From the Depths
By Subjockey
Chapter One
Captain Lee Crane stood at the Chart Table in the Control Room of the world's most advanced nuclear submarine and the brain child of the famous Admiral Harriman Nelson. The four star admiral had recently acquired the services of the young captain on an all or nothing mission to stop the dangerous quakes threatening to produce disastrous tsunamis across both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. It hadn't taken the eleven day journey to the Arctic for Admiral Nelson to realize that Lee Crane was the man he wanted to captain the world's first privately owned nuclear submarine, the SSRN Seaview. The fact that Crane had sneaked aboard with the dual intent of testing the Boat's security and to royally tick off his new crew hadn't gone over too well, but it did serve to prove that the sometimes ONI Agent was anything but "unimaginative" as Fred Wilson had described. Indeed, his able handling of the Research Vessel with simultaneous missions of National Security was proven in several underwater battles as Seaview evaded both enemy torpedoes and an enemy sub in pursuit.
Admiral Nelson stood at the aft hatch watching his captain with veiled satisfaction as Lee worked the Control Room with ease. In only a few cruises he had managed to step into the very big shoes of Captain John Phillips, Seaview's previous Skipper killed in the line of duty by the ruthless Dr. Gamma and his organization. Phillips was an able sailor, the best there was, Harry often thought; that is until he saw Lee Crane handle Seaview. The crew had come around as well, responding to his strength of leadership, his skill, and his easy going manners. He was tough as nails but inherently fair in judgment; something Seaview's crew recognized and responded to, especially on the voyage back once the danger and intrigue had been neutralized.
Harry put aside his introspective moment and eased forward sidling up to the Chart Table where Captain Crane was currently working alongside Seaview's Executive Officer, Chip Morton.
"How are we looking, Lee?" Harry inquired, his auburn hair a sharp contrast to the European features of the tall dark headed captain.
"Right on schedule, Sir," Lee returned with ease, their professional decorum settling into an easy relationship as they had worked together previously when Lee served under Nelson on the Nautilus. It had been almost a year since he'd signed on as captain, but Lee's respect had grown into high esteem in that relatively short amount of time.
"Good, good," Harry said checking over the charts and position completely out of habit, something that didn't bother Lee in the least as he shot a barely indiscernible smile towards Chip. They were close friends at Annapolis, almost brothers as they roomed together for four years, but had lost close contact when they went their separate ways after commissioning. Except for a few opportunities to catch up from time to time, they hadn't really kept in touch until Lee snuck aboard and royally ticked off Seaview's XO. Professionalism won out, however, as both men were able to balance their friendship with their duties. It wasn't hard to do and Chip was only too pleased that Lee had excelled and advanced to the Captaincy.
"Care to join me on the Observation Deck?" Harry inquired.
"Aye Sir. Steady as she goes Mr. Morton."
"Aye, aye Sir," Chip replied as Harry and Lee slipped past the forward curtains, taking the spiral staircase down to the deck that sported Seaview's windows. Large transparent steel windows graced her bow, built from a secret and patented mixture of high tensile steel, as no glass or plastic manufactured could stand the pressures of the deep; particularly the depths Seaview was tested at. Nonetheless, the Herculite Windows lived up to their name providing a spectacular view of depths as much as 3,400 feet. At least that was the rarely known "on the drawing board" depth that was tested in full a year ago on their Arctic mission to stop the tsunamis that would have carved a devastating path, had they not countered the earthquakes with their nuclear charge. Harry had to smile at the new "unofficial" test depth of 3,400 feet. He knew damn well she could dive deeper; he just wasn't ready to let that one out of the bag just yet.
Lee followed through the forward companion way, then down the spiral stairs to the observation lounge as waves of bubbles pressed against the bow windows; even after a year's worth of voyages the view was still mesmerizing.
"Coffee, Lee?" Harry asked, heading straight for the service table.
"Thank you, Sir," he replied following the Admiral over to make his own coffee.
The two had grown comfortable and were working together like they had been doing so for far longer than a year. Lee found the relationship very satisfying and working under one of the most brilliant minds in history was an extraordinary opportunity, as was commanding a vessel as fine as Seaview.
"Have you considered the corridor Seaview will pass through on our approach to the Sea Turtle's present location? We could surface and drop like a plumb-line instead of navigating the sea mounts' valley?" Harry inquired with little emotion as he stirred the cream in his coffee.
Lee smiled. "It's not that difficult of an approach, barring any unforeseen changes in current, I think Seaview will navigate the trench just fine. The relatively shallow waters of 500 to 700 feet provide a great training opportunity and I think the men are up for the task," he answered easily with no offense taken at the Admiral's suggestion. Once the valley of the sea mounts was navigated their approach opened up to a much deeper valley; in actuality the caldera of an ancient thermal vent that blew itself out in a massive explosion, thereby bypassing the chimney smoker normally associated with mining operations. The depth dropped from 700 feet to 1,500 feet, still well within Seaview's diving capabilities.
"I agree. Seaview is agile, despite her size," Harry replied with a grin, pleased with Lee's confidence.
"Are you looking forward to your visit on the Sea Turtle?" Lee asked casually, picking up a cookie from the plate on the table between them.
"Yes, from many points of view. The mining expedition is interesting, but I'm very excited about the engineering feat of a submersible that large," he explained excitedly. "It was pure genius to tether its fresh oxygen, air filtering system, communications and electricity back up to the mother ship through a cable and tubing system. Of course, the back-up generator can provide emergency power and oxygen, but think of the problems they bypassed by not making the Sea Turtle a self-sustaining biosphere!" Harry added enthusiastically.
"It's basically a Taj Mahal bathysphere," Lee replied with a grin.
Harry grinned back, enjoying his conversation with Seaview's captain.
"That's exactly what she is, though her spherical engineering is far beyond the round ball Beebe and Barton designed almost fifty years ago, the concepts are very much the same," he agreed.
"And the mining activity?" Lee asked with another sip of coffee.
"Well that's what we're here to observe, but the resources of the sea weren't meant to be hidden from mankind to lay fallow beyond our reach," Harry stated passionately. "The key is to retrieve those resources with responsible stewardship. To destroy a viable underwater ecosystem just because the results are unseen by the world is not acceptable. We must be diligent to use the resources while respecting the surrounding ecosystem. It can be done," he replied emphatically. "That's part of what Seaview was designed to do, to unlock not only the beauty and mystery of the sea but her resources as well, with that comes the responsibility of making sure that the seas are protected for generations to come."
Lee nodded and smiled behind his coffee cup; he truly enjoyed the passion of the auburn haired admiral of Irish descent.
"Well it was certainly a serendipitous find to locate an underwater caldera. The mining operations will most certainly be far less invasive with the REEs already scattered across the sea bed," Lee observed, noting that the Rare Earth Element of manganese was an important find used in making stainless steel, and likely to be harvested as well as other possible metals in the sulfide deposits littered across the sea floor after the explosion.
"Yes, here is where the underwater community will test our resolve to mine responsibly," Harry noted. "Thus far, I've been impressed with Deep Sea REE Developers because I sensed their resolve in the matter. Frankly, the wealth of resources here could be staggering," he replied with satisfaction.
"Aye Sir," Lee said finishing his coffee and checking his watch. "Well, I better get back to the Con," he said rising from the table, a move that emphasized their respectful, but relaxed command structure.
"Very well, Lee," the Admiral returned with a nod and a relaxed smile for their pleasant conversation as Lee took the spiral staircase upwards to the Control Room.
VTTBOTS
Captain Lee Crane leaned against the chart table watching the forward monitors as well as the depth range as he navigated the sea mounts to their current destination.
"Dead slow," he ordered.
"Dead slow Aye," maneuvering echoed.
"Pretty tight corridor," Lt. Commander Chip Morton noted.
"There's enough room," Lee commented confidently while watching the range finder and simultaneously listening to the active pings of the mountain ranges around them. "There," Lee said with satisfaction as the range opened up to a large valley where the mining survey was currently underway.
"Steady as she goes," he ordered as Seaview cleared the mountains with plenty of room before them. He scanned ahead at the large submersible work station that housed eight miners, upon completion of their survey the entire livable workstation would blow ballast and rise to the surface to be retrieved by the moon pool berth of her mother vessel overhead, Deep Sea 1.
"Sonar, sing out range in one hundred yard increments."
"Aye Sir, range to destination 600 yards," the operator replied as both he and Chip watched the Sea Turtle come into view.
The work-station operated as a platform for the surveying activities at depth as the Turtle operated its ROV to determine the best place to begin operations. The Sea Turtle was well lit and easy to spot in the dark waters, even as sonar announced 500 yards on the approach. Lee watched the forward monitors, picking up the mic at the Chart Table as the sonar man announced two hundred yards. He raised the mic, ready for the announcement he was waiting for.
"One hundred yards," Kowalski said with the rest of the readings being called out in ten yard increments.
"All stop," Lee ordered, issuing Seaview's station for the duration of their mission as the sub was positioned over a boarding hatch, designed well away from the tethers and cables. From this position Seaview would link with the diving bell for transfer of personnel and supplies.
"All stop, aye," maneuvering responded.
Lee clicked the mic again, clearing the line to speak. "Admiral, we're on station, one hundred yards above the Sea Turtle."
"Very well, Captain, I'll be right there."
"Nice maneuvering, Skipper," Chip said across the chart table.
Lee acknowledged the compliment with his eyes then raised the mic once again.
"Sparks, send the Sea Turtle my compliments and request docking permission."
"Aye Sir."
"Chip, hold this position for bell link up."
"Aye, aye Skipper."
Lee placed a confident hand on Chip's shoulder then left for his cabin to retrieve his sweater as he and the Admiral would be taking the trip down together.
