December 20, 2012. Thirty-five miles west of Van Atta Island the NUMA Ship, Yonder was in it's thirty third track with a side scan sonar being towed behind when a big blip occured on the computer screen in the electronics bay. Giorgios Arvadi, the electronics specialist perked up from a doze and spotted the anomaly and as the data poured in he realized it was a big target. Meanwile, out on the stern Frederick Hermann was lazily looking towards the island in the distance half dreaming of being on its shores with a beautiful woman. Realizing he was getting carried away he turned to look towards the west and spotted what looked like a yacht about four miles away. Frederick grabbed his walkie talkie and hailed the bridge letting Captain Nigel Lagomarsino know about the presence of the yacht as Giorgios was informing the captain of the big target below the waters. Captain Lagomarsino called for a small boat to be lowered with three hands and sent to the yacht. Next he called for the DSROV to be lowered into the ocean to capture video of the target. When the three crewmen returned with news of two corpses and papers of the yacht Captain Lagomarsino ordered them to return and scuttle the yacht while looking over the papers of the couple that had been murdered by pirates. Four hours later as video of the large ship Noni Darnell came into view with her name on the forward bow, Captain Lagomarsino vaguely recalled the name of the ship disappearing back in 1923. He sent a wire to NUMA Headquarters of the discovery of the ship and of the yacht.

December 23, 2012. St. Mere-Eglise, France. The Mayor of St. Mere-Eglise was addressing the town council of the founding of the S.S. Noni Darnell with relief and happiness that the ship had finally been found. Henri-Claude Blaisel was asking if the council would be willing to allow the remains of the ship to be returned to her hometown. Everyone assented. A week later, the ambassador of New Zealand sent a letter to the town council that the cargo of the Noni Darnell be allowed to continue on towards to Wellington as it was supposed to back in 1923. After a heated discussion the town council refused and sent a message to the French ambassador, Edward Arrington. When he received the news Arrington let loose a few invective words and cabled the news to the New Zealand government. Within two weeks two lawsuits were filed by both the French and New Zealand goverments. It was settled that the court case would be held in Wellington, New Zealand and that the hearing would start in late January or early February.

Wellington, New Zealand. February 14, 2013. Despite the loss in height and muscle tone, Dirk Pitt stood straight as best he could while wearing the starched bailiff suit. With his droopy mustache and balding pate, Dirk felt old as Loren looked on from the fourth row of seats. Announcing the arrival of Judge Hiram Leigh Stone in the courtroom, Dirk was still getting used to his new job despite being here for four months now. Semi-retirement was not expected to be this droll, he thought. When he realized he was no novelist he had allowed Loren to suggest an easy job for him. Kelso Robinson, the court clerk handed Judge Stone the papers on the case concerning the Noni Darnell and the lawsuits brought by the French and New Zealand governments. The Prosecuting attorney, Daniel Lassiter stepped forward and handed some papers to the clerk and began his address towards the Judge and the courtroon. The Defending attorney, Christine Zeenaugh. an attractive blonde sat dumbly as she tried to listen to the opening argument. Finally, after some forty minutes Daniel Lassiter finished and sat down. Christine stood up and scanned her notes before approaching the judge. Beginning with an emotional approach for the residents of the town of St. Mere-Eglise, having been to the small town and getting to know some of the residents. Christine reminded the court of the long dead seamen whose families still lived on in the french village and how it would impact them if the contents of the ship including her cargo were returned to France.