Chapter One

July 3, 2032

Off the coast of Florida, New Cape Quest

From shore, the seaQuest looked every bit as magnificent as the laudatory editorials described the year she set off on her maiden voyage. The sleek dark body of the man-made leviathan was prominently displayed above the surface of the water, despite the fact that the majority was well hidden from view – right beneath the calm, clear water of the Atlantic Ocean. The twinkling of lights gave the impression that this was another beautiful marine vessel; obscuring the reality that she was truly the best weapon the United Earth Oceans Organization had to offer for the protection of their citizens. Long gone were the days of seaQuest's insatiable thirst for research and exploration. She was now, first and foremost, the most powerful and feared boat in the UEO Navy, and undeniably manned by the best crew they had to offer. The question on everyone's mind was the same. Were the seaQuest and her crew good enough to protect the allied confederations and their citizens against the constant threat from the Macronesian Alliance, and more recently, the perceived threat of the Chaodai?

At that moment in time, the civilians on shore could look past unpleasant truth of a world on the brink of war, and instead see what they wanted: an unsurpassed elegance.

Upon closer inspection, those same civilians may have noticed the constant stream of launches shuttling between the shore and the stationary beast. Starting before dawn, shortly after the seaQuest successfully docked, the boat was being fed the necessary supplies – food, materials, and equipment – to keep her at sea for an extended length of time. The permanent crew had yet to step foot on dry land, but it was just a matter of time before the mass exodus began.

The city of New Cape Quest had been humming for days, ever since news of seaQuest's imminent arrival became known. Local merchants, restaurants and bars were always pleased with the arrival of the crew. They always seemed to draw the locals as well as people willing to travel longer distances to see the boat docked a short distance from shore. With the arrival of the seaQuest coinciding with the long holiday weekend, anticipation and excitement was at a new height.

***

The excitement of the seaQuest crew was tangible. It had been months since they'd last docked in their homeport, and most were eager to see friends and family. Vidlinks and hologram messages could not compare to being able to wrap arms around a brother, parent, lover. Thanks to a complicated and comprehensive juggling of schedules, accommodations and transport vehicles, almost all of the 248 crew members would have the opportunity to spend at least one night on shore for leave. A rare - and much coveted - reward for months of grueling work protecting UEO interests at a time when they remained on the precipice of a world on the brink of war.

The young ensign stepped out of the supply office with his newly acquired uniforms. Luckily for him, his order had arrived on one of the first supply launches to reach the boat after they'd docked before dawn. The hallways were bustling with activity – more so than on an average day at sea. It appeared as though most of the crew not on duty were either too excited to sleep, or were hoping to get off the boat sooner than their scheduled launch times.

Lucas slung the new uniforms over his shoulder as he hurried down the hall toward the quarters he shared with Tony Piccolo. He was running a little late, but if he didn't stop along the way, he'd have enough time to change clothes before reporting for Bridge duty. Even if he were a few minutes late, it would be worth enduring Hudson's disapproving look to finally wear some pants that did not resemble "floods." Lucas had been the butt of more than his fair share of jokes lately, thanks to a belated growth spurt. Seriously, what 29 year old suddenly grows 2 inches?

He sighed inwardly as he reached the cabin door. In reality, he didn't see himself as nearing 30, but neither could he picture himself as a teenager. His intelligence, and responsibilities at a young age, had matured him well beyond his years, but those missing ten years had robbed him of the experience he needed to feel like the man his birth certificate claimed him to be.

In the years the seaQuest crew had been gone, Lucas' Node 3 friends had transitioned from the recklessness of youth to become responsible and respected scientists. Shortly after returning, Lucas had managed to research his best friends with the hopes of reconnecting. After the realization that time had only stood still for a small group of them, Lucas had given up the thought of contacting them. This had not stopped him from finding out what Nick, and Julianna in particular, had been up to for the past ten years. Nick had graduated from hacking into other peoples' secure systems, to designing his own. He'd become a highly sought-after consultant in the field of computer science and commanded a high price for his expertise. Julianna had managed to make a name for herself in academia, and was currently a tenured professor at MIT.

Lucas, on the other hand, felt like a Peter Pan of sorts - the boy that never grew up. When he'd learned of his friends' success, he was assaulted with emotions. He was incredibly proud of what they'd accomplished, but he couldn't help but feel jealous. In his youth, he'd been smug and cocky in the knowledge that he was one of the best hackers out there. He was brilliant, boasted an incredibly high IQ, and he couldn't wait to prove to the world what he could do. He had just assumed that he would become as successful – or even more so – than Nick and Julianna and would have done great things by the time he turned 30.

Instead, Lucas found himself the inventor of the failed vocorder, and its measly 125-word vocabulary, and incredibly out of touch with most technology developed in the past decade. He felt like a washed-up has-been still trying to find his place in the world. With this realization, he found it much easier to hide on seaQuest, with friends who were going through the similar shock of re-acclimating to a changed world, than attempt to reconnect with people who'd moved on with their lives. Shaking his head, Lucas reached for the door handle. It wasn't as though they'd tried to contact him either. No, it was better if he just held onto some of the best memories of his teenage years and the friendships he had valued.

Before he'd opened the cabin door more than a crack, he could hear the heavy beat of Piccolo's latest favorite band. Something reminiscent of the big hair bands of the 1980's – an era Lucas was very glad not to have been a part of. Piccolo was in the midst of tossing random pieces of clothing into an overnight bag, while shaking his head in time to the music. It was obvious from the hideous shirt he was wearing, that Tony was off duty and had already been granted permission for shore leave.

"Luke!" Tony turned, a huge grin plastered across his face.

"Hey, Tony." Lucas' response was flat, the complete opposite of the giddy excitement being exuded by his bunkmate. Walking to his locker, he hung the new khaki uniform inside and started to change into the blue coveralls.

"What's your problem, man? You should be excited. Four days of shore leave over the 4th of July weekend. What could be better? Tony grabbed a pair of socks off his bunk and threw them at Lucas before reaching out to turn the music down.

"How about actually getting off the boat?" Lucas picked up the ball of socks that had fallen at his feet and lobbed them back at Piccolo.

"What? You're kidding, right?" Tony stopped moving, the grin fading from his face. "I saw the shore leave roster, Lucas. Your name was right there with mine."

"Yeah, well they removed it. Turns out that someone thought this four day station outside of UEO headquarters was the perfect opportunity to install some upgrades to the weapons and communications systems. Tim and I had our leave revoked and we'll be part of the skeleton crew making sure that the upgrades go smoothly. Wouldn't want to waste this golden opportunity now, would we?"

Lucas made little attempt to hide the sarcasm in his response. This was not the first time he'd had his shore leave revoked, but this one stung a bit more than usual. He'd actually been looking forward to a little time off, even though he knew that with Piccolo in charge of the upworld plans, it was bound to be filled with characteristically sordid debauchery with unforeseeable consequences. In other words, he was going to be missing a good time. Again.

"You're joking, right?"

"I wish."

As he finished zipping the front of his new coveralls, he slammed his locker closed. Lucas realized that if he was going to spend the next 8 hours on the bridge with Captain Hudson, he needed to keep his frustration in check. He'd spent the better part of the past nine months learning how to control his emotions and perfecting his poker face. Most of the time, he was pretty certain that the captain was testing him and watching for a reaction. Revoking his shore leave was another opportunity to see if he would crack. He'd had plenty of opportunity to be scrutinized lately and he really didn't need another reprimand for not behaving as an ensign in the UEO Navy should. With that thought, Lucas inwardly cringed.

"Maybe you'll finish up early and make the last shuttle." Tony's incredulous expression betrayed him. They both knew there was no chance Lucas was going to make it to shore in the next four days.

"Yeah. Maybe." Lucas unconsciously pushed his long hair away from his face and behind his ears, then smoothed the front of his uniform. With a quick glance at his watch, he realized he was cutting it very close. "I gotta go. Have fun, Tony."

"Later, Lucas"

As he bound up the steps and out of the cabin, Lucas heard Piccolo turn the volume back up on the stereo. Shaking his head, he ran down the deck towards the stairs, which would ultimately lead him to the Maglev and the bridge.

***

Lucas slipped through the clamshell doors and onto the bridge with seconds to spare. It was practically a ghost town – most staff already dismissed and packing for their extended overnight shore leave.

The brightly lit panels on either side of the command chair and moon navigation sphere stood unmanned and most workstations were left empty. Lucas was relieved to see that Captain Hudson had yet to arrive; Lieutenant Henderson instead was sitting in the command chair as she had all third shift.

He took the headset from the helmswoman he was replacing and slid into his usual seat behind his assigned console, as he did, O'Neill turned and gave him a quick nod. The look on Tim's face said it all. He too, was feeling the same way about their timely assignment. Lucas gave him a thin smile in return before slipping the headset on and settling into the task of becoming familiar with the readings in front of him.

Until the go ahead to start the systems upgrade came through, there wasn't much to keep their minds from wandering while on duty. Lucas and Tim were used to being assigned to the skeleton bridge crew by now, being the most frequently assigned the post while other staff enjoyed time off, and had devised a system of communicating discretely during their "down" time. It wasn't long before both of them had switched their headsets to the pre-determined frequency in order to speak to each other.

"Fancy seeing you here," Tim's quiet voice broke the silence.

Lucas looked up towards the Communications officer, who didn't even attempt to hide the fact that he was speaking directly to Lucas. With Lonnie taking command of the bridge, they didn't have to worry as much about professionalism and protocol.

He lost the battle to contain a snort of disgust. "I'd be more surprised if we actually ever made it onto shore, one of these days."

"Tim, Lucas…" Lonnie's voice piped into their headsets and she gave them each a sympathetic look. "You both know that we need you for this upgrade. With the current political situation, we don't often have the opportunity to dock off New Cape Quest.

"Yeah, then why does it feel like we are being punished?" Tim voiced what they both were thinking.

"Think of it more along the lines of being such valuable crew members that your presence is essential for the smooth operation of the UEO's flagship." Lonnie gave Tim a quick wink in response.

"Said by someone who's actually been able to enjoy the natural sunlight at some point in the past nine months," Lucas grumbled under his breath.

Lonnie opened her mouth to respond, but before she was able to get a word out, Hudson strolled onto the Bridge. She immediately closed her mouth and stood to attention. Both Lucas and Tim sat a little straighter in their seats, their attention moving back to their assigned consoles.

The minor adjustments of his crew's demeanor were not lost on Captain Hudson and Lucas noticed as the man smiled discretely. The captain ran a tight ship and he expected his officers to be every bit as professional as was expected of the UEO's flagship crew. Lucas missed the more lax environment that seaQuest boasted under Captain Bridger's tenure. While the circumstances now were vastly different – the boat's primary mission was one of research and exploration back then – he missed the camaraderie of the crew, which was evident even on the bridge when tension ran high.

"At ease, Lieutenant. Current status? " Captain Hudson stood next to the command chair, his hands resting loosely behind his back. He was obviously very comfortable in his position as captain of this boat and he appeared to be in a generally good mood this morning.

Lucas tried to keep his head down and his eyes on the graphs and thermal images that were constantly changing on the monitor directly in front of him, but he couldn't help himself from glancing up as Lonnie began her status update. He was perfectly capable of paying attention to multiple factors, watching for unexpected anomalies, while at sea. With seaQuest docked, there weren't as many outputs to track.

Lucas knew that Tim was equally as bored monitoring current internal and external communications. Knowing the Comms Chief, he'd probably already started scanning for any unexpected pings or foreign frequencies. Tim O'Neill may not have been on the short list of officers, who would be fast-tracked for promotion under Hudson, but he was good at his job and there was no denying that he was an asset to the boat.

"Sir, all supply runs are expected to be complete by 0900 hours. They are currently ahead of schedule. The highest priority equipment has already come aboard and a four-man Engineering team has started some of the maintenance work we have had on the books for weeks. Launches shuttling crew to shore will commence at 1000 hours."

"How many will remain on board?" Hudson glanced at the practically empty Bridge. It was rare to see the large space so empty.

"Eight, Sir. In addition to Commander Ford, O'Neill and Wolenczak, there will be four Engineers on duty at all times, as well as one medic. A larger team has been placed "on call" if we encounter any problems."

"Thank you, Henderson. I imagine you have some packing to do. You're dismissed."

"Yes, Sir." Lonnie turned to leave, visibly relieved to have completed her scheduled bridge shift. Before she slipped through the doors, she locked eyes with Lucas, giving him a sympathetic smile and a quick wave.

"Mr. O'Neill, Mr. Wolenczak," the Captain addressed the two remaining officers. "I take it you are both ready to start installing the upgrades. UEO technical staff have assured me that this will not take longer than the length of time we are set to remain in port." Hudson turned to address Lucas directly. "As the former Chief Computer Analyst, I'm leaving you in charge of getting this complete before we ship out. Understood?"

"Yes Sir."

Lucas set his jaw and started an internal list of all the equipment he'd need and the order in which they'd need to tackle the individual consoles and panels. For the most part, the task was simple; nothing more than uploading new data, restarting each computer, and then testing them both individually and as a linked system. At most, it was going to be slow and boring. The only consolation was that these upgrades were restricted to just two of seaQuest's complex computer systems. It could be far worse. They could be tackling all of them. From experience, Lucas knew that even just restricting their modifications to two discrete areas, a four-day window would be tight.

Tim had plenty of experience with previous upgrades and software reinstallation, so Lucas knew he would be more than qualified to get the process moving. If Lucas could get through the first few steps, Tim could follow up with the testing phase. They could maximize efficiency by working in a staggered pattern, rather than just dividing the responsibility between specific stations.

Lucas was so engrossed in his meticulous planning, that he did not notice the bemused look so evident across Hudson's face. Neither did he notice the appearance of Commander Ford on the bridge.

***

Hours later, Lucas and Tim were immersed in their respective assignments and practically oblivious to the eerie stillness the boat had adopted. The majority of the crew was already on land – enjoying their time off – and the skeleton crew was scattered around the decks taking care of the tasks needed to keep the seaQuest in top form. Even docked at port, system diagnostics were run, and minor adjustments were made the heavy machinery in the bilge. A boat this size, despite the sophistication of her computer system and efficient engineering, required constant maintenance.

The seaQuest continued to emit a constant humming, despite her stationary position off of New Cape Quest. Both Lucas and Tim were oblivious to this undercurrent of noise, having been exposed to it for such a long time. The humming was a part of the boat; something that made the inanimate object seem that much more alive. Occasionally, Lucas or Tim would lift their head and utter a string of curses, or a grumble of frustration. But mostly, the bridge remained silent, with the exception of the blips and beeps that came from the individual computers being restarted.

As the Executive Officer, Jonathan Ford had been responsible for drawing up the leave roster for all 248 members of the crew. He prided himself in keeping aware of the officers on board and any possible issues that may arise and have a negative effect on the crew. As one of the original officers onboard when Lucas was first assigned to the boat, Ford had developed a bit of a soft spot for the teenager. Hell, they all had. He had been particularly surprised, and concerned, when he'd heard that Lucas had enlisted in the UEO Navy.

He never thought the undisciplined computer hacker would make a good soldier. Lucas was at times arrogant and obnoxious, and he was adept at thinking along the lines that others did not. He was also incredibly comfortable questioning authority. The role of a good soldier was the opposite, to respect the chain of command and to not question one's superior officers.

At first, Ford had been acutely aware of how Captain Hudson perceived Lucas. It was well known amongst the crew that Lucas and Bridger had formed a close bond, similar to that between a father and son. Under no circumstances could Hudson's commanding style be confused with Nathan Bridger's. The current captain had made it painfully clear that his commands were to be followed and that each officer on board was to behave with the utmost professionalism expected of them. Where Bridger would often call them by their first names, Hudson was less inclined. In current times, with the "conflict" between the allied confederations and Macronesia increasing in tension, the more militaristic approach to commanding the seaQuest seemed more appropriate.

Hudson had, at an earlier time, admitted to being overtly domineering and heavy-handed with the original crew, but his intentions were understandable. He needed their focus and their respect and in return he gave them his. Ford wasn't sure how much of this Lucas had first understood in the days following Bridger's second retirement. However, as time had passed, they had all been rather surprised at how easily the new ensign had acclimated to his position within the Navy and the level of discipline he had displayed.

Despite the lack of weapons and tactical training, Lucas had also proven to be a quick study on both subjects and had handled himself on many a mission as well as any formally trained soldier could. This too had surprised Ford and the late Lieutenant Brody. As a result, both he and Brody had provided Lucas with as many pointers as they could. Off duty, of course.

Commander Ford's concern for the crew extended beyond Ensign Wolenczak and included the Chief Communications Officer as well. He'd been painfully aware of how little shore leave both officers had been granted in the past few months, compared to the rest of the crew, and was concerned about their lack of adequate breaks from their posts. In fact, he couldn't remember the last time Lucas had been granted shore leave since enlisting. Ford had made a point to put both Lucas and Tim on the roster for the full four days, before the orders from HQ had come in. Because Lucas was the most qualified to supervise the computer system upgrades, Ford reluctantly had to revoke his leave. Captain Hudson had been responsible for enlisting O'Neill's support for the assignment, and he could only presume it was part of the ongoing punishment for Tim's behavior during the Chaodai "incident."

Brought out of his train of thought by a sudden movement, Ford turned his attention back to the present. O'Neill had practically run from the sensor panel on one side of the Bridge back to Communications. He quickly assumed his position in front of the switches and adjusted the headset against his ears.

"Commander Ford. We have a call coming in for you and Captain Hudson from Secretary General McGath. He says it's urgent." Tim turned to face him, waiting for a response.

"Put it on the main screen, Lieutenant O'Neill."

"Sir, he's requested the call be made confidential and on a secure line."

Ford's momentary pause was the only evidence that this was an unexpected request. That brief hesitation, however, was enough for both Lucas and Tim to take note.

"Notify the captain and have the call patched through to the Ward Room." Commander Ford stood to leave. Before he did, he looked back over his shoulder at the two men and nodded to Tim. "You have the Bridge, Lieutenant O'Neill."

"Yes, Sir."

Tim raised his right hand to the earpiece, his voice louder than usual in the empty space, and made the notifications to both Hudson and McGath. With the flick of a few switches, the call was routed to the Ward Room.

Left alone, Tim and Lucas exchanged a knowing look.

"This can't be good news."

"It's probably nothing. Maybe a request from some bigwig or highly decorated politician for a tour of seaQuest. You know, show her off. It's been known to happen in the past." Lucas did not really believe the words he was saying.

"Not on a secure link."

"You're right. This can't be good."

An hour passed before Captain Hudson and Commander Ford returned to the bridge. The grim look on both of their faces said more than words could describe. They had just heard some unpleasant news and seaQuest's assistance was needed somewhere in the world other than off the coast of Florida.

"Mr. Wolenczak, are we at a point where we can put a halt on these upgrades for the unforeseeable future?"

"Yes, sir. If we can just finish the two we are currently working on, we can postpone the rest of the bridge computers. We haven't touched any of the weapons systems yet."

"Fine." The Captain then turned to address O'Neill. "Mr. O'Neill, please recall all senior officers, all essential crew, and Warrant Officer Piccolo. Inform them of a mandatory meeting in the Ward Room at 2000 hours. All non-essential personnel will have their extended shore leave revoked. They are to be back onboard by 0600 hours tomorrow." He took a few steps towards the door before stopping. "Oh, and Mr. Wolenczak."

"Yes, sir?"

"Call the dolphin back in. I hear he's been swimming somewhere nearby." With that, the captain left the bridge.

Lucas looked questioningly at the commander, who just shook his head in response. Both heard the mumbled comment from Tim as he set about recalling all specified crew; most of who probably already had a few beers in them by now.

"Definitely not good."