The team found places to sit or stand and something to do with their free time. Beside the constant sound of drone traffic it was actually pretty quiet around this part of town. No spill over music, no aggressive honking and especially no other people outside made the experience of being stuck here not bad - just a tad boring.
Almost exactly half an hour after they had arrived, the situation changed. Slobbertooth was the first to notice: Something moved inside the pool of dirty water. For a moment it looked like some kind of shark with a fin breaking the surface. Half a second later a big, silver box surfaced, vaguely reminiscent of a coffin or - for the historically inclined sci-fi enthusiast - a photon torpedo. The box moved to the inward facing edge of the pool and made room for four other pods. They maneuvered similarly to the first and - with an audible magnetic "clack" - docked to each other, forming a continuous raft.
As soon as the pods had come to a rest, an AR prompt appeared, asking for a code to be transmitted.
After sending the same sequence of numbers again, another AR image formed: Dr. Schmitt appeared as the team had seen him in the restaurant.
"Greetings,
as you probably already found, I've taken the liberty to stock this place with a few amenities while you check out your transportations. The autonomous logistic expert system in this warehouse is programmed to deliver you additional stocks if you should need them. But use it sparingly, lest someone should take an unduly interest in this place. For that reason I have to ask you not to leave this place before you embark on the mission or irrevocably decline. In the latter case, you'll have five minutes to leave this place, before a drone transporting highly flammable chemicals has an unfortunate malfunction and veers into this temporary residence. This is not a threat, but merely a measure to ensure our mutual needs for discretion and privacy concerning our business relationship.
To business than: The five pods you see before you are the latest pre-series models from my lab. Officially, they are on an extended autonomous test drive. Under full power they are capable to function for a full 48 hours of non-stop underwater travel. In power safe mode they can manage about two weeks without power input. If they have to, they can use underwater currents to recharge their batteries enough to sustain life support and a homing beacon. The pods will have to check back in about 44 hours. I'd prefer it, if you'd have situated yourself within them. I'll then personally place them inside the transport container with my other gear, that I'll take with me to the underwater base. I can assure you, that this transport is safe. I myself have used them extensively in real life condition testing and actually had one on stand by during our meeting for a quick evacuation should that have become necessary.
All necessary documentation is contained within the Jonas host. You should have received an invite mark by now to enter the host. The advanced expert system will allow you full access but will try to prevent you from copying sensitive files. I am aware that you'll probably succeed in doing so if you really want to, but be warned that the other four pods will assist with there own processing resources, making this a quite formidable opponent. This is of course also another measure to protect you from attack while you are cocooned and within virtual reality.
As soon as you have reached the base, you'll also receive a mark from me as per your request. I'll try my best to collect for you additional information about the on site personal once I am there and have access to the facility's system. Hopefully, I won't have to wake you, but if I do, you will be near the loading and the passenger dock, so you can intercept any attempt to kidnap me.
Our escape route will either be a small transport submarine docked in the hangar or - if this fails - through the pods which you'll have to move back to the hangar.
In the latter case, we'll probably not be able to bring back the box within the fifth pod. So don't pack any gear within, that can't be easily replaced - just in case.
Speaking of equipment: You can enter the pods fully clothed, but the snake finger technology of the autodoc can not guarantee that your body armor won't be damaged. Therefore it would be a good idea to uncover or at least loosen any garment covering your orifices. Specifically urethra, anus, mouth and nose. The former two will receive catheters while the latter two will be covered with an oxygen mask, or if necessary with a tubus. Your chest area will receive monitoring sensors that can deliver electric shocks in case of ventricular fibrillation. Don't worry: When you wake up, you'll have enough time to restore your combat readiness.
This expert system has limited artificial intelligence and will be able to answer most of your questions.
Once you have finished your inspection, place the gear you can't take with you into the box within the fifth pod and enter the other pods yourself to embark on the mission.
Good luck."
The AR image stopped talking but continued to be displayed, indicating that the expert system was ready to answer further questions.
