Chapter 9: The Ship That Would Not Turn Back
The Dominion Star’s captain refused to return.
He claimed the grounding order was politically motivated.
Celeste knew Arthur had installed loyalists throughout the company.
She contacted the ship directly.
The captain ended the call.
Admiral Reed arranged a helicopter.
“You are not cleared for active duty,” he warned.
“Then consider this a family emergency.”
Eleanor stopped Celeste before she boarded.
“There is another flaw,” she said.
During her years in confinement, Eleanor had studied the vessel plans repeatedly. The central support would fail fastest if the ship reduced speed suddenly.
A normal emergency stop could break it apart.
Celeste understood.
They had to evacuate passengers while maintaining movement.
She reached the Dominion Star during a violent storm.
Passengers were told it was a safety drill.
Then the first internal beam cracked.
Panic spread.
Celeste took command of the bridge.
The loyal captain tried to have her arrested, but his own officers turned against him after she showed them the evidence.
Lifeboats were launched in controlled waves.
The ship groaned beneath their feet.
Celeste remained aboard until the final deck was cleared.
The captain refused to leave.
“My career is over.”
Celeste stared at him.
“Your career is not worth six hundred lives.”
She dragged him toward the rescue line.
The ship broke apart minutes after they escaped.
News helicopters captured the collapse.
Across the country, people watched Celeste save the passengers of the company that had erased her.
Arthur watched from his holding cell.
And smiled.
Because while everyone focused on the sinking ship, someone entered the federal evidence vault.
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By morning, the recordings were gone.
The security footage showed Admiral Reed carrying them out.
