The conference room was a sleek, modern space with a large, polished wood table at its center. The walls were adorned with floor-to-ceiling windows, offering a stunning view of the desert landscape beyond. The room was filled with a diverse group of experts, all gathered to discuss the latest developments in their ambitious project.
Selena, now 34 weeks pregnant, sat at the head of the table, her radiant smile and infectious enthusiasm drawing everyone's attention. Her raven-black hair was pulled back into a sleek ponytail, revealing her heart-shaped face and bright, expressive eyes. Her alabaster skin glowed with a warm, golden light, and her pouty lips were painted a deep, rich red. Despite her advanced pregnancy, Selena exuded a sense of confidence and energy, her presence commanding the room.
Selena was surrounded by a team of scientists who shared her passion for transforming the desert landscape into fertile ground. The room was filled with the hum of excitement and the scent of freshly brewed coffee.
"Thank you all for coming, I am so glad that you have all decided to join us in this mission, the benefits go beyond the scientific, we hope you can join us permanently to develop a different style of society, the governments of Angola, Namibia and South Africa are all on board in our mission and are prepare to make changes to their economies and style of governance to
To her right, a large screen displayed a graphic representation of the desert ecosystem, with arrows and diagrams illustrating the complex relationships between the soil, water, and plant life.
"Alright, let's get started," Selena said, her voice confident and clear. "We've got a big challenge ahead of us, but I know we can do it. We need to find a way to turn these deserts into arable land, and we not only need to find a way to quickly do it, but we also have a lot on the line."
Selena clicked the button on the mouse, and the next page came up. The Governments of South Africa, Namibia, and Angola were the first to sign up. In those countries, we are now manufacturing the electric components for Sol batteries, panels, Trucks, and personal vehicles. The continent is rich in the minerals we require, and they will all mostly be sourced here. This has brought in a lot of money to their economy, so they have given us certain freedom in what we do and how we do it."
Selena continued, "We have also agreed to hire our agricultural workers and other frontline staff from the local population, if they are competent. Translators and Language classes are available to you should you be unable to understand or give instructions."
Selena clicked the mouse and the next slide came up, "This has made these governments incredibly amenable to switching their economy's and style of governance depending on the success of our project, meaning that our work will be ongoing, we will move on adapting existing cities into green oases if we are successful, which with all of those present and future onboarded specialist - I can assure you that it will be an achievable goal."
Selena clicked the mouse, the next slide came up, "Our residences and infrastructure under the vast and interconnected domes are going to be moveable like the sand so we can adjust our commutes as we go, the infrastructure for sewage as it will be used will run to a plant where it will be treated, organic waste will be divided into those that will be put into the composter and those that will go into the digester. Methane will be collected as it all breaks down and is utilized for powering heaters and cooking equipment."
Selena continued. "We plan to utilize all our waste. We will be a plastic-free society and have contracted our vendors to supply food in eco-friendly packaging. Our goal is to be as close to zero net waste as possible."
"We will be entirely eco, your clothing will have to remain natural fibres, as grey and wash water will be collected to water the fields. Laundry will be taken care of by the employed local staff. We will replace anything in your luggage with an eco version."
"Everything not eco-friendly?" Dr. Rodriguez asked. Their eyes widened.
"Yes, just show the card in your kit to the listed seller or circle what you want in the catalog and the size you require, and we will provide for you. The same thing goes for weekly food; just circle what you want for the week, and we will supply it to you weekly. The goods are primarily local. We will also have a local shop, just in case of emergencies."
Selena clicked to the next slide, which depicted a local economy. "As you can see my goal is to enrich the local economy in our settlements, not only for socioeconomic reasons, but these will be part of our settlers. We need to lead by example and not import, so they do not feel the need to as well."
James Kilbride, one of Sol's electrical engineers, smiled. He was pumped. The scientists nodded in agreement, their eyes scanning the data on the screen.
"Great," Selena said as she clicked the mouse. "We need to think outside the box," Selena said, her eyes scanning the horizon. "We can't just rely on traditional methods of irrigation and fertilization. We need something more innovative, something that can expedite the process of turning this sand into arable land."
Selena pointed to the analysis of the various sands. They all had similarities. One solution to fix most of them would not fix every desert. Some of the habitats also needed to be kept for the existing life.
The scientists nodded in agreement, and one of them, a soft-spoken expert in nanotechnology, spoke up. "I think I have a solution," he said. "We can use nano clay to bind the sand particles together, allowing them to absorb water more effectively."
Selena's eyes lit up with excitement. "That's brilliant," she said. "But we need to take it a step further. We need to improve the nutrient content of the soil as well." Selena said, leading the experts.
Dr.Clark, an expert in organic chemistry, spoke up. "I think I have a solution for that," she said. "We can mix compost made from animal manures or horticultural waste into the root zone of the soil, typically the top 12 inches. This will not only improve moisture retention but also provide essential nutrients for plant growth."
The team nodded in agreement, and Selena smiled, feeling a sense of excitement and anticipation. "This is going to be a multi-prong approach; we'll also need to think about water," she said to the team of geoengineers. "We'll need something to get the soil from drifting like grass, something that can feed livestock." She looked at the botanists.
As the discussion turned to the topic of heat-resistant annual crops, Dr. Chen, the botanist, leaned forward in his seat. "We're looking at a variety of grains that can thrive in high-temperature environments," he explained. "Crops like sorghum, millet, and cowpeas are all excellent options. They're not only heat-resistant but also drought-tolerant, making them ideal for our desert ecosystem."
Dr. Rodriguez, the botanist, spoke up. "We're also looking at incorporating heat-tolerant and drought-tolerant fruit and nut trees into the landscape. Trees like date palms, pomegranates, and pistachios are well-suited to the desert climate and can thrive with minimal watering."
Selena's eyes sparkled with excitement. "I love that idea," she said. "Incorporating fruit and nut trees will not only provide us with a sustainable source of food, but it will also help create a more diverse and resilient ecosystem. We can plant them in the fields with the grains to provide shade."
Selena leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with interest. "What about grasses and other heat-resistant crops?" she asked. "We'll need to consider those for the outdoor areas for livestock, won't we?". Selena started to feel a pain gathering in her lower back. She shifted in her seat, riveted by the scientists.
Dr. Chen nodded. "Absolutely. We're looking at a variety of grasses that can thrive in high-temperature environments, such as buffalo grass and blue grama for ground cover. We're also considering other heat-resistant crops like okra, rice, rapeseed, sweet potatoes, and tomatoes."
Selena nodded thoughtfully. "And what about water options?" she asked. "We'll need a reliable source of water for irrigation and other uses." The pain flared again in her lower back.
James Kilbride spoke up. "We're exploring several options, including seawater greenhouses and desalination. Seawater greenhouses use seawater to cool and humidify the air, creating a more favorable environment for plant growth. Desalination, of course, involves removing salt and other minerals from seawater to produce fresh water."
Selena's eyes lit up with excitement. "I love the idea of seawater greenhouses," she said. "It's a brilliant way to utilize the resources we have available to us. And desalination is a great option for producing fresh water."
James Kilbride nodded. "We're also considering building a solar desalination plant to provide a sustainable source of fresh water. The plant would use solar energy to power the desalination process, making it a highly efficient and environmentally friendly option."
Selena's face lit up with enthusiasm. "That's a fantastic idea," she said. "A solar desalination plant would not only provide us with a reliable source of freshwater, but it would also help reduce our carbon footprint."
Selena's gaze turned to the solar panels on the screen. "Solar panels and Energy Storage can be utilized," she said. "There's going to be earth under those panels. What can we do underneath them to not waste the space?" The pain in her back grew in waves.
Dr. Patel's eyes lit up. "We can use the space underneath the solar panels for underground agriculture," she said. "We can plant crops like lettuce, spinach, and herbs that thrive in shaded conditions. This way, we can maximize the use of space and create a more efficient and sustainable food system."
Selena's face lit up with excitement. "I love that idea," she said. "Let's make it happen. We will prep the areas for that and use robotics for watering and harvesting. It can be attached directly below the panels on a grid track. Selena clicked on a file on the computer to show the scientists an example. Excited chatter picked up. They were going to have a lot of panels.
With a multi-pronged approach, the team set to work, deploying the nano clay to bind the sand particles together and mixing organic compost into the root zone of the soil. As they worked, the desert landscape began to transform before their very eyes, the sand slowly giving way to fertile ground, teeming with life and possibility.
It was a revolutionary approach, one that had the potential to transform not just this desert, but deserts all around the world. And Selena, with her team of scientists, was at the forefront of it all, pushing the boundaries of what was thought possible and creating a brighter, more sustainable future for generations to come.
The team continued to brainstorm and discuss the various options, with Selena's leadership and expertise guiding the conversation. As the meeting drew to a close, Selena smiled, feeling a sense of pride and accomplishment. She knew that their project was on the cusp of a breakthrough, and she was honored to be a part of it.
Selena's eyes widened in surprise as she felt a sudden gush of water between her legs. She looked down, mortified, as a small puddle formed on the floor beneath her chair.
"Oh no," she whispered, her face flushing with embarrassment.
Dr. Patel, seated beside her, looked at her with concern. "Selena, are you okay?"
Selena nodded, trying to compose herself. "I'm so sorry, I think my water just broke. I have to leave; continue on your own. I will leave my work computer," she said, her voice squeaking with embarrassment.
The room fell silent, with all eyes on Selena. Dr. Chen quickly jumped up to help her, while Dr. Patel grabbed some tissues to clean up the spill.
Selena quickly excused herself, her face burning with embarrassment. She rushed out of the meeting room, her phone already in hand as she dialed Liam's number.
"Liam, it's time," she said, her voice trembling with excitement and pain. "My water just broke. They're coming now!"
Liam's voice was frantic on the other end of the line. "Okay, baby, I'm on my way. Just stay calm and meet me in the parking lot when I honk."
Selena rushed out of the building, wincing in pain as she made her way to the parking lot. The scorching desert sun beat down on her, making her feel lightheaded. She squinted, shielding her eyes from the glare.
Liam pulled up, his face etched with concern as he helped her into their sleek, black SUV. The air conditioning enveloped her, providing a welcome respite from the heat.
As they began the long drive to the hospital in Springbok, South Africa, the landscape unfolded before them like a canvas of gold and brown. The sun beat down on the desert sand, casting a golden glow over the scenery.
Selena's contractions grew stronger, and she gritted her teeth, trying to focus on the road ahead. Liam took her hand, his eyes locked on hers.
"You're doing great, baby," he said, his voice soft and reassuring. "Just hang in there. We're going to meet them soon."
Selena nodded, taking a deep breath as she pulled out her phone to call her mother. "Mom, it's time," Selena said, her voice trembling with excitement. "This time it is real. It broke during a meeting. I'm on my way to the hospital. The twins are coming!"
Eun Ho's voice was warm and reassuring on the other end of the line. "Oh, sweetie, I'm so excited for you! We'll fly over as soon as we can. We love you, and we can't wait to meet them."
Selena smiled, feeling a surge of love and gratitude for her family. Tears of joy pricked at the corners of her eyes as she hung up the phone.
Liam squeezed her hand reassuringly. "We're almost there, baby. Just hang in there. Our twins will be here before you know it!"
As they drove, the sun began to set, casting a warm orange glow over the desert landscape. Selena felt a sense of peace wash over her, knowing that she was about to embark on the most incredible journey of her life.