Chapter 8 - Atlas
Douglas Kane denied being Atlas.
He also denied remembering the maintenance override.
Then forensic officers found an old encrypted archive tied to his Navy credentials.
Not proof of betrayal.
Communications officers store thousands of files.
But one folder was named:
ATLAS TEST.
Kane’s attorney arrived before more questions.
Smart.
McAllister ordered him suspended pending investigation.
Kane left base under escort.
No arrest.
No dramatic handcuffs without evidence.
Then audio comparison.
Jonah’s memory alone could not convict anyone.
Investigators pulled old training recordings of Kane.
The unauthorized Black Harbor transmission was damaged.
They ran voice analysis.
Result:
Possible consistency.
Not definitive.
Then something stranger.
The Atlas voice also contained segments matching Richard’s speech patterns.
Someone had spliced or synthesized voice elements.
Five years ago deepfake audio was less advanced but voice sampling existed.
Could use recorded command phrases.
Richard had hundreds of briefing recordings.
Kane too.
Why combine?
To create uncertainty.
If survivors identified voice, suspicion could fall on Richard.
Then the phrase Jonah remembered:
Use Sterling authentication.
Investigators examined credentials.
My mission token.
Richard’s command token.
Both existed.
Mine had been captured during ambush?
Possibly.
Richard’s was left at console.
Then McAllister brought us a new recovered log.
At 01:48, twenty nine minutes before our distress call, Richard’s token authorized a route update.
EXTRACTION POINT BRAVO MOVED 2.6 KM NORTH.
That route sent us directly into ambush.
Richard stared.
“I never authorized that.”
“Where were you?”
“With Vale.”
Again.
Vale.
“He summoned you?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Briefing about contractor threat assessment.”
“Pelican?”
“Yes.”
McAllister sat back.
So Vale pulled Richard away.
Cross and Kane remained.
Route changed using Richard’s token.
Team ambushed.
Then after Harper distress message, same token discredited it.
The sequence looked deliberate.
Richard had been made to appear central if anyone later investigated.
A scapegoat with motive?
His daughter on mission.
Maybe personal conflict.
Then why did he cooperate with cover?
Career fear made him useful.
The best frame is one the target helps maintain.
Richard sat with both hands pressed together.
“He knew I’d sign.”
“Who?”
I asked.
“Vale.”
“He knew you’d choose your career?”
Richard looked at me.
“He knew I’d choose the institution.”
That sounded nobler.
Maybe that was how my father survived himself.
Then McAllister received a call.
Cross had been located.
His face changed.
“Where?”
“Naval marina.”
“Alive?”
“Yes.”
“Custody?”
“Not yet. Coast Guard stopped a private launch after its registration flagged.”
“Who’s with him?”
A pause.
McAllister looked at Richard.
“Malcolm Vale.”
There.
Cross and Vale together.
Not proof of Black Harbor.
Plenty.
Then another name.
Boat owner:
Pelican Maritime Systems.
The contractor tied to diverted supplies.
McAllister stood.
“We’re going.”
I stood too.
“No.”
He looked at me.
“I’m coming.”
“This is not your operation anymore.”
“I spent five years inside the consequences.”
He considered.
Then nodded.
“You stay behind security.”
Fine.
Richard started to rise.
McAllister stopped him.
“You stay.”
My father’s face hardened.
“Why?”
“Because if this is a frame, I need to know whether they’re running from Harper.”
May you like
Then:
“Or from you.”
