The Atlantis Stone

CHAPTER 31

Stephanie ran a satellite scan of the ocean floor, using Selena's ideas about where to look. Near the Azores, she found regular shapes on the seabed that might be ruins. Whether or not they were the remains of Atlantis remained to be seen, but they were in the right place.

Everyone met in the ops center beneath Elizabeth's office to plan the mission.

"Selena's friend is a civilian," Elizabeth said. "His clearance checks out and he was a SEAL, so that makes it easier. However, I don't want him to know what we're really doing. If he does find out, we'll deal with it then. Do your best to conceal your real objective."

"Jeff won't be easy to fool," Selena said. "He's experienced and intelligent. When we find those ruins he's going to start asking a lot of questions. It won't take him long to put it together. I think you should count on him discovering it's Atlantis."

"I can live with that. The secrecy agreement will forbid him from releasing information about what you discover without permission. But I don't want him to know there's more to it."

"That shouldn't be too difficult."

"You said that he has an ROV on board?" Elizabeth asked.

"Yes. The first thing to do is send it down and get some pictures. Scout the area. We can plan the dive after that."

"I don't want his people diving on the ruins. Selena, you're the only one I want going down there. If…" She stopped. "What?"

"I won't dive alone. It's suicide if it's deep. Someone has to be with me."

"That's easy," Lamont said. "I'll go with you."

"You can't go," Nick said. "Your lungs are shot up."

"Still breathing, aren't I? As long as I have good gear and use a little caution, it won't be a problem."

"When did you ever use caution?"

"Whenever you didn't. Means I've had plenty of practice."

Ronnie laughed out loud.

Elizabeth was concerned. "Lamont, are you sure you can handle this? It hasn't been that long since you were in the hospital."

"I'm fine, Director. It's the only practical solution if you don't want some civilian going down there with her."

"If there has to be someone with me, I'd rather it was Lamont," Selena said. "I can trust him. We've been down together before."

"I'll think about it," Elizabeth said.

"What's our primary objective?" Nick asked.

"To find the archive Sokolov mentioned in his letter. Even better, find the stone they used to put this mysterious energy to work."

"We're talking about a ruined city that disappeared thousands of years ago. It's going to be covered with silt. The chances of finding either one are about zero."

"We still have to look."

"What about the Russians?" Selena said.

"What about them?"

"My computer was in our room. Everything was on it. If they found it, they know as much as we do."

"There isn't anything we can do about it if they did. It means you have to stay alert out there. Treat it as a high risk mission."

"If they have Selena's computer, they'll show up on site," Nick said.

"It's possible."

"What are the rules of engagement if they do?"

"Stay out of their way if you can."

"And if we can't?"

"Do what you have to do," Elizabeth said, "but don't get caught doing it."