Color Outside the Line

Chapter 19th

Kowalski and Patterson had passed several of the crew members heading into different directions. Otherwise they were heading for the mess hall needing something to eat and drink after being on their feet a long time. Even though had volunteered to continued with the search of the explosives.

Once inside the mess hall with only a handful of crew members eating and talking among themselves and no doubt about the explosion down below and what can be next.

Sitting at their table away from everyone. Patterson had an idea on whether it was possible for the explosives could be in the Control room.

Ski looked up from eating his Turkey club sandwich and diet cola. "Are you serous Patterson? I wouldn't know how it's possible without anyone noticing ?"

"It would be if they were placed before the Seaview had taken off for the cruise and when Captain Lee Crane was abducted Ski. We need to let Admiral Nelson know with waking him. "

"We can't be doing that Patterson not without proof first before waking him up in his cabin. Lets finish here first before having Chief Sharkey to begin checking all of the electronics in the Control room." Ski will say with munching on his sandwich with Mayo on the side of his cheek.

Afterwards Chief Francis Sharkey being rousted by Kowalski in his own quarters with the remake of the quarters on board the Seaview a few years back. Since this was the fourth version of the original Seaview only much bigger and stronger in some ways. "What the hell do you think you're doing Ski? Waking me up in the middle of the night with a crazy fool idea."

"Not crazy if it turns out to be true with the explosives inside the electronics and wind up going off to kill everyone in the Control Room." Ski will say with the Chief changing his tune with getting dressed quickly to call for the electronic specialist to start checking the instruments in the Control room.

Commander Jeffries relieving Executive Officer Stu Riley now in charge of the over night watch with only a handful of crew working in the Control room. When Chief Sharkey, Ski and Patterson along with two others specialists in electronics. Chief Sharkey had advised Commander Jeffries relative new to the Seaview asked what was going on when Sharkey had told him about finding the possible electronics.

"Does Admiral Nelson know about this at all?" He needed to asked since it was his neck in case something happens.

"He does know." Since the Chief had lied through his teeth even though Admiral Nelson had suspected something like this will happen with the explosives being stored in an area close to everyone working and the easiest to find.

It wasn't all too long with Ron Hanson an overall electronic specialist as with Robbie Coleman were checking the radio shack when it was found inside the radioman's board. "Jesus! I found it Coleman. Please call Chief Sharkey over here now!" He will cry out with his overall excitement.

Sharkey came running to see the panel opened inside the communications board rig to explode if anyone tried to fool with it. However if the right wires were clipped than the explosive will be deactivated. "HOLY SMOKES! We need to call Admiral Nelson and show him this." Sharkey cried out with moving to the intercom to wake Admiral Nelson.

"Attention Admiral Nelson please come to the Control room right away. It's an emergency." Sharkey will say not really expecting an answer right away.

Sounding tired over the public address system. Chief, I am on my way." Sharkey turned to face Commander Jeffries in charge to place the submarine on red alert just in case the wrong wires are cut and explode killing the crew members in the Control room.

Admiral Nelson just prior to reaching the Control room. He heard the red alert alarm walking down the spiral stairway to head for the radio shack seeing everyone watching the scene with Chief Francis Sharkey talking to the specialist checking in the back as well for further charges to go off.

"What is it Chief?" Nelson exhausted with dark circles under his aged body.

"Sir we found an explosive inside the radio shack's communications board. Ron Hanson the electronic specialist found it with the connection to this device. Maybe you can help us out with figuring which wires to clip and end the threat?" Sharkey had said with Hanson not finding a thing in the back of the entire section.

"Let me take a look with handing me the spanner to try and figure out the correct connection." Nelson replied with his attention to the different color wires. Crying out to those watching the scene. "STAND BACK EVERYONE OR LEAVE THE CONTROL ENTIRELY BEFORE I BEGIN."

Commander Jeffries for those in the Control Room to leave quickly and wait it out inside the main corridor. Kowalski and Patterson were about to arrive when they heard the Admiral's order coming down the spiral staircase.

Both men headed back upstairs to the upper level and wait. It was a nerve wrecking situation currently counting the minutes.

Admiral Harriman was able to figure it out with clipping two of the red wires to deactivate the explosive and everyone breathing a sly of relief with the situation ending for now.

"Take this explosive and place it inside the armory container and make sure it doesn't cause us any further problems. Is there any other reports of finding the other explosives?" Nelson yawn slightly with needing coffee to wake him up or head back to bed for now.

"No sir nothing as yet with the reports. Kowalski and Patterson were back on the search parties when they probably heard the General Quarters siren." Commander Jeffries had mention to his boss and owner of the Nelson Institute.

"Very well take over while I head back to my cabin to sleep." He walked away heading for the spiral staircase exhausted before meeting up with Kowalski and Patterson in the corridor...