by Leon Castle
Everyone except Endorok and the flight crew file out to the galley.
‘I’ll get a brew on,’ comments Nev, ‘anyone else for a coffee?’ he asks. Judging by the tight nods he gets from his crew mates they want coffee, and answers.
After 20 minutes or so, Endorok enters the galley.
‘Great news, guys, we are finally moving away from the anomaly. I believe it’s a mobile hot, spot the first I’ve ever encountered. We’ve managed to capture some significant data as we made our escape. It should help us identify them quicker and avoid going anywhere near them in future.’
A collective sigh of relief sounds as everyone relaxes a little.
‘Mindy saved us from becoming a smudge on that rock guys. I’m sure you’ll be keen to thank her for being on the ball.’
A unanimous head nod confirms the crew’s gratitude, everyone then files up to the flight deck to thank Mindy. She is a little taken aback by the crew’s hugs and thanks. Secretly, she is delighted by the response.
Chapter 77
After the intensity of the close call it’s a relief to have a couple of weeks of noneventful flight, but, the asteroid belt is not quite finished with them yet, however. It still has a couple of surprises in store for the explorers, the first happens about two months later. Adam spots a strange anomaly on the long range scanner. It looks like a gigantic beating heart! 1700 kilometers across!
‘Endorok, you’d better get up here and take a look at this! In fact you all should come up and have a look,’ Adam announces to the crew on the ship’s communications link.
The flight deck quickly fills with people trying to guess what the anomaly is on the screen.
They skirt the outer edge of the spectacle, not wanting to get too close. Using their modified scanner they are able to penetrate into the center of the beating heart, past the asteroids forming the loose, beating, outer layer. It is no big surprise to find a large 496 kilometer diameter supercharged magnetic asteroid at the centre. The surprise comes as the scanner penetrated even further into the core of the mini planet. The core structure resembles a large spinning cylinder in a hollow chamber. As the cylinder makes its rotations, its magnetic field either repels or attracts the iron asteroids that surround the core asteroid. making them appear from a distance like a huge beating heart!
‘I never expected to see anything like that!’ whispers Nev to himself, in total awe of the spectacle.
‘Such is life, I guess,’ mutters Endorok, his eyes still glued to the massive beating heart outside the vessel.
‘Should we name it? Endorok?’ Mindy asks.
‘Aye what a grand idea! what should we call it lass?’ he asks Mindy, breaking in to his thick brogue accent.
After a lot of toing and froing of potential names, finally they settle on ‘Iron Heart’.
Chapter 78
The months slowly pass as they push on for Vesta, the next possible candidate. As they approach the mini planet, long range scans reveal that Vesta is 525 kilometers in diameter with a surface temperature of 85 Kelvin to 270 Kelvin. Now they are only two days away.
‘On final approach to Vesta, Endorok, surface scans are giving me the go ahead to land wherever you choose, it’s all pretty solid on the crust.’ Mindy reports to Endorok.
‘That large flat area over there,’ points Endorok, ‘set her down at the far end. That should set us up with a good size drill floor.’
‘Copy that Endorok.’ replies Mindy, as she maneuvers the massive prospecting vessel ‘Croc’s Eyeball’ to the spot Endorok has pointed to.
Gently the craft touches down on the rock surface.
Drillers and geologists, or rock lickers as their mates call them, are the first teams out on to the surface. Drill teams are busy pacing out a grid pattern and spraying colored dots on the rock floor where they will drill their core sample holes. The geological team explores the rock outcrops, chipping away at loose rocks and cracks in the rock face, looking for samples to identify.
After six months of extensive survey, many new minerals and elements are identified and logged into the data base. This little rock is a full on treasure trove! However on drilling down to the core, a shocking discovery is made. Its core is a totally new nuclear isotope 20,000 times more powerful than weapons grade plutonium! Endorok has the hole sealed off, and annexes Vesta as off limits, with strictly no access until adequate safety and mineral extraction protocols are put in place. Their hearts sink as Vesta shrinks behind them, she promised to be an excellent prospect to build the great city. But the risk from the core is too great. Their last real hope is the largest rock of all, the rock that hides behind the red planet. the mini planet called U’kala.
The long journey to U’kala is taken up with mineral sample and data analysis. A sacrificial pod is towed behind the ‘Croc’s Eyeball’ to conduct studies and experiment with the new minerals and elements. If something should go wrong, then the pod can be cut loose, preventing the loss of the ship and her crew.
Chapter 79
‘Endorok, we are closing in on U’kala, data from the scanner is starting to come in.’ Mindy informs Endorok.
U’kala has a diameter of 2146 kilometers. Its surface temperature is from 143 Kelvin to 267 Kelvin. Learning from their previous mistake, the first task is to drill a hole straight down into the core. Three months of tenacious drilling later reveals a solid pure iron core, everyone is relieved. Now the survey can swing into full speed ahead. Six months later, with the survey complete, Endorok opens communications with the Sobek.
‘Captain, we believe our search for our new home is over! I am sending you a data parcel listing the total breakdown of U’kala’s internal structure. I believe with the ice deposits at the polar caps we have more than a 100 year window, supporting up to two million souls. This is the Goldilocks rock, it’s just right! You will be able to build whatever size city you want.’
‘The data is as solid as a rock!’ Endorok laughs at his own joke to the Captain.
Back on the Sobek, Val communicates with his older brother using the implant in his head. Nolack-1 boosts the signal for him to reach the Croc who is busy back on Thera.
‘Hey big yin…good news!’
‘What?…Better than me getting hitched?’ putting on a fake sulk.
‘Maybe…’ Val teases his older brother.
‘Endorok and the survey crew have confirmed our hunch. It would seem from the data parcel Endorok sent me that U’kala will be the pick of the asteroids to build ‘Sky Jewel’. I’m having Nolack-1 send you the data parcel now. I must admit Vesta is a massive surprise, a radioactive core 20,000 times more powerful than weapons grade plutonium! Who would have guessed?’
‘Mmm…could be useful in the future I guess.’ murmured the Croc.
‘Well…we will stay well clear of it until we can safely extract it and the other useful minerals and elements that are on Vesta.’
‘Yes, good plan, we’ll get our best people on working out a safe recovery plan for Vesta.’
‘So how is your lovely bride to be?’
‘Taneasia has just completed her diplomacy module. She seems to be taking it all in her stride, although I suspect she hasn’t quite come to terms yet with the fact that she will be Queen of our kingdom.’ Croc smirks with his younger brother.
‘Yeh…that throws a whole different light on things, Taneasia is a pretty special girl though I reckon she’ll run rings around you…oldie!’ Val remarks cheekily to the Croc.
‘Mmm…you might be right there youngin!’ Croc laughs.
Chapter 80
The months quickly whizz past, and the grand wedding day finally arrives. The Croc has gold coins minted for the occasion, more than enough for every individual in the kingdom and guests to have their own commemorative coin.
The wedding is a grand affair with guests coming from trading partners and the entire kingdom. The Sobek has flown everyone in from the asteroid belt to Thera for the celebration. The sight of the majestic Sobek re
entering Thera’s atmosphere is quite spectacular, attracting crowds of onlookers all around the globe as she circles the globe in three close orbits at an altitude of one kilometer. Guests are shuttled up from the surface to the Sobek to enjoy the experience of the flight to the United Kingdom of Sobektar.
The wedding ceremony itself is quite simple. Taneasia is presented to the Croc by her father. The Croc then accepts Taneasia from him, pledging his love and devotion to Taneasia. Taneasia then responds to the Croc, pledging her love and devotion to him. Now the Croc places the crown of pure gold on her head.
‘With this crown I now pronounce you my wife and my Queen.’ He bows to her, and then she bows to her liege the Croc in return. The wedding party and guests now file out to the reception venue for the celebrations.
The festivities last long into the night, with fireworks and entertainment. Everyone has a great time except maybe one individual, Stan. He sits quietly sipping his beer, brooding on what could have been…
It doesn’t take long for everything to be packed up and back to normal the next day. The Sobek repeats its close orbit circuits of Thera as the guests are shuttled to their homes, their heads still buzzing with the whole experience! Their friends and colleagues will never believe them! After the final circuit of Thera, the Sobek heads back out to the asteroid belt to resume operations.
Chapter 81
A week into the prospecting trip, Maxxy sits under a small tree enjoying a break in the shade from the blistering desert heat.
‘Hey Granddad!’ he calls out to me, as I walk along the dusty shallow gully, heading up to where Maxxy sits.
‘Parked up for a break, are we mate?’ I smile as I sit beside my youngest grandson.
‘Too right, it’s roasting out here!’ replies Maxxy, wiping the sweat from his brow ‘Here, check this out.’ He holds out his leather nugget pouch.
‘You did alright!’ I smile at the pile of nuggets I tip out onto my hand. ‘There would have to be a good few ounces here, mate,’ I say looking across at his little face brimming with pride.
‘Now I know what you meant when you said, I would have a big part to play. I’m the guy that finds the gold!’ he beams.
I smile a forced smile at my little champion. One day he will realize just how hard it is for me not to tell him everything about himself, and his older brother. One day he will understand.
After sitting and admiring the nuggets, I carefully pour them back into the pouch.
‘We might go find your dad and Dave, and then, call it quits for the day.’
‘That’s a great idea, granddad,’ agrees Maxxy, quickly gathering his things together we set off to find the others. We find them not far from the camp, also packing up to head back. Maxxy runs ahead of me to show Dave and his father the collection of nuggets he had found. The lads are as pleased as punch for the young boy, and slap him on the back in congratulations. Dave has found some good size nuggets but not quite as many as Maxxy. Alex and I tip our nuggets in with the boy’s nuggets when they are distracted, adding to their tally.
‘Granddad, we haven’t spoken much about your story this last week. I know the Croc got married to Taneasia? Is it?’
‘See, you do listen! You are spot on.’
‘Yeah well, what else does he do on Thera?’
‘The most important job that the Croc has, is to make sure the kingdom keeps a good cash flow turning over, Maxxy. Running a large organization like the kingdom costs a lot of money. and it’s his job to generate it by supplying plugs and technology to our clients. This income pays for everything and everyone in the kingdom.’
‘OK,’ remarks Maxxy, as he takes a swig from his drink, ‘what about the ship, the Sobek was it?’ asks Maxxy, his head starting to form questions as he recalls the story so far.
‘That’s right the Sobek.’ I confirm.
‘What does it do? Does it go anywhere?
‘Well son the Sobek stays with the miners as a base of operations until the city of Sky Jewel is complete. Only then will it be free to explore beyond our home star system.
‘Grandfather, I have a question for you. Why do we bypass the great red planet and not mine and colonize it ourselves?’ Dave half interrupts, Maxxy likes Dave’s hard question. ‘How will Granddad answer this one?’ he thinks to himself with a smug smirk.
‘Dave that is an excellent question, the reason is twofold. Firstly our objective is to find asteroids of near pure mineral content to shape into plugs that will fill the pits of exhausted mines back on Thera. This allows our clients to mine the new plugs without waste product and wasted money removing it. It also gives them the opportunity to support their local economy and provide jobs for their people. The second reason is that the great red planet is at the end of its lifecycle. Sure, it has water ice, and minerals, and vast space to build cities and such. We have the Sobek, with her we can search beyond this star system for a younger planet to call home. If others choose to colonize the great red planet then blessings to them.’ I smile at my older and now wiser grandson.
‘Thank you grandfather.’ Dave bows with a renewed respect.
‘Granddad!’ explodes Maxxy, a question suddenly popping in to his 12 year old head, ‘Do they have pets out on the asteroid belt?’
I smile in response to my excited young grandson, ’Well, I’m going to have to disappoint you on this one Maxxy.’ I reply screwing up my nose a little. ‘You see pets are lovely things to have here on Thera, but out there it is a different story.’
‘How come?’ Maxxy askes in a bit of a huff.
‘It’s really a matter of resources. Air, food and water, these three are vital for our survival, so we can’t afford to waste them. I’m sorry, Maxxy, pets might be good for some fun and pats, but that’s all they are any good for. Out there, we simply can’t afford them.’
‘OK I get it, no dogs allowed. What about schools then, do they have them?’ Maxxy asks reluctantly.
‘Guess what!’ Maxxy brightens expectantly.
‘They do!’ Maxxy groans and pulled his hat over his face ‘Granddad…’
I laugh with Alex and Dave at Maxxy’s response. ‘These schools are much different to the one you go to now, you will only attend school for two hours per day!’ Maxxy instantly brightens.
‘You are kidding right?’
‘No, I’m not. In fact the guy who designs these new schools is right here now!’ I laugh.
‘Who is it Granddad, you?’
‘No son it’s you! Remember the immersion cinemas I told you about earlier, you design them for accelerated learning as well as entertainment.’
‘Wow! Granddad, I better get busy in school if I’m going to be building all this kool stuff!’ We all roar with laughter at Maxxy’s response.
After our laugh with Maxxy, Dave’s face takes on a somber serious expression.
‘Grandfather, you tell the story like you were there on the spot at that time. How can you know the intimate details of everything you tell us, with such clarity?’
‘Simply because I was there…Let me explain. Remember my friend Mozaz, the ELF, Energy Life Form? During our discussion he gave me a demonstration of his power. He stood up and placed his hand on my shoulder and said “Close your eyes.” In what seemed like only a split second later he said “Now open them” I obeyed and got the shock of my life! Receding rapidly below me I could see myself sitting alone on the edge of the cliff top.
Panic started to grip me as we rocketed upwards, Mozaz reached out to me to calm me. “I have changed you to an energy life form like me so that I can show you your kingdom.” With that we traveled through time and space and he showed me all that would happen until the time of my rising up from death. That was as far as he could show me. After that we returned to the clifftop he shook my shoulder, and said “Awaken young Croc” and I did. As I said before, we spoke for hours and then he was gone…’ the emotions flooding back to me on my recollection.
‘That is truly amazing, Grandfather!’<
br />
‘What about Captain Val and Gene do they get together Granddad?’ suddenly remembering Val and Gene.
‘Well they do…sort of,’ I reply to Maxxy’s question.
‘What do you mean, “sort of”?’
‘Let’s just say they are very busy people and maybe a little commitment shy.’
‘Oh…Maxxy responds trying to be all grown up, but in reality its gone way over his head. Dave and Alex just grin at each other.
Chapter 82
‘What happens after the wedding Granddad?’ asks Maxxy now curious about what happens next.
With the wedding now done, it’s time to get down to business. The Sobek returns to its previous station, allowing the miners to return to their starfish mining camps. The construction of a new modular city is undertaken, and scheduled for completion in 12 months. This modular city will become the new base of operations for the miners in this sector. U’kala’s position is almost opposite on the other side of the asteroid belt ring, tucked in behind the great red planet, so this present location will become an outpost city.
Construction is completed on time and the Croc and Taneasia fly out to officially open the new city.
Taneasia stands at the ribbon ready to cut it.
‘What do you name this city my dear?’ smiles the Croc at his Queen.
‘I name this city Borazik. In honor of people who live in that tiny remote place. Close to where I first started my mining carrier until…someone came along and made me his Queen!’ she teased, smiling at the Croc.
The Croc smiles back at her. ‘Then Borazik it is!’
With that she cuts the ribbon.
The attending crowd and everyone connected by communication screens let out a loud cheer. Now it is official, the outpost city of Borazik is fully operational open for business.
The Sobek now leaves Borazik behind as she sets off for Thera to pick up supplies and a new work force. A whole new fleet of next generation tripod miners and prospecting vessels are ready for delivery. Training on the gear will happen on the way out to U’kala. The trip time should be cut in half with the new upgrades to the propulsion system the Sobek had fitted while loading on the supplies and new equipment.