Marauder (Oregon Files 15)

“He’s gone.”

“Gone to Sydney,” Jin said as if just realizing it.

“Yes. How will the attack happen?”

“What attack?”

“The attack on Sydney. Focus, April.”

“Timer set to launch rockets at midnight. They explode all over Sydney. Millions paralyzed overnight. Ten major newspapers cover the story the next day. That unlocks the account and we get the money.”

“Antidote,” Murph said.

Juan nodded as he saw the white spot on the center of the Marauder growing brighter by the second.

“April, do you have any of the Enervum antidote?”

“Not in me.”

“I mean, did you make any of the antidote?”

“Yes. Enough for nine thousand people total. Half on the Marauder, half with Angus. Angus is in Sydney.”

“Where does Angus have his batch of the antidote?”

“On the cargo ship in Sydney.”

“Where are the rockets?”

“On the cargo ship in Sydney.”

“Anytime now,” Sylvia said as she watched the overheating trimaran.

“What’s the name of the cargo ship?” Juan asked Jin.

“The—”

Her voice was cut off as the plasma cannon power generator went critical. A massive fireball tore the trimaran in half, causing the screen to go white with the heat bloom. A second later, the shock wave rattled the Oregon.

Eric switched the view back to the color camera. The burning bow and stern were the only surviving parts of the Marauder. They went under mere seconds later.

Juan checked his watch. They had just over twenty-four hours before the midnight fireworks show the next day.

He threw the headset back to Hali. “Tell Max to pick up the shore party and get back here on the double. Eric, as soon as the doors of the moon pool are closed, set course for Sydney, maximum speed.”

SIXTY-FOUR

SYDNEY

Polk’s plane landed at Kingsford Smith International Airport at sunset, and when it was taxiing on the tarmac, he noticed a voicemail from his wife, which was unusual because she preferred to text him. He listened to the message, perplexed and concerned by the odd tone in her voice and by some of the things she said. He was upset she wouldn’t make it for the New Year’s Eve rocket launch, but he’d be sure to record it for her.

When the plane reached his waiting car, they unloaded four large aluminum boxes containing the Enervum antidote. Each held a thousand vials of the serum in packs of twelve. Given the sales estimates, every pack represented a value of six hundred thousand dollars, which meant he had to keep the cache in a safe place aboard the Centaurus where sticky hands couldn’t get to it.

He was driven to a dock at Walsh Bay, where a speedboat was waiting for him. His crew transferred the cargo and cast off, almost immediately passing under the world-famous Sydney Harbour Bridge. Polk could make out tourists wearing blue and gray jumpsuits walking along the girders below the bridge, on their way to climbing up the arched truss that spanned the structure. Tomorrow on New Year’s Eve, the Bridge Climb would be closed down in anticipation of the colossal fireworks show that would be launched from the arch at the stroke of midnight.

Even at night, boats filled the harbor. Ferries, yachts, and sailboats of all sizes took advantage of the warm summer evening. On New Year’s Eve, the harbor near the bridge would be crowded with pleasure craft hoping to get the best view in the city.

Next they passed the sails of the iconic opera house, which were lit in a dazzling white. The promenade in front was crammed with people taking pictures of the scenery and enjoying the ocean breeze. There would be even more viewers packing the area to watch the fireworks tomorrow night.