Fort Vanguard, Command Center

As the issue of basic resources in Erlun was being addressed, new challenges began to surface. General Carter, reading through a stack of report papers, came across a problem that he couldn't afford to ignore. Their supply of gas for cooking was expected to run out within a month, or possibly sooner. However, the more pressing concern was their oil reserves. They couldn’t keep the base powered on electricity 24/7. To maintain operations, they would need to find a new source of diesel fuel to keep the generators running and prevent a potential power crisis.

Carter’s expression grew grim as he scanned the report, realizing the full weight of their situation. Even if they managed to find oil in this new world, the base doesn't have the infrastructure to refine it. "What good is crude oil without an oil refinery?" he muttered to himself, feeling the pressure. Their fuel supplies were dwindling, and without a solution, the base’s operations would grind to a halt.

Suddenly, his concentration was broken by a soldier’s shout.

"General Carter! You need to see this!" The urgency in the voice drew Carter’s attention.

He quickly stood, pushing his chair back and over to the control room, where a soldier was monitoring the MQ-9 drone’s live feed. The drone had been sent out to survey areas to the south of the base, and Carter had ordered the reconnaissance missions to map out potential resources. But what was on the screen now didn’t look like anything they’d encountered before.

Carter approached the monitor, his boots clicking on the floor. The soldier’s fingers hovered over the controls, adjusting the view of the screen.

"Sir, look here," the soldier said, pointing at a large section of land on the screen. The map zoomed in to reveal a vast area that was completely different from the surrounding landscape.

Instead of the usual green grass or rocky terrain, this area was dark—almost black. The land looked scorched, like something had set it on fire, but there were no visible signs of smoke or heat. It was almost as if the land had been permanently changed, its surface altered in a way that didn’t make sense.

Carter squinted at the screen, his mind racing. "What is that?"

The soldier hesitated, looking closely at the image. "We’ve checked the thermal readings, sir. There’s no heat signature, so it doesn’t look like a fire, but… it doesn’t look natural either. It’s like the earth itself has been altered."

Carter stared at the darkened landscape, his mind trying to make sense of what he was seeing. The land wasn’t normal, nor did it appear to be something that could be easily identified as a natural phenomenon. It was an unnatural dark stain in the otherwise vibrant landscape, with lines that stretched for miles. It was almost as if someone or something had come through and changed the very nature of the land.

Kingdom of Eldarion, Erlun

William and the others were in the guest rooms of the Duke's residence, which had been prepared for them after the diplomatic talks went smoothly. It was almost nightfall, and the sun was setting, but William still needed to report to the base. Just as he was about to contact the command center, a firm knock came at his door.

"Mr. William, dinner is ready," came the soft voice of a lady.

"Yes, I'll be coming out," William

As William opened the door, he was met by a graceful young woman standing in the hallway, a soft smile on her face. It was Elara, the Duke’s daughter. Her presence was elegant, and the gentle light from the hallway highlighted her striking features. William, still not fully expecting her, found himself momentarily speechless. The awkward silence remain before Elara spoke again.

“Mr. William, the dinner is ready,” she said softly, her voice calm and inviting.

William quickly composed himself, clearing his throat. “Thank you, Lady Elara. I’ll be there shortly.”

Elara smiled again, nodding politely before she turned and walked down the hall, leaving William to gather his thoughts.

After Elara had walked away, Lucas suddenly appeared at the corner of the hallway, and William immediately noticed him.

"Hey, William," Lucas greeted, waving his hand toward him. "They said dinner is ready."

William nodded, a slight smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah, let's head over together."

The two of them exchanged a brief look before walking down the hallway, the sounds of their footsteps echoing softly as they made their way to the dining hall.

When William and Lucas arrived at the dining hall, the door was held open by two maids, allowing them to step inside. The soft glow of the lights illuminated the room, and as they entered, they saw that everyone was already seated.

Duke Thaddeus, spotting William, immediately called out with an enthusiastic tone, "Mr. William!" He motioned for him to come closer. "Come sit here," the Duke said, pointing to the seat next to his daughter, Elara.

William, though a bit apprehensive, kindly accepted the Duke's offer. As he walked toward the designated seat, a thought crossed his mind: It seems the Duke isn't going to let his offer of marriage for his daughter go without a fight.

Once both William and Lucas were seated, the dinner finally began. Several maids entered the dining hall, each carrying multiple dishes, gracefully placing them in front of the guests. The room was filled with the sounds of polite conversation and the clinking of silverware.

In front of William, a perfectly cooked steak was placed on a plate, garnished beautifully with a variety of vegetables and sauces. The presentation was elegant, and the aroma made it clear that it was a meal to be savored. It looked as delicious as it smelled, and for a moment, William found himself distracted by the sight of the perfectly prepared dish.

As they ate, Duke Thaddeus leaned toward William with a smile. "William, I must say, the knowledge of medicine and disease that your country has shared is beyond anything we’ve ever seen. Our scholars here in Erlun are absolutely thrilled. They've already begun studying it, but the process of translation will take some time."

William nodded, knowing the complexities involved. The spoken language here was remarkably similar to English, which made communication much easier than expected. However, the written alphabets were entirely different, which posed a significant challenge.

Duke Thaddeus continued, "Still, despite the differences in our scripts, our scholars are highly motivated to learn your written language. They’ve already started making progress on deciphering it, and I believe it won’t be long before we fully understand your teachings."

William appreciated the Duke’s enthusiasm. The exchange of knowledge was a positive step, and seeing the interest in education and innovation here was reassuring. But he knew the real challenge would come with more complex subjects, once the basics were grasped, the scholars would face the full weight of modern knowledge.

After finishing their meal, Duke Thaddeus set his utensils down and looked at William with a serious, yet pleased expression. "William, I have a recommendation that I believe will benefit both your nation and our kingdom."

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William, sensing the shift in tone, leaned forward slightly. "What is it, Your Grace?"

"I’ve already informed the royal family of the situation," the Duke began, "of how the United States of American saved the city of Erlun and expressed a desire to establish diplomatic ties. The King himself is eager to meet with you and your team. I believe it is time for you to head to the royal capital."

William exchanged a quick glance with Lucas, who sat beside him.

"You and your team will be escorted by Oliver Boxton, the head knight of the royal cavalry. He is a man of great honor and will ensure your safe passage to the capital," Thaddeus continued.

William nodded, appreciating the Duke’s thoroughness in arranging this important meeting. He knew that meeting the King would be a crucial step in formalizing diplomatic relations between their worlds.

"Thank you, Your Grace. We’ll prepare to leave at your command," William replied.

Duke Thaddeus smiled. "Then it’s settled. You’ll leave in the morning. May this journey strengthen the bond between our nations." He paused for a moment before continuing. "By the way, William, wouldn't you consider showing some of your country's national power to the royal family? The King would be thrilled to see the flying warriors that soar through the skies of Erlun. He can’t quite believe that such a strong country is making diplomatic ties with our kingdom."

The Duke said this with a hint of excitement, clearly imagining how such a display would impress the royal family.

William hesitated for a moment, glancing at Lucas, who was already eyeing him expectantly. He then turned back to the Duke, trying to sound as polite as possible.

"Your Grace," William began, "I understand your desire to impress the royal family, but we're not prepared to fully showcase our capabilities just yet. Our equipment is still being assessed, and we don’t have the necessary resources to put on a proper demonstration at this time."

He paused, thinking carefully about his next words.

"Plus, our main goal is to establish diplomatic ties and discuss the future of our relationship with the kingdom. Drawing too much attention to our military might not be the right message to send at this stage."

The Duke’s face faltered slightly, but he quickly recovered, smiling knowingly.

"I see your point, William. However, the King is very keen on understanding the full extent of your country's strength. Just a small demonstration, perhaps? It would go a long way in strengthening his trust."

William's discomfort grew as he tried to come up with another excuse.

"I assure you, Your Grace, we’ll find ways to show our value without the need for a grand display," William said, though part of him could already sense that the Duke would keep pressing the matter.

The conversation remain for a while, with William carefully sidestepping the subject as best as he could, hoping that the matter would eventually be dropped. The Duke's smile never wavered, but his tone grew more insistent.

"William," he said, leaning forward slightly, "is there something holding you back? Is there a problem that you’re not telling me? If it’s resources, the kingdom is more than willing to assist. We have plenty to offer, and I’m certain we could come to some arrangement to help ensure your country’s continued success."

William’s mind raced, the sudden offer catching him off guard. The first thought that came to him was oil, the resources that were vital to keeping their military and equipment running. The base’s fuel supply will eventually be dangerously low in the near future, and they had no way of replenishing it. If the Duke’s kingdom could provide oil or some other resource, it could be the solution to their problems.

"Your Grace..." William hesitated but pressed on, "Do you perhaps know what oil is? It's a black liquid, usually found underground, and it's highly flammable."

The Duke thought for a moment before responding. "Ah, now that you mention it... I recall hearing that the Republic uses something similar for some of their military equipment. It’s kept classified, but I’ve heard rumors about it. A highly flammable substance, they say."

At this, William, Lucas, and Parker all exchanged cautious looks. Even if it was just a rumor, the idea that a foreign power like the Republic was using oil, a resource so advanced for this world—set off alarms in their minds. For William, the thought of a country with access to oil in a medieval age was akin to the British Empire’s power during the Industrial Revolution, a clear advantage over less advanced nations.

They couldn’t afford to take this lightly. If the Republic had already discovered and harnessed oil, they were far more dangerous than they had initially thought. The three men tried to keep their expressions neutral, but internally, they all felt the weight of this new information.

The dinner had ended, and the conversation slowly shifted as the servants cleared the table. William, still deep in thought about the earlier discussion regarding oil, decided to inquire more about the Republic, especially since it had piqued his interest.

"Your Grace," William began cautiously, "What kind of country is the Republic? You've mentioned them before, but I still don't fully understand what they are."

Duke Thaddeus, who had been sipping his wine, looked up with a thoughtful expression. He wiped his lips with a napkin before speaking, his tone shifting slightly as he leaned forward. "Ah, the Republic... It’s an interesting one. They’re not like the other nations. They don’t have a king or an emperor. In fact, they don’t even follow the old traditions of monarchy. They simply call themselves the Republic. It’s a nation run by a group of leaders chosen by the people, with their power coming from their collective governance."

William raised an eyebrow. A country with no monarchy? That was unusual in a world where kingdoms and empires held power. But it wasn’t just the lack of monarchy that intrigued him, it was the fact that the Republic was part of something much larger.

"The Republic is a member of an alliance called The Council," the duke continued, leaning back in his chair. "The Council is a group of the most powerful countries in the world. Each of its members represents one of the five continents, and they act as a united front in political and military matters. The Republic represents the continent of Veridia, while the others represent their respective lands."

William listened intently, trying to absorb the information. "Five continents… and The Council acts as some sort of governing body?" He asked.

"Exactly," Duke Thaddeus replied, his tone still carrying the weight of respect for The Council's influence. "Each member of The Council is a leader on their continent, whether through military might, economic power, or political influence. They have the resources to back up their words, and their decisions can shape the direction of the world. It’s an alliance that keeps the balance of power in check. The Republic, though, is the most mysterious of them all. Their influence is growing, and there’s always talk of new technological advancements and secretive military projects."

William’s mind was racing. The Republic was no small player, and the fact that they used oil, if the rumors were true, it's a significant red flag. The idea of a republic wielding power on a global scale was like a thorn in his side, especially now that he was learning more about the world's political landscape.

"But there’s more to this. We need to be careful. If the Republic is as advanced as it seems, we might be facing a much larger challenge than we anticipated." William murmured.

The duke chuckled lightly. "I’m sure you’re overthinking it, William. The Republic might be powerful, but they’re not our enemies. At least not yet."

But William didn’t share the same optimism. As he looked around at the others, who were still happily chatting, he couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something more at play. Something that would soon change the course of everything they knew.

"As for the last question, where is the Republic located?" William asked.

"Well, since we are on the central continent, Arkanis, the Republic is located on the southeast continent, Virelia. But since Virelia is the smallest continent, you can find the Republic easily," Duke Thaddeus remarked.

William, curious about the duke’s mention of it being the smallest, thought of Oceania. "How small is the southeast continent?"

"According to the Republic, their continent spans about 140,000,000 square kilometers, which is roughly three times smaller than ours," the Duke said proudly.

However, William, Lucas, Parker, and even Ethan, who overheard the conversation, froze. Their eyes widened as if their souls had left their bodies, completely shocked by the size comparison.

'J-J-Just how big is this planet? How the hell is that possible?' William thought, his mind racing. 'Wait, I shouldn't be questioning this, I should be amazed... no, wait, what am I even thinking about?' His thoughts were completely out of this world, struggling to process the immensity of the information.

Meanwhile, Lady Elara, who had been quietly observing the exchange between William and her father, couldn't help but grow curious. She noticed William's intense focus on the Republic and their use of oil. It struck her as none of William's team displayed any magical abilities, a notable difference from most envoys. Typically, all countries sent at least one powerful magic user as an escort for their diplomatic missions, yet William's group seemed entirely lacking of such presence. This difference raised several questions in Elara's mind.

After dinner, William sat down to report the events of the day to the command center. He explained the diplomatic talks with Duke Thaddeus, including the royal family's interest in their country and the invitation to visit the royal capital. He also mentioned the Duke’s enthusiasm about showcasing their technology, though William didn’t go into specifics.

Then, William told them about the Republic, a powerful nation in the southeast continent, Virelia. The Duke mentioned that the Republic used a substance called oil, which seems important to their military strength. This raised questions about the Republic’s technological capabilities.

He also reported the Duke’s claim that Virelia was the smallest continent, at 140 million square kilometers, which was still much smaller than the central continent, Arkanis. This new information left William and the high ranking officers wondering about the true size of the planet and the global distribution of resources.

Lastly, William mentioned that the Republic was a key member of "The Council," a group of powerful nations. This added to their concern about the Republic and The Council's members strength and influence.

With that, William finished the report, feeling the weight of the information they had uncovered. There was a lot more to consider, but for now, they had to move forward cautiously.

Fort Vanguard, Commnad Center

After receiving William's report, the high-ranking officers remained calm, concealing their panic behind their professionalism. When William finished, Vice Admiral Reginald Thorne approached General Carter, who sat frozen at his desk, still processing the absurd information about this world.

Reginald slammed his hand on the desk, snapping Carter from his thoughts. "We don’t have time for this. Send out the carrier strike group to the Republic in the southeast continent."

Carter stared at him, shocked by the boldness of Reginald’s proposal to send the USS Gerald R. Ford to an unknown territory. They hadn’t even confirmed the information yet.

"Sending the CVN-78 to the Republic, which we still haven’t—"

"Waiting here is worse than taking action," Reginald interrupted, his tone firm. "We need to gather information about this world, or we're stuck here for good. I’d rather risk it than sit around."

The other officers in the room exchanged looks, a silent agreement among them.

General Carter stood up, glaring at Vice Admiral Reginald Thorne. "You’re asking us to risk one of the most advanced carriers on a completely unverified mission to an unknown territory. We don’t even know what kind of threats this world holds." His voice was firm, trying to maintain control of the situation.

Reginald stood his ground, unfazed. "I understand the risks, Carter. But the only way to gather intel on this world and make progress is to move forward. We can’t sit here and wait for the unknown to come to us. We have the resources to adapt. We need to act."

Carter clenched his fists, his mind racing. "And if we’re wrong? If we walk straight into a hostile situation we’re not prepared for?"

Reginald's expression hardened. "Then we deal with it. We’ve always been trained to improvise and respond to threats. If we don’t take that chance, we’ll never know what’s out there. And we’ll remain stuck, unable to return home."

There was a long pause as Carter considered the situation. He glanced at the officers around him, who were all waiting for his decision. He exhaled, his posture sagging as he resigned himself to the reality. "Alright," Carter said, finally. "Prepare the USS Gerald R. Ford."

The room fell silent, the weight of the decision settling in. The command center began to move swiftly, coordinating the preparation of the carrier strike group.

Chapter 4 end here :)