The Oenotropae

Hidden VexGen Pharmaceuticals Facility, several miles below the “Oenotropae.”

“Mr. Saarbac, may we demonstrate the new Reaver Commando,” exclaimed Neil Hurtner. One of the head scientists that worked on the project for creating super soldiers, using research from the Reavers. It was years until they managed to produce results that satisfied the higher ups, years Neil Hurtner has been pouring into.

Neil stood there, next to his boss behind reinforced glass. The observatory was twenty something yards up from floor of the “room.” Satin white painted metal walls wrapped around the white painted concrete floor. Yellow lines stretched in a grid pattern across the floor. On one side of the room, a rather large, hulking figure stood. Standing at six foot and seven inches, a rather gray looking male human looked blankly around the room. He sniffed randomly, rotating his arms. The three hundred pound muscular super soldier stood as he looked into the observatory deck from below.

“Observe how he does with a subject armed with an AR-15 rifle chambered in 5.56x45mm. Mind you this is a twenty inch barreled rifle, and the distance is well within the cartridge’s optimal range for maximum effectiveness. Especially considering the special fragmentary properties of the round.”

In the arena, a rather average looking male walked through a door. Confused and holding a rifle, he had no idea what to do until eyes rested on the large figure fifty yards away. Just as the steel door closed behind him, the commando made a full sprint at speeds that would shame Olympic runners. The rifle went centermass, several shots flying in panic. One round struck the left trap muscle, another the side of the calf, and few in the torso. Yet that didn’t stop him.

“Observe as he takes the shots and continues as if they never happened. The high pain tolerance of the Reavers are quite evident. It is worth noting that he barely lost any blood. Only a few trickles can be seen thanks to the viscosity. Wounds from bullets are plugged rather quickly. Lung punctures are the same.”

The fifty yard distance between the two has closed in seconds, with the larger figure grabbing the rifle with one hand and yanking it. The other hand tightened into a fist that went into his target’s jaw. The amount of power pumping through the fist sent the panicked person’s head to the side, snapping the spinal cord.

“Damn,” huffed Val as he could hear the sickening snap of bone, “How strong are these bastards?”

“Very strong, and they are very nimble for their size. We have Reaver Commandos that would put them on par with World Strongmens, even exceeding in certain cases. Now as an added feature of psychological warfare, watch this.”

The commando looked around as a threat assessment. Deeming none, he went to his knees and began a cannibalistic act. Bones snapping, cartilage and skin tearing; sounds that would send any sane person into a fit of disgust and fear.

“Well I’ll be damned, that will definitely scare any enemies. I have a big customer that would be willing to pay rather large sums for the results of this project. What else can you tell me?”

“Well, for customers, that will be difficult. These are vat grown subjects. Their intellect are about on pair with an average adult, capable of giving and executing orders. It’s the indoctrination program that will provide some difficulty. You need them to think and act as if they owe loyalty to whomever you want them to. Their weapon handling skills are on par, their nighttime eyesight is quite effective. Their daytime sight is normal. The rest we can talk about in the conference room, sound good?”

“Sounds good, lead the way.”

[size=100]Eleven Miles away from the Oenotropae[/size]

“Change your course immediately or we will fire,” blared a PA system aboard the Wey-Yu Security Services patrol boat. The Armidale-class patrol boat was pulling twenty five knots, just to the right of a rouge Trimaran. The captain of the vessel swore as a 25mm Autocannon maintained a fix on the craft. He looked on the GPS in front of him, noting that they were rapidly closing on the ten mile “No Go Zone.”

The SS Oenotropae was a massive oil drilling platform, currently holding the title as the largest in the world. It dwarfed those that came in second and third in terms of size. The sprawling rig was also the center of a ten mile no-go zone, where any and all ships without authorization was eliminated with extreme prejudice. Around the no-go zone was a twenty mile buffer, a reasonable precaution to drive away any trespassers, accidental or not. The very same buffers that were being penetrated now.

The suspect vessel was a multi-million dollar trimaran, donated to the Energy Liberation Front or ELF for short. ELF was considered by many organizations, including Wey-Yu, to be an Eco-Terrorist group. Founded upon ideals of an oil-free world, and where extreme measures of environmental friendliness was desired, the organization has grown considerably. Nations like Dragonia were common sites of recruitment for their “Protests.”

“Fucking hippies,” muttered the captain of the patrol boat before turning his attention to the Gunner at his station, “Hold Fire Until I say!”

“Aye, Aye!”

The protestors continued jeering, waving their flags aboard their rather shoddily painted craft. It steamed full ahead with it’s bio-diesel engines reaching speeds up to twenty-seven knots. The distance between the two craft grew. Warnings the past twenty miles were ignored, mostly responded with rocks or “dirt rounds” fired from a Pax Fruit gun.

“Dammit,” groaned the captain. His eyes saw that the craft had passed into the no-go zone with his on-board GPS system. With a sigh he barked an order to his gunner, “Open Fire!”

The 25mm autocannon spat out three rounds every second. Each projectile escaping the muzzle of the autocannon weighed in at four hundred and ninety three grams traveling at over three thousand and six hundred feet per second. Every hit on the craft belonging to ELF exploded in fragments, shrapnel going everywhere and shredding the carbon fiber body. More and more rounds hit along the craft until finding the engines. The screams of the passengers deafened by the booming sound of the cannon. The multi-million dollar craft exploded into an inferno, charred and perforated body parts being spread over the sea.

“Shit, well now we know what the news is gonna be blaring over the next week or two,” muttered the captain. It wasn’t his job that he was worried, for Wey-Yu Industries would back him in this political disaster. It was the media attention that would spin this in their crooked fantasies in an effort to diminish the company…

— Begin quote from ____

BREAKING: Wey-Yu Industries sinks unarmed ship carrying protesters

For Reliable News Network, Oleg Trofimov

GULF OF ITUR (ZRN) - According to an unnamed Ministry of National Defense official, a Wey-Yu Industries security vessel attacked and sunk a vessel registered to the Energy Liberation Front (ELF), killing a large number of protesters in the process.

Among the dead are three Laiatanese citizens, whose names have yet to be released.

The ELF ship was allegedly violating a zone in which Wey-Yu security forces will fire upon any civilian or military ship, regardless if they are armed. This is the first time this sort of incident has occurred. According to an ELF spokesperson, the group was protesting the expansion of oil drilling in the Gulf of Itur. Protests like these have occurred in the past, and the group has had run-ins with both the Laiatanese Navy and Coast Guard. However in those incidents, there were no deaths and protesters were peacefully arrested and detained.

The Ministry of National Defense has issued a warning to civilian ships to stay away from the SS Oenotropae unless accompanied by a Laiatanese military ship, and to disengage and call for assistance in the case of being approached or pursued by a Wey-Yu or Veridian vessel.

A spokesperson from the Ministry of Justice reported that an investigation has been opened against Wey-Yu Industries and the crew of the ship responsible for the sinking, and has demanded that Wey-Yu Industries turn over those responsible to federal law enforcement.

— End quote

“Well shit,” said Saarbac. He put down the electronic tablet and looked out of the window.

The CEO was at the Comona Islands in the main administration building, a twenty six floor high building. Wey-Yu Industries has been a rather well known name, many saying it is a great company to the public. However, the very little known undersides of the corporation is rotten to the core. Secret weapons and bio-weapons development, arms trafficking, abduction, blackmail, sabotage, and the list goes on. It was an organization that made cartels and mafias look like street gangs.

He continued to contemplate upon the event, then picked up the phone. “Get me Legal.”

After a minute, the line picked up, “Val, how you doing?”

“Good, good. I need you guys to act as legal representation for our men who are now under the Laiatan investigation.”

“Ah, that event. Heard about, retards those hippies were. I’ll do the whole ‘Eco-Terrorists’ plea, saying that they ignored the warnings and steamed ahead towards the rig. I’m sure the black box of our pursuit vehicle will confirm this. All that’s left is to play the “they could of had a bomb aboard” card.”

Saarbac sat there for a few seconds before responding, “Do that. I’ll have our deep sea divers sent to recover any parts sitting at the bottom of the ocean. We already have their black box that was recovered from the wreck, and their bodies were fished out and put into bodybags. They’ve been put on ice as to halt the decomposition process. We will cooperate, or give the impression that we are cooperating. I don’t want their divers near the Oenotropae. The faster this goes by, the better. Attention needs to be diverted from the rig.”

“Gotcha,” replied Vasco Herner as the phone was hung up.

Val got to thinking of a contingency plan. If the investigation doesn’t go the way they wanted to, there is one thing that could be done…

“Sir, we are prepped for Operation Secrete,” crackled a voice over a secure line. The office of the CEO was occupied by six figures, including the very leader of the company. Val stood bent over the desk as several scientists and economists in his employ were present.

“We have the individuals?” he asked. The heat from Laiatan’s investigation may be more than liked, so back up plans were drawn up as a response. Just a few days earlier, Val ordered Operation Secrete to be prepped. A plan to orchestrate an Eco-Terrorist attack upon the SS OOenotropae. The individuals mentioned were members of the Energy Liberation Front. Not fringe members, but those who were prominent to cause such a shift in attention away from the rig.

“Yes Sir, We Do. Everything is prepped. We await word. Over and out.”

With that, the line disconnected. The head honcho stood there for a couple of more minutes before raising his head and asking the environmental scientist and analyst. “How extensive will the damage be you think?”

“Oh Sir, it will be more than enough. With the staged attack, hitting the drilling pipeline and the nearby pipes connected to the nearby storage tanks will cause enough to make the Serenitech Oil Spill look like a drop in the bucket. Ecological damage in the area will be devastating.”

Another analyst chimed in, this time an economic expert from South Hills, “The price of oil will rocket up for a while, depending upon on how long we want the spill to happen. After reviewing our slush funds, both legal and illegal, we have enough to cover the losses from the rig. That includes the cleanup and reparations, but this will leave us hurt for a long time. Secretive projects and any unnecessary expenditures will have to be shut down. I’ll have a complete list of projects deemed unnecessary up for you two days from now.”

“Do that. In the mean time, continue as if this will never happen. The Board of Directors already know about this and understand the costs.”

“What about the affected loved ones?” asked the Assistant Paralegal Director.

“Get with Jim and talk to him about offering them compensation for the deaths. Immediate family only. If they start trying to get a lawsuit going, drain every single fucking cent from them. Understood?”

After a few minutes of nodding and silence, Val concluded, “Alright, that’s that. Meeting’s over…”

Seventeeth Naval Ball, Calesu

“Ah, mind if I cut in?”

Yensey Naligova obliged with a simple bow and partially in jest to his commanding officer, Ehjy Solikastre. “Of course.” He gave an appropriate nod to his dance partner in the waltz and the two tuxedo-clad vulpine men worked their way through the crowd to find a seat away from the action.

“This had better be good, sir. I don’t often find myself at port.”

Five years ago, Yensey Naligova was a solike general filed neatly within the Vekaiyun Second Roaming Fleet. Today, he is the Yastoy Commodore: the man charged with commanding the entire fleet. Kral Commodore Nevikalu oversaw the process, and (apparently) appealed to the man’s sense of organization and risk-taking. The way he handled the situation with Drakkengard rose a few eyebrows and undoubtedly played a factor in his promotion.

But with promotions come new responsibilities. And confusion. While it’s apparently not as bad as the struggle for control over the occupying forces in Listonia back in the day, duties and orders were still unclear at times. The man in charge of the entirety of the Vekaiyun Navy was Veel Commodore Ehjy Solikastre. The man in charge of all “roaming” Vekaiyun forces (that is, operating outside of defense of the state) was Kral Commodore Yamano Nevikalu. The person running Vekaiyu was Premier Ikrisia Levinile. So it became a sort of “juggling act” to go along with the position. If ever he was demoted, Naligova assumed, he would definitely have a job in the circus.

“It seems the little debacle in the gulf has caught the attention of Premier Levinile,” Ehjy Solikastre began, “which in turn has caught the attention of Nevikalu. You know how it goes. It presents us with a unique opportunity. Considering we have announced time and time again that we are the protectors of the gulf, and considering this oil rig seems to be unstable-”

“You wish for us to blow the rig up?”

“Certainly not! Use your head, Naligova!”

“I was being facetious. Of course I’d never do that.”

“Good. At least, not to harm the waters. At any rate, rendezvous with your Second Roaming Fleet and guide it to the rig. There we will pay the residents a visit.”

“Should we expect any… unfortunate guests?”

He scoffed. “Vulshain seems to have seceded control of the gulf, and Laiatan would most likely welcome our presence, especially considering the nation lost citizens in a minor skirmish earlier and has an agreement with us.”

“Bai Lung Dalu?”

“Please. They are far too wrapped in their own domestic affairs to really care at this point. The world could be ending around them and they’d post articles about the sale of bread driving prices up.”

“So order the fleet to embark on this rig?”

“Detailed orders have already been sent to your attention, Naligova. Give those trouble makers a little… friendly encounter with the formidable Vekaiyun Navy.” He watched as Naligova stood. “Whoah, easy. Not during the party! We have guests that must be entertained.”

“When does this thing end?”

“0000 VST.”

“Then I will leave at that time.”

Solikastre smiled. “That’s right. It was that fervor, that passion after the Drakkengard aggression that made me realize we had promoted the right man. Don’t let me down, Naligova. We’re both in this to look good.”

Gulf of Itur, approaching The Oenotropae

Yensey Naligova stood on the bridge of The Annealed, a Piskiri Class destroyer which served as his personal flagship since 2010. Unlike most Yastoy Commodores, he was more comfortable with operating away from the aircraft carrier, which was partially governed by the air force anyway. At least on this ship he didn’t need to worry too much about the moray of command structure that was the Vekaiyun Navy. Here, he was in his own element.

He watched with indifference as his ship approached the oil rig, maintaining enough distance between the structure and his fleet as to not cause an international furor. “Decrease speed and establish a Duckling Maneuver C.” For all intents and purposes, a ‘duckling maneuver’ was a defensive position established by the Vekaiyun navy where the above-water ships would stagnate and allow for diplomatic engagement. The submarines, on the other hand, were left to operate on whatever the letter indicated.

Prior to engagement, Naligova was informed by his superior (the superior being Ehjy Solikastre) that Vekaiyu had relayed their intent to sail near The Oenotropae at a particular designated time. They were two minutes early.

“Establish communication with The Oenotropae,” he said, checking to ensure all eleven main vessels were en route to their proper positions. “Translate this message,” he began, echoing a well-known policy which he would not speak Codexian on his bridge, “The Vekaiyun Armed forces operating under the command of Premier Ikrisia Levinile and Kral Commodore Nevikale, boldly assuming the arduous duty of maintaining stability and trade in the Gulf of Itur, does intend to temporarily oversee any and all events on this oil rig structure. Several events have occurred in this region, and we are not amused. We are therefore exercising our holy duty of maintaining synergy in the gulf and will in six hours enter your waters. We will then board the vessel and establish order until such time where we deem the vessel is able to operate without disturbance or folly. The Vekaiyun government does thank you for your cooperation, and we will maintain clean radio to address any further questions.”

Hayden Fisher was the rig manager, sitting in the command center. Around him people worked tirelessly to ensure radio contact with incoming and out-coming oil rigs, radar contacts, and safety regulations. His hands went up to his face, holding a mug of coffee. Blacker than the soul of his ex-wife, he sipped. Only one thing kept reiterating itself in the mind, “The oil must flow…”

After a minute Hayden snapped out of it and looked at his manager of radio signals. “Huck, send a message to the Vekaiyuns that they have permission to board under the circumstance that the oil rig must be kept running. Tell our security units to give them a clear berth but to maintain the warning and no go zones. I don’t want those environmental freaks trying to pull a fast one.”

Huck took note, and relayed the message to the assistant who manned the main console of communications. With deft hands she typed in the words and then sent the transmission to each respective party.

— Begin quote from ____

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////BEGIN TRANSMISSION////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

To Vekaiyun Fleet,

Permission to board has been granted, under the pretense that operations will continue during the search. Security Units will maintain a wide berth from visiting Vekaiyun ships, but will maintain the ten mile No-Go and thirty mile Warning Radius around the SS Oenotropae to deter unwanted guests. Respond when intercepted.

Command Center, SS Oenotropae

AutoTranslated

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////END TRANSMISSION////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

— End quote

20 miles south of Izmurod, Gulf of Itur

A small fleet of Laiatanese naval ships were steaming their way out of the port city of Izmurod following news from the Assistant Federal District Attorney Daria Bezrukova. The grand jury that was convened to investigate the deaths of three Laiatanese citizens in the sinking of the ELF protester ship returned indictments for a list of charges including three counts of first degree homicide and battery for the captain of the ship and senior gun officer. The fleet was dispatched to protect and transport agents from the Federal Investigation Service to serve arrest warrants and bring those charged into federal custody.

Special Agent Edgar Vetokchin examined photographs of the Oenotropae and maps of the area with Commander Roman Kazarezov, a seventeen year veteran with the Laiatanese Navy with experience in the Kazakavo and Dveria campaigns, as well as the Vulshainian Civil War.

“We are going to maintain a defensive pattern near the kill zone and make contact with the Oentropae, give them some time to turn over those named in the warrants.”

“You do know they aren’t going to just hand them over, right?” Vetokchin skeptically said, arms crossed as he looked over the map.

“Which is why we’ll be moving to board the Oentropae. I know it’s not the first time you’ve served warrants in an area you weren’t welcome.”

“Never on an oil rig owned by a foreign corporation.”

“First time for everything, right?”

— Begin quote from ____

Good evening Yastoy Commodore,

In a few hours my government will make public the fact that a federal grand jury has indicted several crew members responsible for the deaths of three Laiatanese citizens who were aboard the Energy Liberation Front that was sunk by a Wey-Yu security vessel last month. My fleet has been dispatched to work with the Federal Investigation Service to serve arrest warrants and bring those responsible to justice. We will be requesting the company turn over those named in the warrants - but if they refuse (as we are expecting) we will be boarding the rig and taking the suspects into custody.

We have been made aware that your fleet is currently inbound to the Oentropae, though for what purpose we are unaware. I would like to request your assistance and support in case the rig refuses to turn these men over. We know the security of the rig has no qualms about killing innocent civilians, so we have no doubt they have no issues in trying to sink military vessels full of sailors and federal law enforcement. The Oentropae in its current state is a danger to the stability here in the Gulf, and I do hope that you would agree we must show Wey-Yu this kind of action in this part of the world is unacceptable.

I hope to hear from you soon.

Commander Roman Kazarezov
MMS Grozny, Laiatanese Navy

— End quote

The Oenotropae

The Second Vekaiyun Roaming Fleet kept a safe distance from the rig as a task force was assembled. By nightfall, the task force approached the rig as a second team of frogmen (and women) moved in behind them in case there were any troubles. Eventually, the small vessel reached their destination, and the crew boarded.

Establishing command was Enosi Commodore (as determined by the insignia on the Yskavirge of his dress uniform) Lavano Erislavoyey, a middle-aged vulpine male who had a fairly impassive look about him. He looked around the rig, then proceeded to walk forward, his crew following not far behind while keeping their weapons prone but not in any way wanting to appear threatening - just focused and guarded.

When he met the first person he could find, he looked up at him and replied in Codexian, “Take me to the superior control. This structure is now under the command of the Vekaiyun Holy Republic as enforced by the Vekaiyun Navy.” His accent, while thick, did not detract from his demands. “Your cooperation is appreciated and will be remembered.”

— Begin quote from ____

Commander Roman Kazarezov,

Rest assured that we will not restrict or other impede your entrance to the rig. You may enter to claim any residents you need while we obtain control of this facility.

With warm regards,
Yensey Naligova
Yastoy Commodore of Vekaiyu
(Translated)

— End quote

Huck stood in the control center in a t-shirt and jeans. It was abnormally hot inside considering that it was a running oil rig, electronics were hard at work, and that there were more people than liked. Outside the main structure the cold winds of the Itur blew. Snow hasn’t fallen, but one could assume that it would the next day. His t-shirt was stained from the raw oil working on this rig the past two years. Two years of working in a job after the divorce.

Huck remembered that day fondly, marching into the office building demanding to see the head of Operations and Employment at the company. The next day they found him a position far away from his ex, in the middle of a godforsaken ocean that’s only surpassed in coldness by one person in his mind.

He greeted the Vekaiyun, Lavano Erislavoyey, as the obviously distinguished individual entered the command center. “You must be the Commodore, welcome aboard the SS Oenotropae. I’m afraid that you and your men won’t be able to bunk here. They will need to return to the ship if they want rest and food. We’ve barely enough supplies nor bedding to accommodate a,” he said before pausing and the taste of disgust could be heard, “occupational force.”

“If you like, I can have my secondary Huck give you a full tour. He’s been on this rig far longer than I have and he’ll show you every nook and cranny if you like. Although I do have to ask, what the fuck is with the Laiatian fleet doing here?”

“Their business is not our business,” he dismissed, the air thick with salty sea spray. He turned to his entourage. “Accommodations are not important, but would be welcomed. Since we have gained temporary control of this location, we will remedy any basic discomfort. If foodstocks are required, the Vekaiyun Navy will supply it.” He proceeded to follow Huck as his group kept close watch, following behind. “We will speak to the superior and inform him or her the conditions of this situation.”

As soon as the Commodore left the room to be lead on a tour of the rig, Hayden looked to the main operator. He asked, “Why the hell are the Laiatan here?”

That elicited a response in the form of a shrug with the head tilted. They have not received any transmissions about their purpose, nor have they a single clue of what their purpose was. Hayden looked at the monitors that showed drilling progress, they hit a small pocket of oil worth in the tens of millions, but they were really after the big kahuna.

With big prizes come big risks, and that was in the form of a blowout. The uncontrolled release of crude oil or gas from an oil well; or gas well after pressure control systems have failed. It was the number one source of oil spills and ecological disasters, and the one nightmare that no one wanted. Thankfully modern technology has enabled the use of blowout preventers. A five hundred ton system of pistons secured to the pipe at the seabed. In the case of a blowout, the series of pistons were to fire, sealing the pipe and preventing flow.

“Drill baby, drill,” he whispered as the signs of progress continued across the monitors.

Enosi Commodore Lavano Erislavoyey walked around the confines, asking questions along the way and familiarizing himself with the basic operations. He was not a petroleum engineer by any stretch, but was merely inspecting it from a strategic perspective, surveying potential weaknesses any any unique features of the rig, especially as they pertained to the Vekaiyun Armed Forces. He paid particular attention to the production figures.

“Very good,” he added after the tour was over. “I believe this platform will operate quite well under our command. I will give the notice to nearby Vekaiyun oil transport companies that the rig will be quite safe from invaders as they collect their necessary 40% of all barrels produced moving forward.” He paused. “As promised, we will provide any necessary foodstuffs and lessen living discomforts. The Vekaiyun government appreciates your cooperation.”

“Jesus, everyone is out to get us,” thought Hayden as he shot the Commodore a dirty look and then resumed monitoring the drilling progress. Several minutes went by in his mind before remembering a crucial bit of information…

Hayden remembered that day, the little pink handbook that was suppose to be memorized and destroyed on the same day of being issued. He knew the punishments for not complying were severe. Inside the pink handbook he remember one painfully important detail for managing the oil rig, Directive 66. The ramifications of following the order would be catastrophic, but the entire thing was already going to shit and the Vekaiyuns engaging in piracy were bad enough. A little more cream on the pie of crap wouldn’t be anything at all.

The rig boss looked at Huck and asked him, “Hey, remember back on highway 66 in South Hills?”

Huck was a little bewildered at the unexpected topic, but the numbers rang a bell, “Yeah, I remember that shitty Caddy. Damn thing kept running out of coolant and we had to spend the night at the motel instead of a swanky apartment.”

“Fun times huh?”

“Fun times indeed, anyways I gotta check on the nerds down in wiring.” With that Huck took his leave out the command center. He knew what exactly was to happen, and no moral issues popped up in his mind.

It was late in the day, with the sun setting on the frigid waters of the Itur gulf. White capped waves collided against the rig’s main beams. Seagulls were absent thanks to the cold.

The environment was serene, saved for the blaring sirens of the SS Oenotropae and the evident fires. In the command center the orange lights blared and the loudspeaker wailed, “Warning, Blowout. Warning, Blowout. All hands to the life rafts, All hands to the life rafts. This is not a drill, I repeat, this is not a drill.”

Hayden was at a console pressing buttons while Huck was trying to get the survey documents from the safe. Crucial papers that has mapped out the oil deposits underwater, valuable papers that would give anyone with it a massive advantage in future endeavors in the gulf. With it in a waterproof tote bag, Huck grabbed Hayden off the console and dragged his friend out. Flames blew out and oil began to cover the surface of the water. Several workers were seen floating on the surface covered in the remains of dinosaurs from eons ago. Some dead from consuming or breathing the black gold.

Hayden tried everything to salvage the entire operation as much as possible, or so he gave the appearance. Directive 66 was the order which to sabotage the rig in times of piracy, which Huck delivered, he did visit the Wiring hub but never snipped the wires controlling the blowout preventer. That was the duty of the wiring manager who knew protocol and ensured it happened with no other witnesses. Had the preventer been able to work or activate at all, the blowout would have never damaged the rig. And now the evidence of sabotage was being burned.

After a minute of trying to fumble into his cold-water suit, bright orange and standard for all members operating in cold waters. The man was running down the stairs along the outside of the rig. Jumping from the current height would have been suicide, water acted more like concrete from that distance. One flight after the next, they were halfway down it. Huck led the two carrying a tote bag until an explosion from within the rig went off. It was with enough force to cause a massive shudder, sending the two over the railings and into the water. Hayden screamed until he blacked out from impacting the water, his friend never made it with a head-first landing.

Several hours later, Hayden woke up screaming. It startled the other survivors and medical supervisors aboard a Wey-Yu frigate that was sent days ago. He saw himself in an open hanger with a rescue helicopter dropping off other survivors. In the far background, the rig had leaned heavily to one side, slowly going into the oil covered waters. Several boats that were previously moored to the rig were busy trying to prevent the seas from lighting aflame. Water cannons were going full blast in an effort to snuff any flames.

The survivor got up, and started asking around for his friend, asking anyone where Huck went…

Mr. Saarbac sat at his desk, thumbing through several projects on a tablet device. He muttered to himself, “Yes, no, no, yes, later, no, no, yes…”

On his tablet were several covert projects that were up for shutdown. With the massive ecological disaster happening, and the piracy of the Vekaiyun Navy, it really wasn’t a shining moment in his book. The Reaver supersoldier program that was in progress was halted thanks to the forced oil spill. The continuing flow of arms into Elphana and to various rebels in Oynenyua had to be stopped. The emergency slush fund had to be drawn from to pay for reparations, fees, legal, and for the extra overtime employees were spending to contain the flow. Divers were already sent to stop the flow of oil, having pinched the pipe successfully.

The good news was this, the survey data was rescued. That was a major benefit and could be put up for sale to anyone the company wished. They’d bounce back from this. Although the political ramifications of these actions were massive. Val muttered under his breath, “Maybe we’d be better off with the Pax instead of trying to play nice with everyone else.”