Page 139 of Clive Cussler's Quantum Tempest

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Aboard theBaktun

Dr.Bose stood at the observation window, her eyes fixed on the Neural Reef crowded inside the holding tank. The biometric readouts indicated perfect metabolic stats across the board. Every node of the structure was now fully illuminated and no longer pulsating.

According to the clock, there were still five minutes to go.

What did that mean? Was something wrong?

A dozen anxious faces stared up at her from the laboratory floor.

Bose could scarcely breathe.

A digital panel suspended above the tank flashed on. Single letters forming Hindi words in elegantly structured Devanagari script began appearing.

Tears flowed from the Indian’s handsome face as she whispered the words aloud.

“Namaste, Dr.Bose.”

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Inside theBaktun’s combat information center

“Director Peng’s helicopter will be landing in three minutes, Captain,” the radar officer reported.

“Thank you.” Stokes dreaded Peng’s arrival. The Chinese were never part of his deal with Fierro.

“Sir, Dr.Bose on line one for you,” the comms tech said.

Fierro frowned anxiously. “Is there a problem?”

“How should I know?” Stokes turned to the comms tech. “Put her through.” Stokes pulled an intercom receiver and held it to his ear.

Fierro strained to hear the conversation on the other end of the line. He marched over to Stokes just as he hung up the phone.

“What did she say?”

“Congratulations, Mr.Fierro. Project Q is alive and well.”

Fierro clasped Stokes’s shoulders in his hands and shook him with a near-maniacal laugh.

“Fantastico!”

The CIC crew cheered.

Even the stoic captain couldn’t help but smile. But he wasn’t happy for Fierro. His mind was already forming a battle plan to take on the Americans. He told his helmsman, “Prepare the plasma wave engine immediately.”

“Aye, sir.”

“And I want all systems online, including weapons.”

His crew acknowledged his commands and got to work.

“Our Chinese partners will be pleased,” Fierro said.

Fierro’s words darkened Stokes’s weathered face. “And that’s acceptable to you?”

“Don’t be so glum, Stokes. No need to worry about Peng. Our arrangement still stands. I can still take down the American energy grid, and you’ll still be a rich man.”