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 7Chapter One -- Twenty-six Years Later0630 Hours: Thursday, June 10, 1993: Watch Station OneWith an explosive roar, multiple alarms wrenched the attendant from his routine-induced stupor. Red, orange and white lights flooded the dimly lit compartment in apsychedelic wash."Damn!" said the suddenly energized sonar mate.Dropping the spy novel his wife had sent to him in the last mail pouch, forgettingto mark his place, John Lawrence immediately switched on the backup sequence andbegan the checkout procedure. As a last step, Lawrence switched on the digital recorder."Transfer module," Lawrence said breathlessly into the microphone on the desk. "Igotta speak to the captain." He could barely contain himself. The only sound in the now-quiet compartment was the steady drumming of Lawrence's fingers on the Formicacounter. He waited anxiously for a response."What's up, John?" said the disembodied voice coming from the tiny speaker on thecountertop. It was the deep bass voice of the Watch Station commander, WilliamO'Shannon, a captain in the United States Navy. O'Shannon had been in the transfermodule discussing a training sequence with other crewmembers."Captain, the control panel just lit up like the Fourth of July.""I'll be right there. Have you initiated backup?""Aye, sir. I also started the checkout procedure."
 
 8"Good."In what seemed an eternity to Lawrence, O'Shannon walked the short distance fromthe transfer module to the command module. Lawrence turned from his intense scrutiny of the control panel when he heard the pressure door being unlatched with a metallic clang.Curiously, he felt a sudden wash of relief knowing that O'Shannon was with him."Okay, John, what do we have?""Nothing like I've ever seen before, Captain. Here, take a look.""You're right. It sure doesn't look like background," said O'Shannon calmly. Hesilently watched the rapid amplitude changes and frequency shifts on the magnetometer."Have you checked the seismometer?""Aye, sir. Absolutely nothing -- nothing at all. Everything is quiet, real quiet. Onething, Captain. The signal seems to repeat itself over and over." John pointed to theregularity of the spikes and valleys on the green-hued screen.O'Shannon was puzzled. He studied the screen trying to see a pattern in thegreenish trace on the screen, some sense of order. He finally looked up at Lawrence."You're right. Did you started the recording sequence?""Aye, sir.""Get the DCO up here," said O'Shannon into the intercom.Rubbing his eyes after the rude awakening, the Deputy Commanding Officer,Lieutenant Joshua Wong, entered the command module. "Yes, Captain.""Mr. Wong, we have a verified signal."Wong snapped fully awake. "I'll start the encoding process immediately.""Good idea. Who gets to carry the message?""Machinist Mate George Waterson is scheduled for rotation on the next supplyvehicle. He has clearance."
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