The Invenios Expeditions | Chapter 3 - The Truth

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Join us at patreon.com slash Leviathan Chronicles to hear episodes ad free, unlock exclusive content and dive deeper into the Leviathan universe. We thank you for supporting us and making the Inveneos Expeditions possible. The Inveneos Expeditions. A Leviathan Chronicles story. Chapter 3. The Truth. Alright. Now who the hell are you and what happened to the Veloscora? Like I said, we had a saboteur. Someone caused an explosion on the ship. Who was that? I don't know. You don't know who? No, I don't know why. I'm confused. Me too. We found some other bodies on board. Some were burnt, but others sustained injuries. Not caused by fire. Look, it doesn't matter. We just need to get back and launch a recovery expedition. Recovery? It might help if you told us what you want to recover. Or why? Yeah, I'm sorry, but we're not going to do that. Why not? We're on a schedule to get my ship. Look Captain Tully, I did it. Just Tully is fine. Tell me your price Tully. I can't express how important this is. I said no. Why the hell not? Because I don't want the Inveneos to end up like the Veloscora. And you're the one thing that they have in common. I know what you're thinking. Actually, I was thinking of going upstairs to the bridge to jump on Channel 16 and report a capsized vessel to the North Atlantic Marine Agency. Don't. But something tells me you wouldn't want me to do that. Don't do that. Then start by telling me your name. My name is Samantha Kell. Hi Samantha. That's a good start. Now tell us exactly what happened to the Veloscora. Look, it's hard. There was a detonation. You could say that again. What were you transporting that detonated? I can't tell you that. I swear it's for your own protection. What do you mean protection? Is that why you didn't send a distress signal? Hey, it's okay. Let's just let Samantha talk. Okay, look, I understand how this looks. I do. I'm aware that you all risked your lives to save mine. I need your help. This ship can help me. The Inveneos. What are the specifications of the Inveneos? Are you asking to see the blueprints? No, but I've never seen a tri-hole this size before. What does your boat do? Why don't you tell me about your boat? What the hell were you guys doing out there? It's complicated. Shipwrecks often are. Okay, I'm done playing games. I'm going to the bridge and calling to see if you're with me. Okay. Stop. I'm going to give you one last chance. What were you doing out here? We were trying to save the planet. What? Did you say save the planet? Save from what? No, I can't. Look, you're not the first strange woman to come on my boat and offer me money for a bad idea. This needs a lot more explaining. Look, I'm sorry. I will. I swear. But first, just tell me what's the maximum operating depth on your sub. I thought I saw a loading bay. Can it clear 3,000 meters? Hey, hey, slow down. I told you, I can't. Slow down. Just tell me what- First, tell me why you need a submersible. Look, I'm sorry. I can't tell you everything that you want to know. Come on. What? There's someone still alive from the Veloscora. Someone I- I care about a lot. They're still alive. They're trapped in a sub near where the Veloscora went down. How do you know they're still alive? I just know. Then we should send out an SLS signal and contact the Marine Authority. No! No, we can't. I just- I just need you to help me rescue my friend. I can pay more than you can imagine. I can pay, but I am running out of time. I just need access to a mini-sub, one that's rated for deep expeditions. That's a problem because we don't have a mini-sub. What? I- I thought you said that- We're on our way to Ponte Delgada in the Azores to pick up our sub and our submersible pilot. How long until we get there? Another 20 hours? 14 if we use the Trident Drive. What's the Trident Drive? But you still haven't told us what happened to your ship. I gotta tell you, I'm not a huge fan of using my equipment to help people. I don't know who aren't being straight with me. Well, technically you did that back in Alaska. I'm looking back at the flight log for the Seahawk. The census were picking up traces of radioactivity. I've seen readings like this in a Navy when nuclear subs dispose of uranium rods. You were dumping toxic waste in the ocean? No! How much were they paying you to do that? No wonder you got so much money. No! It's not what you think. We weren't dumping toxic waste. Well then why don't you tell us what you were doing? We weren't dumping toxic waste. We were stealing it. Tell us more. Now! Or so help me God. I'm going to the bridge and reporting a maritime disaster. Okay! I'll tell you what happened on the Veloscora. Samantha stared out the green tinted glass of the Inveneos and thought back on the recent events in her life. That's quite a story. The de Havilland twin otter seaplane buzzed over the jade green expanse of the Java Sea. These twin engines echoed off the sheer limestone cliffs that encrusted Celestus, a fron covered oval island that lay beneath the plane. Cradled in the center of the island's heart was a deep cobalt lagoon, a stark aquatic abyss that reflected the location of Celestus at the entrance to a blue home. Miss Kel, I'm going to ask you to buckle your seatbelt. This landing is always a little tight. Samantha Kel watched the plane's left wing dip low and dropped to 400 feet to line up with an opening in the island's cliff wall. Celestus control, this is twin otter tango echo, inbound for Cyclopski. Over. Tango echo, you are cleared for gate entry. The advisor ventrin's winds at 075 and 6 knots. The pilot rested his hand on the landing flaps as the seaplane flew low and parallel to the ocean's surface. Okay, hold your breath now. How is he this part? The plane entered the shallow tunnel on the island's south side with only a few feet of clearance on each wingtip. The passageway continued until the plane found the open sky of the island's interior and after slaring its wings, put down in the island's central lagoon where a metallic dock was extended, along with uniformed staff to receive the incoming plane. Good afternoon Miss Kel, I trust your flight was well. Yeah, except for the barnstorm landing. May I take your bag, madam? No, no. You all hold on to it. Mr. Saffield is waiting for you at the far dock. Excellent. Thanks. Samantha neared the dock's end. A man waited there, lean and still. He wore an Indonesian batik sarong with a white linen shirt that set off his sun-bronst skin. Naras? Samantha. You mind telling me why we need a shoehorn to land a plane here? You're a billionaire. Can't you build a better runway? Through the wisdom of nature, we were given the most perfect island to preclude unwanted gazes. Celestus was formed exquisitely. Who would I be to go against nature? You look well. As do you. Thank you for coming, Samantha. I know we had you on assignment. Well, you said to come as fast as I could. I figured the assignment can wait. I'm glad I can always count on you, Samantha. Whatever the cost, Naras. Whatever the cost. Walk with me. Of course. May I offer you a sunfruit? Sunfruit? It's a GMO that was grown from a genetic co-designed by Mira, high in antioxidants and daily allowances of vitamins A, C and D. Mmm. That's sweet, but, uh, how's the little tang? Sunfruit have been engineered to thrive on uric acid. Piss. We designed the plant to take advantage of all possible water sources and drought conditions. You could have told me that before feeding me piss fruit. Sunfruit, Samantha. You've had the laboratories working overtime. Time is precisely the issue. Okay, you're being mysterious, and that doesn't sit well with me. Tell me what's going on, Naras. It's...it's easier if I explain it to you in the research center. Lead the way. Besides, I told Mira you were coming and she'd like to say hello. She's a program. She doesn't miss people, Naras. Mira's the most powerful predictive algorithmic model the world has ever known. Smart doesn't mean feelings. Too true. Ah, let's take the scenic route this way. This sapphiel gestured towards a small pathway leading up to the limestone cliffs of Celestus that overlooked the Pacific Ocean. Distant white caps punctuated the endless expanse of sapphire laid out before them. This is one of my most treasured places to think on, Celestus. Ugh, it's a shame only rich guys like you get to enjoy it, but I can see why you never leave the island. Ugh, you can just feel the vastness of the ocean. I can't dig it so much water. Only it were drinkable. What if I told you it could be? Samantha turned and saw that Naras was not looking at her, but rather staring distantly at the azure horizon. That's what this is about? I'd like to show you something. Something we've modeled. It's called the Salonix converter. Decellination? On a scale never seen. It has the ability to strip both sodium and chloride out of the seawater at one thousandth the energy cost. Where is it? I'll show it to you in the research lab. Come on. Naras guided Samantha down another path to a sleek glass and steel building that was cantilevered over the central lagoon. Clearance. Saffron. Naras. Verified. Access granted. This way, my office will be private. Samantha followed Naras along a corridor framed by a lush living wall of tropical flora that sloped downward in a gentle spiral. The pair stood before the security doors to Naras' private office. It was a place of clean lines and a testament to precision and order in Naras' mind. Oh, this window looks out onto the blue hole? From here, you can still look up and see the surface of the lagoon, but look down. Down into the abyss. All the unknown. Would you like to see the Salonix converter? You didn't bring me all the way from New York to look at fish. No, no I didn't. Naras turned and strode to his office's left wall below a painting of a purple chrysanthemum was a glass cube containing a detailed scaled model of an oil tanker. Within its hull were two pentagonal structures connected by a sphere. Behold the Salonix. Oh wait, Naras, is this the desalination plant? Not a plant. A fully mobile water purification platform. Over 100,000 cubic meters of water per day. And since it's mobile, you can more easily reach communities affected by rising sea levels. You're going where the water is. Or where it isn't. Wow, it's so much smaller than I thought it could be. Engineered to be transported in cargo holes, did you know there are over 7,000 oil tankers in active use around the world's oceans today? Can you imagine the power of a fleet with even half of them outfitted with the Salonix? These ships could provide a stable source of drinking water, re-establish wetlands and alleviate drought conditions. Maybe all your money can save the planet. It's just a marvel of engineering. It uses a cascade laser fired through a medium of isotopic gas to create radiation so calibrated that it disperses the sodium ions from seawater. You and Dominique are the experts when it comes to lasers and all this engineering, but it turns saltwater into fresh, right? And in vast quantities. How did you design this? With a great deal of help from Mira. In fact, let's not keep awaiting. Hello, Mira. Hello, Dr. Saffield. I brought a friend with me that I think you know. I believe you remember Ms. Samantha Kell. Of course. It's been three years, two months and nine days since our last interaction. Hello, Samantha. Welcome to Celestis. Hi, Mira. Mira, Samantha is going to help us on the special project we've been working on. Nice to see you again, Samantha. We are living in a bubble, Sam. You live on a private island. The bubble is an understatement. The world believes the changes in our ecosphere will be linear, but they'll be exponential. They just don't see it yet. Well, I take some comfort that according to Mira's projections, we still have another 40 years before we all have to start eating piss fruit. Sam, there's something I need to share with you. It's bad news, isn't it? Mira, can you bring up the latest global ecological models and explain to Samantha what we've discovered? Of course. Based on the most recent data collected from Evitera satellites, we've modeled a significant increase in carbon emissions from developing countries tied to escalating industrial activities and deforestation as economic disparity accelerates. Carbon dioxide is projected to increase by 60 percent and methane by 35 percent within the next 25 years. This accumulation in the lower atmosphere will elevate global mean surface temperature by approximately five degrees Celsius, instigating widespread coastal flooding. Mira, this is... Increased pollution and climate change will escalate biodiversity loss, pushing an estimated 30 percent of global species toward potential extinction. This... Do you have any further questions, Samantha? So, what does this mean? When does G-POP occur? Based on the updated Evitera predictive model, geo-ecological political collapse will occur in 25 years, one month, and 13 days. Mira, your modeling predicted G-POP in the sixth decade this century. This doesn't track. Tracking or predictive modeling is my specialty, Samantha. There's not enough time. This can't be right. The calculations are faulty, the data. Mira must have misinterpreted it. Have you ever known Mira to be wrong? But... Mira has... Has the quantum heart of her brain been incorrect in any of her predictions? Whether they be coffee prices in Uganda or sea levels in the Philippines, Mira is the deepest predictive algorithm in the world and I designed her specifically to predict the weather. How the hell can this happen? When the environmental collapse occurs, it will beget a worldwide political crisis, which will ultimately lead to widespread societal collapse. Evitera will fill that gap and restore order in peace. We'll provide the bridge to a new global environment dedicated to managing our planet's resources. I'm not questioning our mission. I'm questioning how a timetable to the environmental collapse of our planet got moved up by 50%. Two missiles, both larger than any known ICBM, fired from unknown locations on opposite sides of the world and subsequently avoided almost all known detection methods before detonating in high orbit above the Earth. A shining beacon illuminating the dawning conclusion that not only are the world's governments not in control, but rather unseen forces are at work towards a hidden agenda we know nothing of. What does any of that have to do with the environment or Mira's predictions? It changed the math, Samantha. Significantly, if democratic populations lose faith in the governments, then those governments will devote their resources towards maintaining the political status quo, not towards addressing the ecological disaster rushing towards them. Climate change will worsen due to inaction. Look at the current situation. There's restrictions at most borders. Trade is slowing. Uncertainty is growing. So what now? We have to act, Samantha, and we have to act quickly. This is why you called me here. Mira, would you please bring up the schematics for the Salinix converter? Of course, Doctor. I've brought up the schematics on monitor two. This is why I brought you here. I'm not an engineer. You're a fixer, Samantha. And right now there's something I need you to fix. What's that? Look here. The engine that drives the Salinix is a quantum cascade laser. It has to be energized by a very rare form of radioactive decay. According to Mira's modeling, there's only one element that could generate the necessary field. A rare isotope, plutonium 287 or PX. I take it you can't just order it on Amazon. Unfortunately not. It was only synthesized once at a secret government facility in 1947. Roswell? After a lethal accident, the PX isotopes were deemed so unstable that a military decision was made to get them off US soil as soon as possible. Because the isotope is more stable at pressure, it was buried in a deep trench in the North Atlantic. Here. And you want Avetara to steal it? Earlier you see the irony that we'll be using the most toxic substance ever created to provide fresh water to millions. Jesus, Naras. Hi. The math is clear, Sam. We can build the Salinix. We can create an almost unlimited source of fresh water for the world. We need the PX isotope. Mira's help we've put together an expedition to retrieve. You mean steel. Naras, we've stepped on some sovereign toes before, but not the United States. There will be risks, Samantha. That's why I need you to be part of the expedition. I know you can handle any complications, fix any problem. You're asking a lot, Naras. I'm not done asking. I want you to work with Dominique on this. Naras. The mission has a greater chance of success if the two of you are working together. Let me guess. Mira's recommendation. The data supports it. Please. We haven't seen each other in years. It doesn't make the two of you any less of an effective team. This is a heavy lift, Naras. Do you have enough cover in Congress if this blows up? We can purchase the influence we need, but that doesn't put the isotope in our hands. If our entire global operations team, you're the best in the field. I'm sorry, Naras. No. I think we're crossing a line. We can't afford not to. This isn't just a heist. It's an act against the United States. Countries won't matter when borders become oceans, Sam. But in the meantime, it could be interpreted as a prelude to war and an operation like this. It risks bringing too much attention to Evitera. Maybe I'm tired of us living in the shadows. Well maybe this isn't about you. I've been in the field for five years, Naras. Five years since Operation River Wolf. That's time away. Not seeing friends. Not building and dealing with the most corrupt, disgusting peoples on Earth. You're the one that keeps enlisting, Sam. Maybe your reservations have nothing to do with patriotism. Like you said, there were risks. There could be others trying to find the PX for less altruistic purposes. This mission and everything surrounding what we know must be kept secret. I know how to keep secrets, Naras. Does that mean you're in? I'm in. But I have conditions. Of course. If Dama's on the team, I want Ricardo too. I understand. I'd like to run your choices through Mira's algorithm. But I'll give you final say. Anything else? This time, Naras, I want full transparency. No hidden agendas. Full transparency, Samantha. And thank you. The good that will come out of the Salonix project will be extraordinary. Now, let me walk you through the mission. You'll rendezvous in Lisbon on board the Veloscora, which I... The war is over and both sides lost. Others were reduced to cinders and armies scattered like bones in the dust. Now the survivors claw to what's left of a broken world. Praying the darkness chooses someone else tonight. But in the shadow dark, the darkness always wins. This is old school adventuring at its most cruel. Your torch ticks down in real time. And when that flame dies, something else rises to finish the job. This is a brutal rules light nightmare with a story that emerges organically based on the decisions that the characters make. 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New episodes of I Think Not Are Released every Wednesday with bonus episodes out every Thursday on Patreon. And every Monday you can listen to our True Crime Run Down where we go over the top true crime headlines of the week. So come and join us wherever you listen to your podcasts. Okay, so let me get this straight. You work for some billionaire... Centi-billionaire, actually. Okay, don't care. This billionaire lives on some island getting his ass wiped by his personal robot who tells him that the world is going to end in a single generation. And that gives you permission to steal top-secret property from the US government? Are you done being an asshole? I don't understand how that gets you in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean on a sinking ship on fire. It also doesn't explain the radioactivity I was picking up on the Seahawk. Tell us you're getting there. I'm getting there, Tully. Maybe you should let me finish telling my story. Please excuse my friend. We'll let you finish. Politely. You also said there was a detonation on the Veloscora. What was it that detonated? I'm getting to that part. The Veloscora rose and fell with the rolling waves of the North Atlantic Sea. Deckhands busily followed their captain's orders, securing loose rigging and oiling the hoist of the ship's rear-loading crane that held a 20-foot deep-sea submarine over the aft deck. The captain's first officer climbed down the steps of the bridge and approached Samantha, Dominique and Ricardo, who were standing together on the ship's bow, surveying the endless expanse of ocean before them. Deberíamos llegar al sitio de buceo en doce horas. What'd he say, Ricardo? He says we have 12 hours before we get to the trench. Good. We've just enough time to get the sub-prepped. Ricardo, why don't you do a ballast check and run a sonar calibration? What if I told you I already did it? Then I'd smile sweetly and ask you to do it again. Okay, if you really think we need to, you couldn't pay me to get into that tin can. Then you can understand why we're being careful, Ricardo. You know what's at stake. Now go. Gotcha, boss. Ricardo retreated to the rear of the Veloscora, leaving Samantha and Dominique alone at the bow. So? So. So, uh, spin a minute. It has. Can I ask you something? Always. You already checked the ballast and the sub-sonar, didn't you? Twice. I knew it. I just thought we should have a moment to talk. Hello. I appreciate that. How are you doing? I'm well. I took Neri's offer to enlist on more field assignments. I've been doing some work in New York. I saw. What about you? What about me? Uh, I thought you were done with the field. Oceanic research was always more my speed. For the last two years, I've been spearheading the Avatarous Sensor Buuia Ray in the Pacific. I've got the most submersible experience. It makes sense for me to be the one to pilot the sub. I was just surprised when Neri's told me you volunteered for the mission. Volunteered is a strong word. We always worked well together in the field. Fighting capitalism with explosives? I'm a research gal. You're the one who liked playing with explosives. That was the time we both did. I just wanted to make a difference. I wanted to make a better world for our children. I was looking for someone who wanted to do it with me. You can't question my commitment, not to the cause. Oh, I know you're committed to the cause. Just not much else. That's not fair. We're eco-military soldiers for God's sake. Soldiers can have families. You just didn't want to stick around. I tried. You're the one that kicked me out. After you wouldn't get help. I stopped drinking. I, uh, just wanted you to know that. That's good. I'm happy for you. But it doesn't change anything. We can't change the past and I'm in a different place now. Can I be selfish for a moment? Do you really want me to answer that? Come on, I'm being vulnerable. I'm sorry. You know what hurt the most? What? I thought it would have been me that broke up with you. I never meant to. It wasn't about you. How's, how's Kelly? Uh, she's almost four now. We were going to start looking at kindergarten's now, but then she had another cardiac episode. Oh my God, dumb. I, I, I, it's okay. It's okay. The cardiomyopathy has been advancing and I'm so sorry. No, no, no, it's, but, uh, her cardiologist says we may need to start considering heart replacement surgery. Oh my God. Yeah. Yeah, we've, uh, started the paperwork. Does Nariss know? He does. He does and he said he'll do anything he can to help. Maybe pull some strings to move us up the list. That's why you came back. That's why you said yes to this mission. Look, I won't lie, it, it was a factor, but if Nariss is right, this discovery of the PX could be a game changer. Decellination on an industrialized scale? Half a million gallons of freshwater per day with less than 150 kilos of carbon output? Shit, Samantha. That's less than a Prius. Yeah, it's amazing. It, uh, it is. For someone who's risked her own life for the health of the planet, I think that unlimited freshwater would be a pretty powerful motivator. I would have loved to go kindergarten shopping with you. Well, I, um, I wanted to talk to you. I spoke to Sarah and she's agreed. If you're open to it, to meet Callie. She'd introduce you as the egg donor. But not her mother. Sam. No, look, I, uh, I know it's my fault. It's just, uh, hey. I wanted to build a home with you, but you wouldn't commit to anything. So you found someone that would. I found someone that was there. Hey, I just checked the sub and you're not gonna believe it, but everything was calibrated perfectly. I must have done a great job the first time. Undoubtedly. Hey, I'm not interrupting anything, am I? No, no, we were just. We were just going over the dive plan for tomorrow. Exciting, right? Dom, you said you think we can retrieve all the PX in one dive? I won't know until we get to depth, but we'll try. We want to get this done quick. There's a lot of people that don't want us to get our hands on the PX. Why wouldn't someone want us to implement something that would bring fresh water to millions? Because the exotic matter we're using could also be used to create a nuclear device a thousand times more destructive than Hiroshima. Fuck. How unstable is the PX at surface pressure? Based on Mira's calculations, the PX should be fine as long as it's kept cold and under pressure. How much pressure? I guess I'll have to dive deep enough to find out. Now let's go check the sub a third time. Pass your depth. Just descended past 4,000 feet. All systems green, topside. Gently push downward on the flight control stick of the deep sea submersible she had piloted from the surface. I'm crossing the mesopologic zone. You should be approaching the drop off just ahead. Confirmed. The sea floor is sloping downward. I think I see the canyon up ahead. It's beautiful down here. Dom, if you see the airports I dropped in the water, can you pick those up for me too? I think I just saw a golfer eel wearing them, Ricardo. But I'll leave them be. It has better taste in music than you do. It's probably a better dancer too. I'm initiating ballast fill for negative buoyancy. I'm showing all hatch seals secure. Just give the utility arms a quick check. I fired them up during pre-dive check. Here, I'll play rock, paper, scissors. Two titanium arms extended from the body of the submersible controlled by haptic feedback gloves worn by Dominique. The articulated graspers at each end came together in a prayer pose. Now you're just showing off. Download your cleared for descent. Go save the world, Dom. Roger that. Down we go. The submersible slipped deeper into the ocean's abyss. Its path, lit by yellow and red search beams, revealed an undisturbed seascape of descending gradients filled with towering rock formations jutting precipices of the trench wall and fleeting glimpses of bioluminescent sea life. As the vessel distanced itself from the world above, the subtle whir of its machinery and the rhythmic pings of sonar echoed in the solemn tranquility of the deep sea. Topside, I'm reaching 11,000 feet. You can see the ocean floor. How's the visibility? Pretty murky. I'm turning on the location tracking system. Roger that, Dom. Our showing target is 1,000 meters east. Confirmed. I have tracking lock. I'm going to come up a little bit. Too much sediment getting kicked up. We'll try the flood lights, see if it helps. Flood lights activated. You getting this topside? We're getting the feet up here. Man, it looks desolate. Like a flooded desert. Good place to hide something you don't want anyone to find. In our case, steel. Hey, I see something up ahead. Topside, do you copy? We see it. Can't quite make it out. Can you zoom in? Getting closer. In the glow of the subs lights, a metallic shipping container sat incongruously on the ocean floor. It was weathered and corroded from years under extreme pressure. Its surface now modeled with rust, sediment, and a small smattering of marine life. While the structure had obviously endured the harsh oceanic conditions for decades, it held a surprisingly intact silhouette, a rectangular anomaly amidst the natural seascape. That must be it? Dom, what's your Geiger reading? I'm getting some radioactive readings. Not too bad, but probably why there's not more sea life attached. Dello, I just heard from the bridge. They're hearing some aircraft chatter above us. I might want to speed things up. Blowing eyes, huh? I hate it when Eris is right. Hopefully the ghost gas will keep us under wraps for a little longer. Hey, I think I see the cargo door. It looks like a lot of rust and calcification. Trying to open it with the utility arms. Any luck? No. No, it's jammed. Going to activate the cutting saw to get through some of the hardened detritus. Be careful down low. The buzz saw is a huge power drain. Relax. I'm showing 70% battery and have 100 hours of reserve life support. I'm safer than you guys up there. Activating the cut-saw. Come on, lad. There. Did you get it? Bingo. The buzz saw fell silent and the shipping container's doors gently floated open in a slow, reluctant reveal of its clandestine contents inside. Bathe in the submersible's high beam lights, 10 metallic canisters lay neatly stacked inside their surfaces gleaming eerily. They look so clean. Don't let it fool you. If starfish and tube worms who live under 10,000 pounds of pressure can't grow here, then this radioactivity is pretty deadly. Remind me to think there is for building shielding on this submersible. Down low, proceed with caution. The Salonix report shows stability of PXF pressure, but handle with care. Roger, topside. Opening the cargo bay and putting on kid gloves. I mean it. Be careful, Dominique. I thought I was the one who was telling you to be careful. With a deft manipulation of the haptic controls, Dominique reached out with the submersible's titanium arms. She was moved with surprising grace for their size, with the graspers of each arm carefully responding to her lightest touch. The first five of the canisters were gingerly lifted from their resting places, leaving small trails of sediment floating in their way. How's that for them? Slowly and methodically, Dominique carefully repeated the process for each remaining canister. Alright, mama's pouch is full. Heading home, topside. Congratulations. We just made sure a billion people will have drinking water when the ocean covers half of Florida. Yeah, great, Tom Boss. Should I have the crew meet you on the dive bay to let the cargo in? Negative. Let's leave the crew out of it. Besides, the subs hold is pressurized and cold. How did the PX stays there? So what happens if the PX gets hot and gassy? Eugh, like your hotel room after that fish curry in Sri Lanka seven years ago? Very funny. Get your ass up here down low. The crew is sitting down for dinner and they want to know if we'd like to join them. What are they serving? What's an upfish curry? Eugh, I think I'd settle for drinking a nice glass of rosé right now. I'll have it waiting for you. Dinner's getting corrupt. I'll save you a spot next to me. Topside out. SimplySafe on is the sound of peace of mind. SimplySafe sensors, HD cameras and 24-7 security monitoring protect your home inside and out against break-ins, fires, water leaks and more. So you can relax. Visit simplysafe.co.uk slash pod for an exclusive discount. Bowser is back! Ha! Everyone calm down. The Super Mario Brothers can take care of the kingdom. Let's go. On April 1st. Toad pack our things. The Galaxy is waiting. Who is this? Special. So some cool dinosaur just shows up and he's now part of the group. Cool. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. Only in cinemas April 1st. Whoa, you're telling me you found it at 5,000 feet underwater? My team did. Yes. As a fellow treasure hunter, you can color me impressed. So did your billionaire boss get to build the Salonix thingy? No. No, he didn't. At least, not yet. I'm guessing this is the part where you tell us about the detonation and the reason why the Veloscora looked like an ashtray. I'm waiting for you to get to the point, Sumit. Tully! Yeah, what happened after you recovered it? We had dinner. And then what happened? Back on the Veloscora. So last month I have an early Zurgos' game. Ricardo and Samantha were invited by the ship's captain and his first officer to join them in their private dining room. And my four-year-old walks in. Carmella? No, no, the older one. Nina. Carmella's the baby. So Nina walks in and decides it's time for a game of dress daddy. Now, this is eight o'clock in the morning, mind you. And she starts giving me a Barbie makeover. Well, hey, I've been saying for years that you would make the cutest rag queen. I know. I just, I wish I had the legs. Anyway, then Carmella walks in and she's just learning to walk and she's holding this ball entirely filled with Cheerios. Oh no, you got cereal bombed? Totally cereal bombed. So she starts to get upset that her sister took her snuggie. They start fighting and five seconds later the entire bowl of Cheerios goes all over me. With milk? All the milk. I mean, it's everywhere. It's in the feathers, it's on my shirt and just then, Naras jumps on the call. Oh my God, holy shit. What did he say? He was like, oh, is this a bad time? I know, right? Hey, look who's here, Captain Nemo. Where were you? We were waiting. Yeah, I saved you a seat. Sorry, I had to refill the gas dispersion canisters on the starboard side. I'm sorry, but does that ghost gas stuff really work? You doubt our fearless leader? It looks like a gas, but it's really a loose lattice of carbon nanotubes that block any radar signals or satellite detection. See, I'm picking cereal out of my ear and Dom is teaching us chemistry. Physics, actually? It can pretty much hide anything from cars, people, even blimps. Well, so far, we haven't had anyone spot us that we know of. Well, I feel a lot safer in our little carbon bubble. What's the plan when we get back to port? Assuming nobody detects us, plan A is we dock and unload in Gibraltar. Naras has some specialized transport set up that can route the PX to an Evitara lab facility in the Solomon Islands. But knowing you, Sam, there's a plan B, C, and D. You know your alphabet, Rick. Ladies and gentlemen. The captain of the Velascora rose and held his glass towards his guests. I would like to propose a toast to all of you. It has been a privilege for the Velascora to be a part of this expedition. Evitara stands for the dream we all share, the dream of a future where our planet thrives in harmony with the people living upon it. Your courage and dedication inspired us all, to you. The protectors of the Far Lands and the Deep Sea who ensure a billion more glasses of clean water for the world to drink. May you continue to like our way. Salud. Salud. Salud. Mr. Martinez, would you like to say a few words? Holy shit! What's going on? It came from the bow. Martinez, what's happening? The first officer ran to the ship's intercom on the far wall. Report. Captain, reports are coming. There's a fire in the machine's room. We're filling up water. Captain, what's happening? There's...there's fire in the engine room. We must have hit something. We would have seen it on radar. It's the damn gas. We're blind. You created a fog around our boat and now our radar doesn't work. Holy shit! Look! Ricardo pointed to the bow at the Velascora that was now completely engulfed in flames. This is no collision. Martinez, extinguish the fire. Activate all the engines. The fire extinguishers don't respond. The sensors are disconnected. Then tell the men to use the sensors. Before four dead men. And the fire is spreading. We must leave the ship. Damn it! This is my day! The captain and the first officer ran to the doorway. But before they could, Samantha blocked their way. Get out of the way. We need to get to the bridge and ready for help. I'm sorry, but I can't let you do that. What the hell are you talking about? They should be sinking. This is a covert mission, Captain. You knew that when we hired you. Are you mad? I have 15 of my crew on board. Then die unless we should make the design right now. Move! Get out of my way! Captain and his first officer pushed past Samantha and ran urgently to the bridge at the Velascora. Sam, you have to stop them. Go. Samantha bolted after the officers and tore up the stairs to the Velascora's bridge where she saw the captain frantically reaching for the radio controls. Captain, you send that signal and you'll have every Atlantic Coast Guard and Navy boat on us in hours. We can't let anyone learn our position. You know that! Do you feel that? The ship is going down. Do you want to die? Any ship that arrives will confiscate our cargo. The lives of my men are worth more than your cargo. Move! No! The heavy man violently pushed Samantha backwards. She regained her footing and ran hard at the captain, knocking the wind from his chest. She grabbed the radio module and ripped it from the wall, smashing it out of the floor. No! No one can know we're here. There's too much at stake. The captain, still reeling from Sam's blow, reached for a cabinet above the helm and removed a marine flare gun. Peraloca! Look at the fight on the boat! We have to send the signal now! You idiot! We're stealing from the US government. They'll kill us if they find us! You can't call for help. She's right. Samantha and the captain turned to see First Officer Martinez pointing a pistol at the captain's head. You can't call for help. And no one can know we're here. Martinez? What are you doing? Put down the gun! Two crimson circles erupted in the captain's forehead as he slumped to the ground. Samantha dove for cover behind the ship's helm and grabbed the flare gun on the floor. It was you. You sabotaged the boat! The BX doesn't belong to you. You had no business digging it up. We're trying to save the world! You don't even know who you're working for! Oh, fuck you! Sam ducked out and fired the flare gun into the doorway of the bridge, but it stood empty. Dammit. Martinez had already vanished. Running out of time. Samantha crawled out from behind the helm and carefully edged her way to the outside deck of the Veloscora. Shit in this fog! Where are you? Shit. Water's filling up the port side. Samantha pushed forward. The officer. The fog seemed to swallow all sounds. You sabotaged the ship. Making the deck feel eerily silent. Sweat mixed with sea spray on Samantha's forehead as she prowled forward. Where are you? The flare gun clutched tightly in her grasp. Where are you? The officer rushed from behind an exhaust port and slammed her into a hatched door, whining his arm upon Samantha's neck. You terrorist cunt! I'm not letting you take it! I'm not gonna let you do stuff this! Samantha bit down on the officer's arm, causing blood to seep down his sleeve. His hand loosened just far enough for Samantha to get her grip under the man's elbow and used her hips to flip him over her shoulder. You think you can play God with what you stole? No. I'm just lighting the way. The incendiary flare narrowly missed Martinez and soared into the night sky. Dammit! Martinez scrambled to his feet and disappeared into the opaque cover of the fog. The fog won't protect you. Or you. Your ship won't stay for long. You're playing for the wrong side, Samantha Gill. Well, fighting for this planet is never the wrong side. Suddenly, a shadow detached itself from the fog, barreling towards Samantha. She sidestepped to the right, letting her hand shoot out to grasp Martinez's wrist, twisting his arm upwards. Fucking pig! Martinez was quick. You're just upon! He lashed out with his free hand, reaching down and revealing a glint of steel. He swung the knife towards Samantha. You are a traitor to your own country. You're a traitor to the planet! Sam was faster. She wrenched the knife from his grasp and plunged it into his side. She turned the blade, pushing it deeper with both her hands. You've got nowhere left to run. This is just the beginning, Samantha Gill. What? The officer sprang over the railing of the Veloscora and plunged into the ocean's dark abyss. His form swallowed by the fog that surrounded the ship. My name? How did he know? Let's see. I'll take him before I can tell anyone. Oh! Fuck. We've got to get out of here. Dominique! Dominique! Dom! Recorder! Dominique! Sam, you have to stop them. Go. As Samantha raced out of the room, Dominique and Ricardo turned to each other. Shit! The PX! It'll destabilize in the fire. What do we do? Follow me! We've got to get the PX off the boat! Tom! Now, Rick! The pair raced through the ship to get to the Evitara submarine, hanging on a loading crane on the Veloscora's utility deck. We've got to get the PX down to the depth. I love it now as a feat. It's our only shot because it destabilizes. The Veloscora will be a serial bomb in the Atlantic. I got it. Put me back in the sub. What? Get me launched, Ricardo. Dom! That's suicide! The ship is about to capsize. You'll be unsupported at the bottom of the Atlantic, running on battery power. I've got a hundred hours of life-support in the sub. That's enough time for you and Sam to figure out how to retrieve me and the PX. How? Sam will find a way. But... She always does. Dom! Just operate the crane and get me over the water. I'll hit the manual release and then you find Sam and get the fuck off this ship. Dom! Hey. You, Nina and Carmella. You're the three musketeers now. Dom, don't do this. I have to. I'm the only one that can pilot the sub. There's no way out. No one in the world knows we're here. Come on. Help me with the airlock. And make sure to check the cargo hatch. Don't be stranded. No one will know you're here. You'll know. No longer listening. Domani, flying to the top of the sub and lowered most of her body inside the tight compartment. She took a last look at Ricardo. Vaya con Dios, amigo. Vaya con Dios, amiga. Now, launch me before this top sinks! Domani dropped his weapon to the pilot's chair, feeling the suspended sub sway under the violet movement of the crane and the sinking boat. I'm ready. Ricardo slammed his fist on the crane controller and then felt his heart drop. What's going on? What? We're now risked. Dom, the fire took out the controls. It's not responding. The pierce is gonna hit us. I hit. Hey, tight. I'm gonna climb up and hit the manual release. Hurry. Ricardo ran to the crane's base and scrambled to climb up its scaffolding, hanging high under the water. Release pin. It's just a little further. Ricardo felt the ship move beneath him. Help the anchor! Almost. Almost. Got it. The Veloscora lurched violently to its side, bending the skeleton of the crane already strained by the weight of the sub. Ricardo? The crane groaned. Ricardo, what's going on? Before giving way and collapsing onto itself, Ricardo's body plummeted, smashing into the deck of the Veloscora with a sickening crunch. What was that? I don't think Ricardo! Ricardo, come in! Come in! Stop it! Stop! Ricardo! Where are you guys? We need to get off the boat! Ricardo! Sam. Ricardo! Sam sprinted to Ricardo's prone body that was buried under a tangle of steel and iron from the crane. Ricardo, what happened? Where's Dom? Sam. What happened to the PX-2? What happened to the PX-2? Sam. Ricardo, hey. Dom. Dom's in the sub. What? She went down. No, no, no, we gotta get her back. She can't- She's... Saved her... Down there. In... What? Deep. What are you talking about? Come on, you need to get up. Here, take my hand. We need to find a lifeboat. Samelder leaned down to help with Ricardo, but felt the strength leave his body. She spotted a thick pool of blood forming around him as her hand found the sharp metal that had made its way through his abdomen. You need to get off the boat. Find Dom. No, no, no, hey, hey, hey, you're gonna be okay, Rick. Jesus, look at me. Look at me. 100 hours. Get out of here. Huh? Stay with me. Me. Sam. What? What is it? Oh, one... and one... four. Samantha held Ricardo and felt his body going in her arms, his eyes went vacant as clouded as the cold fog that surrounded them. No! Come in. Huh? Anyone? I don't want to see you. Don't! I can't get anything on the phone. Don't! Samantha tore down the deck and rushed into the comm room. Don't even... Can you hear me? Can you hear me? Dammit. Dammit, you went back down. Dammit! Why did you do that instead of me? Fire and smoke damage had rendered most of the comm equipment inoperable. Samantha frantically flipped every switch she could find to get a cleaner signal. Okay. You have to find me. I have the PX with me. It's 100 hours of reserve time. Can you hear me? No, Mom! Don't! No! Go back! Don't go down there. We've got to go back. I'll find you. I'll find you. Whatever it takes. Whatever. How many? Hard! It's not so dark. It's not so stormy, hard-boiled detective story that probably nobody saw coming. Follow Sonic and the Intrepid Chaotix Detective Agency as they take on their biggest case yet. This high-flying, action-packed adventure will take them across the world fighting for every clue they can find. It's one heck of a tale, which is good because this story might be the only thing that can save their lives. Well, if that's all I can just dispose of you. Wait, what? All will be revealed in Sonic the Hedgehog presents The Chaotix Case Files. Listen now, wherever you get your podcasts. The Library of the Inveneos fell silent as Samantha Kelle finished telling her tale. So that's your story? That's my story. Every word? Yeah, every word. Uh-huh. I just want to find my friend. Please, I- Hey, thanks for being straight with us. Sounds like you've gone through quite an ordeal. Thank you. Hey, Gibson. Yes, Captain? Do we have all our sensors and nav back online? I'm reading green across the board, sir. As soon as we left that fog bank. I see. Look, I'm deeply in your debt for finding me, really. I am deeply. But can we just- Look, we don't have all our equipment installed yet, but we're en route to Punta del Gada. Perhaps we can assist in coordinating a rescue mission for your friend. Well, now- I don't need a rescue. It's an extraction. I can't just- Yeah, yeah, I get it. Top secret. Look, for now, we don't have anything on board that can dive that deep, but maybe you can find something. Maybe we can help. Listen, I- I think I'm starting to feel that tequila, so if it's okay, I'd love to get some sleep so I can clear my head enough to think, you know? Of course. Uh, Abby, would you- Sure. Samantha? Come on, we've got a private room for you where you can get some sleep. We haven't picked up our sub-pilot yet, so there's an extra birth-free. But sure, picking her up in the Azores, right? Yeah, that's right. Because that's where your mini-sub is. Hey, uh, Gibson, I know you've had a long day, but can you take the helm on the bridge and make sure we're still on course for Punta del Gada? And run another calibration sweep of the sensors to make sure that fog didn't screw anything up. I'll come up to relieve you at 0-200. No problem, Captain. See you in a few hours. Punta del Gada. What? A word. What? A private word. Oberlin exited the library with more conviction than Tully would have liked. The two proceeded down the central staircase of the Inveneos to the engine deck, typically Oberlin's domain. Come with me. If you say so. Oberlin came to a stop in front of one of the Inveneos' two cyclone engine drives. There was a red steam valve furthest to the left of the primary engine header. Oberlin turned it ever so carefully until the pressure gauge read exactly 1010 psi. A nearly inaudible click echoed in the engine room. The sheen of the engine drive's casing subtly shifted, revealing a hidden, well-lit doorway with a hand-painted sign of a mermaid that read the 1010 Tiki Bar. I love you, Oberlin. Only an Irishman would build a speakeasy on his own boat. Come in here. Together, they stepped through a tight passageway and emerged inside a compacted Tiki Bar with four stools ensconced within the beating metallic heart of the Inveneos. Watch your hand. Ow! I can't believe you hung that stupid spear gun in here. You mean old Daisy? She's my good luck charm in case anyone tries to steal my Zacapa rug. Bamboo paneling covered the walls, glowing softly under the low, warm lighting. The bar itself was fashioned from polished driftwood and was adorned with vintage rum bottles, Tiki statues, antique maps, as well as a small brass diving helmet that also served as the blender. And you didn't tell anyone about our secret bar? No one, except Sheffy. Ah, you told Sheffy? Do you want your speakeasy to have fresh limes or not? Close the door. So, do you want me to bartend? No. I want you to tell me that you're not still thinking about going after the Highland Rose. What? What are you talking about? Of course we're going after the Highland Rose. We can find that damn wreck, Oberlin, before anybody else can. While a woman sits at the bottom of the ocean, running out of air, you're thinking about being on 60 Minutes wearing a red wool hat. If you say one word about it, Bradley, so help me God. We're treasure hunters, Tully. There's no treasure or anything of value on the Highland Rose. This is a waste of time. What are you talking about? It's a maritime mystery of major public interest, not to mention historical importance. If we can prove that the Highland Rose was being used for smuggling by a wealthy... Oh, wonderful. So we get to prove that a rich Scottish punter was doing some shady shite 80 years ago. An admired family accumulated its fortune through ill-gotten gains. Find me some perils to clutch. Oh, I'm sorry, but I thought getting the chance to write our own page in the nautical history books about a much-speculated maritime disaster. Tully, we're treasure hunters. There's nothing there. It's like we're a bunch of bank robbers knocking off a library. This wreck doesn't make sense for us. What are you talking about? Why do we have the Invenios if we're not going to go after... Treasure! That's all we're supposed to be finding. I'm telling you, the Highland Rose is a historically significant wreck. It's not. It's only significant because you want to beat historical explorations to the punch. You're still trying to prove something and willing to push everything else aside, including that woman's life, for your own ego. The knowledge we'll receive from... We'll not pay our tax bill, fuel charges, our crew. Think, Tully. This is why we have to do charters for the Belgians. What Belgians? The Belgians! The Scientific Expedition! Did you forget that you agreed to do the Skink Research Mission in Cape Verde? Skink? Skink! What? They're supposed to arrive in the Netherlands tomorrow, but you wanted to get your sub right away. Ah, shit, I forgot. So, just have them redirect and meet us in the Azores. Remind me why we're helping the Belgians. Because legally we need to run as a charter boat. Magazine covers don't pay for mini-subs. What about illegal? Tully. If we don't run any charters, the tax costs on the Adventios will run so high that our Orlando Cortez money will dry up in a few years. Okay, okay, we'll help the Belgians. Have them rebook to Ponte Delgada and we'll grab them when we ship out. Tully, the Belgians aren't the problem. A woman's life is. Come on, do you really believe that whole story Samantha told us? Yes, I do. Because in my mind, I see a sailor lost at sea. I don't stand for much, but we stand for the rules of the sea. Rules of the sea? Come on, Oberlin, even if it's true, you know as well as I do that her friend is probably long gone. I hate to say that, but you know that... But what if there's a chance she's not? What if she's still alive? Don't we have an obligation? An obligation for what? Help some fugitive steal government property or should we get swept up in another, save the world, escapade? We have the Adventios to help people. Help who? You could start with the Belgians. Oh, those fucking Belgians. And since when do we back away from doing what's right? That's not the captain I know. Come on, Oberlin. Tully. I don't know. Look, let's just get to the Azores. We can't help Samantha, the Belgians, or even ourselves until we get our sub. A sub pilot and all our submersible equipment online. That we can agree on. Well, I'm glad we agree on something. Hey, I'm glad you're okay. You could have got hurt on the Veloscora. Yeah, that was dicey. Abbey did great. Yeah, yeah, I'm glad we have her on board. Tiki time? Yeah, Tiki time. What'll it be? Not sure. How about one of those puka punch cocktails you made last time? Coming up! Oberlin opened the Bell Divers helmet on the bar and poured in several generous swags of dark and light rum. Before flipping the switch on its base. One umbrella or two. Oberlin, given the last 12 hours, it definitely feels like a two umbrella day. In fact, make it three. You have been listening to the Inveneos Expeditions, a Leviathan Chronicle story, written and created by Christof Laputka. To view the blueprints of the Inveneos, go to inviniosexpeditions.com. The Inveneos Expeditions is made possible by the generous support of our listeners. To listen, add free and get exclusive bonus content and behind the scenes footage, become a subscriber at patreon.com. The Inveneos Expeditions was executive produced by Amish Jhun, produced by Robin Shore. Original music by Luke Allen and Lindsay Jones. Editing by Luke Allen and Robin Shore. Sound design by Jonathan Stevens and Robin Shore. Casting and production by Claire Dodan. Directed by Christof Laputka. Starring Matt Shale as Captain Jeffrey Tully. John Patrick Higgins as Oberlin St. Clair. Laura Post as Abigail Eventon. Justice Slocum as Gibson Donahue. Lindsay Rousseau as Samantha Kell. Cabo Foster as Nara Saffield. Kira O'Brien as Mira. Jennifer Sunbell as Dominique Trencher. Francisco Almenara as Ricardo Garcia. Danny Pardo as Officer Martinez. Halaasius Bradford as Captain Navarro. And Melissa Medina as the narrator. Additional voices by Oscar Camacho, Jackson Gutierrez, Robin Shore, Luke Allen and Christof Laputka. For a full cast list and to learn more about our other audio productions, go to LeviathanAudioproductions.com or follow us on social media. Thank you for supporting Leviathan Audio and thank you for listening. Leviathan Audio Production Legendary stories, awe-inspiring sound and endless adventure. Welcome to the realms of peril and glory. Explore the mechanically magical vistas of Vale. The paranormal mysteries of liminal London. And the cyberpunk chaos of Cyborg. Fall in love with our core cast or be awed by our incredible guests from familiar shows like Ox Venture, Three Black Halflings and No Rolls Bard. Ignite your imagination and discover the realms of peril and glory today. Go to realmspod.com or search realms of peril and glory wherever you listen to podcasts. No, cut it out Jacob. Why are you pretending to be Jordan? Redacted is a brand new monster of the week horror comedy about Jacob Cain, a failing actor who assumes his late brother's life and finds himself in the Redacted Unit. A covert agency tasked with containing impossible creatures and phenomena known as aberrations. Inspired by late 90s and early 2000s television featuring incredible guest writers from the world of podcasting, film and games, welcome to the Redacted Unit. Redacted airs Fridays, 9-8 central. Search Redacted on the podcast player of your choice or visit theredactedunit.com for more info. Hush. Hi, this is Rob Benedict. And I am Richard Spate. We were both on a little show you might know called Supernatural. It had a pretty good run, 15 seasons, 327 episodes. And though we have seen of course every episode many times, we figure hey, now that we're wrapped, let's watch it all again. And we can't do that alone. So we're inviting the cast and crew that made the show along for the ride. We've got writers, producers, composers, directors, and we'll of course have some actors on as well including some certain guys that played some certain pretty iconic brothers. It was kind of a little bit of a left field choice in the best way possible. The note from Krippke was, he's great, we love him, but we're looking for like a really intelligent Dukovny type. With 15 seasons to explore, it's going to be the road trip of several lifetimes. So please join us and subscribe to Supernatural then and now.