Goodness Triumphs Over Evil
By JSRobertson
Chapter 1
Seaview was on a mission in the Philippine Sea currently stationed between Guam and the Philippines checking out the damage to the coral beds from overfishing. Harry was in the lab examining the samples of coral he removed from one of the beds before they moved on to the next sector. After analyzing the coral, he found these beds weren't in too bad of shape considering the traffic that traversed this area. He looked at his watch and realized he'd been sitting there for over two hours. No wonder I'm a little stiff, he thought as he stood up from the stool, stretched and then rubbed the back of his neck. As he took his notes from the lab table and brought them over to the desk, there was a knock on the door.
"Come," Harry replied testily. He had left orders that he wasn't to be disturb so he was a little upset with the interruption.
"Admiral, Cookie thought you might like some lunch," one of the mess specialist responded and set the tray down on his desk.
"Thanks," Harry answered. The soup smelled good and the sandwich was piled high with tuna salad. He hadn't realized how hungry he was until he saw the food so he sat down to eat while he looked over his notes before entering them into the computer.
()()()()()()()
Lee and Chip were in the control room plotting the course to the next sector Harry wanted to inspect. Janet was in her office working on the duty rosters and inventory so she would have to wait to eat lunch even though she was hungry. It was a couple of hours later when she ventured down to the control room with the duty rosters for Lee and Chip to look over. She saw them studying a map on the plotting table. Both men looked up when she entered the aft hatch.
"Sorry I took so long to get you the duty rosters but my computer froze and I had to redo everything," she explained as she knew they wanted them an hour ago.
"Everything okay with the computer now?" Chip asked as he was the technology guru on board.
"Yes, just a freak thing," she reassured him. "Can you break away for lunch, I'm starving."
Janet handed Chip the clip board with the duty rosters to check out. "This looks fine," he responded and handed her back the clip board after initialing the rosters.
"I'll post these now," Janet replied.
Lee knew Harry wanted the course plotted so they were ready to sail as soon as he was finished so they had to wait to eat.
"Post them after lunch," Lee replied. "We're done plotting the course to the next sector, so now is a good time to get some lunch."
The three of them left for the wardroom but not before Chip's stomach rumbled.
()()()()()()()
They entered the wardroom and grabbed a sandwich and soup from the counter.
"Cookie, do you know if the admiral has had lunch?" Lee asked.
"Yes sir. I sent a tray up to him about an hour ago."
"Thanks," Lee replied and sat down next to Janet.
After enjoying their lunch, they were headed out the door when Sparks came over the intercom.
"Captain Crane."
Lee picked up the mic by the door, "Yes, Sparks, what is it?"
"Skipper, I have a message for you in your personal code," he replied.
Sighing deeply, Lee answered, "I'll be right there." He shipped the mic and looked at Chip and Janet who just shook their heads.
Before they left, another call came through the intercom, "Lee, what's the message?" Harry asked.
Lee picked up the mic, "I'm going to check on it now, sir."
"Let me know as soon as you find out," he answered.
"Aye sir." Lee stowed the mic and left for the radio shack.
()()()()()()()
When they entered the control room, Chip continued on to the plotting table and relieved Bobby while Lee and Janet headed for the radio shack.
"Thanks," Lee responded as Sparks handed him the message. He looked at Janet, "You may as well come with me while I decode it as you'll eventually find out what it says."
"Chip, take over the con until I get back," Lee said as he and Janet headed to the stairs.
"Aye, sir," Chip replied
Lee let Janet go up the stairs first and when they got to the top Lee was tapping the message on his fingers.
"You know it could just be some information," Lee stated as they continued on to their cabin.
Janet put her hand on his arm to stop him, "Lee Crane, do you really believe that?" she exclaimed. "When have you ever received a message from ONI with just information?"
"Okay, never," Lee conceded as they reached their cabin.
He opened the door and Janet walked in. He sat down at his desk while Janet pulled up a chair and sat in front as he took his code book out of the safe. He'd already deciphered some of the code but needed it for the rest of the information. As he decoded the message, Janet started tapping her foot, a habit she had when she was nervous. Lee looked up.
"I'm sorry," Janet said, "Do you want me to leave."
"No sweetie, I'm almost done," he answered and went back to decoding the message.
She sat on her foot to keep from tapping it. A few minutes later, Lee looked up from the message and closed the book.
Janet put her foot on the floor, rested her elbows on the front of Lee's desk, put her chin on her hands, and looked into his gorgeous amber eyes. "Okay, what's the WWH?" she asked.
Lee rested his elbows on the desk and looked at her with a confused look on his face, "The WWH, what's that?"
Janet took a deep breath, "It's code for…when…where…how long?"
Lee grinned slightly. "In about two hours…People's Republic…twenty-four hours."
Janet furrowed her brow. "One day? They only want you for twenty-four hours. Are you sure you didn't decode it wrong?"
"No, I didn't," he replied as he stood up, walked to the wall safe, returned the book and secured the door. He then returned to the desk, helped Janet up from her chair and put an arm around her waist and drew her close. He gently lifted her chin up with his other hand and gave her a long passionate kiss.
"That's going to have to last you one day," he teased. "I better inform the admiral of ONI's message as Seaview will be an intricate part of the operation."
()()()()()()()
Lee and Janet walked down to the lab. He turned the wheel on the hatch and opened it. Harry had just finished his project and was securing the samples when they walked in. He looked at Lee's face and knew something was up.
"What's the message?" Harry asked irritably.
"It was from ONI. They need us to help them out with a mission," Lee answered.
"Us…as in Seaview besides you?"
"Let me explain the mission," Lee said. "Joey Caldwell is in the city of Kolenovo. He's there to pick up some intel on the missile's the PR's been launching and when they're going to be placing missiles on the islands they've built up in the South China Sea. He's run into some trouble with his extraction so they want me to pick him up and since Seaview is in the area, they want Seaview or more specifically FS-1 to drop me off. It's only for one day as Joey should have the intel by tomorrow. I need to check the map but I believe Kolenovo is a port city actually not too far from where we are now. FS-1 could have me there in a couple of hours. I'll have to check and see what the area looks like and how we can get me in there without them seeing FS-1. Once I'm there, I'll meet up with Joey and retrieve the intel. FS-1 will pick us up, return to Seaview for the night and leave first thing in the morning for Hawaii so Joey can drop off the intel."
"That sounds really easy on paper just as all ONI missions do," Harry replied sarcastically. "Let's check out the maps. Maybe we can also get some satellite photos of the area."
The three of them left the lab and made their way to the control room.
()()()()()()()
Chip looked up from the plotting table as Harry, Lee and Janet entered the control room through the aft hatch. He knew Harry well enough to know he wasn't happy and it probably had something to do with the message Lee received.
Once at the plotting table, Lee said, "Chip, I've been assigned a mission." After he explained what the mission entailed, he directed Chip to gather any charts and maps they had for the People's Republic especially on the western coast and bring them to the observation nose.
Chip nodded, and reached under the table, pulled out all the maps, sorted through them, quickly locating the ones Lee was looking for. He then grabbed the chart on the plotting table and followed the others into the nose. He unfurled the charts, placed them on the table and they all secured the corners with coffee cups to hold the papers flat.
"Let's see what we have," Lee said. Using his finger, he slowly scanned the coastline until he found Kolenovo, the town he was looking for. "See it's not too far from where we are stationed right now. Admiral, could we get those satellite photos you suggested of the area. Maybe we could bring in FS-1 submerged and I could swim into the dock if they have one."
"Sounds like a good idea," Harry replied giving Lee permission to use his code to get the pictures.
Lee went to the radio shack, "Sparks, I need detailed pictures of the town of Kolenovo in the People's Republic; specifically, any docks or beaches where we could bring in FS-1," he told him.
"Aye sir," Sparks replied. "Give me a few minutes to locate a satellite and see where they are."
Lee returned to the nose where Harry, Chip and Janet stood looking very unhappy.
"It's only one day," Lee stressed. "Easy in and out. Joey's already there, he just needs a way out."
Harry smirked, Janet rolled her eyes and Chip just stared at Lee after he finished talking.
"You've never had an easy in and out mission," Janet refuted causing Harry and Chip to smile knowing she was right.
"Skipper, I have some of the pictures you wanted," Sparks said as he walked over to the table and handed Lee a few photographs.
"Thanks, Sparks," Lee replied as he took the pictures.
Harry, Lee and Chip scrutinized the pictures looking for a place where FS-1 would be able to drop Lee off.
"The marina is fairly large," Chip remarked, "but Lee, how do you get from the flying sub to the dock without getting wet or being seen?"
Lee picked up a pencil and tapped it on the table. "I need more detailed pictures of that marina. There has to be a way to get in there; sight unseen and dry."
Lee started towards the radio shack when Sparks met him by the plotting table and handed him some more pictures.
As he returned to the nose, he scanned through the pictures and stopped at one in particular. "This is just what I'm looking for," he said as he laid a picture of the marina on the table. It showed quite a few large yachts moored there. "Obviously, the channel to the marina is deep enough for those boats to make it so the flying sub will have no problems."
"Lee, how does that help you get on the dock," Janet asked curiously as she looked over the picture.
Lee pointed to an extremely large yacht on the picture. "That yacht has an end slip, with a dock on the opposite side. The flying sub can surface right next to the yacht and unless there are people on board, no one will know she's there. I'll go out the aft hatch, climb on the back platform of the yacht and then jump on the dock."
"And if there're people on board the yacht?" Chip asked realistically. "What'll you do then?"
"If you look at the pictures of the marina, there's not one empty slip and most of the large yachts have end slips. If the one I'm aiming for is occupied, I'll look for another one and do the same thing. Let's hope no one is looking into the marina and sees the sub."
Harry studied the other pictures, "That does look like your best option," he agreed.
"Chip, prepare the flying sub for take-off in an hour. I need to get some more information from Admiral Johnson, fill him in on how I'm getting into the city and where Joey is staying so I can meet up with him."
"Aye sir," Chip replied and headed for the control room stopping first at Kowalski's console and tapped him on the shoulder. "Prepare the flying sub for launch," he ordered.
"Aye, aye, sir," Ski replied and handed his headset to Patterson who had just walked in the control room. He picked up the clip board with the flying sub check off list and headed forward.
Chip made his way over to Chief Sharkey who was by the vertical planner. "Chief, help Kowalski prepare the flying sub for launch and I want you and him to take the Skipper into a marina."
"Aye, aye sir," Sharkey answered and walked into the observation nose where Kowalski had already opened the hatch and was heading down the ladder. Sharkey joined him in the little sub as they prepared it for take-off.
()()()()()()()
While Lee and Harry continued to look at the pictures, Janet removed the coffee mugs and let the map roll up as she picked up the chart. She put the chart back on the plotting table and put the map in the holder. As she walked back to the nose, she heard Harry and Lee talking.
"Lee, something just doesn't add up," Harry said. "ONI must have known we were in the Philippine Sea."
"Sir, I was wondering about that too, Lee replied. "They might have checked with NIMR and found out where we were. Something must have gone wrong with Joey's original extraction plan."
Janet walked up to the two men, "I heard what you were talking about. Would they have left Joey stranded there if we weren't in the area?" she said seriously as she picked up the pictures that she would place in the mission packet.
"No, I'm sure they would've found a way to get him out as they must be desperate for that intel," Harry responded.
"Come on, help me pack," Lee answered as he started up the staircase with Janet following behind as Harry returned to the control room.
()()()()()()()
"I need to call Admiral Johnson," Lee said when they reached their cabin door. Janet knew that Admiral Johnson wouldn't approve of her listening in on the conversation so she would wait until Lee was finished with him before returning to the cabin.
"I'll get my computer and see if I can get some information on the town of Kolenovo. Let me know when I can return."
"Okay," Lee replied entering the cabin, walked over to his desk and pushed the button down on the intercom. "Sparks, get me Admiral Johnson."
"Aye, sir," the communication's specialist responded.
Janet continued on to her office. She knew Lee would be talking to Admiral Johnson for some time, so she made up the mission packet and slid the pictures in it. She then turned on her computer and searched for the town of Kolenovo. She wanted to see if she could find out any information about the city that would help Lee.
()()()()()()()
Lee sat down at his desk and waited for his call from Admiral Johnson. He picked up the phone as soon as it rang, "What can I do for you Commander," Johnson asked knowing Lee was on the line and didn't give him a chance to say anything.
"Admiral, I need a little more information regarding the mission?"
"Such as?" Johnson answered.
"When and where is Joey supposed to pick up the intel? I'm assuming he isn't using his real name and where is he staying so I know how to contact him."
"I don't know what arrangements he's made regarding the intel…I left that up to him. He's using the name Ryan Gabriel and he's staying at The Beseda."
"Thank you, sir. What happened with Joey's original extraction plans?"
"The submarine we sent to pick him up was detoured to another boat in trouble near the islands where the PR is building up with missile sites. The airport is also too risky…we got word it's being watched. Just get him and the intel on Seaview."
"Yes, sir," Lee answered and heard Johnson sever the connection.
Lee hung up the phone. I guess Joey's lucky we were in the area to pick him up. Sighing deeply, he sat back in his chair remembering the first time he worked with Joey. It was on a mission where they needed his expertise in technology. He ended up saving Lee's life when he had to return to the country of Venenzia.* He'd also heard from other operatives that he was turning into a very good agent.
()()()()()()()
In the meantime, Janet found out that the weather in Kolenovo would be warm and dry. She also found that there was a huge celebration taking place. It was the town's hundredth-birthday and they were having a huge celebration in the center of the city. I wonder if that's good or bad, Janet thought. She scrolled through the rest of the information they had but didn't know if any of it would help Lee. She left the site up, unplugged the computer and went to their cabin. She opened the door and poked her head in to see if Lee was still on the phone. He was still talking but waved her in when he saw her. She put the computer on his desk and quietly sat down as Lee finished talking with Johnson. He didn't look happy after he hung up the phone.
"Everything okay?" Janet asked cautiously. Even though she hated when he went on missions, she learned to accept them as she didn't want anything stopping Lee from completing his missions and returning home safely.
"Nothing to worry about," he assured her. "What did you find out?"
She turned the computer around so he could see the screen. She got up and stood behind him placing her hands on his shoulders as he looked at the information. "The weather there is in the 60's so you won't need a jacket," Janet reported. Lee was always warm anyway so he would only need some long sleeve shirts.
"Will it help or hinder you, that there's a huge festival going on celebrating the town's hundredth-birthday?" Janet asked.
"I'm not sure," he declared as he looked over the rest of the site. He found a street map of the downtown section and a map of the channel. Before he closed the computer, he printed out both maps as they may come in handy.
"I better get ready to leave," he told Janet as he undid his tie and started to unbutton his shirt. "Would you please bring back the printouts when you return?"
"Sure", Janet said as she picked up the computer so she could put it in her office because if she stayed while Lee changed, he might never make the mission on time.
Lee smiled as she left the office and changed into his civvies. He took his worn black backpack out of the closet and checked to make sure he had what he would need for the mission. He added a few more items, his toiletries from the head, put them in the backpack and zipped it up. Now that he was finished packing, he had to get his ID. He opened the safe and was thumbing through his ONI ID's picking out one he hadn't used in a while when Janet returned to the cabin.
"Who are you this time?" Janet asked wondering how he kept it all straight.
"Marty Warren," Lee replied as he put an ID card and passport into his pocket.
"All ready?" she asked looking him over in his jeans, black turtleneck and denim shirt. "You look mighty nice," Janet purred as she ran her hands down his chest. "Maybe Marty Warren would like to stay for some extra-curricular activities?"
Grinning, "It's sure is tempting but I need to get going," He gave her a long deep kiss and pushed himself away before he succumbed to his desires.
"All set," he answered. "Remember, I'll be back in a day."
"I know," she replied, returned his kiss and handed him the printouts. She knew once he was assigned a mission that was all he could concentrate on.
They exited the cabin and made their way to the observation nose where Harry, Chip, Sharkey and Kowalski were waiting. Lee handed his backpack to Kowalski and walked over to the radio shack where he got a transponder from Sparks. If needed, Sparks could also monitor the signal from Lee's ONI transponder so he linked it up with his equipment.
Kowalski headed down the ladder into the sub followed by Sharkey.
"Good luck," Harry said as he patted him on the shoulder before Lee started down the ladder.
"Thank you, sir," Lee answered, winking at Janet and headed into the sub.
Chip closed and dogged the hatch then walked over to the launching panel.
Sharkey took the pilot's seat with Lee riding as a passenger. Sharkey started the engines and attached the throat mike as he waited for them to warm up.
"FS-1 to Seaview," he said over the mike. "Ready to launch?"
"All green, launching," Chip replied over the mic.
They felt the docking bay doors opening, and the sub disengage from the clamps. Harry and Janet watched as the sub went by the front windows as Chip watched from the control room. They would run submerged and surface when they were in the channel.
"I'll be in the lab if you need me," Harry told Chip as he ascended the staircase.
"Aye, sir," Chip replied.
"I'll be in my office," Janet responded before Chip could ask and left the control room.
Chip stood at the plotting table and looked over the maps. There was nothing for him to worry about as Seaview was at a dead stop just waiting for Lee's return. Hopefully, it will be a boring night, Chip thought.
* See story "The Reason Why"