The Atlanteans?
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- Major, we've landed! - said the pilot's mate as he approached me.
- I noticed... Are we being greeted yet? - I asked, sensing people near the plane, and there were quite a few people.
- The General has announced our arrival, so you should be greeted appropriately," he reported to me.
- Then let's go, no need to keep people waiting," I said, moving towards the exit. I didn't need a special descent or anything like that. Still, I can jump a few hundred metres without straining, let alone a hundred times less.
Opening the door, I immediately jumped through it, landing calmly on the road with the help of wind magic. This time I was wearing a new uniform, already with my squad's emblem. And something tells me I'll be wearing it a lot from now on. It's durable, stylish, and most importantly, I have about sixty of these suits. And it looks more like an official uniform than a field uniform. It looks more like a police uniform than a military one.
- Major Kent, welcome. - I was immediately approached by a military officer, also a Major, judging by the epaulettes.
- And you are? - I looked at him with a hint.
- Major Brad Miller, - he introduced himself calmly.
- Nice to meet you, Major Miller," I extended my hand to him, which he shook confidently. After that, we moved forward with him and a few other soldiers.
- You probably already know the nature of your task here. And I was sent to help you in this endeavour. We had not originally planned to use the help of your squad, but circumstances and the facts we discovered forced us to do so," he said calmly.
- I'm sure the circumstances are not simple, since I was sent here," I said. Although I was not sent here specifically, but rather any member of the squad. But if I have guessed the reasons for the missing ships, I may not be enough.
- Yes, Major, you are right. The circumstances are quite mysterious. Initially we thought that pirates or smugglers could be to blame for the missing ships, but the last incident was too massive for them, and we have a witness, - at this point my interlocutor hesitated a bit, - But we are not sure about him. Maybe he's gone mad after what happened, or maybe we just don't understand everything, so you'd better talk to him yourself.
- Hmm, if you say so, I'll interrogate him myself. He's at the base, isn't he? - I asked, thinking for a moment. I'll need to look into the last incident that was 'too massive' and interview the survivor.
- Yes, of course. We're on our way to see him. Plus, they'll bring you all the information we have there," he said, quickening his pace a little. Great...
After a couple of turns we entered some office, where there were two more soldiers guarding another door, as well as a guy in office clothes with a laptop.
- Major Miller! Major Kent! - The guy with the laptop ran up to us sharply and saluted.
- "Shh, Jamie, there's no need to shout like that," said the Major, frowning a little and glancing irritably in the guy's direction, "Did you bring 'that' information for Major Kent?
- That's right, Major Miller. All the information is in the laptop," he said, handing me the laptop.
- Then I'll go and talk to the witness and familiarise myself with the information at the same time," I said, moving towards the office, which was guarded by soldiers.
- Of course, Major Kent, we won't disturb you," he said calmly, "discreetly" signalling to the soldiers at the post to let me through.
I walked quietly into the office and looked around. It was an ordinary room, with a bed, a desk, and a couple of bookshelves. On the bed was a rather old man, who didn't look like a lunatic at all. In spite of his advanced age, he was quite fit and tidy, and his eyes were clearly intelligent, not insane.
- Hello," I greeted him calmly, taking my mind off my reading.
- Oh, Major Argent. Greetings," he said, setting his book aside and getting up from the bed carefully.
- You understand why I'm here, don't you? - I asked him calmly, still standing at the entrance.
- Of course I understand perfectly well. The authorities must have listened to common sense and my words to send you here. Please, have a seat," he said, and sat down at the table. I followed the invitation and sat down across from him, immediately switching on my laptop.
- I'd like you to start your story from the beginning, mentioning all the details," I said calmly, opening the file with information.
- Well, basically, it was a very ordinary day. Frank, a friend of mine, and I went fishing after work. We had some connections at the harbour, so we were taken along to a rather famous event for the local fishermen. On days like this, there are usually several ships out to sea to fish and drink with friends," the man began his story, in rather sad tones. Since he is the only survivor, he lost his friends in that situation, so I understand him.
In the meantime, I started to familiarise myself with the information. The disappearances started two months ago with a small fishing boat. Gradually the scale grew. First one ship was reported missing, then another. Recently, even several ships started to disappear at once. And they usually disappeared on rather foggy days. However, according to other fishermen, at first there was no fog, but after sending several ships to the sea, it sometimes increased, which immediately began to be associated with mysticism.
- And everything was going as we intended, until one moment. About four hours after the start, a fog came in sharply, which immediately frightened us. We had heard fishermen's tales about ships disappearing during fog, so the captain of our ship immediately decided to return to port. And then the main thing began," the man's breathing quickened a little, and there was fear in his eyes.
And I read about this latest incident, with seven ships missing at once. And several of them were carrying important people. There's the sudden fog again, only now there's something strange. The ships were not missing, but were destroyed by something, and fragments of several of them were found near the shore.
- Huge fish that came from the underworld of the sea itself. And on them themselves sat riders, but they were not men. Fearsome fishmen in strange armour. Initially, they started doing something that caused our ships' engines to fail. I thought we were going to wait in fear for their actions after they finished their strange actions, but then a huge wave of water hit them. And after that... the fish went wild... they ate everything, ships, people... I remember only blood and fear," said the man with something unpleasant in his eyes, who was shaking a little. now I understand why the Major thought he was a little crazy. This man should see a psychologist. However, I'm sure he's not completely delusional.
These are definitely Atlanteans. And most likely they tried to use magic to get the ships somewhere, but someone interrupted them... Who could it be? I can only think of one possible person. Aquaman.
Apparently he's also fighting against them. That means he's on my side, and he's definitely alive. That's good. But what do I do about the Atlanteans?
I obviously need to catch them, but how exactly do I do that? That's the question...
- I understand," I said calmly to the man, using a little magic to calm him down, "the Argent Squad will deal with them, destroying them completely. We will find them, no matter what it costs us!
In the man's eyes I saw a faint gratitude. He was grateful for the very fact that I would try. I'm sure even if I fail, he won't blame me. However, if I do succeed, everyone will be better off. And that's why I have to act.
- I'll see you later," I said quietly, walking quickly out of the office. I'll need to ask Major Miller a few more questions.
- Did you interrogate him? - The Major asked me himself.
- Yes, and came to an unequivocal decision. However, I need to clarify some information," I said.
- Ask, I'm ready to answer everything, if it will help you! - Miller answered readily.
- You have already understood the approximate radius of the missing ships, so you have certainly been there more than once on warships, right? - I asked him a rather important question.
- Yes, but we've never been attacked, apparently choosing not to face the military," he said.
- Yeah, okay. Then I need a ship, preferably a fishing boat," I said.
- We'll get you a ship, but what about a crew? You'll need at least two more men. And don't worry, we can find someone to go with you," he said readily.
- No need, I have a team," I told him, and just smiled in response to a puzzled look, "Assassin, how many people do we have in San Francisco?
- Counting me, only six," Hassan appeared behind me and gave a little scare to everyone around him. But the Argent emblem on his clothes said he was with me.
- Good. So first, we'll go out to sea and try to lure our target. But if we don't, we'll have to be more aggressive," I said, not really believing that I'd be able to lure them away. But it's worth a try.
- Then our driver will take you to the harbour," Miller said, signalling to Jamie, who immediately started making calls.
I walked with the Major to the exit of the base, where a car was waiting for me. Hassan went to collect the others in the city, but I ordered him to take only three, that is, counting him there would be four of them. Two will be left in the city just in case.
We got to the harbour pretty quickly, and we were immediately led to the right ship. It was an old fishing vessel, not very distinguished from the others, just what we needed.
And luckily, the Hassans knew how to run it. I think they can do anything. Still, their call is a great salvation for me.
So we set out to sea, to the very place where ships were most often lost. But, as I thought, after drifting there for a few hours, we met nothing unusual. And so, six hours after we left, I decided to take a more active role.
- Stay here for now. If anything happens, report to me at once," I said quickly, jumping overboard and using the magic of the water to go deeper.
Would I find anything interesting nearby? There was a reason why all the attacks were happening nearby.....
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