atlantis.found-µÚ74²¿·Ö
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨By¡¡whatever¡¡means£»¡¡they¡¡intend¡¡to¡¡break¡¡the¡¡ice¡¡shelf¡¡away¡¡from¡¡land¡¡and¡¡move¡¡it¡¡out¡¡to¡¡sea£»¡¡upsetting¡¡Earth's¡¡rotation¡¡and¡¡causing¡¡an¡¡increase¡¡in¡¡its¡¡wobble¡£¡¡Once¡¡the¡¡imbalance¡¡is¡¡in¡¡the¡¡critical¡¡stage£»¡¡a¡¡polar¡¡shift¡¡and¡¡a¡¡crust¡¡displacement¡¡will¡¡occur¡£¡¡Then¡¡the¡¡Wolfs'¡¡megaships£»¡¡after¡¡surviving¡¡the¡¡resulting¡¡tidal¡¡waves£»¡¡will¡¡be¡¡swept¡¡out¡¡to¡¡sea£»¡¡where¡¡they'll¡¡drift¡¡before¡¡cruising¡¡around¡¡the¡¡altered¡¡Earth¡¡for¡¡several¡¡rears¡¡until¡¡the¡¡upheaval¡¡abates¡£¡¡When¡¡they¡¡are¡¡satisfied¡¡that¡¡Earth¡¡is¡¡livable¡¡again£»¡¡they'll¡¡e¡¡ashore¡¡and¡¡establish¡¡a¡¡new¡¡order£»¡¡the¡¡Fourth¡¡Empire£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡bodies¡¡of¡¡seven¡¡billion¡¡people£»¡¡along¡¡with¡¡the¡¡mass¡¡destruction¡¡of¡¡animal¡¡and¡¡sea¡¡life¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Everyone¡¡seated¡¡in¡¡the¡¡truck¡¡looked¡¡stricken£»¡¡faces¡¡locked¡¡in¡¡abhorrence¡¡and¡¡despair¡£¡¡No¡¡one¡¡could¡¡conceive¡¡of¡¡such¡¡a¡¡horror¡£¡¡No¡¡mind¡¡could¡¡grasp¡¡the¡¡total¡¡inhumanity¡¡of¡¡such¡¡an¡¡act¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨God¡¡help¡¡us¡¡all£»¡¨¡¡Loren¡¡murmured¡¡softly¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Pitt¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡Sandecker¡£¡¡¡¨You¡¡must¡¡inform¡¡the¡¡President¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I've¡¡kept¡¡his¡¡science¡¡board¡¡and¡¡chief¡¡of¡¡staff£»¡¡Joe¡¡Flynn£»¡¡up¡¡to¡¡date¡¡on¡¡our¡¡investigation£»¡¡but¡¡until¡¡now¡¡no¡¡one¡¡has¡¡taken¡¡the¡¡threat¡¡seriously¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨They'd¡¡better¡¡reconsider¡¡damned¡¡quick£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Giordino¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨We'd¡¡better¡¡rethink¡¡our¡¡options£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Pitt£»¡¡¡¨and¡¡e¡¡up¡¡with¡¡a¡¡plan¡¡of¡¡action¡£¡¡With¡¡only¡¡three¡¡days¡¡to¡¡go£»¡¡we¡¡haven't¡¡got¡¡much¡¡time¡£¡¡Not¡¡if¡¡we¡¡want¡¡to¡¡stop¡¡the¡¡Wolfs¡¡from¡¡launching¡¡an¡¡apocalypse¡£¡¨
¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡pilot¡¡lined¡¡up¡¡the¡¡Destiny¡¡Enterprises¡¡pany¡¡jet¡¡for¡¡Ids¡¡approach¡¡and¡¡settled¡¡down¡¡on¡¡the¡¡long¡¡ice¡¡runway¡¡without¡¡the¡¡slightest¡¡hint¡¡of¡¡a¡¡bump¡£¡¡The¡¡plane£»¡¡the¡¡last¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡fleet¡¡that¡¡had¡¡been¡¡sold¡¡off£»¡¡was¡¡a¡¡custom¡built¡¡Japanese¡¡Dragonfire¡¡twin¡engine¡¡jet¡¡with¡¡no¡¡markings¡¡or¡¡identification¡¡numbers¡¡on¡¡its¡¡fuselage£»¡¡wings£»¡¡or¡¡tail¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡painted¡¡white¡¡and¡¡blended¡¡in¡¡with¡¡the¡¡snowy¡¡landscape£»¡¡as¡¡it¡¡taxied¡¡toward¡¡what¡¡looked¡¡like¡¡a¡¡steep¡¡cliff¡¡against¡¡a¡¡high¡¡mountain¡¡covered¡¡with¡¡ice¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡When¡¡the¡¡aircraft¡¡was¡¡less¡¡than¡¡two¡¡hundred¡¡yards¡¡from¡¡smashing¡¡into¡¡the¡¡mountain£»¡¡the¡¡ice¡¡cliff¡¡miraculously¡¡parted£»¡¡revealing¡¡a¡¡vast¡¡grottolike¡¡interior¡£¡¡The¡¡pilot¡¡slowly¡¡pulled¡¡back¡¡on¡¡the¡¡throttles£»¡¡bringing¡¡the¡¡jet¡¡to¡¡a¡¡stop¡¡in¡¡the¡¡middle¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hangar£»¡¡which¡¡slave¡¡labor¡¡had¡¡carved¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mountain¡¡nearly¡¡sixty¡¡years¡¡earlier¡£¡¡The¡¡jet¡¡engines¡¡whined¡¡briefly£»¡¡before¡¡their¡¡turbines¡¡decreased¡¡their¡¡rotation¡¡and¡¡slowly¡¡came¡¡to¡¡a¡¡quiet¡¡rest¡£¡¡Behind£»¡¡the¡¡ponderous¡¡ice¡¡doors¡¡closed¡¡on¡¡a¡¡series¡¡of¡¡solid¡¡rubber¡¡wheels¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡There¡¡were¡¡two¡¡other¡¡aircraft¡¡parked¡¡in¡¡the¡¡hangar£»¡¡both¡¡Airbus¡¡Industrie¡¡military¡¡versions¡¡of¡¡the¡¡A340¡300¡£¡¡One¡¡was¡¡capable¡¡of¡¡carrying¡¡295¡¡passengers¡¡and¡¡twenty¡¡tons¡¡of¡¡freight¡£¡¡The¡¡other¡¡had¡¡been¡¡built¡¡purely¡¡as¡¡a¡¡cargo¡¡carrier¡£¡¡Both¡¡had¡¡maintenance¡¡men¡¡checking¡¡over¡¡the¡¡engines¡¡and¡¡filling¡¡the¡¡fuel¡¡tanks¡¡for¡¡the¡¡ing¡¡evacuation¡¡of¡¡Wolf¡¡personnel¡¡to¡¡the¡¡safety¡¡of¡¡the¡¡big¡¡superships¡¡waiting¡¡within¡¡the¡¡safety¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Chilean¡¡fjord¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡great¡¡hangar¡¡was¡¡a¡¡beehive¡¡of¡¡quiet¡¡activity¡£¡¡Workers¡¡in¡¡the¡¡various¡¡Wolf¡¡colored¡¡uniforms¡¡moved¡¡silently£»¡¡conversing¡¡softly£»¡¡as¡¡they¡¡packed¡¡the¡¡hundred¡¡or¡¡more¡¡wooden¡¡crates¡¡with¡¡the¡¡artifacts¡¡and¡¡wealth¡¡of¡¡Amenes£»¡¡along¡¡with¡¡the¡¡looted¡¡art¡¡treasures¡¡from¡¡World¡¡War¡¡II¡¡and¡¡the¡¡sacred¡¡Nazi¡¡relics£»¡¡all¡¡being¡¡readied¡¡for¡¡transportation¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Ulrich¡¡Wolf¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Fifty¡¡men¡¡in¡¡the¡¡standard¡¡Destiny¡¡Enterprises¡¡black¡¡security¡¡uniform¡¡stood¡¡at¡¡attention¡¡as¡¡Karl¡¡Wolf£»¡¡along¡¡with¡¡his¡¡sister¡¡Elsie£»¡¡exited¡¡the¡¡aircraft¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡wearing¡¡Alpine¡¡ski¡¡pants¡¡and¡¡a¡¡big¡¡suede¡¡jacket¡¡fined¡¡with¡¡alpaca¡¡wool¡£¡¡Elsie¡¡was¡¡dressed¡¡in¡¡a¡¡one¡piece¡¡ski¡¡suit¡¡under¡¡a¡¡knee¡length¡¡fur¡¡coat¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡man¡¡who¡¡directed¡¡the¡¡transportation¡¡project¡¡waited¡¡at¡¡the¡¡bottom¡¡of¡¡the¡¡boarding¡¡steps¡¡as¡¡they¡¡stepped¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ground¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Cousin¡¡Karl£»¡¡cousin¡¡Elsie£»¡¡you¡¡do¡¡us¡¡an¡¡honor¡¡by¡¡ing¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Cousin¡¡Horst£»¡¨¡¡Karl¡¡greeted¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡felt¡¡it¡¡my¡¡duty¡¡to¡¡observe¡¡the¡¡doomsday¡¡system¡¡in¡¡its¡¡final¡¡stages¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨An¡¡hour¡¡that¡¡is¡¡near¡¡at¡¡hand£»¡¨¡¡Elsie¡¡added¡¡proudly¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨How¡¡goes¡¡the¡¡evacuation£¿¡¨¡¡asked¡¡Karl¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Cargo¡¡and¡¡passengers¡¡are¡¡scheduled¡¡to¡¡arrive¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Ulrich¡¡Wolf¡¡ten¡¡hours¡¡before¡¡the¡¡cataclysm£»¡¨¡¡Horst¡¡assured¡¡him¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Then¡¡their¡¡brother£»¡¡Hugo£»¡¡and¡¡sister£»¡¡Blondi£»¡¡stepped¡¡forward¡¡to¡¡greet¡¡them¡£¡¡They¡¡took¡¡turns¡¡embracing¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Wele¡¡back¡¡to¡¡Valhalla£»¡¨¡¡Blondi¡¡greeted¡¡Karl¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Other¡¡business¡¡has¡¡kept¡¡me¡¡away¡¡too¡¡long£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Karl¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Hugo£»¡¡who¡¡was¡¡the¡¡chief¡¡of¡¡the¡¡family¡¡security¡¡force£»¡¡gestured¡¡toward¡¡a¡¡small¡¡electric¡¡automobile£»¡¡one¡¡of¡¡a¡¡fleet¡¡of¡¡utility¡¡and¡¡heavy¡¡equipment¡¡vehicles¡¡that¡¡ran¡¡on¡¡batteries£»¡¡to¡¡prevent¡¡a¡¡buildup¡¡of¡¡carbon¡¡monoxide¡¡inside¡¡the¡¡caverns¡£¡¡¡¨We'll¡¡take¡¡you¡¡to¡¡the¡¡control¡¡center£»¡¡where¡¡you¡¡can¡¡see¡¡for¡¡yourself¡¡how¡¡we¡¡begin¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡old¡¡world¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨After¡¡I¡¡inspect¡¡your¡¡guards£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Karl¡£¡¡Trailed¡¡by¡¡Elsie£»¡¡he¡¡walked¡¡down¡¡the¡¡line¡¡of¡¡security¡¡guards¡¡in¡¡their¡¡black¡¡uniforms£»¡¡who¡¡stood¡¡ramrod¡¡straight£»¡¡with¡¡their¡¡P¡10¡¡automatics¡¡strapped¡¡to¡¡their¡¡hips¡¡and¡¡Bushmaster¡¡M17S¡¡rifles¡¡slung¡¡over¡¡their¡¡shoulders¡£¡¡He¡¡stopped¡¡occasionally¡¡and¡¡asked¡¡a¡¡guard¡¡his¡¡nationality¡¡and¡¡military¡¡history¡£¡¡When¡¡he¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡line£»¡¡he¡¡nodded¡¡in¡¡satisfaction¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨An¡¡intrepid¡¡pany¡¡of¡¡men¡£¡¡You've¡¡done¡¡well£»¡¡Hugo¡£¡¡They¡¡look¡¡like¡¡they¡¡can¡¡handle¡¡any¡¡intrusion¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Their¡¡orders¡¡are¡¡to¡¡shoot¡¡to¡¡kill¡¡any¡¡unidentified¡¡intruder¡¡that¡¡enters¡¡our¡¡perimeter¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡hope¡¡they¡¡perform¡¡with¡¡greater¡¡efficiency¡¡than¡¡Erich's¡¡men¡¡at¡¡the¡¡shipyard¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨There¡¡will¡¡be¡¡no¡¡failure¡¡at¡¡this¡¡end£»¡¨¡¡Hugo¡¡said¡¡firmly¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡promise¡¡you£»¡¡brother¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Any¡¡sign¡¡of¡¡encroachment£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨None£»¡¨¡¡answered¡¡Blondi¡£¡¡¡¨Our¡¡detection¡control¡¡unit¡¡has¡¡seen¡¡no¡¡activity¡¡within¡¡a¡¡hundred¡¡and¡¡fifty¡¡miles¡¡of¡¡the¡¡facility¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Elsie¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¨One¡¡hundred¡¡and¡¡fifty¡¡miles¡¡does¡¡not¡¡seem¡¡far¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨It's¡¡the¡¡distance¡¡to¡¡Little¡¡America¡¡Number¡¡Six£»¡¡the¡¡Yankee¡¡Antarctic¡¡research¡¡station¡£¡¡Since¡¡the¡¡station¡¡was¡¡built£»¡¡they've¡¡shown¡¡no¡¡interest¡¡in¡¡our¡¡operations¡£¡¡Our¡¡aerial¡¡surveillance¡¡has¡¡yet¡¡to¡¡detect¡¡any¡¡attempt¡¡to¡¡trespass¡¡onto¡¡our¡¡mining¡¡facility¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨All¡¡is¡¡quiet¡¡with¡¡the¡¡Americans£»¡¨¡¡added¡¡Hugo¡£¡¡¡¨They'll¡¡give¡¡us¡¡no¡¡problems¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I'm¡¡not¡¡so¡¡sure£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Karl¡£¡¡¡¨Keep¡¡a¡¡tight¡¡eye¡¡on¡¡any¡¡activity¡£¡¡I¡¡fear¡¡their¡¡intelligence¡¡may¡¡be¡¡on¡¡the¡¡verge¡¡of¡¡discovering¡¡our¡¡secret¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Any¡¡attempt¡¡to¡¡stop¡¡us£»¡¨¡¡Hugo¡¡said¡¡confidently£»¡¡¡¨will¡¡e¡¡too¡¡late¡£¡¡The¡¡Fourth¡¡Empire¡¡is¡¡inevitable¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡sincerely¡¡pray¡¡that¡¡will¡¡be¡¡the¡¡case£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Karl£»¡¡as¡¡he¡¡entered¡¡the¡¡auto¡¡ahead¡¡of¡¡the¡¡women¡£¡¡Usually¡¡gallant¡¡around¡¡the¡¡ladies£»¡¡Karl¡¡came¡¡from¡¡the¡¡old¡¡German¡¡school¡¡where¡¡men¡¡never¡¡yielded¡¡to¡¡women¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡driver¡¡of¡¡the¡¡electric¡¡car¡¡left¡¡the¡¡aircraft¡¡hangar¡¡area¡¡and¡¡entered¡¡a¡¡tunnel¡£¡¡After¡¡a¡¡quarter¡¡of¡¡a¡¡mile£»¡¡they¡¡entered¡¡a¡¡vast¡¡ice¡¡cavern¡¡that¡¡enclosed¡¡a¡¡small¡¡harbor¡¡with¡¡long¡¡floating¡¡docks¡¡that¡¡rose¡¡and¡¡fell¡¡with¡¡the¡¡tide¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Ross¡¡Sea¡£¡¡The¡¡high¡roofed¡¡channel¡¡that¡¡ran¡¡from¡¡the¡¡inner¡¡harbor¡¡to¡¡the¡¡sea¡¡curved¡¡gently£»¡¡allowing¡¡large¡¡ships¡¡to¡¡navigate¡¡the¡¡passage¡¡while¡¡the¡¡ice¡¡cliffs¡¡blocked¡¡all¡¡view¡¡from¡¡the¡¡outside¡£¡¡Light¡¡throughout¡¡the¡¡plex¡¡came¡¡from¡¡overhead¡¡fixtures¡¡containing¡¡dozens¡¡of¡¡halogen¡¡bulbs¡£¡¡Four¡¡submarines¡¡and¡¡a¡¡small¡¡cargo¡¡ship¡¡were¡¡moored¡¡beside¡¡the¡¡docks¡£¡¡The¡¡entire¡¡harbor¡¡plex¡¡was¡¡deserted¡£¡¡The¡¡cargo¡¡cranes¡¡stood¡¡abandoned£»¡¡along¡¡with¡¡a¡¡small¡¡fleet¡¡of¡¡trucks¡¡and¡¡equipment¡£¡¡There¡¡wasn't¡¡a¡¡soul¡¡to¡¡be¡¡seen¡¡on¡¡the¡¡docks¡¡or¡¡the¡¡vessels¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡as¡¡if¡¡their¡¡crews¡¡had¡¡walked¡¡off¡¡and¡¡never¡¡returned¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨A¡¡pity¡¡the¡¡U¡boats¡¡that¡¡served¡¡our¡¡venture¡¡so¡¡efficiently¡¡all¡¡these¡¡years¡¡will¡¡be¡¡lost£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Elsie¡¡wistfully¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Perhaps¡¡they¡¡will¡¡survive£»¡¨¡¡Blondi¡¡consoled¡¡her¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Hugo¡¡smiled¡£¡¡¡¨When¡¡the¡¡time¡¡es£»¡¡I¡¡will¡¡personally¡¡return¡¡to¡¡Valhalla¡¡to¡¡see¡¡how¡¡they¡¡fared¡£¡¡They¡¡deserve¡¡to¡¡be¡¡enshrined¡¡for¡¡their¡¡service¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Fourth¡¡Empire¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡old¡¡tunnel¡¡that¡¡ran¡¡nine¡¡miles¡¡through¡¡the¡¡ice¡¡between¡¡the¡¡hidden¡¡dock¡¡terminal£»¡¡the¡¡aircraft¡¡hangar£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡to¡¡the¡¡sea¡mining¡¡extraction¡¡facility¡¡had¡¡also¡¡been¡¡excavated¡¡by¡¡slaves¡¡from¡¡the¡¡old¡¡Soviet¡¡Union£»¡¡their¡¡preserved¡¡bodies¡¡now¡¡frozen¡¡in¡¡a¡¡mass¡¡grave¡¡on¡¡the¡¡ice¡¡shelf¡£¡¡Since¡¡1985£»¡¡the¡¡tunnel¡¡had¡¡been¡¡expanded¡¡and¡¡constantly¡¡realigned¡¡because¡¡of¡¡the¡¡shifting¡¡ice¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡In¡¡the¡¡beginning£»¡¡the¡¡efforts¡¡to¡¡extract¡¡valuable¡¡minerals¡¡from¡¡the¡¡sea¡¡had¡¡proved¡¡a¡¡dismal¡¡failure£»¡¡but¡¡with¡¡the¡¡nanotechnology¡¡revolution¡¡pioneered¡¡by¡¡Eric¡¡Drexler¡¡in¡¡California£»¡¡along¡¡with¡¡his¡¡wife¡¡Chris¡¡Peterson£»¡¡Destiny¡¡Enterprises¡¡had¡¡thrown¡¡its¡¡immense¡¡wealth¡¡and¡¡resources¡¡into¡¡a¡¡project¡¡to¡¡control¡¡the¡¡structure¡¡of¡¡matter¡£¡¡By¡¡rearranging¡¡atoms¡¡and¡¡creating¡¡incredibly¡¡tiny¡¡engines£»¡¡they¡¡had¡¡totally¡¡reinvented¡¡manufacturing¡¡processes¡£¡¡Molecular¡¡machines¡¡could¡¡even¡¡produce¡¡a¡¡tree¡¡from¡¡scratch¡£¡¡The¡¡Wolfs£»¡¡however£»¡¡threw¡¡their¡¡efforts¡¡into¡¡extracting¡¡valuable¡¡minerals¡¡such¡¡as¡¡gold¡¡from¡¡seawater£»¡¡a¡¡process¡¡they'd¡¡achieved¡¡and¡¡gone¡¡on¡¡to¡¡refine¡¡until¡¡they¡¡were¡¡producing¡¡a¡¡thousand¡¡troy¡¡ounces¡¡of¡¡gold¡¡a¡¡day¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Ross¡¡Sea£»¡¡along¡¡with¡¡platinum£»¡¡silver£»¡¡and¡¡many¡¡other¡¡rare¡¡elements¡£¡¡Unlike¡¡ore¡¡pulled¡¡from¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡and¡¡then¡¡expensively¡¡processed¡¡by¡¡crushers¡¡and¡¡chemicals£»¡¡the¡¡minerals¡¡extracted¡¡from¡¡the¡¡sea¡¡came¡¡in¡¡a¡¡nearly¡¡pure¡¡form¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡engineering¡¡center¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Destiny¡¡Enterprises¡¡sea¡mining¡¡facility¡¡was¡¡a¡¡great¡¡domed¡¡structure¡¡whose¡¡interior¡¡looked¡¡similar¡¡to¡¡the¡¡vast¡¡control¡¡room¡¡at¡¡the¡¡NASA¡¡space¡¡center¡£¡¡Electronic¡¡consoles¡¡were¡¡manned¡¡by¡¡thirty¡¡scientists¡¡and¡¡engineers¡¡who¡¡monitored¡¡the¡¡puterized¡¡electronics¡¡of¡¡the¡¡nanotech¡¡mining¡¡operation¡£¡¡But¡¡this¡¡day£»¡¡all¡¡operations¡¡for¡¡the¡¡extraction¡¡of¡¡rare¡¡metals¡¡from¡¡the¡¡sea¡¡had¡¡e¡¡to¡¡a¡¡halt£»¡¡and¡¡all¡¡Wolf¡¡personnel¡¡were¡¡concentrating¡¡their¡¡efforts¡¡on¡¡the¡¡ing¡¡split¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ice¡¡shelf¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Karl¡¡Wolf¡¡entered¡¡the¡¡expansive¡¡room¡¡and¡¡stopped¡¡in¡¡front¡¡of¡¡a¡¡spacious¡¡electronic¡¡board¡¡that¡¡hung¡¡from¡¡the¡¡center¡¡of¡¡the¡¡domed¡¡ceiling¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡center£»¡¡a¡¡large¡¡map¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Ross¡¡Ice¡¡Shelf¡¡was¡¡displayed¡£¡¡Around¡¡the¡¡edges£»¡¡a¡¡series¡¡of¡¡neonlike¡¡tubing¡¡distinguished¡¡the¡¡ice¡¡from¡¡the¡¡surrounding¡¡land¡£¡¡The¡¡tubing£»¡¡which¡¡stretched¡¡from¡¡the¡¡mining¡¡pany¡¡around¡¡the¡¡ice¡¡shelf¡¡and¡¡ended¡¡three¡¡hundred¡¡miles¡¡from¡¡the¡¡opposite¡¡end£»¡¡was¡¡green¡£¡¡The¡¡section¡¡from¡¡where¡¡the¡¡green¡¡ended¡¡was¡¡continued¡¡in¡¡red¡¡to¡¡the¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sea¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨The¡¡area¡¡in¡¡red¡¡is¡¡yet¡¡to¡¡be¡¡programmed£¿¡¨¡¡Karl¡¡asked¡¡the¡¡chief¡¡engineer£»¡¡Jurgen¡¡Holtz£»¡¡who¡¡walked¡¡up¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Wolf¡¡party¡¡and¡¡gave¡¡a¡¡sharp¡¡nod¡¡of¡¡his¡¡head¡¡in¡¡greeting¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Yes£»¡¡that¡¡is¡¡correct¡£¡¨¡¡Holtz¡¡raised¡¡a¡¡hand¡¡and¡¡gestured¡¡at¡¡the¡¡board¡£¡¡¡¨We¡¡are¡¡in¡¡the¡¡process