Chapter 4 - The Closed Gate
By 2:00 PM, Daniel’s black official vehicle pulled up to the heavy steel gates of the Aether Maritime deep-water facility at Harbor Point. Sarah sat in the passenger seat, wearing a civilian medical inspector's jacket.
Two private security guards in slate-grey uniforms stepped out of the guard booth, carrying automatic carbines.
"Facility is closed for routine maintenance, Admiral," the head guard said, not lowering his weapon. "No unauthorized personnel permitted."
"I am the commander of Harbor Point Naval District," Daniel said, his voice ringing with absolute authority as he rolled down his window. "This facility sits on leased federal military land. Stand down and open the gate."
"Our orders come directly from Aether Corporate Headquarters in Washington, sir," the guard insisted coldly. "State inspectors were cleared yesterday."
"My daughter was hospitalized last night because of biological contamination originating from this site," Daniel replied, his eyes cold as ice. "You have five seconds to open this gate before I call in a squad of Navy Master-at-Arms to tear it off its hinges."
The guard hesitated, recognizing the real danger in Daniel’s eyes. He turned to his radio, whispered frantically, and then pressed the gate control button.
The heavy steel doors slid open.
As they drove onto the concrete pier overlooking the gray, churning ocean, Sarah looked out at the massive marine crane barges anchored three hundred yards offshore. Thick black hoses stretched down into the dark water, vibrating violently under extreme pressure.
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"They aren't building a logistics facility," Sarah said, pointing at the surface foam near the rig. "Look at the water discoloration. That's a high-pressure seabed extraction plume."
"They're drilling," Daniel realized, stopping the car. "Illegal deep-core trench mining right inside the naval port."
