Retribution Road by Jon Coon (e reader comics .TXT) 📕

“Don’t know much about it, but it’s some kind of rebreather to save helium. They wear a new titanium helmet that weighs thirty pounds and then a backpack that scrubs the diver’s exhaled breath and save the gas for reuse. Apparently they’re concerned about the high cost of helium and the fact that it’s a non-renewable resource. It’s all new technology, and they’re pretty proud of it.”

“Not that new,” Gabe said.

“Really? Tell me,” Benson replied.

“There was a company out of New Orleans called InnerSpace that used BioMarine CCR-1000s to do exactly the same thing. That was in the early seventies. Glad to see the Navy is catching up.”

“Did you ever dive those rigs?” Tom asked.

“Yeah, we contracted them for a deep platform salvage. We had to close in some wells at 240 feet before we could cut up the platform for salvage. It was a good system. Saved us about eighty percent on our helium cost. Big bucks.”

“Would that work for your dive in the sub?” Tom asked.

“It would. The disadvantage is that they dive it surface supplied, which means hoses. The advantage would be that surface supplied means communication and a tangible connection to the surface. Harder work getting around, but safer. No worries about running out of gas. However, I doubt that the Navy is going to let me or any other civilian play with their new toys. They’re pretty funny about that. They don’t like to share.”

“Let me handle that,” Benson said. “I’ve done them plenty of favors, and I’m not at all bashful about asking for one in return. I imagine they’ll want you in Panama City for training, but I don’t see any problems putting you in that gear.”

“They’re going to want to know why one of their guys can’t do this dive. We’re going to need a good answer.”

“How about ‘because I said so.’ That good enough?” Benson laughed.

“Works for me,” Gabe said. “It definitely works for me.”

The rest of the flight was uneventful. The senator made a textbook landing and taxied to the charred remains of the main hangar. “I’m so sorry about this, Tom,” he said. “I’ll see what I can do to get you some help to rebuild.”

“Anything you can will be greatly appreciated. I don’t think my insurance is going to be much good. They said damage like this is excluded in something called an ‘acts of war’ clause. Thanks.”

They unloaded the gear and waited for a truck from the command center to pick them up. Senator Benson turned the plane, brought it up to power, and climbed quickly to altitude, headed back to Austin. Carol arrived a minute later driving a dented and blackened ranch truck. The roof was partially caved and the windshield broken and removed. Both front doors were off and the leather seats were burned. Still usable, just flat burnt ugly. And they smelled.

Carol climbed out and hugged both men. “You can’t imagine how glad I am to see both of you. Between the reporters and the cops, this place has been a zoo. Everyone wants interviews. I swear, if one more of those bozos asks me how I feel, someone is going to get shot.”

She wrapped an arm around Gabe. “You may be the hottest thing since Sam Houston. They all want exclusives. One guy even offered a bribe if I could set something up.”

“How much did you get?” Gabe said and hugged her again. She thanked him with an elbow to his ribs. They piled into the wrecked truck and drove back to the command center.

Emily had been in charge of decorations: balloons and banners filled the entrance area and candles blazed on an orange-frosted cake. TO GRANDPA AND GABE, OUR HEROES, stood out in brazen blue atop the orange. She stood beside it beaming until Tom swept her off her feet in a giant bear hug.

Paul and Angelica also waited, and when Angelica smiled, she revealed perfect, white teeth. “Isn’t she beautiful?” Paul asked. “I got insurance money for the truck. Gabe is going to help me fix up Dad’s truck. I can’t expect him to pay for it, but right now this is more important.”

“We will both work as soon as I get my visa and a green card. I want to become a nurse here in America.” Her smile and confidence beamed.

“Senator Benson should be able to help with that,” Tom offered. “And with your language, army skills, and medical background, I’m sure we can find a place for you to work and to live. In the meantime, we’ve got the bunker and trailers if we need them.”

“For now, the issue is salvaging that computer chip and going on offense. It’s time to take this fight to their backyard.”

“I want a piece of that,” Carol said. “If the only choice is to fight, so be it. I’m in. And I owe you both an apology. I’m sorry I didn’t believe you, Dad. And Gabe, I’m sorry I wasn’t the partner you needed me to be. That’s over. This cowgirl’s getting back in the saddle.”

Tom and Gabe looked at each other. Her change of attitude was sudden and unexpected. Carol waited until Tom and Gabe both nodded their approval, but the truth was, both were too stunned to speak.

Chapter 35

“HOW LONG UNTIL YOU HAVE to go back?” Carol asked. She and Gabe were walking hand in hand by the lake.

“Senator Benson said it will take the Navy two weeks to deploy the salvage operation, but I may need to go to Panama City for some training.”

“Training for …?”

“They have some new deep-dive gear I want to get checked out on.”

“Is there something special about this dive?”

“It’s two-seventy. I need helium, tri-mix, to do it. The Navy has a new surface-supplied rig that will work.”

“Two hundred and seventy feet? Can’t the Navy do it?”

“You know it has to be me. There are answers down there. Answers we need.”

“Okay. You know what you’re doing, but I’m