"John, that's not what I wanted to see." Gordon was frowning as he looked at the tunnel schematics against the seabed.

"It's not good, certainly. How does this change things for you?"

"That tunnel is too close to that pipeline. We are going to have to deal with the leak otherwise we risk an explosion that could drop it on us. I'm going to have to inspect that pipeline."

"I'll let Scott know. What about getting to them from above?"

"I wouldn't want to, but let me check. If it's fastest and easiest for me to get in and out with breathing gear for them, then that's the way to go. Otherwise, we'll need a plan B."

"Virgil?"

"Yeah. This sort of thing is right up his alley. How are you going with finding the outlets for that pipeline?"

"I'm not. Everything I try hits a dead end. I've got Kayo trying to find some more info in some of the unusual places."

Alan Tracy felt more than a little useless on this mission. He knew he'd been brought as a "just in case" – just like Pod 4 had extra stuff crammed into it. All "just in case".

As a result, Two had flown more clumsily than normal, and he admired Virgil's skill in flying the huge green craft even more as he babied her on the trip to Melbourne.

This whole damn mission seemed to have lots of "just in case" about it. He hated those. It always seemed that the "just in case" inevitably happened. And they were in the middle of it. Trying to pull everybody's asses out of whatever disaster happened.

He'd followed Virgil out of Thunderbid Two when Gordon had sent him the additional information and asked for help. Not that Alan could help. But he couldn't bear sitting alone. Waiting.

Scott, standing at the Mobile Control console had what he and Gordon called his "stretched" face. The one where he seemed to be juggling chainsaws and kittens at the same time. Where you knew he was analysing all the information from the readouts in front of him, ready to consult with John at any moment. To direct what had to happen next. To decide how best to use their resources.

Fucked if Alan knew how he managed it.

Virgil was at the other side of the room, maps projected on the display, in consultation with other engineers. He was in his element. People always tended to see this particular older brother as the brawn rather than brains. Degrees in Civil and Mechanical Engineering, a Masters in Engineering and working towards a Doctorate told another story.

"Scott?"

"Hmmm?"

"What do you need me to do?" Alan could see Scott pull himself back from his immersion in whatever he had been analysing.

Scott blinked at Alan's question. He had almost forgotten he was there. "Until Virgil and Gordon have finished, there's not a lot you and I can do, All… Alan." Scott caught himself. It was hard to stop using the affectionate shortening of Alan's name, but they had all been trying. At least when on a mission.

Restless, Alan wandered over to where Virgil was working and idly traced some lines on the map. "What are these here?"

"The other two tunnels," Virgil answered absently.

"Three tunnels?"

Virgil looked up. "Haven't you been listening to anything we've been talking about all these months?"

Alan gave a one-shouldered shrug. "Not an engineering nerd, Virge. So why three?"

"It's easier to dig three than one big one. One going each way, and a third in the centre as an…." His voice trailed off. "For the love of… Stupid, stupid, stupid!" He started to move quickly and Alan shrank back.

"I'm sorry, Virgil. I didn't mean…"

"Not you, Alan. Me. I'm stupid. So busy looking, I didn't see."

"And that makes sense."

"Don't worry little brother. We're about to see some action. Scott! John – get Gordon online!"

"Virgil?"

"Gordon's coming online now. And I've got some news from Kayo about that pipeline."

"About the pipeline," Gordon's image flickered and appeared. "It's fixable. It's actually a fissure, not a hole, so a fairly simple weld job will fix it. I've got equipment in the pod that will do the job."

"So it's not that which caused the cave in?"

"Not as far as I can see. I've found where the collapses happened. They are close to the pipeline, but not near the fissure. It actually looks like the sea-bed was breached. I'd say in one area, it came close, and it was just a matter of time. In the main collapse, the top of the machine is visible. The collapses are pretty solid though."

"Gordon… did you go out and have a look?" Scott's voice had a warning in it.

"How else did you expect me to validate? I know what I'm doing Scott. Remember – I've had plenty of experience doing this before." He paused. "I still wouldn't try to come in from the top to get them out though. I can't see where there's a lot of water that would be getting through – seepage, but nothing showing lots. So it should be fairly dry in the chamber."

"That brings it to me," Virgil said. "Actually, Alan noticed it first." He brought up the schematics. "There are three tunnels. Separate, but designed to connect at certain points. So they aren't that far apart." A wave of his hand enhanced part of the picture.

"This shows VD3 and where the collapse is." He drew a big red "X". "Here's the chamber. From what Gordon said, that should be fairly dry. Even if there is water, it should be ok. Here," and he motioned to another line, "is VD2 – the central tunnel which will be used as an emergency tunnel when needed.

"We know it's not collapsed at all. There are still cameras working through it. What I propose is that we rig the Mole and take it down that tunnel, with a small transport vehicle. The mole can then tunnel up through to VD3 and come in at the side of it – above where any water would be. We can extract the trapped workers from there, put them in the transport and come out again."

Scott was nodding. "Good work, Virgil and Gordon. Let's get moving. Alan, go with Virgil and help him and Gordon get everything together. John, what about that pipeline?"

"Well, for one thing Kayo found that officially it doesn't actually exist."

"How can that be?"

"It's been run illegally by the looks of it. That's why nobody seems to have any records of it, and why we can't find any outlets."

"So should Gordon fix it?"

"That's a yes, Scott," came Gordon's voice firmly. "It's not a biggie now, but it won't take much for it to get worse. It doesn't matter whether it's a legal pipeline or not – we don't want it to explode. Apart from the danger, the environmental fallout would be immense."

Scott couldn't help but smile at Gordon running true to form with his concerns. "John?"

"I agree with Gordon. I can send the information to Colonel Casey and we can leave it in her hands to deal with the pipeline. But we can't leave it even a small fissure – the gas is escaping and I can see from my scans it's having an effect in the area already."

"That settles it. Gordon, go ahead with what you have to do. Virgil – are you listening?"

"Go ahead Scott."

"You and I are going down. Alan, I want you to coordinate with Gordon from up here."

"Actually, Scott, I could use Alan in Four with me. I'm going to need another set of hands."

Scott took a deep breath. "FAB Gordon. Alan, get ready to go diving. Gordon will double check your equipment when he gets in. John, I need you to keep an eye on both teams. Gordon should be OK, but you're going to have to keep a close eye on Virgil and me to make sure that we don't drift off course."

"Already setting it up, Scott."