December 15, 2025 — 6:15 PM
Southbound – 105 Nautical Miles from Luzon
The ocean had finally calmed.
Gone were the thrashing waves and the shrieking chaos. The bloom-mutated sea creatures had vanished beneath the surface, driven off or disrupted by the last of the depth charges. But their presence lingered—like rot in the air, like oil in the water.
Inside the Sea Phantom, Thomas Estaris sat stiffly in his seat, one hand still gripping the control yoke though there was no longer immediate threat.
The hum of the boat's engines was steady, but underneath that noise, he could feel the subtle vibration—uneven, irregular. Something wasn't right.
He checked the diagnostics panel.
Hull Integrity: 45%
Left-side Stabilizer Panel: Misaligned
Stern Underside Armor: Cracked
Engine Cooling Loop (Auxiliary): Functional but Compromised
Canopy Seal: 90% Integrity
Internal Pressure: Stable
Electronics: Minor fluctuations
Structural Fatigue Index: Elevated (Red Status)
