Chapter 12

For one time in his life Scorpius knew that he had made a mistake. That mistake had been under-estimating Commissioner Listrac's determination to remove the threat of the escaped prisoners as soon as possible and come what may. After leaving Listrac with Aeryn he had gone back to the command carrier; he had been anxious to ensure that the Commissioner's plans didn't include incarcerating Sikozu. When he had been informed that she had given Crichton an ultimatum and intended to execute Officer Sun, he had tried to get back on board the Swift, but to no avail. The Commissioner's people had politely but firmly refused to grant him landing approval and he could hardly force his way on to the ship. And now it was too late. His concern for his lover had clouded his mind to the danger that Crichton and Aeryn were in and he resolved that he must never let it happen again.

He recalled how John had reacted when Aeryn had been taken by the Scarrens and feared for his mental state having been made to actually watch her die. He knew he had to do something if he was to make sure that the trigger-happy Commissioner didn't send Crichton the way of his lover before there was a chance to get everything he knew about wormholes. Fortunately Braca appeared at that moment, a frown marring his features, with the perfect excuse to turn Listrac's mind to other matters.

"Scorpius, our scans have picked up a Scarren dreadnought at the edge of our detection range"

"Is it aware of us?"

"I don't know, but it is definitely travelling in this direction and at maximum speed"

"How long before we are in range?"

"Approximately an arn before they will be able to identify us. We will be in weapons range half an arn after that. Should I inform the commissioner?

"Yes, and continue to monitor it closely. I want to know the microt they make contact"

The commissioner immediately made her way to the carrier to discuss the situation

"It is vitally important to our war effort that the Scarrens don't get any information about our new ship. I don't want them even to get so much as an impression of it on their scanners."

"Sir, it may already be too late"

"I am aware of that, captain Braca. However, there is more to the Swift than meets the eye, or should I say less"

"It has a cloaking ability? A ship of that size? Surely not!" She acknowledged Scorpius' intuition with a nod

"Only for short periods at the moment, but that should be enough for us to get away undetected before the Scarrens arrive"

This discussion was interrupted by a message from the command centre

"Sir, the Dreadnought is hailing us"

"I want you and Scorpius to deal with them, Braca. I don't want them aware of my presence for the time being"

As they entered the command centre Minister Aknar's face appeared on the screen

"Minister Aknar, a delight as always" began Scorpius

"Cut out the dren, Scorpius. We know you have Crichton"

"On the contrary minister. He is not on this ship" Listrac smiled slightly at Scorpius' judicious use of the truth

"I'm warning you, don't mess with me Scorpius. Remember what I did to you last time we met"

"Yes, yet here I am back on a command carrier and none the worse for the experience. I presume the emperor has charged you with making amends for your mistakes on Katratzi?" She chose to ignore this comment

"Crichton has committed crimes against the Scarren Empire for which he must be punished. I demand that you hand him into my custody"

"And let you torture his wormhole knowledge out of him? I don't think so. Besides, I believe you'll find that we have prior claim to him on that front, minister. Crichton has been wanted for crimes against the Peacekeepers for several cycles"

"I'm warning you Scorpius, I have full authority to consider any protection offered to Crichton as an act of war. If you persist in this denial your carrier and the leviathan will be targeted and destroyed"

"Then we will have no option but to retaliate." Scorpius pressed a button and the screen went blank. The Commissioner appeared out of the shadows at the side of the room.

"I thought they might be up to something like this. That woman will take any excuse to try and better herself, even if she dies in the process. At least the cloak appears to be working. I shall leave at once. I need to get Crichton back to Peacekeeper space as soon as possible anyway."

"What should I do when the Scarrens arrive, Sir?"

"Stall them, deny all knowledge; use your imagination, Captain"

"What if they attack?"

"Then you consider it an act of war and retaliate. I give you full authority to take whatever action you deem necessary captain Braca"

She turned to leave. Scorpius could see his chance of getting Crichton back fading. If Listrac took him back to Peacekeeper space he was as good as dead and the wormhole knowledge gone. He spoke up quickly.

"If you still wish Crichton to develop a wormhole weapon, I can't help advising that executing Officer Sun was a miscalculation, Commissioner. I believe that you under-estimate Crichton's dependence on her"

"That won't last long Scorpius. It will just weaken him and make it easier to get what we want when we get him back to High Command"

It was time for the last role of the dice. He leaned over and whispered in her ear so that Braca couldn't hear

"I think you should know that I know your little secret, Commissioner." She just laughed harshly

"I'm in the espionage business Scorpius, my whole life is full of secrets." He smiled nastily at her

"If you say so, Commissioner"

"You had better tell me what you think you know Scorpius," she glanced dismissively at Braca. "In private"

Scorpius' movements after he left Listrac were circumspect. He went to his quarters and spoke quietly to Sikozu who started to pack up their few belongings. Then they both made their way to one of the landing bays onto a small transport craft

"Braca, Commissioner Listrac has requested that I secure the leviathan away from any immediate danger of the Scarrens"

"Yes, Scorpius" the harassed captain replied. Braca had quite enough to think about without worrying about the leviathan. Scorpius felt a mild twinge of guilt at abandoning his loyal servant in this way, but it was only a momentary feeling. What he was doing was for the greater good and Braca's and the command carrier's fate were already effectively sealed.

Braca continued to track the dreadnought's approach; they would be within weapons range in 500 microts.

"Bring the ship to full battle readiness. I want the frag cannons primed, Lieutenant." As his staff scurried around him, he watched the monitors as the leviathan went into starburst and disappeared. The new ship had disappeared from the monitors sometime ago. With 200 microts to go before the Scarrens were in range it briefly reappeared as it prepared to launch into its high velocity manoeuvre

"Good fortune, Captain. The Peacekeepers are depending on you" Commissioner Listrac's voice came over the comms just before the ship moved away. Suddenly there was an enormous explosion. On the view screen he saw the Swift One, the new pride of the Peacekeeper fleet explode into oblivion. Collective gasps and screams could be heard all around the command centre of the carrier. Braca stood rooted to the spot. He could not believe what he had just seen.

"Lieutenant, check the data on that ship, and launch a search for survivors." He knew this last order to be fruitless; no one could have survived such an explosion. Braca had to force himself over his shock quickly as the view of the exploding ship was replaced by minister Aknar's face

"I see the leviathan has escaped but your carrier will not captain. If Crichton is not shown to me in 50 microts we will destroy you" Braca thought briefly about stalling her, saying that he needed more time to have Crichton brought up from the cells, but he decided against it. Taking a deep breath he spoke one word

"Fire"

The war had begun.