Months of searching by Padullahstani miners and scientists had resulted in nothing but disappointments. Sites all around the world had been scoured and analysed with expensive tests, and so far no results had been yielded. The frustration of the upper echelons of the Padullahstani government had almost reaching its breaking point. Then, a small breakthrough was reason enough to keep them hopeful. A prospecting group had reported there were fairly significant readings coming from metal detectors. A team of miners and guards were immediately dispatched to the mountainous isle of Kirinos where the deposits had been discovered, and began to try to collect samples from the hypothetical deposit. The ancient island already had mines, though these older ones made centuries ago were likely in search of gold or silver. The Padullah were in search of far more valuable treasure than jewellry items or precious metals. The mining crew ventured into the darkness, where perhaps no man had walked in two millennia. Stagnant air thick with dust floated around the dark corridors of the mine, the miners were more than equipped for the job, though had underestimated the stability of the mine. It would hold until they were done their job at least. Deeper and deeper the team went into the mines, as if headed down to the very bowels of the earth. They passed numerous graffiti left by the ancient Kirinosians, whose civilisation had died out after they demolished all of their resources and were struck down by a great plague. The sizable island that had been there home had been mostly untouched by colonizing powers, due to its rugged terrain and general uselessness for lack of harbours, resources, and flat land.
After what seemed like hours, the mining team reached a spot in one of the shaft’s walls that was deemed fit to drill into. The scientists accompanying them nervously watched the drill spin and light the walls of the cavern with white hot sparks, knowing full well if they had falsely reported something of this magnitude their lives would be forfeit and were libel to find themselves in some torture chamber back in the capital. The moments felt like ages and sweat beaded on their foreheads. The drill was removed from the aperture in the mine shaft wall and a light was put in its place. Some of the blue dust that had been created from the drilling floated around them, and the hole was examined. There were little blue and white rocks covering the sides of the hole and just in piles of refuse that were lining the sides of the mine walls. The ancients simply must have abandoned the mine when both the veins of precious metals ran out and the sickness from the miners began killing everyone. Little did they know that their island was the site of what was likely the largest vein of Akzerium in the world. That really wasn’t saying too much either, for Akzerium was extremely rare and even the vein this size would likely only yield around 50 kilogrammes. It was theorised to be the cause of the demise of the Kirinosians, but there had never been any substantial proof. The properties of the mineral were largely unstudied and its effects on humans was only based off of rumour and hypothesis. They reported the findings back to Uykesht as soon as they reached the entrance to the cavern.
Uykesht
Colmira Province
The Padullahstani capital lay under a blanket a freshly fallen snow. To a few it was a beautiful sight to behold, but most just viewed it as another hardship. The air was filled with sharp cries mourning those who the extreme cold had taken the night before and the bitter wind fighting its way between the buildings of the great city. At local time, the Supreme President had just finished a meeting with the Minister of Finance concerning interest rates. He immediately summoned the heads of the armed forces and all concerned parties at the Presidential Palace.
"This island of Kirinos is to be immediately forbidden entrance to outsiders and claimed in the glorious name of the Padullahstani Republic. The Akzerium ore is to be stored in a warehouse until all of the load has been taken from the mine and then will be brought back to Padullahstan and taken to the facility at Dat for further evaluation and testing. Secrecy is paramount. Questions?"
One of the scientists spoke up
"Supreme President, are we to test the Akzerium on human subjects immediately?"
Erkan Uzanlar looked at the man with a face of solid apathy
"Dr. Mavil, as head of the Dat Research Facility, you are well aware of what we are trying to accomplish and what needs to be done. So long as this is all finished I do not care which order you do it in."
"Thank you, Supreme President."
“Also, the island should possess artefacts from an ancient barbarian civilization I want them intact and brought back to the capital unspoiled. If there are no further questions, dismissed and set your duties into action. Glory to Padullahstan!”
Voröshdenzya Island
Three Ozelor-Class destroyers departed the naval base to rendezvous with another fleet of ships carrying soldiers, miners, and supplies to the isle of Kirinos. First they would construct a small settlement with a storage facility for the safety of the items being brought back to Padullahstan. It would go along quite smoothly.
