“We made some modifications to the submersible. Some countermeasures if you like.” He shrugged. “Just improvements to some existing capabilities. You see, these deep-sea vehicles can run into all manner of things in depths that take a fancy to the lights and noise.”

“Like giant squid?” Greg asked.

“Like the squid, yes. Though the soft-bodied cephalopods can’t damage the hull, they can certainly become fouled in the propeller or tangled in the superstructure. As Dmitry has already mentioned, the Priz Class is able to run a mild electric shock over the hull to discourage these unwelcome visitors.” He smiled. “We simply gave the discouragement factor a bit more juice – five million volts more juice in a short burst. Wouldn’t want to do it too many times, or we might drain the batteries. But it’ll see off the largest of inquisitive visitors, I would imagine.”

Dmitry grinned. “Prusalka is now largest electric eel in world.”

“Exactly,” Mironov said easing back in his chair.

Jack grunted, his eyes on Mironov. “That’s good… if we ever get grabbed.” He turned to the big Russian beside him. “Yegor, can the Prusalka sustain another attack like the one we just experienced?”

His big head bobbed for a moment. “Yes, sure, we can take another few hull hits from big hard-headed fish. But that is not really what I worried about. Submarine is unlikely to be holed by this type of attack. But if big fish thing strikes our propeller and bends shaft or breaks blades, maybe we can surface and repair it, here with big cavern, but…” He grimaced.

“But…” Jack rubbed both hands up through his hair. “Of course.” He looked at Yegor who simply nodded. Jack sat back. “But what happens if we get crippled in an area of the cave that is fully submerged? We’d be dead in the water, and no surface above us.”

“We’d be fucked,” Greg said.

“That’s enough of that,” Cate shot back.

“Very unlikely,” Mironov said, picking something from his sleeve.

“The propeller is a point of vulnerability, and now I’m not sure we’re fully prepared. We need to take a vote.” Jack sighed and then mouthed sorry to her.

Cate couldn’t help her jaw tightening. “We proceed.”

Jack’s expression drooped, and Cate could tell his pragmatism was probably fighting against any old loyalty he felt to her. Finally he shook his head. “I vote we go back. Talk to topside. See what else we can do to ensure we have a safer mission. We’ve run into too many unknowns and we only just started. We have a chance to recalibrate. Next time we might not, and it could be fatal.”

Cate steamed, her eyes on Jack. He wouldn’t look at her.

“I agree, we get some extra armor, firepower or something. Then full speed ahead.” Greg shrugged, as he looked at Cate. “Just a detour.”