Chapter 10 - Beneath the Swell
Sarah’s knees nearly buckled. ""Six miles offshore? How can we reach him?""
""We don't call the Coast Guard,"" Elias warned grimly. ""Global PetroMaritime controls the regional maritime dispatch. The moment an alert goes out, their private security boats will scuttle that habitat and blame it on ocean pressure. Our only shot is my old submersible tug, the Osprey.""
Elias pointed toward the boathouse floor, where a hydraulic lift held an aging, yellow-hulled miniature submarine over a saltwater launch well. It looked battered, with flaking paint and scratched acrylic viewports, but the battery indicators glowed green.
""I can pilot the sub down to the habitat’s airlock,"" Elias explained, rolling out a sea chart. ""David has the master drive with all the pipeline telemetry. If he gets that to the Department of Justice, the company burns to the ground. That's why they want him buried at the bottom of the trench.""
Lily reached out, touching the cold yellow hull of the sub. ""See Daddy?"" she asked softly.
Sarah picked up her daughter, kissing her forehead. ""Yes, baby. We’re going to see Daddy.""
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Suddenly, the shortwave radio crackled sharply. A static-laced voice cut through the speaker, gasping for breath:
""Elias... the habitat seal is failing. Water's up to my waist. I'm losing power...""
