Sunshine Never Touches the Depths
chapter two
Later that day he was up on the bridge, watching the screens flash and blip. Benjamin wondered if he could afford to bring up a game of Tetris on the small section of screen which was hidden from view of the rest of the bridge. He had done it before, when no one higher ranking than Crocker had been standing watch. If he kept the sound off, and only played one of the earliest, 2-D versions, he could sit and play while appearing to stare at his work screens. Unfortunately, with Commander Ford pacing the bridge behind him, the risk was usually too great. Maybe if he just dialed up one of the network channels?
He tried not to glance over his shoulder to see if anyone was paying him any attention, while he fiddled with a few of the controls. He actually had one channel pre-programmed in, so he could watch cartoons during the night shift. Normally he wouldn't consider it during the afternoon, but he needed something to distract him. Work wasn't going to do it -- not the 'sit and watch the screens' bridge duty he had. If he just sat here for six hours, he was going to end up thinking about everything he was trying *not* to think about.
On the other hand, he didn't feel like taking a risk of getting Ford upset with him again so soon. The poker game Ford had discovered had been bad enough- not entirely against regulations, but Benjamin had been pushing the limits. In fact, Ford had been keeping an eye on him rather closely all week, as if waiting for Ben to do something.
If he couldn't goof off, and he couldn't depend on his regular duty to give him something sufficiently interesting, he had only one choice. A few quickly typed commands, a network connection he wasn't technically supposed to make, a second he wasn't supposed to know how to make, and he had access to his desktop down in Main Supply. The never-ending supply of reports and paperwork would be sufficiently mind-numbing to get him through his shift.
He buried himself so deep in his work he was startled when the ships' comm system came on. O'Niell's voice called out to Commander Ford.
"I'm picking up an automated signal from an abandoned base. It's old, the codes are at least five years out of date."
Benjamin watched out of the corner of his eye, quickly shutting down the screens he'd had up, as Ford hurried over to the comm station. "Which base?"
O'Niell was staring at his readouts, and Benjamin could see him frown. "That's odd. It doesn't identify itself. The signal is just broadcasting a typical 'this base abandoned, authorised personnel only' message."
Everyone on the bridge was openly watching, now. Benjamin turned his chair towards the comm station, trying to recall if he knew of any bases in the area that had been abandoned at least five years ago. He couldn't recall any off-hand, but he didn't always memorise the lats and longs of each base he'd ever visited.
"Doesn't identify itself?" Ford was asking. "Whose base was it?"
O'Niell listened again to his earpiece, then shook his head. "I don't recognise the code. The seaQuest computer verifies that the code is a legitimate one, but there's either no record of who used the code, or it's a general one that anybody could use. Or--"
"Or?" Ford prompted.
O'Niell shrugged, demonstrating that he doubted the veracity of what he was about to say. "Or the seaQuest isn't cleared to receive the base's identity."
"That's not likely," Ford said. "But call the Captain to the bridge, just in case."
O'Niell nodded, and they waited as he made the call. When the Captain was on his way, Ford asked, "Who's held this area, historically?"
Again, they all waited as O'Niell searched for the information. Benjamin recalled what he did know of the region, and realized that O'Niell might not find anything useful. His guess was confirmed when O'Niell looked up. "I'm finding a list of disputed claims of ownership going back ten years. So far there are twelve countries, four corporations, and ten individuals who have at one time or another been the...er...possible owner." He shook his head. "I can't make sense of it, Commander. Maybe you should have Lucas wade through these files."
"That might not be necessary," Ford replied. He didn't sound particularly worried about the lack of definitive information. "An automated signal coming from an abandoned base--"
"Are we sure it's abandoned?"
Benjamin watched Commander Ford's face, as the Captain went over to join Ford and O'Niell. He didn't look too enthused about the idea of spending time checking out ancient, deserted underwater bases.
"There's no sign of activity," Ortiz interjected from his station. "I've had all three whiskers checking the perimeter."
"And there have been no responses to any attempts at communication, other than the initial signal," O'Niell added.
Benjamin could see it on Ford's face. He wanted to say 'so let's just *go* and leave this place to rust'. It was enough to make Benjamin hope they could go explore it, just to give Ford a hard time. He didn't particularly want to tromp around on an abandoned base either, but if it would annoy Ford...he was all for it.
It would certainly be more diverting than doing his reports.
end chapter two
chapter two
Later that day he was up on the bridge, watching the screens flash and blip. Benjamin wondered if he could afford to bring up a game of Tetris on the small section of screen which was hidden from view of the rest of the bridge. He had done it before, when no one higher ranking than Crocker had been standing watch. If he kept the sound off, and only played one of the earliest, 2-D versions, he could sit and play while appearing to stare at his work screens. Unfortunately, with Commander Ford pacing the bridge behind him, the risk was usually too great. Maybe if he just dialed up one of the network channels?
He tried not to glance over his shoulder to see if anyone was paying him any attention, while he fiddled with a few of the controls. He actually had one channel pre-programmed in, so he could watch cartoons during the night shift. Normally he wouldn't consider it during the afternoon, but he needed something to distract him. Work wasn't going to do it -- not the 'sit and watch the screens' bridge duty he had. If he just sat here for six hours, he was going to end up thinking about everything he was trying *not* to think about.
On the other hand, he didn't feel like taking a risk of getting Ford upset with him again so soon. The poker game Ford had discovered had been bad enough- not entirely against regulations, but Benjamin had been pushing the limits. In fact, Ford had been keeping an eye on him rather closely all week, as if waiting for Ben to do something.
If he couldn't goof off, and he couldn't depend on his regular duty to give him something sufficiently interesting, he had only one choice. A few quickly typed commands, a network connection he wasn't technically supposed to make, a second he wasn't supposed to know how to make, and he had access to his desktop down in Main Supply. The never-ending supply of reports and paperwork would be sufficiently mind-numbing to get him through his shift.
He buried himself so deep in his work he was startled when the ships' comm system came on. O'Niell's voice called out to Commander Ford.
"I'm picking up an automated signal from an abandoned base. It's old, the codes are at least five years out of date."
Benjamin watched out of the corner of his eye, quickly shutting down the screens he'd had up, as Ford hurried over to the comm station. "Which base?"
O'Niell was staring at his readouts, and Benjamin could see him frown. "That's odd. It doesn't identify itself. The signal is just broadcasting a typical 'this base abandoned, authorised personnel only' message."
Everyone on the bridge was openly watching, now. Benjamin turned his chair towards the comm station, trying to recall if he knew of any bases in the area that had been abandoned at least five years ago. He couldn't recall any off-hand, but he didn't always memorise the lats and longs of each base he'd ever visited.
"Doesn't identify itself?" Ford was asking. "Whose base was it?"
O'Niell listened again to his earpiece, then shook his head. "I don't recognise the code. The seaQuest computer verifies that the code is a legitimate one, but there's either no record of who used the code, or it's a general one that anybody could use. Or--"
"Or?" Ford prompted.
O'Niell shrugged, demonstrating that he doubted the veracity of what he was about to say. "Or the seaQuest isn't cleared to receive the base's identity."
"That's not likely," Ford said. "But call the Captain to the bridge, just in case."
O'Niell nodded, and they waited as he made the call. When the Captain was on his way, Ford asked, "Who's held this area, historically?"
Again, they all waited as O'Niell searched for the information. Benjamin recalled what he did know of the region, and realized that O'Niell might not find anything useful. His guess was confirmed when O'Niell looked up. "I'm finding a list of disputed claims of ownership going back ten years. So far there are twelve countries, four corporations, and ten individuals who have at one time or another been the...er...possible owner." He shook his head. "I can't make sense of it, Commander. Maybe you should have Lucas wade through these files."
"That might not be necessary," Ford replied. He didn't sound particularly worried about the lack of definitive information. "An automated signal coming from an abandoned base--"
"Are we sure it's abandoned?"
Benjamin watched Commander Ford's face, as the Captain went over to join Ford and O'Niell. He didn't look too enthused about the idea of spending time checking out ancient, deserted underwater bases.
"There's no sign of activity," Ortiz interjected from his station. "I've had all three whiskers checking the perimeter."
"And there have been no responses to any attempts at communication, other than the initial signal," O'Niell added.
Benjamin could see it on Ford's face. He wanted to say 'so let's just *go* and leave this place to rust'. It was enough to make Benjamin hope they could go explore it, just to give Ford a hard time. He didn't particularly want to tromp around on an abandoned base either, but if it would annoy Ford...he was all for it.
It would certainly be more diverting than doing his reports.
end chapter two