THE IRON SHIELD

Chapter XXI

XXI

It only took an hour to reach Alcatraz. The speed of the George W. Bush could not be matched with any other submarine. After all, it was not a normal submarine. Being a submarine, battleship, and aircraft carrier in one was not easy to assemble. Many parts needed to be moved, condensed, upgraded, strengthened, and be made functional. It was first made six years ago as an experiment in the United States Navy, but their engineers were unable to make it work while still looking like an aircraft carrier. Too many things made it obvious that it was not just an aircraft carrier. However the efforts of Phoenix engineers a few years later were able to figure out what parts needed to be placed where and what needed to be done. It was then, six years ago, that the USS George W. Bush was constructed and commissioned. The United States Navy had no knowledge of it however.

Having reached Alcatraz, the carrier slowed so Nantz, Allen, Shark, and Grant could make their way out of a hatch for diving. The four used a diver propulsion vehicle or DPV. As the DPV took the men through several hundred feet of water to the island, the George W. Bush made its way to the coast of Peru.

It was nearing night time as Grant looked at his watch while being propelled through the water. It was, based on time difference, nine o'clock. The light on the DPV lit the way as they made their way to an underground tunnel on the island. The tunnel was blocked by a cage, but Nantz brought a laser cutter with him. The men arrived at the cage and gazed through the openings. It appeared clear and according to Shark's scanner, there were no cameras in this part of the island, in the tunnels anyway.

Nantz cut a round hole in the cage so the men could gain entrance in the tunnel. After the other three swam through, Nantz propped the piece he cut out against the cage so as to not attract attention from an underwater patrol should there be one. They left the DPV in the tunnel behind them as they made their way through it. Shark led the way and reached a ladder. The four climbed the ladder and surfaced in a cavern. The cavern was very small, but had a small ledge which led to a door. The door was obviously locked, but next to it was a vent that had moving parts and random spurts of fire. It would be impossible to crawl through.

"I can do this," said Nantz.

"What makes you say that?" said Shark.

"I saw this in a movie once," said Nantz.

"But that was a movie. You don't' know how accurate that is," said Allen.

"It looked exactly like this," said Nantz as he was getting ready to roll underneath it. Grant and Allen rolled their eyes as Shark peered through the vent on the floor. Nantz timed his rolls and made it through. The other three waited patiently outside the door. Suddenly, there was a creaking, metallic sound. The door opened with Nantz standing in the doorway. "Welcome to the Rock," said Nantz with a Sean Connery imitation. The other three clapped softly as they entered through the doorway.

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The venture to Peru took just as long as the venture to Alcatraz. One hour. It gave the second group only and hour to prepare for their mission. Hawke, Crost, and Ackerman had not been to Peru before and this would be a first time experience for them. Unfortunately, the weather reports indicated that the weather in Peru was a tropical rain storm. Although it would be pouring down rain, it would be good cover for the three. It would make it muddy and difficult, but they had had training for this kind of thing and would get through it one way or another. It would be easiest for Crost, being a cyborg. Crost very much enjoyed having a massive upgrade during the final days of Nightfall, but in order to fit in with society he would need to downgrade and have human features. After all, he used to be a human. The only thing human is his mind, which is a computer chip. His likeness is also human.