WHAT LIES BELOW
BLOOD IN THE WAVES
BLOOD IN THE WAVES
1200
4 March 2014
Terminal 2, PortMiami
Miami, Florida
Day 0 of the Hyena's Maiden Voyage
The SS Hyena floated and bobbed lightly in the crowded terminal, ignored by all as the noon sun beat down on the Port of Miami. Terminal 2 of the port had been set aside for bounty-fishing traffic, and a number of ships of various types were either docked, leaving the terminal, or just entering. As of now, the UN hadn't really placed any regulations on the growing industry; the general opinion of a great deal of the world's population was that a war was broiling throughout the oceans and seas, and while specialty bounty-fishing boats were being made available to the public, the majority of vessels used were never intended for such operations. Some bounty-fishermen had acquired Japanese and Icelandic whaling vessels, while newly-formed companies centering around the trade had purchased decommissioned naval vessels. Crews that were cash-strapped often utilized fishing trawlers and vessels that were rather unsuited for the dangerous work that bounty-fishing entailed. In the opening months of the "war," port terminals were often stinking with the carcasses of dead ACs, as many crews would often tow the AC into port, tie up the ship, go out for some R&R, and then come back later in order to take care of offloading the cadaver. Many a crew lost money due to sharks and other fish devouring the remains; plus the carcasses often stunk up the ports, which is why PortMiami and other ports had taken to requiring that bounty vessels that were transporting ACs (live or dead) to offload their cargo at a designated offloading area, prior to docking and disembarking.
The Hyena was a newcomer to the world of bounty-fishing. The vessel had originally served as a research ship used by NOAA, though it was decommissioned in 2012. Hydra Maritime Security Solutions had purchased the vessel and conducted extensive renovations. The engines were upgraded so that the ship was much more powerful in the event that an AC might pull the vessel, the hull had been reinforced with titanium armor, a 90mm harpoon cannon had been set up on the deck, machine gun mounts had been set up on the bow and stern, and the company had upgraded the ship with a state-of-the-art sonar device, capable of detecting ACs as well as being capable of emitting pulses to ward off ACs. Hydra wanted a vessel that could not only put up a decent fight, but one that could also play the part of hunter and detect ACs. The Hyena also came equipped with a helicopter, 2 RHIBs, 4 jet-skis, and 2 submersibles, thus giving the crew a much greater capability in the art of hunting ACs. Today was the day that the ship was going to launch, though no fanfare or crowds were formed at the vessel. Hydra tended not to advertise their operations like the other companies, and had instead used discretion when arranging the whole scenario. For such a capable ship, the Hyena needed a crew that was equally - if not more - capable.
Hydra had only the best and the brightest in mind for the Hyena's maiden crew. A good number of the crew - most notably Captain Stewart - were seasoned bounty-fishermen, or had survived encounters with the creatures. Others were former military, or specialists who were deft in their fields. Hydra had poured massive sums into the Hyena, and that meant that they had to hire the best in order to ensure that their money was well-invested. The crew was to board the ship at around 1200 noon, with a 1300 launch time. Most of the equipment and belongings of the crew had already been acquired and loaded aboard 4 days in advance. All that remained was the crew.
Scott Depleur was en route to his second ship, after his original crew had been disbanded after disputes over payment tore the once-tight-knit crew apart. The Chief Diver was dressed in an ensemble consisting of a pair of grey cargo pants tucked into black combat boots, a black t shirt tucked into the cargo pants, a pair of Aviators, and an OD green military-spec baseball cap. Over his right shoulder, he was carrying a multi-cam-colored pack, and he had his left hand gripped around the carrying handle of a green military duffel bag. Previously, he had been a diver aboard the SS Kingfisher, a bounty vessel of some repute. Hands-down, divers had the most dangerous job in the entire profession. No one - save for the divers themselves - truly understood what it was like for them, with most only knowing that the average life expectancy for a diver once he/she entered the water was 5 minutes.
For one to really understand the divers' situation, one would have to imagine the scenario that they embark in. These brave men and women were clad in tight wetsuits and/or drysuits, while wearing a large tank and vest. Wearing a diving mask and breathing from a tank of compressed air was also pretty nerve-wracking, especially when one had to constantly keep track of pressure, ascents/descents, and the amount of air that they had left. In addition to this, imagine being expected to engage a creature that can most likely outmaneuver you, while also taking as much damage as it can throw back. It was truly a dangerous, terrifying situation. Scott had been in his fair share of dangerous situations, and he had suffered plenty of injuries as a result. Part of him wished to quit the business, but he was beginning to feel as though he was making a difference in the world, by hunting and killing ACs.
Scott soon found himself at the vessel, and he took a moment to observe the vessel. It was certainly no Kingfisher, which was little more than an old charter boat that had a tendency to get lucky. Scott appreciated the size, as it meant that they weren't totally out of their element in case they ended up getting towed by an AC. The diver boarded the vessel and maneuvered his way through to the bunks. It was much more spacious and elegant than he had thought, though it seemed more like a luxury yacht than a bounty vessel. In the bunkroom, he placed his bags atop one of the top bunks, and then set off for the galley. He hadn't really seen anyone else on board, but he imagined that the others would be there soon enough.
Seeking a beer, the former Navy Chief began to scour the kitchen's fridge. Almost immediately, he came across a box of Blue Moon Ale, a bottled variety. He grinned; Blue Moon was his favorite, and he quickly nabbed a bottle from the fridge. Next, he removed an orange from the fridge and placed it onto a cutting board that rested on the kitchen counter. He proceeded to search around for a blade, before finally taking hold of a kitchen knife. With the cutting utensil in hand, Scott proceeded to slice the orange into several small slices, storing away all but two slices. Scott then opened up the bottle and inserted both slices into the beer, before lifting up the bottle to his lips and taking a long swig. He enjoyed the taste of the beer, savoring each drop before setting down the half-full beer. Scott then placed the utensils that he had used into the sink, before taking his beer and moving out to sit at one of the galley's tables.
