After several months have passed the tamaraw retrofitting was finished. With the people celebrating as the time of departure would soon enough come. As soon the people were getting ready for what was to come. As the ships that would come were all stocked and ready for what was to come. Yet instead of wasting a single meal and depleting their resources the people would part to their idols. Some they have to leave behind in this world and some small enough to be carried. As they prayed and fasted knowing that every meal that they saved up today was a meal later.
As such Jazzy would soon enough look on his face quite in solace as the once busy and noisy port had found itself quite. The banging of hammers, the welding of steel, the bartering of plenty, and the drunken rambles a thing of the past as most have come to say their last goodbyes within the material realm and that to their home one that was no longer able to sustain themselves but, still kept them alive until the bitter end.
"Looks like a funeral." Carl chimes in as he looked on and sighed in return. To him it was quite calming to see that even still all the bloodshed, famines, and such people still cling to hope whatever form it may take. His uniform quite worn since he and his marines were busy training and also representing the ship as they zip on through and come to talk with their people. Wanting to foster friendship now rather then when they have their boots on the ground on the new world.
As he saw some of them raising forth an idol of what symbolizes their religion both new and old. Some still clinging to the old faith despite everything while new religions had sprung forth. "I bet that everyone has too much free time." Jazzy spoke as he looked on from on top of their deck seeing them celebrate the completion of the ship as his men were working out and making sure to be in tip top shape ready for what was to come as they prepared themselves for a voyage that would be their end of their new beginning.
"Do you believe it?" Carl speaks as he looked on towards the people. "The gods or this voyage?" He asked replied not bothering to look at the commander of his marines. "Both." He answered as he looked at his bible an old guard to some but, for him it made sense. "I do but, to who.." He answered letting him know his stance. "All of them have a reasonable answer but, is that always the full story... Why believe in a book that never mention the lands on which you were birth?" He asked him. "You know I don't believe it a hundred percent." He replied back as he pouted at his words. "Yeah but, its quite something a festival celebrating our departure from home.. Do you think that the gods are finally kicking humanity out for trashing their home?" He asked of him as Carl saw it his fear and his uncertainty as he pondered on what to do.
His face far from happy for what was to come knowing that a third of these people would survive the waters and those towards land even less. Thought he would only give it a small sigh before thinking that it was for the best. "Our green onboard green house should be enough for us and from the looks of it some of them have set up their own. He said knowing that some of the ships were mostly soil in the interior with a large net keeping their crops safe and far from diseases that could infect them. "That should keep us fed if worse comes to worse though water would be the problem.. We have a desalination plant but, I doubt that it would be enough." He continued on knowing that it was far too power draining for the smaller vessels and such all of them have to ration it off.
"Lets go and inspect the men." He said as he let them have their party as he beckon him to follow as they descend. First towards the quarters where the men where as they pray just like the others with their families. "Admiral!" They hail as they stood to attention one that even their families followed as he motioned to them to go back to what they needed to do. "How are things?" Carl asked as he went towards them. "All is fine commander just praying and preparing also I thank you for this." He said as Jazzy soon enough nodded. "Its good to see that all of you are all in a good mood. " He continued as they went on back to what they were doing. Some were playing a game or bonding with their families while others prayed.
As none would dare to do anything to earn the wrath of their commander. As Jazzy was the one to nip it out of the bud and throw them off the ship without a trial and the other was the one to make sure that they were too exhausted to make trouble afterwards as soon enough they left with the crew happy for their visit as they continued to enjoy the free time since everyone did everything that they could in order to meet the deadline. As the two went towards the armoury as they inspected the weapons and the ammunition. "Barely enough for a prolong engagement with another ship but, its enough to safeguard our people for the time being." He spoke out as he knew that most of their people were skilled and some were well known gun smiths thought as like before its mostly a problem with supply as most of the steel were used to create the hull and only a meagre amount was given to the workshop.
"We should have more if we train in more from the other ships or once we start mining for it but, the latter might yield lower quality so we have to refrain from combat." He reported to him making him take one of the guns. One of which was a PVAR rifle which had become the staple weapon of their navy as it was durable and the industry needed was local even after the land decayed. "We have enough for all the marines and the crew but, we don't have enough ammunitions." Carl spoke as he sat down on one of the chairs as he inspects the rifles knowing that they had plenty due to the series of wars that they fought both inland and outland. "We don't have enough powder to refill our storages and its clear that this is the reason why we have these." He said before pointing at the metal bows and crossbows that they had in the corner. Easy to produce and as he saw plenty of bamboo bolts and arrows to replace the guns.
"I've heard that the other fleets are stocked to the brim." He said making Jazzy nod knowing that his intel was right. "The American remnants have multiple containers full of weapons and from the looks of it they have enough shells to finish us off and still have enough to engage with the japs and the Chinese afterwards." He said as he started to take apart the gun as he talked. "We will likely be taken in by the others once we set foot." He added as he carefully took the parts and parted them making sure that all was in order knowing that all of their weapons were precious and vital to them.
As Jazzy started to assemble the gun his face still worried knowing that they would likely have to yield to the American and be assimilated towards what empire they wished to create after they know for sure that they have the upper hand. "We still have the British, and the French and it seems to me that they are larger or better then the Americans plus the air force has been scuttered and this is why we had the engines retrofit to flee once we made sure that the Americans wanted us." He spoke out letting him know that they could forge their own paradise as he was not willing to lay it all down. The battles they almost lost their lives in and the events that they had to endure. All in all he refused to back down.
Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.
"We won't Carl since we everyone outside of this room is preparing to make a new life for themselves." He said as he finished assembling it back before placing it down onto the box where he took it from. His face quite glad to know that his friend was still the same as he soon enough produced up a small metal container one that told him that it was time for their little celebration. "We will make sure that nothing like that happens ok." He said as he gave him the flask.
"Plus if it ain't us then who.. Those back home?" He said jabbing at those that didn't take part within the expedition. "We are the vanguard and our ship will forge the way since we are the nearest and this is why we must do our best." He said wanting him to cheer up and remember his words. "We are about to go and whatever happens there know that its on us to make sure that we get the best for our people." He said towards him. "You will be my blade and I will be your bow know that in order to make this all work we both need to work together." He explained as he smiled as he drank his flask tasting clear and clean water one of which was a luxury for them.
"The marines will do what it takes." He responded as he sighed. "Water.. It tastes so good.. Its been so long since I had something this good." He responded as he leaned back and sighed as it was clear that he gave him quite the bribe. "We will make a paradise I promise you that brother." Jazzy spoke as he looked on pleased to have him with him knowing that with him here they would be able to overcome whatever trial there will be in the future.
"Yeah, yeah." he said before taking the flask and soon enough standing up. "I'll make sure of it." He added as he lifted him up with his hand. "I'm pumped now." He said quite excited and hyped for their future. "Still going to go out for now also Gabriela wants to have a word so I'll be going." he said as he rushed on out leaving him be.
As he nodded and let him go before walking towards the medical centre where their biologist and doctor was stationed at. Only to hear that unlike the quarters and the armory there were shuffling and even a series of commands as once he had peeked within that he could see their doctor drilling her students. One of their leading doctors also appointed biologist by the council. "Grind that and make sure to place it neatly there, sterilize the needles, clean and make the beds." Were a number of them as she made sure that her green house and the medical wing while small was in tip top shape. While in the middle of such a storm of command was the lady herself. Her thin frame a common sight within the wasteland and her shortness a side effect of the people that were born into this disaster.
Thought despite her small nature her role in the expedition was massive and such was also seen as its most valuable members. As she made sure that everything was in order as while their race had stated to shrink due to the lack of nutrients it did come with the benefit that it didn't take much to fill their stomachs.
"Admiral." One of the nurses spoke as she opened the door and let him in as she bowed before rushing towards the cabinets to sort out the medicines. "Admiral the supplies are abysmal at best and we are left to rely on what we can grow within these halls to cure our people.. Are they cheaping out on us?" She asked as this didn't make sense for her. "The expedition of the century and they expect us to live off one engagement's worth of medicine.. Do they want us to fail and live them off here?" She asked of him as she was quite irritated and mad knowing too well just dire their supplies were. "As in the list we have done our best to get what you specified in your request form but, the government had stopped it knowing that they wanted to last long enough for our return." He explained though as she looked rather displeased he knew that she was going to go ballistic once more.
Thought she would ponder it before motioning him to follow her. "Cough medication, sleeping pills, Inflammation as well all vital for our trip out at sea but, do you know what's the problem." She asked him as they toured her facility which was clean and well maintained. "Numbers." He answered making her nod. "Numbers and a whole lot of it." She said before leading him towards the green house where they cycle between crops and that of herbs which uses what little of the soil that they could plant in. "I'm growing what I need but, I mean it any skirmish will drain our reserves and our men will either die of shock or that of infections so I suggests keep casualties low or else I'm going to need to sacrifice our crops for new herbs." She said to him letting him know that they would need to be smart and caution or else all of them will die.
"Its not ideal but, I have sneak in chickens and rabbits since we can feed them our scrap and we would need animals to feed our people in the worst of times." She said making her open the clothed table to reveal her emergency food supply. Their chicken still young chicks along with the rabbits who were just puffs of fur still sleeping as their mother and father watches over time.
"I see and while I disagree with you not placing this in the list I am glad that you did." He said as he nodded and let her take care of the things. "Also we need the fertilizer." She spoke out knowing that both were excellent sources of it. "Anyway I'll approve of this and if possible I would be looking for someone to look after the plants." He spoke out as he was glad to know that she took the initiative in this one. "Still I'll try to do something with the food supply maybe barter with the other ships since we need it." He continued as he soon enough bid goodbye letting her know that her supply was being address all the while he finally went towards the workshop.
One that was the entirety of the lowest floor as being the machinists their jump was to maintain the engines and finally to manufacture and create anything the expedition may require at that. Thought as he went he could see that they were taking a break. Most of them tired from having to build their new facilities and with everything in tip top shape meant that they just finished their work load for the day.
"Admiral why are you here?" A feminine voice spoke as he turned around revealing his old friend which saw him pull out from blows that should have killed him but, didn't. Thought her messy form was clear that she had did one last job before she stopped to go to him. "See that you are busy still, Robin." He said as he could see that she was quite tired from the looks of it. "Here." She spoke out as she gave him a sword one that had a serrated blade letting him see that she was busy forging him a blade for him to help out his work along with keeping them safe.
"Blades are hard to make especially these ones but, its clear that we need every edge, plus we don't have enough for it also know that I've used stainless steel for it since we don't have enough steel to replace a rusted blade." She spoke out as she was happy to finally finished it. "I'll give our commander a blade for him too a golok maybe." She said as she yawn. "Don't worry about me its not like I worry about anything in the most vital place in the ship." She muttered before she soon enough bid him goodbye as she collapsed at the mattress laid near her workshop as she was spent and that she wanted to rest.
"Same old even in the end." He said as he let them have their rest as he too retired back to his quarters as he prepared for what was to come tomorrow. Placing his blade on the side while he went on to his hammock where he could rest knowing that he had seen most of the ship and saw that it was well maintained and well looked after in return.