Post

Pioneer 4, the orbiting prospector,peered down from the heavens making slow passes over the the Ostartic Isles as it photographed and scanned in a variety of light spectrums. It sent back its data to the super computers of the Titan Extraction R&D on the home islands, compiling data of the geography and noting the mineral deposits.

In collaboration with the Department of the Interior and land management data analysts and scientists looked over scans of land owned by the Federal Government.

“Without a doubt. We are looking at massive oil reserves. It appears the largest island in the chain Syutgou Island contains the largest coastal reserves. Further marine reserves are located within southern islands EEZ.”

“It’s a wonder the locals haven’t drilled out the coastal reserves.”

“They’re unaware of the sheer amount of crude petroleum under the rocks. They were too focused surface mining the hills and mountains during the gold rush. They didn’t consider the coast would have potential for oil deep underneath. There are considerable amounts of oil sands that are being mined but it’s been producing lackluster fuel oil. Best for asphalt and Coke.“

“Let’s get this data compiled and prepare to give a briefing to the energy committee. They need to know just how important these reserves are to the nation.”

“Do you think the innovation party would approve opening federal lands to drilling?”

“I doubt it but they are a minority in the National Assembly. It would take a global disaster for them to abandon their green ideals.”

The two scientists laughed and turned off the lights, they would send out their report that evening.

——————————————————————————

Rolling green hills atop steep white cliffs welcome the numerous migratory seabirds, some of the largest displaying wingspans of over two meters. On the rocky cliffs lived the swimming birds of the isles, whose oblong eggs were specially shaped to not roll off the cliffs. In the freezing surf below roaring animals bellowed their huge blubbery masses quivering as they lumbered across the beach roaring with their trunked noses flapping in the breeze. Young pups hungered for their mothers fatty milk avoiding the crushing body weight of the beach masters keeping watch over their numerous mates lunging at seabirds that sought to pick at the food scraps that collected around the elephant sea colony.

To be continued…