He was silent for a long moment. "That's too bad. But it's a cost of doing business. My hope is that we can resolve this situation without any further loss of life.”
"That would be ideal. How do we do that?"
"It's very simple. You hand over any and all materials that you have recovered from the Silent Dragon. That way, my employer can feel secure, knowing that their technology will remain proprietary. It's very simple. I have no ill will towards you or the crew of the habitat. We are all just unfortunate pawns in a larger game. Circumstances beyond our control have brought us all together. Once I have the materials in my possession, you can go about your business, and I can go about mine.”
"You think no one else is going to go looking for that sub?” I asked.
He laughed. "I anticipate it, and so does my employer. That's why they've instructed me to destroy the Silent Dragon.”
"That submarine has 24 nuclear missiles on it.”
"We wouldn’t want those to fall into the wrong hands, would we?”
"How do you plan on destroying the sub?”
"Don't worry, conventional explosives won't cause a nuclear detonation. Those warheads are built with safety features to prevent such a thing.”
"A conventional bomb could scatter nuclear material, creating a dirty bomb, contaminating the area."
"I'm glad you're so concerned about the environment. But the destruction will be minimal. There is no cause for concern.”
"Oh, well, if you say so," I snarked.
He laughed. "I'm just doing a job. We all have to earn a living, don't we?”
"Some do it in more respectable ways than others.”
"Oh, I think this is a perfectly respectable way to earn a living. And seeing how I'm on the clock right now, I'd like to go ahead and get this over with. Bring whatever you’ve recovered to me, then I will leave.”
"What assurances do I have that you will keep your word?”
"You’re not really in a position to negotiate. Should I kill one hostage right now to prove I mean business?”
The goon grabbed one of the hostages and marched over to the large porthole. He put a gun to Elana’s head. Her face twisted with torment. Tears streamed down her cheeks.
38
"Okay," I said. “You win. We'll come in through the moon pool and turn over everything we’ve got.”
"That's what I like to hear. It will be a win-win for everybody.”
"These guys are never gonna let us go," Jack muttered.
He was right about that, and we all knew it.
"Flynn, is there another way into the habitat, apart from the moon pool?"
"There's another wet porch on the south side of the Oceanus," Flynn said. “There’s also a lockout on the north side.”
"He has no idea how many of us are aboard this sub," I said.
Flynn's eyes lit up. "I like where you’re going with this.”
“Jack, navigate the sub back to the moon pool. Flynn and I will slip out and swim underneath the habitat. Flynn, you take the south wet porch. I’ll take the north lockout.”
"What do you want me to do when I get in the moon pool?" JD asked.
"Stall them. I'll take the quantum nodes and the CPM. That way we've got a bargaining chip."
