by J C Ryan
“Ascending to the next shelf at 4,200 feet … Stop!”
The excited voice brought everyone in the room to the edge of their seats.
“There she is! The Itinerant!”
Cheers rang out from on board the Mystic Two and around the Situation Room. Everyone turned to the large monitors on the walls to see the live feed from the ROV.
To their dismay, it showed the Itinerant lying ‘lifelessly’ on her side on the shelf, partially buried under sediment.
* * *
Onboard the Itinerant
MARCUS CAME TO with a headache, the likes of which he’d never had before. He tried to sit up and groaned as pain shot through his ribs.
“Easy Captain, you’ve got a nasty concussion, some broken ribs, and a back injury,” Nicholson said.
Marcus groaned again. “What happened?”
“A sub-marine landslide washed the Trepang into the Aleutian Trench. If it weren’t for you and Bill, we’d have gone with her.
“Bill said he heard your idea about pushing with the starboard engine to break us loose, but we couldn’t because we were nosed into the bottom. The landslide shifted the Trepang, lifting us off the bottom, so he applied the engine the way you suggested, and we broke free. We were still caught in the landslide, but we didn’t go over the edge into the trench.”
“Thank heavens for that. What’s our status, and how long have I been out?” Marcus looked around carefully in the dim light—it hurt to move his head—and noticed the angle of the sub didn’t look right.
Nicholson saw the look of puzzlement on Marcus’ face. “We’re lying on our side on the bottom, about 150 feet below crush depth. While you’ve been unconscious for the past four hours, the crew has been making repairs to the systems that were damaged.
“Gus says he should have the engines working again in about an hour. We’re operating on battery power right now, that’s why the lights are dim. Bill says the radio is out until we can reach the surface and replace the antenna.”
“Any injuries to the crew? What about our guests?”
“No life-threatening injuries—cuts and bruises mostly, a few broken bones, and concussions. I believe everyone will recover.”
“Thanks for the update. Help me up, will you?”
“No, I won’t. You have broken ribs and if you move the wrong way or fall, you could wind up with a punctured lung. You’re on bedrest until you’re in an environment where it’s easier and safer to move around.”
“But …”
“No ‘buts’– that’s the way it is. Period. End of discussion.”
Marcus was stewing, but every time he started to move, the pain in his head and ribs convinced him being quiet really was the best thing he could do.
Nicholson returned with three crewmen from the Trepang and a backboard. “Ok, Captain, Gus is ready to start the engines and try to get us out of here. We’re going to support you with the backboard and shift you as the sub comes upright.”
Thinking about what it would feel like to fall onto the floor, he decided not to argue. “Thank you, men, I appreciate that.”
It hurt more than he cared to admit when they slid the backboard under him, but he was grateful to Nicholson for thinking ahead and preventing something much more painful.
A few minutes later, he felt the vibration of the engines, and shortly after that, the scraping of the sub as she slid along the bottom.
“What the hell? Why didn’t we rise before trying to move forward?” Marcus asked.
“We tried, but we have too much sediment on top of us. We’re hoping we can wiggle out from under it so we can rise.”
The crewman had barely finished speaking when they all felt the sub begin to shift.
* * *
Washington DC
DANIEL WAS ON his feet, mesmerized by the image from the ROV.
Have we lost them both?
“Is there any way to tell if they’re alive, or to bring the sub up?”
Johnson shook his head. “The Navy isn’t equipped for salvage operations like this. We can bring in someone who is though. I don’t know how fast we can get them here, and if there’s anyone alive onboard, we don’t know how much time they have.”
Deep sorrow drove Daniel back into his chair uttering a heavy sigh. He continued to watch as the ROV moved in close to the stricken sub for investigation. Following the length of the sub revealed it was resting on the bottom, but clear of obstructions against it. Moving up and over, revealed a moderate amount of sediment covering nearly three-quarters of her surface.
“If she were clear of that sediment, she might come upright.”
They listened as the crew of the Mystic Two discussed how to assist the Itinerant.
As he analyzed the images, Admiral Johnson muttered to himself, “If only she had power, she might be able to …”
“To what?” Daniel asked.
“Move away, move away!”
Daniel looked back to the screen to see what new calamity awaited them.
“Look at that! She’s moving! They’re alive!”
From the Situation Room they watched as the Itinerant began to push itself along the bottom. The bow began to rise. In something like a slow-motion display, the sediment fell away, the Itinerant rolled upright and began to rise toward the surface.
The cheers aboard the Mystic Two were drowned out by the celebratory remarks in the Situation Room. When the excitement quieted, they listened to the voices from the Mystic Sea again.
“Her radio must be damaged, or she would have contacted us by now. We’ll have to wait until she reaches the surface.”
* * *
Heading for Bangor
WHEN THE ITINERANT broke the surface and turned to dock with the Mystic Sea, there wasn’t a dry eye in the Situation Room when the report came that all souls from the Trepang had been rescued and no major injuries had been sustained.
“Mister President,” Johnson said. “Captain Wiekelan, aboard the Enterprise, is standing by to take possession of the prisoners and escort everyone to Bangor Naval Base. The Itinerant can make repairs there.”
Daniel nodded. “Do it!”
Excited chatter flowed around Daniel as he leaned back in his chair smiling.
Finally! Something in this dreadful situation has gone right!
Johnson approached Daniel with the report that the prisoners had been transferred to the Enterprise, and the small fleet was underway on the three-day trip to Bangor Base, Washington State.
* * *
FIVE MILES BELOW the departing Enterprise, the sectional remains of the imploded Trepang rested in the heart of the Aleutian Trench. The failed reactors aboard that had started to melt down were cooled by the frigid deep-ocean water and lay benign on a ledge one hundred feet above the floor of the trench.
A few hundred yards to the west, the mid-section containing the crew quarters lay scattered in large pieces, and three hundred yards beyond that, the sail and missile section rested on top of a geothermal vent.
The conditions the sub was subjected to at such great depth, combined with the unusual and unexpected heat from the geothermal vent, caused the safety mechanisms on the Tomahawk missiles and Mark 48 torpedoes to fail. Several exploded, opening the vent and allowing the wreckage to drop further down the vent where the remaining weapons exploded.
* * *
ONE THOUSAND MILES to the northwest at the Alaska Volcano Observatory in Fairbanks, Alaska, seismographs recorded a sudden and violent event deep in the Aleutian Trench.
Umnak Island experienced a violent earthquake, and the other Fox Islands shook to a lesser extent.
The accompanying large sub-marine landslide triggered alarms at The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centers at Ford Island, Hawaii, and Palmer, Alaska.
Tsunami Watch Bulletins went out to the coastal areas and islands surrounding and throughout the Pacific Ocean, warning of the sub-marine earthquake, possible tsunami, and advising an alert status be maintained while fu
rther data was collected.
On Bogoslof Island, just north of the Fox Islands, the Bogoslof Volcano began to steam.
CHAPTER 17
Re'an headquarters Tunguska, Russia
TELESTRA ATE HER dinner silently, having tuned-out most of Viktor’s babbling about the mission to the canyon. He’d bragged about his plans to her so often she felt like she could run the mission herself.
Her thoughts turned to the mission leader, her son Deszik, and she reached out to him through the chip link Dekka made.
“Deszik? How are you?”
“Good evening, Mother. I am well.”
“Are you ready to go tomorrow?”
“Just about. I’m completing my final preparations and checks now.”
“I hate it that Viktor is making you do this!”
“I know, mother. I too regret his interference in our lives, but there isn’t anything we can do about it at this time.”
“No, not now, but soon.”
“Have you and Dekka formed a plan?”
“Yes. Contact him, and we will tell you.”
A few moments later, Dekka was in conference with them.
“Hello Telestra, Deszik tells me he’s ready to hear our plan.”
“Yes, as he is leaving in the morning, it seems appropriate to tell him now.”
“I agree. I’m sure you have much to do this evening, Deszik, so I will keep this short.
“Your mother and I are going to work in tandem to destroy Viktor and this site. That will leave you to deal with the Re’an accompanying you.”
“I’m ready and will take care of the others.”
“Very well. I have created a program that will slowly shut down the soldiers that are currently in the pods, so Viktor won’t notice. If he awakens any of them before they are dead, he will find them weak and brain-damaged. I activated the routine today.”
“And I,” Telestra added, “have written a program to show normal status with the facility after I adjust the flow regulators to allow pressure to build in the fissures. Dekka, I, and a few others will escape before the place explodes.”
“And with our ability to communicate over long distances, I will be able to locate and join you once I am free of the canyon,” Deszik concluded. “Excellent plan.”
“Depending on what you find at the canyon site, we may join you there.”
“What do you mean, mother?”
“My sister, Siasha, was in love with a B’ran soldier who was an L’gundo sympathizer—he was one of the commanders at the Canyon Control Center. She and a small team of L’gundo lived in secret tunnels connected to the canyon site, working with the B’ran sympathizers and providing intelligence to us.
“Before the Healer turned against the people, we were hoping to overthrow the soldiers there and take possession of the site ourselves.
“There has been no contact with the canyon site despite the fact we know it is operational. Something has changed at the site. It’s possible it is under the control of L’Gundo sympathizers, or even the L’Gundo team we sent. If that is true, we will join you there.”
“I have a few early memories of Siasha from when I was a boy. I liked her. It would be great to see her again.”
“I hope you get the chance, son. Safe journey. I love you.”
“I love you too, Mother. And Dekka? You have been like a father to me despite Viktor’s interference. I have never said it before, but I love you too. Please take care of yourself, and my mother.”
“I will. I have always thought of you as the son I never had. Safe journey.”
An unaccustomed tightness filled Deszik’s throat as he left the conversation. He had always wished that Dekka could be his father, but never knew that Dekka felt the same about him. He was touched and felt honored that the man he respected so much considered him as a son.
In a lab in another part of the facility, Dekka squeezed his eyes with his fingers. The last exchange with Deszik had been both heart-warming and heart-breaking. He smiled as he remembered Deszik’s words—‘… like a father to me … I love you too’—Dekka would never forget them, no matter what happened.
Telestra, now alone in her quarters, grieved silently for the family that was and yet had never been.
CHAPTER 18
Washington, DC
AS PROMISED, OWEN arrived with the Metroliner late that afternoon and was greeted warmly by everyone. He had a special ‘package’ to deliver to Daniel, and arrangements were made for him to visit the White House.
The Secret Service agents smiled when they saw the ‘package’ and quickly led him to the Oval Office, where Daniel was just finishing up a meeting with his Chief of Staff.
The Special Agent knocked on the open door as Glenn left the office. “Excuse me, Mister President. There’s a Mister Owen Bell here to see you.”
“Send him in!” Daniel said and started to get up.
At that moment, a small, fast-moving body hurled through the door yelling “Daddy! Daddy!” and launched himself at Daniel.
Opening his arms in delighted surprise, Daniel bent to catch the boy in his arms and swung him around in circles, making them both laugh. “Nicholas! My boy. What a big surprise!”
Daniel stopped spinning and locked eyes with his lovely wife, Sarah. Shifting Nicholas to his hip, he stepped to embrace Sarah and held them both tightly for a long moment whispering loving endearments.
He finally pulled away saying, “I’m so glad you’re here!” and turned to Owen. “Thank you for bringing them.”
“Don’t thank me. When Sarah found out I was flying out here, wild horses couldn’t have stopped her. Truth be told, she threatened to skin me alive if I even thought about coming out here without them!” Owen grinned. “It’s good to see you though.”
The rest of the afternoon Daniel spent giving Owen, Sarah, and Nicholas a grand tour of the White House. It was early evening when the tour ended, and Owen excused himself saying he’d planned to spend some time with Roy and Raj that evening.
As soon as he had seen Owen and his ‘package’ to the Oval Office, the agent had let the kitchen staff know that the First Lady had arrived, and they prepared a special dinner for the family.
That evening, Nicholas fell asleep in his chair during dinner—the day had been so full of excitement and adventures that he just couldn’t keep his eyes open. Daniel picked him up, and he and Sarah tucked him into bed in the Blue Room, on the Second Floor across the hall from their room.
Daniel led Sarah through the door to the living room and closed it quietly behind them. Gathering her in his arms he kissed her deeply and held her close for several minutes, enjoying the warmth of her body against his, the softness of her lips, the scent of her hair, and just the simple feeling of oneness he shared with her.
“I’ve missed you terribly,” she whispered.
“I’ve missed you too. I’m glad it’s over, and I pray that our country and the world will now have peace.”
CHAPTER 19
Washington, DC
DANIEL AWOKE THE next morning with Sarah curled close to his side. “Good morning, Mister President,” she said smiling.
Drawing her closer, he kissed the top of her head. “It’s so good to have you here beside me. I’m very glad you insisted on coming out with Owen.”
“Me too,” she said and nipped his shoulder.
“Ow! Hey! You can get arrested for that.”
“What, for biting the President of the United States? I’ll plead not guilty. I’ll go to court and tell my story so the whole world can hear that the President turned his back on me when we got into bed.”
“Just what I need—more bad publicity. Okay, I won’t press charges.” Daniel chuckled.
* * *
AFTER SHARING BREAKFAST with Sarah and Nicholas, where Nicholas spent most of his time in his father’s lap, Daniel went to the Oval Office. It had been difficult to tear himself away from his family; they’d been apart for so long he didn’t want to let
them out of his sight.
Reminding himself that this was only the first of many such mornings, he’d managed to leave the table and whistled cheerily as he walked to his office. His step was jauntier and lighter than it had been in many weeks, and he felt a new sense of self-confidence and positivity.
“Good morning, Mister President,” Glenn greeted as Daniel stepped into the Oval Office.
“Good morning, Glenn,” he responded. “How are you this fine morning; and what’s on the agenda today?”
“Just fine, sir, thank you for asking.” Noting Daniel’s tranquil, happy attitude he added, “Having your family here seems to be very agreeable with you, I wish I could say the day was free for you to spend with them.”
“I’m sure those days will come once things settle down some.”
“Yes, sir. So, here we go, your schedule for the day. You have a meeting in fifteen minutes with Admiral Johnson and Secretary of Defense Willis to discuss the prisoner transfer.”
“Speak of the devil,” said a voice from the doorway.”
Daniel looked up to see Cliff Willis standing on the threshold with a grin, holding two cups of coffee. With a smile, Daniel beckoned him to enter while Glenn continued a summary of Daniel’s schedule for the day.
“After that is a meeting with the Head of Homeland Security, the Attorney General and Secretary of State Simms, about the prisoners and pending the outcome of that meeting, I have tentatively scheduled a call with world leaders this afternoon to discuss the issue.”
“Sounds like a busy day,” Daniel commented.
“More of a headache than busy,” Willis offered. “Dealing with world leaders is always a headache—too many of them are pompous asses.”
Daniel laughed. “I guess I’m about to find out who they are and to what degree.”
“Exactly.”
Just then Admiral Johnson knocked on the open door and stepped in when Daniel waved for him to come in.
