Synopsis: seaQuest is ordered into hostile Montagnard waters when reports of illegal weapons testing reaches the UEO.

Notes: Story uses first season characters. It's written like an episode. I hope it feels like one when reading.

Mucho thanks to mal4prez for the beta. It really does help to have a wave propagation specialist beta a fic like this. Her comments when beta'ing added a bit more of a realistic vs. a Hollywood spin to this story.

As always, comments, both negative and/or positive are welcome. I don't begin to know everything about the seaQuest universe but I hope I am at least somewhat successful in my attempt make this story as believable as possible.

Hostile Waters

Teaser

Nathan Bridger wiped his forehead on his towel and continued lifting the ball shaped weights. He spent little time in seaQuest's gym, preferring his own exercise regime, in the form of sit-ups and push-ups, in the privacy of his own cabin. But at the moment he felt the need to exert a bit more energy than those two exercises provided.

Arguments over semantics always raised his blood pressure, and today had been no exception. A small argument with his chief medical officer over her dislike of the military had sent him straight to the gym after his shift. She could be the most infuriating woman; beautiful and fiery, but infuriating nonetheless.

His musings were interrupted by the voices of his top two commanders as they entered the room. Jonathan Ford and Katie Hitchcock were discussing the lack of a strong military show of force in recent months.

Nathan chuckled to himself. How any man stayed sane with one very vocal member of his crew despising the military and another wanting to demonstrate the impressive power the seaQuest commanded, he would probably never guess. He was pretty good at mediation, and Nathan knew that's exactly why he'd been selected to captain the UEO's most powerful flagship.

Nathan returned the weights to the bench and moved to the stair-master, all the while listening to Ford's complaint. "SeaQuest has state-of-the-art battle systems. We should be using them to keep hostile Confederations from taking advantage of those without the means to defend themselves."

The two walked into the gym, completely oblivious to the captain.

"We don't need to go looking for trouble, Jonathan," Hitchcock said as she dropped her towel over a nearby chair.

"It always manages to find us," Nathan said as he continued to work the up and down motion of the steps.

"Oh, Captain. We didn't see you."

Nathan couldn't help but smile at Ford's discomfort. "I noticed."

"I'm sorry if –

Nathan held up a hand. "It's quite all right, Commander. I already know how you feel."

"We rarely see you here, sir." Hitchcock moved to the weights, selected two, then stood on the mat.

Nathan grinned at Hitchcock's effort to diffuse a situation that had no chance of growing into an argument.

"I needed a change."

"Doctor Westphalen again, huh?"

Nathan wanted to wipe the smile off Ford's face. He thought it likely that the crew was taking bets on who would win their many arguments.

Nathan shook his head and heaved a heavy sigh. "She knows I'm on her side – in most things," he clarified when he noticed Ford's eyes narrow. "But she still has to argue anyway."

"In a profession, and on this boat, sir," Hitchcock began, "that is largely dominated by men, I'm sure the doctor just wanted to make sure her opinion was heard."

Nathan exchanged a look with Ford. It wasn't surprising that Hitchcock would side with the doctor, but she also had a very valid point. "Oh it was heard. It was most definitely heard."

Hitchcock chuckled. "You know, you two fight like an old married couple."

Nathan's eyes widened. He hadn't really thought about it. He and Carol had never had such vitriolic discussions. But Carol had been a calm, quiet lady as well. Very different from Kristin Westphalen. Nathan pursed his lips and studied the controls of his exercise machine very carefully. "I don't know what you mean."

"What was she complaining about this time?" Ford asked and Nathan was grateful for the subject change – if only slightly.

"Using military resources to investigate the damage to the reef they've been taking samples from for the last few days."

Ford shrugged and stepped onto the weight lift. "Well, you did design this as a military vessel. It was only after the incident at the Livingston Trench that seaQuest was given to the UEO and re-fitted to carry a science contingent."

Nathan grinned knowingly at Hitchcock. "Yes and as we all know there were hundreds of modifications to my design."

He could see Hitchcock's pale cheeks flush. She'd been embarrassed over her snide remarks to him on that very subject when he'd just been touring the seaQuest.

A chime sang through the room before O'Neill's face popped onto the forward screen. "Captain, there's a call coming in for you."

"Pipe it through, Lieutenant." Nathan stepped off the machine and wiped his face on the towel around his neck.

"Secure link, sir."

"Pipe it through to my quarters. I'll be right there."

Nathan shut the door and leaned over the table just as the vid-screen popped open in front of him.

"Why Bill," Nathan drawled with a bit of humor and a bit of longsuffering annoyance. The Secretary General of the UEO only called when there was some kind of emergency he wanted the seaQuest and its crew to handle. "So good to see you."

William Noyce, an old Academy buddy of Nathan's, scowled at his friend. "And you, Nathan. How's the old girl treating you?"

Nathan grinned. He knew Bill so well he could see right through the attempt at small talk. "Fine. Fine. What's the mission?"

Noyce laughed. "Leave it to you to dispense with the pleasantries."

Nathan shrugged. "I was in the middle of a workout. You interrupted me." Nathan knew his friend would see through the innocent look he'd forced onto his face. But it was all part of the game the two of them tended to play.

Noyce's expression turned serious. "This one's important, Nathan."

"Aren't they all?"

"We've had reports of illegal weapon testing in a research lab submerged 7,000 feet below sea level."

"What kind of weapons?"

"Nuclear."

Nathan closed his eyes and took a deep breath before opening them again. "Let me guess, the Confederation isn't a member of the UEO?"

"That's the kicker. It is."

"Really?"

"The Montagnard Confederation."

Nathan groaned. He'd had dealings with them before – not all of them pleasant.

"As you well know, every Confederation granted admittance into the UEO must sign an agreement to disarm all nuclear weapons."

"And let me guess," Nathan began. He may be a scientist, but he'd also spent 30 years in the military. It was all too easy. "They smiled to your face as they signed that agreement and then continued their testing behind your back."

"Our back," Noyce corrected and Nathan smiled. He was right, of course, Nathan was a Captain in the UEO Navy now.

"What do you want us to do about it?"

"Sail over there and politely demand that they turn over control of the facility to you. I'm sending reinforcements, but seaQuest is the fastest boat under or above the sea. You'll get there hours before anyone else."

Nathan sighed. "You expect they'll put up a fight?"

Noyce nodded curtly. "As of right now you're on tactical military alert, Captain."

The vid-screen flicked off and Nathan shook his head.

It looked like Commander Ford was about to get his wish.

TBC