The heavy tracked pontoons of the Iron Ark cut through the poisoned underground lake, throwing up frothing bow-waves of eerie-glowing yellow chemical foam that hissed wildly against the heavy steel hull.
Three hundred meters ahead, Mining Rig Omega loomed like a jagged black citadel rising from the sunless water. High-intensity liquid silver-vapor searchlights swept across the dark expanse of the Central Aquifer Vault, their blinding white beams cutting through the haze of diesel-aether exhaust and rotten-egg steam that billowed from the drilling platform.
Suddenly, a wailing siren tore through the cave vault.
The harsh sound klaxon bounced between the huge selenite crystal columns hanging from the roof, shattering the silence of the ancient deep-rock safe hall. On the upper gantries of the mining platform, mercenary sentries clad in sealed outside hazmat-armor scrambled along the metal narrow high walkways, while self-running defense turrets swung their heavy barrels toward the approaching intruder with air-powered clatter and the high-pitched whine of tracking servos.
Over the castle’s high-output heavy-duty loudspeaker array, an arrogant, metal voice boomed across the water, dripping with patrician condescension and ruthless high-born entitlement:
“Attention unidentified mobile vessel! You’re trespassing in private heavy-duty lease territory operated by House Vance and the ApexBio Corporation! Power down your forward thrust systems right away and prepare to be boarded for summary execution! By decree of the Federal Minerals Bureau, all secret commoners in Sector 9 are classified as living salvage!”
