One of the benefits of technology that Governor Kemp had argued for and been granted had been that those he appointed to a high post were able to use something that had been dubbed a genetic transmogrifier. (Having no illusions about his bargaining skills, he was just happy that if Earth was going to be invaded - the invader was fairly easygoing.) What the gadget basically did took a day to work, but when you were done - you were healthy.
Okay, beyond healthy. Genetically and physically restructured into a sort of ideal appearance while remaining still yourself.
Originally this had just been something available to the aristocracy, but Kemp had argued that it could be one heck of a bargaining chip in employer negotiations - particularly for getting just the right personnel for certain projects.
The most obvious effect of this was that where he'd placed large numbers of people, the eye candy factor was... fascinating.
So the scientist who was the spokeswoman for the Borehole Project would have easily found work as a highly paid model if not "supermodel" - if she could stand such work.
"What we have here is the Borehole Pressure Mine complex, we're using what are referred to as "waldoes" - or remotely operated excavation vehicles - to dig and set up the pressure bracing," said the scientist. "As you can see by the display, we're currently at a depth of eight kilometers and the shaft itself is three hundred meters across. As the machines dig, they superheat and use ultra high pressure on the strata - which then becomes the walls of the shaft. Some of the rubble is collected as samples for later use in determining the nature of the materials and their potential uses."
"Eight kilometers?" Moon looked down the shaft. "That's a long way down."
"By the time of your next contest, we hope to reach twelve kilometers," said the scientist. "It's not going to happen overnight, obviously. The further down we go, the slower it goes."
"What do you hope to accomplish with this?" Neptune asked.
"We hope to be able to relieve pressure on the mantle layer in a controlled manner, which we can then use for power - as well as the mining capabilities of getting into the various substrata." The scientist explained. "Obviously we have to take steps to contain this. Just the weather effects would be catastrophic."
"And here we have our new bullet train system, using the same sort of system you have in Japan. Top speed is almost 1100kph linking Northern and Southern Australia, as well as East and West," said Governor Kemp, sounding almost like a proud parent showing off a child.
"This is the Jedi Monastery. Classes are in session so we won't bother them."
"Jedi? As in Jedi Knight?" Usagi asked timidly.
"Get serious Usagi, those are only movies," grumped Rei.
"Actually, there are apparently something quite close to Jedi and they're confident that at least minor esper abilities can be taught to selected human candidates," said the Governor. "It's isolated because the species prefers desert climates and frankly you wouldn't want to be a telepath in a typical human city, would you?"
Wisdom this is. Learned much you have.
Several Senshi leapt at the warm thoughts in a sibilant voice suddenly popping into their heads.
"Great," mumbled Uranus. Now not only did they face nearly omnipotent aliens and his Dark Generals but they had to deal with alien mindreaders.
"The Great Barrier Reef Reclamation Project," said Governor Kemp. "As you can see we've got some top people on it now. We're using a synthetic coral with imbedded nutrients and then splicing in the real coral. Afraid this one's going to take decades to complete."
"Uhm," thoughtfully agreed Ami.
"Geh," said Uranus, trying to imagine fighting such a thing.
"Armored outer sections, though frankly I think the whole thing is kind of gaudy," said the Governor. "Look - the main guns are lasers. That's those things over the shoulders. Oh well. Gotta defend your borders. Ah. Now there's what I really wanted to show you. This used to be desert but just look how much we've been able to do with reforesting. Of course, they're all saplings now but one day this will all be a thriving forest."
"Now I know why they call such things a whirlwind tour," said Rei as she sat down on a chair. One Sailor Teleport to return home and they could safely discuss their unintended tour at Haruka's house. "I feel as though I've been whirled around quite a bit."
"We can still take him out," theorized Haruka. "Sailor Teleport to his offices in that tower, fast attack, Sailor Teleport back out."
"How many of us would die doing this?" Minako asked sweetly.
"Great, and then what?" Ami asked. "Wave our magic wands and make it so that it never happened? Their medical research labs... the elimination of birth defects, a cancer cure, cheap nearly limitless environmentally safe power, recycling plants that automatically sort and can recycle 95% of all solid waste into useful forms... now that the genie is out of the bottle, can we put it back in?"
"We have to," insisted Haruka. "People will unite behind us to oppose some damn aliens."
"Much as people hate the idea of an alien conquerer, if we free them and remove these things from their lives as well - there will be many that will hate us," pointed out Setsuna. "When someone's loved one dies of a cancer that they had the cure for. When they have a blackout that a fusion plant could have overcome. When they're forced to suffer on a daily basis for things that they could have gotten easily."
There was no immediate reply to that.
(Posted Wed, 20 Aug 2003 13:06)
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