Falling Star by Philip Chen

the Squid was an art, in and of itself.  The R/V Falling Star was a catamaran with a gigantic open platform that served as an elevator in between its twin hulls.  By lowering the platform, the Squid could simply swim out on its own power.  There was no need to hoist the submersible into the water.
    The Squid sat on a specially designed cradle in the center of the elevator.  Designed for an earlier, shallower version of the Squid , the Deep Diver , the R/V Falling Star did not require extensive refitting to accommodate the Squid .  Because of the size of the R/V Falling Star , the water between the two hulls remained relatively calm.
    Additionally, the hulls of the R/V Falling Star could be flooded, dropping the vessel's waterline to create a pool of calmness even in moderately rough seas. 
    Anderson and Carver climbed in to the conning tower of the Squid .  Dressed in blue coveralls with the MacAlear logo on the back, both of them had wisely worn long johns underneath.  Despite the 90 degree air and warm surface water temperatures, the ocean beneath the photic zone remained generally a cool 32 degrees, Fahrenheit.  At deeper depths, the temperature could drop even further.  The Squid was equipped with chemical heaters, but prudence dictated that occupants dressed warmly.  Robison served as dive director on this first dive.  McHugh and Sevson would help Robison launch the submersible.
    Mike was dressed in his wet suit and SCUBA equipment.  His job today was to ride the outside of the Squid , along with two MacAlear technicians to conduct a final instrumentation check in the water before the submersible attempted its first dive over the Hatteras Abyssal Plain.  In addition to his wet suit and SCUBA gear, Mike would be wearing a microphone and headset so he could communicate with Anderson.
    Anderson and Carver disappeared into the pressure sphere of the submersible, the hatch closed with a solid, but muffled clang.  Once the hatch was closed the only way that Anderson could communicate with Robison was via a through-hull telephone patch.
    However, once the Squid was launched from the R/V Falling Star and the telephone link was automatically uncoupled, the crew of the Squid would be left on their own.  However, they would have the company of Mike and two MacAlear technicians for the start of their trip. 
    "Okay, boss.  We're ready to let 'er rip," announced Jim Anderson.
    "Roger," acknowledged Robison.
    The platform of the R/V Falling Star started its slow descent.  The seawater rose to gradually cover both Liu and the technicians and, finally, the Squid .  The water felt warm and Mike wondered if the wet suit was that useful, but he knew that even in warm water, the wet suit helped to preserve his body temperature.  Finally, the Squid lifted off its cradle.  Anderson immediately started its main propeller; helped by Navy divers, the Squid inched its way backward to the stern of its mother ship.  Finally, the Squid was free of the launch vessel.
    Floating just below the surface of the water, Mike and the two MacAlear technicians started down their checklist.  Inside the submersible, Carver checked out each system to assure everything was working up to specifications.  The atmosphere inside the pressure sphere is maintained at surface conditions, so metabolic oxygen had to be monitored as well as the carbon dioxide levels.  Barium Hydroxide canisters were used to absorb carbon dioxide during the dive.  Since no kitchen facilities were on board, the cook on the R/V Falling Star had packed sandwiches and a thermos of coffee.
    The checklist completed, Mike had one final communication with the occupants of the submersible, "Hey guys, I wish you luck.  I'm really jealous."
    "Hey Liu, you'll get your turn."
    With that, Mike disconnected the telephone link and stepped off the Squid .  Hanging in the water like puppets in storage, Mike and the two MacAlear technicians watched as Anderson blew some air, went