Triangles
Chapter One

by katirene (XMP) and Paula (APB)

       Lieutenant Tim O'Neill, j.g. connected the last wire in his communications console and placed the headphone to his ear. Nothing. Frowning with concentration, he switched the leads and listened again. The Eleanor Rigby, towing the crippled DSV and carrying the major component of the crew, was supposed to be broadcasting a test wave on this wavelength. Checking the wavelength, he gave a disgusted smile and switched the settings. His grin broadened as he finally heard the sounds he'd been expecting, but as the sense of them came through, he blinked with surprise. Clearing his throat diffidently, he called out, "Captain, I've got the Admiral Noyce's attache on the line."

      Captain Nathan Bridger was on his hands and knees, head under a console, replacing circuit boards fried in the recent TSUNAMI mishap. As the communications officer called out to him, he jumped, bumping his head in haste to get up. Rubbing his brow with a grimace of pain, he directed, "Put it on screen, Mr. O'Neill." A sudden thought occured to him and he paused, turning to Commander Jonathan Ford, his capable second officer. "We do have screen capability, don't we?" His dark second looked down at wiring before him and made a few arcane passes out of sight.

     "Yes sir," he answered blandly. "We should now."

       Still holding the earphone up, Tim interrupted, "Ahh, sir, he's asking for you to take this on a secure private line."

      "Thank you, Lt. O'Neill, I'll take it in my ready room. Commander Ford, you have the Bridge." Captain Bridger was on his way out even as he was issuing the orders.

       "Yes Sir." Wondering what anyone could possibly want with the crippled SeaQuest, let alone the admiral, Tim returned his attention his console and switched on the audio. "Please inform Adm. Noyce that Captain Bridger will be with him shortly."

          Bridger strode testily into his ready room, switching the vid screen on as he entered. Standing foursquare in front of it, he nodded abruptly to at the UEO Secretary General's image. "This had better be important, Bill. I don't have any time to waste on social calls right now."

       William Noyce, the signal re-transmitted to the crippled SeaQuest from their escort vessel the Eleanor Rigby, settled back in his chair, his smile of welcome changing to one of placation. "Now Nathan," he reproved, "you know I wouldn't take you away from your repairs without good reason. How are they going?"

       Captain Bridger regarded his old friend with narrowed eyes. Considering that this was one of the men who had insisted on the experimental procedure that had almost destroyed his command, he was deeply suspicious of the geniality displayed. Nonetheless, he seated himself and answered the question.

       "We've removed all of the TSUNAMI devices and have replaced what we could of the damaged electronics. But the Nav computers and the central computer core will need to be entirely replaced. Quartermaster's office says that we can't expect that for at least a month."

       Noyce smiled broadly. "Well, maybe I can speed things up for you on that," he suggested. The suspicion in Nathan Bridger sharpened.

      "You're up to something, Bill. What's it going to cost me?"

       "Settle down, Nathan. Don't be so paranoid. It's the least we can do considering that SeaQuest was damaged in the line of duty." He shifted his weight back. "Amazing how you managed to get out of that fix. Too bad about your sonar operator. How's she doing? Do you have any word on her condition, yet?"

   Captain Bridger sat back, taking the time to settle back comfortably before answering. He was still more than a little upset with the way his boat had been subjected to an untested experimental navigational system. TSUNAMI, Total Sensory Underwater Navigational Array Methods Implementation, had been designed to accept input from all sensory arrays, navigation, weapon, as well as the WSKRS and sonar, tying the various information into one virtual reality net, translated through the computer to one person. In effect, the navigator literally became the boat.

       But due to an inherent weakness in the design, the test had failed, generating massive primary and collateral electrical damage in her computer systems, leaving SeaQuest paralyzed. Even more unfortunately, the SeaQuest had been exploring a narrow underwater cavern at the time, as part of the final test. With no room for another sub to get in to tow them out, it had appeared that evacuation and abandonment were their only options. However, Ensign Irene, Ari, Adler, had been exploring Darwin's abilities, trying to learn how the dolphin communicated and manuevered through the oceans. Using his echo-location abilities, she had been able to direct their egress from the shaft.

       In doing so, she became the focus of the disappointed scientist's murderous anger, an attack that had left her in a coma. He'd been thwarted in his efforts to strangle her by the quick action of Chief Petty Officer Miguel Ortiz. Both crewmembers were on the inactive list recuperating as the SeaQuest was towed to port. *

       This man, a close, personal friend, had been one of those who had approved of the testing and forced Nathan Bridger to comply. The captain was determined not to allow the admiral to pull any more stunts with his boat.

       "No change, yet. The medical staff are perplexed by her state, she should be awake by now, from what Dr. Smith says."

       "But they do expect her to recover fully, don't they?" Noyce continued, sounding worried. Nathan Bridger cocked his head and looked at the older man curiously.

       "They hope so. Why the sudden interest in my ensign, Bill?" The admiral leaned forward and tried to relax.

       "The entire marine science division of the UEO is interested in Ens. Adler, Nathan, as well as several key persons in the high command. She's the best argument you have for getting dolphins incorporated into more UEO vessels." Captain Bridger sat forward and Noyce laughed. "I thought that would get your attention."

       Sobering, he continued. "This is what you've wanted, Nathan, and with the break-throughs that officer of yours seems to have made, it looks more possible than ever before. But the entire project has to be documented. And authorized. I understand that you wanted to have something solid to show before you sprang this on me, but still..."

       "Hold on, Bill," Bridger interupted, shaking his head and holding up one hand. "I had nothing to do with this. Ens. Adler set the whole thing up herself. I learned of it about the same time you forced Siebas on us, and we've been busy with that."   Oddly enough, that made Noyce appeared pleased and he shook his head with satisfaction.

       "So, you don't have any real scientists monitoring the situation, huh? Tell you what I can do for you. I've got someone uniquely trained for just this kind of situation. I can have her meet you at Sydney."

       "No." Bridger's tone of voice had an edge of finality to it. "No, Bill. This is Adler's baby, I can't authorize taking it away from her."

       "I'm not suggesting anything of the sort. Just a person to quietly observe, not getting involved, who knows how to document research, that's all. An anthropologist."   Resting his chin on his hand, Bridger regarded his friend closely, examining his reactions in silence. After a few seconds. Noyce continued. "Look, Nathan, Dr. Treysa Barlow is an anthropologist. She won't take over the primary research because she can't. It isn't really her field. But she can help out, keeping track of the paper work and studying how the crew interacts with Darwin. You know this kind of thing is essential, if you really mean to get them incorporated into the fleet."

       Crossing his arms on his chest, Bridger sat back and nodded. "So, this is it, hmmm? You want to get this woman, this," he frowned thoughtfully, tasting the name with his tongue, "This Treysa Barlow on my boat? Why? And why does that name sound familiar." He mused. "Where have I heard it before?" Then he gave the screen a suspicious glare, "You know, don't you, that the SeaQuest has a full complement of officers and crew? What are you up to, Bill?"

       Looking both embarassed and uncomfortable, Noyce answered the rhetorical question. "But you have several science members leaving you in Sydney, not to mention Dr. Siebas. You've got room. As for Treysa Barlow, you may have read about her in the dailies. She was the woman they found last year in one of the early cryogenic tubes. She'd volunteered to assist in a NASA funded University of Seacouver study some 30 years ago, but disappeared before the trials started, just walked out of her apartment and that was it." He leaned forward.

       "Now you know, Nathan, those experiments had a lot of problems. The equipment was very rudimentary and there were a number of malfunctions. Cryo-tubes shorting out, nitrogen feed lines freezing shut, thermostats failing. Everything was extensively tested before any human tests were made, and if a piece didn't pass the test, it was out, no questions asked so long as the paperwork checked out."

          Shifting back in his chair, his expression hardened. "A year ago, one of the assistant directors for the lab at the time, a Dr. Mark Myers, was being sued for divorce. His then spouse hired a private investigative firm to do a search of his hidden assets, and found an operational cryotube, complete with occupant. Her revival was turned into a media circus."

       Bridger leaned forward, putting his hands down on the table top. "Ok, I remember. I thought it was a crime at the time. But what concern is this of the Navy's, Bill? And of yours?" he asked bluntly. "I mean, I understand that she's had a couple of hard breaks, but, frankly, I don't see where it was any concern of ours."

       Noyce sighed heavily, his face falling slightly. "She was one of ours. At the time of the incident, she was a month away from graduating with honors on a NROTC scholarship. Nathan, we let her down, just like everyone else did. When it was concluded that she had just walked away, nobody argued, nobody insisted on a more compleat investigation." His shoulders slumped and he looked down at his hands. "And more importantly to me, I let her down. I was the Naval liason with the study, checking the paperwork. I didn't catch the switch and I should have."

       "So you feel personally responsible for her? But, still, what does that have to do with me and the SeaQuest? Even if she was Navy ROTC, that was three decades ago. A lot has changed in that time, Bill." Whatever it was that Noyce wanted, Bridger had no intention of making it easier on him.

       The figure on the screen nodded. "I realize that, Nathan. But when she was coherent enough to realize what had happened, she requested that her commission be re-instated. What could we do? We did make it conditional on the completion of a rigourous re-training program and extensive tests. She surpassed every one we gave her."

       Bridger leaned forward, focusing on what, to him, seemed to be the crucial points. "But is she emotionally and mentally stable, being awaken after all this time, Bill? It's a big adjustment, mentally and emotionally. The world has seen a lot of changes in the past 30 years, and to have them all at once ...?" His voice trailed off. Admiral Noyce clasped his hands in front of him, leaning forward confidentially.

          "We've used the past year to bring her up to speed. She's had the best psychiatric care the UEO could provide to help her to deal with the psychological trauma of both the initial incident and the confusion of her revival. We've had to keep her isolated from the general public, you see. As you might expect, the Barlow was still groggy from the effects of the cryo-technique and wasn't able to deal with the resultant frenzy. As a result, she shies away from dealing with too many strangers."


       "She's not a paranoiac, Nathan, and her therapists think the best thing for her might be to get her into an isolated community. Someplace where she can learn to relate socially in a smaller community, away from any prying attention. Since the service has taken over her case, we've been able to screen her from the worse of the sharks, but frankly," he shook his head gravely, "any other possible assignment would leave her criminally vulnerable to them." He leaned back again, returning to more impersonal points.

      "Professionally, she's in the top ten percent. She's spent the last three months at Groton, undergoing the standard tests and training for a submariner. Rated highly in systems, but somewhat lacking in confidence and iniative Her instructors think that dealing with the first will eliminate the second. Means she'll have to be pushed until she has some experience under her belt. Physically and mentally, she's as ready as any other new recruit. The doctors say that she'll still experience some sense of dislocation, since the past 30 years didn't occur for her." He smiled persuasively, "That's where you can help, Nathan. In some ways, you would have a better understanding of her culture than a younger commander. Just remember that it hasn't been that long for her."

       "All right, Bill," Nathan conceded, "I can see that SeaQuest would be ideal for her, but what do we get out of this? I'm not sure that it's a good idea for us to be taking on any new crew at this time, especially one who's going to be scrutinizing our behaviour. We're still recovering from having Siebas onboard, you know. My people aren't likely to be very warm and recepetive to someone they'd see as a spy for the high brass. Especially since the SeaQuest is going into dry-dock until the damages from the Navy's last 'experiment' have been repaired."

       Noyce winced and unclasped his hands holding them apart in front of him. Leaning forward, he suggested, "I told you, Nathan, we can expediate those repairs. Get you seaworthy in less than half the time. Rush equipment, supplies, tech support to you. You could be ready to go in a matter of weeks, not months." He leaned back again, "But in return, I expect you, as captain, to make the example of welcoming her as a member of the crew. And I'll make sure it clear to her that she is to be as unobtrusive observer as is humanly possible.   It's going to take her a while to get her bearings, anyway, you know. And by that time, they should accept her as one of their own." He waited while Captain Bridger considered the matter.

       "And if she doesn't fit in, Bill? What then?" Noyce nodded abruptly, sensing that he'd won and could now be more business-like about it. Gathering up the papers, he closed the file with an air of finality and squared the contents by tapping them on the table.

       "The UEO is assigning Ensign Barlow to SeaQuest, under your command. Her duties, in addition to those assigned to any new member of the crew, will include research on Darwin's interactions with the rest of the crew, in combination with that ensign you have talking with the dolphin already. If she causes any problems, then you have the right as captain to take whatever steps you feel are necessary."

       "I do want to point out, however, that without her contribution to the on-going dolphin communications study it would be almost impossible to sanction any other program trying to integrate the two species into a single community." Bridger wondered how long it had taken Noyce to come up with that particular argument. It had the feel of a threat, polished to a high gloss in an attempt to disguise its nature.

       "You've said it yourself," Noyce continued. "The human race has almost run out of room on the land, we are spreading into the oceans. We need the work your crew is doing if we are to have the opportunity to do so in harmony with the native species, not at war with them. Come on, Nathan. This is exactly what you've been trying to do. This is what you want SeaQuest to represent. Give her a chance, access to what she needs, and she'll be a fully functioning member of your crew in no time. Her time at Groton has given her the background in your systems operations, so don't be afraid to assign her watch duty."

       Captain Bridger leaned back, templing his fingertips, studiously avoiding the image of his old friend on the screen. "And in return, SeaQuest is back in the water in record time? And my crew get priority treatment?"

      "I promise, Nathan. My word of honour."

         He nodded shortly. "Ok, Bill, you've got yourself a deal."

       Nodding with satisfaction, a smug expression on his face, the admiral said, "Good luck with your repair, Nathan. And with your new crew- member. Admiral Noyce out."

       As the picture closed up, Bridger shut down his end of the communication, saying, "SeaQuest out."    With a heavy sigh, he leaned forward, elbows on the table, and putting his head in his hands. Mumbling to himself, he observed, "You know, just once I'd like to have things be some semblance of normal around here." With another deep breath, he squared his shoulder, raised his head and his face took on a wryly, self-mocking expression. "But it wouldn't be as interesting." Nodding sharply, he decided, he'd been given a directive, and, by God or by someone else, he was going to carry it out to the best of his ability.

      Stepping back onto the bridge, he looked around, finally spotting his executive officer's rear elevation, the rest of him under a command console, hunting down burnt electronic chips. Deciding that he could wait, Bridger turned to Lt. O'Neill. "Mr. O'Neill, has the Eleanor Rigby given us any idea of when we will make port at Sidney?"

       Tim glanced down at his watch. "According to their last estimate, sir, we'll be docking in 8 hours."

       Bridger nodded with satisfaction. "Fine, fine. Thank you lieutenant." Turning back around, he found Commander Ford on his knees looking at him, curiousity alive in his eyes. "If you are finished there, Commander?" he asked, pointedly.

      "Yes sir, for now."

       "Then why don't you join me for a cup of coffee in the officers mess," Bridger suggested. "And I can brief you on this latest communique from high command."

       Commander Ford nodded curtly, "Yes sir. Lt. Brody, you have the helm," he commanded, following the captain out.

Go to Chapter 2

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Paula