Earth's Last Angel (30 page)

After thanking and acknowledging the delegates, the Croc proceeds with the declaration of claim.

‘I the Croc of the United Kingdom of Sobektar, acting by with power vested in me by the citizens of the United Kingdom of Sobektar, on this the 5th day of May in the year of 2010, before the honorable high counsel of the One World Order and all the attending delegates, do rightfully claim the asteroid belt in its entirety as a new territory of The United Kingdom of Sobektar.'

‘With all associated rights and privileges of claiming such an unclaimed and uninhabited territory in accordance with international law.'

‘The United Kingdom of Sobektar will use its rights to harvest any and all resources in the said territory, immediately taking possession of it as our own with the legal and moral right to defend it as necessary from any form of invasion or threat.'

Initially there is shocked outrage and resistance to the claim, but as the Croc reminds them, the first people to settle in a new uninhabited land have the ancient right to claim it for themselves. This has been international law for millennia. Also, as a prospecting venture, the United Kingdom of Sobektar has the right to stake their claim on all mineral deposits in that claimed area. After two weeks of intense deliberation the United Kingdom of Sobektar's claim is upheld by the global government, the One World Order. trade negotiations can now began in earnest.

Trade negotiations are arranged to take place at the Grand Pyramid in the United Kingdom of Sobektar in two months' time. There is a scurry of activity as all participants prepare for the upcoming trade session.

It is now 87 years since the Third World War, and areas that were once radiation hot zones are gradually becoming safe to live in once again. The population has now recovered to just over two billion.

Industry and commerce are establishing themselves once more as a demanding population grows rapidly.

Old infrastructure destroyed in the war is slowly being replaced or repaired, placing a heavy demand on minerals and other natural resources. Mines, steel mills, and factories of every product bought by consumers that have lay dormant for years, or had been destroyed, have now been rebuilt and recommissioned. Oil, however, is in high demand and in short supply, an alternative must be found… quickly.

‘I have never in all of my life, seen anything like this!' comments an awed Senator Cai, as he looks out of his port side window directly down at the imposing grand golden pyramid of the Croc, with the sun shining directly onto its western face lighting up the gold tinted glass. The massive structure is perched out on the ocean fronting onto the sheer cliff of the headland, it appears to float on a base of water. The small air shuttle leaves the sea behind, crossing the northern beach coastline then arching around to line up with the end of the runway, positioning itself for final approach. The golden pyramid looms high and majestic out of the port side window. With a squeal the tires of the aircraft gently touch down. It taxies towards the apron where the other eight aircraft are parked. Just before they turn onto the apron something amazing catches Lien-Lua's eye.

‘Look at this! It's…just beautiful!' murmurs Lien-Lua as she leans across her husband Cai to get a better look. Looking at the eastern side now, the golden pyramid is shrouded in a golden halo from the sun shining on the western face.

‘Now I understand the symbol of Croc,' breaths Cai entranced by the sight of the two huge upright golden Crocs facing each other guarding the apron entryway, one Croc on each side of the entrance. Between them, the sun haloed golden pyramid looms high.

Waiting for them on the apron is the Croc and a small welcoming delegation.

‘Welcome to the United Kingdom of Sobektor. Senator Cai, and of course the lotus of the mainland, your beautiful wife…Lady Lien-Lua,' bowed the Croc in a show of respect to his guests.

‘Stories are told of this place, Croc…but none can truly describe the beauty and majesty of your golden pyramid with the sun as its halo, simply spectacular! This is a rare honor to be invited to your home as your guest. Thank you, your Highness,' Cai enthuses, returning the bow of greeting with his wife and small entourage.

‘Thank you for making the time to come. We will have time enough to talk over our business, so for now enjoy yourselves. Our porters will collect your baggage and take it up to your rooms. Delegates from the other eight regions are already here.'

‘I will give you a quick tour then you can freshen up and enjoy a relaxing swim or simply soak up some sun in the courtyard. Later this evening I would be honored if you join us for a meal and some light entertainment.'

A wide set of stone steps leads up from the apron level, up to the slate stone path that follows the shoulder high wall to the northern entrance. Walking up the steps, the entrance opens out onto a massive white tiled court yard. The large lagoon style swimming pool occupies most of the northwest corner of the court yard. Some of the other guests are already enjoying a relaxing swim. The sound of splashing water and happy squeals of children ring out from the pool. Senator Cai stops at the top of the steps to take in the sight before him. He looks the massive structure up and down.

‘This is truly spectacular, Croc! I see now that it's a moat around the base of the pyramid, from the air it looked like the pyramid is floating on a small lake, is it to keep the bad guys out?' Cia jokes

‘No, it's to keep my babies in,' the Croc smiles as they approach the long, shallow pond. Large schools of every variety of fantail goldfish swim lazily around, filling the white pebble pond with living color. The Croc stands beside one of the two, head high Croc statues, marking the north entrance to the pyramid. He touches a hidden switch and the glass door of the northern entrance slowly rises up inside the glass wall to the gasps of astonishment from the visitors.

The massive glass door has barely passed halfway when something spectacular happens. Hidden just beneath the water is the clear glass walkway, now rising out of the water, allowing them to walk over and into the interior of the pyramid. Senator Cia shakes his head in amazement, The Croc just smiles to himself satisfied with their reaction.

‘This way…' instructs the Croc as he walks over the now fully raised glass walkway into the pyramid. The Senator's small daughter stops to dip her fingers in the pond, and some of the fish immediately swim over to her, bumping her fingers and making sucking sounds asking for food, much to her delight.

‘Would you like to feed them?' the voice belongs to a young Mazuban, the Croc's son.

She nods shyly, looking up at him.

‘My father and I feed them before breakfast so you'll have to be up early, I'll make sure to ask if it's OK with your mom and dad first.'

‘It will be fine young Croc, I would like to join you…if I may?' Lien-Lua is standing behind the Croc's son keeping a close eye on her little one.

‘Of course it is OK, Father will be delighted.'

With everyone now inside, the Croc points out where everything is, and then leads them up to their guest rooms on the next floor, which houses the guests from the other eight regions of the globe. Individual countries have long ceased to exist, the planet's population is now divided into nine regions governed by the One World Order. The floor above this is the Croc and Queen's private chambers. The top capstone floor is the Croc's private studio.

Rising early, the young Croc meets Lien-Lua and her little daughter at the western entrance to the pyramid. ‘Would you like to help me with the mealy grubs?' smiles the young Croc at the excited little girl, expecting her to balk at the offer.

‘Oh yes please!' she replies, excited to finally feed the hungry goldfish. After collecting the pellets and grubs, the young Croc squats down next to his new little friend, who is busy wiggling her fingers for the goldfish to play with and make sucking sounds as they demand their food. She feeds them with both pellets and grubs, squealing with delight as they suck at her tiny fingers.

‘I see my babies like you, little one,' comes a powerful voice from behind them.

‘And she loves them too, father.' the young Croc replies to his father.

‘I did not see you walk up my lord, Good morning' smiles Lien-Lua making a short bow in respect.

The Croc smiles and returns the short bow of respect. ‘Little one, do you truly love my fish?'

‘Oh yes! my lord they are the most beautiful fish I have ever seen, and they just love to be tickled!' she giggles.

‘During your visit I will be very busy with your father and the other lords, would you like to do me a favor? Just as long as it's OK with your mother.' the Croc asks giving her mom a conspiratorial wink.

‘What is this, favor my lord?' remembering the training her mom has given her for this trip.

‘I would like you to help my son to feed my fish every morning before breakfast, would you like to do that for me?'

‘Would I ever! Can I mommy…please?'

‘Of course you can.' Turning to the Croc, Lien-Lua smiles and bows. ‘You honor us, thank you Croc.'

‘On the day before you leave little one, I will have a special task for you.'

‘What job could be more special than this,' wiggling her fingers for the fish.

‘Picking out seven new little golden friends to take home with you…perhaps.' he replies with a grin looking to her mother for her approval.

Her response is to jump up and wrap her tiny arms around the Croc's leg, squeezing with all her might. ‘Thank you my lord, thank you!' She runs to her mother, hugging her tightly.

‘Thank you for bringing me here, the Croc is even better than all the stories you told me about him, mommy!'

The next day, after the previous night of satisfying food and entertainment, the guests enjoy a banquet for breakfast. Then it's down to business. The Croc takes them to the immersion cinemas installed for this meeting. Once the delegates are comfortable, he takes them on a virtual flight out to the asteroid belt. He shows them through the Sobek, the prospecting vessels, as well as the tripod laser miners, and also the new, still under construction, mobile mining camps. After the virtual walk through they have a short refreshment break.

During the break Yuri, the delegate from the central territory approaches the Croc.

‘How do you plan to get the minerals back here?'

‘As a plug Yuri, the plan is to take a three dimensional image of an existing old worked out open cut mine that you plan to use. Our shuttle takes a negative 3D shot directly above the pit, and relays the image to our mining data base, then an asteroid of your chosen mineral is selected that is just a little larger than your pit.'

‘The image data is then transferred as a positive image to mining control, which assigns a team of laser tripod miners to cut and trim the asteroid to match your existing ramps, haul roads, and benches in millimeter precision. The result is a plug of near pure mineral which is dropped into the hole of the existing old pit. Now you are ready to mine it providing employment for you own people.'

‘That is simply amazing Croc! How much will these plugs cost us?'

‘That my friend is the question we are here to negotiate.'

After the break they return to the immersion cinema for the demonstration of the asteroid harvest and the shaping and transport of the plugs.

Negotiations continue for the following two days. Trade deals are done and signed off. Part of the tradeoff for the Croc is the release of the Boddington reactor technology to the other trade delegates. Directly on their return home there is a flurry of activity converting their old fossil fuel technology to the new Boddington reactor technology. A few short months later, global air pollution drops more than 80 percent, city folks can now enjoy a breath of fresh clean air.

The Croc now sends instructions to his brother Val.

‘Commence Mining Operations.'

Now that the final briefing and inductions for the move to the new modular mining camps is complete, Tarillia calls the miners attention to an old mining custom.

‘The old gum tree out by the training center lake will become our boot tree.'

Her statement is greeted by a mass of blank stares.

‘My grandfather was a miner back home, and told me about the boot trees. I thought he was kidding!' whispers Stan to Taneasia.

‘Stan, can you tell us what your Grandfather told you?'

A red faced Stan stands up to a few suppressed giggles from the huge crew. ‘Sorry boss, I guess I'm not such a quiet whisperer after all…my grandfather told me when I was a little kid that when the miners finished a contract, or moved to a new mine site, They would tie the ends of their bootlaces together and throw their boots up into an old tree at the mining camp. I guess it would mean that they were literally hanging up their boots, finished, done. So over a period of time the old tree would look like it's covered in boot fruit.'

‘Yes Stan, that's totally correct. It will mark the finish of all of your training, and it will also mark the start of your asteroid mining carriers. A new issue of boots will be given to you all. Tomorrow lunchtime we will have a barbecue to celebrate boot day, so bring along your old boots to throw up into the tree.'

The following day after a barbecue lunch everyone tied the ends of their old bootlaces together and the lads start throwing their boots high up into the tree. Some of the girls paint and decorate their old boots and then join the boys in throwing their boots up into the tree. It doesn't take long for a competition to break out seeing who can throw their boots the highest. A total of 370 pairs of boots end up in the tree! After enjoying a few social drinks together, people start to drift off to their accommodation to prepare for the following day, the day that will officially began their careers as fully qualified asteroid miners.

Construction crews have assembled the modular mining camps. A total of four camps have been built in mining field MF 0001, the new classification for Survey field SF 0001.