The Airship Artemis

By Chester Quinn

Capable of carrying hundreds of passengers and crew members, the elegant airships have become the preferred method of travel and are the crown jewels in the Airship Ministry. But one of the airships is now a target for greedy pirates.

As darkness descends on the Melbourne, pirates hijack the ill-fated airship. Passengers and crew are thrown into turmoil as they become unwilling pawns in the hijackers ransom demands.

The Airship Ministry is desperate to resolve the crisis before any of the hostages are harmedand before their stock prices plummet further. They decide on a bold plan and send Captain Thomas Lelaray of the airship Artemis to negotiate. Lelaray makes contact with the pirates and with his secret compliment of marine commandos is prepared to retrieve the hostages at all costs. But what appears to be a simple rescue mission quickly becomes a struggle to survive as disaster looms.

From the streets of New York and London, to the burning deserts of Libya. Lelaray tries to tie the clues together, to ensure the safety of the hostages and the success of the mission.

With help from the beautiful marine lieutenant Jess Yamato, Lelaray finds himself torn between love, duty, and survival.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Archway Publishing
• Release date: Jul 14, 2014
• ISBN: 9781480808669

Chester Quinn

Chester Quinn lives in Los Angeles, California, with his wife Kris, and their dog, Jaxson. Quinn, an avid hockey fan, also loves taking to the outdoors and searching the American Southwest for adventure, while researching the legends and stories that make up its history. Cover art by Jordan Saia

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Copyright © 2014 Chester Quinn.

www.chesterquinn.com

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Archway Publishing

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-4808-0867-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4808-0865-2 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4808-0866-9 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014911685

Archway Publishing rev. date: 6/26/14

CONTENTS

Dedication:

Introduction

Chapter One The Snare

Chapter Two Hijacked

Chapter Three Plans And Preparations

Chapter Four An Unusual Voyage

Chapter Five North Atlantic

Chapter Six Cat And Mouse

Chapter Seven Over The Horizon

Chapter Eight Unexpected Guests

Chapter Nine Measure Of A Man

Chapter Ten Ransom And Exchange

Chapter Eleven Damage Control

Chapter Twelve Running To Safe Harbor

Chapter Thirteen Against The Clock

Chapter Fourteen Gaining The Advantage

Chapter Fifteen Do Or Die

DEDICATION:

I want to dedicate this to my loving wife.

Thank you for your support, trust, and belief in me.

You are my world…

To Simon, you were the first to be excited; thank you!

To Laura, Alycia, Dandi, and Evelyn,

who always support me in everything.

To my family for putting up with me, and loving me in spite of it…

Thank you all.

The Airship Artemis

INTRODUCTION

I n the near future, Earth’s civilization has had to re-engineer the world. The dependence on fossil fuels led to wars and pollution, and when the fuels were exhausted, the world came to a crashing stop. Military machines were no longer able to move, crops rotted in the fields, and travel from cities to countries and to continents became impossible with the fuel deprived jumbo jets and automobiles of the time.

With the dwindling supply of resources, countries started small skirmishes, and border conflicts. Soon, however, countries had to face the realization that the greater threats came from within their own borders as populations needed food, water, and medicines. Many of these resources sat in warehouses unable to be transported; many were unable to be manufactured. Large cities like New York, Chicago, London, and Los Angeles, became Mega Cities as people moved to these metropolises to be near the remaining resources.

Decades passed filled with uncertainty and little hope, but formerly large government budgets were redirected into programs of research and rebuilding infrastructure. Long stretches of asphalt highways were replaced with high speed electromagnetic (MAGLEV) trains that connected valleys and mountains. Once again food, medicines and people were able to be transported across the landscape.

Cities were redesigned and architecture changed to take advantage of sun positions, and wind currents to heat and cool. Large tracts of land that had been city streets became green grass amongst the tall buildings and pedestrian walkways. Solar, wind, and nuclear power were what the new world relied on. The principle new leader in power technology was electricity. The world developed new, more powerful generators, better conducting materials, and cleaner, safer ways to store energy until needed.

Electric powered ocean ships once again became the principle mode of travel from continent to continent. Luxury liners offered many amenities to travelers, but the dangers of weather and rough seas, and time it took to travel impelled engineers to develop a new mode of travel.

Airship technology had not advanced far from the early days of the first airships. For over two centuries, the early ships’ fragile construction and public disasters doomed it as folly, however, the rise of the airship was soon to become the most preferred way to travel.

Money from corporations and governments went into researching a new age of airships as new materials made construction lighter and stronger. The ships’ design changed drastically from those of the early days. Flat bottoms replaced the rounded designs, as this aided and increased in the lift performance of the ship. Electric fan engines replaced large heavy combustion engines, allowing for a larger number of engines to increase performance and stability in flight.

The worldwide shortage of helium resulted in a scientific breakthrough resulting in Synth-Helium, an inert gas with higher lifting capability than helium, or even hydrogen. Synth-Helium also allowing for a higher lift capacity, enabling greater weight loads to be flown. Soon ships and the new designs started to take to the sky; as popularity increased, so did profits.

Several airship companies started to do business worldwide, with some doing well, and many struggling. The Airship Ministry was one of the early success stories. It managed to secure desirable air routes and boasted of having the most grand and luxurious ships in the sky. The Ministry continued to spread its reach until it was the first to circumnavigate the Earth with its service. The Ministry purchased and bought up smaller companies across the world, ever increasing its realm of service. It was one of these smaller companies that employed a brilliant chemist, the one who had developed the formula for Synth-Helium.

The Airship Ministry took the discovery and put it into mass production, soon controlling all Synth-Helium production and sales. This caused company profits to skyrocket since all competing airship lines had to purchase their Synth-Helium from the Ministry. With this new found success and financial wealth, the Ministry started to build bigger and more luxurious ships with greater range and speed. The Ministry airships flew to all corners of the globe, but the designers and owners wanted more.

The designers went to work, and the keels of the world’s largest airships were soon laid down. The Imperial, the Galaxy, and the Artemis started to take shape as workers wove titanium threads into titanium fibers to form the skeleton of the ships. The new ships were elegant, with beautiful lines leading from the nose to the tail. Every new technology was incorporated into the design as craftsmen from around the world were brought in to work on them.

Capable of carrying 900 passengers and 300 crew members, these airships became the jewels in the crown of The Airship Ministry. Upon completion, the three sister ships embarked on a worldwide cruise to show off the company’s dominance and to raise ticket sales for the company. The ships toured Europe, the Egyptian Pyramids, the Kremlin, and almost every major city and landmark on the planet, making for quite the photo op. The interest and love of the airships were reignited and soon airship travel became the preferred mode of travel, with the Imperial, the Galaxy and the airship Artemis leading the way.

Chapter One

THE SNARE

T he air was humid and the ocean waves were beating against the shore in a surging crash as the ferry tied up to the nearby dock. Passengers grabbed their belongings and pushed past each other to be the first ones out into the night air. Nelson Jonah stayed in his seat waiting for the crowds to pass through. He didn’t mind waiting and leaving after the mass of people filed out. He sat looking out the window near him, staring at his reflection.

He was a balding man with the customary strip of short-cropped hair that hugged the sides of his head but grew longer and bushier in the back; streaks of grey were littered throughout. His round face and pudgy nose had the look of time, and the effects of time were not getting any prettier or any easier on his features. He focused his eyes past his reflection, and onto the city beyond.

A mixture of the old world and the new, it was a typical town found on the coast of North Africa. The inhabitants were poor, and managed to piece together technology and a living with what they could salvage or rework from scrap. Large satellite dishes were on every rooftop, and old cars were stripped of parts and reworked into trinkets and sold in the open air bazaar to tourists. He walked through the streets amazed on how adaptable and ingenious the people were with the little they had at their disposal. He looked around, familiar with his surroundings. He had been here before, and made it a point to come whenever he found himself in this part of the world.

Jonah walked down the main street towards the local casino and brothel. He noticed armed men standing on various street corners and at key places, posted to observe the town and to keep peace. They were dressed in black shirts and tan pants and each one wore a matching tan beret and carried a machine gun. He smiled and nodded his head at them but they either ignored him or snarled at him. He smiled to himself and continued on to the casino.

He arrived and stood in front, drenched in red neon light. The sound of slot machines, music, and the smell of alcohol filled his senses. Jonah was about to enter the casino when he felt a warm hand graze the back of his neck. He flinched at the unexpected sensation. He turned to find a beautiful woman standing there, very slim and sexy and barely dressed.

Hey, Jonah, welcome back, she said in a half moaning way. Staring directly at Jonah, she ran her hands over her body. With one hand she massaged her breast as the other started to touch her crotch. She rocked her hips saying, Come on, baby, let’s go inside. Like old times, baby.

Jonah blushed and said, I can’t right now, I have to go. He turned and started towards the casino. She grabbed his arm and swung him back around.

Where you goin’? You leavin’ me in the cold? she started to yell at him excitedly.

Jonah was getting nervous. He started to stutter out a response. He was never good at conflict and even worse when it was in public. She raised a finger and prepared to yell at him some more when suddenly a high pitch whistle grabbed their attention. She looked up and saw a shadowy backlit figure standing on the casino steps. The shadow motioned for her to get lost. She quickly stormed off, but turned once to give a dirty scowl to Jonah. Jonah turned to see who she had been looking at on the steps. He saw the shadowy figure wave and motioned him over. Jonah waved back and started over to the casino.

As he approached the entrance, the shadowy figure came down and greeted him on the steps.

Captain Jonah, welcome, the man said as he came out into the light. He was a tall man with a slender build. He had long sandy grey hair and wore an eye patch on his left eye; there was a large scar running from the patched eye to his chin, and then it stopped, continuing somewhere on his neck.

Thank you… Jonah was about to finish when he was cut off by the man.

You’re late. The game is waiting. Moncliffe isn’t happy, the man said as he grabbed Jonah by the elbow and directed him inside. He escorted Jonah through the crowded casino. The smells and lights and sound made Jonah feel dizzy as he tried to take in the whole place. He had been here before, many times, and he was always overwhelmed by the action.

This way, the man said as he led Jonah towards the back where there was a private room. While the room was open to the casino, the walls and thatched roof made it seem separated and quieter than the rest of the place.

Jonah was rushed in to the room. At a table were four other men and one woman. Several looked up towards him and showed their obvious distaste for his lateness. Jonah was led over to his chair when a voice boomed out.

Ahh, so it is that we are now all here… No? This man was extremely well dressed and very charismatic. He put his hand out towards Jonah. Jonah grasped the man’s hand to shake it and as he did the shadowy man came over ready to strike Jonah. But a wave from the well-dressed man stopped him. Very well, ahh… The man said as he took out a white handkerchief and started to rub his hands where Jonah shook it. I was hoping you had something… No? The man stared at Jonah.

Jonah looked at him and was at first puzzled, then he remembered what was expected. He reached into his inside suit pocket and pulled out a small brown envelope which he handed to the man. The well dressed man looked at the envelope, opened it, and ran his fingers through a large number of monetary bills.

Good…. Good, he said as he handed the envelope to the first man who had escorted Jonah to the table. Let’s get Mr. Jonah some chips, he said as he waved his blessing over the table. He walked off towards a back room, leaving Jonah sitting at the table while a large stack of multi-colored poker chips was placed in front of him.

The shadowy man clapped his hands and ordered the game to commence. He then walked over to the side of the table where he could oversee the game and watch the larger room as well.

The game went on for some time as the players started to learn the others’ style of play. Jonah was doing well, adding to the chips that had been placed at the beginning of the game. The game went on and so did the hours. As the crowds started to depart, it was getting quieter and quieter in the casino. The sun started to peek through some of the windows. Jonah was tired, but he had done this several times before. The last few times he had been there, he had been on an amazing winning streak and this time was no exception.

They took a restroom break, and managed to eat some breakfast. Jonah felt more relaxed and at ease when he returned. Two other players had fallen out and left the casino after their chips had been depleted. Jonah had doubled his initial buy in. He was feeling good and he was starting to get cocky.

You guys put on a really great party here, Jonah said as he slapped the back of the man who had been overseeing the game.

The man grabbed Jonah’s arm and swung him around. He put his face a nose-length’s from Jonah’s and, with his mouth and teeth clenched, whispered,

You touch me again and I will have your heart for lunch. His eyes bored into Jonah’s.

Jibs, Jibs…, the well dressed man said as he entered the room, please let our guest loose, he did not mean it. No?

Yes, sir, Moncliffe, the man said as he released Jonah. Jonah was shaking in his seat as he slid down into it.

The game continued on for another hour, and another player was eliminated. Jonah was excited over his winnings; he had never had such a streak of luck. And that was the end of it, as, with a nod from Moncliffe to Jibs, Jonah’s luck changed for the worse. Three hours later Jonah was in trouble of losing his seat and being eliminated. Jibs looked pleased with the turn of events. After another hour, Jonah was nearly done.

Break. We will take a thirty minute break, Jibs said to the remaining players. Jibs was moving away from the table when Moncliffe walked in. They smiled at each other and Moncliffe nodded to Jibs. Jibs walked over to where Jonah was standing, mumbling to himself, distraught over losing so much money.

Mr. Jonah, tough luck, Jibs said in a comforting tone that was lost in his frightening scarred features. But I have good news, Mr. Jonah. Moncliffe is confident that your luck will return. He has authorized me to extend you a letter of credit, he said added with a sadistic smile. Sign here and he will have more chips placed on the table. He held out a pen and a paper.

Jonah knew that he could win. He had done it earlier in the evening. It was possible; he just needed a little more time. He signed the paper without reading it and soon he was led back to the table where a large pile of new chips sat there waiting for him. The sight of the new chips energized him. He felt refreshed. His luck was bound to change. It did–some; but twelve hours after Jonah started he found that once again he was broke, and now eliminated from the game. He stood up and walked away from the table, heading over to the bar. He sat at the bar and the server handed him a glass full of some kind of alcohol, it didn’t matter what. He started to drink in disbelief at what had happened and the amount of money he had lost.

Mr. Jonah, sorry for the bad luck. Moncliffe shares in your loss and asked me to give this to you, Jibs said as he handed Jonah a gold colored disk. Moncliffe says take this next door and enjoy yourself. Free—on the house.

Jonah took the disk, and whispered thank you. He downed his drink, walked to the door, and slipped out. Jibs was three steps behind him. Jonah stood in the street, looked at the brothel, which stood next door to the casino, considered for a moment, and then turned away and headed towards the ferry.

Jibs whistled and made a waving motion towards the brothel. Soon Jonah found himself in the midst of three lovely women, hanging on him, turning him around, and escorting him inside the brothel. Moncliffe had come outside and stood next to Jibs as both men watched Jonah being led into the building by the women who were taking turns kissing him on the ears and neck. Both men stood there smiling and laughing loudly, clearly pleased.

When Jonah woke he found himself in that panicked state where one doesn’t know where they are or how they got there. He frantically looked around. He was laying in a small dingy bed, barely dressed, and his head pounded in agonizing pain. He attempted to stand, only to crash back down onto the bed, his head hurt so much and the room spun wildly out of control. He still wasn’t sure where he was. Painfully he turned his head and looked towards a window that had been card boarded shut. There was enough of a gap for him to see that it was night out. The lights of the town shown through like stars sparkling in the night sky. He managed to locate his clothes and begin to dress. The room spun faster when suddenly the door came crashing in with a huge bang.

Get up! I said get up! a loud voice yelled as a man grabbed Jonah by the hair on the back of his head. Jonah tried to comply but he was so dizzy, he wasn’t able to remain standing. You’re a fuckin’ piece of shit, the man said in his ear as Jonah knelt on the floor feeling very sick.

Jonah was led out of the room. He tried to walk, but basically he was just dragged out of the brothel. The man doing the dragging was Jibs and he was angry. Jibs brought Jonah out into the street and threw him down. Jibs gave orders to some of the armed men nearby who came running over. They picked Jonah up, who had passed out again, and pulled him towards a side entrance to the casino.

Jonah awoke to find himself sitting naked in a chair with handcuffs on his wrists and a long chain stemming from each cuff and connected to the floor. The world was still spinning, the effects of the alcohol, and what he assumed was some kind of narcotic still gripping him and making him sick. He wasn’t sure what was going to happen and the longer he sat there chained to the floor, the room spinning, the more he started to panic and lose control.

Tell Moncliffe that he’s awake, Jibs said as the door opened with a loud metallic creak. Jibs stood there in the open doorway, letting fresh air enter the room. Jonah wasn’t aware of it but he had vomited and defecated while he had been chained there. Jibs went to the far wall where there was a small fire hose. He turned it on Jonah, drenching him in mostly clean water. The water refreshed Jonah, and soon his head cleared somewhat, too. Jibs turned off the hose and threw it back to the corner of the room. Jonah sat there worried about what was going to happen next. The sound of the water dripping from him and the chair seemed to fill the room. Jibs went towards the door and stood there motionless and quiet.

What’s going on? Jonah pleaded, looking around, still disorientated. What do you want from me?

What do I want from you? a voice said from just outside the doorway. What I want from you is my goddamn money. No? Moncliffe said as he walked into the room. He reached into his inner coat pocket and removed a handkerchief, placing it around his nose and mouth to staunch the smell in the room.

I can get you your money. I just need to go back to my ship and make arrangements, Jonah begged anxiously.

Moncliffe walked around the room slowly, watching Jonah, who began to frantically spout gibberish about how he had the money and how he could get it to him soon. Moncliffe shook his head side to side. He had his fill of Jonah. He raised his hand to silence the blabbering man, and when he didn’t stop talking, Moncliffe looked to Jibs. Jibs walked over to Jonah, raised his fist, and brought it down crashing against Jonah’s cheek. Stunned by the blow, Jonah was slow to recover as blood trickled from his lips and cut cheek.

Let’s talk realistically, Moncliffe said as he continued to circle Jonah strapped to the chair. You owe me a lot, and I mean a lot of money. I want this money, and I know that there is no way for you to pay, Moncliffe said as he studied Jonah.

No, I can get it! Jonah pleaded before Jibs struck him again across the face.

No, I don’t think so, Moncliffe said calmly. See, Monsieur, you do not have the means to repay me my $850,000.00 that I allowed you to gamble.

Jonah’s face went slack as the amount was mentioned. There must be a mistake, I didn’t lose nearly that much, Jonah said as he braced for another hit from Jibs. But it never came.

Oh, but you did, and then there is the interest. In fact you signed a paper agreeing to this, no? Moncliffe said as he pulled the contract that Jonah had signed to get the line of credit during the game out of his pocket.

I… I… Jonah stuttered.

I… I… What? Moncliffe mocked. It’s right here, and with your signature. No? Moncliffe said as he glanced at the contract before placing it back his inside coat pocket. Moncliffe continued to pace around Jonah, increasing Jonah’s nervousness and anxiety.

Now, Monsieur, we have done some checking and we know that you do not have this kind of money. We also know that you do not have access to this kind of money, Moncliffe said as he walked to the far side of the room. Now, what can we do to make this… right?

Jonah braced for what he expected was coming. He was sure that they were going to beat the balance from his hide, and he hoped that he would have all his appendages and body parts left when they had finished.

Moncliffe saw that Jonah was bracing himself for a punch or a kick from Jibs. Moncliffe started to laugh, We’re not going to beat you… not much anyways. He walked towards Jonah.

Jonah started to relax a little but he then started to feel sicker when he realized that they just may kill him outright.

We have a way for you to work off this debt. Are you interested? Moncliffe said as he approached Jonah. A way for you to honor your debt, and a way for both of us to walk away with more money than we have dreamed, Moncliffe whispered in his ear.

Jonah sat motionless and was hesitant to say or do anything for fear of being hit by Jibs.

What do I have to do? Jonah asked meekly.

Nothing much. Just help us steal something, Moncliffe said as he chuckled. He walked to the door and grabbed a briefcase that had been sitting just outside. He brought the case over to a small table that sat nearby, placed the case on the table, and opened it slowly. Moncliffe wanted Jonah to squirm with anticipation and fear so he took his time riffling through the papers and documents.

We need your help in stealing…this, Moncliffe said as he raised a photograph. It was the airship Melbourne, the airship that Jonah was captain of.

Jonah felt as though his stomach had dropped out from his body and hit the floor. He instantly felt sick and vomited again on the floor. I can’t do that. My career… Jonah muttered once he’d stopped retching.

Your career will be over right now if I just kill you, Moncliffe said as he pulled out a large bladed knife from the briefcase. Jonah knew that if he did die today it was going to be a long and slow process. Besides, Monsieur, if you die today, Moncliffe said, allowing for the light to dance off the silver blade and cast bright reflections around the room, if you die today, so do your wife and children, Moncliffe said very simply.

What? Not my family? Jonah started to protest, struggling with his restraints. Jibs walked over a landed another crashing blow against Jonah’s face. A white flash filled Jonah’s eyes and an intense pain shot through him. Once Jonah recovered, he watched Moncliffe in horror.

Moncliffe pulled from the briefcase an electronic tablet about the size of a piece of paper. He swiped his hand over the surface, then walked over to show Jonah a live video feed. He saw his home from the point of view of a camera emerging from a vehicle. The door to the vehicle opened; whoever was holding the camera walked up the front steps of his house, then over to the side of the porch where he held the camera to the window. The video feed showed his wife sitting at the dinner table with his two sons, completely unaware they were being watched, eating dinner and enjoying each other’s company.

No! You wouldn’t! Jonah pleaded.

Oh, but I will, Monsieur, and I will without hesitation, Moncliffe said as he pulled out a cell phone and spoke into it.

The video feed changed as the camera moved from the window and faced the front door. The cameraman was positioned so that no one from the house could see him. Watching the feed closely, Jonah noticed a second man approaching the house. He was dressed as a delivery man and he promptly walked to the front door and rang the doorbell. There was the sound of small commotion as a dog started to bark and the kids raced to the door to open it. The door swung open and there stood both his boys as his wife walked up. Jonah watched the feed terrified by what may happen. And the same time he felt the same entrancement he always did by the beauty of his wife. Her flowing blonde hair always warmed his heart when he saw her. Now he was filled with mixed emotions, terrified that this may be the last time he saw her. The video showed the delivery man standing there with a package. He asked for the Smith residence and after his family told him he had the wrong house, the door closed and the delivery man turned towards the camera, pulling a large gun out of the hollowed out back of box and showing it to the camera. The man placed the gun close to the lens with his finger still on the trigger, and then stuck it in his belt. The camera started to move as the man made a shooting gun motion with his fingers. He and the cameraman started to laugh as the video feed cut off.

Jonah was devastated. He just saw how exposed and vulnerable his family was. He felt on the verge of a mental breakdown, but knew he would do whatever he could to protect his family.

Alright, alright… You win, Jonah said, emotionally drained. I’ll do what you want.

I figured you’d see it our way, no? Moncliffe said. Then he started to map out the plan to hijack the Melbourne.

Jonah sat there listening, realizing he was about to become the unlikely accomplice to the most daring heist he’d ever heard of. In his view, it had no chance of working. No chance—till he heard what his part in the caper was. He felt sick again, but managed keep it to himself.

So you see, Captain Jonah, if you keep to the plan, your family will remain safe, you will become the hero Captain that fought off the hijackers, and you will collect a portion of the ransom Moncliffe said, very pleased that he had devised and presented the plan so well to Jonah. It’s how you say… A win-win, situation. You just have to keep to your side of the bargain, Moncliffe said with a smile.

Moncliffe left the room and soon after Jibs unfastened the handcuffs and threw a robe around Jonah. Then he led Jonah to a small room with a shower and fresh clothes. Jonah went inside and closed the door. He stood there in the shower, letting the warm water hit him as he sobbed about his future and how he almost lost his family.

Oh, God, what am I going to do? He cried harder.

Chapter Two

HIJACKED

T he steady hum and drone of the engines and machinery helped to muddle the footsteps that clanked down the steel catwalk. The interior of the airship was off limits to most but a few key personnel, and held none of the creature comforts shared in the passenger areas. The bladders, filled with Synth-Helium, were within arm’s reach, sitting in rows, each one computer-controlled for maximum lift and stability for wind and weight. The cool air seemed to move through the maintenance-issued jumpsuit, chilling Jonah to the bone. He wondered how much chill was actually the wind and how much was his fear of being detected. If he was discovered it would be hard to explain his presence here, even if he was the captain. So he moved in the shadows, avoiding key spots that undoubtedly contained motion detectors and cameras that would alert the crew to his presence.

Jonah walked along the catwalk that connected to the main superstructure of the airship. He was using his electronic tablet (Tabs as they were referred to) to map out a diagram to locate the junction panel he was looking for. The light coming from the screen