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“Are you ready to launch?” Juan asked

“Eddie, Linc, and MacD are suited up with their dive gear in the RHIB We’re just putting Little Geek on now Set to go in two minutes” Little Geek was their small remotely operated underwater vehicle, which Linda would be able to control froid-hulled inflatable boat Since Raven had told thee, he didn’t want to send his people down there until he knew there were no explosives on it

“Good, but there’s a change of plans Instead of diving on the destroyer, just do a quick inspection with Little Geek and then catch up with us in case we need you to board the yacht We can always coht dive on the wreck”

“Aye, Chair party with this trio will be no probleh weapons aboard the RHIB to take down Godzilla”

“We’ll slow long enough for you to launch, then continue on our way Good hunting Chairman out”

When they reached the site of the Pearsall wreckage, Juan had Eric slow to a crawl The door to the boat garage was already open, it took only a few seconds for the RHIB to shoot out of the Oregon

As soon as they were clear, Juan ordered Stoney to take her back up to flank speed

“Let’s stay alert,” he announced to everyone in the op center, his voice taking on a grave tone He looked at each of his crew, in turn, as he talked

“From our run-ins with Locsin to this point, he’s shown himself to be ruthless and unpredictable Don’t erous oal is for Beth Anders’s sake”

Raven nodded to Juan before his eyes finally settled on Max

“Be ready for anything”

• • •

IT DIDN’T TAKE LONG for the RHIB to reach the Pearsall The Oregon was already well on its way toward the islet when Eddie throttled back and idled at the designated coordinates Linda peered over the side of the boat’s inflated tubular gunwales Even with the cloud cover di from the seafloor sand was clearly visible

She finished prepping Little Geek and had MacD and Linc lift it over the side and into the water Linda tested the onboard cah the fiber-optic tether connected to her handheld control panel The high-definition signal was strong, so she started its descent

When Little Geek reached the bottom, MacD pointed at the screen and said, “Ah think we knohere they went in”