastion lands on an island and settles there, forming Wolf's Haven

The settlers are working on building up the settlement and are trained daily by the marines in the event of an emergency

The Laramie is surveying the local waters and islands for resources

The Enterprise remains at the settlement to protect it and provide energy and services

The Mercy and the Zumwalt drop off much of its scientists, refugees, equipment, and marines before they begin their trip back to the Old World to bring back more refugees.

It had been a full week on the sea after the Naukan Crusade had arrived into the new world through the gate. Preliminary scouting efforts using the detection equipment the Naukan ships had on hand, as well as the three helicopters onboard the Vanguard, the recon and defense ship of the Naukan Crusade's fleet, had revealed that there was a massive continent to the south-west of the gate, and as such the leader of the Naukan Crusade, Khan Temir Zima, had ordered the fleet to go to the south west. Due to currents, weather conditions, and encounters with several different denizens of the oceans of the New World, the fleet had ended up near the northern part of the archipelago that was between the northern and southern parts of the continent. After passing several islands, the fleet found an island that was good enough to settle on, and so, Temir gave the order to build a supply port here before the Naukan Crusade would settle on the mainland.

The soldiers of the assigned away team gathered in the landing craft, and a few minutes later it departed the Vanguard's well dock. They were nervous. It would be the first time any of them had set foot on land for a while, and who knew what kinds of dangers were on the island. Udo sat in the back, near the sergeant that was in command of the squad that was sitting in the landing craft. Another landing craft with one of the Crusade's recon vehicles was following closely behind. Udo could hear the chopping sound of helicopter rotors as the recon and transport helicopters flew over the landing craft and the ASW helicopter was dropping buoys to check for any dangers underwater. Then, they were upon the shore. The squad of men in the landing craft grabbed their weapons and carefully walked on the shore, checking for any threats. There seemed to be none, and a call from the sergeant with the recon helicopter confirmed this. As soon as a beachhead was established and the island was declared safe, the other ships came ashore. First to arrive was the Pioneer. A massive ramp at the front of the vessel was laid down upon the beach, and the ship was anchored to the beach. The Ark came and offloaded some of the people who were assigned to help construct the small waystation port that'd be used as a jumping-off point for further Naukan settlement. The Neptune went off to gather fish and make biofuel to refuel the ships.

Farms were established near the shore as the materials that were required to build a naval port were gathered using trucks and equipment that the Crusade had brought with them. The Neptune came back with a full tank of biofuel, and the scientific database was consulted to construct an additional biorefinery, together with a small powerplant, on the island.

After a week, the small Naukan settlement, named Azure Port, named after the beautiful blue seas that surrounded what would be called a tropical paradise. It had a few houses, biofuel refinery, farms, power plant, and most importantly, a large naval port. Some of the Naukan citizens were left behind, to work the land and service the Naukan ships that would pass through the area. Some soldiers, together with a few of the recon vehicles, were left behind, to protect the settlement. The Naukan Crusade fleet was ressuplied with materials gathered from the island, and set off north to their original destination.

As the people landed into the central archipelago of the world they soon would see vast differences in the land of which they found themselves in from their point of origins. One of which is the fact that the fauna and flora looked different with flowers as tall as humans and trees that were actually growing from the sides of cliffs and mountains. The differences was first seen in the initial landings where scouts and civilians who were venturing too far from the main force has seen themselves within the dens of what would be commonly known as the Titan crabs.

While they were named as such the creatures looked differently from earth's crabs and were hostile. As they rushed the group with terrifying vigor and with their massive claws cleaves or impales some of them before dragging them inside as their next meal. While the survivors quickly fled to the authorities in order to report the hostile creatures living next or near them and what fate awaited their companions that wasn't as lucky as them.

While the first encounter with the wildlife wasn't ideal creatures that were found living inside the tropical islands was better than those that lived around the beaches. As large herbivores that looked like giant rhinos were ideal as animal of labors and protein for the new colonist while the carnivores that roam at night was a large problem as the settlements were still being built left some of the colonist vulnerable to these strange large birds that were covered in leafs which aided them in camouflaging themselves from the soldiers or the workers at daylight and made them impossible to see in the dark.

As many of them entered the jungles they would soon see a plant that looks like rice but, unlike the asian staple food it was purple and it was larger than what was normal but, nonetheless was the same texture and better tasting than its earth counter part with the only down side was that it produced less and was harder to process due to its size. But, like the rice the potato was found or what looked like it which excited those that grew up eating it with only it not growing underground but, was found covering one of the man grove looking trees and red in coloration. While many more were found some unfortunately eaten poisonous agents that ruined the stomachs of these explorers or caused a few deaths like the infamous truffle looking plant that claimed the five lives which was found growing out of the ground near the mulkly areas of the island.

As life on the lonely isle was far from interrupted by the sudden diplomatic visit. An uninvited and hostile force nears the island home of the Khalani, as wars around the highlands rages on many of the naval were station and moved to key and strategic port cities leaving several of the trade routes open to pirate attacks which would lead to an increase strength of these bandit fleets. One of these fleets soon found themselves around the maritime territories of the lonely isles and would soon cause panic around the isles.

The fleet in question has black sails and on the top of their ships rest the flag of an broken bone. Their ships varying from small time fishing vessels to imposing and hulking ships that had elements of orchish and elvish designs revealing that these pirates had captured and used these ships for their own gain. The fleet was estimately to be an five hundred ships strong as the small ships dominant and act as scouts or recons for the mother ships that would soon followed them towards the isles.

The incident started when a lonely pirate vessel sailed into the waters and attacking one of the sighted waterborne Khalani thinking it was an rogue naga that had wandered too far from its group and was now weeks food for the four men of the small commandeered fishing vessel. Not knowing that they had just made their first aggression towards the isolationist.

The German shepherd happily splashed in the water near the beach, rolling around in the water in an attempt to simulate swimming without actually having to enter the scary sea. The dog ran back to his master, and then back to the sea in a strange zig-zag pattern when viewed from above. The man was walking his dog at the beach, far away from the Naukan settlement, together with another colonist. It may have been too far, considering the fact that the dangers of the island they were on as well as the New World as a whole were not well understood, but many of the Crusade’s citizens that had been dropped off on the island to build the supply port that the main fleet desperately needed did not waste the chance to explore the beautiful island. It was almost a true paradise, with pristine blue seas and shores that were not tainted by the foul pollution that had devastated the original birthplace of the humans that had settled on the island. The two men looked around. It had not gone unnoticed by them and the Naukan scientists that both the flora and fauna were larger on this island than they were at home, possibly due to the phenomenon of island gigantism where animals that settled somewhere would evolve to be bigger.

The dog stopped. It started barking, at something a few hundred meters away that looked like rocks. The two men stood still, neither of them had any weapons. Slowly, almost unseen by the two men, but not by the dog who could both hear and smell the creature, the rocks moved and revealed a massive red crab, several meters in size, a lot larger than its counterpart on Earth. The crab started scuttling towards them slowly, soon picking up a frantic pace. The men and dog started running away, but the crab was faster, and before they knew it the crab had caught up with them, and used its giant claw to pick up one of the men and nearly cut him in half, killing him instantly, before retreating back to its nest where it came from. The other man continued running as fast as he could, with his dog in tow. As soon as he reached the settlement he ran towards the building that had been constructed where the colony’s leader managed the settlement, and told everything about the crabs to her. Soon, the order was given to all colonists to not go away too far from the colony until these Titan Crabs, as they came to be known by the settlers, could be exterminated.

Udo sighed when he saw what he was assigned to. He had been ordered to escort a group of scientists into the rainforest together with a few other soldiers. He didn’t really like it, but orders were orders. He’d much rather hunt the Carcinus Titania that had been plaguing the beaches around the port colony, especially since they were delicious when cooked, but he had been assigned to something else. There wasn’t much to do except protecting the workers and other colonists from the native wildlife or hunting animals anyway. He walked to the small barracks near the port. It was only a small building because the local Naukan colony didn’t have that much soldiers in it, as most of the Crusade’s military was still on the Vanguard. He gathered his equipment and weaponry and walked towards the only recon vehicle that they had. He entered and sat in the passenger seat and soon some of his comrades also entered the vehicle, including the driver. Other soldiers entered the jeeps that were standing next to the barracks instead, and soon a small convoy drove towards the meeting point from where they would escort the scientists deeper into the island. The convoy continued as soon as the vehicles containing the scientists had joined them, and they drove from the beach towards the jungle. It took some time, because much of the tropical forest had been cut down already, to make space for homes, farms and other buildings. A byproduct of this was the wood which would be used to build the buildings. When they were at the edge of the rainforest the men and women got out off the vehicles and walked into the forest.

Angela Szarka, wildlife biologist of the Naukan Crusade Scientific Division, was having a field day. She really enjoyed the field research part of her job, where she observed animals and plants in their natural habitat and this was even better, as she could see completely new species and forms of life that were very different from the animals on Earth. She could probably write several different scientific papers about them, but this was neither the time or the place to do so, as she had to determine if all of the different animals and plants would be dangerous or helpful to the survival of the growing colony and its inhabitants. She shivered when she thought about one of the less friendly denizens of the island, the Titan Crab, scientifically named Carcinus Titania. It had first been discovered when several Naukan colonists had decided to explore some of the beaches of the island, thinking they would be safe from the dangers of the rainforest. They were wrong, as several of them were killed and dragged off. When a small military force later came to investigate, they killed several of the beasts and found human, amongst animal bones, in their lair. These crabs possessed a limited intelligence, able to hide behind rocks to wait for the right moment to strike, and were very territorial creatures. Soon after their discovery, autopsies and scientific studies had been done on them, which determined the only helpful way that these Titan Crabs would be helpful was as a food source, and so hunters and soldiers were given the orders to hunt for them. Luckily for the colony’s citizens, the Carcinus Titania were not able to best the rifles and machineguns of the soldiers, and the meat was a good source of protein.

After several minutes of walking, the group of soldiers and researchers came across a clearing in the rainforest, where they found a herd of herbivores resembling giant rhinos peacefully grazing. The scientists took samples of them, and determined that these giant rhinos could be useful as beasts of burden, strong enough to carry and drag things which could be helpful in logging and construction. Due to their size these animals were very hard to move, until Angela suggested that they tried luring the rhinos with some of the native plants that had been discovered earlier. This particular plant was the Oryza purpura, a plant that looked like purple rice and several test fields on farms had been made for them. After some research it was found that these plants were not toxic and were edible, but they would probably never replace the grain crops that the colonists had brought with them due to their size and difficulty of processing. The giant rhinos were able to eat the purple rice unprocessed though, and some of them were lured back to the colony to be domesticated or trained. The explorers also brought back with them seeds of a potato-like plant that was determined to be safe for consumption, as well as the corpse of a carnivore that was able to camouflage itself from the people in the forest because it had leaves on its wings. It was only found when some of the scientists tried to use thermal imaging equipment and found out there was a large bird-shaped blob of higher temperatures against the background lower temperatures of the leaves. They immediately asked a soldier to shoot it a few times with his assault rifle, and soon the animal was dead on the ground. Overall, Angela thought, it was a very successful trip.

Walter looked over the colony from one of the watchtowers that had been build near its edges. He could see the farmhouses made out of wood next to the fields full of wheat, corn, etc. After the Naukan fleet had landed on the island to build a supply port, a portion of the seeds in the seed-bank were left there to grow into crops to provide food for the colonists. Also, some of the animals that were on the Ark had been left on the island, to provide a source of protein that they would know would be safe for consumption. The animals also provided manure which would fertilize the farms and fulfilled some key roles like pollination. The farms were in a spot where there originally was only jungle, but the giant trees had to be cleared to make space for agriculture. These giant trees that were taller than many on earth also provided a very good source for wood that would be used to construct many of the buildings Walter could see from the watchtower, and the leaves and bark of these trees, together with many of the waste products of the sawmill had been used to make even more biofuel which would be used for the generation of electricity. They had recently constructed a barracks for the military, a makeshift hospital, and a school. The only buildings that weren’t really made out of wood were the large naval port that the Naukan fleet would use to resupply when they would eventually make their way back to the Gate to go pick up more people, as well as several factories that were built to provide the materials for this supply port and budding settlement, most notably of which was a large steel mill that had been built after sources of coal and iron had been found in the mountains that were located more to the inside of the island. There were also a concrete factory and resource refinery much like the one aboard the main Naukan flagship, as well as several other factories responsible for the production of building materials and other goods.

After several days of sailing, the Naukan Crusade fleet had finally arrived where they were planning to build the main settlement of the Naukan Crusade, and Temir Zima gave the order to land there. They had chosen a location to the northwest of their island colony, protected from invaders by the mountains to the east. The climate was a lot more temperate there, so it was more comfortable for many of the Naukan settlers. The same pattern that happened when the island colony first started was repeated here. The location was made safe, a port was built, local resources were exploited, and farms, factories and housing were all constructed with several major differences: The population of the main settlement numbered in several thousands compared to the several hundred people that lived in Azure Port, so the work happened quicker. The Vanguard was gone more often as it had to check back on Azure Port every now and then since radio communications were not set up yet. The flagship became a more permanent addition to the settlement, as it was intended to be. The nuclear reactor that had been sitting in the Flagship’s cargo hold was finally used to build a powerplant. The Ark was sitting around mostly empty until the Naukan citizens could gather enough materials to build another ship that was capable of protecting the new settlements, which would still take a long time. The main settlement of the Naukan Crusade was named Temir’s Landing.

It was a cold and quiet night out at sea, the wind was brisk, but balmy. The pirates that had been successful at raiding Khalai vessels – ships that carried goods such as food, weapons, and even riches had been gutted for all their worth, their crew laid to rest at the bottom of the ocean. The Orcs weren’t let off easy though, some had chopped off limbs from the earlier fights, some had maul marks on their faces, and some had deep claw wounds that nearly compromised the contents of their guts. It was true that the Khalai were strong willed, it was true that even the civilians were fearsome, that was a fact they were willing to overcome – they just didn’t know the price of their lessons.

”These beastkin are mighty ferocious! Look what they did to Ralagos! He’s wounded very badly, their claws, their bite, even their tails are mighty! I felt like I was fighting wolfkin again!” one of the orcs exclaimed. The others looked to him and scoffed, ”Since when have you fought wolfkin? I thought you left the rest of the green horde like the rest of us." the orc that had claimed he fought a wolfkin answered with disgust, ”I was captured by a pack of human rogues – I thought I was dead, but no, they were barbaric little ingrates. They captured beastkin to make them fight in an arena for profit. I was an orc, but we orcs have a bad reputation for being bloodthirsty and cruel. Betrayed by our own history...”

The other orcs who weren’t listening at the time gathered around to listen to his tale of woe, ”I was given a new name and a new title, ”Karrow the bloody” – they didn’t even care that I was a live person, I was just merchandise to them. Eventually, I learned to accept that I was nothing more than a slave to these people who call themselves a ”civilized race”. It was a terrible fate for so many proud and noble people.” a moment of still silence descended upon the crew with only the gentle slosh of the waves crashing upon the wooden hull of their ship which ached, moaned, and croaked at even the tiniest amount movement.

”How did you get out?” the orc formally named ”Karrow” turned to face the person who asked that question. His eyes settled on the stairs that led down to the crew quarters and up into the open deck – the orc that stood there was none other than their captain. He gathered his words and answered frankly, "I was able to pry one of the bars to my cage loose. That night I killed them all and burned the place to the ground. I let the others burn, they were already lost.”

Again the silence fell, only to be interrupted by a yell from the hourly watch, ”Captain! The other boats! They’re not responding to our light signals!" the crew rushed to their positions and waited in the dead of night, they couldn’t see a thing. That was just another thing the Khalai had that they didn’t – they could see in the dark, they can smell you from miles away, even see your body heat. There were originally seven ships with them, now only four are responding. The lookouts scanned the horizon until their eyes settled on a faint silhouette of a small Khalai naval ship, just one in the far distance and called it out to the rest of the crew below.

”Take us closer to our ships, that Khalai vessel won’t be able to fire upon us yet.” the rest of the crew loosed their sails and began to blow out the lights in the ship. As the ships got closer to their supposedly friendly vessels, a light appeared on their decks for only a split second. They sailed closer and closer, until they realized that the ships were facing them bow first. As the first two ships got close enough to board, they made the observation that all the ship’s crew members were missing, but as they were going bellow decks, they notice a small trail of burn marks going to the gun powder store. As their eyes followed the trail, the last thing they ever saw were the sparks going into the barrels full of gun powder as they were engulfed in a great big explosion. The other two ships that were around fifty meters away from the ships that were investigating them followed soon after.

Pieces of timber flew everywhere, hitting crew and setting fire to the Orcish pirate vessels. The first ship that was close enough to board was gone, its hulk destined for the bottom of the sea. The one Khalai vessel had maneuvered behind them, firing at their exposed backsides disabling their rudder and further shattering the orcish morale as the orcs bellow deck were covered in splinters or were missing chunks of flesh. The night was noisy and the sea stirred, the Khalai had struck back with a fearsome blow, a single ship in the dead of night against seven of theirs. The ships that could still sail could no longer steer and the ships that could still steer could no longer sail. The barrage of cannonballs rained on them, shattering timber, flesh, bone, and morale.The orcs were known for never surrendering, but if the orc emissaries were anything to go by then these orcs may surrender yet.

The Khalai stopped their assault as they sank the second to the last ship and asked them to surrender. The last ship was Karrow’s ship, or rather it was his at that moment. The remaining orcs that were still fit to fight raised their weapons, every orc except Karrow. ”Brothers, it is over, be sensible – think of our dead and dying. Surrender and we may yet find live to fight another day!” Karrow’s words fell on deaf ears as his so-called ”brothers” mocked him for being a coward – no, Karrow was smart, he had fought long enough in those barbaric arenas to appreciate having the choice to live. Karrow took one of the orcs and forced them to look down into the galley where many of their wounded and dying had piled up, the doctor didn’t have the knowledge nor the time to help them all.

"COWARDICE?!" Karrow shouted, bearing his voice into the open air for all to hear, "How dare you? Dooming your own comrades to their deaths? We may be pirates, but before we are pirates, we are people - living, breathing, bleeding, suffering people. We may yet save them, they do not deserve to die like this. To fear shame in the afterlife is cowardice in itself, we must help those who are still alive.”

The rest of the orcs looked down upon their dead, their dying, their wounded, the Khalai surprise had left them broken, this was their chance to surrender and so they did. "We understand, but ’they’ may not."

The Khalai drifted closer and through the smoke and ashes came fifteen more vessels, they were outmatched from the start. The Khalai were respectful to those they defeat, the Orcs were treated with care and were given battlefield first aid in exchange for information – they didn’t expect to get anything of value, they weren’t against torture, but they weren’t at war. The ship that the orcs were previously on were then sunk, there would be no evidence of what had been done here as survivors would be picked off by Khalai waiting bellow. The person that had captured them was none other than the legendary Iron Claw Kaz, the Khalai that had slaughtered hundreds of pirates before them. He was known for not keeping prisoners, but times have changed.

Kazah stepped down into the brig where the prisoners were held, ”What is your name?” he pointed his question towards Karrow with his claw. Karrow replied, ”I am known as Karrow, I no longer remember my old name.” Kazah didn’t hesitate one moment to ask, ”Are there more of you? Do you know their plans?” Karrow took a moment and answered honestly, ”Yes, there are more of us. Our plan? Raid and pillage, plunder and gut every ship that passes through these waters – or so we’re told.”

Kazah took note of this orc’s careful choice of words, ”or so we’re told” indicating that this may or may not be their end goal. ”How many more are you?” to which the orc answered, ”Our ships number in the hundreds.” Kazah eyed the orc carefully and determined he wasn’t lying, ”What ships are they bringing to bare?” the orc answered again, ”They bring ships like ours – modified fishing and cargo ships along with other bigger warships that we were able to make our own.”

Kazah got what he wanted, but wanted to ask the orc one more thing, ”Why are you being so honest with us?" Karrow looked at Kazah straight in the eyes and stated his reason candidly, "You would torture the rest of my kin for this information – giving you what you want would ensure that we go torture free."

Kazah then made his way up to his quarters, he wouldn’t have tortured them immediately, but he figured that most of them wouldn’t have given up the information so easily anyway, he was surprised to learn that it was the opposite of his expectations. He had already deduced that the enemy was coming from the east – that much was clear, just looking at the ships that had survived and where the attacks have been concentrated in, they were heading westwards towards the lonely isles. Kazah would have to unload prisoners, but in this case, the prisoners were at least cooperative – he was a gentleman, a dirty gentleman, but a gentleman nonetheless. He would reward these prisoners for their cooperation, perhaps, reuniting with a few of their comrades in the Isle markets would get them to see the errors of their ways – under keen eyes of course. One orc in particular could prove useful – Kazah knows battle scars when he sees them. Karrow would be an interesting study, an orc that can’t remember his origin, an orc that can’t remember his name. Kazah sees Karrow as an orc – no, a man who’s willing to start anew, why else would he become a pirate.

”Who would be best to look out for these greenskins? Hmm… The fox will have to do.” Kazah wrote a letter of special request to Altaz, he was a keen one, he would know what to do with the greenskins for better or for worse.

As more and more people seemed to start spreading out, Atlantis Group also started to expand their current hold. Once their port-city had been established, fortified and infrastructure could be set up and running. It was an example of modern engineering on how quickly they had managed to turn a stretch of sand into an actual hub of activity in less than a week.

Although, compared to some of their compatriots - they didn't go around and ate anything that they found. Since they still had plenty of their own food with them, secondly they were running tests on the new produce found on these lands. Having this strange rice and potatoes around would prove to be a boon - if they were of the same composition as those found on Earth. Especially the rice to their Asian members. Plus, once news had come in on how there was some 'incidents', it further cemented the AG Decontamination and Research Department.

It was like discovering the New World, some animals and plants might be edible and others poisonous. Thus, they already pre-existing regulations proved most helpful in preventing any unnecessary deaths due to sheer idiocy. While that was happening, a VTOL had been sent out with a scouting party - accompanied by several armed drones. Namely, they were eager on discovering the humans of this world. As according to their naga companions, humans existed on this world. Yet they were the underdogs of this world.

Thus, by order of Director Hammer - a group of armed soldiers, would accompany a team of scientists and doctors to the nearest human settlement on this world and attempt to make contact.

The drone would soon locate that a few human settlements were found near the central isles but, most of them were small and still developing and looked like they kept to themselves rather than be a part of an complicated political entity of which the naga intrepreted as their rulers and those that serve below him/her. But, as they search further inland they would see an human settlement of interest. A small but, sizable port town which seems to thrive in managing and curating trade routes in the area. While the port was the most developed in the community they would see that alone size what seems to be a guard house and its town hall there was two lines of pallisades that protects the town and that its market area was packed full of people even those of the different races but, they seem to be a minority in the location.

This gave them an preview of the various different races in the world as orcs alongside hairy antropomorphic creatures and two story trolls there was the elegant looking elves that was the first encounter of the developing scientific organization. But while the drone glided it would see that the trade routes lead to many more scattered villages or isolated villages that are yet to earn its road that would connect it towards the prospering town. But, while there were various strange and odd looking buildings there was little way of knowing what they are due to the lack of collected information about the humans.

Captain Hanako, soon enough ordered their VTOL to set them down near the port town. Since by logic, it dictated if a town was the center of trade, then more ideas and understanding would flow and pass through such a location. Thus it would make them seem more approachable, compared to some rural village that might see them as iron beasts from the sky. Although, their arrival likely wasn't any less surprising to the other patrons in the mostly human port. As both elves, trolls, humans, orcs and others - soon witnessed one metal bird fly over their market.

Then enough, it landed in a field outside the town and had people walk out of it. "Alright, keep your finger off the trigger and keep your eyes always scanning. Remember, these people are feudal age, in their understanding. So they might have some awe or fearful responses. Keep it cool and try not to intimidate or start anything," replied Hanako, namely a female Japanese soldier. After their island had sunk, Japan had to once more go through a painful transformation of their culture. One of which, had women become more equalized than ever before in Japanese society...or what remained of their people nowadays.

Thus, in their high-tech armor, drones flying overhead and their holographic visors already scanning over the town - the group of modern humans, soon started walking towards the port. Likely already looking like some sort of mystical warriors from an unknown plane of existence.

The town responded with silence and arms as the town guards quickly scrambled to mobilized the human guards which quickly barred the entrances with spear while those in the pallisades pulled out their guns and crossbows as they awaited the strange beings from the strange vessel that came from the sky. The guards who were behind the gate were not bulging as they did their job which was to protect their home.

Soon, an armored and tall man emerged from the barred gates which looked to be their representative. His helm obsured his face from those around him and his armor all but, reveal that he was muscular in nature and very tall which could suggest that he was the leader of the settlement or rather the leader of the guards. He spoke but, like in the orcs it was an entirely new languages full of verbal pauses. He raises his axe and shield his feet firm and dug into the ground and his body stiff and ready for their charge.

He spoke but like the orcs in the past they had their own language and grammar which was vastly different from the linguistic of the sea dwellers as this one had alot of verbal pauses which causes studying it harder. But, it was clear in the way he moved and tone that he demands to know the agenda of the people who came from the metallic bird.

The fortifications behind him were made of thick and hard wood which came from the surrounding trees that surround the settlements and unlike the one's back at the port city this was quality wood and anything made from them was durable than the palms seen around the archipelago. On the air it was clear that they were preparing for the worst as merchants prepare to leave abruptly as most of the inhabitants of the world was on edge due to the strange lights to the north east. "Ram' burst." He yells out several times which suggest that its a name rather than a word but to the town or himself was unclear.

Hanako looked around the crossbows and primitive firearms pointed at them. While once ago, they might have been dangerous, it didn't much phase a group of soldiers - armed with Gen-6X armor. When one had to face acid strong enough to melt flesh, dodge laser fire and try to survive orbital bombardment - then one slowly lost their response of fear. That wasn't even going into the horde of people, still suffering from PTSD from World War III and IV.

At the current moment, even the musket fired at point-blank range wouldn't even dent her armor. Although, their AMCs or Automatic-Magnetic-Carbines could easily penetrate through the forge-melted metal like it was paper. Even the tiny drone in the air, had plenty of mini-missiles loaded inside it's frame to demolish a section of forest with ease. Captain Hanako had dealt with plenty of them, when the JSDF had to deal with the PLA.

Thus, the armored human would witness one of his...modern counterparts walk forward, their own 'weapon' held at their side - yet not pointed at them. The woman in question, soon stopping in front of his shield. Hanako recalled that some of the naga understood human expressions and interactions. Thus, she started with the typical one at that. As she did a bow before the man and then offered her hand. A gesture of peace.

He starts moving his axe and shield ever ready for a strike as he moves to a problematic closeness to the woman that extends her hand. They took a few minutes as he measures the thing in forth of him still not prepared to let his guard down against the strange human in front of him. He spoke once more trying to gauge what nationality the strange armored people infront of him but, only to see that she couldn't understand him letting him believe that they were not of this land.

He sighs as the situation becomes harder for him as the people behind him can only hold for so long still he was willing to gamble for a bit as he plants his axe into the ground freeing his hand before taking hers like what she wanted to still keeping his shield ready and his knife within arms reach waiting for her move. The civilians within the town started to bar their doors and the merchants have all but boarded their boats as they don't like the way it looks while the crossbow and musket men hold steady as they keep their hands in the trigger and even if the modern have the armor advantage it will still be problematic if they releash all at once which ensures that something in their side might break.

The woman in question raised her hand up, still intertwined with his own and then down again. Slowly shaking it, a familiar gesture for her and perhaps also one to him. Or a rather awkward one at that. Nevertheless, it was an indication of peace - as the woman soon smiled in reply, making no moves to namely attack or injure him at that.

As Hanako, soon enough gave a slight bow. One gesture that she hoped translated across worlds, as the bow in itself was a rather humble posture - in indicated a sign of trust, as by bowing - she left her field of vision down and allowed herself a moment of weakness. If anything the armored figure would see, that she allowed herself to be vunerable near him. A usually very unsound decision, if one wanted to be hostile. Yet the gesture done, indicated that she wasn't hostile.

That is what she hoped to get across, as she soon let go of his hand and crossed her own hands to her chest. Waiting for his response to her gesture.

He accepts the gesture still unsure of how to react. Still the situation made the whole situation awkward as they clearly mean no harm for now making him raise his hand and with his strange language he barks orders to the men station on top of the palisades. Which makes them sigh in relief and dismount from the wooden walls. He forms a fist with his hand which gently taps her shoulders hinting that she was free to do what she wants within the city making him retreat back in hesitation as another series of yelling later mobilizes the guards into action and position as the city nervously comes back to life.

---

Unlike the Naga the humans seems to have much less interest with the other worlders but, as they would see they have caught the attention of some of the populous. Once that was done, Hanako sighed in relief. Indicating for the others to join her as they would head in to explore the city.

Their appearance alone might attract attention, since by their physical appearance alone they looked like mythical heroes. Although for them, it was simple and healthy nutrition - that made them look many times more charming and beautiful than their medieval counterparts. As it was, Hanako was curious to see what they had inside the place here. As they walked and got many stares at that. Both at their appearance and equipment.

Soon, as they entered the town they would see children circling around and playing around them as it was obvious that they were curious about the iron men inside their humble town. They could her them scream and shout various words in their language while pointing at the walking group before their mothers would guide them away from them with faces of concern for the safety of their children.

While those on the stalls would wave around their produce like plants, fruits and other wooden crafts that the town seems to thrive on. As statues, furniture and other various wooden art were scattered around the place revealing that the people have their own form of industry. But, on the sides they could see children covered by mud and scars while others lay starving on the alleyways of the busy streets.

Captain Hanako shook her head at the sight in all honesty. It reminded them too much of the poverty that had once gripped their own society. While her men around them kept talking to themselves. Or rather it would appear that way, as they were relaying information back to the AG' High Command. As it was, the factor of having starving and homeless children around - meant that most likely wouldn't care. Nor of the fact, if they happened to disappear. Which made Hanako' next action quite easy, as she soon enough walked over to the forgotten kids.

Namely, like many tales they told of a Goddess or Wise Man coming to save them one day - or a family finding them. A group of kids soon had the great iron men of the sky before them. The woman of the group soon offering her hand to them. An opportunity and chance as it was, to go away and to that mysterious and utopian world that only existed in their dreams. Until now.

As she neared the children she could see that there was a reason they sat and laid their like they had no future. As the children had no ears that of a regular human. They had fluffy ears and tails but, the problem was that their ears were severed, multilated, or even scared and their faces carry with them hopelessness and despair. Some had their eyes slashed and worst of all was some of them were injuired to the point that there was nothing she could do.

One of them held her hand up in fear afaird of what she would do to her as bruises and scars littered her tiny body coughing out blood after. She was devoid of life and it was obvious that she had given up at this point. Seconds after she spoke but, becomes weaker with every word. Once she saw the strange iron creatures in front of her she knew that her time was up and she was about to go towards a better place was what she though of before passing out due to exhaustion. But, further inside the dark alley way they could hear the strange whining sounds and the cheers of a few people followed by a few yells and cries.

Hanako looked almost saddened by the sight. While her...people had some of their own racism when it came to genetic...purity - even they hadn't stepped this low into depravity. As soon enough she gave the order, rather from an angel of wisdom to one to an angel of justice. As she had her soldiers soon hand out the basic water to them, they'd need to figure out if they could eat regular food later.

As she in addition called in the drones to soon guard this location. As she soon herself walked forward, alongside two others. As soon enough, the people of the Port would soon see the vengeance of the Iron Men unfold. As the Captain soon reached a wooden door and no doubt knew what might be going on. As with a kick enhanced by cybernetics and hydraulic armor, she kicked in the door - hard enough to splinter it.

Inside was nothing more than a horror show to her as rows of people were surrounding a pit and inside were two to three of the weird eared humanoids dueling it out for the entertainment of the crowd armed with a small shivs designed to not penetrate enough to ensure a long and painful death. And in the pit a number of the kids scattered with others too tired and wounded to move and the others were already dead as they shower in their own blood. And the others were still caged up and being prepared for combat a sacrifice for their sick entertainment.

But, most of the crowd continued on yelling and shouting as the two in the pit near their gruesome conclusion. While seconds later a group of the creatures sligtly taller than the ones outside rush in order to clean up Hanako's mess and from the looks of it they were whipped and branded which reveals that they were slaves rather than gladiators.

Hanako soon stopped them, in fact, she pulled them outside and pointed to the others outside. As she soon pulled out her weapon, very disgusted at what she saw. As such, she soon pointed her AMC at the wooden ceiling and pulled the trigger. The sonic shriek wasn't that bad, although for people hearing a gunshot for a first time it could be surprising.

As Hanako allowed half a clip to be pumped into the wooden ceiling before stopping. With splinters falling down into the pit and likely all attention on her now. As it was, Hanako wasted no time soon making her intent clear - as she soon walked up, simply pushing people away and not caring where they landed. Before she kicked open the door to the small pit that they called an arena.

Hanako didn't waste time finding the Slavemaster - soon showing the man some manners. Namely by snapping his whip broken, lifting him by his collar and throwing him against the wall hard enough to crack it. Then she walked over to the cages, soon smashing them open with her armored fist and then walked over to the center of the two, who had been dueling. Hanako grabbed the shivs from their hands and in front of everyone she crushed them in her palm - like some aluminum can and let the twisted remains land onto the ground.

An indication and warning that if anyone had a problem they were welcomed to try and stop them. Although after that show, Hanako grabbed the two by their hands - but gently, like a young mother, as she guided them to the door. Then returned for the others. No doubt, this event would attract the attention of the Guard-Captain - as that gunfire alone was loud enough to wake up the entire town.

As it was the beastmen as they were called by one of her soldiers would soon weakily hold her hand still shell shocked with the whole ordeal. Tears raining down his face as she gets carried out from the inhumane place of entertainment. But, she would know that they won't stand down as some of the guests lunges out yelling out redicol wishing to make her let go of the slaves so that they can continue their twisted fun but, would soon see that her armor was not for show as with a loud thunk they would soon fall down towards the ground holding their likely broken fist making some of the guest to run out of fear leaving a few of the guest and the slave master to their own.

But, she would see that the slave master had connections to the guards as some of the crossbow men and gunners on the walls had rushed to their aid blocking the alley way as they set up a kill zone for her to go into but, it soon proved a mistake as waves of civilians rush out of the dark alley way instead likely destroying the makeshift barriers they had.

Captain Hanako would merely sidestep and deliver her own punches. Compared to the drunk patrons, her fist hit harder and with more force. Not to mention, the few stupid enough to hit her armor soon realized their mistake. She allowed the Slavemaster to merely watch his goods be taken away. Any attempt to stop it would simply end with him being thrown back into the corner - as Hanako would leave none behind. Even the dead would be gently lifted and cradled away.

By the time, the corrupt guards had managed to get the alleyway clear - Hanako had finished her job and gotten everyone out and to the center of the town. While some would still attempt to point their gun or crossbow at them, Hanako simply tapped something on her wrist. As soon enough, those guards that had something pointed at the Iron Men or the children - would find themselves being targeted themselves by suddenly of the dozen drones in the air. Compared to them, the drones had much bigger armaments and more deadlier looking than they had. A reminder of just who they were dealing with and threatening.

The captain of the guard would see the chaos created by the strange beings. He sighted as they ride off far to the distance far from reach. Seeing the chaos and the complaints that he would be receiving in return vowed that he would have his revenge on the iron men making him raises his axe up to the air and cursing up a storm.

The slave master would see that little to no of his wares were left making him shout in anger as Hanako effectively bankrupt him and take him out of the game for some time before he could get some more of the creatures. The crossbow and the rifle men on the other had had to give up and lower their weapons seeing the difference in firepower.

Following this act, Hanako ordered their VTOL to come in. Namely it flew straight into the town center, barely pulling up any wind at all. Allowing many of it's residents to see the 'flying iron chariot' up close.

As it happened, Hanako soon ordered and had the men gently place the kids on board the VTOL. As many of them witnessed the Iron Men having arrived like some Judges from the sky and declared their law and now those who had suffered were being taken away from this awful life.

Once that was finished, Hanako had the rest of her men also get on board. With her being the last one inside. Her gaze upon the people however didn't spoke of warmth - giving the same cold glare, that their corrupt members had given just earlier. Thus the children and the people of the town, could see the 'chariot' lift into the sky and soon fly off. The drones soon following after it.

It was obvious that the iron men was outlawed from the port town but, in return they have returned home with the newest members of their colony. They were small in size and had extra features that clearly sets them aside from their human saviours and abusers. While most of them had grown up with the abuse it was obvios that they in turn would be far from trusting their rescue but, some of them did as one of the smallest child out of the group held Hanako's hand like that of an mother and her child threatening to never let go like her life depended on it.

Still not all of them were happy as many of the children held their dead comrades, others were whipped to death while others were taken by those with them right now. Though they didn't do it in their own will loved ones of the victims would make them outcast and remind them of their sin. The civilians on the other hand were up in arms demanding the leader and their captain of the guard the heads of the iron menace that has recently caused trouble inside the town.

---

As the people of earth continued to colonized the archipelago. Working the land and taming the wild as they see fill finding many more creatures of useless creatures and flora that will further aid them to their destined path to prosperity while discovering those that would prove to halter them. But, as they would see the islands would house an eerie number of serpents or reptiles more than the others which would in turn cause a few disasters but, the creatures would know to make room towards their new neighbors. While a few seem docile and far from trouble a problematic species of them started to contest control from them.

Large numbers of serpents that previously would blend well in the background surprise a large number of colonist when they saw the creatures out of their dens in the jungle. As one account would tell of how some of the them have the ability to could easily swallow a van whole. One of the first encounters recorded would be when an explorer by the name of Robert wandered too far from his colony in order to investigate the strange noise that originated from the dense forests of the isles which unfortunately for him, he would soon later be found as an lone bloody arm attached scattered around the flora of the island.

These would creatures in turn would bear great resemblances to the creature that once slithered on their own planetearth in the age of dinosaurs called the Titanoboa. These creatures were extremely aggressive and intelligent as they were seen setting up traps and would cunningly escape their hunters in some cases and with them being cold blooded the option of using thermal reliant equipment would provide little to no help at all which presented another problem with hunting down the predators.

Some of them would size up to be as big as an small house and of course some exceptions would be the massive variants that was discovered underwater that primary hunted the large creatures under water that could explain their massive size while few in number and less aggressive than its cousins on land a few ships and villagers have fallen to these leviathans. One of the most notable of these creatures would be known as the blue death. Which was an hyper aggressive sub species that these variants of these creatures have that behaved strangely as it would openly seek out ships in the busy trade route that would now run between the various colonies situated in the archipelago. But, one of them would gain infamy as it had gathered a large enough bounty that several aspiring captains would see themselves hunting down this monster called the "blue death".

---

As the two prominent councils of Titania have formed and have sent out its diplomats in order to formally start off the first ever international meeting to decide for a unitary goal. Soon, politics and pretty squabbles were presented as long history human abusing the halflings have created rivalries within the council as these would often be discussed with either one trying to gather as much support as they can from the members of the council.

A movement for unitary cooperation would soon devolve into abuse of power and power plays as the various started to forge strong secret alliances that would in turn the favor of getting the most benefits out of it. But, as most of the world leaders gather in one spot aspiring men have gathered their wills and rallied the people for them giving rise to a series of rebellions that would in turn change once more the territories within the highlands and its neighbors.

One of which would be the increase of pirate activity in the so called central isles that some of the races would occupied. After a few months after the incident a few religious sect have formed their own opinions based in their teachings. With some viewing it as a good omen with others a punishment from the gods due to the impurities of their actions and due to this a certain amount of unrest was generated to the point of open rebellions or strikes that would often cause an disruption to the fragile daily life of these people.