The Eastern Seaboard, January 7th, 1997
> CORPORATION: CLASSIFIED
> Commanding Officer: CLASSIFIED
> LOCATION: Eastern Seaboard
> TIME: 22:54 hrs
> 'Operation Deep Water'
'Onyx'
ZUBR-class Hovercraft
The following field report was originally uploaded by the organization LEMONTREE, an unaffiliated international hacker group associated with the free press states of Modernia. By downloading or viewing this file, you are violating the national OCEANIC SOCIALIST Charter Article 51, subsection 501 under 'attempts at undermining the orthodoxy of the party'. Please stay at your computer while the appropriate authorities are notified.
> LOGIN: USER CORPORATE ADMIN
The expected storms and the resultant rain fell in endless sheets and tossed the Zubr-class Hovercraft Onyx over the waves like a toy in a bathtub. Except the bathtub was the Eastern Sea, and the toy was a trillion dollar hover-transport belonging to CLASSIFIED Corporation. The polymer curtain beneath the steel frame holding in millions of pounds of titanically pressurized air was holding strong, even under the stress of the waves. The enormous propellors at the stern of the vessel continued thumping along, and the captain saw no reason to abort the mission.
Captain Johann Wix monitored the instrument panels as another wave crested on the starboard side, racing towards the craft. The large octagonal shaped command room was nested in the highest deck of the ship, forward leaning windows giving an imposing view of the forward fighting platforms and the restless sea outside. Enormous greyish-blue waves washed over the decks, leaving foaming white froth and little else-but the ship was airtight and state of the art. Captain Wix had little fear of floundering in such a gale. As long as he could maintain the time table, Corporate Command would be happy. But the storm, although expected was slowing them down more than he had considered, forcing Wix to push the engines harder than usual.
Captain Wix judged the distance between his ship and the rapidly approaching wave, estimating that the Onyx would clear the wave without having to turn into it. Turning into every wave was costing them precious time, and time was money. The lives of his crew (and his own) paled in comparison to the potential billions of dollars in protype equipment carried in the Onyx's hold; Operation Deep Water would continue. As a loyal Corporate Commander, Wix would put the Companies interests before his own-or his crews.
An alarm began sounding on a sub-panel. The flashing red icon mixed with the pale green glow of the other instruments, casting splotches of purple across Johann's weathered face. His brow tensed further as he leaned into the panel for a better look.
"Alarms sounding in Hull Compartment B through C!" he shouted to his first mate. "Clive, drift power from the Aft engines as we get across this next wave. That should ease the pressure on..."
An explosion rocked the ship dumping Captain Wix from his Command Chair. Dozens of alarms began blaring and the captain rolled across the deck. Shouting commands before he was even standing, Wix gained his feet and stared in horror out of the front view port. The sea was opening it's frothy mouth, swallowing the ship as the trillion dollar Onyx went bow first into the depths below...
Captain Johann Wix monitored the instrument panels as another wave crested on the starboard side, racing towards the craft. The large octagonal shaped command room was nested in the highest deck of the ship, forward leaning windows giving an imposing view of the forward fighting platforms and the restless sea outside. Enormous greyish-blue waves washed over the decks, leaving foaming white froth and little else-but the ship was airtight and state of the art. Captain Wix had little fear of floundering in such a gale. As long as he could maintain the time table, Corporate Command would be happy. But the storm, although expected was slowing them down more than he had considered, forcing Wix to push the engines harder than usual.
Captain Wix judged the distance between his ship and the rapidly approaching wave, estimating that the Onyx would clear the wave without having to turn into it. Turning into every wave was costing them precious time, and time was money. The lives of his crew (and his own) paled in comparison to the potential billions of dollars in protype equipment carried in the Onyx's hold; Operation Deep Water would continue. As a loyal Corporate Commander, Wix would put the Companies interests before his own-or his crews.
An alarm began sounding on a sub-panel. The flashing red icon mixed with the pale green glow of the other instruments, casting splotches of purple across Johann's weathered face. His brow tensed further as he leaned into the panel for a better look.
"Alarms sounding in Hull Compartment B through C!" he shouted to his first mate. "Clive, drift power from the Aft engines as we get across this next wave. That should ease the pressure on..."
An explosion rocked the ship dumping Captain Wix from his Command Chair. Dozens of alarms began blaring and the captain rolled across the deck. Shouting commands before he was even standing, Wix gained his feet and stared in horror out of the front view port. The sea was opening it's frothy mouth, swallowing the ship as the trillion dollar Onyx went bow first into the depths below...