Emergency Measures

Driver's cab.

The second mate's previous responsibility was to patrol the entire ship and check for potential hazards. When he and two other crew members returned from their patrol, they found the first mate lying on the floor of the bridge, no longer breathing...

The second mate wasn't one to panic. He knelt down to check the first mate's injuries. A sharp object, like a knife, had deeply pierced his abdomen, and the blood was still fresh. Clearly, the murder had occurred within ten minutes.

The second mate immediately thought of a passenger he had encountered on the road earlier, a man with a stitched-up wound on his face. He had found the smell of blood on the man odd but hadn't paid much attention at the time. Now, however, it seemed that the man was very likely the culprit who had killed the first mate! If only he had asked him a question back then!

The second mate harbored such resentment towards himself.

He wanted to turn back and catch up with the strange passenger, but a sense of responsibility compelled him to return to his post immediately.

Once things settle down, he will definitely find the murderer, he definitely will!

"Second Officer, the communication equipment is malfunctioning and unusable. We cannot contact the outside world to seek assistance!"

"Second Officer, the autopilot has been disabled, and the ship is now partially paralyzed!"

Two pieces of bad news came from the crew members who accompanied him.

Cruise ships typically use autopilot and navigate along pre-planned routes. Therefore, only a few crew members are needed in the bridge; usually, only two people are required to remain in the bridge to observe the situation and prevent accidents.

However, that only applies to unexpected external situations, such as tsunamis or reefs, in which case someone needs to make a decisive judgment.

However, if the crisis originates from within, the cockpit with only two people is easily breached by the enemy!

Just like now, not only was the first mate killed by the enemy, but apart from a few anti-jamming instruments that were still functioning normally, most of the electronic instruments in the cockpit were destroyed by electromagnetic pulses...

Because of the previous earthquake impact and the current rampage of whales on the deck, the walkie-talkies were unusable. At this moment, several crew members from nearby cabins came here and were stunned to see the mess in the bridge, with even corpses lying on the ground.

The second mate looked very grim. This mess would be difficult for anyone to take over, but he had to step forward at this moment.

"Guys, stay alert! The first mate has been killed by the enemy, and we can't contact the captain. We can't panic right now; we must do everything we can for the passengers!" In the bridge, the second mate shouted to the busy crew. "From now on, I'm temporarily in charge of the bridge. Everyone, stay calm and hold your posts!"

He continued issuing orders without pause, "Send a few crew members in charge of mobilization to inspect the lifeboats; we may need to abandon ship if necessary!"

"There's a helicopter parked on the top deck. The pilot should be in the main dining room right now. Send someone to find him immediately and have him seek backup!" The second mate, his eyes glued to the monitor, continued, "Although our cruise ship is currently unable to contact the outside world, the GPS is still working. As long as we hold on, rescue will arrive soon!"

"Understood!" The panicked hearts of those still in the driver's seat calmed down. The second mate's words had clearly arranged everything. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, this accident could definitely be resolved satisfactorily!

Yes, barring any unforeseen circumstances... the second mate knew that the sperm whale still rampaging on the deck was precisely the cause of this unexpected event.

The second mate's eyes were fixed on Barus, who was seen dragging someone rapidly towards the deck on the monitor screen. He silently thought, "Captain, everything depends on you to prevent things from getting worse..."

Although the second mate trusted the captain, he still needed to prepare for the worst.

The second mate looked away from the monitor and decisively said, "Activate the alarms and open the ship's communications system. I need to let the passengers know their current situation."

"It's not time to abandon ship yet, it's just a power failure. We just need to wait here for rescue..." some crew members said hesitantly.

"We must prepare for the worst!" the second mate said in an unyielding tone. "The lives of thousands are at stake; we must consider every possible scenario!"

"I understand!" Without further hesitation, the crew member turned and left.

If the previous series of explosions had led the passengers to believe it was just the sound of wind and rain outside, now, the massive body of the sperm whale ravaging the deck, the deafening roar, and the weight that could tilt the cruise ship made everyone on board realize that the ship was in trouble.

"What's happening?!" people on the ship shouted.

"Where's the captain? Didn't he say he was going to protect us?!" Some passengers frantically searched for Captain Barus, the ship's anchor.

Many passengers had heard of him and knew of his impressive resume. For them, safety was of paramount importance, and Barus was precisely the kind of person who could provide them with that safety.

But now... can anyone tell them why there's a whale running rampant on the deck?!

Many people had already learned of this through windows or from others: there had been intruders on the ship before, and now a sperm whale so large it couldn't be ignored had appeared on deck. They were all panicked and hoped to get some reassurance from the ship's Pro Hero and the captain...

Since it's dinner time, most passengers are staying in the various restaurants, so they feel safer gathered together.

However, although the staff remaining in the main restaurant are trying their best to reassure the guests, they have not received any news and are very uneasy.

"Hello, hello, passengers, can you hear me?" A shrill, distorted voice blared from the loudspeaker in the corner of the restaurant.

The passengers quieted down and focused their attention on the loudspeaker.

"I think you all know our current situation. There's a huge whale jumping around on the deck, putting the whole ship in a dangerous situation. But don't worry, our Captain Barus will take care of it right away."

Although communication via electronic devices is no longer possible, the ship naturally has its own old-fashioned methods of communication.

Hearing the second mate's steady voice, the passengers gradually calmed down.

"However, just in case, please return to your cabins in an orderly manner, put on your life jackets, and wait in your cabins," the second mate added.