WAR GAMES
Chapter One:
Nathan Bridger sat in his quarters aboard Seaquest. The Vid-link conversation with his old friend, Admiral Bill Noyce was not going well.
"Are you sure then, Bill?"
Captain Bridger thought back to an earlier conversation with his resident teenage computer genius. Lucas had come to him about a week prior concerning several attempts made to brake in to some files on the Seaquest's computers. At the time the silver haired man had dismissed his youngest crew member since nothing had actually been acquired from the attempts. Lucas Wolenczak had been after the UEO ever since the Stark incident where a computer virus had almost destroyed the mighty Seaquest. The blonde boy would bring up any and every reason he could find to try and force the UEO to allow him to update the systems. Nathan had even lobbied on his side to attempt to have the updates made to no avail. No matter how capable the young boy maybe, his request had been denied several times. Usually sighting his age behind closed doors though, Nathan would never tell the boy. He had far too much respect for his abilities for that. Admiral Noyce interrupted Brider's train of thought by clearing his throat.
"I'm sorry Nathan, there just isn't any other option. The source is definitely on the Seaquest. "
Noyce looked sad, almost remorseful as he continued giving his friend the news. They both knew how devastating this would be to the crew. Everyone would be a suspect. NCIS would pit them all against one another in suspicion trying to get someone to crack. Nathan's heart sunk, mentally recapping the information in two words, a spy. A spy on Seaquest, on his Seaquest. Who in his crew could be so cold and callous? Who could be so two faced?
"Now Nathan, about the investigation…"
"I don't want NCIS all over my boat , Bill! You know what that will cause!"
Both men knew exactly how damaging the investigation would be. Crews were rarely allowed to stay together after a major internal investigation due to broken trust issues
"I wasn't planning on that Nathan. Do you honestly think the UEO wants to publicly admit it's flag ship has a spy! I thought this matter would be best sorted out privately before the Brass really gets their noses in it."
*And how exactly do you plan to manage that Bill? It's not like you can just hide an investigation of this magnitude."
"Oh, Can't I?"
Nathan watched as his old friend's smile grew wide and mischerious.
"I was thinking , with the proper distraction, we could have this all sorted out by the time your shore leave is up."
"Shore leave? Bill, you do realize we just left Pearl at 0600?"
The balding man grinned.
"Well turn around Captain, you're overdue for 3 weeks of shore leave and training" Bill gave a quick smile and a wink, "or at least that's what this computer says. Blasted thing, I can't understand it half of the time."
The Captain nodded, understanding what his old friend was doing for him.
"So, what's the plan Bill? And what's this great distraction you think will keep my people so preoccupied?"
"Ah, Nathan we're going old school here my friend. War games and spies"
Bridger smiled, that certainly would be distracting. As Noyce continued on with the details of the plan, Nathan thought to himself 'This just might be crazy enough to work'.
The Bridge was rather quiet as the last of the new updates were being completed. These updates had been the most exciting thing to happen in over a week and the military-read-for-action crew were growing weary of the mundane.
Commander Jonathon Ford stood over Lt. Commander Katherine Hitchcock's shoulders as she completed the updates to the hyper-reality probe.
"Can I help you with something Commander, Sir? Katie inquired, her annoyance apparent in her crystal blue eyes.
"Uh no, Sorry. As you were."
Commander Ford hadn't meant to bother Katie during her work. He actually would never normally hover over the shoulders of such a capable officer and 3rd in command of Seaquest behind himself. He had just been so restless and saw no end to it in sight. After a few weeks of no action and a brief stop in Pear the Seaquest was not underway on a 3 month long patrol of the African coast. Their exciting new mission? Picking up sand samples checking for damage caused by the new underwater diamond mines springing up in the area.
The dark skinned man's eyes darted around the bridge once again noting the only real action, as little action as it was, was coming from Katie's station. The boredom had the Staunch military man actually wish for something anything to break the boredom. He would even take a well timed Prank from Lt. Benjamin Kreig or a sly condescending remark from the sly Lucas but, with both crew men off working on a new inventory system that seemed unlikely. Ford was jolted out of his thoughts by the familiar chirp of his PAL unit.
"Ford here"
"Commander, I need you to change course." came the Captain's voice.
"Aye, Sir. Where to?"
"Home."
"Home Sir?"
"Yes Jonathon, it seems some of us are getting shore leave. Please meet me in the wardroom in 30 minuets with the senior staff, security Chiefs Crocker and Shan, and Lucas. Oh and have Dr. Westphalen bring Dr. Levin along as well."
"Aye Aye, Sir" was Ford's short response.
As he turned to the bridge crew he saw the excited but confused looks going around the room. Shore leave, even a sudden one was always a good thing. Wasn't it?"
"Well you heard the Captain people. Let's bring her around and head home."
The bridge came to life with activity as the senior staff handed off their headsets to relief officers and Communications Officer, Lt. J.G. Tim O'Neill began paging anyone needed to the wardroom that wasn't on the bridge.
Sensory Chief Miguel Ortiz looked around the bridge momentarily before he remembered his relief had been summoned to engineering and hadn't returned yet.
"Uh, Commander Ford, Sir."
"Ortiz?" Ford nodded.
"Well Sir, Channing isn still in engineering and I can't exactly just leave Mother and Junior out alone together. Remember what happened last time?"
Ortiz and Ford both turned as they heard Tim stifle a chuckle. Tim may be Miguel's best friend but even the Commander knew how much the Sensory Chief loved his WISKRS and knew exactly what brought the reaction to O'Neill's face. In fact, everyone on the boat had heard about the day Ortiz stepped away from his station for a quick trip to the head, only to return to the sound of Mother colliding with Junior thanks to incompetent relief. The normally happy go lucky Cuban sulked for a full two weeks before Mother was replaced and Junior was repaired.
"Okay Ortiz, pickup your toys first then, meet us in the wardroom." Ford mocked slightly causing hushed giggles and smirks to adorn the faces of the entire bridge crew as the senior staff exited for the wardroom.
A tall dark haired officer stood as a look out for a pair of jeans and sneakers sticking out of an open panel in the moonpool.
"Come on kid, aren't you done yet?"
"I'm not a kid, Ben and, if you'd be quiet I'd be done already"
Lt. Benjamin Krieg smiled. This prank was going to be great. The supply and morale officer had taken it upon himself to boost the crew's spirits during the recent bout of inactivity with a few well timed practical jokes. In fact he had managed to find a way to prank every member of the senior staff, save for Commander Ford. He chuckled to himself remembering his last victim. Poor Tim, his face as he was forced to walk from the officer's showers to his quarters in his birthday suit was priceless. Now it was his stern commanding officer's turn and with Lucas' help this was going to be a doozy. It had taken Ben all of 10 seconds to recruit the kid. He was always up for one of Ben's schemes. Ben knew he needed help to pull of a prank of this scale he could of never handled the wiring. Wiring that took the boy wonder all of 15 minuets to complete.
"There it's done" Lucas said as he peered out from the bulkhead.
"You sure everything will work when he goes in to the showers?"
"Yup, but you know Ben if we get caught Ford is going to have us scrubbing C-deck with our toothbrushes."
"That's where you come in my boy", Ben smirked at the questioning look he was receiving from his young protégé, "You just have to bat those baby blues at the Captain and all will be forgiven."
"Yeah sure Ben, that's why I spent 2 days washing self-heating underwear with you in the Artic."
"Ah kid, don't worry you hadn't perfected the look yet."
"Don't call me..", Lucas was interrupted by the chirp of his PAL.
"Lucas", Tim O'Neill's voice chimed in.
"Yeah Tim?"
"Bridger wants you in the ward room in 30 minuets"
"You got it."
"Oh and Lucas?"
"Yeah?"
"Is Krieg with you?"
"Sure is."
"Good tell him to report too."
"Sure thing Tim."
"Oh and Ben?", Tim added, " I know it was you, and I want my clothes back."
Lucas laughed and shot a slightly blushing Ben a look.
"I told you they know it's you Ben."
"Great, well I better go to my quarters and pick that up. See you at the wardroom ki-uh I mean Lucas."
With that the two men parted ways, Lucas to hide the evidence of the upcoming prank and Ben to pick up one angry sounding communication officer's civies.
In a darkened supply room, lit only by a vid-screen a slender young man in a UEO uniform was pacing looking nervously at the angry man on the link.
"Did you get the information yet? the angry voice hissed over the vid-link.
"I'm working on it. Every time I find a hole that kid patches it up. It's like he never sleeps!"
"I told you that 'child' was good. You assured me you were better. I want those codes! I gave you all of the equipment required and now you're telling me you can't out smart a boy!" The man's anger grew as he spoke on, "We had a deal, I want those codes the next time you get off that tin can or I am coming to get them myself! If you can't beat the kid at his own game then, eliminate him. The consequences for you will be dire if I see you again with out those codes again. Do you understand?"
"Y-y-yes Sir" The lanky man answered
With that the link was cut. The young man sighed with relief. He had 3 months to figure out a way around the resident computer genius. A task he learned months ago wouldn't be as easy as he originally thought. IF the truth be known, he actually liked the kid. He actually liked every one on the Seaquest and had never actually considered having to hurt anyone. He let out a deep sigh. He was in too deep now. At least the Seaquest's new assignment gave him time to get around Lucas. Maybe no one would have to be hurt. He surely was creative enough to still make everything work out so that no harm would come to his new friends. After all it had only taken him a month to gain Miguel's trust so that after the WISKRS 'accident' he was able to help repair Junior and attach his transmitter so he couldn't be traced by Lucas.
"Well no time like the present" he said to an empty room, opening his laptop trying to get a connection.
"What the... Damn it where is my link!"
Was it damaged? Was he found out? Thoughts raced through his head as he uploaded a quick systems check. The results made his blood run cold. The Seaquest had pulled in the WISKRS and was now headed back to Pearl. But why? Almost immediately his question was answered as he over heard the scuttlebutt from two seamen in the hall, shore leave.
Damn it he thought, this will change things.
He slammed shut his laptop and slipped unnoticed back to his post.