The Lotus Eaters

SdL Megalodon, Shimmering Sea

Now that I heard, thought Auletti. "Captain Chu, the Amethyst Class is flooding tubes. Location on screen now."

Chu hadn't taken his eyes from the screen lately. He saw the Gallic submarine reappear as his target "Five" (because Meg, being under the layer, didn't have as clear a picture of the surface as Orca did.

"This shit has just gotten way too serious," was Chu's pronouncement. "Quijana," he whispered, "I think we've already proved our point. You can turn around and go home any time now."

Auletti said, "Sir, the Orca's stopped . . . or maybe just turned off its clicker. I think they must have heard the tubes being flooded."

Chu shook his head. "No, they didn't turn off their clicker. Quijana's the literal sort. His orders were to use his clicker continuously while moving under power. He'll do that right up to the point where it means self destruction . . . and maybe past that point. Maybe he'll be clever and stop for a bit.

"Continue on course for the Gallic battle group."