The government moves fast
A D-Notice was issued. It was a Defence and Security Media Advisory Notice from the government to the press not to publish certain information on national security grounds. They are rarely issued. This notice appeared at every news desk in the country by midday, referring to “ongoing sensitive historical enquiries at a waterways site in Marveston.” But the effect was precisely the opposite of its intention. Every journalist in the country who hadn’t already been covering the story began covering it immediately.
The site was cordoned off with new fencing. The police presence tripled. A grey van with no markings arrived, and two men in civilian clothes went in carrying equipment cases. Declan was asked politely, by a government official who introduced herself only as being “from London” to sign a document. He was hardly given any time to read it. He signed it. He wasn’t sure what else to do.
Priya, who had been first to spot the submarine and who had taken the presence of government officials rather personally, had not signed anything. She had also, before the fencing went up, managed to photograph every page of the logbook with her phone. She texted Declan that evening: “I’ve got it all. What do we do?”