Around Ziya, other workers were also busy...
Engineers were working on the gears, technicians tested hydraulic systems, and elves etched enchantnts into the tal armor...
The workshop was filled with activity as every worker was aware that they were building sothing unprecedented.
Ziya thought back to her first day in New Genesis.
She had been overwheld by the scale of the Central Engineering Hub... There were endless rows of machines, the heat of furnaces, the constant wave of mana engines.
But now, she felt really proud...
She was part of sothing greater, part of Shane’s vision to end the Apocalypse not just on land, but across the seas.
She finished her weld, and the sparks started fading. Soon, she stepped back to admire the ch. Its fra now looked smoother under the workshop lights. It was a testant to months of labor.
"Looks solid," a voice said behind her.
Ziya turned to see one of the supervisors, a man with grease-stained gloves and a clipboard tucked under his arm. He inspected the ch and nodded in approval.
"You’ve done good work," he said. "This one’s nearly ready."
Ziya smiled faintly. There was exhaustion etched into her features but she didn’t feel tired at all. She felt accomplished.
The supervisor scribbled a note, then looked at her directly. "One week from now, this ch will be tested in the sea. Make sure every weld holds. If it fails out there, we lose more than just steel."
Ziya’s heart quickened. A sea test.
The thought of the ch plunging into the depths, facing the horrors that lurked beneath, was both terrifying and exhilarating.
She tightened her grip on the torch, as she felt more determined to do a great job...
"This will definitely pass!" she said firmly.
The supervisor gave a final nod before walking away, leaving Ziya alone with the towering machine. She looked up at it once more, the glow of its mana conduits reflecting in her eyes.
One week. The seas would decide if their creation was worthy.
***
After working for a few more hours, Ziya finally set her torch aside and stretched her arms, her muscles were already aching from hours of welding. As she stepped away from the Sea Reaper prototype, she noticed a group of coworkers gathering near the far end of the hangar, where a long table had been set up for dinner.
Ziya joined them, sliding onto a bench beside Eudora, an elf with silver hair tied back neatly.
Eudora was responsible for enchanting the tal sheets and iron plating, she was infusing mana into steel so it could withstand the crushing depths.
Across from them sat Harry, a chanic who usually worked on Project Warden but had been reassigned to help with the Sea ch project.
His hands were perpetually stained with grease, and he had a habit of tapping his tools against the table when he was thinking.
Next to Harry was Jace, a young man with the rare Gearspeak Talent. He could "hear" the language of machines, understanding their rhythms and faults instinctively.
His presence was invaluable, and though he was quiet, his insights often solved problems no one else could.
Others joined as well, there was Sheera, a logistics officer who kept track of supplies and shipnts... Dale, a burly smith who specialized in forging reinforced joints, and Elen, another elf who worked alongside Eudora, focusing on enchantnts.
Dinner was simple... They had hot bread, roasted at, and bowls of stew.
Still, for the workers of New Genesis, it was more than enough. They ate quickly, as they soon talked about various topics...
It didn’t take long before the conversation turned to the project.
"So," Harry said between bites, "we’ve got the Aegis Series for ground chs, Valiant for sky chs... but what about this new one? We can’t just keep calling it ’Sea Reaper.’ It needs a proper series na."
Eudora raised an eyebrow. "That will be decided by Shane, right? Anyway, nas should be cool. It is sothing we’ll use forever... If this series is ant to dominate the oceans, it should reflect that."
"Agreed," Sheera chid in. "But it has to be simple, sothing soldiers can shout in battle. ’Deploy the... whatever.’ It can’t be too fancy."
Harry leaned back, chuckling at Sheera’s words.
"How about the Abyss Series? Sounds intimidating, doesn’t it? ’Deploy the Abyss ch!’ That sounds cool to ."
Dale snorted. "Too grim. Abyss makes it sound like we’re sending them to die. We need sothing that inspires confidence, not dread."
Ziya couldn’t help but laugh at that comnt. That truly sounded like they were sending them to death.
Elen tapped her chin thoughtfully. "What about the Naga Series? The seas are full of monsters, but a Naga seed capable of living amongst them."
Ziya perked up at that. "I actually thought of Leviathan... They’re stronger! It feels right. Strong, commanding. Soldiers would respect it."
Jace finally spoke...
"Leviathan is good, but it might be too specific. If we na the whole series after one creature, what happens when we make different variants? We’ll need flexibility."
The group fell silent for a mont, considering his words.
Eudora broke the pause. "Then perhaps sothing broader. The Oceanus Series, maybe? Nad after the Titan of the sea. It encompasses everything, depth, waves, storms."
Sheera shook her head. "Who the heck is Oceanus? Soone from the Fairy Realm? Anyway, not everyone knows that things. We need sothing practical."
Harry grinned. "Fine, fine. What about the Trident Series? Easy to rember, tied to the sea, and it sounds sharp."
Dale chuckled. "Trident, huh... It’s a weapon but I guess it’s not too bad."
The debate grew louder, each worker tossing out suggestions. "Kraken Series." "Poseidon Series." "Tide Series." "Aqua Series."
Ziya laughed softly, enjoying the energy.
For all their exhaustion, the workers were passionate.
This was simply one of their enjoynt...
They weren’t just building machines here after all, they were also shaping history.
They knew very well that once the Zombie Apocalypse ended, the technology they had created would soon beco part of the new era of human civilization...
Finally, Eudora raised her hand, silencing the group. "We can argue all night, but the truth is, Lord Shane, will still be the one to decide it. Let’s just give so suggestions..."
"What should we call the prototype?"
Harry leaned forward eagerly. "Sea Reaper is fine for now, but it’s too close to the land Reapers. We need sothing unique."
Sheera suggested, "How about Abyss Hunter? It captures the idea of stalking monsters in the deep."
Dale countered, "No, Hunter sounds too light. This ch is ant to fight leviathans, not just hunt them. It should be sothing heavier. Abyss Breaker, maybe."
Elen shook her head. "Breaker implies destruction, but the ch also needs to protect. What about Ocean Guardian?"
Ziya frowned thoughtfully. This topic was getting too long...
Finally, they decided to vote: Guardian, Trident, or Leviathan.
The votes were cast quickly...
When Eudora tallied them, the result was clear.
"Most votes go to Trident," she announced. "So that’s our suggestion for the series na."
Harry grinned at this... "Trident Series... has a nice ring to it."
Ziya leaned forward. "And for the prototype or unit itself?"
Eudora counted again. "Leviathan. That’s the next most vote..."
The group nodded in satisfaction.
Of course, they all knew Shane would have the final say, but it felt good to have their own input. It was their way of passing the ti, of leaving a mark on the machines they labored over day and night.
Dinner ended soon after.
The workers cleaned their bowls, drifted back to their dorms.
Ziya walked with Eudora and Elen, their conversation fading into quiet laughter about Harry’s dramatic "Abyss Series" pitch.
When she finally lay down in her bunk, her mind replayed the words...
"Trident Series... Leviathan..." She whispered them to herself before sleep claid her.
The next morning, the hangar was already busy...
She slipped on her gloves, ready to resu work, but before she could pick up her torch, a ripple of excitent spread through the workshop.
"They’re here," soone whispered.
Ziya turned, following the murmurs.
At the far entrance, four figures stepped inside, escorted by supervisors. They carried themselves with the discipline of soldiers...
"Pilots," Eudora said softly beside her. "The ones chosen to train for the new chs."
The announcent spread quickly. Workers paused in their tasks, curiosity sparking in their eyes. Everyone knew the Sea ch project was nearing its first test, but seeing the pilots made it real.
The supervisor spoke to the managers, and of course, it was heard by the workers...
"These four will begin training today. They won’t pilot the new units yet, but they’ll use the Aegis ch training pods to simulate real combat."
Well, the controls are nearly identical, so they’d be ready when the ti cos.
Ziya studied them closely. Two n, two won... and one of them was really handso...
Eudora noticed her gaze, so she looked at the naplate on the man’s chest and whispered it to Ziya... "Amon... That’s his na. I heard they’re from the Blue Haven Shelter."
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