A/N: This was my first attempt at a Voyage story. As always, I do not own anything to do with Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea or its characters.
Prologue
Admiral Jacob Vandergriff stared at the substantial file before him, his mouth set in a severe line of disapproval. He knew every detail contained within the file down to the last period and it galled him each and every time he looked through it. He threw the file down in disgust as he rose to his feet. Like a caged cat, Vandergriff began to pace his large office, his brow furrowed in concentration. There must be some way, he thought in growing frustration, to get his revenge. The admiral paused a moment before his desk and lifted a photo framed in silver. It was Vandergriff's grandson, Matthew Harrison, resplendent in his blazing white Naval Academy uniform, his narrow face reflecting his eagerness and pride with just a hint of arrogance. Vandergriff's grasp on the frame tightened as he studied the image. He had had so much promise, Vandergriff thought angrily, tears prickling at the back of his icy blue eyes. He could have gone so far! If only… Again he glanced at the file and with a snarl of fury swept the offending papers from his desk. A photo of another young man, dark haired and serious, appeared as the file folder spewed its contents across the floor. Vandergriff reached down and snatched it up. He peered at it for a moment before shredding it, allowing the pieces to flutter to the floor. There must be a way…
Chapter 1
Captain Lee Crane, commander of the research submarine, Seaview, sighed and wearily rubbed his eyes. A glance at the clock informed him that it was well past 8 pm. It was the Friday before Christmas and everyone had already left the Nelson Institute of Marine Research hours ago. The crew of the Seaview, including her officers, had two weeks of leave and the Institute would be closed over the next week. Lee was determined to finish these reports before leaving so he could enjoy his holiday without unfinished work hanging over his head. He really had no specific plans for the two weeks. Originally, he was going to spend part of the time with his mother in Rhode Island but a short while ago she had called asking him if he would mind changing plans. She had been presented with an unexpected opportunity to go on a two week Caribbean cruise over the holidays with an old friend and although she sounded uncertain, Lee had encouraged her to go. His mother rarely went on any type of vacation and Lee would find some other time during the year to pay her a visit. This would provide him with an excellent opportunity to make some repairs and improvements around his home. With the long weeks at sea, many chores were put on the back burner and now would be a good time to tackle them.
He sighed again and stretched. He had the beginnings of a nasty headache and began to search through his desk for some aspirin when he was startled by the harsh jangle of his desk phone. He stared at it for a moment wondering who would be calling him here and at this hour of the night before finally reaching over and plucking it from its cradle.
"Crane here," he said with a touch of annoyance.
"Excuse me for bothering you at this time of night, Captain," came an officious voice on the other end, "This is Captain Johnson, adjutant to Admiral Vandergriff, the new deputy director of the ONI. He asked me to contact you."
Lee frowned. He had heard there was a new deputy director but knew nothing about him. The fact that he was calling Lee at this odd time did not bode well. "What can I do for the admiral?" he asked reluctantly.
Johnson gave a little cough. "The Admiral would like to discuss a matter of vital importance with you this evening. He has sent a car and would like to see you within the hour."
Crane sat up straight, his temper flaring. "Now just a moment!" he snarled angrily, "I told Naval Intelligence I was no longer available for any more missions. Commanding the Seaview is a full time job and I simply cannot go gallivanting off every time ONI snaps its fingers!"
"This is extremely urgent, Captain," interrupted Johnson ignoring the Captain's heated outburst. "The Admiral is fully aware of your position in regards to ONI missions but he still wishes to speak with you. The car should be there now so if you would be so kind, the Admiral expects you in his office by 9." With that, Johnson hung up leaving Lee to stare at the receiver in furious disbelief.
Thirty minutes later, an irate Lee Crane stormed into Admiral Vandergriff's outer office where he came face to face with Captain Johnson, a rotund, balding man with watery blue eyes and a look of permanent disdain. He looked Captain Crane up and down as if examining some sort of inferior hired help. Crane glared back finally causing Johnson to redden and look away. "All right," snapped Crane, "I'm here. Where is the admiral?"
Johnson licked his lips nervously, compulsively straightening some papers as he tried to regain his composure. Crane continued to fume at this obvious delay. Finally, Johnson stood and straightened his uniform. "I'll inform the admiral you are here, Captain," he said pompously and walked deliberately to the admiral's door, knocked and disappeared inside.
Crane paced the office, rubbing his shoulder. It had been broken the previous year in some other "vitally important" ONI mission and it still gave him problems from time to time. He had already decided that regardless of the assignment, he would refuse to go. ONI missions almost invariably ended with him spending long periods of time in some hospital or another and he was through with that. It got harder and harder to bounce back from these near fatal injuries and they undermined his ability to effectively command the Seaview. He thought he had made that perfectly clear after the last mission. He sighed and turned towards the door just as Johnson stepped out.
"The admiral will see you now, Captain," he announced and stepped aside as Lee strode past him with barely a glance. With a sniff of disapproval, Johnson quietly closed the door and returned to his desk.
Lee entered a large office decorated with various seafaring paraphernalia, so often found in naval officers' quarters. He came to a halt before the large desk and saluted the man behind it. "Captain Crane reporting as ordered, sir," he announced with just a trace of anger coloring his words.
The admiral studied Crane silently for a few moments before returning the salute. "At ease, Captain," he replied, his voice oddly high and soft. "Please, have a seat." Lee, hat in hand, stiffly settled himself into a leather chair across from the admiral and in turn, studied the man before him.
The man certainly didn't initially give the impression of power. He was thin with short red hair streaked with gray. His keen blue eyes unflinchingly returned Crane's gaze from behind thick tortoiseshell glasses. Vandergriff's stern, down-turned mouth caused Lee to wonder if the man ever smiled. Lee shifted in his seat. The intensity of the admiral's unblinking stare was unnerving, as if he were sizing Lee up for something unpleasant.
"Captain Crane," said the Admiral in his odd voice, "I am Admiral Vandergriff and I do apologize for this unexpected call. I understand your position on participating in any further ONI missions, but I felt under the circumstances you might wish to be involved in this one." His gaze took on an almost feral intensity that caused Lee's discomfort to increase dramatically. Something didn't feel right about this.
"Uh, I'm sorry Admiral," replied Lee as he forced himself to look away from that piercing stare, "But I was quite serious about not accepting any more ONI missions regardless of the circumstances. My work on the Seaview requires my constant presence, and I feel I cannot in good faith, do justice to either job if I continue to try and do both."
A flicker of a smile passed over Admiral Vandergriff's stony face. "Yes Captain, I am fully aware of all of this, but the fact is this particular situation involves you personally." Again he smiled faintly causing a chill to run down Lee's back. "I believe you are well acquainted with Dr. Charles Atwood?"
Lee stiffened in surprise at the name. Dr. Charles Atwood had been one of his father's best friends when Lee was young. "Uncle Charlie" as Lee had called him, had been a friend and mentor to the boy, especially in the years following Lee's father's death. He had encouraged Lee to apply to the Naval Academy and even helped him to get the necessary recommendations.
"Yes," nodded Vandergriff smugly, "I can see the name does mean something to you." He picked up a file and looked at it briefly then continued. "Dr. Atwood, as I'm sure you know, is one of the leading experts in the field of Quantum physics. He has been heavily involved with the Navy in research intended to create a perpetual energy source. He was kidnapped by agents from a Middle Eastern terrorist group three weeks ago. We were preparing a rescue mission when he was snatched from the facility where he was being held by agents from Serbia which is where he is now being detained."
Lee frowned in dismay. He honestly did not want to become involved in any further ONI missions. In fact, he had practically promised Admiral Nelson that he would refuse any future requests. On the other hand, how could he live with himself if he refused to help rescue the man who had practically been his surrogate father? Distractedly he ran his hand through his dark hair, then sighed in resignation. "What do you need from me?" he asked looking up at the admiral.
Admiral Vandergriff smiled in triumph. He knew he would snag Crane with this particular bait. He opened the file again. "It's a fairly straightforward mission," he replied as he handed the folder to Lee. "Your part is relatively minor. Dr. Atwood, unsurprisingly, has become rather suspicious of further offers of rescue since the last one merely moved him from one prison to another. However, he knows and trusts you. We have agents in place that will carry out the actual rescue. We just need you to be there to escort him to safety. We have had word that they will be moving him to a research facility in the mountains tomorrow evening and our plan is to free him at that time. You are to meet up with this man, Liviu Dragos." he handed Lee a photo of a large swarthy man with a full beard and dark slicked back hair. "In the village of Minden. It is to his house they will be bringing the doctor. Transportation will be provided to a small airfield where you and Dr. Atwood will be picked up. In the folder you will find all your necessary information and documents."
Lee studied the information carefully. It all seemed to be there but his unease was growing stronger all the time. "I still don't understand why you need me," he began. "Surely there are other people Dr. Atwood would recognize…"
"Certainly there are," Vandergriff replied blithely, "But they aren't trained ONI agents. No, Captain, you are the only one who fulfills both requirements. Still, I can't force you to take this assignment." He leaned back in his chair and studied Crane through lowered lids. "You must make this decision as your conscience dictates." He watched with amusement as various emotions flitted across Crane's face. The captain was such a slave to duty that Vandergriff had no doubts he would accept this mission. Crane couldn't bear to live with the guilt if anything happened to the professor.
Lee shut the file, his shoulders slumping in defeat. "All right," he sighed, "When do I leave?"
"Immediately," replied Vandergriff promptly. "You have a flight leaving in about an hour. We have a suitcase packed for you here, and a car is waiting outside." He paused a moment as Lee opened his mouth to protest. "I know you will want Admiral Nelson informed as soon as possible," continued the Admiral before Lee could utter a sound. "However I happen to know that Harriman is currently en route to Europe to spend the holidays with his sister. I will make sure he is contacted as soon as he has reached his destination, and I will personally explain the situation. Any further questions, Captain?"
Lee grimaced in frustration. It seemed that the admiral had thought of everything. He tightened his grip on the folder and rose to his feet. "I guess not, Admiral," he said grimly. "If there is nothing else, sir, then I'll be on my way." He saluted, turned and began to make his way out of the office. Just as he was about to open the door, Vandergriff stopped him.
"Captain Crane," he said a steely edge to his soft voice, "This mission is highly classified. You are not to mention it to anyone." He paused, watching Crane closely. "But, I wouldn't worry," again that disconcerting smile, "You will probably be back long before your two week leave is over. No one will even know you were gone."
"Yes, sir," replied Crane every instinct telling him to refuse this mission and run. But he knew he could never do that and live with himself. Again he turned and left the office, quietly closing the door behind him.
Once outside, he walked slowly by Johnson's desk, his mind working furiously. This just seemed all wrong but he couldn't put his finger on the problem. How convenient that it just so happened he was the only agent who seemed to fit the bill. What would they have done if he had refused? He could feel his anger returning.
"Captain?"
Lee broke through his reverie to find he had stopped near the office door, the file crushed in his hand. Johnson was watching him with wary eyes.
"Are you all right, sir?"
Lee gave a disgusted snort. "I'm just fine," he snapped and stalked from office, making his way to the car downstairs. If he had to go, he might as well get it over with.
