Leviathan

Heirthall pushed her plate away and looked at Collins. She was silent for a time as she studied him.

"You need not make any bold plans, Colonel. The reasons for bringing you aboard ... well, to put it frankly, they are moot at this point. Plans have changed. Your time onboard Leviathanis at an end."

Samuels, sitting next to Heirthall, barely moved his eyes, but Jack and Niles saw that this information was news to him.

"All hands, prepare for getting under way. We are at defense condition two throughout the boat. Midshipmen, secure the young in the aft pressure dome." The announcement ended their lunch.

A young lieutenant gave Commander Samuels a message, then left the table. The first officer passed it onto Heirthall, who wadded the flimsy thing into a ball and stood. She was tense as she half-bowed and then left the table, quickly escorted by four of Tyler's security men.

"If you'll come with me, we're preparing to dive. We have detected the Missourisitting offshore, so we will immediately run into deep waters," Samuels said as he stood. "Security will take you to the observation deck."

"You'll not take offensive action against Missouri, will you?" Lee asked.

"Our actions will be defensive in nature, Senator. Leviathanwill run deep; no vessel in the world can out-dive us. If they choose to follow, that is of no concern to the captain. Now, please, follow me."

"How deep can this thing go?" Mendenhall asked nervously as he stood with the others to follow the commander.

"I don't know," Ryan said to him, "but the crush depth for most American boats is sixteen hundred feet, some even less."

"Oh, shit," was all Will could say as he and the others felt the first tingling of fear.

As they were on their way to the observation deck, escorted by ten security men, Everett slid in beside Jack and handed him something. Collins, without acknowledging the move, deftly opened a small piece of paper that had been folded several times.

"It's from our little computer nerd. He passed it to me in the mess."

Jack quickly looked down at the precise block letters of the note. It was only five words: SOMETHING is WRONG WITH HEIRTHALL.

"What do you think?" Everett mumbled.

"This only confirms what we already suspect. The added element here is that our Dr. Robbins is saying the captain has changed since their last meeting. That means if he's worried, we should be, too."

Sarah stepped in to ask what was up when Sergeant Tyler and another security team approached them. They were all heavily armed, and they all sported their Nomex/seaweed assault gear. The Event Group was surrounded just outside of the observation deck.

"The use of deadly force against you has been authorized by the captain if you attempt any sort of offensive move, or if you attempt to communicate with the outside world. This status will be in effect until you depart this vessel." Tyler looked directly at Collins, then gestured for his men to take the Group into the observation deck. He then grabbed Jack's arm and held him in place.

"It's time you and I had a little talk, Colonel."

Collins didn't say anything. He looked from Tyler to Sarah, who hesitated at the door. Then he rose, looked at her sternly, and nodded toward the hatchway, indicating that she go with the others. Niles placed his arm around Sarah, and with a stern look at Tyler moved inside the hatchway. Everett, Ryan, and Mendenhall followed--each giving the sergeant warning looks. When they were all inside, one of the two security men reached out and dogged the hatch.

"I need to know why the captain was adamant about having your people aboard Leviathan, and don't hand me that crap about needing information about what your agency knew about her and her family."

"Even if I remembered my time onboard Leviathanthe first time around, I wouldn't tell you a damn thing, Sergeant."

"Colonel, if I don't get an answer as to why your director and the others were brought here, I will find a way to kill someone very close to you. Now answer me."

The cold demeanor of the security man brought Jack to the conclusion that Heirthall had lost control of at least part of her command. If Tyler was against her in some form or another, Collins knew he might have to take his chances with the madwoman over the man standing in front of him. His instincts told him that this man was a killer--once more, he could see in his eyes that he enjoyed it.

Jack didn't respond to the threat he had leveled at Sarah. He just smiled, his eyes never leaving Tyler's own.

"Why are you here?"

"Tyler, I will say this to you. You are one of those people I will not mind killing."

The sergeant smiled and acted as if to turn away, but instead brought up the sidearm hidden at his side and smashed Jack on the side of the head. Collins staggered, then went down to a knee. Tyler stood over him and brought the pistol down into Jack's skull. The colonel collapsed to the deck.

"What is the meaning of this?!"