Many people in the Hanshuang Eastern Port Military Management Area have been awake all night.
It had been more than twenty-four hours since the Petrel lost contact, and even if the port church sent a spiritual call to the ship's chaplain on the Petrel, there was no response.
The only clues or traces that point to bad possibilities.
In the harbor office, a middle-aged man with sparse hair wearing a Frost Navy commander's uniform was sitting behind his desk with a gloomy expression. Several other commanders were sitting on several other chairs in the room. The atmosphere in the large room was gloomy and depressing, as if a storm was brewing.
"There is still no trace of the Haiyan. We have searched three times from the direction of the last signal returned by the Haiyan to the Frost Island. There is nothing on the sea." A civilian officer with short light brown hair shook his head. said.
"The most optimistic estimate is that the Petrel's communication system failed, the ship's chaplain had another accident, and the ship drifted out of control - but to be honest, this is too optimistic," another officer sighed, "For such a big ship, even if it drifts out of control, it is impossible for it to drift outside the search range in such a short period of time. The greater possibility is that the Haiyan encountered a vicious accident and has sunk... It has been patrolling offshore before. The boat reported hearing faint explosions and seeing a distant flash of light in the night, which may be the Petrel."
"Such a big ship, it will take several hours to sink, right? We were the first to send out search forces after the Haiyan lost contact," the civilian officer with short light brown hair frowned, "not to mention that it hasn't been launched yet. How could the traces of oil contaminating the sea disappear so cleanly? Could it be that the entire ship could sink to the bottom of the sea in an instant?"
"...You should send someone to Dagger Island to confirm the situation," another male officer said. "Perhaps the Petrel did not sail towards Frost Island, or maybe it was stranded near Dagger Island for some reason..."
"The current situation on Dagger Island requires complicated procedures to send people to the island..."
"It's okay to contact us. This procedure is a bit more complicated. The Archon's Office can provide it in half an hour at the earliest..."
Several officers looked at each other in confusion, and one of them said: "That side of Dagger Island..."
"We still haven't found any traces or wreckage of the Haiyan. At present, we initially believe that the general has activated the 'Process 22', and the Haiyan may have sunk," he said with a solemn expression. "Next, we will expand the search area and search in the open sea. Look for traces of the attackers and prepare to investigate the situation on Dagger Island."
"It may be that the No. 22 process has been activated - the situation is too urgent or there is a risk of meme leakage, or the Haiyan has completely fallen into the control of others, so no news has been transmitted," Xia Yanhui, the commander-in-chief of port defense, said in a low voice, " Although this still cannot explain why the wreckage of the Petrel disappeared so cleanly."
"The attacker..." The female officer who had spoken before gradually became serious. "If this attacker really exists, do you think it was not destroyed along with the Haiyan's Process No. 22?"
In such solemnity, Commander-in-Chief Liszt paused for a moment, and then continued: "I know the general, if the Haiyan really encounters extraordinary pollution that is difficult to resist, he will definitely activate the twenty-two weapons without hesitation. process, so what we need to do in the next stage is not only to continue to search for possible traces of the Petrel, but also to figure out what attacked and contaminated the ship - if there really is an attacker, then it It’s not necessarily tangible, it’s a huge threat to Frost.”
"The speculation on Process No. 22 is wrong. The Petrel was indeed invaded and contaminated by extraordinary forces. This ship has been honorably loyal, but it wants to rashly investigate Dagger Island," the gatekeeper said calmly. "This island may be completely out of control. "
"One of the first principles when facing extraordinary disasters - unless there is strong enough direct evidence, always assume that the enemy still exists," Lister said slowly, "Whether it is extraordinary objects or extraordinary phenomena, their vitality is always It’s surprisingly strong.”
The discussion in the room continued until a steady voice from behind the desk interrupted everyone: "Process No. 22."
The room fell silent for a while, and the officers who were discussing raised their eyes.
line and looked at the middle-aged man with dense hair and a serious face behind the desk.
In the office, the officers looked at each other. The pressure brought by the words "Procedure No. 22" made the already depressing atmosphere even more serious in an instant.
"I will submit an investigation application to the Archon. Although the Haiyan had an accident on its way back to the main island, and there was news that the inspection work was successfully completed when leaving Dagger Island, there is still an accident on this ship. , there are doubts about the situation on Dagger Island," Liszt stood up slowly, holding his hands on the table, "Let's go on..."
A secretary pushed open the door and came in. He gave a military salute to the officer behind the desk: "Sir, the gatekeeper is here."
"Gatekeeper?" Liszt said with obvious surprise on his face, "What is she here for?"
"It's an emergency situation regarding the Haiyan."
"Invite her in..." Liszt said immediately, but before he finished speaking, a gust of gray wind rolled up in the corridor outside the door, and then the gray wind seemed to be mixed with dark smoke and dust poured in. The room quickly circled around the office, and the figure of the gatekeeper stepped out of the gray wind - in one hand, she held the tin cane that the death priests always kept, and her eyes revealed from between the bandages were serious and slightly apologetic. .
"Sorry, Colonel Lister, the situation is tense. I came in immediately after hearing your response." Lister nodded, "I would like to know at what stage of your investigation on the whereabouts of the Petrel?"
Liszt did not express dissatisfaction because the gatekeeper broke into the office directly. Qualified soldiers know the importance of urgency, and the "gatekeeper" of the city-state already has many privileges in emergency situations. This lady appeared in such a hurry, The situation was obviously so urgent that there was no time to be polite.
"Dagger Island is out of control?" The muscles on Liszt's face trembled visibly, "What information do you have?"
"...The source of the intelligence cannot be disclosed for the time being," the gatekeeper said firmly, "but the reliability is very high. I haven't had time to report the situation to the cathedral and the city hall, because it may delay time. Colonel Lister, I hope you Now immediately block all shipping routes around Dagger Island, prohibiting any ships from approaching, and not allowing anything to leave this island—let alone allow them to land on Frost Island."
"Madam, I must remind you - this is not in accordance with the procedure," Liszt said in a serious tone, "I am willing to trust your judgment as the gatekeeper, but you should know that every rule is summed up with human lives - dispatch The navy's blockade of Dagger Island is no small matter, I need clearer orders and explanations."
"At least this won't make the situation worse," the gatekeeper took a step forward, "I have sent someone to the cathedral, and follow-up orders will come soon."
After a while, there was a hiss of airflow and a clicking sound that quickly came from far to near from the copper pipe fixed on the wall next to the table, followed by a crisp metal impact, the copper pipe shook, and the end of the pipe was stuck. There is some white airflow coming out of the buckle device.
Before the defense commander could finish his words, a burst of hurried footsteps suddenly sounded in the corridor, followed by a knock on the door, interrupting his subsequent words.
Liszt frowned: "Come in."
"A ship appeared in the far sea area and sent a signal to apply for entry into the port." Liszt slowly raised his head with a solemn expression, "It's the Petrel.
The room quickly fell silent.
Liszt opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something more, but at this moment, a sudden ringing in the corner of the room interrupted what he wanted to say.
The port defense commander glanced at the gatekeeper, then turned around and quickly walked to the small table next to him, and pressed the button on the table.
The officers looked at each other, and the gatekeeper's eyes instantly became solemn. After a few seconds of silence, Liszt suddenly said: "Go to the dock."
Standing on the observation deck of Donggang Pier, you can already see the silhouette of this steam clipper - it gradually enlarges on the horizon, with clouds of steam smoke rising above it.
The Petrel appeared. After being missing for more than twenty-two hours, it reappeared in the eyes of the Frostmen and sailed straight towards the military dock in Eastport.
vaguely
The sound of the whistle came, accompanied by a pause.
A junior officer put down the telescope in his hand and said simply.
"Identified by the silhouette and bow flag...it is the Petrel."
Liszt, however, remained motionless, staring at the approaching black figure on the sea, without saying a word for a long time.
"Second signal, the Haiyan applies for entry into the port." The junior officer turned his head and looked at Liszt, "
Liszt opened the buckle, flipped the cover, took out the capsule compartment from the pipe, took out the note inside and took a quick look, his expression changed instantly.
"Sink it." The gatekeeper who had been silent since just now finally broke the silence.
