Chapter 10 - The Trojan Horse-10
The fog was our ally, clinging to the surface of the Bay like a thick wool blanket, cutting visibility down to less than fifty feet. The low, rhythmic thump-thump-thump of the tugboat's heavy engine echoed off the concrete piers as we glided steadily toward the dark mouth of Sub-Surface Dock 4.
"Tugboat Chesapeake Trader, this is Aegis Security Control," a sharp, stern voice barked over the boat's marine radio. "You are entering a restricted military zone. Cut your engines immediately and state your clearance code."
Jackson picked up the microphone, maintaining a completely calm, bored tone. "Aegis Control, this is Chesapeake Trader. We have your scheduled 06:30 auxiliary fuel delivery for Sub-Deck 4. Clearance code: Bravo-Seven-Niner-Zero. We're running low on visibility out here, over."
A long, agonizing pause followed over the radio channel. I stood hidden behind the reinforced steel bulkhead of the wheelhouse, my finger resting lightly on the trigger of my rifle, watching the dark silhouette of the dock emerge from the mist.
"Copy that, Trader," the voice finally replied. "Proceed to Slip 2 for visual inspection. Keep your speed under five knots. Any deviation from the approach vector will result in immediate engagement."
"Roger that, Control," Jackson said, cutting the radio feed and looking back at me. "We're in."
The heavy tugboat glided slowly into the vast, cavernous interior of Dock 4. The space was enormous—a massive, vaulted concrete bunker lit by harsh yellow industrial floodlights suspended from the high ceiling. The black private submarine sat tied to the main pier, its dark hull gleaming under the lights. Dozens of armed security operators in grey uniforms were stationed along the perimeter walkways.
Standing on the high platform above the submarine's gangway, dressed in a long black trench coat, was General Arthur Vance. Beside him stood two men in white lab coats holding high-tech bio-transport cases.
"He's here," I whispered into my comms earpiece. "Jackson, as soon as the bow touches the wooden bumper on Slip 2, dump the smoke canisters and blow the fuel release."
"With pleasure," Jackson muttered.
The tugboat’s bow slammed hard into the heavy rubber bumpers of the pier with a loud, metallic THUD.
"Hey! You're coming in too fast!" an Aegis security guard yelled from the dock, stepping forward with his rifle raised. "Shut those engines down now!"
"Now, Jackson!" I barked.
Jackson slammed two heavy red switches on the control panel.
Instantly, six industrial smoke canisters mounted along the tugboat's deck detonated simultaneously, erupting into a thick, impenetrable wall of dense white smoke that completely flooded the interior of the cavernous dock within seconds. Simultaneously, the boat's high-pressure fire monitors launched hundreds of gallons of pressurized foam across the pier, blinding the guards and slicking the concrete floor into an ice rink.
Shouts of confusion and frantic alarm instantly broke out across the dock.
"AMBUSH! WE HAVE AN AMBUSH ON SLIP 2!" a guard screamed through the blinding white fog.
Automatic gunfire instantly shattered the air, heavy rounds striking the tugboat's armored wheelhouse in a metallic rain of sparks and ricochets.
I hit the deck, rolling out through the starboard hatch into the thick white smoke on the pier, completely invisible to the enemy shooters. My night-vision goggles flipped down, highlighting the heat signatures of the panicking Aegis contractors in bright, glowing orange.
I moved like a phantom through the smoke.
SUPPRESSED FIRE: THWIP-THWIP.
The lead guard went down instantly, his rifle clattering to the slick concrete floor. I dropped two more operators who were wildly firing into the mist, advancing step-by-step toward the high stairs leading to the command platform where Vance was standing.
"Vance!" I roared, my voice echoing off the vaulted concrete walls like thunder. "YOUR TIME IS UP!"
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Through the swirling smoke ahead, I saw General Vance frantically scrambling up the steel stairs toward the submarine's open escape hatch, screaming at his bodyguards.
"KILL HIM! KILL HIM AND GET THAT SUBMARINE UNDERWAY!"
