Aquaria: The Lost Fleet

X: The Journey

Hensley sat at the conference table in the war room of the Black Death. Graham stood by the window of the captain's deck, next to a fireplace. The fire in the hearth was burning hot. Graham began. "So not only did the girl escape, but so did Paul Wake."

"I'm sorry sir", Hensley grovelled. "We had no idea there was a strike team coming to get Paul Wake. I doubt even he knew. There was no way. There also had to have been someone else on the ship. Some sort of stow away. We couldn't have planned for it."

Graham rubbed the bridge of his nose and sighed. There's no doubt in my mind that Paul led us the wrong way. There's no point in continuing down this route. Has there been any success in locating that recon boat?"

"No sir." Hensley swallowed a lump in his throat. "The vessel they are using is using some sort of advanced grade encryption. Any pings of ours are scattered. We have no idea where they are. The must have fled to another ship nearby. We can sink all of them if necessary sir we have the men and force required if you so ordered."

"No", Graham said. "There's something we are missing. There's something Wake found in the notes that we've all missed." Graham picked up the scrapbook that he kept on his desk and tossed it into the fireplace. "I won't be needing that anymore. There's something Wake knows that we don't. I've skimmed through the notes numerous times, and I've never been able to find the exact location. His damn father was too damn cryptic. He thought I couldn't handle the responsibilities of having the fleet to myself. Damned Kiefer Wake."

Graham looked back to Hensley and Hensley shuddered. "Lead a strike team to find Paul Wake. The Black Death will continue searching for the fleet. Bring me any belongings Paul Wake had on him when he was put into our cells."

"He didn't have anything aside from the clothes on his back and this ring", Hensley said, putting Paul's ring onto the conference table.

Graham took a look at it. "Did Wake note anything about what the inscription meant?"

Hensley spoke with caution. "He said it was his mother's birthday. July 31."

Graham chuckled. "Kiefer Wake found one last way to fool me, didn't he. I knew Suzannah Marlowe just as well as Kiefer did. This wasn't her birthday. -7/31 are the coordinates. Kiefer Wake you son of a bitch. If only he were still alive to thank him."

Graham rushed over to the map and began to shuffle through papers. "We've only been off a couple of degrees Hensley", Graham said ecstatically.

Hensley had never seen his captain so excited. "Well you've done it sir! You've cracked the code. The fleet will be within your grasp in mere days!"

Graham's smile faded. "We know where Paul Wake is heading now. You will find him and you will kill that man before he gets to the fleet."

"Aye aye", Hensley said, getting up and saluting his captain. "I'll take three crews and three of our own recon boats and we will catch them. They'll all be dead sir." Hensley began to make his way to the exit of the war room.

"Officer Hensley", Graham said calmly. Hensley turned around, attentive to his captain. Graham took a deep breath. "Don't fail me again."

"I won't sir. My redemption begins now. The fleet will be yours and Paul Wake will be destroyed."

They had been on course for the African waters of the east Atlantic for three weeks now. There hadn't been a single sign of Graham or the Black Death for the entire journey so far. Paul was tired, he hadn't had more than three hours of sleep a day since he escaped the Black Death with Jasmyne and Daniel. While his small crew was an immense help he knew that he was the one putting everyone in danger with this expedition. Paul and Crue had little experience sailing these waters and there could be dangers at any point. The fear of pirates and storms were always on Paul's mind. Of course, there was also the danger of Graham and his ship. But Paul was beginning to feel comfortable that he was able to lead Graham into the wrong direction. But they couldn't afford to get too comfortable. The recon vessel ran the entire time and there always had to be someone to man the helm.