13-03-2004, 03:25
Captain Jilad Given watched as his crew heaved the last few of the hundreds of metal containers over the side. Each of them was covered liberally with various hazardous material warnings. He glanced over at the radar screen, and seeing it clear of any indication of another ship gave a sigh of relief. What he and his crew were involved in was highly illegal, and the local navy had developed a reputation for stopping just these kinds of activities, and bothering with the legallity of exactly where a nation's influance in the ocean cut off afterwards.
He grimmaced as he also remembered reports that particular navy had proven more than willing to use force to ensure compliance, even to the point of sinking vessels that attempted to run.
Suddenly the entire ship heaved over to one side as tearing metal screamed and men were thrown overboard. The ship jerked again, feeling as if it was being pulled apart from beneath. It rapidly began to sink. Jilad grabbed for the radio microphone.
"SOS! This is the John B. Rogers, we are sinking! Requesting immediate assistance! I repeat, req..."
Jilad's lasts thoughts were strangly that perhaps something besides the local authorities might have issues with his actions before everything went black.
When the Frigate USGS Stormrider and the Corvette USGCGS R-96 arrived two hours later after a highspeed run, there was nothing to be found on the surface of the sea except for a few pieces of floating debris.
Captain Harry Bell shook his head as the report of no survivors came back. This was the third time that month a ship had radioed in an emergency and then gone off the air with no survivors. In addition, another two ships had disappeared with any messages at all and were presumed lost. As both ships turned to return back to port, he had to wonder what it was that had destroyed five ships in less than a month, leaving little or no trace behind in each instance.
Unknown to Captain Bell, the nations of the world were not unaware of what had been happening and were moving to take action.
He grimmaced as he also remembered reports that particular navy had proven more than willing to use force to ensure compliance, even to the point of sinking vessels that attempted to run.
Suddenly the entire ship heaved over to one side as tearing metal screamed and men were thrown overboard. The ship jerked again, feeling as if it was being pulled apart from beneath. It rapidly began to sink. Jilad grabbed for the radio microphone.
"SOS! This is the John B. Rogers, we are sinking! Requesting immediate assistance! I repeat, req..."
Jilad's lasts thoughts were strangly that perhaps something besides the local authorities might have issues with his actions before everything went black.
When the Frigate USGS Stormrider and the Corvette USGCGS R-96 arrived two hours later after a highspeed run, there was nothing to be found on the surface of the sea except for a few pieces of floating debris.
Captain Harry Bell shook his head as the report of no survivors came back. This was the third time that month a ship had radioed in an emergency and then gone off the air with no survivors. In addition, another two ships had disappeared with any messages at all and were presumed lost. As both ships turned to return back to port, he had to wonder what it was that had destroyed five ships in less than a month, leaving little or no trace behind in each instance.
Unknown to Captain Bell, the nations of the world were not unaware of what had been happening and were moving to take action.