Deep Sea Embers

Many people in the Hanshuang Eastern Port Military Management Zone have been awake all night.

It had been more than twenty-four hours since the Petrel lost contact, and even if the port church sent a spiritual call to the ship's chaplain on the Petrel, there was no response.

The only clues or traces that point to bad possibilities.

In the harbor office, a middle-aged man with sparse hair wearing a Frost Navy commander's uniform was sitting behind his desk with a gloomy expression. Several other commanders were sitting on several other chairs in the room. The atmosphere in the large room was gloomy and depressing, as if a storm was brewing.

So far, no trace of the Haiyan has been found. We searched three times from the direction of the last signal returned by the Haiyan to the direction of Frost Island, but there was nothing on the sea. A civilian officer with short light brown hair shook his head and said.

The most optimistic estimate is that the Petrel's communication system failed, the ship's chaplain had another accident, and the ship drifted out of control - but to be honest, this is too optimistic. Another officer sighed, so big Even if a ship drifts out of control, it is impossible for it to drift outside the search range in such a short period of time. The greater possibility is that the Haiyan encountered a vicious accident and has sunk... There have been reports from patrol boats offshore. Hearing faint explosions and seeing distant flashes of light in the night, that might be the Haiyan.

For such a big ship, it would take several hours to sink, right? We were the first to send out search forces after the Haiyan lost contact. The civilian officer with short light brown hair frowned, not to mention that there was no oil contaminating the sea surface. How could the traces disappear so cleanly? Could it be that the entire ship could sink to the bottom of the sea in an instant?

...You should send someone to Dagger Island to confirm the situation. Another male officer said, maybe the Petrel did not sail towards Frost Island, maybe it was stranded near Dagger Island for some reason...

The current situation on Dagger Island requires complicated procedures to send people to the island...

You can also contact us. This procedure is a bit more complicated. The Archon’s Office can provide it in half an hour at the earliest...

Several officers looked at each other for a moment, and one of them said: Over here on Dagger Island...

We still haven't found traces or wreckage of the Haiyan. At present, we initially believe that the general has activated the "Process 22". The Haiyan may have sunk. He said with a solemn expression. Next, we need to expand the search scope and look for the attackers in the open sea. and prepare to investigate the situation on Dagger Island.

It may be that the No. 22 process was activated - the situation was too urgent or there was a risk of meme leakage, or the Haiyan was completely under the control of others, so no news came. Xia Yanhui, the commander-in-chief of port defense, had a low voice, although this was still It is impossible to explain why the wreckage of the Petrel disappeared so cleanly.

The attacker... the female officer who had spoken before gradually became serious. If this attacker really exists, do you think it was not destroyed along with the Haiyan's 'Process No. 22'?

In such solemnity, Commander-in-Chief Liszt paused for a moment, and then continued: I know the general, if the Haiyan really encounters extraordinary pollution that is difficult to resist, he will definitely activate No. 22 without hesitation. process, so what we need to do in the next stage is not only to continue to search for possible traces of the Petrel, but also to figure out what attacked and contaminated the ship - if there really is an attacker, then it is not It must be tangible, this is a huge threat to the frost.

The speculation on process No. 22 was wrong. The Petrel was indeed contaminated by the invasion of extraordinary forces. The ship had been honorably loyal, but if they wanted to investigate Dagger Island rashly, the gatekeeper said calmly, the island might be completely out of control.

One of the first principles when facing extraordinary disasters - unless there is strong enough direct evidence, always assume that the enemy still exists, Lister said slowly, whether it is extraordinary objects or extraordinary phenomena, their vitality is always strong Surprisingly.

The discussion in the room continued until a steady voice from behind the desk interrupted everyone: Process No. 22.

The room fell silent for a while, and the officers who were discussing raised their eyes.

line and looked at the middle-aged man with dense hair and a serious face behind the desk.

In the office, the officers looked at each other. The pressure brought by the words "Procedure No. 22" instantly made the already depressing atmosphere even more solemn.

I will submit an investigation application to the consul. Although the Haiyan had an accident on its way back to the island, and there was news that the inspection work was successfully completed when leaving Dagger Island, there is still an accident with this ship. There are doubts about the situation on Dagger Island. Liszt slowly stood up and put his hands on the table. Next...

A secretary pushed the door open and came in, giving a military salute to the officer behind the desk: Sir, here comes the gatekeeper.

Gatekeeper? There was obvious surprise on Liszt's face. What was she doing here?

It was said that it was an emergency situation regarding the Haiyan.

Invite her in... Liszt said immediately, but before he finished speaking, a gust of gray wind blew up in the corridor outside the door, and then the gray wind seemed to be mixed with dark smoke and dust poured into the room, Quickly circling around the office, the figure of the gatekeeper stepped out of the gray wind - in one hand she was holding the tin cane that the death priests always kept, and her eyes revealed between the bandages were serious and slightly apologetic.

Sorry, Colonel Lister, the situation is tense. I came in directly after hearing your response. Lister nodded. I would like to know where you are currently in your investigation of the whereabouts of the Petrel?

Liszt did not express dissatisfaction because the gatekeeper broke into the office directly. Qualified soldiers know the importance of urgency, and the gatekeepers of the city-state have many privileges in emergency situations. It is obvious that this lady appeared in such a hurry. The situation has become so urgent that there is no time for politeness.

Is Dagger Island out of control? The muscles on Liszt's face trembled obviously. What information do you have?

...The source of the intelligence cannot be disclosed for the time being. The gatekeeper was a little firm, but the reliability is very high. I haven't had time to report the situation to the cathedral and the city hall, because this may delay time. Colonel Lister, I hope you will immediately block all shipping routes around Dagger Island, prohibiting any ships from approaching, and not allowing anything to leave this island—let alone allow them to land on Frost Island.

Madam, I must remind you - this is not in line with the procedure, Liszt's tone became serious, I am willing to trust your judgment as the gatekeeper, but you should know that every rule is summed up with human life - dispatch the navy to blockade the dagger The island is no small matter and I need clearer orders and explanations.

At least this won't make the situation worse. The gatekeeper took a half step forward. I have sent someone to the cathedral. Follow-up orders will come soon.

After a while, there was a hissing sound of airflow and a clicking sound that quickly came from far to near from the copper pipe fixed on the wall next to the table, followed by a crisp metal impact, the copper pipe shook, and the end of the pipe was stuck. There is some white airflow coming out of the buckle device.

Before the defense commander could finish his words, a burst of hurried footsteps suddenly sounded in the corridor, followed by a knock on the door, interrupting his subsequent words.

Liszt frowned: Come in.

A ship appeared in the far sea area and sent out a signal to apply for entry into the port. Liszt slowly raised his head with a solemn expression. It was the Haiyan.

The room quickly fell silent.

Liszt opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something more, but at this moment, a sudden ringing in the corner of the room interrupted what he wanted to say.

The port defense commander looked at the gatekeeper and walked to the small table next to him and pressed the button on the table.

The officers looked at each other, and the gatekeeper's eyes instantly became solemn. After a few seconds of silence, Liszt suddenly spoke: Go to the dock.

Standing on the observation deck of Donggang Pier, you can already see the silhouette of this steam clipper - it gradually enlarges on the horizon, with cloud-like steam smoke rising above it.

The Petrel appeared. After being missing for more than twenty-two hours, it reappeared in the eyes of the Frostmen and sailed straight towards the military dock in Eastport.

vaguely

The sound of the whistle came, accompanied by a pause.

A junior officer put down the telescope in his hand and said simply.

Identified by silhouette and bow flag...it's the Petrel.

Liszt, however, remained motionless, staring at the approaching black figure on the sea, without saying a word for a long time.

In the second round of signals, the Haiyan applied for entry into the port. The junior officer turned his head and looked at Liszt.

Liszt opened the buckle, flipped the cover, took out the capsule compartment from the pipe, took out the note inside and took a quick look, his expression changed instantly.

Sink it. The gatekeeper who had been silent since just now finally broke the silence.