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Journal entry number 54, June 14th 2061.

It has been quite a few weeks of scanning and pinpointing the seafloor. After a little while, we uncovered some debris that resembled our destination. Unfortunately, theses waters are under strict surveillance. To access the target zone, we had no choice but to agree on being inspected by the GDF. They came on board, recorded our activities, verified our legitimacy then we were cleared. Only 24 hours to do what we have to do. This will not be an easy task, every second counts. Next communication will follow after the first dive.

End of transmission.

The team was set and ready. The fake papers depicting them as marine biologists and photographers had been enough to fool the Global Defense Force. They were given twenty-four hours to investigate the area before being escorted out. After all, accessing a restricted military zone was never easy. They were paid a very important amount of money to get things done, and they would do it. A reputation is built on efficiency and good results.

The crew consisted of only three people. That was more than enough, sharing was not their leader's strong point. Mr J. or James Sheinor, black haired, black eyes and a mean grin. Just looking at him led to a feeling of uneasiness, as you never know what that unpredictable man has in mind. Self taught archeologist, was the best at finding things well hidden. He made a name for himself in selling artefacts on the black market. What was more impressive was his ability to easily get away from problems an disappearing right after a transaction. One could call him a thief, but that was an ugly word. He preferred the term "treasure hunter". His trusty sidekick, Joseph Herring, was never far behind. A stout, strong man, bald with a Viking styled red beard. Fearsome one he was, almost two meters high. He did not talk much and his loyalty was measured by the size of his paycheck. James liked having him around, his imposing size was reason enough to bring him along.

The third expedition member, Maria Suza, did not share her colleagues' shady background. Her reasons to accept this task was to get paid. She owed a good amount of money to banks and the such. Her sad life story begins as she became actively implied with activists of the various kind when attending college. Her parents shunned her, refused to pay her scholarship. She was left with living in a shitty dorm, with too much people, and in less than acceptable conditions. Never able to keep a job, whether from bad luck or because it did not fit her beliefs, her money income depended solely on this job. With it, she could pay back what she owed and find a better place to live. Until she ran out.. then, that would be an whole other story. She was the one posing as the marine biologist : she had not yet made it to third year of University, which made her an intern in the matter. That was more than enough. The "boss" gave them forged legal papers to pass GDF controls, than her job was to fool the eye. She did not know much about the details of the mission, just what she had to do. This was more than enough for her, then being paid and getting the hell away from these people.

Setting up the material, the divers were making the last preparations. Cameras and lights were to be wired down, nothing else. The GDF would patrol regularly overhead to make sure nothing looked suspicious. Fortunately, they were well organized : the ship's cargo bay had a hatch underneath, which led to a hidden compartment. The ship was engineered that way so that opening that hatch would not let the water in. Floating devices would ensure the ship's buoyancy, keeping it above the water line. Since it could only be opened underneath, the GDF did not notice anything when searching the ship from above.

James and Joseph prepared to dive. They did not give much attention to Maria up till now as they required her aid. She did not mind them either. They plunged in the depths and started gathering the material from the cargo bay.

The suits for their expedition were top of the line. Their employer did not hold back on material. There was all necessary equipment for regular diving in deep sea, plus a few other added materials: laser cutters, crowbars and jacks, scanners, dart guns and some explosives. Stocking up, James initiated a conversation

Maria? Toots, you there?

Maria hesitated for a moment. They were using short waves communications: roughly a few meters away could be tapped in. Since it did not reach broadband, this was perfect to not be spied on. The only problem would be the depths. She did not know exactly now far down they had to go. James was not the type for petty conversation, but was polite enough when addressing her.

She picked up the call from her earpiece.

- Affirmative, James. Do you require anything?

- Just keep a sharp eye out. We don't want to get bothered until we got what we came for. Remember, stay calm and do your thing. These idiots bought it all, but we can't let our guard down.

- Yes, of course. Let me know if you need anyth...

James cut the comm before she ended her sentence. She sighed. Taking a notebook, she started making a few random sketches, and watching the sonars intermittently. Once in a while, a GDF flyer flew past them. She bowed her head down and sighed.

Deep below, the divers were nearing their goal. A platform sat on the ocean floor about a hundred meters. The place was in a bad shape. Bringing up a map on his wrist computer, he studied the layout at first, then projected a scanner on the wreck. Using an algorithm, the map took shape and indicated where the spotted location was now. He signaled Joseph with his hand and dove further in the wreckage. There were debris and sediments everywhere. A few metal beams barred the way, but Joseph managed to cut his way easily using the laser. They hurried inside: a large room which was initially a control center. Wires hung from the devastated consoles and panels were waving with the water patterns being eaten by rust and eroding to nothingness. They managed to remove more to gain access to the floors, heavy galvanized steel grills that laid the entire area. With the shifting, the floor was now tilted upwards and twisted, gathering algae. Joseph had a hard time removing one of them, even with the help of the crowbar and jack, the plates were lodged quite tightly. They managed to remove one and gain access to a small compartment. Inside, three metal boxes lied, undisturbed, resembling black boxes in airplanes. James went in and with all the care in the world, removed each of them. They went back up to the boat in no time, securing the three cases.

By the time they made it back up, the moon rose high in the sky. The waters were darkening and Maria was looking at it, trying to shake off the feeling that something awful might happen. Or worse, they might get caught. If it was the case, there would be no money. And she would probably go to jail for lying, and accessing weird sunken military protected stuff. She began having second thoughts, sitting down, resting her chin on her fist. She called one more time

- James? Its getting dark.

- No kidding, toots. Now, shut up and wait. We're almost done.

He closed his comm again. There was something else they needed that was still inside. Getting back down, there was still something they had to do. Unfortunately, the tides were rising and the waters became more and more agitated. They needed to tie a line to the ship in order to keep track in the darkness and to make it back with less efforts. Exhausted from their descent, they went on to the next target. The facility was moving, some of the metal structure weakened by the cuts. Once inside, they squeezed through a small corridor. There was a dead end. Jamming the crowbar in a joint, Joseph pried with a lot of effort the large metal plate that concealed a hidden door. The writing was still perceptible "Danger! Keep Out!". The door was sealed shut, even pressurized. They realized they might have a lot of trouble getting this one opened. They tried, and tried. The facility moved, the tides got stronger. Joseph still went all out, trying to pry, push, even cut the door out of the wall when, at last, a few bubbles escaped a dent in the metal. But at that very moment, there was a horrifying metal grinding noise. Joseph and James were shoved on the ceiling, as the control room seemed to twist and fall deeper. The remaining structure was weakened by theirs attempts to get inside. James tried to make it to the exit, but was stopped by Joseph just in time, as a massive hunk of metal dropped in a clanking and grinding noise, blocking their only exit. The divers went on looking desperately for an exit, trying to cut more of the metal structure, but without success. It was clearly upside down now, and the integrity of the thing was so fragile that one simple cut could bury them forever. James went on his comm

- Toots? Toots? You there?

- Having no response, he went on and on, until Maria responded faintly.

- Yes.. .. got…. .. at's ..ong?

- Maria! Get us some help down there! We're stuck! Please, get help!

Maria did not seem to respond at first. She only got a few words of each comm. But she heard one single word that made her blood freeze in her veins : "help". She could not do anything. Diving down would be crazy, as she was not as fit as the men, and might result only in being pushed aside by the current. Waiting again, she managed to get a few more words

- …. Stuck…. Can't … exit…. Help…. Two …. Air

She panicked. He had two hours of air left. Going to the broadband radio, she called out for help, without a second thought.

- Calling International Rescue. Do you hear me? We need you!