Lucas , Rose, Commander Ortiz and Olivia met with Captain Ford before lunch to discuss the need for change in plans in regards to not sending Lucas out in the Stinger.

" Captain, this shark is estimated at 40 feet long...there's footage of it all over the news now. I can not allow Lucas to take the Stinger out to put the tracker on that monster. We need another plan." Rose said with concern written all over her face.

Lucas knew she was scared, but he was also quite confident in his skills piloting the Stinger, though he kept his mouth shut for the moment. He had promised her he wouldn't go out there after the creature. Rose pulled up the news feed for the Captain to see.

" I want to do a good job Sir, but I want you to know the full scale of the situation here. This thing is huge!" Rose said.

Captain Ford sat back in his seat watching the screen quietly.

" Lucas, you can't go out there. I agree with Rose. All right, Miguel, can we rig something up to the WSKRS? Between you and Lucas do you think it can be done?"

" We might be able to figure something out. I need a little time though. We are still repairing one of the probes." Miguel answered.

" All right. Well, for now, see what you two can do. Get back to me. In the mean time let's consider another back up plan."

A thought came to Olivia's mind. " Sir?"

" Yes Olivia?" The Captain asked.

" Do we have torpedoes on board? Perhaps something we could remote control?"

Everyone looked at her curiously.

" We do have some light armament that we keep on hand just in case..." Miguel answered.

" Could we take out the combustible parts, make it basically an underwater drone, and send that out to the shark? I mean, I know we may be tasked with euthanizing it in the end...but what about giving that a try, but you know. Not blowing it up?"

Everyone pondered the thought. Eyes shifted around to one another. Lots of nodding went on.

" Ensign, that is a great idea for a back up plan. Gentlemen, try with the WSKRS first, then also create the drone as back up. I'll alert UEO that we need a little time. But how long do you think you need so I can inform them?" Jonathan asked.

Lucas and Miguel locked eyes. You could see their wheels turning as the thought. At the same time they answered.

" Three days. " they both grinned.

Jonathan felt that was acceptable, " All right. I'll let Admiral Sparks know our plans. Good work, all of you. I like seeing you all work as a team, I'm glad to have you all here. Any other business?"

No one had anything.

" All right , dismissed. All I ask is keep me in the loop. But I know you're on top of things."

" Will do Sir." Every one answered.

They all got up from their seats and left the conference room. Jonathan looked at the news feed again. Shaking his head in disbelief.

" Unreal." He said to himself.

In the hallway Lucas and Miguel made plans to get together to work on things after their normal shifts, pulling overtime. Lucas stopped Rose.

" Uh, I'm sorry I won't be able to get together with you tonight or the next couple nights. But I think we can pull off both options." Lucas said, eyes searching Rose's.

" It'll be fine. I have seen you at work. I believe you can do it too. So, we'll just meet up for a quick dinner. You still gotta eat right?"

" That I do. All right, so 5 then?"

" Sure!" She flashed him a smile.

Miguel saw the exchange and as he and Lucas walked off he decided to grill his friend in the typical male teasing kind of way.

Once they were out of earshot, " So Lucas...you and Harker...?"

Lucas rolled his eyes. But couldn't help the blush that creeped on his cheeks. " Yeah..."

" She's pretty, and smart. Good for you buddy!" Miguel punched Lucas's arm playfully.

" Thanks! And yeah...she's interesting for sure. It's, uh, we just seem to click. Ya know?"

" That's great man! I'm happy for you!"

Rose and Olivia went to finish their day at the lab. Until the men had the equipment ready there was not a lot to do so the women were researching more information on Great Whites.

After their regular shift Lucas and Miguel pulled a late night tearing apart a small torpedo. They had parts spread all over a work bench.

Miguel was teasing Lucas. " So what's this goofy grin on your face man?"

Lucas looked up. " I was just thinking about her..."

" That's awesome! I'm happy for you! She's really pretty dude."

" Yeah, I know! Kinda makes me wonder what she sees in me. Ya know?"

" Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! You know you're a good looking guy right? Not to make it weird, but you are! And you're smart as Hell bro! "

" Please! I'm average in the looks department. I barely have muscles...I'm not beefy, at all. "

" So what? You think girls just want a beefy piece of meat? Have you guys...ya know?" Miguel hinted at sleeping together.

" Yeah. And it's been amazing!"

" Well then, clearly you are the type she wants. Roll with it! You're beyond average. Get out of your head! She chose you! Well, you found each other. Don't sabotage yourself. I saw her look at you several times buddy. I can tell you, she's got it bad for you." Miguel patted Lucas manly on his back.

" All right. All right. I mean she did say she really digs my eyes..."

" I'm pretty sure she digs more than just them..." Miguel smirked.

" Enough. Let's finish our work here huh?" Lucas was blushing savagely.

Miguel laughed at his friend, " All right. I'll back off. But really, just, trust her. She is into you big time."
They finished up for the night.

Lucas thought to stop by Rose's quarters on his way. Looking in the window he saw that she was fast asleep. Her hair pooling around her pillow. Blanket drawn up to her chin. She looked full of peace as she slept. Lucas smiled. He felt lucky to have met her. He worried that he was too awkward for her, but did have to admit, their chemistry was something off the charts. He ran his fingers through his hair, shook his head and smirked as he went to his own quarters for the night.

It took 3 days for Lucas and Miguel to finish the torpedo project. They had decided against the use of the WSKRS , they were too valuable an asset to take the chance of damaging with the creature. They had arrived in the general vicinity of the shark sighting.  All outer cameras of the SeaQuest were on the look out  searching for the creature. Extra crew were set up observing screens looking for the beast. Since they had weighed anchor so far the only sightings of sharks were some regular Great Whites.

It was late afternoon when suddenly one of the bored screen observers saw something. They maneuvered the camera with two joysticks to try and focus on the thing. It was huge, now the DSV's protective sonar caught the creature in its waves bouncing back an alert. The Observer saw it again.

" Uh Sir?! Uh Captain?" He was a bit panicked.

" Yes Ensign Jones? What is it?"

" I think I have something Sir! It's really big! I only caught it's tail on screen. Then I lost it."

" Let me see. Roll back the footage." Captain Ford came over to the station and leaned over Ensign Jones as he pulled up his video footage.  There went a long slow moving definitely shark-like tail.  " Oh my God. All right."

Then Commander Ortiz spoke up," Captain! I have an image on my sonar! It's big! Really big! I think it's here!!!"

Ford hurried over to Miguel's station. " Oh my God, can you estimate it's actual size with this?"

Ortiz looked at his screen, " Yes, about 45 feet long...give or take..." He was feeling adrenaline starting to pump.

" Commander, have you and Lucas finished up your drone?" Ford asked.

" We haven't tested it yet but it is built. "

" All right. I'm going to call Lucas, Harker and Lynch up here. We need to get our plan together."

" All right Sir. I'll keep you informed on the creature."

" Thank you. I'll be back in a few." Ford went to an intercom that paged overhead all over the Sub. " I need Lieutenants Wolenczak and Harker and Ensign Lynch on the bridge immediately. Again Wolenczak, Harker, and Lynch, immediately."

Rose and Olivia looked up at each other. " I wonder if it's here." Rose said.

" Let's go find out!" Olivia was curious.

They all convened up on the bridge. Captain Ford was calm and collected. But in his mind after seeing that video feed he felt a little anxious. It was his job to not show it though.

" Captain?" Rose asked, Olivia at her side.

Lucas showed up a moment later.

" Guys we have a sighting. It's nearby. Very nearby. Ortiz has it on Sonar, it's moving slowly, doesn't seem to mind that we're here at the moment. We need to get that tracker on it. How fast can we get that drone in the water?"

" Pretty quick." Ortiz said.

" All right guys, it's action time."