Weapon of Atlantis (23 page)

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Inside the control room, the men stood and watched the large screen monitor display the progress
of the tiny submarine. Price and Hammond hovered over Lt. Rucker’s shoulders as he worked the controls of the winch that lowered the two men deeper into the blackness.

“Rate of descent looks good. All system
s are in the green,” Price said matter-of-factly.

Hammond moved his focus from the large screen to Lt. Rucker’s sha
rper-looking monitor. He pointed to the graphical representation of the ship over the dive sight.

“Looks like
the Corrine is drifting slightly off course,” he said aloud.

“I’m on it,” Lt. Rucker responded.

Quickly, he reached for another control and moved it slightly, activating thrusters on the starboard side of the ship.

“Seas are kicking up slightly. I’ve tightened the tolerance on the autopilot,” he responded.

In seconds, the research ship maneuvered directly over the site once more.

Price scanned the large screen, then glanced down to his watch.

“Timing looks good. We’re ahead of schedule. Passing the thirty-five thousand foot level now,” he said, anxiety building in his tone.

“They should be entering the hole in less than eight minutes,” Hammond announced.

He keyed the microphone on his headset, opening the line of communication to the sub.

“This is Agent Hammond. All systems are looking green up here. How’s it looking on your end?”

“All systems green here too, Sir: no leaks or anomalies,” Ensign Davis responded, then added, “We’re hearing some pressure creaking, but that’s to be expected at this depth.”

Hammond shot Price a concerned stare. Price’s eyes grew larger in intensity. He shot back an almost imperceptible nod, then continued to monitor the larger screen.

Every man in the control room watched with heightened anticipation. The sub was now entering the point beyond its safety rating and they knew they could at any moment, be witnessing the death of the two ensigns. With reality staring conspicuously in their faces, adrenaline and fear surged through their bodies with each foot lower the sub descended.

“Five hundred feet above the cavity,” Price announced, his voice beginning to show strain.

Hammond keyed his mic once more.

“All systems are still in the green. Five hundred feet till you enter the cavity.
You should be able to see the opening in roughly three minutes,” he informed in a controlled professional tone.

“Yes Sir. All systems green. Increased pressure activity. Watching for the rim,” Ensign Davi
s rattled off quickly.

Once again, Hammond glanced to Price. Their eyes acknowledged their concerns.

“Sir, we have visual contact with the rim,” Ensign Davis announced, moments later.

All eyes stared at the video screen. The bright lights from the sub illuminated the rim that lay below. In a minute’s time, the sub’s cameras now showed the sub descending below it.

“Thirty-six point five,” Hammond called the depth to the two ensigns.

“Yes Sir. Thirty-six point five. All systems in the green,” Ensign Davis called back.

Javi looked toward Jack. His eyes were filled with worry.

“The suspense is killing me. I almost can’t watch,” he whispered.

“The next half hour is the most critical. If they make it to the floor, they should be ok,” Jack responded in serious tone.

Javi shook his head.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been this scared in my life,” he confessed.

“Imagine what they’re feeling,”
Jack replied, pointing to the large screen.

Javi shook his head in disbelief.

“Nuts,” he responded simply.

“They’re at thirty-seven thousand feet,” Capt. Elders said to Price.

“They’re in the record books,” Price responded. “If they make it,” he added callously.

Capt. Elders shot him a disgusted glance. Price ignored the rebuke.

The overhead speakers crackled with static, then burst with the sound of Ensign Davis’ panic-stricken voice.

“Sir, we have a leak!” he shouted. “Looks like someone didn’t seal the hatch properly.”

Hammond immediately keyed his mic.

“Could it be just condensation?” he asked in hopeful tone.

“No Sir. I’m feeling drops of water, too consistent to be condensation,” he shouted back.

“Get those guys out of there,
now
!” Jack yelled from the back of the room. He rushed forward and continued, “You’ve got to pull them up now. Any breach at that depth can turn deadly in seconds,” he implored.

“He’s right,” Capt. Elders added. “We’ve got to pull them up now. It’s their only hope of survival.”

Price glanced to Hammond with reluctance. Hammond stared back, unwilling to make a decision.

“It’s too late. There’s no way we can pull them up fast enough. The two
are dead men,” Price responded bluntly.

“Bullshit!” Jack shouted. “Lieutenant, reverse the winch: maximum speed,” he ordered.

Lt. Rucker glanced to Capt. Elders to confirm. The captain nodded aggressively.

“Do it,
now
!” he shouted.

Lt. Rucker’s hands moved swiftly over
the controls. Seconds later, the videos on the sub confirmed its reversal.

Suddenly, the overhead speakers crackled again.

“
We’re being blasted with streams of water. I don’t know
…”

The ensign’s words were immediately cut off by loud screams. The men
in the control room watched with hopeless desperation as the video inside the submarine change from serious to macabre in an instant. With many thousands of pounds of pressure exerting on the sub’s outer surface, the stream inside the sub turned into a powerful jet that sliced through flesh and bone. A second later, the horrific scene was gone. The submarine imploded, crushing everything inside.

Capt. Elders stared at the large screen in shock. Two of his men were now dead and the reality of the event hadn’t fully registered in his mind. As he watched the monitor, Lt Rucker spoke from behind him.

“Reducing winch speed to normal,” he announced solemnly.

Hearing the words,
Capt. Elders turned and shook his head.

“Negative Lieutenant. Maintain maximum speed,” he ordered firmly.

“Sir, at that depth, we’ll run the risk of burning out the motor,” Lt. Rucker responded respectfully.

“To hell with the motor,” he spat angrily.

“No Captain, the lieutenant’s right,” Price cut in. “The two men are dead and rushing them to the surface won’t change that fact. Reduce the speed, Lieutenant,” he ordered.

Lt. Rucker turned to his captain, looking for approval. Slowly, reluctantly, the captain nodded.

“We better head topside and prepare the deck for the wreckage. This will have to be investigated,” the captain said to the two agents.

Hammond shook his head.

“I’m sure you can handle it. Price and I are going to prepare the other sub,” he stated flatly.

“The other sub? Are you mad?” Capt. Elders shouted. “Isn’t it obvious the subs can’t take the pressure?”

“No, it’s not obvious. You heard it yourself: Ensign Davis said the hatch wasn’t secured. We’ll just make sure it’s properly latched on this next dive,” Price retorted.

Capt. Elders shook his head in protest.

“No way. I’m not sending down any more of my men until we get the hatch problem resolved,” he shot back.

Hammond stepped forward menacingly, and stared into the captains eyes.

“You’re the problem, not the hatch. You were the last person to touch it, therefore you latched it improperly. Had you done your job correctly, those two would still be alive right now,” he said coldly.

The captain stared a moment, his rage building from the insult. Unable to control his anger, he threw a punch at Hammonds jaw. Hammond instinctively sidestepped the assault, blocking with his left hand while delivering a powerful blow to the captain’s solar plexus. Instantly, the captain dropped to his knees, gasping for air.

“
Idiot
! Who do you think you’re dealing with?” Hammond shouted, now shoving the incapacitated man to the floor. He kicked him in the side, then pulled his handgun from his hidden holster under his coat. Pointing, he continued, “This mission is to succeed at any cost. We’ve been authorized to shoot anyone who threatens its success. Don’t mess with us.” He glared at the captain than holstered his weapon. “Get your ass topside and stay out of our way,” he added.

Price nodded proudly to his partner, then said, “Shall we prepare the other sub?”

Hammond smirked and responded humorously, “Why are we still here?”

“I’ll take that as a yes,” he
shot back sarcastically.

As the two agents hurried out of the control roo
m, Jack glanced to Javi with a grim expression.

“You heard that
, right?” he asked, in a low tone.

“I heard it: success at any cost,” Javi responded.

“I’m guessing right about now, our lives aren’t worth a nickel,” he said, shaking his head in worry.

Javi nodded with equal concern.

“If they would shoot a captain in the Navy, they wouldn’t think twice about shooting us, especially when they need to tie up loose ends after the mission is complete.”

“What
are we going to do?” Javi asked in fearful tone. “Maybe we could expose them? I’m betting the media would love to know about this?” he suggested.

Jack shook his head.

“You heard them: they have authority and I’m betting it’s pretty far reaching too,” he responded.

“So what… we just sit around and do nothing?” Javi shot back.

“Until we can come up with a sound plan, yes,” Jack responded.

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Two hours later…

As the second submersible was prepared for launch, Jack and Javi stood by a ship’s rail and stared at the mangled wreckage of the crushed submarine. Their minds were filled with deep worry and sadness. The dim lights of the ship silhouetted its total devastation in the darkness. Glancing back to the second sub, they noticed the expressions on the faces of the two ensigns as they readied themselves for the dive. Gone was their bold and confident demeanor. In its place was fear and apprehension.

Javi shook his head in disbelief.

“This is suicide, nothing more,” he spat in anger.

Jack nodded in concurrence.

“I wonder if they even had a choice,” he said in disgusted tone.

Javi pointed to
Price and Hammond standing on the far side of the sub.

“I’m betting those two goons threatened them just like they did to us,” he speculated.

“They won’t get away with this. I promise you. If those two guys die, Price and Hammond are going down,” Jack said acidly.

The overhead crane sounded, interrupting the two’s conversation. Looking up at the overhead boom, they watched a cable being drawn up and into it. With the two ensign’s loaded into the sub and the hatch closed, the crane lifted the submersible up from it stand and lowered it into the black seas. Moments later, the vehicle began its rapid descent toward the bottom.
Those left on deck stared solemnly at the foamy waves that marked the sub’s location, then hurried to the control room.