seaQuest DSV (1993) s01e01 Episode Script

To Be or Not To Be

it's because we all came from the sea.
And it is an interesting biological fact that all of us have in our veins the exact same percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the ocean and, therefore, we have salt in our blood in our sweat, in our tears.
We are tied to the ocean.
And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch it we are going back from whence we came.
Jenny, they're firing at me.
Jenny, answer me! Say your prayers, Reef Runner.
There's no escape.
Fire! He's across the line.
Whoa! Reloading.
Reef Runner to Home Plate.
Come in, Home Plate.
Jenny, come on, pick up! Pick up! Jenny! Home Plate to Reef Runner.
Go ahead.
Jenny, it's Bobby.
Bobby! Where the hell have you been? Never mind.
Just get ready to open up the main airlock.
I'm coming in.
I've got two Hornets on my tail.
Boy, your time is at an end.
Hold your fire until we clear the refinery.
Come on! Lock on target.
Locking.
Fire! Jenny, start closing the main airlock.
Now! You're not through yet! Just close it.
Start closing it right now! Think thin, Bobby boy.
Disengage.
Let's call in the big guns.
Jen! I thought those Hornets had me for sure.
Your timing with those doors You were prospecting over the territorial line again, weren't you? No way.
Well, maybe a little bit, but everybody does it.
I've got some great I had some great magnesium samples.
Where's Earl? With everyone else, out battening down the perimeter.
There was a skirmish out near the Northern Marker this morning.
What happened? You know better than to jackrabbit another confederation's border.
Those Hornets have been just waiting for an excuse to fire on this facility.
What were you thinking? I don't know.
Wait, wait.
What is it? It's those two that chased you in.
They're on the satellite link to their home base.
They're asking for military intervention.
Every confederation has got attack subs lurking outside these walls.
Once again, information has reached Earthcast News that warrior submarines from several economic confederations are converging on the Livingston Trench in the North Atlantic.
Representatives are frantically meeting trying to keep the situation from escalating.
The subs are all trying to reach their up-world bases.
They want the green light to fire.
What the hell? What's wrong? These parameter readings.
There's something down in the trench.
There's nothing that big out there.
Except seaQuest.
Captain, Nor-Pac Command is trying to get through.
It's breaking up.
Heavy Sat-Link interference.
Keep trying, Lieutenant.
Aye, sir.
Deploy WSKRS, Mr.
Ortiz.
Narrow cone sweeps.
Feed data directly to Fire Control.
WSKRS out.
Feeding data now.
Four plasma torpedoes, charged and loaded.
Thank you, Mr.
Phillips.
Capt.
Stark, there's still no message from Nor-Pac Command.
How many more of these standoffs are we going to have before someone makes a decision? Don't they understand the only way to secure peace is with strength? This cat and mouse game is going to go on forever.
Come around to 2-0-9 and hold her steady.
WSKR data coming in.
Five Class-C shooter subs.
Target status? Captain, I remind you Not now, Commander.
Mr.
Ortiz? All targets, We're locked in attack position.
Target grids.
Grids activated.
Captain, I strongly recommend we wait for clear orders from Nor-Pac.
Clear orders? Aren't you tired of this game? We aim at them, they aim at us, and the whole world holds its breath.
Look at this boat.
We have the strength and the advantage.
We can end this madness once and for all.
We can do what we were trained to do.
Captain, confirmed orders are coming in from Nor-Pac Command.
Do not fire.
Repeat, do not fire.
The other subs are receiving similar orders.
Mr.
Phillips, initiate firing sequence.
Mr.
Phillips.
Thermonuclear warhead arming sequence initiated.
Confirm authorization.
Confirmed.
Thermonuclear launch authorized.
Capt.
Stark under Article 20, Section 8, of Nor-Pac Command regulations I'm relieving you of command.
Cmdr.
Ford.
Adm.
Noyce.
Commander, how's seaQuest's refit coming? We're a few days ahead of schedule.
Good.
I'll bet you're looking forward to getting back into the water, huh? Yes, sir.
Six months is a long time to be dry, sir.
Well, you know, the brass is under intense pressure from the political powers to find someone to captain her who's not thought of as strictly military.
Someone who commands respect outside the ranks.
There's only one man who meets that qualification but can still shoot when he has to.
And he'll never take the job.
Nathan Bridger.
He was one of my heroes.
What makes you think anything will get him back? I served with him for 30 years.
You live and breathe Navy that long, and it never gets out of your blood.
I can get him here, that part doesn't worry me.
It's keeping him.
The incident at Livingston Trench had us all staring down the barrel at the same time.
It was terrifying.
But as bad as it was for everybody, I believe you had the hardest task.
Relieving a superior officer of duty is a horrible thing to have to do.
You handled it with a great deal of courage.
However it's nothing compared to the pain I'm about to ask you to suffer.
Jonathan, I need you to be prepared to appear arrogant incompetent, even cowardly.
To be everything a commander shouldn't.
It may be the only way we've got to persuade him he's got to assume command.
Sir It's all in there.
I gotta run.
I know you can handle it.
Don't let me down, Jonathan.
Excuse me.
Pardon me.
So sorry.
Capt.
Bridger? Bridger? I think there's one on the other side of the island.
Of course, he gets up very early to go to work.
You may have to hurry.
That is a very nice outfit.
Nathan Bridger we've come at the request of UEO Command.
Who? The United Earth Oceans Organization.
Doesn't ring a bell.
But then, I've been out of touch for a while.
Captain, we've gone to great lengths to find you.
I don't really know what you people are selling but I'm really not interested.
Now, why don't you do yourself a big favor and get the hell off my island? Hello, Nathan.
Go home, Bill.
Nathan, wait.
Will you just listen? Damn it, would you let me explain? She's finished.
She's been operational for three years.
Nathan.
Nathan, don't pretend you don't care.
I know you do.
All right, come on.
Come on.
Come on.
All right, Darwin, my boy.
You know the routine.
Don't be cute.
I'm in no mood.
Now, listen.
You're gonna go down.
One, two, three.
Then you're gonna tag the marker.
Tag the marker.
Go.
Go.
Hand-motion communication? It's not perfect, but we understand each other.
Which is more than I can say about you and me.
I remember, it was Carol who got you interested in dolphins.
I heard about what happened.
I'm sorry.
She was a wonderful woman.
Yeah.
How did you hear it? Well, you don't think the Navy's going to let one of its most valuable human resources run off to some island and not keep tabs on him? Whatever happened to privacy? Last time I looked, the Bill of Rights was still intact.
Everything's changed, Nathan.
I've come halfway around the world to tell you about it.
Once the oceans became a frontier for mining pharmaceuticals, farming the world became a dangerous place.
Undersea borders went up, nations split into confederations to protect their territorial claims.
They hammered out a peace treaty.
The United Earth Oceans Organization was formed to administer it.
Administer? Sounds desperate.
It's different out there now.
There's farms and colonies and families.
UEO needed a way to maintain the situation.
That's why Nor-Pac gave us the seaQuest.
Not as a warship, as a peacekeeper.
What's the difference? She's being refitted to include a large science contingent.
What for? Research.
Deep-ocean exploration.
The largest deep-submergence research vessel ever.
No, Bill.
That part of my life is over.
Don't you understand what I'm offering you? Nathan, you can't pass this up! For God's sake, Carol is dead! Let it go.
I won't! I gave her my word.
I know how much losing Robert hurt you how you blame yourself for his joining the service.
I have kids.
Look around you, Nathan.
You're totally alone.
Don't you see how your research and your passion could be used aboard a ship you poured your life into? Come see her.
Let me at least show you what I'm talking about.
Okay, let's go.
Please stand clear of docking collar hatch.
Check for personal belongings.
Don't get too full of yourself.
As soon as this little show-and-tell is over, I'm out of here.
Sea shuttle arriving, Docking Bay 3.
Caution.
Wet surface.
Welcome to seaQuest.
All visitors report to UEO customs with inoculation papers before proceeding.
Crewmembers, please display holographic ID imprints.
Not too helpful.
You think these people have heard about your peacekeeping program? Career Navy.
They're going to be a little touchy at first about having all these science types on board.
No offense.
Come on, Nathan.
Lots to see.
All science personnel proceed to B-Deck holding area.
Come on.
You know, the last time you saw her, she was no more than a keel laid out in a San Francisco shipyard.
There's two complete decks of science labs and research facilities.
Everything you could ever want or need is right here.
Who's footing the bill? Grants industry contributions, private donations.
Government? Only through the UEO.
Mag-Lev engaged.
Be seated to avoid injury.
Next stop, Bridge.
Nathan! Please wait for full stop.
Bridge.
Thank you for riding Mag-Lev.
After you.
Admiral on the Bridge.
As you were.
There was a time when my future was one of boundless profits.
Petroleum from the deep seas of international waters and vital minerals from the deep-sea trenches coral from the new-found barrier reefs.
It was fantastic, it was beautiful.
You just take, ja? Well, now we have the UEO and this is what UEO has left me.
And now they want more even in the name of peace and harmony.
Only, what does peace and harmony have to do with business? I don't know.
We have to do something about the seaQuest.
There's no competing with seaQuest.
No, my son, mein kind I'm not talking about competing with the seaQuest.
I'm talking about getting rid of her.
What? Ja.
The ship has lost its leader.
And the crew, the crew is full of dreamers and eggheads, and wannabes.
Not one ounce of practical knowledge in the whole group.
That's a fact.
And the result? She's vulnerable.
Am I right, Capt.
Stark? You have the Delta 4 submarine at your disposal, ja? The ship is as good a ship as any ship on, above, or around the water.
I want you should take out the seaQuest.
What you need, what you want, I buy.
And when you're finished you will be rich.
So tell me, Captain how do we beat the seaQuest? I've already beaten seaQuest.
What I want is to be there when she drowns.
That's good.
That's good.
Can I help you? No.
No.
No, thanks.
WSKRS.
Wireless Sea Knowledge Retrieval Satellites.
We used to call them roving periscopes.
How many WSKRS are you operating out of here? I mean, we planned three.
One forward and two aft.
That's right.
Sir, this is a highly restricted area.
This tourist bothering you, Mr.
Ortiz? He's asking for classified information.
Well, they really scraped the bottom of the barrel for the crew this time, didn't they? Yeah, from the looks of things they did a little digging beneath that old barrel, too.
What the hell is that supposed to mean, sailor? I'll tell you exactly what that's supposed to mean.
It means it sure is good seeing you again, Cap! How are you? It's been about 10 years.
Oh, longer than that.
It's been 12, at least.
Where the hell you been? I mean, the scuttlebutt had it you'd gone bug-eyed and you were making like Tarzan on some desert island somewhere.
I don't think I went deep enough into the jungle.
I know what you mean.
So now you're part of this peacekeeping group, huh? Oh, you know military, Cap.
You want to play the game, then you gotta join the team.
To tell you the truth, I was more than just a little surprised though when I got the call.
The call? Yeah, from Adm.
Noyce.
I was just about ready to turn in my discharge papers when he asked me to come back as security chief.
I'm still not sure what he wants with an old warhorse like me on board with all these Academy pups.
I'm sure he just wanted the best crew he could get.
Giving tours now, Chief? Lieutenant Commander.
I don't like visitors at my station.
Your station? That's right, and it's off-limits.
Now, if you want to see some sights, why don't you try the Arizona Memorial? What kind of security clearance you got anyway? Indefinite? Perhaps a few introductions might be in order here, Lieutenant before you swallow your entire leg.
Katherine Hitchcock, Chief Engineer, this is Nathan Bridger.
Capt.
Nathan Bridger.
How do you do? It's a pleasure, sir.
You and I are going to have a long talk later.
Yes, sir.
I'll be looking forward to that.
Captain.
He's some guy, isn't he? Yes, sir.
He's a great guy.
Thank you.
You must know this boat pretty well.
Stem to stern.
I'd put my knowledge against anybody's.
I'm sure.
Hyper Reality Probe.
That wasn't in my original design.
With all due respect, sir, there's probably been hundreds of changes since you left.
I'd be happy to give you a tour.
I'd like that.
Perhaps when I'm finished over at the Arizona.
I guess all that talk about him going native was true.
You know, you'd think the brass would at least let us know he was coming.
Well, Noyce was afraid any kind of show might scare him off.
Wait a second.
You knew he was coming on board, and you didn't say anything? Jonathan.
So did you get it? I got it.
That's great.
How much? Two ounces.
Two? I thought you said four.
Relax.
Two is plenty.
This stuff is potent with a capital "P.
" Let's see it.
No, no, no.
Not yet.
No, there's a little business transaction to be completed first.
Aren't you gonna count it? Would I insult you? And you're sure this is the real stuff, huh? In two weeks, you're going to be combing your hair with a rake.
Yeah, right.
Ten-hut! This was supposed to be the missile prep room.
It was.
We pulled them out after the treaty was signed.
As you were.
And the forward weapons room? I'm not going to lie to you, Nathan.
This is still a military vessel.
Not everybody was satisfied with the terms of the treaty.
There are still pockets of resistance.
Why all the science? If the world can just hang in there, and this thing works out this could eventually become a full-time research vessel.
Why me? We need a cool head.
Someone who hasn't been sitting with their finger on the trigger.
Besides, you understand these science guys.
You speak their language.
That's good.
I told you back at the island, I am not interested.
Nathan, just listen to me.
Just Hey.
Very funny.
Hey, you thought of it.
Thought of what? A sub that could carry a Navy-trained dolphin on board.
The tubes I saw? Yeah.
"Bridger's Folly.
" You mean, he has access to the entire ship? Just the way you designed it.
Hey, boy, come here.
Come on.
Come here.
Darwin! This is my dolphin.
Well, I thought you'd enjoy having him on board.
Well, you thought wrong.
You know, you talk peace, but you act military.
You took him for your own objective.
That's not acceptable.
Now you're after me.
Also not acceptable.
Easy, fellow.
We'll have you out of here in no time.
Darwin play.
What? Darwin play here.
Who wants to play? I think he wants to play.
Smooth rocks.
He means the sides of the tank.
I know what he means.
This is some kind of a game, huh? Oh, it's no game.
Cutting-edge technology.
You see, sensors in the tank pick up his sighs, clicks, and whistles.
The ship's computer then interprets it, translates it pumps it back into these speakers.
Unless it fritzes out on you or something.
Who are you? Who are you? Lucas Wolenczak.
Nathan Bridger.
Lucas designed the system that allows Darwin to speak.
You're kidding.
You seem surprised, Captain.
Or maybe just a little jealous.
Jealous? Well, I heard you were working on a similar system and gave up.
Switched to hand signals or something? So? Nothing.
He can understand me? Don't ask me.
Ask him.
All right, I will.
Darwin how did we meet? Darwin hurt.
Island help.
Well? I found him floating in a lagoon.
He was cut up by a fisherman's net.
Wait a minute.
Darwin what's the color of my favorite bathing suit? No suit.
Skin.
He's right, I don't wear a suit.
Thanks for painting that picture for us.
Listen, I hate to break up this little seminar, but I gotta go.
Or should I say Impressive, isn't he? I could think of a few other words to describe him.
What's he doing here? He lives here.
How so? His father's in charge of one of our largest corporate endowments.
He pulled a few strings and got Lucas assigned to seaQuest.
Apparently, there was a bit of a disciplinary problem and the father figured, what better place to put him than on a submarine? So you're not only a peacekeeper, now you're a babysitter.
Nathan, the kid's a genius.
I mean, this thing with the dolphin is just the tip of the iceberg.
He needs discipline, he needs guidance.
He needs a haircut.
Commander.
Jonathan.
This is the boat's XO, Cmdr.
Jonathan Ford.
Sir.
Commander.
Now, if you two'll excuse me, I have to take care of something.
Why don't I go with you? No, no, it's just some paperwork.
I'm sure the Commander can entertain you while I'm gone.
Be an honor to show the Captain around.
Seeing you here like this somehow makes the boat feel complete.
The Admiral seems pleased to have you aboard.
It's a temporary condition.
As soon as this little show is over, I'm on the first jet out of here.
Yes, sir.
So how many years have you been assigned to the seaQuest, Commander? Three years.
I was part of a hand-picked team brought in to get her activated.
Must be satisfying for you to see your vision realized.
Yeah, I guess it is.
But, of course, I suppose there have been hundreds of changes made since then.
At least.
Pyritic limestone with traces of pink quartzite.
This is very pretty.
Wait a minute.
What is this? Sir? This boat is moving.
What the hell is going on? I don't know, sir.
Bridge.
This is Cmdr.
Ford.
Who gave the order to shove off? Adm.
Noyce did, sir.
He set me up.
I want this boat stopped right now.
That's impossible, sir.
Once we break port, we're committed to the channel.
This isn't exactly a rowboat.
I know what it is, Commander.
I designed the damn thing! If the Captain would like, I could arrange to have a launch craft shuttle you back to Pearl, once we hit open water.
The Captain would like.
Yes, sir.
Never trust the military.
Hmm.
Military.
Hello, Nathan.
Welcome back.
Wait a minute.
The Navy refused to install this program.
How'd you get here? Young Mr.
Wolenczak.
He brought me online several weeks ago.
He's really quite remarkable.
So I've observed.
Wolenczak.
What's your mission? I'm a hologram here to provide a sounding board in times of moral or ethical conflict.
Very good.
Lucas has given me a wide range of source material to draw from.
You can also change my image by inserting a photograph in the imaging port of the computer main unit.
Really? What's the current depth of this ship? One hundred meters.
What's the speed? Twenty knots.
What's the meaning of life? Be more specific.
Jeez.
Captain, the seaQuest has just passed the harbor marker and headed for open water.
Lock course and rig for silent running.
Course locked.
Activate silent running.
Weapons systems? Armed and ready.
Shall we proceed? By all means, Mr.
Maxwell.
By all means.
Thirty-five years.
That's how long we've known each other.
And now you treat me like a stranger.
No, worse than a stranger.
Well, I want to tell you that I think it stinks.
Nathan, I'm not going to sit here and deny the fact that I might have misled you.
Misled? How about lied? Just tell me, why did you do it? Because if I hadn't, you might have died on that island.
What are you talking about? I'm talking about regrets.
I'm talking about running away from yourself.
Now, look at us, Nathan.
We're not kids anymore.
How much time do you think we have left to make a difference? Oh, please! No, that's the truth.
You still have too much left to offer, too much you can share than to spend the rest of your life hiding in the jungle.
That's your opinion.
And it doesn't justify kidnapping.
Nathan, you're not a prisoner.
I told Cmdr.
Ford to make a launch available for you anytime you wanted to leave.
Right.
Very big of you.
Look, I'm sorry, Nathan.
My methods may be flawed, but my intentions were the best.
Intentions? The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
Current depth, 650 meters.
Speed, 35 knots.
Course, 2-9-0 and holding steady.
Commander.
I just received this message for you.
It's from Adm.
Noyce.
Rhubarbarum.
What? Rhubarb.
The Admiral's wondering, while I'm aboard if I might take a look at the main drive propulsion units.
It seems there's some glitches in the aqua-return jets.
Does this mean the Captain won't be returning to the mainland as scheduled? Can't wait to get me off this boat, can you? No, sir.
It's just It's all right, Commander.
I assure you, I understand.
I'm not here to snake your command.
Snake, sir? Well, are you telling me that you don't deserve the command? No, sir, I'm not saying that at all.
But the fact is, those decisions are out of my control.
I suppose they are.
But whatever the Admiral has in mind, it's not going to work because I'm not interested in the job.
Yes, sir.
Does that mean the Captain is ready to leave the seaQuest? Well, I'm here.
I might as well look around.
What the hell.
Cmdr.
Ford.
Let's get something clear, shall we? My people will not be treated like so much cargo.
We are scientists, we are not mindless, military drones.
Your point, Doctor? Your people have occupied areas clearly designated as science research labs.
I want them removed immediately.
May I remind you that you are aboard a military vessel? This is a research and exploration vessel.
Besides, we outnumber you, That sounds like a threat, Doctor.
Well, at least you have a grasp of the obvious.
Now, understand this, Dr.
Westphalen.
Don't you point your finger at me! You find this amusing? Yes.
As a matter of fact, I do.
And what are you? Some kind of stowaway? Something like that.
The name's Bridger.
Nathan Bridger? Last time I looked.
I know your work.
Topography, thermal range variances.
I tried to contact you once.
They said you were unreachable.
I'm sorry.
Kristin Westphalen, medical doctor physical oceanographer, and head of the science team aboard this ship.
Doctor.
I'm late for a staff meeting.
It was nice meeting you.
I'm not finished with this, Commander.
Not by a long shot.
She seems very committed.
She ought to be committed.
Hey, be careful with that! Make believe it's your mother's.
Sorry, sir.
What do you have in the box? Movie discs, sir.
Movie discs.
Open it up.
These are family films.
Yes, sir.
I thought I told you to spice things up a little bit.
This is a submarine.
Can you say that? Submarine? Good.
This is not a monastery.
Forget it.
I'll pull some from my personal library.
Get it out of here.
Take over.
Clearance level, please? Thank you.
You're Nathan Bridger, aren't you? Yes, I am.
Have we met? No, not really.
I mean, not directly.
I knew your son.
Robert? Yeah, we went through the Academy together.
He was my friend.
Forgive me, sir, my name is Krieg.
Lt.
Benjamin Krieg.
Lieutenant.
Pleasure, sir.
Sir, I thought that you were retired.
I didn't know you were back on active duty.
I'm not.
The Admiral's just giving me a little tour.
I'll be leaving soon.
I see.
Gee, it's kind of funny, isn't it? What's funny? Well, that we only just met, and yet it feels like I already know you.
I guess because Bobby Robert used to talk about you so much.
Anything good? Occasionally.
I do remember him talking about a Ben.
Are you the Ben who painted the Army mule yellow at homecoming? No.
Pink.
So if you need anything, I'm your friendly Supply and Morale Officer.
"Supply and Morale"? See, it's very important that the crew has activities to keep their minds off the isolation, because at a Mr.
Krieg, I assume we're stocked and loaded.
Absolutely, Lieutenant Commander.
Just finishing up here.
Good.
Because I've got a schedule to keep.
Captain.
Thank you.
What a sweetheart.
The Lieutenant Commander is a sweetheart? Oh, well, sir, we were sort of married.
Really? Only for a year.
Seemed like a good idea at the time.
You know, actually, I think she's sort of still hung up on me.
It's been nice talking to you.
Robert used to say that a son would be lucky to have a father like you.
Thank you.
We're approaching the Gedrick power station, Captain.
Good.
Resident personnel? Fifty-nine workers.
Families.
Excellent.
Fire one and two.
You called? Yes.
We've got a distress call coming in.
Why are you telling me? UEO regulations require me to inform the ranking officer aboard of any emergency situations.
That would be you, sir.
What's the source of the call? Gedrick power station.
It's under attack.
Aggressor unknown.
The signal's getting weaker.
The station's minimal defenses have been blown to hell and they're reporting numerous casualties.
Maybe we should contact UEO.
How far to the nearest communications buoy? A hundred kilometers due east.
And we're the only boat within a half-day's sail.
What's our proximity to the station? It's on the border.
Part of the Gedrick territory.
Distance, 48 kilometers.
Depth, 4,900.
Well, at these currents, we should be there in about 20 minutes.
Captain, I'm prepared to offer you command of the seaQuest at this time.
Come again? Would the Captain care to assume command at this time? I don't think you're the kind of officer who turns his back on a command decision.
Are you? I'm just along for the ride.
Remember? Feed spatial coordinates of the power station to Navigation.
Prepare for incoming change of course and speed.
Preparing for course and speed adjustments.
Bring her around to 0-9-0.
All ahead full.
Gedrick power station, bearing 0-9-0.
One hundred kilometers, all ahead full.
WSKRS are kicking back data.
One Typhoon Class Delta 4.
Power station communications reporting major structural damage.
Life support systems nominal.
Survivors are gathering in the main complex.
Delta 4 is on the move.
Heading 207 degrees, 30 knots.
She's moving away from the station.
Give me eyes, Mr.
Ortiz.
Helm, bring us around 2-0-7, intercept course.
Coming around.
Intercept course.
Aye, sir.
Sound battle stations.
All hands, battle stations.
Hey.
Securing the Bridge, sir! Coming through! Targeting profile up.
Target grid locked.
All ahead full.
All ahead full.
I want this one.
Commander, a moment, please.
I'm busy.
Now.
There might be a few other things you want to consider here.
Such as? Such as the lives of the people in that power plant.
I'm aware of that.
But if that sub gets loose it'll be free to attack someplace else.
If.
You're talking hypotheticals.
I'm talking reality! This boat is a 1,000-foot-long Swiss Army knife.
Use your options.
Have one of your WSKRS tag the renegades.
You can deal with them later.
No, the manual says Forget the manual! Use your instincts, use your guts! That's what you've got them for! Say, if anybody's interested, that boomer's making a turn.
She's moving into an attack posture.
Weapons.
Sir.
Flood forward tubes.
Prepare E plasma torpedoes.
Loading 60% charge.
Helm, reverse engines one-quarter.
Six degrees, down angle.
Reverse one-quarter, down six degrees.
Eight degrees.
Six degrees.
Delta 4's forward tubes are flooded and opening.
She's preparing to fire.
SeaQuest is coming around.
Should we initiate a firing solution? Negative.
Impressive, isn't she? Captain, we have the advantage.
We should fire before it's too late.
Not yet.
I want them to sweat a little first.
She'll blow us out of the water.
I don't think so.
What do you mean, not responding? The helm control is frozen.
She won't let me take the reins.
Lieutenant Commander? On it.
Delta 4 is 800 meters and closing.
Open forward torpedo tubes.
Can't, sir.
Control isn't accepting our commands.
Go on redundant systems.
They won't engage.
Great.
What else can go wrong? Target ship has just fired.
One electrostatic torpedo away.
Homing.
She's locked and headed in.
Countermeasures.
Countermeasures aren't responding, sir.
Sound collision! All hands, brace for collision.
Everybody, hold tight.
Torpedo, 100 meters and closing.
I got you.
Don't worry now, I got you.
Damage control? Port side strike.
We're taking on water.
Damn it! Where are my battle systems? Inoperative, sir! Delta 4 is flooding tubes.
Preparing to fire a second strike.
Your orders, Commander? Commander? Flood the ballast tanks, fore and aft.
Sir? Do it! How deep is that rift? Are you okay? I'm fine.
Are you sure? I'm fine! Helmsman.
Sir? Crash dive into the Pacific Plate Rift at 6-0-4-2.
Aye, sir.
Captain, seaQuest is heading down into a canyon.
I don't care where she goes.
Stay with her.
We should fire now.
Not yet.
Maintain pursuit.
Get me closer.
More systems crashing.
Delta 4's position? Still pursuing.
Let's see how bad they want us.
Take her to the bottom, please.
Captain.
This ship wasn't designed for a crash dive.
If you have any better ideas, I'm wide open.
This mean you're Captain now? No, no, no, no, Chief.
Just trying to save our necks.
Captain, we can't go any deeper.
Maintain pursuit.
We're approaching collapse depth.
If we let ourselves get crushed, seaQuest wins.
Delta 4 is breaking off.
She's moving away.
Don't let her out of our sight.
We don't want her to double back on us.
Level her off.
We can't drop any more.
Captain we need to talk.
And Adm.
Noyes knew about the rebel sub the whole time.
The Admiral figured you'd never come back if you knew the real reason.
You're damn right I wouldn't! And how long have you known? Almost two months.
We tracked it from up in the Aleutians.
It's been making its way along the Seamount Chain, raiding outposts for valuables, supplies.
But they never took any lives.
Up till now.
You knew we were going to run across her.
And then what? Then you'd give up the command, and I'd subdue her with the super-ship and then, bingo! I'd be back on the team again, right? I'm not in a position to judge the merits of the Admiral's plan but he couldn't have foreseen our current situation.
I recommend that you take command for the duration of this mission.
Mission? Oh, now it's a mission! Let me tell you something.
Six years ago, I walked away from all of this.
I erased all of it! And I did it for a reason.
Your son.
What about him? Well, I know he was in the Navy.
That he was killed in action somewhere in the North Atlantic.
That's right.
And I made a promise to my wife and myself that I'd never have anything to do with the military again.
With all due respect, sir, I've got hundreds of people aboard this boat who wouldn't give a damn about your promise sir.
We're only a few kilometers away.
We can go back and wait for her to come up.
Come up? She never has to come up.
Even in her crippled state, she could stay down there for months.
No.
We're going to have to draw her out.
There.
The Westridge Farming Community.
That's nothing but a bunch of homesteaders.
Exactly.
Yes, ma'am.
Welcome to seaQuest.
All visitors report to UEO customs with inoculation papers before proceeding.
How's she doing? She's in shock.
She'll be all right.
Okay.
Sickbay 5, let's go.
How's she holding up? Hull integrity isn't great.
Outer pliant scaling resealed itself, as designed.
But we still don't have full engines.
Lt.
Hitchcock reports that Primarily weapons and propulsion.
Cause? Unknown.
Has anybody checked out the warranty on this thing? Well, we should be glad about these people anyway.
Captain, I've got Lt.
Cmdr.
Hitchcock doing a thermal trace of the power station.
A Hyper Reality Probe? Yes, sir.
Good.
As you can see, from the data Lt.
Hitchcock got back from the probe the power station is built over a volcanic vent.
Why? Energy.
They use the trapped heat to run their turbines.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
According to the probe data the venting cap at the base of the station is in the process of tearing.
What happens if it breaks? A nightmare.
The poisonous gasses which are usually captured and disposed of will spill out across the ocean floor.
How big a spread? With the thermal currents in this area, it could be hundreds of miles.
Every living organism, plant, and anima will be destroyed.
Could it be fixed? Given the proper equipment.
You mean, military equipment? Who cares whose equipment it is? Wait a second, Captain.
This ship is operating under very unusual and dangerous circumstances.
I'm not sure we should divert our efforts.
We still have an armed rebel sub out there.
If I read your UEO mandate correctly, this boat cannot sail away from a potential ecological disaster if it can do something about it.
Yes, sir.
We're ready to proceed, Dr.
Westphalen.
We'll need precise specifications of the venting cap assembly.
I think we need a troubleshooter.
A what? I don't think what's happening on this boat is an accident.
I think we need someone to go down into the guts of her computers and dig around a bit.
Well, what about Lt.
Cmdr.
Hitchcock? No, she's working for the repair team.
I was thinking of someone from your section.
It's the wrong technology.
Well, there is one person who might be able to help.
Who? It's dying.
What's dying? The core of the main computer has a virus.
That's what's been gnawing away at the systems.
But if it's in the core, why isn't it affecting the whole ship? Oh, it will.
It just started with weapons and propulsion.
But, wouldn't diagnostics have found it in a routine check? No.
Artificial intelligence just makes a quick pass.
Unless you fixed that, too.
Well, as a matter of fact, I've got some parts on order.
I still don't see how it could have been missed.
Well, this sucker is buried so deep that the diagnostic sweep couldn't even find it.
It's pretty cool.
I mean, whoever planted this thing really knew what they were doing.
Then it's not organic? No way.
No, it's too specific.
Is there any way we can tell how long it's been in there? No.
Not until I peel back the layers of data between me and him.
Whoa.
Whoa, what? It's got dogs.
Dogs? Watchdogs.
Sub-programs to protect the virus.
If I mess with any of them, the whole ship could crash and burn.
Life support, navigation defense, the works.
Captain to the Bridge.
I think that's you.
Just keep doing what you're doing.
Hey, kid.
Good work.
Don't get cocky.
Thank you, Darwin.
I've already had lunch.
Thank you for riding Mag-Lev.
We're picking up a Sat-Link video transmission.
Distress call.
From where? A small farming outpost.
It's a pretty weak signal.
Let's try it on the main screen.
Yes, sir.
My name is Raymond Brenner.
I'm the Territorial Governor of the Westridge Farm Community.
We've been attacked without provocation by a renegade craft.
We're in trouble.
We need help.
If there's any ship out there within the sound of my voice, please help us.
We need help! Oh, God! Why would they attack an unarmed housing colony? They're baiting us.
Well, we've got to stop them.
They'll slaughter those people.
We can't do anything until we get this boat running.
Don't worry.
This isn't over yet.
Are you familiar with the boat's mainframe? Nathan, I am the mainframe.
Right.
Then you should be able to detect the virus that's affecting us.
No.
My capacities are limited to the data fed into my memory units.
This information upsets you? If you're a computer, how do you know I'm upset? Your vocal patterns are in severe deviation from the norm.
Has your family come aboard with you? Your data banks are a little behind.
My family's dead.
I see.
Is that the reason you left the service before finishing seaQuest? Partly.
I went to this island.
I thought I'd be safe.
But I knew coming back here, I'd have to let people in again.
And risk losing them.
Yeah.
You must have missed your work.
No.
I had plenty.
I missed this.
I missed the ocean.
I missed what it does to me.
My pulse slows down.
My metabolism Why am I telling you this? Perhaps because I am listening.
There wasn't a day went by I didn't think about all of this.
I can't seem to get it out of my mind.
Why should you? It's a part of you, Nathan.
The best part.
You know I'm really pleased that you've come aboard.
You never saw a uniform before? Captain, long range sonar still shows nothing.
They're not coming after us.
They will.
I don't mean to question you, but the crew they don't understand why you're provoking this fight.
I understand, but I think you should explain it to them.
This "crew," as you call it, isn't the first crew to question me but it will be the last.
What have you found? I'm still trying to get to the virus, but I was able to nail the time of entry.
And? Judging by the layers of data between us and him I'd say it was planted a little over a year ago.
Thirteen months, to be exact.
Keep at it.
SeaQuest, this is EVA Repair Team 1.
Power station vent cap is in place and sealed.
Roger that.
Return to base.
Ford here.
Commander, repair team has just returned.
Venting cap is sealed and locked.
Good job.
Cmdr.
Ford to the Bridge.
You wanted to see me, sir? I think I found it.
The virus? No.
The saboteur.
I went back through the boat's service logs from the past year.
Nothing unusual.
Then I checked the personnel manifest for the same time.
The seaQuest was in dock with a minimum crew at the same time, too.
So? So the log shows that there was one senior officer in charge the whole time.
Stark.
And you served under her, right? I was her XO at Livingston Trench.
She was relieved of command.
Nor-Pac recommended psychiatric evaluation, but she refused.
Then she just disappeared.
She's good.
She should be.
I taught her.
Oh, dear.
I sponsored her when she went up for her officer's bars.
She's after you? No.
I'm just the icing on the cake.
She's after the seaQuest.
I can't believe she'd deliberately destroy her own ship.
Well, if she can't have it, then no one else can.
And if there's no seaQuest, the rebels run the sea.
What she didn't count on was this old tourist aboard whose knowledge of the ship's systems predates hers.
Now, listen.
We may be going about this the wrong way.
Instead of attacking the virus head-on, what if we just went around it? It might work.
It probably won't have full propulsion and weapons.
Well, anything is better than what we've got.
Weapons.
That's what this is really about, isn't it? Just a minute.
No, it's not, Doctor.
It's about saving lives.
I hope so.
Now, let's get to work.
Captain to the Bridge.
Westridge Farming Community is under attack.
Repeat.
Farming Community is under attack.
Renegade sub is attacking.
The colonists are trying to fight it off with their mini-subs.
It doesn't sound good.
Propulsion? One-quarter normal.
Weapons? Still no weapons or targeting.
Send coordinates to Navigation and plot a course.
Yes, sir.
Speak to me, Mr.
O'Neill.
The colonists' munitions have been depleted, Captain.
They're helpless.
Delta 4 has fired.
Four torpedoes away.
Impact.
Two direct strikes.
It's gotten too easy.
We fire torpedoes, we shoot missiles, extinguish lives without even thinking.
Well, I'm going to remind her that her targets are people living and breathing, with names and faces.
I don't think she'll care.
Do you think it's possible for someone to change that much? Captain, the Delta 4 is receiving an outside transmission.
With your permission, I'll piggyback the signal and get us through.
Proceed, Lieutenant.
Nathan Bridger.
Where are you? I'm disappointed in you, Marilyn.
Four torpedoes fired and only two hits? I thought I taught you better than that.
I'll do better next time.
I promise.
There won't be a next time.
We both know that.
Too many innocent people have died already.
What world are you living in, Nathan? There are no innocent people.
Everybody's guilty of something.
Maybe.
But don't you think we deserve a second chance? To change? To live peacefully? I don't want to change.
You didn't teach change at the Academy.
Or peace.
You taught war, Nathan.
War.
And I intend to use what I learned.
I taught something else.
Never take on an opponent unless you expect to win.
You're on the seaQuest.
Give up, Marilyn.
I made that mistake once.
I won't make it again.
You are as impotent as your boat, Captain.
I'm warning you, if you don't surrender right now I'm going to use every resource on this boat to bring you down and I'll succeed.
We found your virus.
It's over.
You want to kill me, don't you? The warrior in you want to taste a little blood? Isn't that funny? I kill for power.
You kill for peace.
We're just different sides of the same coin.
Each heroes to our own causes.
Well let's see who gets the parade.
Status, Commander? Minimal weapons control.
Tube 1, manual firing capability only.
Targeting? It's still down.
So we may be able to fire one torpedo but we have no way to tell it where to go.
Terrific.
Do our torpedoes have tracking options? Sir? Can they be locked into a designated frequency? If we need to.
Keep me in the loop.
Open the door! Darwin, play? Yes, play.
But not like other games.
Now, I need your help.
Darwin help.
You might hear what it is first.
Trust Bridger.
We're at 600 feet.
That is the limit of a dolphin's tolerance.
But he's gone deeper than 500 before.
I know his tolerance.
You're taking a chance with his life.
You have a better idea? What about air? Need air.
With this, he won't have to come to the surface to breathe.
Need air.
Yes, you'll get it.
Just try it.
Flood the tube.
Aye, sir.
I don't like this.
Don't like what? You are going to fire him out of a torpedo tube? No, he is going to swim out of a torpedo tube.
I still don't like it.
Darwin breathe! All right, you know what to do.
You swim out and tag the marker.
Darwin play.
Just like on the island.
You swim down, tag the marker.
Tag the metal boat, understand? Metal boat.
Darwin, you don't have to do this.
Swim like Bridger.
Like me? No suit.
Skin.
What was that all about? It's an inside joke.
Ha ha.
WSKRS are picking up the Delta 4 at Punch up forward screens.
Commander.
Status, please? Tube 1, locked and loaded.
Torpedo is fully charged.
Negative.
20%.
I want to stop them, not destroy them.
You heard the man.
Yes, sir.
Captain, seaQuest is back.
Relax.
She's a shark without teeth.
Come to 0-6-0 and reload all tubes.
Reload all tubes and prepare to fire.
Delta 4 is bringing her barrels around.
Heading? 0-6-0.
She's moving straight at us.
Open the low band.
All the frequencies.
I want everybody out there to hear me.
Yes, sir.
Low band open and transmitting.
People of Westridge Farm, this is Nathan Bridger Captain of the seaQuest representing the United What the hell is it? United Earth Oceans Organization.
We are here to protect and defend your facility.
Please move to safe ground immediately.
Move clear immediately.
Attention Delta 4.
We are prepared and willing to accept your immediate and unconditional surrender.
Otherwise, we shall be forced to fire on you.
I repeat, we are prepared to accept your unconditional surrender.
Weapons Control.
Open all outer torpedo tube doors.
Yes, sir.
Captain? Only Tube 1 is armed.
I know that.
But they don't.
SeaQuest is opening all torpedo tubes.
Any targeting sweeps detected? None.
Bridger used to drum it into us, the first thing you do is targeting sweeps.
If he's not targeting, he's bluffing.
Mr.
Maxwell, initiate fire sequence.
Open all six tubes.
All the tubes? That'll take almost a minute to initiate.
I know that.
I want to blast her out of the water.
It's time the student became the teacher.
Delta 4 is settling into an attack position, sir.
Okay, Mr.
Phillips.
Let him go.
Delta 4 is targeting.
Sir, our torpedo doors are open and ready to fire.
Delta 4 is flooding all her torpedo tubes.
All her tubes? Yes, sir.
She never did know when to quit.
It's all yours, Darwin.
What the hell was that? He tagged us.
We have a targeting signal.
Tracking system searching for target.
Residual acoustic noise interference.
Still searching for target.
Acoustic noise dissipating.
Targeting system acquiring attack signal.
Captain, we have torpedo lock.
Fire.
Why aren't we firing? Launching sequence ready in 13, 12 SeaQuest has fired! Nine.
Torpedo has lost lock.
We do not have lock.
She's hunting.
The torpedo is hunting for us.
Torpedo has reacquired target.
Get to the mini-sub! The mini-sub! Look out! We gotta bring her up.
That is a direct command! We're going down! No! This is all your fault, you cheapskate! We can still beat them! You coward! We have a direct hit on the Delta 4.
She's going down, Captain.
Sir.
Ja? We've lost contact with the Delta 4.
Our surface assets confirm sounds of a torpedo strike and a sub breaking up.
My son? We don't know.
Captain, sir.
Well done, sir.
Thank you.
Captain, the recon party's just returned from the downed Delta 4.
Survivors? They're being brought aboard.
Stark? She wasn't listed.
And the boat's mini-sub was gone.
Captain, I want to apologize for not being honest with you.
It was wrong, and I regret it.
I was just Obeying orders? Yes, sir.
I suppose somebody has to.
But I just want you to remember that this little underwater shootout is not my idea of keeping the peace.
Yes, sir.
If the recon party is ready, we can get underway.
Would the Captain like to take the helm? I think you can handle that, Commander.
Thank you, sir.
Hey.
Darwin boy.
Well done.
Clever Darwin.
Yes, well done.
Well done.
The door was open.
Come on in.
I'm still trying to improve it.
She's pretty.
Yeah.
She was.
Well, I just came by to tell you I thought it was very effective the way you handled the situation today.
Effective? Thanks.
So are you gonna stay or what? It's not that simple.
Why not? Come on, you like it here, don't you? I mean, it is your boat.
I made a promise.
To her? Her name's Carol.
Were you two happy? Yes.
We were.
My parents, they were never happy.
I mean, they can't even stand to be in the same room together.
I remember wishing they would just get a divorce, and get it over with.
Why didn't they? Well they said when they got married that they made a promise to stay together forever.
I guess they didn't count on things changing.
Captain, you're wanted on the Bridge.
I think that's me.

Next Episode