IC: Into the Abyss, The crushing black depths... Options

[Shadow]

Apra Harbor, Guam. June 1st 2064

“What do you mean they didn’t report back?” Charles Winton was frustrated as hell at the Captain of the Sea Stallion. It was a three day trip from Guam to Sarigan Base and Chares didn’t want to feel it was wasted. Bad weather and other factors had put them behind several days. And now this.

The Captain continued, “We sent them down over 24 hours ago sir. The sub returned on its own with out them. All our attempts to contact them via the tether haven’t worked. We have to assume they’re lost.” The grim faced sailor looked strait at Charles and gave him the bad news.

The growing tempest in the area was making the holo transmission fuzzy and occasionally sputter as if it was going to give out. The Sea Stallion couldn’t stay on location much longer without compromising her safety. Pacifica had already lost billions on the project, another half billion lost boat would probably be the death knell.

I can’t go back to the board like this. But I can’t call in more security people. If they had succeeded in retrieving the data or determining what had gone wrong then maybe I could. But as it were sunk.

Charles let the thoughts bounce around in his head for a moment.

“Ok John, you did your best, bring your people home, best speed for Guam.”

The Sailor nodded, “Aye sir, on the way.” The image faded and was replaced with a ‘Transmission terminated’ sign.

Three days for the Stallion to get back. Another week to report to the board, a month from now it will be all over. Unless…

Charles picked up his sat phone and made a call to a friend of his in Seattle.

”Hey, yeah its Charles. You remember when I started this thing you said if I ever needed some help, just to ask?”

“Well I am asking. I need some people, it’s a big job so the more the merrier. Offer 50k each, at this point we spend it, or we lose it. Ok I’ll have the transportation available. It’s a retrieval mission, we need our research recovered and we need to know what went wrong, so make sure there’s a techie in the group. Ok, see you in a few days.”