Intruder Alert
Chapter Two
Admiral Harriman Nelson walked into Lee's office sure that he will be able to convince him that the Seaview and its crew is alive and well in some type of a void in the Pacific.
Lee waited for the moment watching his aged features sitting in the black leather chair of his office. "So tell me, Admiral, what exactly is on your mind?" he prompted to say with the question.
In the past six-plus months' Commander Lee Crane had changed slightly with his features further growing his beard keeping it short, along with having gained a few pounds from the cooking of his second wife.
"I need to request having the Bellius taken out to the Pacific as part of the tests to make sure the submarine is working at the top shape with the 150 plus personnel, Lee." his voice was slightly hoarse all of a sudden.
With the shrugging of his broad shoulders as Lee was listening to a certain point of the conversation.
"Why Admiral do this now as the Bellius has been in port for the past six months?" he advised with the question anxious to know the real reason.
Admiral Nelson was annoyed at Lee's altitude pausing briefly to exhale. "You really want to know the reason Commander is the fact that the Seaview is somewhere in the Pacific with all hands on board her are still alive. I have a theory that it might be some sort of a wormhole since it's happened before a number of times meeting the numerous alien life forms." Nelson grumbled under his breath.
"And you're thinking that these aliens might have the Seaview and the crew for some type of alien experiments. Noting for the fact as to why you're having those strange dreams of yours, Harriman?" he passionately will say with his emotions spilling over.
"So, very much Commander as it's their way of communicating with me in general." Nelson cried out.
Thinking about it further as Lee will push some of the files on his desk to the side out of sheer frustration. "if we do this, how long do you think it will take to have all of the equipment, supplies, food and most of all the entire crew since many or all of them live on the grounds at the moment?" Lee preceded to say.
"Probably 24 hours once we give the alert that the Bellius will be going out on a probable rescue mission. However, Commander Danny Wills will need to be notified right away since his second in command is sick with some type of a bug." Lee was pensive...
"What about having yourself take over as Captain, while Wills will be under you until the Bellius is able to find the truth? I know this is not standard procedure Commander Crane, but it's important that we find out what exactly is going on with the Seaview and the crew." Nelson was adamant with his comment to the one he had given the position up to for the Institute.
"Are you serious Harriman? Do you realize that Commander Danny Wills worked hard to get the position of the Bellius over three others?" he alluded with his statement while the heart rate was heading up.
"It's only for one cruise Commander Crane," Nelson suggested.
Commander Lee Crane looks at the time on the wall with the Fisherman's dwarf-type clock. "Fine, I will have you and your office along with Patterson, Angie, and myself to contact everyone. My wife Anna will be notified as well since she will be alone with taking care of the kids at the beach house."
"Well in that case Lee, we have better get started with the recall. No doubt Patterson is wondering why he wasn't able to go on the last cruise on the Seaview having broken his right arm while playing baseball?" Nelson flippantly says with his comment to Lee picking up the phone, while Nelson had gotten up to head back to his own office.
INSTITUTE APARTMENTS.
Commander Danny Wills and his wife Shirley a communications officer at the main center were wondering why her husband was leaving for a rescue mission in spite of the fact the Seaview has been seen or heard during the past week.
"Why now Danny?" she paused for the moment.
Turning to face his red hair wife of 15 years of marriage. While their daughter Susie age 13 years old was in school with all of the others inside the Institute.
"I really don't know and with the rumors going around that Commander Lee Crane will be taking my position until we get back from the Pacific. I have already Shirley have expressed my distaste as to why he's taking over and not myself?" he scratched his salt & pepper colored hair.
"The only thing I can say Danny is to work with the commander for now until you're able to find out the truth of the cruise with hopefully finding the Seaview," she noted with a deep sigh...
"Let's hope so since it's costing the Institute a fortune with getting the submarine ready for the trip. Chief Petty Timmins is not exactly happy since his friend Chief Petty Sharkey is on that submarine after all of these years." Commander Wills advised with changing into his uniform while his wife had finished up with his go-bag not knowing how long the cruise was going to be.
On Board the Bellius
A handful of the personnel had come abroad having received the alert with going out onto the cruise to the Pacific. At this point, they have no idea where their destination is located at the moment.
Chief Petty Officer Mel Timmins had been checking the control room with all of the supplies having to be brought abroad at the moment. Though he had stopped for the moment having to remember the last time he and Sharkey were together playing cards at his apartment with the other three players as well, while the ladies were out shopping.
He heard someone coming down the steps of the control tower. Even though he was expecting Commander Wills to be in charge of the submarine. But instead, it was Commander Lee Crane in full dress uniform carrying his go bag and other uniforms.
"Chief Petty Timmins how many of the crew is on board the Bellius?" he said cryptically with the response.
"25 so far Commander, though more will be arriving anytime soon as with the rest of the supplies. Doctor Jeremy Winters has been asking about you, sir needing to do physicals on the command staff starting with you." Timmins paused briefly to wait for his reply with Commander Lee Crane getting adjusted to the difference of the Bellius as compared to the Seaview to be 25% larger. Though the personnel won't be a full one since the Institute was still trying to figure it out with the cost effectiveness.