Chapter 64 - The Admiralty Broadcast
The subterranean corridors beneath the Vance manor smelled of damp limestone, vintage oil, and decades of industrial secrets. As we moved rapidly through the narrow passageway, the tactical radio on Lord William’s chest sputtered to life with frantic British voices.
"Command, we have multiple federal gunboats deploying along the Cumberland River! Repeat, Department of Homeland Security and Maritime Enforcement vessels are intercepting our extraction tugs at Pier 14!"
Lord William stumbled against the rough stone wall, breathing heavily, his face turning pale. "Hold your positions! Secure the perimeter and retrieve the asset!" he barked into the transmitter.
"They can't hold anything, William," I said, displaying the glowing display of my tablet as we reached the reinforced vault doors of the tunnel terminal. "Look at the global tickers."
On the encrypted financial terminal screen, the news was spreading like wildfire. The transmission had broken through international embargoes. Financial alerts across London, New York, and Singapore were flashing crimson:
*BREAKING: STERLING MARITIME GROUP ASSETS FROZEN PENDING INTERNATIONAL MARITIME TRIBUNAL INVESTIGATION. ADMIRALTY BOARD ACCUSED OF ILLICIT ARMS LOGISTICS AND COVERT SOVEREIGN ACQUISITIONS.*
"You ruined three centuries of family heritage in ten keystrokes," Lord William hissed, venom dripping from every syllable. "Do you have any comprehension of the forces you have awakened? The Sterling group wasn't just a shipping company; it was the financial backbone for five major European defense consortia!"
"It was a syndicate built on stolen blood and extortion," David retorted, his shotgun leveled steadily at William's spine. "And my father used Vance Logistics as a shield to keep your poison out of this country."
Footsteps pounded down the stone staircase behind us. The mercenaries were descending rapidly, night-vision goggles glowing green in the darkness of the subterranean tunnel.
"They're on our tail, David!" I yelled, pulling the lever to the industrial pressure gate that separated the manor’s basement from the rail line tunnels. "The gate takes thirty seconds to seal!"
May you like
"Take William and get inside the vault, Sarah!" David ordered, stepping backward into the choke point, raising his weapon toward the staircase. "I'll hold the corridor!"
---
