2199 AD. "General Cussler!! Our space fleet is gone, the Kuiper defense line has been destroyed, the Jovian defense line has been wiped out!!! And now the Skynet defense is under heavy fire from the enemy!!! What are we going to do?!?!" General Cussler looks at the young Lieutenant Colonel and shakes his head in frustration. As they watch on the monitors, the Skynet Defense crumbles under the heavy onslaught of the alien enemy attacking Earth. The monitors go black and nothing electrical works. They just stand in numb shock as the enormity of their loss settles on them. Suddenly a glowing field of energy appears in front of them and as they watch, it grows spherically larger until a human walks through. The short curly haired man looks at the General and his aide with penetrating hazel eyes. "I am Varian, a Voyager sent back in time to help you defeat the enemy that has just wiped out your entire defenses. It is urgent that you must contact Andrew Yaeger, and ask permission to use his Purple computer system to wipe out the enemy. Now." General Hiram Cussler walks over to an antiquated telegraphic system and calls for Andrew Yaeger to come.

Nearly an hour later the scientist arrives at the defense operations center. Andrew Yaeger speaks first after entering the doorway. "You contacted me, General Cussler. What can I do for you, General?" "I would like permission to use your Purple Computer system, Mr. Yaeger". "I do not understand, General". "This man here says your computer system can destroy the enemy" the General nods his head towards Varian. "My computer system is for scientific purposes only, General, I still do not understand". Varian speaks, "Mr. Yaeger, from what I understand is that your computer system has the capacity for time travel, does it not?". "How, How ...did you ...know?". "Mr. Yaeger, I am a member of the Voyagers, a time traveling group out to set things right". "This does not make sense, Mr. Varian, how can this help defeat the enemy". "I am going to tell you why this alien race of tall humans that are 12 times our height are attacking your planet. Way back in the early 21st Century a Virgin Galactic's sub-orbital ship, the Spindrift disappeared never to be found. Well, the Spindrift actually landed on the planet where these tall humans live. The survivors actually had long been dead when the Spindrift was found and it took these tall humans many years to achieve spaceflight, with the help of the technology from the Spindrift. Then in your year of 2076 President Lyman Pitt was assasinated by the Choteau family. This family took power in the United States and because of their stupid attempts to communicate with this race of tall humans, they have caused this current attempt to take over the Earth".

"Mr. Yaeger, with your permission I would like to use your computer system to travel back in time to prevent the assasination of President Lyman Pitt". Andrew Yaeger replied, "Why can't you do this yourself, Mr. Varian?". "Because I was sent here and can only be retrieved by the Voyagers technology and to travel back in time here on Earth, I must use your technology". "General Cussler, sir, this is most unusual and unless you want Mr. Varian here to do this then I wil give my permission". "Indeed, yes, I do want Varian to go back and stop this holocaust from happening. Otherwise, we will be defeated and will probably be slaughtered". "Very well, then. Varian, will you follow me back to my lab?". "Yes". "May god go with you young man" General Cussler tells Varian. After Varian and Andrew Yaeger leave, the Lieutenant Colonel turns to the General, "This is crazy. Do you honestly believe that Varian can accomplish this and prevent Earth from being dominated by another race of humans?". "It's just crazy enough, Lieutenant Colonel, that it must work".

Varian helps Andrew Yaeger work out the technical aspects of the time travel system, since it had not been used in many decades. "Varian, how did you know about the Purple computer system?" asked Andrew Yaeger. "I read about it in the history books" he replied. "I see" answered Yaeger. Soon they had the computer up and running. Varian took hold of the remote control and stepped onto the platform and in less than a minute disappeared.

Taking a detour to August of 1944, Varian appeared on the plane captained by Joseph P. Kennedy moments before the plane explodes over the English Channel. Varian aims his tuning fork to detect where the explosion will occur and finds what will set off the explosion and manages in time to separate the dynamite and the concussive material stored next to it. Knowing that with Joseph P. Kennedy will live, Varian is assured that John F. Kennedy Jr. will not perish in the 1999 airplane crash over the Atlantic Ocean near Martha's Vineyard and thus will be assured of his election to the Presidency of the United States in 1916. With this accomplished, it will be easier to prevent the assasination of President Lyman Pitt in 2076. With the election of JFK Jr. in 2016 a war will be prevented and the circumstances of the 2076 assasination of President Lyman Pitt will be in doubt. Traveling to 2076 and finding a spot near the sniper's nest where the assasin will shoot from, Varian kills the approaching assasin. Suddenly, after disposing of the assasin's body Varian finds himself hurtled back in time unexpectedly to 1944 again and finds himself aboard a plane over the Himalayas. Matthew Pitt, at the age of 104 stares at the stranger seated next to him that appeared a moment ago. "Who are you?" declares the old man. "I am Varian" replies the short curly haired man with the penetrating hazel eyes. The plane jerks at the wind whipping it, and the engines hiccuped. Varian realized what was about to happen and races to the cockpit. The pilot is enraged to see a stranger in his cockpit and Varian punches him so that he can gain control of the plane. He flies the plane and after nearly an hour finds himself approaching the south side of the Himalayas and looking down into the green lush jungles of India. After another two and a half hours he spots an airstrip and lands the plane. Finally, after standing on solid ground, Varian wonders why he was in March of 1944, saving the life of the famed journalist, and adventurer Matthew Pitt.

April 12, 2013. Vice President Michael Adams picks up the phone after it rings. "Michael, it's Steven Wolters, can you make it to a lunch meeting beneath the Capitol?" 'Sure, I will be there" replies the VP. Later, eating Navy beans beneath the Capitol, Michael is stunned when Steven Wolters announces his nomination to the Ambassadorship to the Court of St. James. Michael congratulates Steven. "Michael, I know you have been waiting for this and I want to ask you anyway, will you chair the Omega Group for me?". 'Yes, yes I ceertainly will, Steven. Thank you, Thank you". "You do realize of course that your immediate resignation as Vice President is required?". 'Oh, certainly, Steven. I know." "Good".

4:12AM April 19, 2013. President Dennis Richardson has a massive stroke while in his sleep and dies. Later, at 7:27AM The Speaker of the House of Representatives, James Sheridan reflects as he recites the oath of office for the U.S. Presidency, that after losing to Dennis Richardson back in November, here he is in the White House after all. At 12:50PM The former Congresswoman, Catherine Rogers is sworn in as the Vice President of the United States. She is thrilled. Not knowing the future, she does not realize that she will become President in less than two years after the forced resignation of President James Sheridan. Unfortunately, she herself will not live out the term herself. Michael Adams, watching the news on TV about the swearing in of President Catherine Rogers and kicks himself for resigning so soon. Hopefully, as Chairman of the powerful Omega Group he will be able to influence some of the policies of the Administration.

The Senior United States Senator from Ohio, Hugo Melendez sits impassively listening to the hearing about NUMA's budget. The director of NUMA, Gamay Trout drones on about the figures. Paul Trout sit's next to his wife while she drones on, watching his friend, the Ohio Senator tries vainly to be interested. Paul grins. A congressional page approaches him with a note. Will you join me later for a drink? is an invitaton from the Ohio Senator. Paul writes back, yes, and hands it back to the page.

Varian hurtles back in time to 10,000 BC to the post ice-age Antelope Valley of southern California and finds himself among Indians with whom he befriends. After two years with them he realizes he is not returning to his own time and resigns himself to the fact. He eventually marries an Indian woman with whom he has a family. In his third year of marriage he has a big fight with the Chief of the tribe and is ordered to be killed. His remains along with his advanced technology gear are tossed into the lake. A ceremony is held in remembrance of his life and to ensure his entrance into heaven. Meanwhile, Matthew Pitt continues about his usual travels and written accounts that he submits to the newspapers and magazines. The English government convinces him to copilot a flight of explosives and munitions late in the summer of 1944. The flight disappears over the English channel and is presumed down due to the cargo involved.

2001. Peter Moran, an Aviation Archaeologist, while sweeping the dry lake bed with a metal detector for scraps of aircraft, detects some metal and starts digging and finds the remains of Varian and his electronic gear. Within two weeks a team of archaeologists are digging on the Air Force Base with the military's permission. A month after the archaeological team has finished it's dig the military releases a statement to the press. "Unidentified Man from post ice-age found. Items found along with the remains are from the late 20th Century. An Enigma that has military stumped but reticent to reveal any further details on the items found. A special historical investigator is being sought to answer questions arising from the findings that have come to light. Peter Moran, aviation archaeologist for the Air Force Flight Test Center was the one to discover the remains along with the objects".

2013. In the U.S. Senate hearing over the budget of NUMA, Gamay Trout had to explain the additional funding of Max, the computer system that Hiram Yaeger, Jr. had developed over a decade before and still needed money to be maintained and kept updated. Unbeknownst to Gamay, she was asking for money that was being used in the development of the Puple Computer system that enabled Time Travel/Space Travel that Hiram Yaeger Jr. had developed with Max. Already, Hiram had achieved the goal of Time Travel when his father went back to his World War 2 warship, the Philadelphia. It was Hiram Yaeger Sr. who had achieved Time Travel during Wold War 2 on board the Philadelphia. Hiram Yaeger was able to retrieve a few things before the World War 2 experiment was disassembled by the military because a few lives were lost in that experiment. During that fateful World War 2 experiment Hiram Sr. had traveled back to the 1850s to kill the man who murdered Hiram Sr.'s granduncle aboard the Paddlewheeler, the Arabia. Gamay's peripheral vision saw the congressional page hand her husband, Paul a note and a knowing look he shot the Senior Ohio Senator. Later, the U.S. Senate passed the legislation for the NUMA budget and Gamay breathed a sigh of relief. Now it was to be sent to the joint Congressional budget committee before being sent to the President.

December 12, 2013. Aboard the NUMA Ship, Violet Skies, Kurt Austin watches the crane lift part of the Old Ship onboard and then turns to watch the attractive Danica Petersen, the CCF Cable Channel Correspondent talking into the camera that's pointed at her. It was exciting to prove that Africans had sailed to Australia before Europeans. Kurt walks inside and heads for the Ops Center and spies Joe Zavala monitoring the undersea divers getting ready for the next cargo to be hauled onboard the NUMA Ship. "What!?! You're kidding?" replies Joe. Kurt walks over and sits down next to Joe and asks, "What's going on?". "The divers have found something metallic near the old African ship". Later, looking at the metal, it dawns on Kurt that he is looking at a piece of the old NASA spaceship, Skylab that fell over the Indian Ocean and Western Australia back in 1979.

December 2013. After arriving back at CCF Cable Channel headquarters from her trip to the Indian Ocean off the coast of Western Australia, Danica Petersen is given the news that she has been promoted to White House Correspondent. Danica is ecstatic. After spending a wonderful weekend with the handsome NUMA man, Kurt Austin, Danica feels very pleased indeed. A week later, a big tip leads to her biggest story about a dirty White House administration, Organized Crime and the powerful Omega Group. She goes on TV to report the story on her CCF Cable Channel, scooping all other news media. President James Sheridan resigns December 30, 2013 and the next day his Vice President, Catherine Rogers is given the oath of office as the new President. Hugo Melendez, the former Ohio Senator is sworn in as her Vice President.

Michael Adams, the chairman and president of the Omega Group stares at the TV dumbfounded at the detailed statement being given by the white house press secretary involving not just the white house, organized crime, but the Omega Group as well. He calls J. Edgar but only gets his voicemail. Michael leaves a message for J. Edgar to take over and continue the search for Blue Cobalt and hangs up. Realizing he is done for with his days of reigning over Washington, D.C. Michael opens the third drawer on his left and pulls out his Ruger and presses the mouth of the gun into his mouth. BANG. Blood and matter spray the backside of the office.

It takes over a year for Hiram Yaeger, Jr., Max and Kurt Austin to piece together information on the metal part that was found in the Indian Ocean. It was a part of the 1970s Skylab space station that fell to earth back in 1979. The part was made by a small company, Vanocur Associates in 1969 for use aboard Skylab as a specialized detector that would pick up information on experiments conducted aboard Skylab. Vanocur Associates was later acquired by the growing defense contractor, Waldencorp in 1974. Waldencorp is now the third largest defense contractor in the world. Hiram Yaeger, Jr. put's it to use n his Purple Computer System.

June 2076. Dirk Pitt the third watches his son, Lyman Pitt give his acceptance speech at the Democratic Party Convention and feels pride in his son. The odds look good for Lyman Pitt to be elected President that fall. Dirk Pitt the third recalls his geneaology project 50 years ago at the age of 13, learning about his grandfather George, great-grandfather Matthew and great-great grandfather Daniel. And the trip to England to the ancestral home of the Pitt family. And now his son will be President soon. A great Legacy indeed!!

April 19, 2014. After 11AM Central Time Zone half of Matamoros, Texas is destroyed by a tactical nuclear device wiping out the HQ building of the Trojan cult where over 3,000 women are gathered including President Catherine Rogers are killed. 12:33 PM Eastern Time Zone Vice-President Hugo Melendez is sworn in as the new President. 2:35PM Washington, D,C. Lothar Loring is meeting Helene Moran at a cafe when she blanches her face while glancing at her wireless computer, "What is it, my dear Helene?' Lothar asks. "A large ship in the New York Bay was destroyed and parts of manhattan as well by this madman who is responsible for other commercial ships being destroyed. An unidentified flying craft described as an alien craft by witnesses is the perpetrator. Terrorists were believed responsible at first but apparently this madman named Malachi something announced over broadcast and online media claiming responsibility and unless he is paid a lot of money he promises more destruction" says Helene. Inside the White House, President Hugo Melendez is shocked while munching on a snack watching the TV News with his friend and new Vice-President Paul Trout sitting across the big desk where food and official papers are strewn.

May 7, 2014. Kurt Austin is watching the night sky aboard the NUMA Ship, Violet Skies, when Captain Hjalmar Himmelgrad walks up to Kurt and offers a hot cup of coffee to Kurt. 'Thanks" says Kurt Austin. "You're Welcome, Kurt". The two stand together deep in their own thoughts. The glittering moonlight on the sea has set a mood of contemplation for both men. Jerry Grove, the Sonar operator walks up to the two and coughs. Captain Himmelgrad turns and inquires, "Yes, Mr. Grove, what is it?" "Captain, sir, I have picked up a sonar reflection on the bottom off to our starboard, sir". "Thank you, Mr. Grove, we will be there momentarily". The tall blonde Sonar operator walks back to the Ops center. "Guess we better go check it out" replies Kurt. The two walk to the Op center with Kurt following the Captain. Down in the Op Center, with the Reddish light that is used n the evenings casts an otherworldly glow in the center. Jerry Grove points out the blinking dot on his screen. "A ship, a very big ship lies on the bottom right here Captain". Kurt walks over to the phone and calls Joe Zavala to the Ops center. In less than five minutes Joe arrives and after receiving an order to send down an ROV to get a visual on the sunken ship. In 20 minutes the ROV has slipped into the water down in the moonpool of the ship. It is another 30 minutes before the first visual confirmation comes into view. Sending the ROV towards the front bow takes another ten minutes. As the ROV picks up the visual of the front bow, there is evidence that just beneath the top of her prow the ship is stoved n deeply. "Looks like the evidence of a killer wave has struck her" mutters Captain Himmelgrad. The ROV then picks up the name of the ship on the starboard side. Munchen it says. "My god, the Germain container ship that disappeared back in 1978, the largest ship of her time" says Kurt Austin. Here in the northern part of the Atlantic on her route towards the United States.

News travels fast as word of the Munchen's finding surfaces. Lothar Loring, upon hearing of the finding of the Munchen, prays that his delivery is still intact and delivered soon, if possible. Danica Petersen, though now the White House Correspondent for the CCF Cable Channel is on board the Violet Skies again and is pleased to be with Kurt Austin again. Paul Trout was on board too because of his interest of the seabed surrounding the sunken ship. Even though he is now Vice President of the United States, he still considers himself a scientist first. Insurance agents were nearby on a ship and surveying the wreckage and assesing the damage. Nearby were media and marine salvagers on board their own ships but the Coast Guard was also on site to monitor the situation and to prevent any incidents.

36 years, Lothar Loring thought, was a long time, to get back at the Chinese. Now, with the chance to get his precious cargo of lithium and beryllium discs in his hands, he decided to hire a crew of salvagers to obtain the technology he had commisioned to be built back in 1978. The ingredients for a weapon of such destruction that it would make even a Hydrogen bomb look puny. After the publicity for the Munchen died down, the salvagers went in after the cargo. Big Jake, the Captain of the Albatross was determined to get the big money that was promised him for the cargo aboard the Munchen. After dealing with a storm he and his crew were able to get the cargo on board the Albatross. Finally, the Albatross came sailing into the Seaport of Miami where Lothar had a warehouse to keep the technology in until it was time to unleash it. At 74, Lothar Loring would finally realize a dream of getting back at the communists after they had pulled out of a deal with him back in 1976 when Mao Tse-Tung had passed away, unable to keep his promise.

May 24, 2014. A Missile hurtles from a ship in the Pacific Ocean towards the Three Gorges Dam in China. 32 minutes later, it strikes the dam. With a fireball of such brightness and breadth of area that it covered over 4,000 square miles of total destruction. A wall of Water raced down the riverbed of the Yangtze River destroying all of the Cities and farmland in a line that covered several hundred miles. In less than an hour after the initial blast, a total of over 500 million people perished.

General Wu Xian-Li, Commander of the Chinese Southern Military Command at Guangzhou assumed that the United States had attacked after they learned of the explosion and resulting flood that wiped out over 500 million lives. He immediately fired four ICBM's towards the United States. The one headed towards Los Angeles had an Inertial Guidance problem and tanked in the Pacific Ocean southeast of Hawaii. NORAD contacted the White House of the incoming ICBM's. President Hugo Melendez contacted the Captain of the Los Angeles class submarine, U.S.S. David Lee Whelchel and the two launched three Polaris class ICBM's towards the Chinese ICBM's and destroyed them before they reached the West Coast.

General Hoxa Zhen-Zhou, the Commanding General of the Chinese Armed Forces immediately called for a stand down of all Military forces and then conferred with Jiang Lei-Ping, the President and General Secretary of the Communist party and learned that the United States President Hugo Melendez denied in no uncertain terms that the United States had not attacked China. With Nanking, Shanghai, Chongqing and other major cities along the Yangtze and the surrounding areas for over 400 miles on either side had been devastated. 4,000 squares miles of earth in the Three Gorges was charred and blackened with nothing living, with a high level of radiation.

After some digging, Hiram Yaeger Jr. found out that a german company owned by Waldencorp was involved in the making of the detection device that was used onboard the Skylab. The metals involved in the building of the detection device were Lithium and Beryllium. Max, the computer built by Hiram Yaeger, Jr. reported that it was the same metal discs that were aboard the containership, Munchen when it sank. Kurt Austin, sitting near Hiram looked up and knew something was up because he had heard that Salvagers had indeed stolen aboard the Munchen after everyone had left the area where she lay on the bottom of the Ocean. "Max, can these elements be combined to make an explosive device?". "Yes, indeed" reported Max. "How big can this explosion be?" asked Kurt. "Let me take a moment to calculate, Kurt". Nearly four minutes later, Max came back and said, "It will be an explosion of tremendous power. One that goes off the charts as far as calculating it's power". Kurt and Hiram sat in their chairs, stunned.

November 21, 1993. On Marcus Island, Dirk Pitt wakes up after having the best sleep in ages. Refreshed, he showers and shaves. He then orders an omelette from Room delivery. After eating, Dirk walks along the beach. Varian appears nearby and walks toward Dirk. The two approach each other warily. "Hello, I am Varian" says the man in front of Dirk. "Hello, I am Dirk Pitt" replies Dirk with a grin at the strange looking man. "I am from the future, here to persuade you to help an elderly man in the year 2020 from possibly failing in his last effort to help others for the cause of justice". "Most unusual quest for someone like me, is it not?". "I Believe it is to your advantage to help this elderly man on his quest to right that which is wrong". "Very well, I will help this man as best I can" replies Dirk.

December 29, 2019. Lothar Loring, laying in bed and nearing death asks his assistant, Jonathan to call for Helen Moran. She comes to the private hospital and approaches her former lover. Lothar Loring, despite his ashen face smiles weakly. "Helen, I am glad to see you, my darling". "Lothar, I had no idea. I wish you had contacted me before now". "I am dying my dear and wanted to see you before my time is up. Will you open the drawer in the table next to me and read the letter later on". "Of course, Lothar". She stays until Lothar dies.

In Lothar's letter, Helen reads his confession to destroying part of China and why he believed the Chinese deserved it. He felt betrayed by Mao's successors, who did not honor the deal that Mao had made with Lothar. Lothar had made a deal to mine some precious ore in the mountains of China. He explained that an old American miner friend of his had discovered it way back before Mao came to power. He also mentions the madman, Malachi Zeulithan who killed his daughter, Sheila in the mountains of Idaho. It was his old friend, Tibor Fabrizian, the same man who discovered the precious ore in China had witnessed his daughter's murder. As far as Lothar knew, Tibor was still alive somewhere in the American west most likely in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Knowing that his friend, Tibor may not still be alive he wished to contact any living descendants of his old friend and let them know that the Chinese government was still legally obliged to share the proceeds with the living descendants of Lothar and Tibor.

November 6, 2020. John F. Kennedy Jr. defeats his opponent, Leo Morozko for a second term in the White House by a margin of 6,020,048 votes and an electoral majority of 372-166 electoral votes. Riding high on a feeling, he rides through Dallas in a 1961 Lincoln Continental like his father did in 1963 and manages to get to the airport without incident. Riding aboard Air Force One, He feels satisfied that he is alive and successful.

Braden Fabrizian, long forgotten by his father, Tibor, grew up with his mother and step-father. Beaten hard by his step-father and ignored by his drunk and stoned mother he ran away at the age of 14 and lived on the streets until he starts hanging out at the railroad tracks where he eventually works for the last rail line and fired at the age of 28. He then joins the Merchant marines and lasts in that for 20 years until his retirement. In the new economy he feels out of place without an education. He drifts into a Soldier of Fortune life. But it's not an easy life, with few and far between assignments. Now nearing sixty, he settles uneasily into a storefront business selling odds and ends. One day an attractive and mature woman walks into his store and asks if he is the son of Tibor Fabrizian. "Yes, I am and what is it to you, ma'am?". "My name is Helene Moran, I knew Lothar Loring, a friend of your father's and would like to give you some papers that Lothar Loring wrote about your father". Helene hands the papers to Braden, smiles and leaves. Braden reads the papers and is stunned to learn that he may be rich if he were to sell the mines to the Chinese government.

After some consideration, Braden decides to go to the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C. Exiting the cab at 2300 Connecticut Ave. Braden walks into the Chinese embassy and has a lot of difficulty to see someone about his legal claims on the mine in China. Finally, he is escorted out of the building. He then decides to try the U.S. Department of State and get's another taxi to take him to 2201 C Street where it is located. He is directed to the Country Office for China and shows them his legal claim and they say they will look in to it. Frustrated at the bureaucracy he storms out. Sometimes, you just have to take things into your own hands and he goes back home and decides to go to China.

Finally arriving in China after a long flight, Braden finds a cheap Hostel to stay at. Within days he is covering every bureaucratic office in the Chinese government and constantly being told to go to another office. After nearly a month of this Braden decides to take a trip to the mine itself and catches a series of rides on trucks, busses, and eventually a jeep. Finally reaching the area, Braden has to walk into the mountainous area where the mine is located. After four days of an arduous hike, he arrives at the mine. He finds some old equipment outside the old mine and walks into the dark mine. He walks nearly a quarter mile into the mine when he comes upon a blockage of the mine. He begins to dig through the collapsed rocks and timbers. After a week's worth of digging he finally has a large enough passage to get through. He climbs through and discovers the remnants of an old man and a small trunk. He pries the trunk open and spies several notebooks and papers. He sit's down to read. He discovers that the old man is his father, who had come back to dig out the ore by himself and learns that the old man had made a fortune selling off the metals in the Middle East to Arabs and Eastern Europeans. He learns that the money is secreted in bank accounts and it totals nearly a Billion dollars. The money is his and learns why Tibor, his father had stayed away from him. Tibor notes in his journal that he was too much of a drifter and not a family man and believed that his son and heir deserved better then an old, grizzled man who could not settle down. Tibor was over 50 when he got Braden's mother pregnant and was too set in his ways to stay with a woman and the child he bore. But he believes that his son deserves the money to do as he pleases. He had kept tabs on Braden over the years and finally had succumbed back in 2017 at the age of 111 in the mine after causing the collapse of the tunnel.

With the notebooks, letters and papers packed in his satchel, Braden decides to exit China through the desert along the western border and into the Arabian countries. He hikes and camps for nearly a week until he catches a ride to the border. Then after showing his passport at the border he leaves China into Kazakhstan. He catches another series of rides in busses and trucks to Aqtau on the Caspian shore where he catches a ferry across the Caspian sea to Russia. Upon arriving in Russia he has to show his passport and explain his reason for being in the country. He thinks quickly and comes up with a sojourn in the Resort town of Sochi on the coast of the Black Sea. He decides that's what he will do and try to access his accounts from there. After another series of trucks and busses he makes it into Sochi and falls in love with the resort. He finds the sberbank on Gor 'kogo street where he is able to access his European accounts from and set's up an account with the Sberbank. Learning of the potential investments of Sochi he is told to go to the Bank Sochi to open up an investment account. Braden feels comfortable in Sochi and decides to stay for awhile, buying a Dacha near the Caucasus mountains that has a view of the Black Sea as well. Braden decides to make plans of vengeance against those in his past who have done grievous harm to those he cared for.

Kenneth DeMars, Vice-President of the United States under President John F. Kennedy, Jr. sat at his desk reading position papers when he get's a call from his assistant at the Omega Group who asks that he attend an appointment with his cousin at the family shipping company, DeMars. He get's up to go when he gets another call and learns it's from the National Security Adviser asking about his comment that he made at this morning's briefing. "Yes, I feel strongly that China should recall their ships from the joint maneuvers with us". At the end of the conversation he leaves his office at the Naval Observatory and takes the limousine ride to the DeMars office in Wilmington.

February 25, 1993. Somewhere in the Pacific Ocean, the Merchant Marine ship, the Burlington, steams towards the South China Sea. Onboard the Burlington, Braden Fabrizian, the Second Engineer wipes his brow after working on one of the faulty valves. He walks over to the desk of the Chief Engineer and turns on the small fan to cool off with. Kagen, the Chief Engineer walks in from the passage that leads to the decks above. He smiles at Braden and sits down at the desk. He swings around to the small refrigerator and grabs two beers out of it. He hands one to Braden and they both open the bottles and drink. "Mind if I sit down, Chief?". 'Go ahead, Braden". The second he sits in the chair a muffled crump is heard that jolts the ship. They both sit up quickly and run towards the engines and run around the outside passages that encircle the engine and find a huge hole that begins to erupt with water into the engine room. The Chief runs to grab some tools while Braden sets off the alarms and grabs the bilge pumps. They work feverishly as others join them in seconds working on both the hole and controlling the onrushing flow of the water coming in. Outside, The DeMars ship, the Sigismundo pulls back and with heavy damage to her prow limps slowly along towards her destination. Meanwhile, the Engine crew works feverishly and barely keep the ship from sinking. Despite their efforts the ship takes on some water that causes her to sit low in the water but manage to fix the hole. One member of the Engine crew dies accidentally.

April 16, 2002. Onboard the Merchant Marine ship, the DuBarry, Chief Engineer Braden Fabrizian is cleaning the engine when he hears a strange noise. Next thing he knows, he comes to, lying on the floor with water all over and he sit's up and one of the members of the Engine crew runs up to him. The man pulls Braden up and they start to work on the bilge pumps and fixing the hole in the ship. Again, he learns that a DeMars ship, the Boisson has careened into his ship. Two members of the Engine crew died in the initial contact of the two ships and another one dies later in the hospital. Braden Fabrizian does some reading and learns that other ships have sunk or barely survived such contacts with DeMars ships. His rage grows.

While walking along the beach of the Black Sea, Braden watches a young, beautiful woman running along the beach. The thought of running makes him feel old and he goes to sit down under the Beach Umbrella that he had set up. Recalling two more incidents in 1995 and 1996 involving DeMars ships and the ship he worked on at the time. The young woman comes jogging towards him and asks, "May I take a break in the shade of your umbrella, mister". "Yes, you may" he replies. They exchange introductions. She is Samantha Green, an American on Vacation in Sochi. He tells her he's temporarily living in Sochi until something comes up. "You have any kids, Braden?" she asks. "No, I have not had much time for women having worked a lot on either Trains or in the Merchant Marines". "That's a shame" she quips. "Just have'nt had the desire to settle down and live that kind of life" he returns. She looks at him. Under his sunglasses he can't help but admire her form. It's been quite awhile, he thinks. He mentions the Dacha where he's living. She admits she hasn't had the times to go check out the mountains or the Olympic Village where the 2014 Winter Olympics were held. He offers to take her there and the Dacha if she so desires. She gives him a knowing smile. Later, as the Sun descends over the waters of the Black Sea she walks out of the bedroom with the bedsheet wrapped around her and looks at him with a warm smile. He turns from his view of the Black Sea and admires her with respect. They go inside after the sun disappears and he fixes a dinner. Samantha tells him that she thinks she is ready to settle down. He smiles and says, "If I succeed with my plans and I get away with it, maybe I will join you if you have not found someone by then". But he doubts seriously that he will make it out alive.

After a few days staying with Braden, Samantha left the following Tuesday afternoon and flew back to the United States. He had to get ready himself by purchasing a few things and acquiring a good size ship, and traveling to Eastern Europe to find a crew to man the ship. Things should fall into place easily he thought, since he had the big bucks. He also thought it would be a nice gesture to leave Samantha a good chunk of his money should he not survive. He began to make his plans thoroughly so that, if anything happens he won't be surprised and make the contingencies for them.

After his meeting at the shipping company that his family owns, Kenneth DeMars rides in the limousine to the Blue Cove, Delaware headquarters of the Omega Group. He strides into his office with his assistant, Lenny Lucknow following him. As the former Chairman of the most powerful policy institute in the country, Kenneth DeMars feels the restraints of being the Vice President of the United States with John F. Kennedy Jr. being a hands on President. He sits at his desk and looks at the papers Lenny hands him. The phone rings and he picks it up. Samantha Green, his stepdaughter announces her arrival back in the States after being away on vacation. Samantha Green is his wife, Vanessa's daughter with General Lance Green. Luckily, he had a son with Vanessa not long after marrying her. His son, Forrest DeMars is now in junior high school. Samantha Green talks a bit about her vacation and tells him that Forrest is home from school. Kenneth tell's Samantha that he will be home as soon as possible. He finishes up some reading, signs some papers and quickly looks at the computer before he listens to Lenny give him a rundown on the current projects at the institute and then heads home to Red Lion, Pennsylvania.

After acquiring his new ship, The Rising Star, at Sochi's seaport, Braden flew to Greece and found a shipping agent who told him that there was a Captain Milo D'Anjou, who was available and could be found in the port city of Varna on the Bulgarian coast. Braden thanked the shipping agent and rented a car to drive into Bulgaria and to Varna. Once he got there he rented a room and went to the tavern where he could find the Sea captain. Milo D'Anjou was cheered that he was wanted and brightened up when Braden asked him if he could find a crew for the ship in Sochi. Once he took care of the details and arranged transportation for the Captain and his crew to Sochi, Braden went to his rented room and stayed the night. Then in the morning he drove back to Athens and flew back to Sochi.

December 22, 2020. The Cleophilus, a NUMA Ship, is anchored off the Jersey Shore and as the Seaplane lands nearby with passengers, it skims over the water to the side of the NUMA Ship and a member of the Cleophilus crew ties the Seaplane to the lowered stairs. Out steps a 6 foot tall blonde woman that turns all the male members onboard the Cleophilus towards her. Carmen Sandefur, the 39 year old director of NUMA climbs up the stairs with a silvered hair man just a bit taller than her following behind. After only being Director of NUMA for over a year now, she is still thrilled to be back on the water again. After graduating from high school in 1989, Carmen joined NUMA and slowly worked her way up in the ranks of NUMA. Whether working at a desk or at sea, she enjoyed her work over the years at NUMA. Carmen, now the second woman director in a row, is still self-conscious but gaining confidence in her role. Behind her followed Dirk Pitt, whom she had coaxed out of retirement in New Zealand as a consultant on this project. Gamay Trout-Morgan, her predecessor as Director of NUMA had nominated her for Director. After serving eight years as Director of NUMA from 2011-2019, Gamay was tired and confident that Carmen could do the job. Up on the bridge deck they met the Captain, Jean-Louis Trintignant. Two hours later, Carmen left the ship and flew back to Washington, D.C., where she caught a flight to NUMA HQ in Seattle.