East anchorage of Alexandria Port, the massive steel body of the "Seagull" lay quietly in the lead-gray seawater.
The golden-red afterglow of sunset painted its rust-spotted and peeling hull and superstructure, not bringing warmth, but rather highlighting a sense of decay and aged twilight.
Seagulls chattered noisily near the masts, salty sea breeze carrying the port's unique smell of rust and oil and pouring into the open cargo hold.
Deep in the cargo hold, the light was shattered by the steel jungle.
Huge shadows swayed on the walls; it was the core component of the Sam-6 air defense missile system firmly fixed to the hold's bottom by thick chains and welded brackets—a 2P25 Transporter Erector Launcher (TEL).
The dark green paint was nearly ink-black in the dim light, its outlined edges exuding cold killing intent.
Long missile launch tubes were covered with special canvas, like a sleeping venomous dragon.
