Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Chapter 4: Theft, Spying and Planning
One week later - The Acropolis - Athens, Greece
Third Person POV
It was a beautiful summer night in the City of Athens. The moon was full and shone brightly on the great assemblage of ancient structures and ruins know as the Acropolis. The Parthenon itself was illuminated brightly and was visible from many places throughout the city. However, tonight our focus is on the farthest section of the Acropolis away from the city. On this far flung edge of the Acropolis was a cliff face that stretched to the rocky shore of the ocean below. Of all the approaches to the Acropolis this was the most difficult and as such the least guarded. At the base of the cliff along the rocky shore three figures clad all in black stood looking up toward the top of the cliff.
"Private fire the grappling gun, aim for that large rock jutting out from the top of the cliff face." The man said.
"Yes, Commander as you command." The private said. The noise of the waves hitting the shore masked the noise of the grappling gun being fired. The grappling sailed through the air and landed perfectly on the rock. The grappling was pulled securely until it was tightly wedge into a large seem in the rock face. "Grappling secured sir."
"Nice work Private." The Commander said. The three soldiers climbed the taught line until they reached the top of the Acropolis. The three made their way carefully through the maze of structures on the Acropolis until they reached the back entrance to the Acropolis Museum.
"Sergeant take care of the lock." The Commander ordered.
"Yes, sir." The Sergeant acknowledged. The Sergeant took out a small black bag and removed several tools and quickly picked the lock, then the soldier placed a small computer device next to the alarm control pad next the door. Several sets of numbers ran across the small screen on the small computer device until the red light on the alarm turned green. The Sergeant opened the door and the three men walked carefully inside. The three soldiers turned on their night vision goggles and faint green lights shown throughout the museum. The soldiers made they're way through the museum until the Commander stopped in front of a particular display case that read Ancient Gems and Crystals. The Private carefully cut a glass circle in the top of the case and removed the circular piece of glass. The Commander carefully pulled out all of the gems and crystals from the case and loaded them into a black carrying case. Once completed the three soldiers carefully slipped out of the museum and headed for the cliff face. They quickly descended the cliff and reached the rocky shore line below. They boarded the small black zodiac and quickly made their way back to the submarine that waited for they're return. Once on board the submarine the Commander walked to the Captain's quarters. Once inside the Captain and the Commander sat down around the small table in the center of the room.
"Great work, I take it that everything went smoothly?" The Captain asked curiously.
"Yes, sir my men and I completed our mission in record time. Here are the spoils." The Commander said as he took out the black carrying case and unloaded its contents on the small table. The Captain viewed the assortment of crystals and gems curiously.
"I wonder what the master wants these for and does it have anything to do with the Pearl of Thalassa?" The Captain asked. The Commander just shook his head.
"I have no idea sir, but knowing the Master I'm sure these items are very important." The Commander said.
"I agree." The Captain said as he pulled the phone off the wall and dialed the control room. "Navigator set course for our service ship."
"Aye sir." The Navigator's voice could be heard through the phone. The submarine slipped beneath the surface headed for a rendezvous with its service ship.
Onboard the TS Empire State VI - Off the coast of the Canary Islands
Percy's POV
I was standing on the deck of the ship looking out over the Atlantic Ocean, the sea was very calm today. We had been at sea for a week now and the trip so far had been incredible. Terra has been working with the marine biology students studying whales and dolphins off the coast of the Canary Islands. Chris and I have been working with the deep water exploratory team. We were using our submersible and ROVs (Remotely Operated Vehicles) to explore the deep water sea life around the islands. Our work so far has been used as a training run for the real work that will occurr for the next two weeks as we sail into deep water far from land to explore the mid-oceanic ridge. Of course I know everything about that since I've actually been there, but I can never tell mortals that. This is the hard part of my schooling at Maritime and with this cruise. I know more about the ocean and the deep sea than any teacher, but I can never tell anyone. Therefore, I'm stuck helping mortals study and make findings that are well known to myself and my family. That's just the hard part of being a demigod and trying to fit in with a world that will never know who or what I am.
"Percy you ready to run some diagnostics on the submersible?" Chris asked as he joined me on the deck. I guess Chris saw my expression. "Beautiful isn't it, I can't get over how beautiful the ocean looks especially on a calm day." I knew if my dad could adopt two mortals out of the world he would adopt Chris and Terra, they loved the sea as if ocean water ran through their veins.
"It is beautiful. I would be happy to help with the submersible. You look like you have something important to tell me." I said. Chris just smiled, I guess we do know each other pretty well by now.
"Sometimes I think you can read my mind Perce, yes Dr. Williams asked if you and I would like to join him on the first submersible dive on the mid-oceanic ridge. Of course knowing you so well I agreed for both us." Chris said. Normally I would be mad about someone agreeing to something for me, but Chris knows me well and I was happy that he agreed for me.
"Thanks buddy, its good having someone look out for me." I said.
"Hey, Its my pleasure plus I told Annabeth I would keep you out of trouble." Chris said. He smiled as he put an arm on my shoulder. We walked down the deck toward the submersible hangar. We walked inside the hangar to work on the submersible and to dream of gliding through the deep ocean.
Onboard the Seatender Leviathon
Third Person POV
A man wearing a white uniform with stripes on the sleaves that identified him as an admiral looked out the window of the control room. He placed a pair of binoculars to his eyes and looked along the port side of the Leviathon. On the port side of the ship about one quarter of a mile away a research vessel was anchored off the coast of the Canary Islands.
"Lieutenant, have we intercepted any communications from the TS Empire State?" The Admiral asked. The Lieutenant ran through the computer display in front of him.
"Yes, sir most are communications back to New York, family communications from the students, but there was one to the Canary Island Coastal Watch." The Lieutenant said.
"What did it say?" The Admiral asked curiously.
"The Captain of the ship said that they would be leaving in the morning for an extended survey of the mid-oceanic ridge." The Lieutenant said. The Admiral visibly smiled at this information.
"How long before the Cetus arrives?" The Admiral asked.
The Lieutenant looked at the last communication with the Cetus and then calculated their arrival time. "Twenty-eight hours sir." The Lieutenant said.
"Good so they'll have a little over half a day head start, but we should be able to make that up quickly. Radio base command." The Admiral ordered.
"Aye sir." The Lieutenant acknowledged. A few minutes later a voice came over the speaker system
"Base here, report Admiral." The unknown voice said.
"Yes, my master. The Cetus has fulfilled it's mission in Greece and is on its way back to us. The research vessel is currently anchored near the Canary Islands, we are within visual range. We have intercepted communications that they will leave in the morning for the mid-oceanic ridge. The Cetus will rendezvous with us in twenty-eight hours, orders sir." The Admiral said. The voice on the line was silent for a few minutes.
"Good work Admiral, you and your men have done well. The fleet leaves tomorrow to rendezvous with you, but I will be arriving by helicopter tomorrow evening. I have some preparations to make before we can continue with our plan. Do you understand?" The Master said.
"Aye, sir, we await your arrival." The Admiral said.
"Good it won't be long now before they suffer for the death of my uncles, Base Command out." The Master said.
This chapter may have only increased the questions, well answers will come soon enough for me, maybe not for you readers.