Chapter 4 - LOCKDOWN
Down the length of Pier 12, amber warning beacons mounted on the concrete security barriers began to rotate, bathing the gray hulls and orange equipment in flashing light. The automated gates at the entry point of the pier snapped shut with a heavy mechanical clatter, locking down all vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
From the primary watch post fifty yards away, two armed Navy Master-at-Arms security sailors instantly unholstered their sidearms, their boots pounding rhythmically against the concrete as they rushed toward the source of the alarm. Other personnel around the inspection site immediately backed away, forming a wide perimeter while keeping their eyes locked on the Commander, awaiting her command.
Chloe looked around in utter panic as the world transformed into a controlled tactical response around her. The bright sun felt blinding, and the concrete seemed to vibrate under the boots of the approaching guards.
"What did I do?" Chloe stammered, her high-pitched voice laced with sudden, undeniable terror. Her hands trembled as she clutched her expensive white blazer around herself. "It's just a stupid bag! I'll pay for it! Tell them to turn those lights off!"
She looked at her younger sister, desperate for a familiar sibling reaction—a sigh, an argument, a scolding.
The Commander slowly turned her head, her sharp gray eyes locking onto Chloe with terrifying clarity. Her expression was devoid of anger, family warmth, or hesitation. It was the face of an officer presiding over a catastrophe.
"I told you to put it down," the Commander said smoothly.
May you like
The words were not delivered with heat; they were a cold statement of fact, carrying the weight of an iron vault closing shut.
Chloe backed away another inch, her heels catching on the rough deck, but there was nowhere left to run. The pier was completely sealed.
