A Second Season story...

 

 

Dangerous When Wet

 

by Lynn

 

 

Lee Crane was guided across a gangplank, a slightly precarious move as he was currently blind-folded with a dark black cloth that covered most of his face rendering him completely blind.  The salty sea air was accentuated as Lee's other senses were heightened with his sight neutralized.  A hand on his elbow guided him across the deck and stopped his forward motion.

 

“A knee knocker, Sir,” his guide said instructing Lee to step over the raised thresh-hold of a hatch.  Once inside he heard the hatch as it was closed and sealed from the outside and another voice was heard.

 

“Okay gentlemen.  You can remove your blindfolds now.”

 

Lee pulled off his blindfold and blinked even though the light was subdued in the conning tower as did the other “gentleman” beside him, Admiral Harriman Nelson.

 

“I hope you can appreciate my desire for the extra security, Admiral Nelson?” Dr. Ronald Holland asked kindly as Harry nodded.

 

“Of course Dr. Holland.  I'm just pleased you invited us to see your new prototype.” 

 

Holland's “Prototype” was like Seaview a privately owned nuclear submarine, but unlike Seaview Holland's sub had no military weaponry and received no government funding or federal grants.  Holland did, however, have plenty of innovations he wanted to sell to the US Navy, and had therefore invited Admiral Nelson for two days of sea trials in the hopes of receiving his endorsement.

 

“She's a beauty alright.  Not as big as Seaview mind you, but she's got lots of bells and whistles; many of which are classified,” Holland continued.

 

“We understand,” Harry answered, fully agreeing to the blindfolds even before taking the corporate jet to the Bay area; furthermore agreeing to the blindfolds even on the chartered flight as Dr. Holland's prototype submarine had been built in an undisclosed facility near the sea.  They had arrived in their service dress, complete with jackets and covers.

 

“Thank you, Admiral Nelson,” Dr. Holland said smiling and rubbing his hands together with all the excitement of a boy ready to show off his toys to his neighborhood friends.  “Now, if you'll be so kind as to follow me down.”

 

Lee smiled at Holland's exuberance as the sub's lead engineer lowered himself down the conning tower hatch, followed by Harry and finally himself.  Upon negotiating the ladder down he turned to view the state of the art equipment of the small but apparently efficient Control Room.

 

“Please gentlemen,” Dr. Holland said, sweeping his hands in an outward movement, “be my guests.”

 

Lee nodded with a polite smile as Harry answered, “Thank you Dr. Holland.”

 

The Control Room had some notable similarities to Seaview with the radio shack positioned near the ladder.  The periscope in the center was a no brainer but the helmsman controls were on the opposite side.  Still, there was a pattern to the duty stations that mirrored Seaview's, perhaps because Holland is as efficient a designer as Harry, Lee thought, after all, there is a rhythm to the order of control room consoles, and some patterns just make sense.  Lee walked around the duty stations impressed with the computer consoles and efficient electronics.

 

“May I introduce Captain Hardy,” Holland said making his introduction with pride. 

 

“Admiral Nelson, Captain Crane,” Hardy said by way of greeting, acknowledging Lee by his position as Seaview's captain rather than his Naval rank of Commander.

 

“Captain Hardy comes to us by way of the US Navy, he retired last year to captain Blue Tide,” Holland explained.

 

“What was your last post?” Lee asked in a friendly manner, he didn't know all the navy sub drivers but there was a brotherhood among the captains as they discussed “shop”.

 

“Just an aging Sturgeon Class, Captain Crane, nothing as exciting as the Los Angeles Class you left behind,” he offered vaguely.

 

“I spent a fair amount of time in the Sturgeon Class, they're good boats,” Lee offered graciously, but Captain Hardy offered nothing else to the conversation. 

 

Lee raised an eyebrow but dropped it.

 

“Now Gentlemen, we'll give you a little tour of the unclassified areas of the boat and at 1400 hours we'll be ready to shove off,” Holland's enthusiasm took the sting out of the dry conversation Lee had with Hardy as they began their tour, first of the Control Room.

 

“All the latest equipment,” Holland said proudly, just short of a brag but understandable for the excitement of the day.

 

“Very impressive,” Harry added as he looked over the Sonar and Hydrophones stations.  “I'm not familiar with this piece of equipment?” Harry asked pointing to a device next to hydrophones.

 

“Just something special we came up with, I'm afraid one of the “classified” items,” Holland explained as Harry raised an eyebrow wondering about its function.

 

“Let's just say that it makes 'seeing' underwater as good as those windows of yours Admiral.”

 

Harry nodded, clearly interested as they made the circuit around the room.

 

“Our radio is state of the art, I think it might even outburst yours, Admiral.  Oh forgive me,” he stopped to explain, “but Seaview is the benchmark for excellence and hence my reference.  Your radio is capable of transmissions deeper than the standard sixty feet below the surface, at what ninety feet?” Holland asked.

 

“Well, I'm not at liberty to discuss Seaview's specifics,” Harry added.

 

“But of course, at any rate this radio is capable of receiving depths to one hundred and twenty feet without increasing the length of the transmission cable.”

 

“How did you accomplish that?” Harry asked, clearly interested.

 

“Probably the same way you did taking Seaview from sixty feet to ninety feet,” Holland replied.

 

“Perhaps, but I maxed out at ninety feet without lengthening the cable and there's clearly a tradeoff factor extending the cable,” Harry answered.

 

“Well perhaps we can see it in action when we put out to sea, I'd be most interested to know if you solve the mystery by then,” Holland said with a grin.

 

Harry shook his head at the friendly challenge as they rounded the Control Room coming up alongside the periscope which was sleeker than Seaview's, and moved toward helm.  The control board was much more sophisticated as both Harry and Lee studied it trying to ascertain the need for the added complexities.

 

“Oh and here is something new,” Holland said interrupting their review of helm.  “It's our window to the outside,” he said bringing their attention to the monitor before them in an obvious reference to Seaview's windows.  “The camera is mounted on the outer hull allowing us to see outside even at Seaview's crush depth of 3,500 feet.”

 

Harry and Lee passed a look without saying a word.  “I'm afraid Seaview's crush depth is classified, Dr. Holland,” Harry offered diplomatically.

 

“Yes, yes.  But with the design of the boat I made some calculated guesses and I'm quite sure I'm close,” he said quite innocently.

 

Harry kept his face even and continued to study the equipment.  “Very nice Doctor,” Harry conceded, he wasn't jealous in any way but twice Holland had made reference to certain Seaview specs and he wasn't exactly comfortable with the continued comparison.  He shook it off as Holland being proud of his new “baby” and graciously ignored the small breaches of etiquette.

 

“Now if you'll follow me,” Holland said continuing with the excitement of the tour.  The tour took them to the living quarters for the crew, the mess and galley, and officer's quarters, with the grand finale being the engine room, the heart of the boat's propulsion system, but not the power plant.  Harry walked around the consoles, clearly impressed with the latest innovations.

 

“She's capable of sixty knots under water,” Holland said proudly with his hands clasped behind his back and rocking back and forth on the balls of his feet.

 

Harry turned sharply with his eyebrows raised in question.  “Sixty knots?” He repeated, needing clarification.

 

“Yes, which is why we're not visiting our Reactor Room.  The innovations in there make it possible.”

 

“But what about the integrity of your vessel at Flank Speed?” Lee chimed in, wondering just how they had solved that problem.  Getting more speed out of a vessel is constrained by the vessel's ability to physically handle the speed without breaking up.

 

“You will see it in action today, Captain Crane,” Holland assured him.

 

“Sixty knots?” Lee repeated incredulously, still surprised at the sub's top speed. 

 

“Gentlemen,” Holland said seeking to enlighten his guests, “our Alpha Sea Trials were quite successful with Test Depth and Flank Speed having already been established and met.  This will be the Beta Sea Trials where we will spend most of our time trying to impress you.”

 

Harry smiled.  A shakedown cruise was always a proverbial nail biter but both Lee and Harry had nerves of steel and looked forward to seeing the Boat in action.

 

“Now, let's head forward and get this show on the road,” Holland added with all the enthusiasm of a man about ready to blow the socks off his competitor.

 

* * * * *

 

Harry and Lee both stood off and out of the way as Captain Hardy left the dock and took the Blue Tide out to sea.  They felt the motion of the boat and the accompanying vibrations as the ballast tanks were flooded and the planes lowered for the dive.  The crew worked efficiently as a cohesive unit as Hardy's orders were met with quick compliance.  After about an hour at a cruising speed of an impressive 35 knots, Captain Hardy was given the “green light” to take her to Flank.  Hardy ordered the engine room to Flank as the sub transitioned easily from Full to her maximum speed.  Lee could feel the motion under his feet and smiled at Harry as they watched the pitometer log register 60 knots, just as Holland said.  Seaview had come close to 60 knots but had hit her redline resulting in the reactor having to be dampened, the Blue Tide however, seemed to be running at sixty easily with the reactor in the green.

 

“What do you think, Captain Crane?” Holland asked with pride.

 

“She's sound, no doubt about it,” Lee returned graciously.

 

“I would think that Seaview's Flank speed would rival Blue Tide's,” Holland said inquisitively as though the speed shouldn't be a surprise.

 

Lee deferred to Harry, as they both knew that Seaview ran submerged at an impressive 40 knots at Full and was certified to 55 knots at Flank.  Both were curious as to the hull's design as a sub's submerged speed versus it's surface speed is a matter of hull design rather than her power plant.

 

Harry responded with a tight lipped nod and continued to look around ignoring Holland's comparison of Blue Tide's speed.  He couldn't afford to get into a tit-for-tat discussion between the two boats.  Seaview was classified despite the Blue Tide's obvious advancements.  Harry wasn't jealous, he was however curious.

 

Holland noticed Harry's reticence to discuss Seaview's speed beyond the published public relation's news presses which never gave away a boat's full capability.

 

“Now let's find some deep water to play in,” Holland announced nodding to Captain Hardy to take her down.

 

Both Lee and Harry could feel the excitement of taking the boat to deep waters, though the crew was completely relaxed. 

 

Must be getting old Crane, Lee thought to himself as he watched the young twenty-somethings take to the deep water in a boat barely out on her second run at deep sea.  Lee had missed the sea trials of Seaview, but could appreciate the feeling of approaching the published crush depths and on a few occasions rewriting those numbers when circumstances brought Seaview even deeper than Harry had originally designed her to go.

 

Lee felt the full downward movement as the planes were lowered and Blue Tide dove to 3,000 feet, impressive for any boat as Seaview was originally certified at 3,600 feet, a depth previously only obtained by bathyspheres which dove even deeper. 

 

“Now Gentlemen, a little surprise.  The Blue Tide will now break all published and might I say unpublished depth records.”

 

Lee watched the fathometer and scanned the duty stations verifying the depth with the pit meter then found the sonar echo gauge to corroborate the Blue Tide's depth as she dove past 3,500 feet with the XO calling out depth every 100 feet.

 

“3,600 feet... 3,700 feet... 3,800 feet...”

 

Lee felt the shudder of the boat beneath his feet and remained silent, he was a guest here and not in command. 

 

“3,900 feet... 4,000 feet...”

 

“Level off, hold trim,” Captain Hardy said coolly as Lee scanned the duty stations to see the crew executing their orders without one drop of sweat being lost to the maneuver.

 

“Now, I dare say that even Seaview hasn't dived this deep,” Holland added proudly.

 

Harry kept his face even, not letting on that Seaview had indeed passed beyond her design depth and had been re-certified at nearly close to 5,000 feet.

 

Holland again noted the silence and moved on, afraid he was overplaying his exuberance.

 

“Now Captain Hardy, if you'd be so kind as to bring us to our new coordinates, we'll stop when we're at diving depth and let our divers show off our underwater cameras,” which at this point hadn't been employed.

 

The cruise to the dive coordinates was spent at a conference table in the boat's lab where Holland and Harry discussed the design possibilities for the amazing feats they had experienced on Blue Tide with neither one disclosing any real engineering facts, each trying to protect the 'classified' elements of their respective boats. 

 

Lee sat back with his arm on the table and a leg crossed as he watched the two design engineers engage in friendly spar matches over design and engineering scenarios.  Lee thought it was the equivalent of a gladiator match without the blood as the two engineers penciled out formulas and hull designs on the pads of paper before them.

 

“Oh really Admiral Nelson,” Dr. Holland said in exasperation.  “This conversation would be so much easier if we'd stop talking in theory and actually compare notes,” he offered diplomatically.

 

Harry's tight lipped smile was accompanied with a nod of the negative as he spoke.  “I'm sorry Dr. Holland but I'm just not at liberty to disclose classified information.”

 

“What if I go first?” Holland said.

 

“It's not the depth or the speed,” Harry reasoned.  “But how we got there that we're both interested in, and I simply can't divulge those specifics, and I seriously doubt you're ready to show me the plans for the sub to explain how you reached 4,000 feet and 60 knots,” Harry finished.

 

“You're right of course,” Holland conceded as their conversation was interrupted with a hail.

 

“Dr. Holland, we've arrived at the dive coordinates,” the disembodied voice of Captain Hardy was heard.

 

“Ah Gentlemen, it's time for a demonstration of our moon pool.  As I stated earlier our diving hatch is located in a restricted area but I think you'll enjoy this just the same.”

 

Harry and Lee followed Holland out the door as he took them below and aft.  Inside the compartment that housed the moon pool they watched as three divers checked their equipment, suited up and dropped into the pool.

 

“Now let's access the Control Room monitor from here,” Holland said turning and opening a cabinet housing a monitor.

 

In a few moments they could see the three divers making their way across the bow of the boat, they collected some water samples spending about thirty minutes on the dive before they waved at the camera and began their swim back to the boat.  Holland reached over and turned off the camera.

 

“Well now Gentlemen, shall we return to the Control Room?” Holland suggested sweeping a hand toward the hatch.

 

Lee raised an eyebrow.  “Shouldn't someone be here to meet the diving party?” He asked as there were no personnel assigned at present, a strange oversight in Lee's book.

 

“Of course, Captain Crane.  You must forgive me, I'm a scientist not a submariner.”

 

Lee nodded graciously and removed his service jacket to help with the wet job of removing tanks and equipment from the divers coming aboard, as Harry did the same.  A few minutes passed before bubbles appeared with the divers surfacing in the moon pool.  They helped the divers, unsnapping the straps and pulling the tanks off their backs.  Lee placed a tank on the floor and immediately moved to turn the valve regulating the oxygen mixture to the off position.  His eyebrows tightened and then relaxed as he removed the tank from the second diver and turned its valve off as well.  Harry did the same from his end as Holland urged them forward once again.

 

Harry handed Lee his jacket and caught an uncertain look in his expressive eyes that said, “We need to talk.”

 

Harry acknowledged with an indiscernible nod to the casual observer as they left the moon pool, following Holland.

 

“Dr. Holland, I wonder if we might retire to our cabins for a short break.  I think I'd like to stow the uniform jacket and tie before we continue,” Harry inquired with a small but pleasant smile.

 

“But of course, Admiral Nelson.  We don't stand on ceremony here and I'm sure both you and Captain Crane will be much more comfortable as we continue the trials.”

 

He led them to the guest quarters and smiled pleasantly.  “Please use the intercom when you're ready to return to the Control Room,” he said, indicating they should wait for their escort, as shake-down cruises are often conducted with less than a full complement of a boat's crew. 

 

Lee entered his cabin and stowed his jacket and loosened his tie, hanging them neatly in the small but functional closet.  He heard the expected knock on his door and turned as he loosened a few buttons from his khaki uniform shirt.

 

“Come,” he answered as Harry immediately entered having also dispensed of his khaki service jacket and tie in his own cabin.

 

“Now what's this all about, Lee?” Harry asked in a subdued voice in case their conversation was being monitored.

 

“Something's wrong, Admiral,” Lee began in like tones to Harry's.  “The divers were out for thirty minutes but when I turned off the mixture valves there wasn't more than two minutes of oxygen consumed.”

 

Harry's forehead displayed his displeasure at Lee's revelation.  “Are you sure, Lee?”

 

“Aye Sir.  I checked all three tanks when I stowed them, but this was just the straw that broke the camel's back.  This cruise has been strange from the get-go.”

 

“I noticed as well, particularly Dr. Holland's insistence to compare Blue Tide's specs to Seaview.  He was quite persistent in trying to discuss the engineering innovations involved to meet Seaview's specs but other than a lot of blinking lights from impressive looking consoles, I haven't seen one solid clue as to how Blue Tide is achieving her test depth or flank speed to name just a few,” Harry explained as Lee nodded in agreement.

 

“I've never been on a shake-down cruise before,” Lee added, “but I've never seen a cooler crew when diving to what most certainly is close to this boat's crush depth,” Lee added.

 

“Alright, what do you suggest?”

 

Lee pursed his lips tightly, shaking his head slightly in the negative.  “Not much we can do at this point, we are guests aboard, but I just wanted you to be aware of the inconsistencies.”

 

Harry nodded.  “I noticed.”  He blew a breath out and then continued, “Other than the air tanks there's absolutely no reason to believe that Dr. Holland isn't anything but a research designer that lacks a little in the decorum department.  For now, let's give him the benefit of the doubt.”

 

“May I suggest we keep our questions about the dive tanks to ourselves at this point, Sir?  I'd be more comfortable not laying my cards on the table without more information.”

 

“Very well, I concur.  I really am interested in how Dr. Holland achieved the shake-down parameters.  If all is what it seems, I'd be most interested in conducting some joint brainstorming sessions and see about both boat's benefiting from their respective innovations, with the Navy's approval of course,” he qualified.

 

Lee could tell Harry's inquisitive mind was driving his curiosity and appreciated the comforting tone Harry's approach was taking.  Maybe he was too suspicious, Lee thought.  A product of too many spy games and deadly subterfuge assignments under his belt, he reasoned.

 

“If there's nothing more, I'll hail Dr. Holland.”

 

“No Sir, I think that covers it,” Lee added with a small smile as Harry exited the cabin and found the intercom mic hanging on the wall in the corridor.

 

Minutes later they were met by Dr. Holland who was only too pleased to see the two officers shed the “official” Navy look.

 

“Wonderful Gentlemen!  Let's proceed to the Control Room.  Captain Hardy is going to take the boat through a series of angle and dangles that should demonstrate Blue Tide's maneuverability nicely,” Holland said with catchy enthusiasm.

 

“Lead the way, Dr. Holland,” Harry replied, anxious to see the innovative sub as she “red lined” her capabilities, operating at maximum performance, thereby establishing the standard for this boat and any following under the same design.

 

* * * * *

 

Both Lee and Harry had a firm hand hold as the Blue Tide completed her angles and dangles, sharp turns and drops in depth completed with precision by both the boat and the crew.  Lee was impressed with the boat's maneuverability and couldn't help wonder what the hull design was like to create such quick responses.

 

He and Harry exchanged an impressed raise of the eyebrows as Dr. Holland beamed at the boat's performance. 

 

“Well, Dr. Holland, I can tell you I'm more than impressed with the Blue Tide,” Harry offered graciously.

 

“Oh believe me Admiral Nelson, the Blue Tide was developed with the high standard of Seaview in mind.  I knew that I needed to impress you to sell my design innovations to the Navy.”

 

“You've certainly done that, I'll be more than interested in comparing notes once the Navy clears our communications to do so,” Harry encouraged.

 

Dr. Holland's countenance dropped slightly.  “Ah but here among colleagues, certainly we could bend the rules just a little?  That is to say, you haven't told me how the Blue Tide compares to Seaview in speed, maximum dive depth and maneuverability.  I would be most interested to know how close we came to matching your magnificent boat,” he beamed.

 

“I can only tell you that the Blue Tide is a fine vessel and that the Navy will indeed be interested in your innovations, Dr. Holland.”

 

“I see,” Dr. Holland said almost petulantly.  “Well,” he said changing back to his cheery exuberant self, “let's all retire to the wardroom for dinner and enjoy the hospitality of our galley.”

 

“Will you be joining us Captain Hardy?” Lee asked hoping to talk “shop” with the Blue Tide's Skipper.

 

“No, I'm afraid my attention is needed elsewhere,” he answered rather flatly as Lee nodded politely and followed Dr. Holland aft.  Curiouser and curiouser, he thought silently.

 

* * * * *

 

Dinner was followed by a discussion between Harry and Dr. Holland that mirrored the one earlier with Dr. Holland nearly begging Harry to compare Seaview in specifics.

 

“Now Admiral Nelson, how can I be expected to share my design secrets with you if you're not willing to let me know how close we got to Seaview's performance?” Holland replied petulantly.

 

“While I would dearly love to see the specifics of your hull design, your power plant and your jet engine propulsion, I certainly do not expect you to show them to me, Dr. Holland.  I'll simply have to wait until the Navy chooses to authorize us both to see one another's specs.  Until then, we'll just have to be impressed with one another's work,” Harry said, laying it on the line and hopefully ending the constant begging that was rivaling a child trying to coax a treat from his parent.

 

“Of course, but you must admit, Seaview does present an engineer with some questions.  For instance, Seaview runs faster submerged than on the surface,” he stated rather than asked as Harry remained silent.  “And yet Seaview is obviously not designed with an 'Albacore hull' which is necessary by all accounts of known engineering and design to achieve faster submergence speeds,” he spoke in exasperation, “The whale-shaped, tear-drop hull has become the standard for subs wishing to achieve faster submergence speeds by reducing the hydrodynamic drag on the sub,” he finished with only a small breath before continuing.  “Then there's your deep dive capability, now there you've got to admit you left some mighty big questions.  Everyone knows that a titanium hull allows for the deeper depths over high strength alloy steel but you must sacrifice in other functions to achieve this and yet Seaview's maneuverability is extraordinary even with the unclassified publications I've read.”  He finally took a deep breath in as Harry blew out a breath and a chuckle at the same time.

 

“I'd say we probably solved these problems in the same fashion, Dr. Holland.  You certainly have proven you were able to overcome the challenges as well.”

 

“Well, not all of them,” Dr. Holland conceded with a grin.  “You still hold the patent on your herculite windows.”

 

“Yes, I am holding the herculite windows close at bay, mostly because to allow the windows to go public would, by simple engineering deduction, let the cat out of the bag on some of the classified specs of the Boat.  There were certain engineering feats that were overcome to fit the herculite windows safely in place,” Harry explained as Lee sat back enjoying the discussion and Harry's quick but veiled responses to Dr. Holland's persistent inquiries.

 

Dr. Holland expelled a breath with a smile and shook his head in a move that said, “I give up.” 

 

“Well, I think we should retire for the evening, Captain Hardy will be taking us through a series of speed variance tests tomorrow, it should be quite exciting.”

 

“Fine Dr. Holland,” Harry replied standing as he spoke. 

 

“Can I escort you back to your cabins, Gentlemen?”

 

“Not at all necessary.  I'm sure we can navigate our way around,” Harry replied pleasantly.

 

“Very well, Admiral Nelson.  The Wardroom opens at 5:30, but don't expect me here until 7:00,” Holland answered with a grin.

 

* * * * *

 

Lee was in a deep sleep in his guest cabin when he felt a shudder.  Years of being in tuned to his boat caused him to sit up sharply as he listened for any further sounds.  He pulled the covers off the bunk and placed his bare feet on the floor feeling the nearly in-perceivable vibrations under his feet.  Everything felt “normal” and it wasn't his boat so he laid back down placing a bent arm under his head as he lay there.  He tilted his head toward the clock, 0500, he groaned inwardly and figured he'd hit the wardroom for some coffee since he wasn't going to get anymore sleep.  He was out the door and heading toward the wardroom twenty minutes later, hoping coffee was already made.  If not, well he'd brewed more than one pot of coffee in his day, he only hoped the boat's Cookie wasn't as picky as Seaview's cook about unauthorized galley crew in his kitchen! 

 

As he reached the wardroom he caught the sounds of voices and found himself frowning.  It was mumbled and low, but the dialect didn't sound right.  As he approached the sounds turned familiar and very English sounding and since he wasn't able to make out what the men were actually saying, he thought perhaps he had been mistaken.  He dismissed it outwardly, but like all good spies filed it away for later, in case it was important.

 

Harry joined Lee in the wardroom by 0600 as he entered heading straight for the coffee pot and greeting Lee simultaneously.

 

“Good morning, Lee.  Looks like you've been up for a while?”

 

“Aye Sir,” Lee replied with a comfortable smile as Harry leaned over to check out Lee's reading material before setting his coffee on the table and joining him.  “Couldn't sleep so I thought I'd come for some coffee.”

 

“Couldn't sleep?  Must have been after that shutter at 0500?”

 

Lee acknowledged Harry's correct assumption with a smile.

 

“What do you have there?” Harry asked, referring to the periodical in front of Lee.

 

Maritime Now: Engineering and Design,” Lee returned, flipping the magazine over for Harry to check out the cover.

 

“Hmmm, I haven't read that issue yet,” Harry said taking a sip of his coffee after breathing in the aroma as if it were a fine wine.

 

“No Sir, hot off the presses,” Lee answered in easy camaraderie.  He had actually hoped to visit with Captain Hardy this morning, but so far the captain hadn't been by.

 

The two sat visiting quietly, both wearing their khaki uniforms, minus the jacket and tie.

 

“Good morning, Gentlemen,” Dr. Holland greeted jovially.  “In honor of your presence I decided to forego my usual breakfast time and get up with the chickens, or is that with the mackerels?” He joked as he arrived at 0630, a half hour earlier than his planned arrival. 

 

“Good morning, Dr. Holland,” Harry replied as the three moved toward the galley serving line.

 

“I wondered if Captain Hardy might be joining us, Dr. Holland?” Lee asked politely.

 

“Oh I've never seen the captain take breakfast.  I'm afraid he drinks his breakfast by way of caffeine laden coffee, but I'm sure you'll see him at lunch.”

 

Lee nodded and proceeded to place a relatively light but satisfying amount of breakfast food on his plate.  Forty minutes later they were headed to the Control Room.

 

* * * * *

 

Captain Hardy took Blue Tide through a series of speed variance tests starting with one-third, increasing to two-thirds and cruising at standard, then increased to Full.  The engines answered bells without a flaw as Captain Hardy gave the word, “All ahead Flank.”

 

Lee felt the change of motion with each command, small but discernible to an experienced submariner.  He scanned the Control Room taking in the boat's speed as she evened out at 60 knots, her flank speed.  Lee caught Harry's eyes and nodded slightly as Harry caught that look that said, “I've got to get me one of these!”  Speed is speed and whether it's 90 mph in his Cobra on a back road, Mach 2 in FS1, or 60 knots in an experimental sub, the charge was still satisfying.

 

An hour later, Hardy gave the word to reduce speed to Standard as he turned to Lee for the first time that morning.

 

“Captain Crane, I'd be most pleased if you'd take the Con and take the Blue Tide through some additional angles and dangles.”

 

“I'd be most honored, Captain Hardy, but as I haven't read the boat's specs...”

 

“Nonsense Captain Crane,” Dr. Holland interrupted, “The Blue Tide will respond quite similar to Seaview, I assure you.”

 

Lee's smile widened, “Very well,” he stated as he took the boat through some impressive maneuvers before turning over the Con to Captain Hardy.

 

“Thank you Captain Hardy, she's a fine a boat,” Lee added sincerely.

 

“You're quite welcome Captain Crane, and may I add your seamanship is everything I've been told.”

 

Lee nodded his appreciation as Harry looked on hiding the pride he felt for Seaview's captain behind his tight lipped smile.

 

“Well Gentlemen, let's break for lunch.  I hear Captain Hardy has quite the show for you this afternoon with a test of our emergency blow procedures,” Holland said, directing his guests back to the Wardroom, this time with Captain Hardy in tow as he and Lee discussed non-specific submarine “shop” along the way.

 

* * * * *

 

“Blow ballast all tanks.  Full rise on the planes.  All ahead Full,” Captain Hardy ordered as everyone in the Control Room hung on for the incredible angle of attack that ended in the finale of the boat piercing the water's surface, hovering in midair for just a second and slamming forward as gravity and the laws of physics brought the great submarine safely to the surface.

 

“Better than an e-ride at Disneyland!” Dr. Holland boasted as both Harry and Lee heartily agreed. 

 

“Now Gentlemen, let's go someplace and talk submarine design and engineering!” Holland added with a gleam in his eye and barely avoiding rubbing his hands together in anticipation.

 

What followed was another two hours of Holland and Harry exchanging questions and non-specific answers with Holland being as persistent as a spoiled child trying to get his way.  Finally the two sat back and sighed as if the mental combat had reached its limit.

 

“My dear Admiral Nelson, this has been a blast, even if you won't satisfy my curiosity as to the Blue Tide's performance against Seaview's.  But we still have a six hour cruise back to the Bay, perhaps we can spar some more after a short break?”

 

Harry chuckled, he had actually enjoyed the discussions with Dr. Holland as he had a truly gifted mind for nautical engineering.  So much so, that he dismissed the constant probing as nothing more than curiosity and subsequently, Holland's persistence hadn't triggered any real concerns he might have had over security, especially since the Blue Tide had actually out-performed Seaview.

 

“I think a short break would do us both some good, Dr. Holland,” Harry offered as he and Lee rose ready to head back to their cabin.

 

“Fine, but believe me, I'm going to get my money's worth of the trip back,” Holland teased, clearly having a good time talking with such a great mind as Harriman Nelson.  “I'm going to pick your brain for everything I can get,” he finished with a boyish grin.

 

* * * * *

 

Lee and Harry had a light discussion on the way back to their cabins and then parted ways agreeing to meet again in an hour.  The discussions with Dr. Holland had fueled some ideas that Harry needed to jot down for exploration later, so Lee left him happily to his pen, pad and solo brainstorming session.  Lee really didn't have much to do without his usual reports and didn't need a rest.  It had only been thirty minutes and he didn't want to disturb Harry, so he decided to make his way back to the Wardroom and grab the magazine he had been reading earlier.  He rarely had time for pleasure reading and having his masters in Nautical Engineering he found the periodical fascinating.  As he moved forward he heard sounds from the corridor walls beside him.  Not good insulation, he thought if he could hear a muffled conversation from the other side of an inner wall of the sub. 

 

He continued forward trying to ignore the conversation out of politeness when he stopped in his tracks to listen more closely.  The foreign language he heard was more than familiar to him, he spoke it fluently and had only last year been the “guest” of others speaking this same language.  An involuntary shudder raced down his back as the memories of being abducted and brainwashed by way of sleep deprivation, drugs and electric shock coursed through his entire body.  The worst of the experience was not the physical pain he endured but what had been reprogrammed in him as a result of his abductors' handiwork:  Saboteur.  Traitor.  Assassin. 

 

It all came back like a flood as Lee flashed back, his memories sharp and still disturbing...

 

I'm a sworn agent,” he remembered telling Harry and Forrester as he was interrogated in sickbay.  But it wasn't him, it was the brainwashing and conditioning as he fought with everything he had to return.

 

The shock of the bullet and the sedation is bringing him out of it,” he heard Jamie say.

 

Keep him talking,” Forrester said as Harry continued to probe.

 

Lee gave them everything his mind would release, but it was difficult to think and his reprogrammed mind was warring against the small part of him that was fighting to return.  His body and confused mind finally gave out as he engaged in delirium filled laughter, but it had been enough for Harry and Forrester to deduce who the other “agent” aboard was and stop Parker before he accomplished his mission to sink Seaview.

 

Lee brought himself back to the present as he listened to the men speaking Republicanese...

 

“How is it going?”

 

“I need more time.  I can tell Nelson is enjoying the engaging conversation, I believe he will give me more if I have more time.”

 

“What about the maneuvers Crane brought the boat through?”

 

“Yes, well we can analyze his maneuvers and extrapolate Seaview's capabilities but without Nelson's information we can't break the engineering wall we've run into in Seaview's design.”

 

“What do you suggest?”

 

“Some sort of mechanical failure or more tests?  I don't know, something that will slow down our return to port.”

 

“A mechanical failure then, Nelson is on a tight schedule and may not tolerate adding more time than he allotted to the cruise.”

 

“Good...”

 

Lee recognized the conversation coming to a close and made his way back down the corridor to the guest cabins before Dr. Holland realized his conversation had been overheard.

 

He entered Harry's cabin without a knock and closed the door silently behind him, listening at the door for any sign that he'd been followed.

 

“Lee?”  Harry inquired quietly, knowing that his Captain's actions were significant and waited for Lee to answer, trusting explicably Lee's acute sense of any impending danger.

 

Lee turned, satisfied that he hadn't been followed.  “Admiral, we've got to get off this boat.”

 

Harry's eyebrows tightened, his body language demanding an explanation.

 

“I just overhead Dr. Holland and someone else speaking Republicanese.  All the questions Holland has for you is a cover for what they really want: Seaview's specs and your design innovations that make her possible.”

 

Harry rose from his chair at the news, but quickly reined in his surprise as Lee continued.

 

“They're taking the maneuvers I executed today and extrapolating Seaview's capabilities, but Holland has hit an engineering wall and needs information from you to bring his project, whatever it is, forward.”

 

Harry shook his head in the negative.  It wasn't that he didn't believe Lee, he was an extremely seasoned ONI Operative who didn't cry wolf without good reason. 

 

“I don't understand, Lee,” Harry said, pacing as he spoke.  “Holland has obviously surpassed Seaview's capabilities, the Blue Tide is proof of it.”

 

“I don't understand either, Admiral, but Holland is going to feign some sort of mechanical failure to ensure he has more time to work on you.  Once they figure out you're not going to inadvertently spill the beans they're going to get physical.”

 

Lee turned and ran a frustrated hand through his dark hair, holding it over his head for a moment before turning around and looking Harry in the eyes.

 

“They know how to get what they want Admiral, believe me, I know,” he answered imploring Harry to trust him.

 

Trust wasn't an issue as Harry looked into his eyes and nodded in agreement.  “What do you suggest we do?”

 

“We're what... four hours from the Bay?  We're in a well-traveled sea lane, I say we take our chances and 'jump-ship' before they decide to go to more conventional methods to get what they want.”

 

“Without a raft in the open seas?”

 

“No, let's make our way to the dive hatch.  We'll grab an emergency raft there and if we're lucky an emergency beacon as well.  We're not expected until dinner that may buy us a few more hours, we'll wait and activate the beacon then.”

 

Harry studied Lee's eyes.  He was completely in control; completely rational; and completely desperate to get Harry off the boat.  Harry saw fear in Lee's eyes but he had no doubt it wasn't for his own safety but for what he knew the Republic was capable of; what they would do to him, Harry, to get the information they wanted.

 

“Alright Lee, let's go,” Harry said as Lee expelled a breath of relief and moved to peer out the door, clearing the way before they exited the cabin.

 

They moved down the corridor stealthily as the small crew on-board provided empty halls for them to wander.  Lee found his way to the dive hatch that Holland had pointed out to them on their tour as Restricted.  Their plan was to wait for whatever “mechanical failure” Holland was going to manufacture and exit the boat when it stopped its forward movement.

 

Lee was the first to reach the hatch and placed both hands on the wheel to turn it slowly and quietly, but as his hands made contact he found himself in excruciating pain and unable to let loose of the wheel as he grunted out the agony of an electric shock.

 

* * * * *

 

Harry watched as Lee was obviously caught in an electrical shock, frozen to the hatch wheel as electricity coursed through his body.  There was nothing around, no mop handle, no broom, nothing to push Lee off the door.  He had no time to search, Lee would be dead if the current continued.  Harry took several large steps back and ran full force throwing his body weight into Lee with all the force of a linebacker sacking a quarterback.  If he didn't break the connection they would both be electrocuted, but it was Lee's only chance.  He felt Lee's hands disconnect upon impact as he fell heavily to the floor with Harry receiving a small dose of the shock in the split second their bodies were in contact with the “hot” hatch wheel.

 

Harry's dose was enough to cause him to breathe heavily as he shook off the after effects of the shock and turned toward Lee who lay beside him trembling uncontrollably and breathing heavily.

 

“Lee?”  Harry said, reaching for his carotid pulse on Lee's neck and sighing in relief at finding a strong beat under his fingers.  Harry hung his head in thankfulness that the electric charge on the door was apparently a low level charge.  Designed, he surmised, to keep them from entering the compartment but not necessarily to kill them.  Lee's groan and the movement of his head brought Harry's hand to Lee's face gently patting it to aid in his return to consciousness.

 

“Lee, can you open your eyes for me?”

 

Lee swallowed first and expelled a soft moan along with a breath out.  “What happened?”  He asked, finding himself lying flat on his back, looking up at the bulkhead with stinging red hands.

 

“The hatch wheel was rigged with some sort of electrical charge.  I guess we're not authorized to go there,” he quipped as Lee tried to sit up.

 

“No, wait Lee.  An electric shock does a number on the heart, just lay there a moment and recover.”

 

Lee obeyed slowing his breathing down.  “I guess Restricted means Restricted on this boat,” he joked with a small smile that disappeared, morphing into concern.

 

“Admiral this only proves my point, we've got to get off this boat.”

 

“Lee your hands, swimming is going to be painful.”

 

“They're fine, Admiral,” Lee didn't wait for Harry's response to his assessment of his condition and moved to sit up.

 

Harry helped Lee change positions but found he was steady.  “Well, we're not getting off the boat through the diver's hatch,” Harry said, stating the obvious. 

 

“Then how about someplace that's not restricted?”  Lee offered with a small smile.

 

“The moon pool?” Harry asked, his small tight-lipped smile growing at Lee's nod of affirmation.  “Let's go,” Harry said helping Lee off the deck and moving toward the moon pool.

 

* * * * *

 

Harry and Lee arrived after evading several crewmen walking an adjacent corridor, but so far it seemed that their absence from their quarters hadn't been discovered.  They entered the hatch, happily finding it free of an electrical charge and discarded their shoes and socks, as Lee noted the dive tanks still on the floor where he had stowed them earlier.  He checked the valves as Harry donned his tank and then helped Lee whose hands were red with a few blisters beginning to make themselves known.  They waited until they felt the expected if not sudden stop as the intercom began to sound off the “mechanical” failure designed to give Holland time to deceive classified information from Harry.

 

Harry nodded for Lee to go first and was met by a “You first,” look, but Harry's command glare won out as Lee took a step off the edge and dove feet first into the moon pool.  He swam below following the pool out to the open ocean to wait for Harry but was completely surprised at what he found once he cleared the boat.

 

* * * * *

 

Lee swam three feet from the sub and touched his hands flat against a tank wall; a swimming tank built around the moon pool entrance.  He felt Harry side up next to him, both taking in the implications as Harry pointed upwards and Lee nodded.  They swam eight feet up and broke the surface of the swim tank to find they weren't at sea at all, but in a huge warehouse.  They both shed their tanks allowing them to fall to the bottom of the swim tank and moved toward the ladder that led to the warehouse floor. 

 

They were obviously part of some elaborate ruse to win Harry's secrets.  Their side of the warehouse appeared to be empty as the two climbed down the ladder, completely soaked and dripping onto the concrete floor below them.  Lee shook his head and pointed to the safety placard positioned next to the tank ladder.  Caution:  Dangerous when wet.  He and Harry exchanged, Can you believe it? looks as if OSHA monitored the bad guys’ secret hide-out, and moved a few feet away to get their first view of the Blue Tide.  A mock up submarine that was finished on the inside but the ribs of the boat were exposed with hydraulics and supports positioned to imitate and mimic the movement of a submarine.

 

“A simulator,” Lee said quietly as Harry nodded in agreement as each realized that they had spent the last two days aboard a sophisticated submarine simulator.

 

Harry motioned for Lee to follow as they made their way to the “stern” and peered around the sides looking for a safe escape route.  Unfortunately, simulator technicians milled about on that side, offering no coverage for their escape to a ladder positioned by the “gangplank” they had undoubtedly entered the sub on the day before.  They moved back to keep their presence stealth and moved toward the “bow”.  From their position they saw their extrication, a fire escape stairwell that led all the way to the roof.  It was their best chance for liberation, once they reached the roof they would climb down the building's exterior fire escape.

 

They took one last look around and bolted for the staircase taking quiet steps up in their bare feet, dripping with every step upward.  The staircase was framed but not enclosed as the pair continued to climb the four stories; they had just negotiated three stories when everything broke loose.

 

“Crane and Nelson have escaped!  Search the warehouse!”

 

“There they are!” Was heard as Harry and Lee turned on the steam to climb the last floor of steps, turning twice on the stairwell. 

 

They made it to the roof with the sounds of pursuit stepping loudly behind them.  They were met by a significant rain storm as Harry opened the door, moving forward looking for and finding the vertical ladder hanging over the side of the building.  Harry looked over the edge of the two story building, obviously two floors built below ground level made up the entire four floors.  Across the street was a parking lot full of cars as Harry realized they were in the middle of the city and not at the ocean shore at all.  He looked down the vertical ladder and then reached for Lee's red and blistered hands as Lee read his mind.

 

“I can make it Admiral,” Lee assured him, and as they had no choice Harry motioned him over the side first.

 

“Negative Sir, it's you they want.  You first, I'll bring up the rear,” Lee said in a no-nonsense tone that Harry knew would buck even his direct order as he let out a disgusted, We'll talk about this later, blow of the breath and started to negotiate the climb over the edge when his forward movement was stopped by the sound of multiple chambers being primed with bullets.

 

“That's far enough Nelson,” came the familiar voice of Dr. Holland, only the excited, jovial and pleasant man they had spent the last two days with was absent as his voice was decidedly dark and dangerous.

 

Harry and Lee both turned to face their captors as the rain drenched them even further.

 

“Now Nelson, there's no need for any civilians to be hurt by flying bullets.”

 

Lee stood to Harry's left and spoke quietly, “Over the side, Sir, I'll distract them.” 

 

Harry took in the situation instantly; there was already a welcoming party below at the bottom of the ladder, and Lee's “distraction” would likely get him shot full of holes accomplishing nothing.  Harry sighed, conceding defeat – at least temporarily.

 

“A wise decision Nelson.  Now come below, we have much to discuss.”

 

Harry could feel Lee tense and knew his Captain's ONI training was urging him to fight his way out of this.  He reached over and placed a soft but restraining hand on Lee's right arm, ordering him to stand-down without a word.

 

“And what if I refuse?” Harry said coolly.  “Can you really afford to let loose those noise makers in the middle of the city?”

 

Holland took a step forward, moving out from under the large black umbrella that kept him dry and peered darkly into Harry's eyes.  He spoke in Republicanese as one of the armed men screwed a silencer on his assault weapon and handed it over to Holland.  He pointed it squarely at Harry, hoping to achieve a reaction of fear as the red laser rested over Harry's heart, but got none for his trouble.

 

“No, not you.  I need you.  But your Captain here.  Let's see...”

 

Harry watched as the muzzle of the gun moved toward Lee.  The red laser dot was fixated on Lee's forehead and then trailed down his neck, and stopped over his heart.

 

“Now if I take this shot, I lose all my influence over you Nelson.”  Holland continued to lower the muzzle as the red dot followed a line from Lee's heart, over his hip, down his thigh and rested on his left knee cap. 

 

“Now this shot would effectively end the good captain's career for good, wouldn't you say Nelson?”

 

Harry could feel Lee's anger from under his soft touch, still on his arm.

 

“That won't be necessary,” Harry answered.

 

“Admiral...” Lee tried to interject, desperately wanting Harry to make a try for it over the roof.

 

“We'll find another way, Lee,” Harry promised as Holland's men approached coaxing them back to the roof stairwell with the sharp feel of muzzles prodding their backs.

 

* * * * *

 

Lee paced the small windowless room where he was being kept with nothing to do but think.  They had been given a change of clothes to wear, a blue chambray shirt over dark blue pants and deck shoes; standard issue for the simulator crew aboard the Blue Tide.

 

Harry had been gone for three hours and every minute that passed didn't bode well for the Admiral.  He wouldn't break easily, Lee was keenly aware of that fact, but he also knew what the PR was capable of.

 

His contemplation was interrupted by the door knob jiggling as Harry walked in, looking somewhat worse for the wear and showing signs of a physical interrogation.  Lee approached Harry to help him to a chair but Harry raised a hand stopping his forward motion.

 

“We came to... an arrangement,” Harry declared.

 

“What kind of arrangement, Admiral?” he asked with little decorum, his voice full of accusation.

 

“What was I supposed to do, Lee?  They threatened to cut you up into tiny pieces with me watching!” Harry said throwing his hands up in the air.

 

“Admiral, you know as well as I do that giving them what they want could change the course of the power structure of the world.”

 

“It's already been done, Lee.  I've contacted Morton, he's arranging for the blueprints to be ready for a courier pick up.”

 

“Oh great!” Lee said sarcastically.  “Don't you know that your weak handling of the situation not only amounts to treason but will probably get us both killed?”

 

“Don't use that tone with me Mister,” Harry said darkly, circling Lee until he stood directly in front of him, toe to toe as if Lee were a lowly plebe getting a dressing down from his drill instructor.

 

Lee added a small wink, indiscernible from the camera positioned in the corner of the cell as the two had played the game perfectly.  They needed their captors to think they were at odds, not two men who would do anything to protect one another, short of selling out their country that is.

 

“Well the damage has been done,” Lee spat out.  “You might as well sit down before you fall down,” he added, urging Harry to rest.  Harry got the hint and continued the performance, blowing out a disgusted breath at the insubordinate currently engaging in major insubordination, taking a seat as Lee watched him trying to ascertain the damage.  Bruises on the face, took more than a few blows there.  One hand across his side, damaged ribs, he reasoned, but he's still functioning, Lee concluded.  He knew that somewhere in the “order” to ready the plans Harry had passed a message.  Lee was sure Chip would know what to do with it.

 

* * * * *

 

Lt. Commander Chip Morton paced the floor of the Admiral's office at the Nelson Institute.  The phone call he just received shouted “danger” at every turn.  The Admiral had passed a message and he had heard it loud and clear.  Subsequently after hanging up with Harry, Chip placed a call to Admiral Johnson at ONI and he was currently waiting for two couriers; one to pick up Seaview's Blueprints for the Admiral, the other from ONI.  As he waited he thought about the phone call, trying to make sure he hadn't missed any clues.

 

“Hello Sir, I wasn't expecting to hear from you for several more hours.”

 

“Yes I know, that's why I'm calling Charles.”

 

Chip leaned forward in his chair; he hadn't been known as “Charles” since he broke the window on the front porch when he was nine years old.

 

“Aye Sir, I'm listening,” he returned trying to cue Harry that he had indeed gotten his attention.

 

“The Blue Tide is extraordinary and Dr. Holland and I are anxious to brainstorm some ideas together.  I need the Master Blueprints for Seaview ready for pickup, we'll have a courier there in two hours.  Now it's important that Angela pull the right prints.  I need the prints with the blue cap on the tube, not the black or the red cap.  If she has trouble finding them have Chief Jones help.”

 

“Aye Sir,” Chip replied evenly, knowing that Angie wasn't short for Angela and was never referred to as such; that Chief Jones had died six months ago; and that they had no such color coded filing system for the tube caps as all were standard white from the manufacturer.

 

“Very well, now be ready with the Blueprints, I don't want the courier to have to wait.”

 

“Might I deliver the Blueprints for you, Sir?”

 

“No, the courier is on his way just have it ready, Charles.  Nelson out.”  He finished abruptly as Chip sighed and then went into action.

 

He left his office and ran to Angie's desk.

 

“Angie, I need Seaview's Blueprints, the ones he uses for University Lectures without the classified information, and I need you to paint the end-cap on the tube blue,” he ordered as she nodded, clearly seeing the fact that something was wrong.

 

“The Admiral's in some sort of trouble,” he said filling her in quickly if not vaguely.  “And connect me directly to Admiral Johnson at ONI, I'll take it in the Admiral's office,” he said as Angie moved into action herself.

 

Johnson agreed with Chip's assessment and arranged for a micro-dot transponder to be delivered before the pickup.  A buzz from the Admiral's desk interrupted his thoughts as Angie's voice was heard.

 

“Chip, the courier is here.”

 

“I'll be right out,” he said hoping it was ONI's courier.  He wasn't disappointed as he walked out and recognized Mark Calhoun, an ONI Operative stationed in San Diego.  Lee thought highly of him and he knew he was a good man.

 

“I have what you need,” Mark answered.

 

“Great, in here,” Chip answered having no time for the normal pleasantries.  Chip unfurled the Blueprints as Mark looked for the best place to put the dot.  He chose a print four pages down and placed the dot in such a way as to be easily overlooked by a casual cursory glance.

 

“Okay, thanks,” Chip said rolling the prints and placing them inside the tube as Angie walked in with the newly painted blue end-cap.

 

“Will this work?” She asked handing the cap over to Chip.

 

“Perfect,” Chip replied as Mark raised an eyebrow.  Chip handed the sealed tube to Angie for the courier to pick up.

 

“I'll head out for my stake-out location now,” Mark said, informing Chip of his further participation.  “I'm only photographing the courier, the pursuit will be made by the chopper.”

 

“Aye,” Chip agreed.

 

“Johnson says keep FS1 on the ground, it's too easy to tip off the bad guys that we're onto them if they see it flying around.”

 

“I understand.”

 

“Okay, I'm joining the operation in a second chopper once the area is cleared, Johnson's authorized you to come along if you're interested.”

 

Chip let out a relieved chuckle.  “I thought you'd never ask.”  He picked up his sidearm and holster sitting on Harry's desk and turned toward Mark.  “Let's go,” he said leaving the office and nodding to Kowalski who was dressed as a janitor, and Patterson who was dressed as a technician fixing a computer and headed out.  Ski and Pat would keep Angie safe for the pickup, and hopefully the transponder would lead them to Harry and Lee.

 

* * * * *

 

“Commander.  Lee.  Crane,” the medium height, dark haired man stated in staccato, an obvious PR officer even though he wore a black wool suit instead of a military uniform.  “I know of a certain scientist who will be especially pleased to see you again,” he continued trying to intimidate Lee.

 

Lee stood at attention staring past the officer, a Major he heard someone say, and focusing on the wall behind him, refusing to give in to the threat of returning to the Republic's “special care”.  He and Harry had been separated once the Blueprints had arrived, that was only fifteen minutes ago as he held silent trepidation for Harry's health once Holland realized that the Admiral hadn't given him what he wanted.

 

“Did you know the scientist suffered for your failed Conditioning?”

 

Oh now did he?  Lee thought silently in a sarcastic sing song voice.

 

“He is a good friend of mine,” the officer replied, “This is for him,” he said as he landed a devastating blow to Lee's gut.  Lee doubled over, unprepared for the solid punch that had taken the wind from his lungs as he gasped for air and fought back the pain.

 

“I know he has perfected his craft and I look forward to delivering you to his laboratory,” he finished with a swift upper cut that sent Lee flying back against the wall as he crumbled to the floor fighting the white spots threatening to take him to oblivion.

 

“It won't be long Crane.  The next time you wake you'll be in the People's Republic,” he taunted.  “I'm going to enjoy watching you break, Crane,” he added cruelly, approaching Lee to inject the contents of the hypo as Lee flew into action.

 

There was no way he was going down without a fight!

 

* * * * *

(Back with Harry a few moments earlier...)

 

Harry watched as Holland looked over the Blueprints, his smile like a child's experiencing a “light bulb” moment signaling instant understanding.

 

“I knew it!” He said with excitement, looking over the specs as one of his engineering suppositions proved true, but then his face registered deep confusion as he fumbled through the pages looking for what he was searching for.

 

“You deceived me,” he said turning toward Harry.  “These are nothing more than mock drawings with little real engineering information.”

 

Harry nodded with a tight lipped smile as he spoke evenly.  “You really didn't think I would turn over Seaview's secrets to the likes of you, did you?”

 

“You underestimate me, Nelson.  If you don't think I'm capable of pulling off my threats against Crane you're wrong.  You two don't fool me, he would do anything to protect you and I suspect it goes both ways.”  He turned toward the man in the dark suit behind him and addressed the Major.  “Get Crane ready,” he said, as the Major smiled deviously and left for Lee's cell.

 

“What are you planning to do?” Harry asked.

 

Holland's eyes grew darker, “He's going back to the Republic where he will undergo our new and improved Conditioning process.  We're going to break Lee Crane.”

 

Harry's blood began to boil as he launched forward surrounding both hands around Holland's neck and squeezing tightly as the guards in the room fought unsuccessfully to dislodge him until the base of Harry's neck was met with a karate chop and he crumbled to the floor.

 

Holland stood over Harry holding his neck as red welts broadcasted Harry's strong hold.  “Load him up; he'll talk when we reach the Republic.”

 

Two guards bent over to pick Harry up when he came to life from his counterfeit unconscious state and kicked the feet out from under one guard grabbing his rifle and using it to jab a devastating blow to the other's gut.  Holland's eyes went wide as Harry rose before him training his weapon on the traitorous scientist.

 

“Call off your men, Holland,” he warned as the guards began to stir, “Or you'll get the first bullet, right between the eyes,” he finished darkly, his own eyes promising to deliver on his threat.

 

“Back off!” Holland ordered immediately as Harry pulled the scientist in front of him, guiding him toward the door.

 

“Now let's go,” Harry ordered with Holland obeying immediately.  They exited the room as Harry locked the door from the outside and looked around.

 

“Which way to Crane?” He demanded in a quiet near whisper that sent shivers up Holland's back. 

 

“That room,” he said, pointing across the hall and several doors down.

 

Harry heard sounds of someone's distress coming from behind that particular door and decided he didn't need Holland any longer.  He raised the rifle butt and swung connecting heavily with Holland's head as he fell instantly unconscious and ran for Lee's cell.

 

* * * * *

 

Lee was definitely compromised by the heavy blows but he wasn't going down without a fight.  The Major closed the distance and leaned over ready to dispense what was most certainly a heavy sedative when Lee delivered his own upper cut, surprising the officer and sending him stumbling back.  Lee gathered his feet under him and dove for the officer pinning him to the ground and delivering several more punches before the guards joined in the fray as Lee rose to deal with his new attackers.  So focused were they on pulling Lee off the Major that they had unwisely slung their rifles over their shoulders.  They were subsequently unprepared for an ONI Operative who had fought multiple bad guys on more than one occasion in his career.  He exchanged punches, fighting three guards at one time as the first guard bowed out, going down with one punch; exhibiting what boxers call a glass jaw.  The other guards were more resilient as Lee employed his combat training mixed with good old fashion street fighting to knock one guard senseless enough to grab his gun and raised it just in time to take out the third guard with a single bullet.  The Major finally found his senses after seeing stars dance around his head and tried to reach for a downed guard's gun when it was kicked away from his grasp and he found himself staring down the barrel of a rifle.

 

“Get up,” Lee ordered darkly as the Major made his way to his feet, holding his hands in the universal surrender pose.

 

“Put your hands behind your head and face the wall.”

 

“What are you going to do?”  The Major stammered out.

 

“Do you want to see it coming?” Lee answered as he cocked the gun and the Major obeyed.

 

“Don't kill me,” the Major pleaded, stuttering in fear.

 

“Are you still going to enjoy watching me break?” Lee whispered darkly in his ear as the Major pleaded for his life.  Lee drew back and delivered a powerful blow with the butt of the rifle to his back, the impact sending the Major crashing forward into the wall where the blood from his now broken nose streaked downward followed by the officer sliding down in a heap.

 

Lee looked over his cell, three guards and a Major out cold on the floor.  He held his rifle ready for use when he heard the door opening and swung around to meet the muzzle of another rifle pointed straight at him.

 

“Lee?” …  “Admiral?” …  Were rendered at nearly the same time as each lowered their guns, grateful that neither one had itchy trigger fingers.

 

The bruises on their faces bore witness to the individual battles they had fought as they each took in a satisfying breath of relief.

 

“How are you Admiral?”

 

“Fine Lee, and you?”

 

“I'm good, nothing broken,” he said holding his side as Harry did the same.

 

Just then the sound of rat-a-tat-tat was heard in the outer rooms as Harry and Lee exchanged smiles.

 

“It sounds like the cavalry is here,” Lee quipped, bending over and collecting the downed guard's rifles as Harry worked his way over to the Major turning him over, the bloody nose a testament to Lee's dealings with the PR officer.

 

The sound of their “rescue” was working itself down the hallway as Harry and Lee sat at the table waiting for ONI, the FBI, NIS, or whatever alphabet soup government agency stormed through the door.  Both Harry and Lee positioned the rifles menacingly across their laps and raised their feet to rest on the table before them. 

 

They listened as the fracas grew closer and knew they'd soon have company.  They didn't have long to wait as the door burst open with Chip leading the way, he quickly perused the situation with the guards here, in the hall, and in the other room fully neutralized.  He lowered his side arm, addressing the two officers with a shrug of his shoulders.

 

“I'm not sure why we even bothered to show up,” Chip deadpanned, then his stiff, stoic face brightened as he flashed a smile of relief at his two commanding officers both alive and well.  Check that, he thought silently, alive at least, we'll let Jamie decide how well they are, he finished, taking in the multiple bruises on both men's faces and each obviously nursing sore sides. 

 

Mark Calhoun stepped inside and raised a radio to his mouth.  “Nelson and Crane are secured.  Round up the rest and secure the scene.”

 

* * * * *

 

Harry and Lee stood in the warehouse in front of the Blue Tide, a sophisticated simulator, as they explained what the last two days had entailed.

 

“You were really fooled?” Chip asked respectfully.

 

“Completely,” Lee answered.  “The movements were completely congruent with the orders given, but what I couldn't figure out was how the crew was so cool approaching their newly established crush depth in a boat conducting its beta sea trials.”

 

“So you began to suspect something was wrong because the crew wasn't sweating out the deep dives?”

 

“Pretty much,” Lee answered honestly, “but the last straw before I actually overheard their plans was the dive tanks.  They apparently played a recording of a dive for us to watch, but when the diver's returned they had only consumed two minutes of air on a supposed thirty minute dive.  Even then I still had no clue we weren't on a real submarine at sea,” he finished.

 

“So you escaped through a moon pool that you didn't know was actually a swim tank into what you thought was the open seas, some four hours from shore?”  He finished in amazement at their original escape plan as he walked over to the swim tank ladder and turned back in obvious humor. 

 

“Hey,” Chip said with a grin.  “I think we should take this as a souvenir, it pretty much sums up the two of you,” he finished referring to the pile of bad guys currently being carted off; with the Major holding a rag to his bloody nose, Holland rubbing the red welts on his neck and Captain Hardy following behind in cuffs.  Chip held the placard in both hands as Harry and Lee exchanged glances and laughed, reading the sign in unison:  Caution:  Dangerous when wet.

 

 

The End

 

Dangerous When Wet

 

 

Credits: 

This story contains scenes, quotes, paraphrases and plots from the first season episode The Saboteur, written by George Reed (William Read Woodfield), directed by Felix Feist, original air-date February 22, 1965.

 

Technical data for SSRN Seaview researched using http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USOS_Seaview

 

Shakedown Cruises, Pitometer Logs, Sea Trials, Submarine hulls, and Tear Drop Hulls, researched using the resources of www.wikipedia.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Copyright 2014, All Rights Reserved

Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea and her main characters belong to Irwin Allen