Part 2 - Set during WWL

Lyssa Kain paced the bridge. She was waiting for the forensics report on the wreckage. Part of her hoped that abomination had perished. A Leviathan had destroyed two of the three Marauders. Lyssa had never heard of a Leviathan doing anything that violent. Apparently they had been wrong in classifying the Leviathan as dead. She turned to the watch officer, "Jans, report."

He had the look of a man trying hard to remain patient, "Still nothing out of the ordinary. The relief ships are preparing to deploy to continue the search. It has been ten arns, Lieutenant. How long do you intend to continue the search?"

She gave Jans a glare that made him regret asking the question. "We will search until I say otherwise. Understood?"

"Yes, sir."

Lyssa was generally patient, but they had had no sign of the Marauder since their arrival. The crash site was five arns old by the time they had arrived. She led the questioning of those on Arnessk. The priests knew nothing and the Interion did not know much more. The only information she had provided was that the others had left in search of the Leviathan Moya.

She thought back to the events leading up to this fiasco. Braca had replaced Captain Terk. Terk had been a good captain, but didn't see eye to eye with Grayza. As a female she was not swayed by Grayza's pheromones. The two of them had been doing a pretty decent job of torturing Scorpius. Grayza was still convinced Scorpius was holding something back. Lyssa didn't think so. Grayza and Braca had taken Scorpius with them when they went down to the planet. Lyssa wished they would give up the search for the human. Obsessing over him had already cost two officers their commands.

The medical officer entered the bridge and walked over to Lyssa, "Lieutenant, I have the forensics report. We have identified the remains. None belong to Commandant Grayza or Captain Braca."

Lyssa took the report, "Thank you, Doctor." She would have to continue the search. She had barely survived when Grayza replaced the previous captain. If she abandoned the search her career, and quite possibly her life, would be forfeit. She hadn't left the bridge since they arrived at Arnessk. She went over to the weapons console and for the fortieth time cycled through the status reports. Nothing had changed. She rubbed the bridge of her nose. If they didn't find anything soon she would have to get some rest.

Jans interrupted, "Lieutenant, one of the picket ships has detected a transmission. It's from Captain Braca."

Finally. "Verify coordinates and set intercept course at maximum speed. Let the captain know we are en route. Recall the search teams. I will be in my quarters. Notify me when we are a quarter arn out."

"Yes, sir," replied Jans. Lyssa was positive he was glad to have her off the bridge.

Lyssa was momentarily disoriented when her comms panel sounded. "What is it?" she asked grumpily.

Lieutenant, you asked to be notified when the Marauder was a quarter arn out.

"Thank you. Lt. Jans. I will meet them in the hangar." She stumbled over to the sink and splashed water on her face. She straightened her hair, pulled on her uniform and proceeded to the hangar.

Lyssa was waiting patiently for Braca to disembark. She cringed inwardly when she saw Grayza. Lyssa had hoped that the commandant had perished and her remains just weren't found. No such luck. Lyssa fell in step besides Braca.

"Report, Lieutenant," he ordered briskly.

"We have searched a significant portion of this sector and have found no sign of the Leviathan or the Luxan's ship. I questioned the Interion, but she knew nothing of any value. We have salvaged what little we could from the wrecked Marauders." Lyssa took in the rest of the soldiers disembarking from the Marauder. She didn't see Scorpius. "If I may inquire as to what has become of Scorpius, Captain?"

"He has been terminated, Lieutenant."

"I.see." High Command would not be pleased to hear that news. "A message came in for you from High Command. It's marked 'your eyes only.' Lt. Jans is awaiting orders on the bridge."

Braca quickly glanced at Grayza, "He will receive my orders shortly. Dismissed."

Lyssa wished Braca would confide in her. Other captains she had served under worked more as a team with their seconds. She got the impression she was barely tolerated because she effectively manage the day-to-day operations of the command carrier. She was sure Grayza was looking for an opportunity to replace Lyssa. She had two theories. One was that Braca was being influenced by Grayza not to trust Lyssa. The second was that Braca was not interested in women. She hoped it was the former, but she wasn't sure. As near as she could tell Braca had not recreated with anyone since he arrived three monens ago. If he had it had either been with Grayza or someone on one of the planets they had been to. She returned to her quarters and decided to see if she could decipher the message from High Command. If he wouldn't keep her informed, she would inform herself.

Braca followed Grayza to her quarters. Once there he accessed the message from High Command. "Captain Braca you are to return your ship to Peacekeeper space. The search for the human is hereby terminated. It has been determined that too many resources have been expended on the capture of one being. Scorpius is to be turned over to the Head of Scientific Research for questioning."

Braca swallowed and looked over at Grayza, "It appears that our search is over, Commandant."

She seductively walked over to Braca. She ran her fingers along her bosom and then across his upper lip. He inhaled deeply, wanting more. "Don't worry about that message from High Command. I will sort it out once we have captured Crichton." She ran her hand along his chest as she walked past him over to her desk and called up a stellar display. Braca followed her. "Tell your bridge officer to set course.over here." She once again ran her fingers under his nose.

He made mental note of the coordinates. "Yes, ma'am." He moved closer to her, trying to drink in her scent.

She shoved him away, "This ordeal has been quite tiring. Leave me."

A look of profound disappointment crossed his face, but he complied with her wishes. He was aroused and needed release. He found himself standing outside his second's quarters. He had fought hard with Grayza to keep Lyssa in her position. Grayza had wanted her replaced. Braca recognized that he needed someone who was well acquainted with the ship and crew. He had limited his contact with her in order to appease Grayza. He almost turned away, but he remembered the torment he had gone through last time he had been close to Grayza. He pressed the door chime.

Lyssa had almost cracked the code to find out what was in that message. She wondered who would be coming by her quarters at this late arn. She pressed the intercom button on her desk, "Who is it?"

Captain Braca. May I come in?

Lyssa was in a momentary state of shock. She quickly went over to open the door straightening her uniform jacket as she walked. "Captain, what can I do for you?"

He quickly entered her quarters, almost as if he didn't want to be seen. She caught a whiff of the secretion of the heppel gland as he passed. Once the door was closed he placed his hands on the bulkhead, one on either side of her shoulders, "I thought it is time we get to know each other, Lyssa."

Lyssa had wanted this, just not under these circumstances. "Captain, I don't believe you are in your right mind. Perhaps you should come back later."

He gently brushed her cheek with the backs of his fingers and spoke softly, "Call me Avin. Do you not find me appealing?"

She found herself leaning into his touch and had brought her hand up to grasp his. She fought for control and pulled his hand away. "Of course I do, Avin. It's just that you have been near Grayza and..."

He placed a finger on her lips, "Let's not talk about her." He removed his finger and kissed her lips, gently at first. Her resolve melted and she pulled him close. She could feel him underneath his uniform. When they broke the kiss they tore at each other's clothes. She rubbed her hands along his well-toned chest. It had been too long, far too long. He heaved her onto the bed, simultaneously straddling her and pinning her arms above her head. She couldn't escape if she wanted to, fortunately she didn't want to. He started gently but she encouraged him to be more vigorous. He was rough with her and she reveled in it.

The following morning Lyssa got up early to continue working on decoding the message. It took a little less than an arn for her to finish decoding it. About the same time she was reading it she received the morning report from the bridge officer. It seems that Braca had decided to ignore the order from High Command. She suspected Grayza was behind it. She decided to bring it up when she made her morning status report.

Braca was sitting at his desk trying to catch up on some of the reports that accumulated in his absence. He was still amazed by the amount of paperwork generated by a ship. He was well aware that Lyssa was filtering so that he didn't receive all of it. His door chime sounded. Right on schedule. In the three monens that he had been in command, she had never been late. He released the door lock.

Lyssa entered and handed him the morning report, "No major systems malfunctions to report. They will be conducting routine maintenance on the hammond side engines. Our maximum speed will be reduced for approximately ten arns." She paused a few microts. "I noticed that our course is taking us deeper into the Uncharted Territories. I had expected we would return to our territory in the absence of a lead to follow."

"Your expectations were wrong, Lieutenant. We have our orders."

"Yes, sir," she replied uncomfortably.

He looked up at her, "Is something wrong?"

"I was just wondering how long Commandant Grayza would be with us."

"As long as her business takes, Lieutenant. Does that bother you?"

"A little. I don't particularly care for her.way of doing things. I fear she is falling victim to the same obsession that struck Crais and Scorpius." She was trying to decide whether or not to tell him that she had seen the message from High Command.

She was saved from this decision when Braca's comms panel sounded. Captain Braca, join me in my quarters.

Lyssa took this as a sign it was time to leave. She needed to overcome her fear and tell Braca what she thought about Grayza. It was part of her duty to look out for her captain. She was failing in this duty.

As Braca walked to Grayza's quarters he thought about what Lyssa had told him. It was true that Crichton had brought down Crais and Scorpius, but Grayza was different. She had support at High Command. Of course, Scorpius had had the support of High Command. He would have to speak with her about it. He was senior enough that his career might be adversely affected at this point. He entered Grayza's quarters, "You wished to see me, Ma'am?"

"Yes. I want to ensure that you are using all our resources to locate the human. I will not let him get away with what he did to me."

"Yes, Ma'am. I will send the frigates out to increase our search range."

"I want teams deployed to all the planets we pass near to see if they can find out any information about the escaped prisoners. Place Lt. Kain in charge. I want her.expertise on this mission. I also want them to keep a low profile on these reconnaissance missions."

"That is a dangerous mission. She may be lost."

Grayza approached him, "Are you telling me you can't run this ship without her, Captain?"

"No, of course not," Braca defended.

She turned her back to him and examined a decorative bottle, "Very well, then. You have your orders. Dismissed." She heard him walk out and the door close behind him. She smiled to herself. This should get rid of that meddler of a second. She doubted that someone who was such a by the books Peacekeeper could survive too many visits to alien worlds in the Uncharted Territories. Especially if Grayza insisted Lyssa maintain a low profile.