Dark clouds blanketed the moonlight, while silver threads of rain kept falling from the sky, blurring their vision.
Underwater propulsion devices carried the Jiaolong Commando members toward the moving Star Virgo. In the shadows, where they were less likely to be spotted, the Jiaolong Commando surfaced and observed the distant cruise ship. Just then, the ship's lights abruptly went out, leaving only a few navigation lights blinking.
Something had happened!
The captain narrowed his eyes. Things clearly were not going as smoothly as they had expected. Something must have happened aboard the cruise ship. In weather like this, shutting off the lights reduced the chances of being detected. Besides, this was a cruise ship, not a warship; there was no need for light discipline!
Diving underwater again, the captain used hand signals to indicate the next move. The Jiaolong Commando split into two teams and began their operation.
One team continued descending, using closed-circuit rebreathers to reduce bubbles as they slowly advanced toward the stern. The other team headed for the lifeboat storage deck.
In this weather, they did not need to worry about radar or visual surveillance at all. They smoothly arrived beneath the stern platform. Modern cruise ships could stand fifty to seventy meters high, with numerous decks. Climbing took time and easily exposed them, while rain brought additional risks. Lower decks such as the lifeboat storage deck or the stern platform were the most suitable entry points.
After reaching the boarding position, the Jiaolong members checked the battery levels of their underwater propulsion devices. Communicating through hand signals, they maintained a speed that kept them relatively stationary alongside the cruise ship. The two accompanying assault troops began their move.
Click! Amid an almost imperceptible sound, magnetic climbing devices attached themselves to the cruise ship's hull. Using the