TERRA EMPIRE: ON THE EVE OF WORLD WAR
Episode 50: GUEST FOR AMBASSADOR HOWELL
After Balin Pati transfers the data, Mr. Janus displays the scan to the hologram so that the two can pay attention together. The Prefect pointed at several points on the ocean before him, where the blue sea had become the image of a vast black expanse with a red shadow that signified the hot streak and movement beneath it.
“The cracks in this CE-23 and BM-1 point widen, the diameter increases by two to three meters. Fortunately, the depth has not changed. In addition, several critical new folds appear in A-6, AH-22, AC-45, and BK-15..” each Balin shows the coordinates of the crack, in a hologram of its luminous point. “…from its shock, the plate under this runway has expanded as far as fifteen to twenty kilometers.”
Mr. Janus looked at the image that turned into a path of underwater tectonic earthquake shocks with an elongated green line. The path shows what it passes. The man clucked, “Means one or two more quakes the crack will go into the ground layer below Java and Sumatra.”
“Which can happen at any time,” said Prefect Pati. “Can you imagine if magma is not immediately released through Krakatau?”
“Means the retaining pyramid we built under the Sunda trough will not survive. There is no point in building another one there.”
“Indeed it is useless. We need to build a reactor with nuclear pillars immediately. That is the only way that most countries in the Archipelago Territory, especially Indonesia, stop exploiting oil or coal that is damaging the earth's bottom.”
“We still stick to the plan.”
“Meeting with Indonesian Energy Minister later tonight?”
“No change yet. Only one thing stuck in my heart. You know Prime Minister Hampbull sent people to see me.”
“Who?” Prefect Pati raised an eyebrow of astonishment.
“Australian Ambassador to Indonesia.”
“James Howell, I know him,” Balin nodded. “Then how was your conversation?”
“He put forward his wish to have a nuclear reactor.nuclear technology, more precisely. Not only did she ignore you, she also knew about Terra Empire.”.
“Really? It doesn't feel like he's our member, does he?”
“Same once not!”
“Maybe Hampbull told me. But what's he doing that for?”
“I think because he doesn't want to deal with you, so he sent his men to meet me directly.”
“I'll sort it out before I meet you later tonight,” Prefect Pati clucked in annoyance before then showing off his ignorant grin. “Originally let me take a shower first before.”
“It feels like that's what you should do soon,” Mr. Janus smiled along with a nose squeak because it held the smell.
***
James Howell had just finished cleaning up everything at the desk at five in the afternoon when his secretary told him that there were guests who wanted to meet and had been waiting in the waiting room for ten minutes.
“I don't have any appointments this afternoon,” says Howell who already wants to go home soon. An additional guest will slow down his dinner with his wife and child.
“But this guy is pushy, sir! He told me to mention his name to you because you would want to accept it.”
“I'm not interested in hearing anyone he.”
“The name is Balin Pati,” said the secretary like he did not care.
Hearing that James Howell was dumbfounded, “Balin Pa…? All right, get him in.”
The secretary sitting at the table in front of the room James Howell turned to the man sitting on the sofa. The woman could not bear to not glance at the guest because something in the man made her heart flutter. Either because of his handsome face with a box chin that makes him look macho, or his thin beard that makes the area around the man's chin gray, or because his tan skin is very exotic. But he realized it when Balin Pati smiled.it was a smile that made his heart melt.and he stuttered when the guest asked again.
“How so? Can I meet him?”
“Eh. oh. Howell just told me to let you in.”
Flirtatiously the woman stood up and walked towards the door of James Howell's room to then open it, “Please enter, Mr. Starch!”
The man smiled back and nodded, “Thank you, miss!”
Balin Pati walked into James Howell's workspace where the man was waiting at the table, busy typing something on his phone before letting him sit down, “There is something I can help you with this one afternoon, Mr. Balin Starch?”
“Sorry if I come at an hour like this, Mr. Howells. I know you're about to go home, the problem this morning I was really busy with business in the Sunda Strait.”
“Oh...business?”
“Business as usual,” Balin smiled nodding.
“We've all been busy lately, haven't we?”
“I think so! Get busy when there are big projects waiting. And from what I heard, you are also interested in a project that will soon be offered to Indonesia.”
“What project are we talking about?”
“Nuclear reactor from Omnitec.”
James Howell's eyes are instantly alert, “Then?”
“I was informed that you met Theodore Janus recently, negotiating with him to move the construction of a nuclear reactor to Australia. How much is your country interested in it?”
“Why do you want to know?” Howell looked suspiciously.
“Maybe I can help you, because Omnitec chose my company to cooperate build it in Indonesia.”
“Then why do you not want to build it in Indonesia if you are the one who got the privilege?”
“Say I don't like wild levies, and I realize it's too much in Indonesia.”
“We can not allow non-Australians to participate in building arbitrarily in our country. Just like you don't like foreigners infusing too much capital in your country.”
“Check my company. You'll see where I first got into business.”
James Howell read for a moment the business card that Balin gave, it was a business card that could not be obtained carelessly because it was printed on paper that only owned companies that worked with the Australian government. More surprised to know the position of Balin Pati written there, “You are the owner of Perth Oil & Energy?”
“As noted there,” Balin reply with kalem.
“But how can you be active in Southeast Asia instead of Australia?”
“My father is Java, my mother is Samoan! That explains why I love both countries, doesn't it?”
James Howell's attitude instantly changed, “It's great to know that you're involved in the project, Mr. Starches! Means we can talk from heart to heart.”
“Alright, then explain to me how you know about the project and what Australia wants to offer..”.
The Ambassador revealed everything and Balin recorded it in full in Auris. It was Prime Minister Hampbull who told the man to lobby Theodore Janus. Because of its failed lobby, Australia has actually given up on the possibility of getting the reactor technology. The arrival of Balin Pati on this day, he said, opened new possibilities that would please the prime minister.
Balin, who has not finished his interrogation, continues the conversation about Terra Empire. James Howell looked at Balin in wonder, “Where did you know about it?”
***
