10:12, Rikker's Valley, North Dovani.
The conversation soon became shrouded by the whining of an airborne gamma-ray spectrometry aircraft passing overhead. “How long until they complete the aerial survey?” Mr. Sundby, a parliamentarian sent to observe the operation, questioned as he could no longer bare the loud, low-flybys of the spectrometry aircraft. The government wanted to know the details of the operation, thus Mr. Sundby (the Statsminister’s Chief of Staff) was sent to “represent the opinions of the government”. “Until they are confident that they have surveyed this entire region Mr. Sundby, patience appears to be your downfall.” Calmly responded Brigadier-General Jenssen of the Kongeforsvar’s Science Corps, who leaned on the command vehicle, seemingly resting. “We must ensure that this designated region has been scanned for traces of uranium so that we could either know to being extraction or continue prospecting in another region.” He continued, insisting the Mr. Sundby had to develop patience. “Are you concerned about thing Mr. Sundby? Is this unknown concern pushing to want to leave?” Jenssen questioned, holding his arms behind his back. “It’s just the boldness of this whole operation. Here we are in a Northern Dovani, without permission from their government to use their airspace or be within their borders searching for minerals which belong to them. Basically what I’m saying is that is politically taboo to do this.” He explained to Jenssen, accentuating these various facts. “Mr. Sundby, I think that you should know by now that I am not a man of political gestures. I am a military scientist, but my military background is mostly seen, than that of my scientific background. Unlike you I don’t worry about the politics behind what I do, what I do worry about is the practical aspect of what I do (is this operation doing to be a success, is it going to fail), those are the questions which I frequently ask myself.” He paused to point at a man in the middle of the vast field. “Do you think that Professor Hermansen cares about the politics behind what we are doing here? No, what he cares about is that we find uranium deposits in the region, for if he cared about the politics behind this he would never have the balls to plan the operation in the first place.” Jenssen explained to Sundby. Professor Olaf Hermansen was the Director of the National Atomic Energy and Research Commission (the agency responsible for government research into atomic energy and nuclear weapons).“However, to try to give you a sense of relief, look in the sky for me.” Jenssen commanded Sundby as he was about to demonstrate something. “Notice the second plane always tailgating the first one? The first one is the spectrometry aircraft, and the second is an electronic warfare aircraft. The second plane ensures that both it and the spectrometry aircraft are not detected by enemy radar, making it virtually invisible to detection.” He then moved on to demonstrate another factor towards the maintenance of secrecy of the operation. “When we were coming here you should have noticed the fact that there were civilian vehicles following us up to this point. Those are scouts, from military intelligence. They scouted the area to ensure that no one, (government or civilian) was in the area. They are currently conducting reconnaissance on the next point of geographical surveying if we don’t find anything here.” Jenssen gave Sundby a reassuring nudge. “You are safe Mr. Sundby, your politics are safe.”
“We’ve found nothing sir,” one of the scientists from within the spectrometry aircraft announced over the radio. “The images come back negative for uranium deposits. What should we do now sir?” the scientist questioned, awaiting the commander’s orders. “I believe that we should not hesitate to begin scanning the second site.” Professor Hermansen broke in via his own walkie-talkie. “If that is what you want Professor, we move to the second site.” Jenssen concluded before switching his frequency to the command frequency. “We are done here, move to the second site.” He ordered, turning the walkie-talkie off to address Sundby. “Alright Mr. Sundby, let’s move.” Jenssen gestured for Sundby to enter to command vehicle which they had original came to this location in. They took their positions in the back of the vehicle whilst two officers occupied the driver and front passenger seats. One turned around and handed Jenssen a ring-bind folder overflowing with documents and “important” papers. “I am sure that you will report back to the Defence Minister on what we are doing here?” Jenssen questioned whilst sweeping through the documents. The question was clearly directed towards Sundby, which he knew. “I am expected to write a report when we get back to the staging base. Thereafter I present it before the Statsminister and members of the National Security Council.” Sundby explained the political process to Jenssen. “I’ve noticed something about you politicians, you tend to paper over things like defence and security. You people want internal security reviews, you want defence reviews. For you people to think that those things change or improve the situation of the military you must be lost mentally.” Jenssen paused to put his reading glasses, yet not looking at Sundby for the entire time. “But I believe that you people have good intentions and want to assist. Nevertheless, you are going about it the wrong way.” Sundby leaned in to truly listen to what was being said by Jenssen. “The improvements you carry to the stortinget should not be based on what YOU see is missing, but should be based on what the soldiers and officers see missing. You politicians are not on the ground so you can’t know the experiences we soldiers have with your “improvements”. You need to focus your attention around the soldier.” Jenssen concluded signing off the book, handing it back to the officer in the front passenger seat. About fifteen minutes later they had arrived to the secondary site and already the spectrometry aircraft had begun its low fly-bys. “You could stay in the vehicle if you’d like.” Jenssen said to Sundby knowing his slight hatred of the loud whining of the aircraft’s engine whilst they did their fly-bys. “Okay,” Sundby said somewhat relieved.
Jenssen approached a mobile command vehicle to speak with Professor Hermansen who had been reviewing the spectrometric images produced by the previous for the previous site. “Is that politician gone?” Hermansen questioned upon hearing the door to the command post open. “Give him a chance Professor, he is simply doing his job, just like you.” Jenssen explained to Hermansen. “But my job does not include getting into other people’s way.” Hermansen countered pointing out that the fact that Sundby always asked questions pertaining to most of the operation. “It’s his job to be persistent, just like you, he has to write up a report at the end of the day, end of story professor.” Jenssen brought the tit-for-tat to an immediate end. Although Hermansen was the Director of the National Atomic Energy and Research Commission, Jenssen was a military officer at first and the somewhat advanced equipment Hermansen was using was curtesy of the Military Science Corps. “Command, we will be returning to base in approximately thirty-minutes, we are inching into joker fuel.” One of the pilots announced over the task force frequency. “Acknowledged.” He responded to the pilot, immediately switching over to command frequency once again. “This is command, both aircraft will be returning to Agatha Air Station in thirty-minutes, put a pep in your step.” He concluded turning the walkie-talkie off once more. “Sorry about that,” he apologized to Hermansen, who understood the circumstance immediately. “On a separate note, I am now convinced that we will not find anything here.” Hermansen insisted, showing the spectrometric images to Jenssen. “There is literally nothing here to prospect or extract. We are scanning nothing.” Jenssen’s facial expression turned from normal to slightly depressed. “I though your people say that there was an 89% possibility of there being deposits in this region.” Jenssen said, seemingly pissed that he had wasted the capabilities of the science corps on nothing. Jenssen turned on the walkie-talkie once more, “This is command, operation terminated, we are RTB.” He announced over the command frequency, ordering the termination of the operation and in a similar manner order all forces to return to Hjaltland Leir (the main base of operations from the Kongeforsvar). Jenssen walked out of the command post, attempting to call himself down. He enter the vehicle, slamming the door behind him. “What happened? Why is everyone leaving?” Sundby questioned. “We were scanning nothing. There were no uranium deposits there to prospect.” Jenssen explained. As the vehicle pulled off to join the convoy returning to Kazulian territory, Jenssen remained quiet throughout the entire journey as he contemplated on the resources wasted. He could not risk wasting more resources in another region, he had to talk with Statsminister on finding an alternative source of uranium.