chapter 37
FOUND SOMETHING UNEXPECTED
Pavel soared just above the water, causing Wallace to utter odd expletives denoting terror.
“It is necessary in order to avoid detection,” explained Ethan to the cursing Scotsman.
“Aye, I’ve no doubt it’s necessary,” replied Wallace. “That doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
Flying low to the water was dangerous and demanding work and it matched the feelings inside of Pavel— tumultuous, jagged,
desperate.
But when they began to pass bits of the broken ship spread upon the waters, Pavel felt the cruel bite of despair. They pulled up as
close as they dared, just to where Ethan could grab visual contact with Lucca’s Red Squadron Forces.
Pavel hovered the ship as the three assessed the situation.
“Only the one enemy ship, then,” said Wallace.
“More are on their way,” replied Ethan.
“Have they seen us yet?” asked Pavel.
“When they’ve seen us, I’m sure we’ll know,” said Wallace.
Ethan indicated a length of material descending from the ship. “A towing device?” he asked.
“No,” said Pavel. “That’s Davy Jones’s ladder. They’re sending divers down to search for—” He broke off, unable to finish.
“We have been detected,” cried Ethan. “We must depart, immediately.”
“We can’t just leave,” said Pavel. “That’s your sister, man!”
“Lad, we’re no good to Jessamyn once your aunt’s boys get ahold of us,” said Wallace.
“They are preparing to fire upon us,” warned Ethan.
Pavel nodded, curt, and turned the ship about, shots peppering the water as they fled. Pavel recreated in reverse the pell-mell
journey along the white-flecked waves of sapphire.
“That’s odd,” muttered Wallace. “They’re not pursuing us.”
“My aunt must consider the wreck a priority,” said Pavel, trying to convince himself this was a good thing. “More ships are on the
way,” he added, pointing to his screen. “Where are we heading?”
“I have found something unexpected,” said Ethan. “I detect no live signals from Marsian wafer-computers aboard the wreckage.
However, I have located a signal some hundred kilometers south-southwest.”
“Marsian?” asked Pavel.
“It is an escape pod,” said Ethan.
“What?” demanded Pavel. “The Galleon had escape pods and you didn’t think to mention this until just now?”
“Steady, now, lad,” murmured Brian Wallace.
“It did not occur to me,” admitted Ethan.
“Well then, give me the shizin’ coordinates already!” shouted Pavel.
~ ~ ~
Lucca hated inaction at times such as this. She’d been at the point of ordering her cruiser several times. She was close. So close.
But there was no point leaving her military hub in Mexico City until they recovered the crew for her interrogation. On the other hand,
she might like to try interrogating prisoners aboard the cruiser. They could fly circles over the wreckage of the enemy vessel. It was
good to wear down prisoner morale with compelling visuals when possible. She smiled as she lost herself in imagining the
possibilities.
Her secretary scurried in. “Madam Chancellor,” she panted, “A call from the Pacific. You weren’t answering, so I thought—”
“Yes, yes,” said Lucca. “Put the call through.” She was annoyed at herself for having been pre-occupied. Seconds counted at times
like these.
“Madam Chancellor, we are continuing our search for any signs of life aboard the vessel,” said the officer. “However, we show signs
of a craft separation.”
“Another ship?” asked the Chancellor.
“An emergency escape vehicle, we believe,” replied the officer. “Large enough for one or at most two people. It crashed several
minutes after the larger vessel just off the coast.”
“Send me the coordinates at once!” demanded Lucca.
Then she called for her cruiser.