Chapter 27 - An Alternative Solution

"Are you absolutely certain of this?", questioned Lü Zhi sharply.

"The evidence is incontrovertible", answered Simon, the head geologist. While it's impossible to predict when and volcanos are never certain until they've happened, there is a 96% probability of that big mama blowing her stack within two years. This will block out the suns rays. After that is beyond my field is expertise but I do know that life needs energy so a global event like this is going to leave us up shit creek. It's time to get a biologist in here, we've got enough of them."

She hit the intercom, "John, I need you up here." She turned to Simon. "Do you want to know what I think of the bullshit going on between you and John." Simon shrugged his shoulders. "Nope". She continued, "I believe I have just this second told you. Remember it!"

John was briefed on the situation. Lü Zhi continued. "Gentlemen, you have the mutual privilege of working together on this one. I expect your camaraderie in this emergency shall flow through to your respective departments with resulting efficiency to show for it. All options are on the table."

"Does that include the topic of our last conversation?", asked John.

"It most certainly does if you think it is sufficiently developed enough to handle this."

"It is, the water recycling doesn't have to be, well, watertight. The air doesn't have to be recycled. Once we have settled in we can try full recycling and see how it goes."

"Where is this happening?", asked Simon.

"Bir Tawil, we were planning on a test run anyway."

"A dry sandy place and soon to be cold as well.", Simon replied.

"A good analogue for Mars."

"Does naturally occurring high mineral water flows sound more attractive, you know just for this problem.", suggested Simon.

"Provided we're not in anyone's way. Remote wilderness areas. We have to set up before disaster strikes."

"There's a whole range of sites in Siberia. You'll still be wanting to produce your own food but you'll be able to help yourself to the wildlife once in a while, or then again maybe not. Plenty of trees across all those areas. I can get a team out to assess and if John can spare a biologist to check out the wildlife?"

"Sounds good, I can spare two. I'll be needing hydrology reports, especially around those areas where there is thawing and freezing. If the sites are just right for what I've got in mind we could put up a lot of people very cheaply. Similar set up to Mt Herman but with the technology thrown in to make life more convenient. Do we scout around in Siberia?", John asked looking at his boss.

"Get your people together as quickly as you can. But do not leave before 48 hours from now. If you can think of anything better call me, day or night. One other thing gentlemen. I need a natural fortress. Something like the global seed bank at Svalbard would be ideal if it were not already occupied. Does any place come to mind?"

Simon thought for a while, "There is the island of Forewick Holm. There is this old guy, Stuart Hill aka Captain Calamity, who has proclaimed it to be the Sovereign State of Forvik, an independent micro nation from the United Kingdom. It's 2.5 acres, a rocky island. The good captain only lives there for a few days a year, apart from that it's uninhabited."

"Can I assume that Mr Hill is in legal proceedings with his claims?", asked Lü Zhi

"Yeah, I do know a few lawyers. The claim is valid enough. The Brits don't like that but they aren't going to force him off because that would get too much attention so they are keeping him busy by low level legal harassment, picking him up on minor charges, throwing him in the slammer overnight, trashing his name in the local rag that sort of thing. I guess they're waiting for him to drop off his perch and then move in."

Lü Zhi thought for a while. "We can spare a lawyer in the interests of international justice. We can also pay his medical bills to keep him alive as long as possible. Providing of course he is very liberal with his planning permission."

Forty hours later the three sat down again, they were joined by Brett the lawyer. "Do you have any updates for me on Forvik Island."

Brett answered, "An email has been sent to Mr Hill outlining our willingness to provide him with financial and medical assistance. No response so far. Presumably he is busy pleasuring the Queen." He saw the look on her face was not good. "Er, being held at Her Majesty's pleasure, Ma'am. An inmate in prison..."

"A quick word in private Mr Jones. Can we have the room." It was an order, not a request.

John and Simon got up and left. Lü Zhi faced Brett. "What was your briefing when you were assigned this task?"

"That I was to offer my services to help this guy out and give him a doctor. But I get the feeling that there's an important angle in all of this."

"It's good that you're learning quickly. You're still a graduate lawyer and so far you haven't been given work of great importance. This is your first such task. Not particularly difficult but extremely important. We are seeking Mr Hills permission for an underground construction project on Forvik island. I shall send you the details of the plan. For now it is enough to know that this is necessary to mitigate an expected global catastrophe. This is a code 11, meaning you report directly to me and anyone else who may have orders for you takes a second priority. You have the authority to bribe officials and hire contractors. You are to act quickly, do I make myself clear."

"Yes, Ma'am"

She waved the other two in. "John do you have a further assessment of Forvik island?"

"It used to have trees on it, but they have since all been cut down. With careful selection of trees from the neighbouring Shetland islands its feasible to regain tree cover, which would help to provide cover and be an extra deterrent for other people coming. There has been a history of sheep grazing, presently none. There is no way we can, from farming the surface at any rate, produce enough food for the kind of installation you have in mind.

We will need thorium reactors underground to produce electricity which in turn will be used as an energy source for Shewanella and Geobacter bacteria. These will produce our food and recycle our sewage. There will be no need for the bacteria to be genetically edited to produce cellulose and sufficient quantities of this can be produced from sawdust from imported logs. Not the best but biologically adequate. If we're lucky we just may be able to produce our own cellulose, but I've given higher priority to other survival projects first."

"Keep it that way. Anything else?"

"Compiling educational material for staff children. Once we have basic survival and education done we can look to better cuisine and using higher animals, such as chickens, for food."

"Simon".

"From a mining drilling perspective what you're asking for is nothing special. No one will have to do anything new. Furthermore there is an elongated inlet on the island which gives us natural cover for most of our operations. We won't be able to keep it totally secret, but you know, out of sight out of mind. We can get men in who've worked on low key projects before. Especially available with the Australian mining boom over. I can get an initial team operating in two weeks.

Once we're done you're going to need a builder, but I'm not the guy to help you find a good one."

"Can you start short listing miners for a probable go ahead.", she asked.

"Yes. I'll get on to it straight away."

"Thank you for your time gentlemen. You all know what to do. John, I'd like a few minutes of your time."

"Any concerns?", he asked

"You mentioned that Forvik island had a history of grazing sheep. Sheep, like other herbivores, are susceptible to anthrax are they not?"

"Yes. While its true that their spores can lie in the ground for a long time. I honestly wouldn't be concerned. Notwithstanding that I did suggest chickens." He could tell from the look on her face that he had just make an irrelevant point. "Why do you ask?, he asked.

"Because we're not as civilised as the British government.", she said with an icy chill in her voice.

"Got you."