Chapter 18 - The Red Protocol
The warning klaxons throughout Platform Tartarus suddenly shrieked into life, bathed in rotating amber lights.
A mechanized automated voice echoed through the metal corridors: *"Red Protocol Initiated. Platform Tartarus scuttle sequence commenced. Total structural scuttling in T-minus ten minutes. All personnel proceed to primary evacuation locks."*
"He's sinking the entire facility," Claire gasped, grabbing Daniel’s arm. "Hayes knows if he can’t extract the funds cleanly, he has to destroy every piece of evidence linking Mercer Global to the offshore cartel. Everyone down here—the researchers, the data, me—we're all meant to drown."
"Where are the evacuation pods?" Daniel asked, his tactical mind cutting through the rising panic.
"The primary escape submarine is locked down by Hayes's override," Claire said, pulling Lily into her arms and leading Daniel down a narrow maintenance catwalk. "There’s only one prototype hyperbaric life pod left in the sub-level laboratory. But it only has two functional atmospheric suits."
Daniel stopped in his tracks.
The weight of her words settled into the cold corridor. Two suits.
Claire turned to him, tears streaming down her pale cheeks. "No, Daniel. Don't look at me like that. We find another way. We all get out!"
"Claire, look at me," Daniel commanded, holding her tear-streaked face in his calloused hands. "Listen to the alarms. The lower levels are already flooding. You and Lily are getting into that pod."
"I am not leaving you behind again!" Claire sobbed, clinging to his chest. "I spent a year living in this hell just to see your face one more time!"
Heavy boots echoed from the upper deck. Armed mercenaries were descending the maintenance spiral stairs, firing indiscriminately at the fleeing lab technicians.
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"They're coming," Daniel said calmly. He pulled the MPX submachine gun from his shoulder, checked the final magazine, and loaded a round into the chamber. "You built this platform, Claire. Launch that pod. Get our daughter to the surface. I'll buy you the time."
***
