Cuba.
Across the endless stretch of ocean, two massive fleets faced each other across the blockade line. The air between them felt thick and volatile, as if the slightest spark could ignite a catastrophic explosion.
Warships from the United States formed a rigid defensive line across the water, while vessels from the Soviet fleet hovered on the opposite side of the boundary. The standoff had reached its most dangerous stage.
Between the two fleets, a Soviet cargo ship continued sailing steadily toward the American blockade zone.
"Sir, three minutes until they cross the embargo line."
On the bridge of the American flagship, a deputy officer delivered the report in a tense voice.
The fleet commander did not answer immediately. Through the telescope in his hands, he had already been watching the approaching cargo vessel for several minutes.
Every movement of that ship weighed heavily on his mind.
The oppressive atmosphere on the bridge made it difficult even to breathe. After all, the decision he was about to make might trigger the beginning of the Third World War.
Millions of lives could depend on what happened in the next few minutes.
Even so, hesitation could not last forever.
"If they cross the line," the commander muttered quietly, his jaw tightening, "they'll bear the consequences."
He lowered the telescope and made his decision.
"Sound the battle alarm."
BEEP—BEEP—BEEP—
A piercing siren immediately echoed throughout the American fleet.
Within seconds, the entire formation shifted into full combat readiness. Missile systems were activated, gunners rushed to their positions, and radar operators locked onto the approaching vessel.
Across the blockade line, the Soviet fleet reacted just as quickly.
Seeing the Americans enter combat mode, the Soviet commanders immediately ordered their ships into a defensive posture as well. Radar arrays spun to life, missile bays opened, and the warships prepared themselves for the worst.
The tension on the sea intensified dramatically.
At that moment, both fleets focused entirely on the cargo ship slowly approaching the blockade line.
Its actions during the next three minutes would determine the future of the entire world.
No one spoke.
Every person aboard those ships felt their heart pounding in their chest as they watched the vessel draw closer and closer.
Some sailors unconsciously clenched their fists.
Others held their breath.
Finally, when the situation reached its most critical point, a new order arrived from the Soviet high command.
The cargo ship was instructed to stop immediately.
Not only that—it was ordered to turn around and return to Odessa.
In other words, stop provoking the United States.
A collective sigh of relief spread through the Soviet fleet.
The crisis that could have opened the door to a global war seemed to be dissolving at the last possible moment.
"Aral Sea, respond immediately!"
"Aral Sea, do you copy?"
"This is a direct order! Return to Odessa immediately!"
One message after another was transmitted toward the cargo vessel.
But something was wrong.
The ship did not respond.
Worse still, it did not change course.
Instead, it continued sailing straight toward the blockade line as if it had never received the order at all.
The atmosphere across the entire sea suddenly became suffocating again.
Then something unexpected happened.
WHOOSH—
A sleek fighter jet suddenly tore across the sky overhead, streaking through the air with incredible speed.
For a brief moment, both fleets froze in confusion.
Where had that plane come from?
No radar warning had announced its approach. No known military aircraft matched its appearance. The sudden arrival of the mysterious jet left both sides stunned.
Despite the confusion, neither fleet dared to fire.
At such a delicate moment, even a single accidental shot could trigger a chain reaction that neither side could control.
So everyone simply watched as the strange aircraft roared past above them.
The fighter was none other than the Blackbird.
Inside the cockpit, Hank had pushed the aircraft to its limits during the entire flight, and they had arrived at the exact moment when the standoff reached its most dangerous point.
Through the windows of the jet, the mutants could clearly see the warships below.
Smoke from the ships' engines drifted across the water like mist over a battlefield. Missile batteries and radar towers filled the decks, creating the unsettling impression of standing on the edge of an erupting volcano.
"It looks like a complete mess down there," Hank muttered with a sigh.
Raven stared at the cargo ship approaching the blockade line, her brow deeply furrowed.
"What's going on with that freighter?" she asked. "Does the Soviet Union really want to provoke a war?"
Shaw's manipulation seemed to be working perfectly.
"No," Charles said quietly.
"I don't think this is the Soviets' doing."
He closed his eyes and immediately extended his telepathic senses outward. Within seconds, his consciousness connected with someone aboard the cargo vessel.
Through that man's mind, Charles quickly learned the truth.
When he opened his eyes again, his expression had darkened significantly.
"It's Shaw," he said grimly.
"He already infiltrated the ship. His people changed the course earlier. They're the ones steering it toward the blockade."
Moira's face turned pale.
"If that ship crosses the line," she said slowly, "the Americans will destroy it immediately. Once that happens, the war begins."
Alex frowned deeply.
"Can't you control someone on the ship and make it turn around?" he suggested.
Charles shook his head.
"I can't."
His voice carried obvious frustration.
"Everyone aboard the Aral Sea is already dead."
If there had been anyone alive on the ship, Charles could have taken control of their mind and redirected the vessel instantly. Unfortunately, Shaw had already ensured that option was impossible.
The telepath he contacted earlier had only been alive for a few final moments.
There was nothing Charles could manipulate anymore.
Just then, a tense voice echoed across the radio frequencies of the sea.
"American vessel Independence, this is Captain Alexander Novitsky."
"Our cargo ship has lost control!"
"We have ordered it to turn back. Please do not fire!"
"Please do not fire!"
The Soviet fleet had realized that the Aral Sea was no longer responding to commands. In desperation, they attempted to warn the Americans directly.
Unfortunately, the Americans assumed the message was a trick.
Instead of backing down, the fleet began initiating its missile launch countdown.
The situation had reached its breaking point.
At that critical moment, Charles acted.
He extended his telepathic reach toward the Soviet fleet and instantly seized control of the mind of one of their missile officers.
A moment later, a missile launched from the Soviet side.
BOOM!
The projectile streaked across the sky and struck the Aral Sea before it could cross the blockade line.
The cargo ship exploded in a massive fireball.
A collective sigh of relief spread across the ocean.
Both fleets understood the significance of what had just happened.
Once the Aral Sea was destroyed before crossing the blockade, the Americans no longer had justification for launching an attack.
The spark that could have ignited World War III had been extinguished.
Inside the Blackbird, the mutants also released the breath they had been holding.
The global crisis had been averted.
Now they could finally focus on their real enemy.
However, there was one problem.
Charles still could not sense Shaw anywhere.
"He's down there," Eric said firmly, staring at the ocean beneath them. "I'm certain of it."
"We have to find him."
Charles turned toward the cockpit.
"Hank?"
Hank glanced down at the radar display and shook his head.
"Nothing on radar," he said. "If Shaw is here, he's hiding underwater."
He frowned slightly.
"And unfortunately, this jet doesn't have sonar."
Without sonar equipment, locating a submerged submarine would be nearly impossible.
But before the mood could turn grim, Rorschach suddenly laughed.
"Hank," he said casually, "who said we don't have sonar?"
Sean immediately grinned.
"Yeah," he added, "who said we don't?"
The other mutants quickly understood.
After all, Sean Cassidy was basically a human sonar system.
.....
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