Chapter 1
A sort of WHN to "The Machines Strike Back." This story takes place before "The Reason Why" and a year after Captain Bradley's death.
With a Little Help from My Friends
By JSRobertson
Seaview was on her way home from a supply restocking mission to several underwater laboratories. Once in port, there were no missions scheduled for a few weeks as she needed some work done on the reactor as well as some other routine maintenance.
Lee Crane, Seaview's captain, and Chip Morton, the XO, had just finished dinner and were off duty but decided to meet in Lee's cabin to discuss what maintenance jobs should be completed first. Hand in his pocket, Lee stood behind Chip as he sat perched on the corner of Lee's desk. Chip had already poured a cup of coffee from the ever present pot on the desk and was getting ready to take drink when there was a rap on the door.
"Who's minding the control room if the two of you are up here?" the admiral asked with a smile as he entered the cabin. He missed dinner with the officers as he was in his cabin finishing up some paperwork and checking in with Angie.
Chip quickly stood up and put down the cup of coffee. "Sit back down, Chip," the admiral told him as he patted him on the shoulder and walked in front of Lee's desk.
"Lt. O'Brien has the conn until morning," Lee reported returning his grin.
"Good," the admiral said. "If I remember correctly, we have no missions scheduled for a few weeks."
"That's correct sir," Chip replied. "Lee and I were just going over the items we want maintenance to take a look at."
"Nothing serious I hope," the admiral said concerned.
"No, just routine maintenance on the reactor and some other minor items," Lee responded.
"How soon before we dock at NIMR?" the admiral asked.
"We should be docking around 1000 hours. I'm going to bring her into the underground facility," Lee told the admiral.
"Good idea," the admiral concurred. "Do you think you can do without me for a few days? When I checked in with Angie, she told me there was an official looking envelope from the President of Cordella, Mrs. Christina Ballard. I told her to open it up and read what was inside. It's an invitation to attend the dedication of a new school named for the Nelson Family."
"Cordella?" Chip questioned.
"It's a small country on the western side of Central America," Harry replied. "Edith has helped them in the past with raising money for their schools.
"Sir, I don't recall you ever mentioning the country or her before," Lee said curiously.
"We have an old family friend, Christian Ballard, who went with Edith on one of her trips down there. He was a teacher and they were in need of teachers to teach the children of Cordella so he decided to return there and help them out. I bet he's married to the President and since the school's being named in our honor they've invited me to attend. I wonder if Edith received an invitation."
"Admiral, when was the last time you spoke to Mr. Ballard," Lee asked worriedly.
Rubbing his forehead, the admiral replied, "It's been quite a few years but I think Edith has kept in touch with him since I believe she's still involved in fund raising for the schools."
"I have no plans for my shore leave, I'll go with you if you don't mind company," Lee suggested.
"No Lee, I'll be fine. I'll contact Edith and see if she received an invitation. She'll go with me," the admiral reassured them. "Have good evening and don't work too late." He walked out the door leaving Lee and Chip to finish their meeting.
Lee sat down at his desk and picked up his pencil. Chip returned to the corner of the desk with his coffee cup in hand.
"Lee, doesn't it seem strange to you that the admiral would be invited to attend an opening of a school he knows nothing about. As busy as she is, Edith always keeps him informed of anyone using the Nelson name," Chip remarked.
"I was thinking the same thing," Lee added. "Something just doesn't feel right to me."
As Chip finished his coffee, they decided what maintenance items needed to be done first. He put the cup on the tray and stretched. "See you in the morning."
"Okay," Lee replied not really paying attention to what Chip was saying.
Lee sat back in his chair when Chip left his office. He rolled his pencil between his hands wondering about this Christian Ballard and Cordella.
((()))
Once Seaview docked and after the crew left the boat, only the admiral, Lee and Chip remained on board. The admiral went up the ladder in the control room with Lee and Chip following close behind. Once on deck, they walked down the gangplank and saluted the colors. Lee and Chip stayed to talk to the deck detail before the admiral walked to his car that had been brought down to the underground facility.
"Don't be too long," the admiral reminded the two men. "You will take your shore leave."
"Admiral," Lee said, "how are you getting to Cordella? Since I have no plans, why don't I fly you and Edith down there on FS-1? We'll fly to Boston and pick her up. I'll stay down there but will keep out of sight."
"Ahem," Chip cleared his throat. "I'll go with too."
"Lee, I thought you were going to visit your mother and Chip, you were going to Chicago to see your parents. I don't want you to spoil your plans. Anyway Christian is sending his private plane to pick me up. "When I get to the institute I'm going to call Edith to find out if she's attending the dedication."
"I'll take you to the airport," Lee volunteered.
"No thanks, Lee. I've already contacted Tommy to take me there. So carry on with your plans, please don't worry," the admiral replied, "but thanks for volunteering to take me."
"Yes, sir," they responded as they watched the admiral get into his car and drive away.
"Lee," Chip said but Lee didn't hear him as he was worried about the admiral. "Lee," he said a little louder."
"Sorry Chip, my mind was far away," Lee said distractedly.
"He'll be fine," Chip assured him. "Let's get some lunch before going to the office."
"Okay," Lee answered as they walked up the stairs to the parking lot and their cars. They stopped at the diner for a quick meal and returned to the office. They checked in with Wanda, who gave them all their messages. Sighing as they took them, they both knew it would be a long afternoon.
After spending all afternoon looking over the mail and answering his messages, Lee stood up, rubbed his hand on the back of his neck and walked out of his office. He went to the admiral's office wanting to talk to Angie.
"Hi Lee," she said when he walked in. "I talked to the admiral and he said the mission went off without a hitch."
"Yes, everything went fine," Lee replied, "Is he still here?"
"No, he dropped his briefcase in his office, looked at his messages and the invitation from the President of Cordella. He was pretty excited about it."
"Did he call Edith...have you ever heard of this Christian Ballard?" Lee asked.
"Yes, he did call her but was unable to talk to her right now as she's in a country without cell phone service and wouldn't be available for the next five days. I vaguely recall him mentioning him a few years ago," Angie responded looking at Lee with a puzzled look on her face. "Is there a problem with him going?"
"I don't know. I guess I'm just over reacting."
Angie looked at Lee and knew him will enough to see he was worried but she wasn't sure why.
Lee left Angie's office and returned to his, sitting down at his desk. It was 1800 hours by the time he was ready to leave for the day. Wanda and Angie had left a couple of hours earlier. Lee shut down his computer, grabbed his jacket and cover and went to Chip's office.
"Ready to go? I'm beat," Lee said to Chip who was just turning off his computer. He took his jacket and cover from the closet, turned off his lights and joined Lee in the waiting area.
"Up for some dinner, my treat," Chip told Lee.
"No, not really. Can I have a rain check?"
"Sure, anytime," Chip replied as they headed to the elevator and took it to the first floor where Howard signed out the two men and wished them a good evening.
((()))
The admiral parked his car in front of his house. He had called Sally, his housekeeper, and told her his plans so she would have his suitcase ready for him when he got home. She was in the kitchen getting lunch when he arrived.
"I've put your suitcase in your room, sir," Sally told him. "Would you like me to help you?"
"No I'll take care of it. Since I'm going to be gone for a few days, you don't have to be here so enjoy the time off," Harry told her.
"Thank you sir," Sally replied as she put his lunch on the table.
Harry finished lunch and went to his room to pack his suitcase for the trip. He had just finished packing when Sally told him that Tommy was here for him. Harry handed his suitcase to Tommy and followed him out to the car. Tommy put the suitcase in the trunk and got in the car. He stopped briefly at the security gate before proceeding to the airport. By the time Harry arrived at the Santa Barbara airport, the small jet sent to pick him up had just landed and was taxiing to the gate. He boarded the jet and was amazed at how luxurious it was. He settled into a seat for the six-hour flight as the co-pilot checked to make sure he was buckled in and secured the cabin door before they took off.
((()))
By the time Harry arrived in Cordella, it was early evening and he was hungry and tired. He was met at the gate by John Mandow, President Ballard's top aide.
"Welcome to Cordella, Admiral. I'm John Mandow, I hope you had a nice flight," he said to Harry as he took his suitcase from the co-pilot and placed it in the trunk of the waiting limo. "It's only a short ride to the president's residence."
The driver opened the door for Harry who slid into the back seat while John walked around to the other side of the limo and sat next to Harry. "Mr. Ballard is looking forward to seeing you and has dinner planned once you're settled."
"Thank you, Mr. Mandow," Harry responded.
"Please call me John," Mandow told Harry as they made their way out of the airport.
Harry looked out the window and admired the beautiful countryside as they drove to the presidential residence located on the outskirts of the capital city of Citella. Once at the residence, the driver opened Harry's door and he alighted from the limo. John walked around to Harry as the driver removed his luggage from the trunk and handed it to the man waiting by the car who took it into the house. As they made their way up the steps to the residence, the front door opened and Christian Ballard met them.
"Harry, it's so good to see you," Christian said eagerly shaking Harry's hand. "I'm sorry my wife, Christina, isn't here to greet you. She's attending an important conference in another country but will be back in time for the dedication."
"Same here Christian," Harry replied. "I'm looking forward to meeting your wife when she returns. Very nice place you have here."
"Thanks, Harry. You must be tired and hungry. I'll have John show you to your room where you can freshen up for dinner. Is thirty minutes enough time?"
"Yes, that will be fine," Harry answered as they entered the large foyer. Straight ahead was a large wall of windows that looked onto a garden with a fountain and patio. On the left side of the foyer was the dining room. Next to it was a small hallway that led to the kitchen and then a large carved staircase that led to the second floor. On the right side of the foyer was a large living room with floor to ceiling windows that also overlooked the garden.
"I'll meet you in the living room where we can enjoy a drink before dinner. You still drink Glenlivet?"
Surprised that his friend remembered his favorite drink, Harry smiled and replied, "Yes."
"Right this way, sir," John said as he led Harry up the staircase to a well appointed room on the left side of the hallway. "If you need anything just let me know and I will see that it is taken care of."
"Thank you John. Everything looks good," Harry said noticing his suitcase was already set up on a stand. He found the large bathroom and he freshened up. He returned to the bedroom and looked out the window which had a view of the ocean as well as the garden. Yawning as he removed his clothes from his case, hung up what needed to be hung and placed the rest of the items into one of the drawers in the large chest. He returned downstairs to the living room where Christian was waiting for him.
"Feel better?" he asked as he handed Harry a tulip shaped whiskey glass filled with the amber liquid.
"Yes, much better," Harry replied as he took sip of his drink. "Is Edith attending the dedication of the school?"
"I haven't heard from her yet but I hope so as the dedication wouldn't be the same without her. Why don't we go outside to the patio? I hope you don't mind eating dinner out there as it's such a beautiful evening."
"No problem," Harry answered as he followed Christian out to the patio and sat down at the table where there was a tray of appetizers. Harry was hungry so he helped himself to some shrimp and mushroom caps.
"How's the institute doing...and Seaview?" Christian asked as he took a sip of his drink.
"Very well," Harry replied proudly. "We have quite a few contracts for Seaview and research developments that we're working on at the institute."
"How are the schools doing...are you still teaching?"
Smiling, "No I don't teach any more...I'm now in charge of running them. Just like most schools, we're short of money but with the help of Edith and her fund raising we managed to build a new school," Christian responded and quickly changed the subject back to the institute before Harry could ask any more questions.
Finishing up his drink, Harry asked, "When and where is the school and dedication taking place? I can only stay a couple of days as I've got some items I need to review with my officers before our next mission."
"We'll talk about that tomorrow," Christian said to Harry as a woman brought out their dinners and poured them another drink.
After talking for another hour, Harry was having a hard time stifling his yawns. "I'm sorry, Christian but I'm afraid I'm going to retire for the evening. It's been a very long day."
"I understand Harry," Christian replied. Both men stood up and returned to the house. Harry went to his room while Christian entered the living room where John was waiting for him.
"Do you think he suspects anything?" John asked.
"I'm not sure. He did ask about the school and dedication but I put him off until tomorrow."
"You can't stall too much longer as the premier is getting anxious for the information."
"I know don't worry, we'll have it before the deadline," Christian reassured John. John nodded and left the room leaving Christian standing by the windows. I hope, he thought as he finished his drink and retired to his room.