Zone 16½

Zone 16½ (also known as Sebogrova) is a floating island and veritable city in the sky hovering above Zone 16. It's origin is unclear, as it does not appear to have been physically moved from any one location, such as in the case of Sky Texas. It has changed hands of control many times over the years, being owned by Sky Texas, to the Digg Bigg Mining Corporation (DB), to eventually the Kol-Mak tribe.

At the moment, it is being used as a safe haven for the tribe in its raiding efforts across the Northern Continent.

## Description

Zone 16½ is a large floating landmass in the sky above Zone 16. Roughly half the size of Neo Miami, it is quite rocky in composition and has a tropical micro-climate.

Most portions of the landmass are flat and rocky, and prior to development by the Digg Bigg Mining Corporation was nearly entirely covered in dense foliage. Underground, there are rich deposits of Zerium ore, making the ground very hard. There are winding mine shafts and tunnels created by DB throughout their time there, some of which have been boarded off and remain unexplored since. Most notably, the island is fairly close to the surface of the Earth, and is able to be seen from the ground, unlike Sky Texas.

After the Kol-Mak takeover of the island the mining facilities have fallen into disrepair. The main processing plant at its center has been converted into a fortress, and former habitation modules throughout the island have been converted into miniature villages, with multiple stories of levels being created to such an extent the "ground" is rarely ever the true ground in the more densely populated areas. Shipping containers and derelict flying vessels have been jury-rigged into homes and businesses. The edges of the island are littered with ports and docks constructed from reclaimed industrial materials and facilities, many of which house the numerous raiding fleets of the tribe.

The entire island reeks of fuel, and the air has an almost metallic and sulfurous taste. With the landmass being so densely populated, refuse quickly fills the many narrow streets before being collectively gathered and pushed off the edge. A red tinge of rust dilutes any natural sources of water, and a thick layer of soot covers most surfaces. Wildlife is has largely taken the form of pests, with most other wildlife having been hunted to extinction or choked out by noxious fumes.

## History

Zone 16½ is a floating landmass in the sky above the central part of Zone 16. Where it has come from has eluded researchers and the flora and fauna would suggest it had originated from Zone 17, but there would appear to be no clear location it could've come from there. Historically, the island had been known of since the Beginning Times, and remained unexplored until primitive flight was developed. Even after people set foot there, it would remain uninhabited or claimed by no groups as it was initially not considered valuable and the difficulty in getting there to set up a settlement made most groups waive the idea.

### The Triple Barony

Zone 16½ would remain a peculiar irregularity until Sky Texas was rediscovered by Ned Danger, and it fell under the jurisdiction of Sky Texas (controversially represented by The Triple Barony) as a result of the Airborne Landmasses Charter. Upon recieving the land, the Triple Barony tasked Belvedere Von Rosselstein to send prospectors to the island in search of any value at all. Fortunately, they had found value in the form of rich Zerium deposits. Excited at the prospect, Von Rosselstein began preparations to develop the island, but the plans fell through as the initial investment would've been greater than what he or his fellow barons would be willing to put forward. Soon after, the land would be bought at a land auction, with the winning bidder being the Digg Bigg Mining Corporation, who would succeed where The Triple Barony could not

### The Digg Bigg Mining Corporation

The Digg Bigg Mining Corp., with a great desire to break into the Zerium market, was quick to establish and begin construction in Zone 16½ with the main processing facility being completed in under a year. Within only three years the corporation had finished all necessary facilities for an automated mining and processing colony there. Included was a fully integrated shipping and receiving port featuring cutting edge (for the time) automated remote navigation and piloting of transport barges, habitation modules strategically placed throughout the colony, water lines, and various repair and construction shops for day to day operations. Not to mention, there was also several hundred miles of winding mine shafts and tunnels that they had begun constructing underground, accessed through an electric railway.

All of this would be powered by an on-site Zerium-fueled generator complex. 3,000 workers would live and labor at the colony year round, and the base was capable of remaining self sufficient for up to half a year before needing a resupply from corporate HQ.

### The Kol-Mak

After the Crunch, the Kol-Mak were no longer able to be stopped by the formal Crandian protections provideed to larger settlements and cities, so they began to thrive further. Eventually a great warlord would rise among them by the name of Gormaz Skigorsh Kol-Mak. He would declare in a riling speech that he and his people were tired of living disconnected lives, and that they shall claim a new home for themselves to live united and prosper. He would come up with a plan to seize Zone 16½ from corporate ownership and convert it into a base for the Kol-Mak People. He would began preparing quickly and after seizing an automated hover-barge from DB and temporarily disabling it's RNP chip the plan was set into motion.

The barge would be loaded with concealed explosives, set to remotely detonate on Gormaz's command. They would reactive the RNP chip and Gormaz and his small team of elite raiders would hitch a ride into the mining colony. After the barge made its way into the shipping bay, the group snuck off it and dispersed into the colony grounds in the cover of night. It was then that the explosives were activated and with the distraction in place Gormaz would call the rest of his raiding crew of 1,000 men to fly up to the island in whatever they could find and and storm the facility. Over the hours that ensued, the entire work force was captured or killed, with a woefully underprepared defense force being quickly thwarted.

With the base now under their control Gormaz knew it wouldn't be long before DB sent in reinforcements. He ordered his men to take up defensive postions and would go on to defend themselves against the DB counteroffensive over a couple months. Despite a numeral disadvantage, the raiders managed to hold off the Digg Bigg Mining Corporation who would declare the facility a net loss and too costly to regain control of.

Officially, the Kol-Maks had now won and members of the tribe would begin flocking there to begin a new settlement for themselves, converting old buildings into businesses, homes, and ports. They would repair any damages with whatever they had on hand, and quickly cleared out most of the flora for use in building efforts. The central processing plant was claimed by Gormaz himself to be converted into a powerful fortress, with the mine shafts being made into an underground transport system for the tribe.