Chapter 36 The Extra Person

• The night passed quickly, and the brilliant morning sunlight pierced through the lingering darkness, casting rays of light over the ocean. The waves shimmered, bringing the scene to life as they rippled across the horizon.
• In the open sea, three massive cargo ships were cutting through the waves, heading toward Australia under the rising sun. Each ship was heavily loaded, their waterlines sinking under the weight, making them look as if they might capsize from one wrong move. Alongside them were a few seemingly ordinary oil tankers, but to the trained eyes of Ryan and his crew, these were no regular vessels—the oil tankers were merely disguises for what lay beneath: warships. Real warships.
• Using the global positioning system of the Ministry of Defense, Ryan watched the gray-marked warships appear clearly on the control screen. Every detail—speed, direction, size—was listed clearly on the adjacent system.