Weapon of Atlantis (25 page)

“We’ve mounted receivers to the outside skin of the craft that’ll pick up your transmissions. We expect you to have them on at all times,” he said in stern tone.

“Big brother,” Jack said sarcastically.

“Don’t make this any harder than it has to be,” Price retorted. He pointed to the back of the craft, and continued, “Your supplies are stowed in the engine compartment: oxygen, laptops, food and water
, warm clothing. We’re certain the air in the lab is unbreathable, so once you’re inside, you’ll have to wear oxygen masks at all times.”

“Unless we can find the environmental controls that’ll restart the air
recirculator,” Jack added.

“Don’t waste time looking for it. You have plenty of air in the tanks to complete the task. We want you two focused on the mission. The sooner you find the data on the weapon, the sooner you can come up,” Price reiterated.

“We might like it so much down there, we may never come up,” Jack joked.

Price ignored Jack’s humor and continued: “Once you two seal the hatch, we’ll immediately lower you into
the ocean, followed by two ROVs. At the bottom, they’ll attached to your craft and pull you into position.”

A puzzled look crossed Jack’s face.

“How do you expect to close the doors to the loading hanger with a cable hanging off the spacecraft?” he asked.

“Now that we’re using the spacecraft instead of the subs, we don’t need to use the hanger. You’ll be accessing through the smaller entrance on the far side of the facility.”

Jack stood in shock, unable to speak, the change in the mission now all but destroying any ideas he had about escaping.

Price
waited a moment, then continued: “Once the ROVs position you, you’ll have to activate the magnetic seal. We’re pretty certain, once you get close enough, it’ll be a self-guiding system where it centers the craft on the door, creates the seal, then opens the hatch. The rest of the mission will be on you. Any questions?” he asked.

Both Javi and Jack men shook their heads.

“One more thing…,” Price added. “Just in case you two try to do something ‘clever’, our engineers have manually overridden each function of the control system: the thrusters and auto-piloting system are completely inoperable.”

Javi shot Jack a worried glance. Jack stood stone cold with disappointment
. The last statement sealed their fate. Price caught the subtle exchange between them and chuckled aloud.

“I’m always amazed when civilians think they
can outsmart us,” he said to Wexler. Turning back to Javi and Jack, he continued in condescending tone, “News flash boys: we do this for a living. Did you really think we weren’t going to consider a plan of escape?”

Javi and Jack stood dazed from the revelation. Price pursed his lips and shook his head, mocking the two.

“Take good care of our passengers,” he said to Wexler.

He tapped his weapon once more and replied, “They’re in good hands.”

----- ----- ----- -----

Seated inside the cockpit, Javi and Jack gazed at the crystal scepter, extending from the control console in front of them. Jack reached forward and pushed down on the handle, instantly activating the control console. As the holograms came to life, he touched on a button on the screen. Seconds later, the hatch began to close.

“Just remember boys, I’m watching you,” Wexler shouted from the engine compartment, reminding the two of his presence.

“Thanks for that,” Jack shot back, mildly irritated.

The exchange was abruptly ended by movement of the spacecraft. Staring out the cockpit windows, Javi and Jack watched a man on the boat deck directing the overhead crane operator. As he waved and pointed with his flashlights, the three inside the craft watched the sights rush past their windows while being lowered into the black-looking ocean.

Javi breathed a sigh of nervousness as the craft sunk below the surface. Looking up through the glassed roof, they watched the first ROV being lowered into the water, then second. A short time later, their robotic arms latched onto the netting surrounding the spacecraft and began to pull it lower. As they watched the bright lights on the surface fade out of sight, they focused their attention on the hologram. Hieroglyphics seem to update continuously as they descended lower.

“What’s that data being reported?” Wexler questioned.

“It’s our position,” Javi answered. “Latitude, longitude and elevation.”

Wexler nodded, then mumbled something into his microphone.

“Good answer, boys. Our team confirmed your response: it
is
reporting our position,” he said. “You might have missed them when you came in, but there’s a camera mounted just behind you on the bulkhead.”

“If you have a team that can read the hieroglyphics, why didn’t you just send them down in the first place,” Jack shot back angrily.

“Their translations are extremely limited. They know only the basics,” Wexler explained, then added, “But don’t get ideas about overinflating your importance. These guys learn fast. It won’t be too long before they’re proficient.”

Jack shot Javi a worried glance. Jack widened his eyes in understanding.

Two hours later, nearing a depth of thirty-six thousand feet, the bright lights of the ROVs, illuminated the outer ring of the manmade alien cavity. Aside from an occasional broadcast to the ship above, all was quiet inside the spacecraft.

Minutes later, as the rim of the cavity vanished in the blackness above them, uncertainty in their mission and worry for their safety, made it increasingly difficult to concentrate. Javi gripped his hands, then wrung them out, trying to relieve his nervous tension.

“We’ll be alright,” Jack said sympathetically. “Remember, this spacecraft has already been tested. I’m sure we’re safe.”

“It’s not the depth I’m worried about. It’s the seal between this craft and the lab that really scares me. It hasn’t been tested and any leak, no matter how small, will kill us just like the other men in the subs,” Javi explained.

“As long as the electro-magnets in the door locks are functioning, there’s no reason to suspect any failures. Once we’re in position and activate the system, each door surface should draw the other in, creating the seal. We’ll open the door to the lab first. If the loading area inside the facility fills with water, we’ll know right away that the seal malfunctioned and we’ll just break off and head back to the surface,” Jack explained.

Javi nodded reluctantly, struggling to overcome his fears.

Minutes later, their headsets crackled to life.

“You’re descending through forty-one thousand feet. You should be able to see
the lab any moment now,” Price announced.

“Searching now,”
Wexler reported.

As Wexler maintained his position in the back, both Javi and Jack strained their eyes out the cockpit windows, scanning for shadows in the darkness. Slowly, almost imperceptively, a large dark mass began to appear. Although still frightened, Javi’s heart beat faster with excitement.

“I see it!” he blurted loudly. “It’s off to my right.”

Jack stared down into the darkness. Suddenly, the faint edges of the structure grew in contrast.

“Got it,” he concurred.

Seconds late
r, the bright lights of the ROVs clearly defined the large rectangular complex. They felt the speed of their descent slow, allowing great time to take in the sight.

“Magnificent,” Javi shouted in awe. “To think this place was bustling with activity seven thousand years ago…
absolutely fascinating.”

“Certainly different looking than in the videos. It’s so dark and dreary,” Jack commented.

The three watched as the sandy bottom came into view. Five feet before landing, all vehicles stopped and hovered. A cloud of sand and silt swirled around them. Moments later, the water cleared and the ROVs began to pull the spacecraft toward the building in front of them.

“We’re maneuvering you to the south-west corne
r. Do you see the porthole?” Price asked.

“Porthole is in sight,” Wexler announced. “Estimating thirty feet ahead.”

“We confirm,” Price shot back.

Javi and Jack sat in silence and watched with fascination. A smile stretched wide across Javi’s face.

“Still scared?” Jack teased.

“I’m too excited to be scared,” he answered, his eyes now riveted to the porthole.

Jack stared out his window and watched the distance to the lab quickly close. Five feet before contact, the ROVs applied reverse thrust, kicking up another cloud of silt. The spacecraft slowed to a crawl, barely inching forward.

Inside the container ship Horizon, forty-two thousand feet above, two naval personnel worked their controls,
delicately manipulating the ROVs and lining up the spacecraft next to the small porthole. Meer inches from contact, thrust was halted, bringing all vehicles to a complete stop. Jack marveled at the skill of the ROV pilots.

“Nice work,” he said into his microphone.

“The rest is on you,” Price responded dryly. “Activate the sealing system. Let us know when you’ve made contact.”

“Ay
e aye, captain,” Jack responded humorously.

Javi glanced over to him, mildly amused.

“Ok, it’s time to get serious,” Javi said, his face growing in intensity. “I’m pretty sure I know where the lock mechanism is. I just hope this thing works.”

“You’re starting to sound like a broke
n record. Hit the button already and let’s get this over with,” Jack teased.

Javi glared momentarily, then began to search through the files on the hologram.

“Ok, this is the controls menu,” he said, stopping and pointing. “Somewhere in here, I saw something about the hatch.”

He thumbed through several menus, then backed out of them, realizing they were off topic. With Wexler standing behind him, he continued his search. As Javi scanned through the data, Jack sea
rched through his own hologram.

An hour later, Javi smiled.

“I think I found something,” he said, his voice sounding relieved.

As Jack leaned in, Javi’s finger lightly touched a button. Instantly, a low hum sounded in front of them. The craft inched forward and bumped the outside surface of the lab. The vehicle vibrated lightly, then stopped.

Javi turned to Jack and smiled.

“Is that it?” Jack asked.

Javi glanced to the console, then back to Jack.

“I think so. T
he warning light says the hatch is locked,” he said, pointing to the screen.

Jack peered in and read the message below an amber-colored light. He nodded
in agreement.

“I think you’re right,” he responded. He grinned, then added, “Did you mean to do that?”

An embarrassed expression crossed his face.

“My hand slipped,” he said simply.

Wexler stood and moved to the front. He leaned over and looked through the cockpit window.

“I don’t see any water inside the airlock,” he said. “I think we’re ok.”

“I haven’t activated the door yet,” Javi responded.

Jack placed his hand on Javi’s shoulder.

“No time like the present,” he said, encouragingly.

Javi nodded reluctantly, then rubbed his finger across another button inside the hologram. Once more, a low hum sounded. Before anyone could react, the doors to the spacecraft and lab instantly opened. Bright lights shined in from the airlock. Cold wind rushed through the opening, instantly sending a chill through the three men’s bodies. For a brief moment, the three stared, motionless, holding their breaths, waiting for disaster to arise.

As Wexler breathed in through his nose, the foul scent of stale air snapped him back to reality.