“Terraforming a planet will require great amounts of exquisite tools, as well as chemical concoctions so large and so lethal it could turn a planet inside out if done wrongly. Overall, every planet has different circumstances and characteristics one must consider when terraforming said planet. Therefore, it will never be a simple task that everyone could fulfill. Usually, mega-corporations will undertake such a task to make use of mineral-rich planets, or to expand their influence through terraforming, and its subsequent colonization. They technically have no sovereignty to govern any states, but they would simply claim to ‘build mining stations’ and whatever, while ruling over trillions of people in said colonized planet.

Yes, well, I know of your concerns. My fellow humanitarians. As far as I know, galactic police doesn’t exist. Besides, no governing authority would travel 200 years to those places just to write them a citation.”

-R. W. Herodotus, Grand Historian of Ordo Historia, Terra

The lands were speckled with ash.

Half the region was scorched beyond recognition. Within a night, the flames had ravaged across the landscape—leaving nothing but charred remains of flora and fauna alike in its wake.

Waves of ash and dust had arrived into many other regions of the world, turning the skies into a monochromatic grey while spreading the dark skies ever larger, carried by the wind.

The brushfire was finally settled by a timely intervention—a heavy rain had doused the flames raging across the region. The flames were removed from existence, as quickly as they came through the descending husks of a spacecraft.

Under the charred remains of a once-vibrant forest, the survivors walked.

During their temporary rest and their current journey, they had discussed many things. Many topics were exchanged, but no concrete plans were made. All of those would have to wait their turn, only after they finish their debate and make their decision.

As they walked through the damp soil laden with layers of ash, they continued speaking loudly. The seemingly simple argument had reached its critical point, whereby all the options will be flatly laid out and a decision must be made, shortly after.

“Are you serious?” Jim asked in a defeated tone.

“Yes.” Aria replied indignantly. “I meant what I said.”

“That’s not our objective.” Jim insisted “That’s not what we’re meant—”

“We are supposed to build a colony.” Aria interjected. “And that’s what we’re doing now.”

“We?” Jim moaned in frustration. “Just the three of us?”

“Well, yes.” Aria replied.

“In this whatever-planet?” Jim argued. “We know nothing of this place!”

“Yes.” Aria insisted indignantly.

“But…” Jim also insisted. “We have no resources, or our ship, or… How are we supposed to—”

“Jim.” Aria interjected firmly. “Look around you, there’s no other options to have…”

Jim came to his senses after her words. His thinking revolved around how improbable it is to start a colony while having no resources, and isolated with no information on the planet. But, he forgot to consider the options they could afford to follow through. That is—they had no other choice.

“We have no other choice.” Aria spoke gently.

Silence.

They continued walking along the grand river. Aside from a few green shrubberies dotting along the riverside, the rest of the landscape was either charred or scorched into emptiness. Only grey ash and greyer dust were present above the moist soil, which had them encapsulated by the recent downpour.

The air was mostly breathable. But the aftermath still plagues the area—with floating particles, obscuring their vision ever so slightly with a minor haze.

Being breathable does not mean that the air was pleasant to breathe in. Every breath they take, they could sense an underlying scent of char permeating from any source of air. Yet, this unpleasant experience they must make do with was a far cry from what they would encounter had they walked the open fields prior to the rain that somewhat cleansed the air.

The trio trudged along the ash and dirt somewhat soullessly, as if they were travelling with no destination in mind. Their recent debate also did contribute to their current demeanor. To say the least, none of them enjoyed this moment at all.

Only after some time did Jim came to terms and agreed to Aria’s proposition.

“Right.” Jim spoke in resignation, accepting reality. “We have no other choice.”

Drooping his shoulders as he continued walking, rifle in hand, he could only hope that he would not be walking into his eventual demise. No one faulted Jim for his concerns, though. The points he raised were valid, but the circumstances they were facing demanded otherwise.

“Uhh.” Aria spoke in realization. “Joshua?”

Joshua was walking ahead of the two of them, never had he participated nor asserted himself within the debate. He reacted to her hail and looked around at her, with a questioning glance.

“What do you think?” She asked confusingly. She was even worried that he didn’t follow the conversation at all. Thankfully, he dispelled the assumption instantly.

“Yeah.” Joshua replied. “I guess… we should do that.”

“Uh, but…” Aria questioned. “You don’t have anything to say?”

“Well… we have no choice.” Joshua shrugged while replying calmly.

“Not that we could leave this place anytime soon, anyway.” Jim chimed in.

“And we shouldn’t join up with anyone else, even if there are other humans living here.” Aria continued, serving up her wisdom. “Wouldn’t trust a complete stranger, or any organization and join their fold. At least for now.”

Both men nodded unanimously, agreeing to her statement.

“I prefer founding a kingdom.” Jim spoke.

“What?” Aria was visibly confused.

“I would love to carve a dynasty out of these wild lands.” Jim spoke in a straight face. “I want to be crowned God-Emperor, you know?”

““Hahahaha—”” Laughter erupted from the other two survivors.

Evidently, this timely joked had eased the tension shared between the trio.

They continued trekking through the wastes, along the river. They planned to cross the river at some point, or not. As long as their journey led them to a convenient spot that allowed them to set up a colony.

So they continued walking under the rays of light, produced by the sunrise appearing off the horizon. In search of their new home.