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Shaped like an angular cigarette boat, the stealthy Gator’s surfaces were shaped to reduce its radar signature to that of a bathtub toy, and the mottled black and charcoal paint ht when surfaced Like the Discovery, the Gator could carry up to eight passengers, dive to one hundred feet, and maneuver with electric thrusters, but the newer vessel’s sound-insulated diesel engine allowed it to reach over forty knots on the surface while si the batteries The Gator’s most unusual and useful capability was its ability to sele pilot was the only part of it above the water, just like an alligator cruising through a sith nothing but its eyes visible Since the Gator ran on its powerful diesel engine in this state, it could sneak up on aparty through a portal in the roof while still in motion

The Gator co above thedeep-water submersible was built to descend to one thousand feet with six passengers and had an air lock for swih the No periods before the batteries needed to be recharged, its bulky pressure hull and electric motors meant it moved much more slowly than the sleek Gator

As the Gator settled into the water, and the mission team climbed aboard with their equipment, Linda Ross joined Juan on the catwalk and leaned on the railing, her head barely even with Juan’s shoulder Like him and the rest of the team, she was dressed all in black

“I’ll miss the Discovery,” she said, “but, I have to say, her replacement is extremely sexy”

“Don’t let Noet jealous”

“Oh, I love all my children equally” She ave Juan the thun

“Well, noe get to prove to Max that it was a wise investment”

Linda chuckled and said, “I think his hand was shaking when he signed the purchase order,” referring to their notoriously stingy VP

Knowing that Linda’s arrivalits destination, Juan asked, “What’s the good news?” Go ship with a drone equipped with a night vision camera

“See to hold station a ht she would” They had surveyed the coastline of Negros, and the bay was the least populated spot on the west side of the island Satellite i showed a s boats and sightseeing tours At this tiht, the entire place would be deserted, the ideal spot for illicit activity The dock was too sellan Sun wouldn’t be entering the bay The Oregon was positioned five h away so that it wouldn’t seem to be any kind of threat

“How is she getting her cargo off-loaded?” Juan asked

“There’s an old offshore supply ship, the kind used for oil rigs, heading out fro set to lower cargo from her deck”

“Then we should get going,” Juan said and nodded at the Gator “Ready to take her for a spin?”

Linda rubbed her hands together with glee She was going to be driving the Gator during the ht you’d never ask”

They took the stairs down to the well deck Juan picked up his own gear bag that he’d packed earlier, and they went aboard Linda sat in the pilot’s seat and went through her pre-dive check, while Juan secured the top hatch and joined the rest of the teaer area at the rear Because of the Gator’s low profile, the accommodations were cra both sides of the cabin and seat belts if the seas got choppy The interior was solely lit by red illumination so that their eyes would quickly become dark-adapted