Supplement

On a planet far far away, there sat a group of young people. Now these young people were not attending the local school. It was a year off for them. They were asked to take a year off, to decide their future plans. And during that year off, they were to develop a plan for a metal being imported from Earth. Chromium arrived daily from Earth on ships specifically designed to carry this valuable commodity.

“So we have to come up with this plan. Anyone have an idea?” Harku started the conversation.

The other group members stared at the barren landscape of their planet. Morbo was rock and sand. No plant life had ever survived in the environment.

“Well, we do have an entire year to decide. A full cycle of the blue star should give us enough time.”

Harku glanced at Yerba. “You think that is enough time? It will be over before we know. Chromium. Do we have ideas for this metal?”

A messenger craft landed in the middle of the circle. The tiny door opened. A robot exited, gave a message, then reentered the craft. It rose and sped away into the blue-tinted sky.

“Inhabitants of the planet Morbo are undergoing some physical changes of late. The scientists on the planet are tasked with the job of discovering the reason or reasons for these changes. One idea is that the Chromium in their diets is insufficient,” had stated the robot.

“Chromium is good for our diets? Is that a clue for us?”

“But how? Chromium is a metal. How would that work? You just cannot eat metal. Metal’s hard. We cannot grind and eat metal.”

Discussion now leaned toward the best way to ingest Chromium, then digressed to the toxicity of Chromium, which progressed to mining Chromium on Morbo.

After many sun cycles, the group felt ready to present their ideas to the planet’s governing council. The student group voted to have Harku, Yerba and Marfu represent them before the council.

The day of the presentation, the three students discussed their ideas. They wanted to show that the findings gleaned from Earth’s news showed that micro amounts of Chromium were important. But more than a micro amount could be deleterious. The council would have to be careful to measure the amounts of Chromium felt to be necessary in the food or vitamins, or whatever route felt best to deliver this nutrient.

The governing council sat waiting as the students entered the council hall.

“Welcome, young ones. We hope you have some news to present.”

The trio edged closer to the council. Yerba was chosen to speak on behalf of the group to open the discussion.

“Yes, wise council. We have been given the idea that the metal Chromium would be good for the planet Morbo in an interesting way. It seems that Chromium is necessary for our diets. Not enough Chromium is currently available through our food on this planet. So we propose that the Chromium we import be used to enhance the lives of all the live on our planet. It can be used to make our lives better and healthier.”

“Thank you for that information. The council acknowledges your hard work in compiling this invaluable information. However, since your exile to find purpose, your mission has changed. Thank you and goodbye.”

An armed guard escorted the trip of students out of the council chamber and into three locked cells.

“What did we do wrong?” Yerba moaned.

“The others will be worried,” whispered Marku.

“We must put on brave faces. Who knows what they thought,” Harku stated.

A few days later a spokesperson from the council brought news to the students.

“You are requested to meet with the council. Now.”

The three students and the spokesperson made their way to the council chambers.

Head Council addressed the students. “Students, your idea of Chromium for the diet of citizens on our planet has been considered. We also have decided a method of processing it.” He paused for a moment. “Beginning tomorrow you and the rest of the students will become the fuel for the Chromium Trial. Our testing shows that your bodies show an above normal level of this metal. You will be the source. We wish to thank you for your unselfish service to the citizens of Morbo.”

Armed guards led the students away to meet the others in the processing room. Then they left the group, locking the door behind them.

“What…”

“Did you…”

“Honest, I didn’t..” , were the last words heard on the recorded history.




W/C 761