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Crystal Guardian

Arc 2: Restoration of Hope

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Chapter 18: The Cost of Benevolence.

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As the population in the Crystal Valley City increased exponentially it became clear that the number of people in Crystal Valley City was growing faster than the Crystalorb Leadership had anticipated. The Crystal Valley City budget was ballooning beyond the ability of Crystal Valley Investment Bank to secure adequate financing to meet the objectives, and by the end of the 2009 Financial year the Crystal Valley City budget would reach R28 Billion the largest of any South African city.

The income of the city was at R19 Billion, and that left a budget deficit of R9 Billion. The budget deficit was financed through loans from Crystal Valley Investment Bank, and this was threatening to undermine the liquidity position of the bank. Because the Crystal Valley City Council had contracted the Engineering Division of Crystal Valley Industries to build large residential complexes it absorbed a lot of the refugees as labour, but this was limited to a small proportion of the population.

It was estimated that Crystal Valley Industries provided 300,000 jobs in the area through all the sectors where it operated. Other businesses provided a further 600,000 jobs, and that left 60% of the adult population in the City still unemployed. Since many of the residents of the City were classified as refugees the Crystal Valley City Council accepted responsibility for feeding and housing these people, and all this without help from the South African Government.

The refugees were pouring into Crystal Valley City in their thousands, and the City Council was consistently turning to the Crystalorb Leadership for further loans and budgetary support. The lack of fiscal discipline on the part of the Crystal Valley City Council was of great concern to the Crystalorb Leadership, and because of the expansion plans of Crystal Valley Industries Crystalorb had incurred massive amounts of debt to finance the expansion projects.

The Crystalorb Leadership quickly realised that they had financially over extended themselves, and would therefore require further loans to complete the production expansion program. Having exhausted their International avenues of finance the Crystalorb Leadership resolved to seek assistance from the Government of the Republic of South Africa in finding further financing for their build programs.

The Crystalorb Leadership made contact and arranged to meet the president of the Republic of South Africa at his official residence to discuss the ways in which the Government could help. For the first time the Council of Elders decided to send and Elder outside the Crystal Valley region to meet the president in Tshwane. Lord Cyris was accompanied by Inala, Ocyris, Tumi, Loj, Nasan and Lenong.

For security reasons the group travelled on the Intrepid. The Council of Elders ordered the Intrepid to remain above the city to provide protection for Lord Cyris and his team. Before the Intrepid left on the mission to Tshwane Naole and all the young people who were not considered Crystalan adults were taken back into Crystalorb for their own safety, and Casara was assigned the task of looking after all the young people who's parents were still onboard the Intrepid.

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Lord Cyris was warmly received by the president of the Republic of South Africa and other members of the cabinet.

President Mbuto : " That invisibility thing is amazing! One moment there was nothing and the next moment there you were"

Cyris : " It has its benefits"

President Mbuto : " I understand you’ve run into some Budgetary Problems"

Cyris : " Indeed we have Mr President"

President Mbuto : " I know something about Budget problems! I'm running a Budget deficit during an election year. The opposition thinks we are trying to buy votes using state resources, but all we’re trying to is keep our infrastructure development ahead of the current economic growth."

Cyris : " Mr President we are experiencing some difficulties securing further financing to complete our expansion program"

President Mbuto : " And you want a loan?"

Cyris : " Our analysis indicates that our loan requirements exceed the ability of the South African Government to supply."

President Mbuto : " So how can we help?"

Cyris : " Our client Governments have the necessary Amounts, but they refuse to lend such amounts to a private company"

President Mbuto : " They would however be willing to lend to South African Government."

Cyris : " Yes sir"

President Mbuto : " How much are we talking about?"

Cyris : " R250 Billion Mr President"

President Mbuto : " I don’t know if my Government can justify such a sum"

Cyris : " Mr President! Crystal Valley Industries has borrowed nearly R370 Billion from international markets. Money we used to buy South African input resources for our expansion, and because of our expenditure the South African economy has over the past three years grown at an unprecedented accelerated rate. Last year's GDP growth reached 14% and it's due to rise this year to 16%"

President Mbuto : " All that growth has created all sorts of problems for the Government. Consequently service delivery expectations have never been higher, and all this hinges on your ability to increase your production."

Cyris : " Which is why we need your help Mr President"

President Mbuto : " There is significant opposition to your request from members of my party. Many in my organisation believe that you would not have these problems if the Crystal Valley City Budget was reigned in. Our parliamentary Caucus believes that the Crystal Valley City Budget is spinning out of control"

Cyris : " Mr President the Crystal Valley City Budget is out of our control"

President Mbuto : " But you keep footing the bill for the Crystal Valley City's Budget excesses. Which is why your International creditors are concerned about your ability to support further debt."

Cyris : " We have Financial obligations to see that the Crystal Valley City does not fail, and the South African Government agreed to help us with financing."

President Mbuto : " And the South African Government has fulfilled our obligations. You would not be having these problems if the Crystal Valley City Government did not continue to bring in hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world to the area"

Cyris : " The Crystal Valley City Council is immovable on this point"

President Mbuto : " And I can not be seen to be favouring Hybrids. Moreover Hybrids who are not South African Citizens. The department of Finance tells me that because of the amount of the debt repayments the profits of Crystal Valley Industries is due to drop to R50 Billion, and the consequence for the expanding Crystal Valley City Budget will be an even larger deficit."

Cyris : " Mr President we have tied our destiny to that of the Crystal Valley City, and we are already locked in"

President Mbuto : " Your request is Politically unworkable"

Cyris : " But Mr President ...?"

President Mbuto : " But nothing!" The president interjects "Unless you offer us something new, I can't take this to my party"

Cyris : " What will it take to secure your Assistance?"

President Mbuto : " First we would need R100 million for our election campaign as a gesture of good faith. Second the South African Government would need equity in Crystal Valley Industries. Third we want access to some of your technology"

Cyris : " Mr President the Crystalorb Leadership would rather see the South African economy experience a rapid slow down than hand over Equity in Crystal Valley Industries or give anyone access to Crystalorb technology"

President Mbuto : " I expected as much, but I had to try! In return for 10% of Crystal Valley Industries we would give Crystal Valley Industries 50% of our defence Company ArmsCorp, and we would secure the loans you require at no additional cost"

Cyris : " Why would you willingly give up control of your largest defence contractor, and at a discount at that?"

President Mbuto : " The nation's Defence requirements are rising, and we lack the necessary technology to put us on par with militaries of the world. What you have to understand is that our security is your security, and our military industrial complex is not developed enough to produce the kind of technology that is required to meet our future security needs. As it stands we are forced to procure weapons from Europe and America, but these weapons come with all sorts of conditions that are expensive in terms of Political Capital. We are not asking for Crystalorb technology, but that you apply your technological expertise to reverse engineer the advanced NATO weapons technology and then mass produce it at ArmsCorp."

Cyris : " You want access to Crystalorb's technical know-how without technology transfer?"

President Mbuto : " Exactly! Our government is facing increasing threats from extremist groups, and this impedes our ability to secure peace for all Africans."

Cyris : " Mr President; What kind of weapon systems are you looking for?"

President Mbuto : " Our specific focus is in Naval Power! We are looking for a domestically produced Cruiser Class warship with Laser weapons capabilities, Nuclear powered, Advanced radar systems, long range weapons and a helicopter type flight deck capable of supporting about 5 aircrafts similar to the British Harrier but twice the size of the British Harrier!"

Cyris : " So you want a Naval vessel and an Aircraft?"

President Mbuto : " The way we see it, we have to be able to take the fight to our enemies where ever they are, and the weapon systems in our brief would allow us to do just that."

Cyris : " Mr President the weapon systems you are talking about would cost us at least R20 Billion. There would need to be some further financial incentives for the Crystalorb Leadership to agree to take on such a costly exercise"

President Mbuto : " The South African Government intends ordering 15 of these ships with their accompanying aircraft at an estimated prise of R4.5 Billion including the 5 Aircraft, and from our engagement with the defence forces of other African countries we expect that their Navies will require 30 of these vessels. Other countries around the world would also like to acquire such vessels but the costs of similar American and European are at R12 Billion, and thus the costs are prohibitive"

Cyris : " Mr President I don't know if such a system could be built at that low price, but ..!" he turns to look at the gesturing Ocyris “Can we do it Ocyris? Is it possible?"

Ocyris : " My Lord! It’s possible! When we outfitted the first Intrepid we designed a warship similar to what the South African Government wants, and before the Crystal Armour was made flight capable Nalen designed an aircraft that could meet the desired objectives. All we would have to do is adapt the technology to conventional materials, but the lasers would require our Crystals to perform at respectable levels"

President Mbuto : " How quickly can you adapt your technology? When can you produce working prototypes?"

Cyris : " Mr President you have to understand that some of the Crystalorb technology can not be adapted using conventional materials, and Crystalorb can't transfer Crystal growth technology; it’s unique to Crystalorb, so this will lock you into a process you can never control"

Ocyris : " We could produce an aircraft prototype in two months, but the ship would take at least 11 months, and that is because our ship building facility on the coast of the Northern Cape is currently occupied with other projects"

President Mbuto : " Can you elaborate on what you mean when you say that the technology can not be adapted?"

Ocyris : " To put it simply! Most of Crystalorb technology is based on electromagnetic Radiation, and the electromagnetic components are made from HyperConductive Organic Crystals. Because the HyperConductive Organic Crystals are organic they can't be manufactured, so they need to be grown. The Crystals require a specific energy type to grow, but there are only two sources for the particular energy type, and that is; The Spirit Stone and the Chest Crystal."

Cyris : " Mr President, Our enemies have been trying for decades to duplicate our technology, but they failed because of this one unavoidable reality"

President Mbuto: " So what you are saying is that Crystalorb could decide who gets these weapons, and if the South African Government decides to sell the weapons to a country you don't like Crystalorb could simply refuse to build the weapons and that will be the end of that"

Cyris : " Exactly Mr President!"

President Mbuto : " So you have a veto on the use of the weapons. We thought you might insist on something like that, and we are comfortable with your terms. Does the Aircraft use the same Crystal technology"

Ocyris : " Yes Mr President! To limit the operating costs associated with fuel, we use Crystals that can store enormous amounts of electrical energy. For your purposes we would package the energy storage Crystals like ordinary batteries, and batteries would drive powerful electromagnets which compress air and then push it out through 4 thrust vectored nozzles"

President Mbuto : " What about Projectile weapons, and Missiles?"

Cyris : " Mr President we've developed Projectile weapons technology that would cost effectively meet the defence requirements of the South African Government"

President Mbuto : " Explain!"

Ocyris : " We use electromagnets to spin objects at very high velocity, and when optimal speed is reached it's released into the sky at high velocity. When the spherical spinning projectile reaches the optimal altitude the internal guidance system take over and guide the bomb to target. Since the spherical projectiles are small they are difficult to detect, and can reach extreme distances; We were able to target distances in access of 3000 km."

President Mbuto : " Then we agree to your terms!"

Cyris : " And we agree to your terms Mr President!"

President Mbuto : " My staff will quickly prepare the contracts and bring them to Crystalorb for the executives of Crystal Valley Industries to sign. I want to take signed documents to cabinet in three days."

Cyris : " Thank you Mr President!"

President Mbuto : " By the way my staff tells me that there is a large invisible object in the sky above the city, and they say something about a large flock of birds crushing into it. Apparently all our monitoring systems were unable to detect it! I take it that it has something to do with you?"

Cyris : " It’s my transportation Mr President"

President Mbuto : " I guess that concludes our business, we will contact the Governments of Japan, India, China, Russia, France, Germany, the UK and the USA about that loan"

Cyris : " Crystalorb thanks you Mr President"

President Mbuto : " It is the people of this land who are blessed to have Crystalans as their own."

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As the Crystalorb groups continued to have informal discussions with the Leadership of the South African Government they were completely unaware of the situation that was developing. Lesego the Deputy Guardian Commander had elected not to inform Lord Cyris's group because she did not want anything to interfere with Cyris's meeting. Furthermore the Council of Elders ordered that the Intrepid remain to secure Lord Cyris's group.

It all started when a Crystal Valley Industries barge transporting liquid hydrogen to India came under attack from HOD forces based on an Island off the coast of Madagascar. The Ilesian Guards from the Ilesian Division requested Expeditionary support so Peo despatched two Vanguard teams to assist the Ilesian Guards, but when the Expeditionary Vanguard teams arrived on the remote Island they found themselves confronted by 4 Overlords each with 20 Enforcers.

When the Teams tried to retreat they found themselves under heavy attack and rapidly losing energy, and so the Council of Elders decided to send in a re-enforcing battle group to support their people on the ground. Because of the size of the Island the Crystalorb Command Centre concluded that the HOD would not be able to mobilize a large force on the Island. Believing that there was no real danger the Council of Elders asked Casara to quickly travel to the Island and recharge the pinned down teams.

Being young and eager to serve, Casara and a third Expeditionary team rushed to the Island ahead of the re-enforcing battle group, but these actions proved to be a grave mistake on the part of the Crystalorb Leadership. By not informing the Intrepid of the developments with the Island the Council of Elders was hoping to keep the attention of the crew firmly focused on the meeting being held with the South African Government. The Crystalorb Leadership believed that the Island situation was an attempt by the HOD to lure the Intrepid away from the city, and this would allow the HOD to attack the meeting.

The Crystalorb Leadership feared the Idea of the President being assassinated in the presence of Crystalorb forces. The Hodians were acting according to a pre-planned script, and they were executing it with precision. As soon as they saw Casara's Red Crystal Armour they immediately assumed that it was the Red Guardian, and this activated the second phase of their plans. The HOD quickly brought in the 4 hiding Grandlords and their re-enforcing battle group to challenge what they thought was the Red Guardian.

The 4 Grandlords were making short work of the 3 Vanguard teams, and the Crystalorb forces found themselves surrounded and with no way out. It was then that the Viceroy Lord Tsela decided to show himself. When the units on the ground reported the presence of Lord Tsela to the Crystalorb Command Centre it became clear that this was another trap that the HOD had set for Crystalorb's Crystal Armoured warriors.

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As all this was going on Enala and Naole were having a mini-crisis of their own, and it was centred around Enala's insistence that they keep their relationship a secret. Naole felt that Enala was ashamed of him, and that she didn't want people to know that she was with him. A few weeks into their relationship the two young lovers found themselves at a crossroads and the decisions they took would determine weather they stay together or are driven apart.

As Enala and Naole argued at their secret location in the hydroponics centre they were completely unaware that they were being watched by Casara's rival Amun. Because of the positions of their families in Crystalorb Amun had always felt that Casara was taking a place that would otherwise be his. Amun felt that the Red Chest Crystal gave Casara an unfair advantage and thus her use of the Red Chest Crystal was tantamount to cheating.

Since Amun disliked Casara, his animosity extended to Naole, and during Naole's early years he made a deliberate effort to ridicule Naole at every opportunity. But since the death of Amun's father Kolen, Amun stopped his attacks on both Casara and Naole. However from his actions it was clear that Amun still harboured great animosity for Casara, and by extension Naole.

Enala and Naole continued their heated discussion.

Naole : " I won’t be hidden away like some hideous monster!"

Enala : " That's not what I'm saying"

Naole : " How I feel about you is like a light in my heart, and that light must be free to shine! Love is like a tree Enala, no tree grows in darkness!"

Enala : " It won't be forever!"

Naole : " You would have me lie and deceive those in my life! You want me to pretend to be something I'm not! I won’t apologise for who I am Enala!"

Enala : " Try and understand my position, there's more at stake than just you and me! I have to consider my father's reputation!"

Naole : " So you do think that being involved with a freak like me would ruin your family's precious reputation and status"

Enala : " I don't think you're a freak"

Naole : " I love you Enala! But know this, I'm not ashamed of who I am, and I can't tell you how disappointed I am that you want to hide me away! It's sink or swim Enala! So acknowledge me or lose me!"

Because Enala pauses and does not immediately respond Naole takes it as a bad sign and begins to walk away.

Enala : " Wait! Naole!...Naole!"

As Naole vanishes behind a door Enala bursts into tears.

Amun : " He's very angry with you!"

Enala : " Amun; What are you doing here? How did you..?"

Before she could finish.

Amun : " Don't worry; I won’t tell anyone! Although it looks like there is nothing to tell!"

Enala : " He just needs time to cool down"

Amun : " No man wants to hear from his girlfriend or the woman he loves that he's not good enough for her"

Enala : " That's not what I meant"

Amun : " It's not that he does not want to see the difficulty of your position, it's that he can't understand! You're the daughter of an Elder, and he's the son of warrior elites! Night and day I tell you! I've tried and failed"

Enala : " What do you mean?"

Amun : " Naole's parents raised him to be calm, clear and precise the attributes of great warriors. He knows what he wants and does not allow anything to detract him from that. You on the other hand have witnessed your parents minister to the public's aspiration, they manage peoples' hope, and their ability to do so is very dependent on the people's faith. Consequently you are constantly aware of how your actions affect your parents, but Naole's parents have always encouraged him to walk his own path regardless of the consequences, and this is why he is amongst the smartest people in Crystalorb."

Enala : " Naole's parents taught him to make his own decisions"

Amun : " And just like a true warrior he's not afraid to act"

Enala : " Even if it cost him the woman he loves"

Then Enala breaks down further and becomes distort, and Amun offers her a shoulder to cry on.

Amun : " I didn't think you were the overly emotional type"

Enala : " I'm not!"

Amun : " Then what do you call this?"

Enala : " I don't know what's wrong with me lately"

Amun : " Don’t worry; Everything will be fine"

Enala and Amun continued to talk in that secluded area. Enala was unaware of what Amun was doing, and when he offered her alcohol she readily accepted it thinking that it would help her forget her heartache. As Enala became intoxicated she became more responsive to Amun's sexual advances, and without fully understanding what she was doing she ended up sleeping with Amun at the very place that was supposed to be special to her and Naole.

Enala was completely unaware of what was happening in Crystalorb, she could not have known what was happening. After Naole left the hydroponics centre he quickly became aware of the developing military situation. Naole rushed to his home and put on his Crystal Armour so that he could use the Crystal Armour's communications system to gain access to the Crystalorb Command Centre's Joint Communications Channel.

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Naole stared listening just as the Crystalorb Command Centre was informing Esara and Nalen of the situation.

Anun : " When we reassigned the two teams they were already at 50% energy, and once they came under attack we were concerned that they would not have enough energy to hold on until the reinforcing group could arrive. So we asked ..."

Esara interrupts Anun.

Esara : " No! Please tell me you didn't! Please no!"

Nalen : " What have you done?"

Anun : " We couldn't have known that it was a trap!"

Esara : " Then we must set course for the Island immediately"

Anun : " I'm sorry Esara! But the Crystalorb Leadership has decided that the Intrepid should stay to protect Cyris and President Mbuto."

Gaurdius : " A reinforcing group will arrive there shortly, but we can't afford for President Mbuto to be killed in our presence"

Nalen : " You send my daughter into a Hodian trap, and now you are trying to prevent us from helping her"

Esara : " Is she still alive?" with anger in her voice "Is my baby still alive?""

Lesego : " Our sensors indicate that there are only five of our people still alive"

Anun : " And she is one of them! They are taking shelter in a cave"

Nalen : " That's it! I'm going! The Crystalorb Leadership can stop the Intrepid going, but I'm free to go there"

Esara : " Let's do it!"

Gaurdius : " Wait! Our analysis indicates that the trap was set for the Red Guardian, and they mistook Casara for you Esara"

Nalen : " Then they made a grave mistake, because they will now have to face two Red Guardians"

Esara : " If they harm my child there will be extreme consequences for all the Hodians"

Nalen : " They will pay through the nose!"

As Nalen and Esara rapidly fly towards the Island the Crystalorb Command Centre noticed someone in Crystal Armour leave Crystalorb without permission.

Lesego : " Who is that?"

Anun : " It's Naole"

Lesego : " When did he receive Guardian Crystal Armour?"

Anun : " It was done in secret a several weeks ago" After a brief pause "He's fast! Very fast!"

Lumen : " It's the power of Naole's Blue Guardian Crystal Armour!"

Gaurdius : " If that girl dies those two will hunt down the HOD Leadership where ever they are."

Isis : " And in their quest for vengeance they could plunge the world into Chaos"

Lumen : " We must give them more Guardian support"

Anun : " And send more Guardians into what is clearly a trap?"

Gaurdius : " The HOD is up to something! We must not act impulsively"

Isis : " If we don't do something the Red Guardians could be killed"

Anun : " There are greater concerns than the fate of one girl"

Gaurdius : " Experience tells us that the HOD have something big in the works"

Isis : " May our people forgive us"

As the reinforcing Crystalorb BattleGroup approached the Island Anun ordered them to conduct high altitude raids on the HOD forces and prevent them from taking the cave where the remaining Expeditionary units were hiding. This was clearly a cautious approach on the part of the Crystalorb Command, and it was designed to limit the risk of the Crystalorb battle group. Esara and Nalen who were listening to the Crystalorb Joint Communications realised that fear had paralyzed the Crystalorb Leadership.

The Crystalorb Leadership was afraid of being drawn into a large confrontation like the one in the Central African Republic. The Crystalorb Leadership knew that even four years later they still had no answer for Lord Tsela's Metallic Golden Crystalline Form. Consequently they resolved to just buy time for Esara and Nalen to arrive even though they knew that Lord Tsela was still more powerful than the Red Guardians.

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