<There were no witnesses, ship was not in visual range of other vessels. Radio distress signals were jammed. Automatic emergency location devices were not disturbed as no pertinent information could be transmitted through automated devices. All actions deemed minimum necessary to maintain mission secrecy.>

“I agree,” said Lana, “and, yet, I feel we didn’t go far enough. What about the other signals sent prior to destruction, the report you have already provided showed an encrypted radio signal from the ship that could not be deciphered. Who received this message?”

<Impossible to confirm. Available information shows a similar signal, also hyper-encrypted, coming from the shore at same time. Posit that this was reciprocal signal.>

Jean-Paul Merard, from France, interjected, “That must be the receiver, we should eliminate anyone who listened to that signal as well.”

“My sentiments exactly.” piped in Lana.

<Exact identity of listeners not confirmable. Posit that party that arrived with target vessel’s captain were most likely receivers. Have monitored these individuals since. No further pertinent information to report.>

Preeti Parikh spoke, “I was closest to the incident, so I was able to go and intercept the other two humans in person when they were returning via Delhi, per my report. I monitored their conversation for several hours, they mentioned nothing of the ship, or its findings, during private conversations during this time, and, as I said, I watched them for quite some time.”

She seemed to finish, then added, “Of course, I’m not saying that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t play it safe here.” She was certainly not going to be the only one who cautioned inaction, even if it was, in fact, her sense that this was the right way to go.

“Why is this even being discussed?” said Lana, Jean-Paul nodding his agreement, “There is no reason to risk this. Kill them.”

<Statement that there is no reason not to risk not entirely accurate.>

Lana visibly tensed at this. Effectively oblivious, the AI went on:

<Communications between senior military officials in the United States and their leadership body at the White House indicate a high level of concern over the disappearance of the research vessel in question. No parties have yet stated any suspicion of the reason for the sinking, or awareness of our existence, but further killing of members of the research team will significantly fuel further investigation and speculation, or worse.>

“Worse? How?” said Mikhail Kovalenko, “Surely they are more likely to suspect the Indian government of the deaths than us?”

<Reminder of Primary Mission Parameter: avoid, at all costs, potential military conflagration between nuclear capable countries.>

The penny dropped, for most, but others were less easy to deter, “Based on the political sensitivity of the effectively impotent ‘NATO group,’ they would never react so strongly to the loss of a few lowly scientists.” said Lana, derisively.