Part 5

Crichton grunted in mild pain as he pushed himself off the navigation station he had been viewing, quickly checking to see how everyone else had faired in the blasts that had rocked the Leviathan. Aeryn was leaned up against the tactical station grasping the table firmly and watching the holographic display with her usual calm Peacekeeper face while the others were still rearranging themselves from their states of disarray.

Assured the others were unharmed Crichton turned his attention back to his console with a worried expression. "Pilot, I think now would be a good time to starburst."

"No." Aeryn interrupted as the symbiont's face appeared n the clamshell communicator. "The longer Moya can build up her energy for Starburst, the less likely the Peacekeepers will be able to relocate us."

"The yotz with that. We won't be star bursting anywhere if they destroy us!" Rygel shouted in dismay.

"I'm afraid I must agree with Rygel. We should starburst immediately. Moya should have more than ample time to build her reserves for another starburst before the Peacekeepers are able to locate us again." Zhaan added, clasping her hands together as if to try and calm herself.

"Look Aeryn is right. The farther away we are able to get, the better." John countered.

"Moya cannot take much more of this." D'Argo growled out. As if to support his argument the Leviathan lurched dangerously and shuddered as another volley of weapons fire peppered her hull.

"On the contrary, Ka D'Argo." Pilot interrupted. "At this range, Moya is capable of withstanding this onslaught for a quarter arn. But there is a danger..."

"What's the problem, Pilot?" Aeryn asked.

"My analysis of the Peacekeeper attack seems to indicate that they are concentrating their fire on the ion exhaust ports. If these are damaged before we are able to decompensate, we will be unable to starburst." The large alien replied.

While he had spoken, Aeryn had brought up the schematics of the ship and Pilot's data on the ongoing attack. What she saw confirmed the symbionts assessment. "Pilot's correct. We need to starburst immediately."

"Understood." Pilot nodded his head once and made the adjustments to the controls even as he made his request of the Leviathan in his mind. "Prepare for immediate starburst."

****

"Captain, the Leviathan is preparing to starburst." Inaurus announced from his position at the tactical station. "Estimate ten microts."

Ochanka nodded slowly a triumphant smile coming to her face. "All batteries: concentrate fire on the exhaust ports. Await my signal."

"Awaiting orders, Captain." Inaurus replied. "Six microts to starburst. Five. Four. Three."

"Fire."

"Fire." Inaurus ordered over the comms.

Instantly a dozen small bursts of light headed towards the Leviathan just as a familiar glare of blue-white light indicated the massive biomechanoid had begun its entrance into Starburst.

****

"We have incoming fire." Pilot's panicked voice came over the comms. "Hammond side exhaust ports."

"Evade." D'Argo shouted.

"Too late." Pilot called out, crying out as the blasts struck the ports. The ensuing explosion ripped through the ports and deep into the internal structure of the ship, stripping away the outer hull and rupturing conduits and fluid systems. The force of the explosion knocked the damaged Leviathan sideways as it entered starburst and disappeared.

****

Inaurus swallowed hard at the information his sensors were relaying to him. Knowing Ochanka was awaiting his report he slowly removed his headset and turned to face his superior officer. "The Leviathan has escaped, Captain."

"I can see that, Lieutenant." Ochanka hissed angrily. "It appears your plan was flawed."

"Yes, ma'am. But it was severely damaged and its thrust vector was altered by the resulting explosion." Inaurus replied. "The scans from the area indicate a sizeable part of the hull was damaged. There are trace amounts of irescentant fluid, amnexus tissue and biomass. Enough to indicate that her fluid bladders may have been seriously damaged."

Ochanka eyes narrowed as she considered the Lieutenant's words. "Which means she cannot recharge for another starburst until she is repaired."

"Yes, ma'am."

"How many facilities are within the maximum range of starburst that could make such repairs?" Ochanka asked.

Inaurus quickly brought up the star charts of the area and fed the search parameters into the system. A few microts later he smiled in satisfaction. "Captain, we are in luck. There are only three systems capable of such repairs. One of which may be of use to us."

Intrigued by Inaurus' words Ochanka came over to view the information herself. "And why is that?"

"You remember the Obari, the people Phel mentioned earlier? They claim to be Leviathan hunters." Inaurus replied.

"Leviathan hunters?" Ochanka looked at him skeptically.

Inaurus nodded his head, his own disdain evident as he continued his explanation. "Apparently the Obari believe that hunting and killing Leviathans give them greater strength and power. However, it should be noted that there have been no confirmed sightings of an Obari ship in over a hundred cycles."

Ochanka snorted in derision. "Barbarians. Why would we need them?"

"It is said that they have a means by which to track Leviathans. We may need their assistance to locate the escaped Leviathan." Inaurus replied reasonably.

"And perhaps acquire some technology New Tech Division could find of use." Ochanka added, eyeing her subordinate speculatively. "Very good, Lieutenant. Take us to the planet so we can meet with these Obari."