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Juan forced a grin “It’s my fatal flaw”

“And it’s your biggest strength That’s why Tate is going to lose”

“Fingers crossed Give my best to Julia We’ve both been too busy in the last few hours to see each other”

“I will” Max unexpectedly wrapped Juan in a bear hug

“I’ll be seeing you, old friend,” Juan said

“In this life or the next, brother,” Max replied

Max pushed him back and took one last look before he turned away to finish prepping the submersible

Juan left theonly to retrieve a sle person as he navigated the bare corridors With everyone leaving, the ship felt decidedly hollow

He clied on the afterdeck He was confronted with the empty helicopter pad, where Gomez’s chopper should have been, and hoped the pilot had made it somehow

Juan walked to the very end of the fantail and saw the second of the lifeboatsup at him and received melancholy waves in return

The jackstaff was currently displaying the national flag of Iran To keep a low profile, the Oregon often flew the banner of a rogue country like Iran, Syria, or Myanistration, such as Panaistry hidden

But there was one flag that had never before been raised on the Oregon

Juan lowered the Iranian flag and tossed it in the sea He opened the box he was carrying to reveal another, folded flag, its blue field hite stars crisp and clean

He carefully unfolded it,sure that it didn’t touch the deck, and lashed it to the line With sure hands, he ran it up the pole until the stars and stripes of the US flag fluttered in the light breeze

Juan heard a distant cheer erupt froloomy crew on the lifeboats, and he pumped a fist in the air as a response