CHAPTER ONE:
Brave New World
PART ONE: Hope Regained
August 6th, 2032
Noon
New Cape Quest, UEO Senate Chambers.
McGath would have hung in head and just cried if he could have without making the UEO look weaker than it already was. The Chambers were in an uproar, and it appeared to be escalating. The only one, other than McGath, not taking part in the screaming match was Alexander Bourne of Macronesia.
Bourne. If McGath had been a man given to violence he would made sure that Bourne never had come to power. That was is one regret in life. Sometimes he felt that maybe he should be a little more assertive in his dealing with other nations, but at what cost? Peace was something worth fighting for. In fact, it was the only thing worth fighting for to McGath. Without it all things were worthless.
He was aware that everyone tended to think of him as a coward, but he did not care. It took a very brave man to stare down those who thought ill of you and still walk the path that you had chosen.
If that made him a coward then so be it.
Just as Bourne stood to make an address, silence started in the back as people turned to stare in shock at the wet, bedraggled young man that had stumbled into the room. As he made his way to the front to stand in front of McGath, the Secretary General felt the shock of recognition course through him.
Lucas.
The young man was Lucas Wolenczak, the computer genius that was a permanent attachment to the seaQuest... if he was here, could the others... could seaQuest... At that moment the boy collapsed.
McGath was at the boy's side in seconds and was cradling him. New hope coursed through him as well as a cold stab of fear. If this meant the return of seaQuest the military leaders of the UEO would press for action or in the very least a line to be drawn. While McGath did not want the Macronesians, and Bourne, to gain control of everything he knew that Bourne would push for war if the UEO stood their ground.
McGath found his voice, "Order!"
The pronouncement was relayed and abruptly the senate chamber was silenced. Alexander Bourne was by his side, "Can I offer my assistance, Secretary-General?"
McGath looked up at him, momentarily defiant, then he grinned, "Why, of course. He may look light but he's actually much heavier than he looks."
The two men carried out Wolenczak and set him down on a couch in the Secretary-General's office. "Thank you, President."
"You are quite welcome..." Bourne looked pensive for a moment, then looked at Wolenczak. "Out of sheer curiosity, Tom. Is he one of your missing crew of the great seaQuest DSV?"
McGath, is a pique of malice answered, "Why, yes he is. Isn't that amazing. Young Lucas Wolenczak here has been missing for ten years...hmm, I wonder if seaQuest will make an appearance as well..."
Bourne seemed to stop breathing and go pale for a moment, and then recovered, "Ah, I guess Bridger is next?"
"Which one?"
Blinking, Bourne seemed at a loss for words, and McGath found himself enjoying his discomfiture. "There is... more than one Bridger is the UEO?"
"Oh yes, I completely forgot about Captain Robert Bridger. Splitting image of his father Captain Nathan Bridger. Irony is that he is still on active duty... I think he commands the Nezamiah right now," McGath grinned. "Imagine that. Oh and its in port! Maybe you would like to meet him?"
"Perhaps some other day...." said Bourne, mildly distracted. "If you would excuse me, I have some paperwork to attend to."
August 6th, 2032
1600 hours
UEO HQ, New Cape Quest
Robert Bridger paced outside the door. Somehow he felt that Hudson, while his heart was in the right place, was probably doing something to that poor kid that was unethical. When Hudson came out he didn't look pleased. "Well?" asked Robert.
Oliver had the grace to look sheepish, but he also looked extremely perplexed. "He doesn't remember anything of the past ten years. Hell, he didn't believe me when I told him it had been ten years," they watched Lucas be taken away by security. Lucas was almost past Robert when he stopped dead in his tracks. "What is it, Wolenczak?"
"For a minute I could have sworn he was Captain Bridger, he looked exactly like him out the corner of my eye," he remarked.
When Wolenczak was well out of ear and eyeshot Hudson turned to Robert, "And you worried that McGath didn't know what he was talking about, eh, Captain Bridger."
Somehow that didn't make him feel any better.
Lucas for his part was already thinking of ways to get the Hell out of here and find Captain Bridger. While the meeting of that near look alike was vaguely disturbing, and he made himself remember that strange yet familiar man, he pushed it out of his mind for now. He looked over the guards for any kind of weakness.
August 12th, 2032
8:00 hours
seaQuest DSV, in port New Cape Quest
Commander Ford walked around the bridge of the seaQuest. This Captain Hudson didn't impress him much. He was too hard, and, heaven forbid Ford ever admit it, too military. He turned around and saw a woman he hadn't seen in years. "Katie!" he said cheerfully.
She smiled and hugged him, then backed off all rank, Ford saw too late her Admiral rank bars "Admiral on the bridge!" he called out, his pleased surprise colouring his tone.
Instantly those not currently in the middle of something straightened up and saluted. "As you were," she called out, and everyone started doing what they had been doing again, only it seemed with a little more industry.
"Katie, uh, Admiral..." he began. "I don't even know what to call you anymore."
"Katie is fine informally, Jon," she said. "So this is the new seaQuest... Is he better than the last?"
Ford laughed, "Well, there have been some improvements... Would you like me to show them to you?"
Katie nodded and Ford began to show her around the bridge, while introducing her to some of the newer crew. She was impressed, and he caught her looking at Lonnie Henderson, who had the grace to look nonchalant. He caught Brody lifting his eyebrows more than once and Ford gave him a stern look, which he blithely ignored. "Admiral, you're being staring at..." he murmured.
"I know," she said. "Have you met your new captain yet?"
"Hudson, yeah, I met him..." he caught the small frown. "He's not the new captain, is he, Katie? Are you?"
She shook her head, mentally laughing at the hopeful tone that had been present It was too bad Jonathan couldn't command seaQuest. It was not that he was unable, but first commands were never the flagship. And Jonathan would never leave seaQuest. "No he's not, neither am I. Let's just say that there won't be much of a change in the way you address the new captain," her grin turned mischievous. "In fact, the tour could get interesting at times."
Ford crinkled his brow as he tried futilely to figure out what she meant when Brody called out, "Captains on the bridge!"
Again, everyone stood ramrod straight and saluted, but an unfamiliar voice called out, "As you were."
He turned, as he did so he caught a glance of the man out of the corner of his eye. That made him turn even faster, only to be disappointed, but he still couldn't believe his eyes. It was not Captain Bridger, just someone who looked a Hell of a lot like him. So much so that he was easily mistaken for him. Man, this is eery... he thought as he looked the newcomer up and down. Brody was showing him around and when this captain bent to look over the X-O's station, Ford could tell that Jim was desperately trying to relay a message to him. Finally the middle aged man stood and stared at Brody, who said simply, "Captain Bridger..."
"Lieutenant Brody," he answered, mimicking the security chief's tone. "Is there a problem?"
"No sir."
Ford turned to stare at Hitchcock and mouthed, Captain Bridger? She grinned, and if possible her mischievous grin grew even more mischievous. No wonder he looked like Captain Bridger... Oh man, this is going to be confusing... he thought as the man walked up to him. Noting that he had captain's bars, and indeed, his name tag did say Bridger on it, he saluted and then held out his hand to shake his, "Captain Bridger, it is an honour."
The other man had a grin that, while it matched the mischievous quality of Hitchcock's, was so reminiscent of Nathan Bridger's it was uncanny. A sudden thought popped into his mind, If I didn't know better, I'd say he was his son...
"And you would be right, Commander Ford," he answered as if reading his mind. "I am Captain Nathan Bridger's son."
August 12th, 2032
10:00 hours
seaQuest DSV wardroom, in port New Cape Quest
A few hours later the senior staff was sitting in the wardroom. Captain Robert Bridger had decided that they should have an informal get together to get know everyone. He was the 'newbie' of the crew, and he wanted them to be as comfortable with him in command as they had been with his father.
Around coffees and other sweets he began, "I decided to do this because you obviously don't know me. You only know my father."
He looked around at the faces. He knew who they all were, and their position on the ship. There were a few missing faces. But they were mostly here. Scanning around the room he checked off each name. Commander Jonathan Ford had been an easy sell. Robert had won him over with nary a smile. If he only knew... Lieutenant Jim Brody was security. A marine. Then there was the lovely Lieutenant Lonnie Henderson. She was engineering and, while not near the caliber of Katherine Hitchcock, was very good at her job.
Tim O'Neill was somewhat of an enigma. There was no doubting the man was brilliant and an excellent but he just was not a programmer. That would have to be rectified, and he knew with exactly whom. Miguel Ortiz worked alongside O'Neill on sensors. Equally as good. The CMO, a woman who had been trying to read him for hours now, Dr. Wendy Smith, was a really excellent doctor with a specialty in psychiatry, but seaQuest was also a science vessel and no war was ever going to change that so long as he was captain. She didn't fit the bill as a scientist.
He sighed, he had hoped someone would have leapt in to volunteer information about themselves. "Usually someone tells me, and the rest of the crew, a little about themselves," he said dryly. "Unless you were waiting for me to go first."
"No sir," came the replies.
Wendy Smith stood up, "I'll go first. Most of you know me already. But I have a confession to make. I have a huge weakness in Vanilla Milkshakes."
They laughed. "Thank you Dr. Smith," said Bridger. "For a minute there I thought it was going to be much more serious."
She sat down, her purpose done, which was to make everyone relax. Commander Ford cleared his throat and said, "When I first saw Captain Bridger, you sir, not your father, I was a bit taken aback. When I found out who your were, I was relieved. Quite frankly, if Captain Bridger, your father, sir, not you, shows up I think it will be a load off his heart. And I too, have a weakness for milkshakes. Only I like raspberry. And I think this is going to confuse things when we find your father. Then what to we call you? Captain Senior and..."
"Please don't finish that Jon."
"Yes sir."
And so it went down the line until it finally came back to Robert, who took a sip of his coffee and said, "Personally, I'm weird. My favourite flavour was a cross between dark chocolate and Oreo cookies. I was chosen to command seaQuest not because my father is Nathan Bridger, but because I was the next best man, after my father, to take the job. I don't rest on his laurels. However, I have been repeatedly reminded my everyone I come across that I am almost his clone."
Some people laughed and Henderson said, "Well, you do look like him."
"Great..." he said drily. "I am his clone." Then he grew serious, "I have a few commands of my own. One of which is part of our assigned battle group. In fact, Captain Hudson is our back up in our battle group as well on board the Viscount. My old command, the Nezamiah, is the other ship. When we are in our battle group I am Commodore Bridger. We are also part of a fleet under the command of Admiral Hitchcock."
They nodded. He didn't need to say why. They all knew about the strained relations with Macronesia and the need to defend the now many undersea colonies. "But we are still a science vessel. There will still be a civilian contingent on board," he grinned. A few were going to recognize the new head of the science crew. "For that reason I needed a Science Chief."
A knock came on the wardroom door, and even before he gave her permission be thanked her impeccable sense of timing. The red hair had been invaded by silver strands as she was approaching retirement age, but not yet old enough to consider it. She was petite and lithe, but carried a no nonsense attitude. Her cultured English accent cut through the glad cries of her name, "I'm sorry I'm late."
When he had approached her with the offer she had leapt on it. She had served on his father's first tour back from his self imposed retirement, and welcomed the chance to return even if his father was not in command. Commander Ford vacated his seat and said, "Dr. Westphalen, I would be honoured if you took my seat..."
She nodded her thanks and slid into it while Ford stood just behind her, a wide grin on his face. Robert knew this little addition would go over well. He just hoped the next one would as well as another knock came on the door. "Come in."
His best friend Ben Krieg walked in, and Robert introduced him, "I noticed we were short a supply and morale officer... so I invited Mr. Krieg back to join us."
"You've got to be kidding," came Hitchcock's shocked reaction. "When we said whomever you wanted we didn't literally mean..."
"He's in or I'm not," responded Robert icily, and Hitchcock acquiesced.
He could see the glances from those who were on that first tour. They remembered Krieg, and knew now that UEO had almost had to lure this Bridger in too. Krieg quietly made his way over to stand next to Ford. "Nice to see everyone again," he said.
Some just grunted, and Ortiz had his head hidden in his hands laughing. O'Neill was not even making any attempt at hiding it. "Ben, man, you're always welcome here," said Tim through snickers. "What hold have you on our Captain?"
"That's easy. We went through the academy together, it fact, we bunked together and he got me into as much trouble as I got him into. We're partners in crime," explained Krieg. "In fact..."
"For Christ sake's Ben, try not to embarrass me too damn much!" Robert cut him off, half good natured, half not.
"No prob."
Robert sighed, knowing that somehow Ben would finish the story he had been about tell, much to his embarrassment when the crew members would probably ask him if were true of not. "Now, there are a few more missing members to our crew. I am adding, from the first tour, William Shan to add to our security. Yes, times are that troubled now. Oliver Hudson has transferred a JJ Fredericks to our crew. She is to train the new Spectre crew on this new development. That is all for today, and I believe you will know where to find me if you have any questions."
He got up and left the wardroom. Hudson was waiting for him, "Well, how'd it go?"
"Great. We had a few happy reunions. Speaking of which, where did you hide that Wolenczak?"
"In maximum security, why?"
"I want him back here. I need his skills. If not on the science side, see if you can talk him into an 'Ensign Wolenczak,'" Hudson grinned again and moved away, but before he could Robert finished, "And I mean gently!"
His face fell, "Yes sir."
August 12th, 2032
10:00 hours
Nathan Bridger's island
Just off the Yucatan Peninsula in the Carribean
Lucas ran into the burned out shell of what used to be Captain Bridger's home. It was heart breaking to see his home like this. He knelt down and plucked an intact picture of him and the Captain, folded it, and put it in his pocket. If he didn't find him, at least there would something to remember him by.
"Lucas?"
Lucas turned and was so relieved at seeing the older man alive that he pushed him into the wall with the force of his hug. Bridger returned it. When he moved back he noticed the boy who was staring up at him and the Captain, and the captain, in response to any unspoken questions answered, "This is Michael. He's my grandson."
A few hours later Lucas was trying to repair a radio to get outside contact while Bridger cleaned and redressed the cut on his head. In a way, Lucas was a little scared to ask how he got it. Bridger explained, "As far as I know, Robert is still alive. I just don't know where. Michael was here with his nanny when some... thugs... came looking for me. I was not here. I woke up outside the embassy in Brussels, wet and exhausted. I nearly slept for two days, from what the nurse told me."
"I slept for over sixteen," he related his treatment at the hands of Hudson, and the strange man outside in the hall. "Don't judge the other guy too harsh, he didn't seem that happy that Hudson was doing what he was doing. From what I gathered he was Captain Hudson's superior officer too. It was uncanny. When I saw him in the corner of my eye I could have sworn up and down that he was you."
Bridger mulled it over. "Interesting. Get that thing working yet?"
In answer the thing sparked and fizzled out. Lucas looked up at him, "No."
PART TWO: Replacement
August 14th, 2032
Underway to the subducted Panama Canal
seaQuest DSV
Captain Robert Eric Bridger had been officially sworn in as the captain of seaQuest mere hours ago. The crew had adapted to him extremely fast, but then again, as was the ship joke: He was his father's clone. He supposed that was it. For years he had tried to be what his father wasn't, just to be different. He had not succeeded. Granted, he was a different person. They liked different things, but there was many similarities. He could acknowledge that now. Hell, he could be proud of it now. He was continuing a family tradition and was picking up where his father had left off.
He moved back and leaned against the moon pool that was on the bridge and was promptly splashed, "What the Hell?" he muttered, turning around.
Ford moved up to him with a half smile on his face as they looked at the dolphin that swam in lazy circles around the pool. "Jeez, to think I actually forgot about him..." muttered Ford, he cleared his throat and motioned to the tank. "Captain, this is Darwin. Darwin, meet the new Captain, Captain Robert..."
"Bridger," came the computer generated reply.
"Yeah, so I am," said Robert. Man, his Mom would have loved this....
"But not same Bridger."
"No, Darwin, I'm not the same Bridger," he grinned, rolled up his sleeves and petted the underneath of Darwin's snout. "But I knew him. He was my father."
"Bridger's son?"
"Yeah, so I am."
"Play with Darwin."
"Maybe when I'm not in uniform."
"Later."
The finality of the tone indicated that the dolphin would hold him up to his end of the bargain. He turned to Ford, "Why do I have a feeling he's adopted me?"
Ford only laughed.
August 15th, 2032
4:00 hours
seaQuest DSV
Pacific Ocean
"Commander Ford," called the night shift comm officer. "We have a distress signal coming from the Nexus colony."
"Pipe it through," answered Ford.
"This is Nexus. We are under attack. I repeat, we are under attack. Aggressor unknown..." a burst of static cut them off.
Ford sighed and then grabbed his PAL, "Captain Bridger, I'm sorry to wake you, but we have a situation."
A mere few moments was all it took for Robert Bridger to come to the bridge. He listened to the recorded message in grim silence. "Apprise HQ of the situation and make way for the Nexus colony. Nav, what is our ETA?" he asked.
"A little under four hours."
"In that case, Commander, you have the bridge for another two hours and then I want you to get some sleep. I'll take over then."
"Yes sir," answered Ford.
August 15th, 3032
6:45
Nexus Colony vicinity
The atmosphere was tense on the bridge of the seaQuest. The unknown aggressor being Macronesia. In fact in seemed that Alexander Bourne was there personally. The three ships that formed the seaQuest battle group was holding its own, but only due to the tinier fighter subs known as Spectres. The water was filled with them, both UEO and Macronesia.
They were holding the Macronesians back, but if the rest of the fleet did not get here soon...
Just then a Speeder launch zoomed into the fray, heading straight for seaQuest. It was allowed to get very close, until it began transmitting the UEO transponder codes. At which point the Macronesian Spectres saw it as an open target.
It became obvious that it was not quite as helpless as it appeared, but it was soon outnumbered. "Wolenczak to seaQuest DSV!"
"seaQuest, Wolenczak, your timing could use some work," answered O'Neill.
Whatever could be said about the young man, he was a demon sub pilot. Every time Robert held his breath, thinking that this time was when the speeder was going to get blown out of the water, it moved out harm's way. This made him want Lucas even more. A computer hacker and a superb pilot had his uses...
"I have Captain Bridger on board, I repeat, I have Captain Bridger on board," came Wolenczak's reply.
More Macronesian subs joined the chase. McGath had been right. Alexander Bourne was afraid of his father. But he could do nothing. If he pulled away Spectres from Nexus it would be lost. But if he didn't, his father and Lucas were dead. Robert looked at Ford, "This is one of the few times when I'll ask input. I'll let you in on something. President Bourne is terrified of Nathan Bridger. Of what he can do with this sub. But I... we save him we lose Nexus."
Ford set his lips in a grim smile. "He would understand."
Robert made the motion that he would address Lucas himself. "Mr. Wolenczak, we meet again. I'm sorry, but I can't help you. If I do, we lose Nexus and hundreds of lives. Ask my father, Nathan, if we would want that."
Silence reigned on the other side, then his father's voice came through on the speakers. "I understand. Do what you must. Michael is safe. It was worth it to hear your voice one more time..."
"I know, Dad," answered Robert.
Fredericks voice came through the speakers, "Let me handle this, Captain."
One wing left off defending Nexus, but the others filled in the hole left by them. That wing escorted the Speeder into the seaQuest, and then went back to the fray. "Could someone see that my Dad and his guest are taken care of?" ordered Robert, and Shan was on his way to the launch bay.
In that moment Macronesia rallied, and the subs that had been harassing the Speeder made a break for Nexus... Fredericks wing tried to prevent it. The only thing that could describe what he saw on that screen was a true hairball, and when it finally broke up, half of Fredericks wing was gone, and another half disabled. Only one quarter remained of sixteen Spectres. And over half of the enemy was intact.
Fredericks four fought hard, but those eight got through. Then in the hole created Nexus was lost.
August 17th, 2032
22:00 hours
seaQuest DSV
Captain's quarters
Robert looked at the sleeping form of his father. Twenty years had gone by since he had last saw this man. His father's dark brown hair that had been hinting at grey was now completely silver. More lines were on his face. Robert had been only twenty-four when he had disappeared, his father only fifty-one. Now he was only five years younger what his father had been when he had seen him last.
His father was an old man. He knew that now. Even with his father's return Robert would stay in command. Nathan was seventy one years old. The UEO would never let him remain. He would be retired from service, or elevated to Admiral. But not captain of the seaQuest. It didn't matter that he was only physically sixty one. Robert slipped out of his father's quarter's, as temporary as it may.
Dr. Wendy Smith and Dr. Kristin Westphalen waited in the hallway. "How is he?" asked Wendy.
"Exhausted, Doctor," he said, addressing Westphalen. "If no one aged ten years, including my father, why is he taking the longest to recover?"
"I didn't say he didn't," she answered. "In fact, all signs point to that, out them all, he aged at least five to ten years. I suspect he is the only one that remembers anything of what happened to them, and you, Wendy."
"I get that impression. As usual, he's hiding it behind a brick wall, but I get... vague impressions... that he knows more than he is telling everyone."
Robert shook his head. "That would be my father. Now if you don't mind, ladies, I should be in bed too."
The two women watched the younger Captain Bridger walk away to the guest quarters. Now that Nathan Bridger was on board, he was the captain. Not his son. If Captain Bridger was under the weather and still could not, then maybe he could assume command by usurping it from Jonathan Ford. But he did have his own ship.
"What do you make of Robert?" asked Kristin.
"He's able to hide his thoughts as well as his father. Well, almost."
"I didn't mean that."
Wendy took a moment to think it over, her brows creasing in thought. "He has been through some sort of trauma, but he hasn't let it control him. He's learned from the experience. I get the feeling that more rolls off his back emotionally than does his father. In that way they are different. Nathan Bridger is an extremely sensitive man. Robert Bridger is more pragmatic, preferring logic over instinct."
"But he has his share of hunches," pointed out Kristin.
"True," admitted Wendy. "But he has had to learn how to use them, and learn to even acknowledge they exist. Nathan, I feel, usually just did trust them."
Kristin nodded her head, "In that I can agree with you. I still can't get over the resemblance. When I first met him I was astounded..."
Wendy gave her a piercing look, "You knew him before?"
"Yes..." Kristin turned around and smiled. "You see, Michael Bridger is my grandson too..."
Robert walked through the passageways to the mess and searched for the makings of a milkshake. He had a craving for one. Krieg came in and saw the look on his face. "Uh oh, trouble in paradise. What's up Bobby?"
"Other than I know my son is safe, but not my wife, nothing."
"Jesus..."
Ben helped him rummage around until they had the proper makings of a 'Bobby-shake', dark chocolate and mini Oreo cookies. When they were finished making it, and cleaning the mess they had made, they sat down at one of the tables. Robert leaned back in his chair. "This is a mess. Nexus is in Macronesia control, Ben. I blew it."
"You did not. We were outnumbered, you saw that. Heck, if anything, Lucas's distraction bought us time. Just not enough time."
Robert laughed, "Okay, good point."
They sat there awhile longer until the shake was consumed. "So why did you come back, Ben?"
"Why the Hell not? One more opportunity to raise Hell with my best friend. Granted, now he's my superior officer."
"Oh. And I thought it was the money..."
"Ha! I make too much money with my business to bother with this unless I wanted to."
August 19th, 2032
12:00
seaQuest DSV
Captain's quarters
Both Captain Bridgers, plus Captains Oliver Hudson of the Viscount and Veronique Montail of the Nezamiah, were watching the vid screen in Captain Nathan Bridger's quarters. It was not a pretty scene they watched on the news. "Nexus has been annexed into Macronesia and her people are now citizens, willing or not, of the Alliance. Those unwilling have been put into re-education classes. All this due to the fact that the battle group, led by seaQuest DSV and her Captain Robert Bridger, were drastically outgunned. Reports say that if they held out for five more minutes..."
"Shut this off," said Hudson darkly.
Montail, the closest to the controls, did so. "If I had held out five more minutes..." breathed Robert. "Just five minutes."
"It was not your fault. They are right. We were drastically outgunned," said Montail, his former executive officer on the Nezamiah. "We were lucky that your pere and Wolenczak were there to provide a diversion."
"Nice to know I wasn't in the way," remarked Nathan, glaring at Hudson.
"Did I say you were? No, I certainly didn't say so..." said Hudson.
"Didn't have to."
"Enough," said Robert. "I know you two never get along, but Captain Hudson is a very capable commander."
Nathan and Oliver backed off each other, more to keep the peace than anything else. Hudson watched Darwin swim by as an incoming call signalled itself. "Captains, President Bourne is asking to speak with whomever is in command."
"Pipe it here," ordered Nathan. "That is, if I'm actually in command..."
Robert nodded his head just before Alexander Bourne appeared on the vid-screen. "Ah, so it was not just idle radio chatter. You are in command of seaQuest again. At last we meet, Captain Bridger."
"Cut the chatter, Bourne. You are holding those people hostage," said Nathan. "We demand their release."
"Oh no," Bourne's eyes widened in mock fear, but both Bridger's could sense that is was more real than the man was willing to admit. "To move Macronesian citizens while enemies are in close quarters would be dangerous."
"It would be more dangerous to keep calling yours that is not," growled Hudson.
"Threats get you nowhere. Leave the area and then I'll move my citizens to where they want to go."
With that the screen went blank. The four captains sat in relative silence until Darwin swam by again. In a move to be lighthearted, Hudson pointed out, "You know, those aquatubes must be raking up a fortune for you Nathan."
"Why is that?"
"Well, everyone uses them..."
The four captains looked at each other as Hudson realized what he had said, "Even Nexus..."
All four left the captain's quarters, a plan to save those citizens already forming.
The next day
2:00 hours
Vicinity of Nexus Colony
Commander Ford, Lieutenant Brody, and Seaman First Class Tony Piccolo, made their way through the aquatubes of the Nexus colony. When they could see light again Ford scoped out the guards. A few seconds later the two guards lay unconscious on the floor. The three took off the swim fins so they could walk normally.
They made their way up to the mayor's office, and when they determined that it was Bourne in there, with a woman, no less, they burst in and took him prisoner. Tony quickly sealed off any hope of escape for Bourne. They, of course, still had the aquatubes. "What is the meaning if this!" screamed Bourne, then he got a good look at his captors. "You're from seaQuest!"
"Yes, Mr. President," answered Ford. "And the meaning is that we are freeing Nexus from Macronesian occupancy."
After all the Macronesian military withdrew, Ford, Brody and Piccolo, escorted President Bourne to a mini sub that would take him away from Nexus. Ford told him, "They didn't want you here, they still don't want you here, and if you ever come back, I guarantee that Commodore Bridger will have a surprise for you."
With that he sealed the sub and sent it on its way.
August 21st, 2032
16:00 hours
Bridge of the seaQuest DSV
The entire crew, if they could not be on the bridge, listened in. Those on the bridge witnessed the official changing of command. Captain Nathan Hale Bridger finished, "And so we were sent back, our memories erased, and placed where out last pleasant memory put us. Some of us didn't make it back from Hyperion. Those who did were the lucky ones. But now we are here. And the seaQuest must be ready to ship out at a moments notice. I can't so that anymore, so I hand over command of the seaQuest DSV to Captain Robert Eric Bridger."
Nathan shook hands with his son, "I have every confidence in his abilities."
The handshake finished, Robert asked, "You will take care of Michael and Cindy for me, right?"
"Of course."
Robert backed away one step and saluted his father, along with everyone on the bridge. When Nathan ended his salute he walked off the bridge of the seaQuest to leave it for a new generation.
Some hours later when Robert ended his shift he found Lucas hanging around outside his door. "Can I help you Mr. Wolenczak?" he asked.
"Sir, is the science staff staying?"
"Yes, Lucas. You can stay. In fact, I was going to ask if you hadn't have asked me first. I still need your skills, whether you stay science or military."
"Me? In the navy?"
Robert sighed and motioned for Lucas to precede him into his quarters. "Sit down, Mr. Wolenczak, and listen to my proposal. If you decide on military, you will be an ensign. Your multiple degrees kind of makes sure of that. But you will have to learn how to be military. But you can do that here," Robert paced a little to let that sink in to the young man. "But, you don't have to if you wish to remain on board. However, you will be an official part of the science team and report to Westphalen as one of her scientists. So I give you that choice. Westphalen, or me."
"Do I have to choose right now?"
"No, but I wouldn't wait too long," answered Robert. "Ensign slots, especially on the flagship, tend to fill up rather quick."
"I'll think about it."
Robert Bridger smiled, "That's all I'm asking."