A splendid morning/day/evening to you, gentlemen and gentlewomen! I hope your Generator hasn't exploded (yet), since the temperature will drop significantly in the coming days! I have to apologize for the late chapter, as I have a life, and making sure this chapter is consistent and grammatically correct is a long process. I already found some mistakes and inconsistencies I failed to notice, and am doing my best to rectify them for the future. But without further ado, onto the reviews! April Post-Scriptum: I went through a burnout, sorry. I am back, however! Safe from Corona, too!

Daggercloak000 - Have patience, friend. And thank you.

David111 - Exactly, my dear friend. An Autogun (or as peasants call it, the 'Gatling Gun') can indeed be mounted onto an Automaton and used for the explicit purpose of waging war. Sadly for us, it's wholeheartedly inferior to a Mechanized Lancer! This must be rectified!

Wombag1786 - Thank you for your kind words, fellow stranger. And trust me, as I have already told you in PM, this will be a longer story, which I will attempt to make as good as possible. Even if I am reduced to monthly chapter releases.

Ferno16 - Pina is gonna be a recurring idiot until she sees the wrath of Oxbridge. And yeah, until she saw the power of the JSDF she thought victory was possible.

Mecharic - Hah. Pina thought that the other Automaton was 'asleep' since it wasn't moving at all. So there's that.

And you are correct, the Saderan Empire can't invade Frostland, and Frostland can't invade Falmart. HOWEVER, Oxbridge and New Manchester have struck a deal with the Allied Kingdoms to work behind the Empire's back in settling Alnus Hill, thus making an invasion redundant. Of course, this is in exchange for benefits that Oxbridge can give them.

Alienfinderx - As a matter of fact, I have read Cold Machines, and hope the author releases a new chapter. As for the Computation Engine, while it is vastly superior, I won't be using it, at least not in that sense. It won't be used primarily because of Oxbridge already having firm control over Automatons, and introducing sentience is a stray variable they can't afford.

Also yeah, New London will make an appearance, but not Sanctuary. Sorry :/

LATE AUGUST AUTHOR'S NOTE: Rewrite of part of the chapter. Didn't like how the story would turn out, and wanted to immediately change something that'd be important later on. On another note, I am continuing this! Don't worry!

EARTH: UNDISCOVERED CAVE SYSTEM, 7:01 AM

TWO DAYS AFTER DISCOVERY

ROBERT DUDLEY P.O.V

The first of the two Steam Lorries that could be restored was en-route to a cave system which previously went unnoticed in the search for Steam Cores. The Steam Lorry pushed through the snow triumphantly, now having been designed for weathers above -80C so that it wouldn't break down unless it was caught in the Storm. As of now, it was carrying medicine from the Oxbridge Generator Site: enough to keep the nine thousand odd troops alive long enough until they were all transported safely to the other side of the Gate. That was only one section of the Steam Lorry, with the other sections dedicated to carrying two thousand units of rations, so as to feed the soldiers who were on the brink of starvation. The last sections of the Steam Lorry held enough wood and steel for roughly fifteen Houses, each one capable of housing ten people. This was because a breakthrough was achieved in negotiations, seeing as how the Saderan Empire's full attention was turned to subjugating highly violent nomads, instead of on the Gate. It was a pain to construct additional holding cabins for the Steam Lorry, but it did the trick. The reasoning for this was, next to transporting construction materials, that they would serve for quick transportation of Steam Cores.

Therein lies the problem. If any Steam Lorry was somehow, however unlikely, intercepted by the Saderans, not only would the Steam Core likely explode, but so too would the entire Steam Lorry. In an age where proper re-creation of technology was still not possible, any asset lost was a crippling blow, and Robert was determined to keep all the assets they had intact.

As the Steam Lorry approached the area, Robert saw a flashing of a light: Morse Code. 'Medicine here' it translated. That was the place. Telling George to change course for the light, Robert did a quick inventory check, so as to verify that everything needed was there. Shortly after confirming that all was present, the Steam Lorry came to a halt, George and Robert getting off, just on time to meet with their colleagues, and the intrigued Saderans.

"Took you long enough to arrive. We're down on our last reserves." An engineer said, eyeing Robert. He merely smirked.

"Come on now, Henry. We're here, and that's the only thing that matters." He stated. "Where's the leader of the Saderans? I want to speak with him." Robert asked, getting an answer from Henry in the form of directions. All the while, George and the workers from New Manchester which came with Henry started unloading crate after crate of medicine and food rations. As Robert moved into the cave system, getting his protective goggles of his eyes, he saw just how bleak the situation was.

These people were grasping at any opportunity to heat themselves, with one group going as far as huddling on top of each other, so as to remain warm. And although he had been alerted, seeing a Bunny Warrior in person was a bizarre experience, almost surreal, to Robert. While he was walking towards Count Formal, Robert had passed by yet another group of people. What separated them from any other group was the fact that each soldier had some form of blanket, or anything along those lines, whilst one of the Demi-Humans, who sat alone, away from the soldiers, had barely any clothes to begin with. This definitely left a bad impression with Robert, who decided to see what was going on.

"You there, soldier." Robert shouted out, to get a soldier's attention whilst approaching them. "Why is that woman almost naked in this cold?"

"Because she is a filthy demi-human, that's why." One of the younger soldiers replied, joined in agreement by the entire group soon after. Robert merely frowned.

"You need every man and woman you can get to survive out here. If you don't, you die. And I'll just remind you who's keeping you alive right now." Robert stated, resorting to intimidation. It was an underhanded tactic, one which he hated, but acknowledged its uses. Some people simply had to be intimidated into compliance. And although the soldiers did shut up, none gave some warm clothes or a blanket of some kind to the Bunny Warrior. Robert sighed.

He walked over to the woman, shivering from the cold, and looked down at her. He heard from Henry that the Bunny Warriors were exceptional soldiers, yet enslaved and used in all manner of ways. The ones here were an exception, to a degree. She stared blankly at him, until Robert started unbuttoning his coat, which made the woman have a puzzled look. Finally, after a while, he took off his coat, kneeling down, offering it to the woman.

"It's cold, even if inside. Take this, it'll keep you warm." He said, the woman slowly taking the coat, wrapping it around herself shortly after. "Better?"

She nodded, her eyes darting away from him to look at those behind him. Robert slowly got up and looked in the direction of the soldiers. They were clearly pissed off. He merely smirked, and started walking away, his hunting rifle hanging on his shoulder. Eventually, with time, Robert arrived in a dead-end tunnel, now serving as a makeshift base camp for the high ranking officers of the Saderans. The Count could be seen talking to one of his subordinates, sadly unable to hear what was said. Colt Formal quickly took notice of him.

"I suppose that you are the leader of these academics?" He asked, now being helped up by one of his officers, Robert noticing that the man's right leg ended a little short: likely a necessary amputation. From what he could gleam, Robert's men bandaged him well.

"That would be me, yes. Robert Dudley. I suppose you are Count Colt Formal." Robert said, introducing himself.

"You would be correct. It is a pleasure to meet the leader of the academics at last." Colt said, giving a small, yet sincere smile to the man. "I hope you bring supplies which we need desperately." He said, hoping fot a positive answer.

"Indeed I do. I have brough enough medicine to keep your men alive, and enough food to feed the starving, and sate some of the hungry." Robert stated, but alas, quickly added. "Tell your men not to eat too fast. Some of them haven't eaten a proper meal in a while, and a sudden intake of nutrients can end up killing them."

"I see..." Colt answered, nodding in agreement. "You truly do bring knowledge worthy of the mages of Rondel with you."

"I wouldn't say that we are as knowledgable as mages in some aspects, but in others I must agree." Robert noted, sighing. Even if inside of the cave, he could feel the cold air creeping up to him from behind, hugging his skin as it passed through his clothes. It only worsened without his coat, yet that woman needed it more than he did. He still had protection from the elements; she was almost naked.

"I hope you have a plan to safely take us back, however. The soldiers are getting mad, and it only worsens." Colt added, finally reaching the topic which Robert wanted to get to. He took in some air, and quickly spoke.

"We have a plan, yes. We will be instituting a system of random selection; each person here will be given two pieces of paper, where they will write a number twice. They are then obligated to put one of the papers of their choosing into a box, and once that is done, I and my colleagues randomly take fifty papers. We do this each day. This is what we call a 'raffle'." Robert explained to the Saderan, Colt merely nodding along slightly. His worried expression, however, didn't forebode a positive response

"Is there really no other way? No way you can bring more than fifty each day?" Colt asked, his voice trembling slightly from the cold. Robert shook his head.

"We have only two transports, and we must evacuate our people, first and foremost. It will take many weeks, mayhaps even months, but... I am confident that all of these men will be brought home safely."

EARTH: OXBRIDGE GENERATOR SITE, 6:15 AM

MARCUS WHITTAKER P.O.V

Marcus had managed to get the three women to see some degree of reason. They had been recovering splendidly in the past two days, with Marcus having them perform basic functions, partially out of fear of them losing some basic human functions due to the cold, such as walking. He was relieved to see that the women, or Bunny Warriors as they are called, are healthy and fully mobile.

Now came the part of introducing them to the world outside the Infirmary. He steeled himself for the barrage of questions the women would give him, and shortly after, made his way to the Infirmary. He could see that they were ready, as they put on the clothes they were provided, the only skin that lay exposed to the winter being that which was on the head.

"I hope you are ready for the trip outside. A small warning however; be observant." Marcus stated, holding the doors of the Infirmary open, so that the women could exit first. One by one, Marcus could see them stop in their tracks, turning round each other slowly. As he too came outside, closing the doors of the Infirmary, he caught a glimpse of one of them going wide-eyed, and with reason. The slow thumping of a nearby Automaton as it refueled at a Steam Hub, placed in the vicinity of one of the Seedling Arks, collosal buildings, almost as tall as the Generator, which housed countless specimens of Earth's flora. So diverse and so beautiful, that no less than four were needed to save everything from the Great Winter.

"What... is all this?" One of the women asked, her eyes glancing at everything around the three of them. The woman felt a hand drop onto her shoulder, her eyes landing on Marcus, their saviour.

"This, my ladies, is one of the last cities on Earth. Welcome to the Arctic." Marcus stated, answering the first question; only one of many that would inevitabely come. "If you would follow me. I have to finish work on something, and I figured you'd want to see more."

The women nodded, silently following Marcus as he walked along the roads of the city. Each stared at the monumental structure before them, its large metallic parts shifting and in constant motion, steam exiting the pipeworks, smoke coming from the top as the belly of the beast is filled with coal by one of the four-legged Automatons. As the four walked along the road, they eventually came face to face with a building of almost equal size, utilitarian in design, yet still vastly more pleasant to look at than what most cities offered on Falmart, if only for its simplistic beauty. Marcus entered through a small door, the Bunny Warriors following, and quickly gasping a little. Lo and behold, an Automaton in the works, held high by metal support beams and kept in place by holding clasps, a platform high above the four extending to the chasis of the Automaton, for ease of access.

"What... is this, ser Marcus?" One of the women asked, Marcus stopping for a little, refusing to face them, instead facing the Automaton.

"An Automaton. One of the greatest technological achievements of the British Empire, pioneer in Automaton technology." Marcus answered, turning back to where he was headed, now starting his ascent up a pair of stairs which led to the higher platforms, the women following closely behind.

"This was man-made? No God had gifted this?" Another woman asked, confused a little. Marcus could only chuckle.

"Indeed, my friend. Everything that you see here was made with our own two hands." Marcus explained, the guests intrigued and a little surprised. They thought that no amount of progress was possible without some sort of divine intervention, yet their saviour claimed otherwise. Eventually, the four got to the highest platform, only Marcus moving onto the Automaton itself, muttering something to himself in English, before he began unscrewing a panel; the same one Edward apparently hit rather hard with a wrench.

"You might want to stand back a little. It's going to get quite hot in a few moments." Marcus exclaimed, now done unscrewing the panel. He looked for a faint moment for the switch used in Quality Control, both on Automatons and Mechanized Lancers. He never did understand what the difference was; one was made with handles used for construction and labour, whilst the other was made bulkier so that it could support the automated loading mechanism, whatever weapon it was outfitted with, and, of course, the experimental Richard-Goldberg Computational Engine. Would have been far easier to outfit a normal Automaton with an Autogun and call it a day. Alas, such thoughts weren't for the present.

Finding the switch, Marcus quickly pulled it, the Automaton inert. Until the pillar of fire rose from its ventilation exhaust, not nearly as great and large as it was on Falmart, yet more than enough to captivate the guests with awe. Shortly thereafter, it died down.

FALMART: ALNUS HILL, 10:28 AM

KING DURAN P.O.V

Another quiet afternoon, in spite of the priest Archibald speaking to some of the soldiers. He and Duke Ligu conversed on the topic of the otherworlders, intrigued in what they had to offer.

"What do you think the otherworlders will give us, Duran?" Duke Ligu asked, the two men slowly approaching the Gate, as part of their morning routine, which had started thanks to the revelation of a peaceful people on the other side.

"I suspect they will give us just enough to keep us content. They would certainly not give us their beasts of iron." He commented, Ligu nodding in response.

"I must agree." Ligu continued. "They can give us far more than the Empire, yet we should be wary. If they find out, there is no stopping them from taking it for themselves." He stated. A harsh truth, yet one which both men had realized early on. They couldn't get too greedy, but neither could they be too closed off to such gifts. A precarious balance had to be maintained.

The two could see... smoke, as they continued their conversation. It came from the Gate, no less. Rushing toward it, as soon as the Gate came into proper view, both of them froze.

"Final destination: our new home!" The voice echoed in the strange language of the otherworlders, a carriage with no horses grinding to a halt, its majestic metal frame reflecting the rays of the sun splendidly. The smoke they saw earlier billowed from the metal chimney on the enclosed carriage, a line of other towed carriages stretching out at the back, close to where the Gate began on Alnus Hill. Its size was too large for a normal carriage, yet this was no normal carriage. It was as if it was bestowed upon these otherworlders by a God most benevolent, perhaps even the one Archibald was speaking about. They had naught time to think of such themes, for soon, people started disembarking the carriage at the front.

Those people resembeled that of the academics which came before them, bewildered by the beauty of Falmart, and in awe at something so simple as grass and the Sun. Then again, warmth was a luxury for those otherworlders, and no matter how well he knew them, Duran would never understand the full scope of what they had to endure. Perhaps, he thought, that was for the best.

The two felt like silent observers, watching as families celebrated their safe arrival, looking around them, taking in the scenery with great awe. All of those that disembarked started taking off the heavy clothes they had on them, for they would not be needed anymore by their owners. However, what caught Duran's attention was the unmistakable form of one of the academics, the clothing distinguishing him from the gathering crowd.

"King Duran!" The man called out, approaching the two with a quickened pace, taking off the metallic eyes he had off his actual eyes. "Forgive me if I am interrupting, but I have a message from my Captain."

Duran looked at Ligu for a moment in stunned silence, before turning back to the academic. "You do not interrupt anything. What does he wish to convey?"

The man straightened himself, prior to speaking up. "Captain Robert has made contact with the remnants of the lost legions. A second Steam Lorry, this metal transport, will be transporting the survivors back here." He stated. Ligu and Duran nodded in response. That was good, the legions were not dead as they had feared. However, if some decided to return to Sadera, the otherworlders would be found out. And the Empire would make moves to subjugate them. The next thing that caught the King's attention was the people behind the academic beginning to unload many large crates with the utmost care.

"If I may be bold to ask, but what is in those crates that requires such delicate care?" Ligu asked, pointing to the men behind the academic, to which the man before them chuckled lightly.

"That." He exclaimed. "Those are crates carrying every single seed and seedling of our world which we had managed to save from the Great Winter." He answered, the realization slowly sinking into the conscious of the two royals. "I remember when we got the last seed on the world to safety. All of them sent on a ship to our city, ahead of us. We still needed to prepare for their safekeeping." He mentioned. "Now if I may be excused, I must co-ordinate where to build the foundations of New Manchester." The academic explained, those being his last parting words. The last seeds... that gave the otherworlders even more justification for their re-settlement in Duran's mind.

EARTH: OUTPOST 11, 1:59 PM

ARTHUR HUGHES P.O.V

It had been days since they arrived at the site of the Army Warehouse and began excavating it for resources and any valuables. Though conditions weren't ideal, they were more than enough to ensure a healthy life, so long as the city continued to support and provide. A square deal, some said. Though... the fact it was a deal felt wrong to him. Were they not as important as the administration said they were? Despite giving up the mantle of Captain after the Great Storm passed, he was confident the new Captain and his entourage would keep the well-being of the city's inhabitants - inside the city and abroad - in mind. Though, he could attribute his concerns to the fact he was still stuck in the mentality of a Captain of the last city on Earth. And now of the Outpost.

"Captain." One of the workers called out to him, coming from the direction of the Warehouse. The Captain turned around to face him, as did one of his closest friends, Martin Ward. Ward was one of the most hard-working men he'd ever seen, in spite of his age. Likely due to the fact he was in the Army, though when asked about the Warehouse and its origins, he admitted to knowing next to nothing.

"Yes? Is something wrong?" Arthur asked, looking in the direction of the Warehouse.

"It's not about problems sir, but we did find something odd. You should take a look." The man said, Martin and Arthur beginning to follow him to where the discovery was, close in step. As they made it to the interior of the Warehouse, the plethora of lamps lighting the branching pathways that lead deeper into the carved out mountain, the three of them stopped before a small crowd of workers, each one discussing what they found.

"I think it's an Automaton, it has to be! Look at the pieces of metal, those are clearly legs!"

"I for one believe it's part of something else. Do you see the shape of the 'legs'? They're too thick to be of an Automaton."

"By God..." Martin suddenly spoke up, having seen what it was far better. What he saw were indeed legs of what appeared to be an Automaton, but as said by one of the workers, they were too thick and too big to be of a normal one. The chassis was also abnormally large, or, at least, what was visible and not obscured by rubble and the veil of darkness. And if his sight didn't betray him, he saw two of the fabled Steam Cores jutting out from what he could see of the main body. "This isn't just any Automaton. It's a bloody Mechanized Lancer!"