Chapter Five

The bridge crew were already at red alert by the time Bridger arrived, Commander Ford had managed to out-manoeuvre a second torpedo attack but their attacker was so small and fast it was difficult for the SeaQuest to lock on their own torpedoes.

"Report, Commander," said Bridger sternly as he reached Ford's side.

"A small Beta-5 sub emerged from a small cavern and fired. We didn't see the torpedo until it was too late; we have attempted to lock on to the sub's engines but it's moving too fast. It keeps out-manoeuvring the tracking signature,"

"Try and avoid the fuel cells, I want that thing disabled not destroyed," ordered Bridger. Ford relayed the orders to weapons control and walked across the bridge to where Ortiz had returned to his position; he pointed out on screen how fast the sub was moving but that it was following a specific pattern.

"I can't get WSKRS any closer, Sir," reported Ortiz. "But I don't think that thing's manned. It seems to be moving about in a set pattern, almost as if it's been programmed to escape the tracking,"

"Can you try and contact the craft, Mr O'Neil?" asked Bridger, Tim nodded and began to tap on his console, pressing his headset closer to his ear.

"There's no reply, Sir," he conveyed. "If anyone's on-board, they're ignoring us,"

"I don't want that thing brought down unless we can be sure she's empty," said Bridger, peering more closely at the WSKRS picture and trying to ascertain if it really could be an automated vessel.

"Sir, she's coming around and entering an attack formation," reported Ford.

"Fine, load all tubes and fire one and two," ordered Bridger. "I don't want their fuel cells hit, that's an order. If there's anyone onboard, maybe they'll send a distress call,"

Ford nodded to the helm and two electro-static torpedoes was released; the small submarine attempted to escape but the torpedo was locked and shortly found its target. SeaQuest shook softly with the force of the explosion, Ortiz quickly brought WSKRS around to ensure the submarine had not been destroyed but there was no sign of it; no vessel at all but no debris either. He frowned and checked again, WSKRS moved about in the water checking from every angle but there was nothing left.

"Sir, I can't find the vessel. It appears to have disappeared," reported Ortiz, Bridger joined him at his station and looked at the WSKRS view with a frown.

"Check again and keep me in the loop, I need to check something," he said quickly, turning and walking swiftly from the room, heading back towards his office.

Scarlett was still sitting at the table, her hands folded neatly on the top as she waited for the Captain to return, hoping that the attack hadn't been anything to do with her or The Wilde. Captain Bridger opened the door swiftly and strode into the room, allowing it to slam shut behind him. He sat down opposite her at the table and stared at her, Scarlett hated the official look in his eyes but knew that above all else, he was Captain of this vessel and he had to remain authoritative.

"Scarlett, I have to ask, do you think that whoever paid for your sabotage could have found out about your crew being aboard this ship?"

"It's possible. I mean, the oil companies have unlimited resources, they could afford to do anything they want to,"

"The ship that attacked us looked unmanned, as if it had been programmed to attack us," said Bridger, Scarlett sat back in her chair and pressed her finger to her lips, her brow furrowed as she thought back.

"One of the oil companies also has a sideline in making subs to order, an automatic pilot would be easy to install in a normal one man sub," she said. "I just can't remember the name,"

"Is it Huntleigh? Giles Huntleigh?" asked Bridger, recognition coming to his eyes as he realised who Scarlett had been talking about.

"Yeah, Huntleigh Enterprises, he's got a number of different corporations across the world. Not a very nice man,"

"Do you think he would have the audacity to first sabotage your vessel and then attack the SeaQuest? Does he really want Rachin ignored that much?" asked Bridger. "If he got caught, he would have a lot to answer to,"

"He's very arrogant, Captain. I don't think the notion of getting caught would have entered his mind. That geyser would be one of the only direct threats to his empire; he'd pay millions if he thought he could stop us,"

"Well, I don't think that's going to happen. I'm gonna try and get in touch with the Ecological Foundation and find out as much as I can about their dealing with Huntleigh,"

"I don't think they'll admit it, Sir," said Scarlett, standing to leave the room. Bridger didn't reply but just smiled enigmatically and turned to face his communications viewer. Scarlett frowned and left his office, walking off in search of Lucas.

Scarlett found Lucas talking with Tim O'Neil near the lab; they were both stroking Darwin as they chatted; it was if they were on autopilot. Neither of them were aware of what they were doing yet both were stroking rhythmically, avoiding each other's hand with their regularity. She smiled and walked down the steps to join them; stopping and sitting on the last step next to Lucas and looking up at Tim.

"I thought you'd be on the bridge," she said, Lucas reached down and ran his fingers through her hair without thinking before returning his attention to Darwin, Tim stood up to hug Scarlett briefly.

"I was but I was due a break, I've been sitting in that chair all morning," he said into her neck. She broke away and sat back down next to Lucas. "I've missed you loads. Miguel said he'd seen you but I didn't want to believe him 'til I saw you myself. How've you been?"

"You only missed me 'cause no-one else'll put up with your mad ideas!" she laughed. "I've been fine, did Lucas tell you yet?" She smiled excitedly; Tim looked at Lucas in confusion then back up to Scarlett, shaking his head. She reached down and took Lucas' free hand as if needing the extra help to get the words out. "We're having a baby," Tim looked at Lucas and then back to Scarlett again.

"Oh my God, that's amazing. Congratulations," he said, his smile spreading. He stood up and ushered Scarlett into his arms once more. "That is great news,"

"Thanks, man," said Lucas, shaking Tim's hand. Scarlett grinned, if every member of the crew had Tim's reaction then there was nothing for either of them to worry about. "Did the Captain tell you what was going on?"

"Yeah, he thinks it was Giles Huntleigh who sent the sub, can you believe it? I mean, I know the guy's a little obsessed when it comes to stuff like this but going up against something as big as SeaQuest is ridiculous. Do you really think he would do it?" she said, the doubt evident in her voice.

"I think Giles Huntleigh is capable of anything," said Lucas, his voice grave and low. "I don't think he's a man you want to mess with, whether SeaQuest is involved or not," He took Scarlett's hand in his and she knew she wasn't going to like what was coming next. "Do you think it's safe for you to be here?"

"Lucas, I am not the kind of person who can just run away the second things get tough. This mission is too important; I will not be forced out by some ghost of a man too scared to get his hands dirty," she said, getting angrier. Tim looked uncomfortable, he didn't particularly want to be caught in the middle of their argument but he couldn't announce his departure either. "Do you think I should leave? Do you really think I should just give up on Rachin because of this?"

"I think that you need to stop thinking about your career and start thinking about your family," he snapped. "I love you, I want you to be safe but this is hardly the best atmosphere for you and the baby. You're stressed out, we're getting attacked and you're working too hard,"

"This is ridiculous. I have been working non-stop for two months and had no trouble whatsoever. The baby is fine, I am fine, just let me do my job," she said. "All I want to do is finish this damn job and then I can relax and stay off boats and be the devoted mother but right now, this is too damn important for me to just give up on. I cannot believe that you would think I could do that," She stood up and ran from the room; Lucas watched her go and groaned at his lack of diplomacy, he definitely could have handled that better. Tim sat there in silence, not really knowing what he could say to make Lucas feel any better; especially when he hadn't really wanted to hear any of it in the first place. Lucas looked up at him and sighed.

"Redheads, right?" he laughed weakly. "Always got a temper," Tim nodded and smiled just as weakly as Lucas had before Lucas got up and ran from the room; he had to find Scarlett and sort his mess out.