Full Metal Panic!

Chapter Four

Currents of Time

By Steve Edward

Wednesday, 1230 Hours, Samuel Eliot Morison TDD-2, Alternate Reality

Doctor Little and Major Roux stood next to Captain Simms as they absorbed the statement relayed from the Atlanta, then as Admiral Simms appeared on the display screen, Captain Simms spoke "I understand the reluctance and the pressing need to avoid any further conflict by your prime minister; however we are very close to being able to trigger another event and I intend to do so. We do not belong here and you know it."

Admiral Simms replied "I will do what I can, but we are preparing to return Captain Chidori's personnel. How much more time do you need and how far do I need to be away? Because the last time it happened, it caused significant problems."

Doctor Little spoke "The effects will be experienced out to approximately 50 kilometers, however you should be safe at 75 kilometers which will negate most of the effects themselves; as for time we need one more hour."

Captain Ward replied quietly "The best I think we can do is 30 minutes. We will have to withdraw quickly admiral." Admiral Simms spoke "We'll do our best to accommodate. Captain Simms, Andrew. Good luck."

Closing the connection, Admiral Simms spoke "Drake. We have to give him an hour. Give me something to work with. We can't let Captain Chidori get any closer." Captain Ward replied "Aye sir."

Captain Chidori noted the UNAN fleet was turning away except for one vessel the command ship, the Atlanta. The only other contacts were the doppelganger Danaan and its sibling. The signal of an incoming transmission turned her attention away from the tactical display as the display flickered and Admiral Andrew Simms appeared.

"Captain Chidori, this is Admiral Simms. If you want your crew back you will have to deal with me." Kaname sat back and studied the admiral's image then replied "And what other demands do you have to try to hold over me? I can easily target your precious little fleet and send them to the bottom with a blink of an eye."

Admiral Simms spoke "That is if you dare to do so, but I know about your base now. Attack anyone and I am afraid that your controller Gauron would be very unhappy to be on the receiving end of a palladium enhanced bomb, and I don't need to describe the results of such a weapon being used."

Kaname stood "You're bluffing, the number of treaties that the United North American government would be willing to violate to use such a device would start another global war!"

Captain Simms reviewing the planned route of which the Tuatha de Danaan and Samuel Eliot Morison would sail looked up briefly at the tactical screen as a new contact alert sounded.

Lieutenant Taz Norton spoke "According to UNAN, it is a heavy cruiser submarine battle class. Vessel is the UNAN Seattle. Uh sir, it is commanded by Captain Alice Wren."

Lieutenant Alice Wren swiveled her chair and said "Me? I'm a captain?"

Commander Ward looked at both Wren and Simms and shrugged his shoulders "Don't look at me. I'm just a Chief of Staff on the Atlanta or I should say my doppelganger is. Jeez this could get interesting."

Lieutenant Wren turning her attention back to her station and then felt a friendly presence "Hello, so you are me, Interesting to experience such an event as this." As Captain Alice Wren sending the friendly greeting verbally hailed both the Tuatha de Danaan and Samuel Eliot Morison and surprising Captain Testarossa as well as Captain Simms.

Captain Testarossa replied "And a good afternoon to you Seattle. This is Captain Teletha Testarossa of the alternate reality Tuatha de Danaan," as Captain Simms announcing his identification looked towards the view screen in surprise.

Captain Wren spoke "Admiral Simms asked that I look after you till your departure. He decided a distraction was in order so he is busy at the moment but Captain Ward wishes to convey to his counter-part that the base raid was successful."

Captain Testarossa looking at the split screen replied "I was not aware of any raid can you possibly elaborate?" Commander Ward interrupted "They raided the counter-part to our Melida Island. Captain Chidori's controller Gauron was in custody as of 1130 hours."

Captain Testarossa replied "Gauron? But he…"

"Yes, dead in our reality," spoke Captain Simms, "But alive and well in this one and responsible for the "split" in the time line."

Captain Wren replied "Unfortunately he failed in persuading our Captain Chidori to call off a planned attack against your vessels. Admiral Simms is purely bluffing that he would unleash a palladium bomb on the base if she continues her approach."

The chirp of the intercom interrupted as the voice of Doctor Little said "Captain Simms, the charged crystal has been transferred. We must fire in 15 minutes." Captain Wren overhearing the announcement spoke "Captain Testarossa, Captain Simms. Please enter the transition corridor, we will be providing cover. Good luck to both of you on your next voyage." The screen then blanked.

Captain Testarossa spoke "Captain Simms, our charged crystal is ready as well. Prepare for synchronized firing on my command." Captain Simms acknowledged then turned to Lieutenant Wren "Assume your station in the chapel."

Closing communications with the Tuatha de Danaan, Captain Simms spoke "Command authorization Sierra-Seven-Baker-Zero-Zero-Able-Nine, release TAROS safety interlocks."

Ensign Aryl replied "Command authorization recognized. All safety interlocks released. Tuatha de Danaan confirms their safety interlocks released. Transition to merged link is in 5 minutes. Lieutenant Chidori is on station, Lieutenant Wren entering chapel."

The voice of Major Roux spoke "Synchronizing magnetic fields, with error rate of point zero five percent."

Lieutenant Takenaka spoke "Torpedo launch clock now started. Firing systems linked to Tuatha de Danaan."

Wednesday, 1300 Hours, AGFS (P)-02 Atlanta, Alternate Reality

"Seattle reports two torpedoes away from alternate reality Toy Box's," said Captain Ward. Admiral Simms nodding turned his attention back to an enraged Captain Chidori and spoke "Even if you attempt to fire at long range, none will get through and of course you have no place to run to now Captain Chidori. As for your Turbots send them in but I know they are controlled by you now so I will ignore them and target you directly; but I don't want to do that. I want to help you and Commander Testarossa; our doctors have been informed about the drugs that have been used against you and Teletha."

Captain Kaname Chidori replied "Help us how? Use us a lab rats? You are lying and have always lied. Your so-called prime minister spouting peace overtures sends out a fleet the likes of yours and to do what? You have already tried to destroy me with no previous offers of mercy!"

Captain Ward seeing an incoming signal opened another channel then the image of the doppelganger Captain Simms appeared and said "The Seattle is relaying this and we don't have much time. Patch me through to Admiral Simms and Captain Chidori."

Admiral Simms overhearing the request spoke "Patch him in," as he sat back in his chair the shaky video image of his doppelganger appeared and began to address Captain Chidori "What ever happened in the past Kaname can not be undone, but it can be. These are images from my universe. Some of the people you will recognize others you may not, but nevertheless those represent my reality."

Shifting quickly but slow enough to be seen each showed the history of Mithril from the beginning and Captain Simms continued "What I am showing all of you is classified. It is the beginning. I am sure Captain Chidori that you will recognize several of the devices. We call them "Whispered" torture chambers in my universe. Mithril is dedicated to rescuing "Whispered"; "Whispered" just like you, Commander Testarossa and Captain Alice Wren."

Admiral Simms let out a sigh then spoke "Yes Kaname it is true that we have our own "Whispered" but we do not use them as lab rats as you allege and I regret having to hunt you down but I had orders which I followed till now. I am risking everything now Kaname. I want your surrender, complete and unconditional. I will do everything possible to get you and Teletha treated. The drugs that have been used against you were to block certain functions of the brain, which is at least what my doctors have told me. Please let me help you!"

The twin detonations occurred and Captain Simms seeing the communications cutoff spoke "God help them all…" as the charged magnetic and electrical energy fields raced towards the Tuatha de Danaan and the Samuel Eliot Morison who were traveling at 50 knots when they entered a hellish event horizon barely five meters apart.

Sunday, 1200 Hours, Melida Island, Mithril Western Pacific Combat Support Base

Captain Andrew Simms had thought he was alone on the pier between the massive submarines the exterior damage to each clearly visible and it pained him that each had suffered so much but they had brought their crews safely home. Hearing the sound of footsteps approaching caused him to turn around.

Captain Teletha Testarossa walking alone approached him and spoke "The full damage reports to both are in my office."

Captain Simms turned back towards the Tuatha de Danaan and the Samuel Eliot Morison then replied "Major Roux already informed me this morning. Both will have to have extensive electrical overhauls. Two months on that alone, then the hull plating replacement and of course the repainting, want to flip a coin for who gets to dry dock first?"

Teletha replied no knowing if Andrew was joking or not "If you so desire we can. However I thought you should know that a Mithril research ship arrived at the position of the destroyed laboratory this morning and they report that there is nothing left of the structure and no signs of the control crystal, only a rather large crater extending into the bedrock for some 100 meters. There is no indication of volcanic activity in the immediate vicinity."

Captain Simms pondered what had happened in the alternate universe. Was their lab too gone with a similar crater as he replied "Considering we unleashed double the energy needed it caused a reaction we did not anticipate; we were both lucky when we came out of that event horizon."

Teletha spoke "Likely Doctor Little's simulations could not take into account the actual energy release since each of the charged Lambda Driver crystals would discharge at uncontrolled rates, and of course the time of day was another factor. The heated magnetic fields of both universes simply enhanced the energy transfer beyond expected levels."

Captain Simms replied "Some overload Teletha. Our trip through the first time was rather smooth almost like one transitioning from one ocean to another, the return was anything but. I meant to ask you, but did you experience a point like everything around you was molasses?"

Teletha spoke "I believe so, but it was a short sensation as then you collided with my aft hull." Andrew replied "The danger of traveling at speed. Alice lost control during that moment and regained it after we hit. Fortunately Kaname and Alice got back in synch; otherwise we might be sharing bridge space. I can only imagine what my keel looks like." Teletha looked at the Tuatha de Danaan's aft superstructure sail area, the mangled and torn titanium plating mute testimony to the force of the collision and said "I think Andrew we all were lucky. Care for lunch? My treat."

Captain Simms turning away from the submarines spoke "Lead the way Madam Captain."

Two weeks later, Alternate Reality, UNAN Advanced Operating Base Wake Island

Much of the island was artificial, built by man and machine. Admiral Andrew Simms viewed the massive complex that housed his command ship the Atlanta and now the Tuatha de Danaan in the distance. Turning away he walked the short distance to his simple desk and retrieving a data module he continued into an adjoining conference room.

The men and women gathered took their seats as Admiral Simms called the briefing into order and discreetly slipping the data module into a hidden port and then addressing Colonel George Albert he spoke "Colonel Albert, your study of the drugs used by the Eastern Naval Alliance on their "Whispered" concluded that it was mind and mood altering. How is the treatment progressing?"

Colonel Albert replied "Rather well I must say. I have been able to screen much of it from those who were targeted. However I made a disturbing discovery that many of the "Non-Whispered" crewmembers of the Tuatha de Danaan were under its influence as well. The food supplies on the vessel that I have had tested show high levels of the drugs as does the water storage tanks."

Andrew outwardly did not show any surprise but suppressing his rage replied "Water tanks? How?" Major Azura Roux spoke "Concealed disbursement canisters throughout the vessels distribution lines and well as inside the tanks. I am in the process of removing them now, but it will take time because there are so many."

Colonel Albert continued "Captain Kaname Chidori has had a change in personality. She is less inclined to show aggression except towards one of her bodyguards, named Sergeant Souska Sagara, and frankly it is more of a love/hate relationship if you catch my drift." Admiral Simms replied "So noted. What about Commander Teletha Testarossa?

Colonel Albert replied "Great deal less inclined to chalk up a kill of the day, and more so to be showing concern for those that she serves with. Neither Kaname or Teletha are rarely far apart for any length of time."

Captain Alice Wren spoke "My observations match that of Colonel Albert. I have briefly merged with both and they find my presence welcome and I believe that with further treatment, both should return to full duty and be beneficial to the UNAN."

Admiral Simms spoke "Very well, but keep the intrusions to the minimum and respect their privacy. As for their inclusion to the UNAN I will consider that issue as their treatment progresses. Colonel Kalinin? What about Gauron?"

Colonel Kalinin replied "As ordered, he remains in isolation for 23 hours a day with two thirty minute periods for exercise. The World Court prosecution team has concluded that it would be ill-advise to consider a trial at the World Court itself. They are requesting that it be held here at Wake Island." Admiral Simms noting that request replied "Captain Ward, please see to that request." Then closing the briefing, Admiral Simms asked that Doctor Brenda Little remain behind.

Waiting till they were alone, Admiral Simms spoke "Your alternate universe counterpart whom I had the pleasure to meet was apparently successful in getting them back to their own world. What have you discovered?"

Doctor Little replied "The energy sources that were utilized in triggering their return event caused the facility to disappear. A deep dive ROV discovered a 100 meter deep crater in the location that the lab once stood."

Andrew pondered that news and replied "So we should hopefully not experience an event like that again?"

Doctor Little replied phrasing her words carefully "Not of that magnitude, but there is a possibility of another if certain things were to take place." Andrew spoke "So you think there is probability that a small event could be created without the need of a crystal?"

Doctor Little stood and walking to a display screen, typed into a keyboard mounted on the nearby podium then replied "A small event, not large enough to allow the passage of a large object say the size of the Tuatha de Danaan or the Atlanta; but yes it is feasible based on the mathematical algorithms that were provided by my doppelganger."

Admiral Andrew Simms pressed the extract button for the data module as he rose from his seat and spoke "Consider what it would take to make a small event, large enough for say a heavily shielded torpedo casing modified to become a buoy when it completes its run to go to the surface. Do you think that might be possible?" Doctor Little replied "I believe so sir."

Present Day…, One Month later, Saturday, 1400 hours, Mithril Europe Scientific Complex

Captain Teletha Testarossa with Captain Andrew Simms and Doctor Brenda Little sat before members of the council. They had been summoned from Melida Island to discuss the alternate reality visit and the implications of their actions. Though Andrew could not identify any of the members all of whom were sitting behind privacy shields, he did recognize numerous voices.

The discussions had been heated which at times had made Captain Simms wish he was back on the Morison engaging hostile submarines which in his mind would have been a cake walk. Then there was the little matter of yet another event in the Devil's Sea, two days earlier. A Mithril retrieval team had responded to a buoy signal which when found was the upended casing of a Mk. 53 torpedo.

The device taken to Melida Island was briefly examined and then carefully packed for a flight half-way around the world.

The council president spoke "In regards to establishing dialogue with an alternate reality and our earlier decision to not become involved in such activities; it appears that our decision was circumvented. Captain Andrew Simms, please enter your Command Code at this time so that we may view the contents of the data module."

"For those viewing this image, I am Admiral Andrew Simms of the United North American Navy. This message was recorded at our Forward Operating Base located on Wake Island in our world's Pacific Ocean."

"Suffice to say, this will be the first and last attempt to communicate with my doppelgangers reality at the insistence of my prime minister." Andrew and Teletha heard intakes of breaths from the started council members as a photograph appeared briefly then faded from view, the photograph of a middle-aged woman posing before the United North American America flag was not familiar to him but obviously the woman was to the council.

Admiral Simms continued "Your attempt to get through Captain Kaname Chidori was successful. She surrendered. Your history lesson of what might have been influenced her greatly and saved us from a great deal of bloodshed. Medical treatment of Captain Chidori and Commander Testarossa continues and appears it will conclude successfully.

My chief engineer, Commander Azura Roux reports finding numerous disbursement canisters in the fresh water supply lines as well as the holding tanks of the Tuatha de Danaan, which contained the chemicals utilized to control their inhibitions and behaviors according to the information that was provided by Doctor George Albert of the Samuel Eliot Morison to the medical officer of my command ship; Colonel George Albert. In short Andrew, it was not only the "Whispered" being drugged but the crew of the vessel itself."

"Pause playback", spoke the council president. Turning to face her, Andrew replied "Madam President, I can assure you I had no idea that was the method being utilized in the alternate reality."

"Obviously it stands to reason, that they discovered this situation on their own," continue playback said the council president.

Admiral Simms continued "As for those behind it, they utilized a central figure named Gauron. We know that he was present at the discovery of the crystals that resulted in the awakening our "Whispered". You of course along with Captain Testarossa encountered the results. Because of his actions, he is being tried for crimes against humanity. Unlike your world, ours suffered bloodshed and holocausts after the discovery of the crystals thanks to Gauron. He will pay for his crimes."

A brief image of a court room appeared and a shackled Gauron seemed to stare into the camera gloating as he did so. Andrew felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise.

The perspective changed and so did the time stamp, this time it was Admiral Simms with Captain Chidori and Commander Testarossa with Captain Alice Wren. All four were standing on the deck of the alternate reality Tuatha de Danaan.

"This is the final recording that will be included in the data module," said Admiral Simms. Then turning to Kaname and Teletha he nodded. Both stepped forward with Captain Chidori speaking first.

"I have experienced the worst of my own behavior, the callousness of my actions which resulted in the deaths of many. Seeing my alternate, I had pondered what she had experienced within your world, the friendships and the camaraderie of others. Thanks to what you showed me, I can start my life anew and right the wrongs that I have done. Thank you."

Teletha smiled then said "You showed compassion when you could have easily killed. I too looked back and shuddered at what I did. Like Kaname I will start my life anew, and with hopes that we will together right wrongs with help of both Admiral Simms and Captain Wren. Thank you all. Farewell."

The screen displayed "End of Playback."

The council president spoke "It is hereby ordered that no further contact be attempted nor should there be any additional crossovers deliberately conducted. I am sure from what we have all seen and heard that this information should never be revealed, for the sake of this world and that of others. Captain Testarossa, Captain Simms you are dismissed and may return to Melida Island at your earliest convenience."

Rising from their seats, Andrew with Teletha left the council chamber with its gathered members in the darkness to ponder the ramifications of their interference to another worlds concerns and troubles.

Sunday, 1600 Hours, Melida Island, Mithril Western Pacific Combat Support Base

The waves rolling shoreward crashed against the rocks as they passed, the noise muted to the man above. Andrew casting his line set the base of the deep sea fishing rod into a support holder mounted to the bedrock and sitting back in the portable chair closed his eyes as his foot rested on the mount.

Ensign Aryl and Lieutenant Wren walked down the path careful to keep their movements quiet. Pausing before they entered the outcropping, Wren spoke "You sure that you want to do this? You spoke with Teletha; she admitted that both had been raked over the proverbial coals. Andrew might not be in the mood to talk about it."

Ensign Aryl replied "I have to at least know. Let the rest of the base wonder about it." "Stop blathering ensign, you are disturbing the fish," said Captain Simms. Both turned towards Andrew Simms who had been looking at them. Lieutenant Wren replied "Were we too noisy?" Andrew relied "They heard you in Tokyo. So come on over here and have a seat. Just what is it that Ensign Aryl wants to know?"

It took Captain Simms an hour to explain what happened. For Ensign Aryl, Simms had answered her question. Was there another me, as another answer came forth; that Mithril had ruled that no further crossovers would be considered or allowed. For better or for worse their alternate universe which they had only briefly visited would have to fend for itself just as their own did. With the discussion over with, Andrew asked that he be left alone and the two officers left without protest.

Lieutenant Wren stopping at the top of the path looking back towards Captain Simms, who seemed to be staring out to sea; lost in thought the fishing pole moving visibly. About to return to him, she felt Ensign Aryl's hand on her arm as the ensign said "I think we have done enough dredging of memories. Let's go back to the barracks."

Postscript

The story is a work of fiction, but some locations and facts described are real. Conjecture and theories abound as to why two seemingly insignificant areas on earth located in the Atlantic Ocean and in the Western Pacific behave as they do. Are there portals to other worlds, realities different from our own that at first appearance to an unwary traveler is the world that they are familiar with but in other ways not? I hope that you the reader enjoyed this tale of two worlds, so until next time. Safe voyages.

Steve Edward

Atlanta, Georgia January 2006