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“Not a as said

“Captain,” the XO said, “we’ve identified a radar contact heading toward us from the north”

Jefferson grie She raised a pair of binoculars, but the ship had disappeared behind a small island in the middle of the northern channel

“Fishing boat?”

The XO shook his head “Far too big for that I estith at nearly two hundred feet”

That got a raised eyebrow froas

“Any idea what she could be?” Jefferson asked her

Vargas shook her head “No cargo ship would come this way And we’re far from any ferry lanes”

“Hail them,” Jefferson ordered

“Aye, Captain” The XO spoke into the radio “Unidentified ship to the north, this is the NUMA vessel Deepwater Please respond”

After a lish But the accent sounded Russian, not Spanish “This is the Chilean Navy ship Abtao Shut down your engines and prepare to be boarded for inspection”

Jefferson gaped at Vargas, astonished by the command She took the mic from the XO

“Abtao, this is Captain Rashonda Jefferson of the Deepwater We have authorization froovernment to conduct a research mission here For what purpose do you want to board us?”

The Abtao eed froun on her foredeck It was ai two 20mm Oerlikon cannons that were also pointed in the direction of the Deepwater

“Deepwater, we have reports of s in this area As you ht to inspect any vessel operating in Chilean waters”