"That can't be another minu-sub,” Flynn said. "Neptune and Triton are the only ones on the habitat.”
I shared an ominous glance with Jack.
36
Through the darkness, floodlights illuminated the path as a mini-sub approached. This wasn't one of ours, and dread filled my stomach. "I think it's time to get out of here.”
"I second that notion," Jack said, engaging the thrusters.
The propeller spun, and electric motors hummed. At full throttle, it felt like we were crawling through the inky darkness. I wouldn't exactly call a 3-knot chase high-speed.
The floodlights on the sub behind us made it hard to see its silhouette. But this wasn't a research sub.
It was a military vessel.
I studied the camera feed. It was probably a four-to-six-person submarine with articulated arms, landing skids, and what looked like light torpedoes affixed underneath swept wings. There was no mistaking it when one of them spat bubbles, launching through the water, hissing in our direction.
"Incoming!" I shouted as it pinged on sonar, lighting up the screen.
Jack's eyes rounded.
A spike of adrenaline set my heartbeat pounding. I didn't feel cold anymore. Blood rushed. “Cut the engines. Dive, dive, dive! Now! It's homing in on our acoustic signature.”
There was no way we could outrun it or the sub chasing us. Both were gaining ground.
Jack cut the propulsion and dove the sub. We plummeted down the ridge into the dark depths.
Nerves sizzled my skin. Flynn's eyes were wide as saucers, his brow misted with sweat. It was a nerve-racking few seconds that seemed like hours.
The Neptune went silent and fell like a stone.
The missile race overhead, narrowly missing us. Without a sonic signature to home in on, it was lost in the deep. There was no telling what it might key on—a passing ship, some kind of aquatic life form.
We sank to the bottom, and the skids touched down.
All eyes were glued to the sonar screen as the enemy sub approached.
The torpedo rocketed ahead, then angled around.
It kept searching for something to lock onto, and that something was the sub behind us. The torpedo took a long, sweeping 180-degree turn, keying on the enemy propulsion.
Soon, the water dart was heading right toward them.
By the time they figured out what was going on, it was too late. The enemy sub killed their props and tried to take evasive action, turning away.
The light torpedo slammed into the pressure hull at the aft end of the enemy sub.
An explosion breached the hull, and a massive shower of bubbles erupted. The shockwave rushed through the water, rattling the Neptune.
The enemy sub sank to the seabed, the occupants having a bad day. Unless they had bailout bottles or rebreathers handy, they were toast. Even then, the massive explosion likely did them in.
Jack powered up the thrusters again, and the lights flickered.
Then everything went dark with a warble. Power died.
Emergency lighting kicked on.
"What happened now?" Flynn asked.
