Rain sheeted against the glass walls of the conference room, turning the port lights outside into blurry smears of gold. The storm was their audience.
[Ding!]
Event: Customs Detention Review — Commenced
Status:
- Survival Probability: 80% → 78% (Δ −2%)
- Attention: 30/100
- Hearing Timer: 00:25:00
Sub-Objectives:
I) Uphold Compliance Hold (No personal detention) (+6%)
J) Secure warrant to image/log Contractor Suite 2B devices (+4%)
[Thrum…]
Warning: Port Storm Hold T−00:55:00
Penalty on Failure: Survival −6%
The panel was set: two Customs officers, a port counsel, and the Warehouse Duty Officer as a witness. Rowan stood with Elara, a wall of calm authority. Opposite them, a slick-haired representative for the consignor tapped the override memo on the table. "This was a lawful release. The hold was an obstruction."
Elara didn't wait for an invitation. "For the record, the Temporary Impound Notice was declared on the official radio channel, with body-cam footage timestamped, before any movement of the cargo was attempted. The evidence supporting the hold was already captured on shared, secured devices."
She began her walk-through. "Each exhibit is reproducible. The seal jaw match—captured on the official compliance tablet, serial number CT-8821. The hinge brine patterns—documented with the same device. The forklift tine spacing and telematics path—logged in the yard's system, accessible to all of you." She played a crisp, ten-second compilation video, silent but for the click of her advancing the frames: the micro-burr match, the salinity drips, the Gate 3 route log, the RFID writer's cache.
The lead customs officer leaned forward, his eyes tracking the evidence. A slow nod.
[Ding!]
Event: Exhibits Admitted (Provisional)
Status:
- Survival Probability: 78% → 81% (Δ +3%)
"The manifest," Elara said, turning to the Warehouse Duty Officer. "I need the current version, and the one printed four hours ago."
The documents were produced. Elara laid them side-by-side. "The hash codes differ. This one," she pointed, "was reprinted twelve minutes after the Yard C blackout. See this remark code for lane routing? It wasn't on the original." She zoomed in on her tablet. "The font and kerning in this line are different. A different workstation. This remark matches the lane code given to the forklift runner."
[Ding!]
Event: Evidence Capture — Manifest Reprint Delta
Status:
- Survival Probability: 81% → 83% (Δ +2%)
"Now, the Bill of Lading endorsement chain," she continued, her voice steady. The documents were passed to her. She traced the stamps with her finger. "This counter-endorsement is stamped after the supposed 'release' time. The paperwork was being retro-fitted." She read the stamp's serial number aloud for the body-cam. "The Warehouse Duty Officer can confirm this physical stamp is supposed to be locked in the Contractor Suite 2B desk for after-hours processing."
[Ding!]
Event: Evidence Capture — BL Counter-Endorsement Anomaly
Status:
- Survival Probability: 83% → 84% (Δ +1%)
The pen in her hand ran dry. Rowan, without looking, slid a spare from his pocket across the table. Their fingers brushed—a brief, cool point of contact.
Elara didn't pause. "We have a user 'S' logged into the contractor portal from Suite 2B during the blackout. We have the custody of the stamp used for the anomalous endorsement in that same suite. We have the manifest reprint delta. This is reasonable grounds for a warrant to image all devices in Suite 2B—the PC, any connected docks, logbooks—before evidence is destroyed."
Rowan stepped in, his voice cutting with legal precision. "Under Port Code §9.3, storm protocol allows for expedited data preservation, especially following a suspicious power interruption like the breaker trip in that suite."
The port counsel conferred quietly, then nodded. "Granted. Expedited preservation warrant for Suite 2B. Execute immediately."
[Ding!]
Event: Warrant to Preserve/Forensic-Image — GRANTED
Status:
- Survival Probability: 84% → 86% (Δ +2%)
Sub-Objective J — COMPLETE
The consignor's rep slammed his hand on the table. "This is a witch hunt! Driven by a... a problem heiress with a known history of 'fixing' things she doesn't like!"
Rowan didn't raise his voice. "Process over pride," he stated, the words cool and final. "The hold is on the crate, not the person. The Compliance division's actions were taken to reduce port liability and criminal exposure. Not to harass."
The lead customs officer looked from the stack of evidence to the fuming representative. "The Compliance Hold is upheld. No personal detention is warranted at this time. Proceed with the imaging."
[Ding!]
Event: Compliance Hold Upheld — No Personal Detention
Status:
- Survival Probability: 86% → 88% (Δ +2%)
Sub-Objective I — COMPLETE
They moved fast, a small group of them heading for the contractor wing. The hallway lights flickered ominously. Suite 2B's door was warm to the touch. Rowan unlocked it.
Inside, a single PC screen glowed in the dark room. On it, a command line window displayed a chilling message: Data Sanitization in Progress... 00:02:00.
On the desk beside it: the dock for the portable RFID writer. The physical stamp, its serial number matching the one from the B/L. A phone buzzed, skittering on the wooden surface. The screen lit up: Incoming Call... S.
Elara dove for the keyboard. Rowan was already plugging a write-blocker USB into the PC's port.
[Thrum…]
Warning: Data Sanitization Script (02:00)
Penalty on Failure: Survival −7%
The numbers on the screen ticked down. 00:01:59... 00:01:58...