The Apocalypse Survival Manual (Three Days Before Doomsday, I Stockpiled Billions) novel Chapter 752

Nicole still had plenty of questions, but with Jacob there, she and Zeph couldn't talk about them openly.

Before long, the deep-water dock came into view. Dozens of submarines rose faintly above the surface, their dark gray hulls looking like massive beasts resting in the water.

Only a few dozen were visible from where they stood, but far more were stationed below the surface.

Even a mid-sized military submarine was enormous, about 160 feet long and 25 feet wide.

Jacob called over his assistant, who began walking Nicole and the others through the submarine's exterior, basic systems, propulsion, and other features.

Technically, Cola wasn't allowed inside. Animals could be disruptive, and in an emergency, they might panic or become hard to control. If one accidentally bumped a control or flipped a switch, the consequences could be serious.

Nicole insisted, "He'll be fine. We've trained him almost like a military dog over the years. When we first got to the base, the K-9 unit nearly tried to recruit him."

Jacob had done his part by warning her. Since she insisted, he didn't push the issue.

She was the customer, and Arthur had specifically told them to take good care of her.

People had to take responsibility for their own choices. If Nicole said Cola wouldn't cause any trouble, Jacob was willing to leave it at that.

The hatch opened, and Jacob led them down the ladder.

The submarine looked huge from the outside, but much of the interior was taken up by built-in equipment. The control room itself was only about 320 square feet.

There were also two sleeping quarters, a small galley, a storage room, and a bathroom.

It was roomy enough for the four of them, though ten people would make it feel cramped.

Still, under the circumstances, converting a submarine into an almost indestructible steel shelter while also using it to carry the "civilization vaults" that preserved humanity's knowledge was already an incredible feat of engineering. Complaining about comfort would be pointless.

Nicole had read the manual and had no issues with the submarine's nuclear propulsion system.

Operating a submarine in deep water was no simple task, so Jacob started with the basics.

After they finished the classroom portion, Jacob had the three of them run through the procedures again and again.

"If you don't understand something, ask. The more you practice, the more it'll become second nature."

Nicole suddenly felt like she was back in school, with every miserable exam-prep workbook she had ever worked through coming back to haunt her.

The four of them settled aboard the submarine. The sleeping quarters had simple metal bunk beds welded in place so they wouldn't shift.

Nicole, Zeph, Poppy, and Cola shared one room, while Jacob and his assistant took the other.

No one told them they would be staying overnight, so Nicole hadn't packed much. Fortunately, she was used to carrying a large backpack whenever she went out.

She and Zeph both carried oversized packs partly to keep up appearances, so pulling out a few changes of clothes wouldn't look suspicious.

What Nicole didn't expect was for Jacob to cook noodles and actually invite them to join him for dinner.