Leviathan egt-4

by David L. Golemon

  Yeoman Alvera looked concerned for the captain. She looked from her to the Event Group, then half-bowed and left the compartment.

  The captain pulled down at the edges of her coat and swallowed, looking at the men and women around her. That was when they noticed that the captain's facial features seemed to droop. Gone was the fresh face of a beautiful woman; in its place was a new one that looked tired, and the eyes actually drooped down at the corners.

  At that moment Sergeant Tyler opened one of the hatchways and entered. He didn't approach the group standing at the large viewing window, but stood just inside the compartment looking at Heirthall, who only glanced his way.

  "I will not lie to you. The time is past for the options I have given the world. Far past. You are here to answer questions about what your Group knows about Leviathan and her origins. That will be the duty of Sergeant Tyler; he will get the answers I need."

  The complete turnaround from hospitable host to captor caught even the suspicious Lee off guard. They looked from the captain to her first mate. He momentarily looked as confused as they at the suddenness of the change, but recovered far more quickly.

  "You will still have freedom of Leviathan until such time when security will have need of you. Answer the sergeant's questions truthfully, and you may survive your visit. Lie, and you'll find Leviathan can be a very cold place to be."

  They watched the captain as she rubbed her temples and then lowered her head. She paced to the large double hatchways, and the two guards opened them.

  "Until you are needed you will not be interfered with, as you have the run of my home."

  Niles stepped away from the window.

  "Captain, we know nothing about you or any part of your existence other than the relic we had stored in our vaults."

  Sergeant Tyler smiled as he held the hatchway for Heirthall. His look told the group he was looking forward to confirming what Niles had stated.

  The captain paused at the hatch and half-turned. Instead of commenting on Niles's denial of knowledge, she said, "If any of you were wondering, whales usually do not travel in pods this large. You see, they are sick, frightened, and without hope. They don't understand what is happening to them; their birth rate is down to near zero. In addition, I honestly don't know how to tell them that it's my own kind that is doing this evil thing to them. There is even greater, more brilliant, and far more ancient life that it may be too late to save." After making this mysterious comment she walked out with her guards.

  Tyler again turned to the Group, smiled, and then followed the captain out of the compartment.

  "The captain is ill, Mr. Samuels. I don't know if you noticed or not," Alice said, looking at the man and waiting for a reaction.

  Samuels looked as if he were going to answer, but instead turned and left.

  "I don't know if all of you noticed or not," Lee said as he picked a roll off the table and placed it in his coat pocket, then followed that with another. "But that little lady is mad as a hatter."

  They all looked at him.

  "As insane as Lizzie Borden." The senator looked around the interior of the salon. "And she has one hell of a little hatchet to play with — it's called Leviathan. And now she wants to ask a few questions after showing us that ax."

  * * *

  "Captain?" Samuels said, nodding for the security element to step aside. They looked at Alexandria, and when she nodded it was all right, they moved away, all with the exception of Tyler.

  Heirthall leaned against the composite hull and lowered her head. Samuels reached out and took the captain's arm.

  "Please, Commander, I am all right, just tired," she said as she shrugged off his support.

  "Ma'am, I have studied the files on these people. You can ask them anything you want, but if they don't wish it, they won't tell you a thing." He looked at Tyler, who watched Samuels with steely eyes. "Unless you plan to torture them."

  "If I have to, I will. The captain wants to know what these people know about her and… her family, I will get the answers she wants."

  "For what? What possible harm can this Group, or anyone for that matter, cause us or Leviathan? We are invulnerable. Once the world knows of the plight of the endangered species in the gulf, I believe they can actually assist in its survival. Bringing them aboard was a mistake, but a mistake they don't have to pay for with their lives."

  "Commander, for the second time in a twenty-four-hour period you have questioned my orders. This can never happen again. Am I clear on that point?" Heirthall didn't wait for the answer. She turned and made her way down the companionway.

  Tyler stepped up to Samuels and looked the smaller man over.

  "Listen to the captain, Mr. Samuels; don't make me have to question your loyalty."

  The first officer of Leviathan watched the head of security turn away and follow Heirthall. He slumped against the bulkhead and closed his eyes. He knew something was happening that he knew nothing about, and if Tyler knew, that something couldn't be good. And what was worse, his captain was changing right before his eyes.

  EVENT GROUP COMPLEX,

  NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, NEVADA

  Dr. Gene Robbins was staring a hole through Carl Everett. The captain returned the glare and added a bit more of his own.

  "You cannot question Europa in the manner in which you have been, Captain. Do you think she responds to your anger? She probes other computers for back doors into their systems, bypassing any corporate or company security program added after that particular computer's manufacture and programming."

  "I understand that, Doc, but you cannot sit here and wait. We have a tight time frame to get a handle on what we're dealing with. Professor Ellenshaw gave us a good starting point with this theory of his, and he gave us a name, so damn it, let's start there."

  "I think we should verify the professor's findings first — that way we don't waste the time if he's wrong in his research."

  "Listen, Professor Ellenshaw has proven to everyone in this complex that his work is viable. He's not a nutcase — that man is brilliant, and the sooner you get ahold of that fact, the better off you'll be. Start with his findings," Everett said angrily.

  "Europa, do you have information regarding the research for a Professor Francis Heirthall — University of Oslo — say eighteen thirty-five on?" Robbins asked, not liking the lecture from Carl.

  At that moment, Jack walked into the room pulling on rubber gloves. Robbins shook his head but continued to write on his notepad.

  "Hope you don't mind. I need some quiet time while Pete arranges for transport to the Pacific for us," Jack said as he pulled out a chair and sat to the right of Carl.

  "So we are going with Professor Ellenshaw's hunch?" Everett asked.

  "I believe he said quiet time, Captain. May we continue? Colonel Collins, we are not using Europa clean-room protocols; you may discard the gloves."

  Jack half-smiled as Everett turned back to face Robbins, but did not say anything. Collins walked to the trash bin and tossed his gloves inside. He noticed something under the discarded pair he had just thrown in. He reached in and picked up another glove coated in a silvery substance that looked familiar to him. He shrugged and almost tossed it back inside the waste bin, but instead wrapped it inside of one of his own gloves and pocketed both.

  "Dr. Robbins, Europa has formulated the text of several verified experiments conducted by Professor F. Heirthall, University of Oslo, eighteen thirty-six to eighteen forty-three. List is as follows:

  " 'The utilization of electrical current derived from reciprocating engine (steam).'

  " 'Copper usage in the flow-through aspects of electrical current.'

  " 'Hydrodynamic tolerances and depth degradation of oxygen filled platforms.'

  " 'Oxygen purification — carbon monoxide poisoning.'"

  As they watched the words appear and listened to Europa, they didn't realize at first that the list was complete.

  "Europa, what do you have on the professor a
fter eighteen forty-three?" Everett asked.

  "Information extracted from the Oslo Herald, June third, eighteen forty-three, reported the death of Francis Heirthall in a University of Oslo laboratory fire."

  "Being a navy man as I am, based on this list I would say the professor was working on systems that are consistent with submarine design," Carl said as he looked at Jack.

  "I think you're right, Captain," Jack said as he leaned toward his microphone. "Europa, was the professor married?"

  Europa placed one more program by robotic arm.

  "Oslo census reports Dame Alexandria Heirthall, eighteen twenty to eighteen fifty-one, listed as spouse at the time of the professor's death. Son: Octavian Heirthall."

  "Is there any newspaper account of the Heirthall family listed in historical records other than the accomplishments and research records of Professor Heirthall?" Robbins asked.

  Europa started loading more programs.

  "We may be barking up the wrong tree here, Doc," Everett said.

  "Possibly, but let's go ahead and cut this tree down at any rate so we can move on with a clear conscience."

  "One newspaper account from France dated September nineteenth, eighteen forty-six, is the only mention of the Heirthall name after the eighteen forty-three obituary for Professor Francis Heirthall," Europa said in her female voice, at the same time typing out the script on the large monitor.

  "What was the gist of this French news story?" Jack asked without much hope in finding anything worthwhile.

  "Headline reads as follows: NORWEGIAN ROYALTY BATTERS FRENCH AUTHOR IN CIVIL COURT."

  "Okay, what sort of suit was brought against this author?" Everett asked.

  "I don't see how this is connected—"

  "The lawsuit brought by Dame Alexandria and Octavian Heirthall was in reference to libel and defamation of her husband's character," Europa answered, cutting Robbins's protest short.

  "Come on, Europa, for crying out loud, who was the author?" Everett asked angrily, tired of this slow line of questioning and starting to think Robbins was right.

  "The defendant in said case is listed only as A. Dumas, Paris, France. Occupation: novelist."

  Jack sat up straight. "Europa, what was written about Heirthall? I mean, was it a book?"

  Robbins shook his head in reference to the way Collins was asking questions.

  "The item was listed as a manuscript not yet in book form that was sent to the family for comment."

  "What was the title of the manuscript?" Jack asked.

  "Holy shit," Carl said when the answer appeared.

  Collins shook his head when it was apparent Europa had finished her research. He watched silently as the last words typed out blinked in a greenish hue on the big screen, and Europa verbally answered.

  "Title of novel: The Count of Monte Cristo."

  10

  LEVIATHAN, 420 MILES NORTHEAST

  OF THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS

  (THE POLAR ICE CAP)

  Niles thought it the best course for Alice and the senator to act as one team, he and Virginia another, and because Sarah seemed to tolerate Farbeaux far better than any of them, they would comprise the third team. The idea was that as they toured the ship in teams, they could cover more ground, and at least keep the eyes that would surely be upon them far busier tracking three groups than they planned. Niles stressed the fact that they were prisoners, not guests. Their task now was to find some way off this seagoing prison.

  Niles and Virginia were the first to stroll down to the command center. As they entered and saw the center for the first time in close-up detail, they saw it looked nothing like any submarine they had ever seen before. It was thirty times larger than the mock deck of the starship Enterprise. They saw neither First Officer Samuels nor Captain Heirthall on duty.

  The deck was quiet, exceedingly so, as operators manned their stations in silence. Niles spotted a man standing near the holographic chart table. The system was like their map visuals at the Event Group, only this one was more compact and didn't use a water-misting system. This was actually a three-dimensional view of the ice cap surrounding Leviathan.

  "You know, when I was a kid, I can remember the first polar transit by USS Nautilus," Niles said aloud, gaining the attention of the man at the chart table, but also that of several of the operators at their semidark stations. He saw that their looks were anything but hostile, nor did they show annoyance at his breaking of the silence. Instead, they were polite and complete with smiles.

  "Indeed, sir," the young man at the chart table said, looking up at Niles and Virginia. "I'm afraid I wasn't born at that time, but I can imagine the world was very excited at the news. Captain Heirthall's mother and father — they actually followed Nautilus on her journey under the ice — they wished to make sure she was in no danger. They were great admirers of the nuclear submarine program and wished to see it succeed." He looked around, almost embarrassed. "At least, that was the way it was taught to us in the Heirthall Midshipman School."

  Niles just shook his head and looked from the young Norwegian-sounding officer to the others watching him and Virginia with curiosity. Several of these crewmen were as young as Yeoman Alvera; trainees, he figured, and obviously midshipmen in their teens as well. They didn't look quite as interested in Niles, nor the navigator's reminiscences. Their looks were almost hostile, not only at them, but also at the crew that listened.

  "Well, I remember my father pointing to the headline at least — I was a little young myself. But in answer to your comment, yes, we were very proud, at least my father was. He was an engineer in construction, and I remember him saying, 'The world is now being opened before us.'"

  The technicians exchanged looks and smiled, nodding their heads. They seemed to be very interested in Niles's remembrance of the time. This time, Virginia noticed the younger midshipmen exchange looks, and for some reason, those looks didn't look too friendly at all.

  "I am Lieutenant Stefan Kogersborg. I am watch commander and officer of the deck. You must be Drs. Compton and Pollock?"

  Virginia nodded politely.

  "Would you like to see our position? I would be most happy to show you exactly where we are."

  Niles stepped up to the table with Virginia and the young officer pointed at the ice cap above them, tinged in white light-emitting lines.

  "As you see, the ice thickness above us is at varying depths and thicknesses. We have very large pressure ridges which are very dangerous to a submarine, even one as large as Leviathan." He moved his fingers along the three-dimensional outline of the ice above. Then he pointed to a miniature version of the submarine far below. "The captain has ordered our speed cut in half to seventy knots for safety reasons," he said in all seriousness.

  Niles looked closer at the hologram simulation before him.

  "That's Leviathan here?" he asked, pointing. "What in God's name is our depth?"

  The officer of the deck pushed a button, and a projected speed appeared next to the moving vessel.

  "We are currently at forty-five hundred feet."

  Niles was stunned. "May I… may I ask how you can achieve such a depth without crushing?"

  Kogersborg had to stifle a laugh. Niles and Virginia heard the other technicians, but not the midshipmen, chuckle at their stations as many of them exchanged bemused looks.

  "Did I say something amusing?"

  The officer cleared his throat loudly. The operators silenced and went back to their scanning and monitoring.

  "Of course, you did nothing of the kind, Doctor. We here on Leviathan are so used to what this vessel can do, we sometimes forget our abilities are somewhat astounding to the outside world. Also, I would like to apologize for the technicians of this watch" — he looked around him at the crewmen of his shift—"as we sometimes do not utilize the manners our captain insists upon."

  "No need to apologize. I am just… stunned, to say the least."

  "Lieutenant Kogersborg, I don't think the captain wants y
ou to go into such fine detail about many of the technologies in the control center."

  They all turned to see Yeoman Alvera standing behind them.

  "Yeoman, I am following First Officer Samuels's orders to the letter. Now return to your duties, and never leave your station while on duty upon this bridge, or you'll be called to mast before Mr. Samuels."

  "Aye, Lieutenant," she said as she looked from Kogersborg to Niles and Virginia. "You have my apologies."

  "Yeomen — they think they run the boat. I'm sorry for the interruption. In answer to your inquiry, Doctor, I could go into much detail about how we operate at this, and far greater depths, but I haven't the elegance to do justice to our captain and her family's science. Captain Heirthall will explain it all to you. You know" — he leaned in close to Niles and Virginia—"the captain is making a gift of all this to the world one day. She knows in order to fulfill the demands she's making upon everyone on land, there has to be a reward for the harsh times they'll have to endure."

  Compton was sure the young officer had just give him a prepared speech. He thought the young man had been directed to sneak that little gem in somewhere to someone while they were touring. As he thought this, he felt the eyes of the younger trainee midshipmen on them, and for some reason he couldn't fathom, he didn't like it at all.

  "I see. Let's hope we can dissuade her from the demands she's making, and maybe reach a middle ground," he said as he saw the midshipmen return to their training.

  The blond officer smiled, and then leaned on the holographic table. "Perhaps."

  "For such a brilliant woman, she has moments of sheer brutality," Virginia said, watching for a reaction.

  "We all realize the stress that the captain is under, and her orders of late have been—"

  "May I ask where it is we are going, at so great a speed and depth?" Niles asked, cutting off the officer's answer. He had noticed several of the young midshipmen looking directly at Kogersborg, and for a reason Niles couldn't quite understand, he stopped the officer from committing to an answer.