Miller didn’t move.

“The auxiliary systems are failing,” I said, taking a slow step forward.

The freezing water now reached past my knees.

“If we don’t restore manual control to the ballast pumps, this boat is going to sink in the middle of the river,” I said.

“That wasn’t the plan,” Miller muttered, his eyes darting toward the overhead cable runs.

I noticed a thick black coaxial cable spliced directly into the main telemetry conduit behind him.

It was a crude modification, not part of my original design.

“What did you do to the communications array, Miller?” I asked.

“It doesn’t matter now,” Miller said, tightening his grip on the wrench.

“The contractor paid for the deep-water telemetry, and they’re going to get it.”

“You sold the prototype’s acoustics,” I said.

The submarine groaned, another shudder running through the keel as we drifted further from the pier.

The lights flickered once, died, and then the red emergency lamps hummed to life.

“Chief,” I whispered to Hayes, keeping my eyes on Miller.

“I’m listening, Doctor,” Hayes said.

“The electrical panel is dead, but there is a manual override,” I whispered.