Reaper Inc. (4 page)

"Senator,
could I impose on you and your aide to take a watch every other day to give a
member of the crew a break?"

"Yes, we
will be glad to help out," the senator replied.

"Grubb,
you and Buddy find your quarters and then report to the captain and see what
she can give you to do. Two experienced spacers like yourselves should be good
for something besides drinking beer. Which reminds me, did you bring any?"

Grubb looked
around like he was going to reveal a state secret. "There is a pallet full
in the hold," he said just above a whisper.

Ben laughed and went to find
Andrea and their quarters. He couldn’t begrudge them their favorite drink. He didn’t
think he had ever seen them eat anything.

"Captain,
we have a message from CNS Mace. We are ordered to detain, and board if
necessary, any departing ships in an effort to capture the alien vessel,"
Ensign Ellison, the com officer announced.

"Thank
you, ensign. The order has been logged." Aisling knew she would make a
show of it. If she was busy detaining and searching. Once engaged in a search
it, might be hard to keep other ships from just ignoring orders and leaving the
system. If they thought one warship could police all the freighters and
passenger ships leaving Anubis, then they were crazy.

"Lieutenant
Benson, show me everything in the system, as well as all the departures the
Anubis space port has scheduled," she asked her tactical officer. The
large view screen blinked on with all ships in the immediate vicinity.

Aisling studied
the screen. "Lieutenant Benson, mark all as friendly except for these two.
They have been in orbit for over a day. That sounds suspicious to me. Power
weapons and keep the targets warm. We want both of these potential targets to
know we mean business." Being in orbit for a day was nothing unusual and
they all knew it.

"Com, hail
both and let them know of our intention to board and search for possible
illegal goods and merchandise. Let them know that it will proceed much faster
if they hold their positions and cooperate." "Aye, Captain,"
Ensign Ellison responded. Every officer on the bridge had their eyes on their
captain. She could see they thought she had lost her mind.

Aisling stood
quickly, startling them out of their thoughts. They all turned immediately back
to their consoles, looking for something to be working on. When she stepped up behind
her tactical officer, he felt her presence. She put her hand on his shoulder
and gave it a squeeze. He looked up at her and she gave him a kind smile and a
nod then moved to the next station. She made her way to them all repeating the
gesture, but never saying a word.

Aisling sat
down and looked at all her officers. She had made a decision, a very dangerous
decision in the short walk across the bridge.

"Lieutenant
St. James, you have the bridge. Com, would you call all the senior staff and
section chiefs to the conference room immediately, as well as General Grey? He
should be in his quarters. Advise Lieutenant Jared to report to my quarters
immediately."

"Aye,
Captain." Ensign messaged them all.

                                   
****

Aisling was fastening
the last buckle on her black combat armor that Reaper and his team had given
her. She had all the weapons confiscated from the Reaper team in her quarters
except for a few. She was not happy with the general's new team at all. She
would return them their weapons as soon as she could let them out of the brig,
which wouldn’t be long.

She strapped on
one of the non-issue magnetic rail pistols and a very large combat knife that
had belonged to Gunny Smith. She prayed for an ounce of the luck her ancestors
were known for. The door chimed, announcing Lieutenant Jared.

"Enter!"
she called from her room. She walked out to find Lieutenant Jared in a parade
rest stance near her door. "Have a seat, Lieutenant." She motioned to
the chair at the table.

"If you have
been reading your memos, you know there is an attack group arriving Anubis
shortly. What you may not know is they plan on taking the senior staff into
custody and I have decided that for me, that is not going to be an option. When
they arrive, I believe you will receive orders to this effect. I am going to
brief everyone and if there is enough support, we may take the Warhammer and
leave. Anyone not wishing to accompany us may depart via a shuttle for
Anubis." Aisling paused and let the lieutenant absorb all she had just
said.

"Captain,
you realize you will be criminals subject to severe punishment under the
articles, possibly death. I am stating the obvious, but it needs to be
said."

"Of
course, lieutenant. What I would like to know is where you and your marines
stand when the time comes. Would you speak to them and see if any of them would
be willing to stay. Those who do not can accompany the navy personnel who
shuttle to Anubis. I want this to be conducted peacefully, so if you do not
agree with me please wait till you have your orders before trying to carry them
out. Shall we go?"

The conference
room was full of officers and chiefs all talking and wondering why the captain
had called a meeting. She walked in, looking like a war goddess in her black armor
with the war hammer on breast plate. She didn’t have to ask the room to quiet
down.

"Some of
you know that there is an attack group that will rendezvous with us sometime in
the next two hours. They are supposed to be collecting the remaining members of
Major Andersen’s team who aren’t already in custody. When I heard this, I
wondered why a whole group was required till I heard from a contact on Ares
that they were going to confine and arrest most of the senior staff of the
Warhammer and strip our logs and operating system. I was told that it had
already happened to the officers of the Morningstar."

"On what
charges, Captain? We performed above and beyond in defense of the Morningstar
and Hyson."

"Military
Intelligence doesn’t need charges, or so they think, Chief. They want to cover
up or somehow diminish and control what the central worlds find out about the
Cjittan. If they lock us all away, they think the threat will go away."
Aisling studied all their faces. General Grey just sat and watched everyone. He
knew the truth, having almost been killed and eaten by the Cjittan on the
Morningstar. He could not speak of it though.

"I am not
going to say anymore. Most of you were on board almost 3 months ago when we
were attacked. I want you to return to your sections and speak with your
subordinates. Make sure those that stay know the possible consequences and that
we will not be returning home until we are cleared of charges and this
ignorance is behind us." Aisling paused.

Some of the
senior officers looked to the general. He looked up at the Aisling then back at
the faces around the table. "I am with the Captain, ladies and gentlemen.
There is a ship on Anubis that will be departing soon and we need to see it
gets out of this system and on its way."

Aisling looked
at the shock, disappointment, and even anger on some of their faces.
"Those that stay need to get into their armor. We are going to battle
stations running silent. I do not want to tip our hat by having them ping the
ship and see she is ready for a fight. Let them think we are just sitting and
waiting. Weapons will be armed but they will see we are conducting the search
as instructed by our orders."

Lieutenant
Jared walked into the conference room. He also looked at the faces of the
officers he had served with for a number of years now.

"Captain!"
Lieutenant Jared snapped to attention and saluted. "All the Marines
assigned to the Warhammer will be staying with the ship ma’am."

"Thank
you, lieutenant." Aisling returned his salute.

"You all
have 15 minutes to get back to your sections and brief your people. I would
give them 5 minutes to decide and 10 to get their things together if they are
leaving."

"Captain!
We are tracking the assault group they will be in Anubis orbit in ninety
minutes," Ensign Ellison announced, breaking into the meeting.

"Acknowledged,
Ensign. I will be on the bridge in five. Alright everyone, get moving and get
everyone sorted out. I expect a report in twenty minutes and a shuttle leaving
in twenty five or less." There was a minute of fast moving bodies then an
empty room, except for the general and the captain.

General Grey
spoke softly. "We are possibly throwing away everything we have spent our
lives working for. We will need some powerful people on our side if we are
going to survive our actions today."

"We have
friends, General, who have friends. They will be leaving Anubis soon and if
they are successful, our sacrifice will be well worth it. General, the lives
and reputation of this crew for the lives of trillions of citizens is a small
price to pay."

"You have
friends, Captain. I am not sure they are mine any longer."

"Come to the bridge with me let’s see if I am losing
any of my crew."

Ben checked on Emily.
She was in the prime minister's quarters. They were deep in discussion when
they let him enter but stopped to stare at him. "I’m just checking on you
both. Are you ready to go?"

"That is
sweet of you, yes we are ready. Are we leaving now?" Alona asked

Ben answered.
"Yes, shortly, things have worked out smoother than I thought."

"Good, we
were just discussing politics. Boring, but necessary."

"I need to
ask a favor, Madam Prime Minister," Ben said.

"This must
be serious," Emily exclaimed, "you being so formal."

"It is,
but if it doesn’t happen, it will not change anything. I wanted the Prime
Minister to ask the Trillond Navy if they would be willing to put up a blockade
at the border. We don’t need to start an interstellar incident but if we are
followed, they could slow them down with some inspections or something."

"Geez Ben,
like it won't cause problems; the Trillond don’t inspect our ships and we don’t
theirs."

"This is
why I am asking, Emily. If there is a politically correct way to do it, Alona
will know." He felt his temper rising again at her.

The Prime
Minister put her hand on his arm. "Yes, it is clear and understood. I will
think of something and I will ask." Ben turned and walked away, leaving
the room without another word.

Emily sat down
slowly and spoke. "I am not sure I know him anymore." Alona looked at
her.

"If you
don’t, it’s your fault. Of all the people who let him down, you probably hurt
him the most. You come from a part of his life that he treasures. The memories
of his childhood are all filled with you. He would have done anything for you
until the day of the meeting when you said you couldn’t trust him and sent
those men to find his ship. Now, what is done is done, you need to work it
out."

"Why do
you listen to him?" Anger seeping into Emily’s tone now that Alona pointed
some blame her way for Ben's anger.

"Why
shouldn’t I? And why are you angry with him? It should be yourself you’re angry
with. A few short days ago, he could have sent you and your general away with
your tails between your legs, as you humans say. Yet here you are sitting with
me, because of him caring for you."

Alona’s cool tone ended their
conversation for a few seconds. Emily sat, head down, staring at the floor.
Alona knew there would be more discussions in the future with Emily. There were
many facets of human behavior that the Trillond did not possess or understand.
Alona knew she would always side with Benjamin. She knew he had one goal and
that was to save every one he loved. If he succeeded, it would more than likely
mean he saved the whole universe. He didn’t seem to do things half-assed, as
the humans say.

Space around
Hyson still held the remains of the battle with the Allith and then the Cjittan.
There were ships from both races patrolling the area. The alliance between the
two was uneasy at best. They had both decimated the indigenous life on Hyson
and were turning on each other as they met in search of food.

The hunting
party consisted of about twenty Allith. They moved through the forest, slowly
using all their senses. Sharp eyes flicking in every direction, nostrils flared
searching for scent in the air. No carcass was wasted and didn’t last long
enough to even rot.

The Allith
warlords sat in a room on an old frigate. They were regretting their decision
to invite the Cjittan to this system to aid them. The Cjittan scouting party
alone had given them cause to reconsider, now that they had been co-existing
with them. A decision was made; they would leave and return to their own
system. They would ask the Allond for help and would agree to the tax and
subjugation of the Emperor in exchange for more a fertile system to hunt in.

The winged
beasts of Hyson had managed to survive longer than the rest. The Allith did
their best to hunt them, usually watching them fly away before ever getting
close. Their skill as marksmen was mediocre at best, so flying creatures had
the advantage.

The leader of the
hunt watched as the flying creature leapt up to flee, well in advance of their
approach. Something different happened this time. He saw it caught in mid air
by some form of net. He ran ahead with the other hunters following his lead. He
saw the creature struggling and could hear its cries. The more it, struggled
the more it wrapped itself up in the strange netting.

They approached
cautiously looking around but never down or up. They felt the sticky material
wrapping around their legs. Clawing at it only wrapped it around their claws.
The forest canopy blocked out the direct sunlight. They would never see the
shadows of what was descending on them from above.

The leader
heard a hunter roar as a hairy Cjittan with long legs wrapped itself around the
hunter. Its fangs buried deep into its back. It held the hunter long enough for
the venom to take effect, then let go. He saw the rest of the hunting party
immobilized in the same manner, some never making a sound. In his fear, he
turned and ran straight into the giant net that held the flying creature.

His struggle
served to only further his entanglement. He could hear movement behind but
couldn’t twist his body to see what was happening. He felt the net trembling
and then the struggling of the winged creature ceased. The netting continued to
bounce and he knew something was moving across it coming closer. Two large legs
tipped with claws hooked his body and lifted him up as another leg cut the
sticky net away. This was not what attacked his hunters. It was much larger.
The claws pierced his hide and he felt his blood running down his body. He hung
from the hook on the claw on his body. It was walking and raised him high above
the forest floor. He saw his hunters wrapped and being dragged away. He could
see it now, its body as big as the shuttle they had flown from the ship. It
lowered him towards what he knew was his end. He roared in defiance and anger.

He could see
his reflection in the eyes and the mouth was opening and closing. The giant
Cjittan could wait no longer. It dropped the Allith into its maw and pulled
upward, holding the limp, headless body. It opened its maw and held the body
against it, letting the blood drain. When it felt satisfied, it turned its body
to its right. In the distance stood the three mantis-like Cjittan, watching. It
flung the body in their direction and walked away in the direction of its
hunters.

As the servants
of the queen, the mantis were entitled to a portion of the kill. The hunters
had to provide a kill that had not been bitten with venomous fangs or else they
would die.

Twenty three
Allith ships left Hyson space to return to the small system they called home.
The Cjittan let them leave and, within a half cycle, followed. They would let
the Allith lead them to their home worlds. The opportunity was too good to pass
up. They would not have to eat their own and the Cjittan scout army would not
go hungry while they waited for their queen to decide on the future conquest.
Not all of them departed some were left behind.

                                   
****

Aisling stepped
onto the bridge and looked over her officers. She had done that a lot in the
past hours, weighing her decisions and their lives and careers. Marine Sergeant
Bagwell had announced her and each of her officers turned from their work to
look at their captain. Aisling stood behind her chair with her hands gripping
the back.

"I need
all of you to look at me and pay very close attention. When the attack group
arrives, there are some things I believe will happen very fast. When they do, I
will be making decisions that will affect everyone on this ship. It will be
treason and numerous other charges they will label us with. We may have to fire
on our own ships and will be fired upon ourselves. It will be four against one.
I will give you a minute to decide if you will stay or go. You all have my
respect and gratitude regardless of the decision you make. Do not ask any
questions. You know what you need to do and if you leave, it will be better
that you know nothing of our plans."

Aisling took a
deep breath. Her officers were looking at each other, then her, then back at
each other.

"I know
this is a lot to digest in a minute but there will be no changing your mind
later. Your minute is up. If you’re leaving go and get your things. There is a
shuttle that is going to take you to Anubis."

The door opened
and Lieutenant Commander Holmes, the XO, entered. "Captain, everything is
proceeding per your instructions. I spoke with Lieutenants Chavez and Wu. They
are staying with us and will shuttle any of the crew down and return
pronto." Aisling didn’t know if her XO was staying until now. The rest of
the bridge personnel didn’t move. Their captain stood before them in armor
ready to fight.

"XO, go
change into your armor. When you return, take a station and rotate till
everyone staying is combat ready. Helm, put us five hundred meters above the
freighter with our bow pointed in the direction of the attack group. Lieutenant
St. James, you are in charge of dealing with the captain of the freighter. Tell
him not to move and keep his coms silent. When we tell him to go, he should not
think twice and do it quickly."

Aisling's com
chirped. "Captain?"

"Go ahead,
Lieutenant Chavez."

"We have
three to shuttle down to the planet. ETA back to Warhammer, forty five
minutes." Aisling smiled. She had a loyal crew and she was proud of them,
even the ones departing.

"Ensign
Ellison, check with each department head and see if they are battle stations
ready."

"All
except two have reported ready, Ma’am, per your orders."

"Which
two, Ensign? And why wasn’t I told?"

"Medical
and the mess, Ma’am. Staff sergeant wanted to know if you could wait till after
lunch to start a war. He says he has your favorite chocolate cake in the
ovens."

"Tell the
Private that he can cook in his armor and if those cakes are ruined, his ass is
going in the brig."

The ensign
smiled. She knew the crew roster and knew the staff sergeant had served with
the captain for a long time. She also knew he wouldn’t be cooking. He would
shut down, lock everything down and go to his assigned position for battle
stations. The cake would not make it on the menu today.

"Apologies
Captain, but they were reporting in during my minute to contemplate my future
in this Navy. I was busy multitasking, Ma’am," she said respectfully and
smiled.

What happened
next was rare and everyone heard it. "I am sorry, Shawna. Would you like
me to hold the shuttle?"

"Oh no,
Captain. I only needed a second to make up my mind." She smiled again at
her captain and turned back to her work.

"Captain!
We have four ships entering the system, about 15 minutes for clear visual and
45 till they are sitting at the table with us."

"Keep an
eye on them, Lieutenant Benson. If any of the ships break off, I need to
know." Aisling pushed the mic button for a ship-wide announcement.

"This is
the Captain. We have a visual on the attack group. We have about 40 before they
are sitting at our door. I want each and every one of you to look at the crewmen
around you and take a minute to tell them about who or what is important to
you. This way, you will know that your crewmen will be carrying on the fight
for what you hold dear. I have two things, one is my friends and the people I
love who are going to embark on a journey to an unknown galaxy to try and
secure a peace and if there is no peace, secure new allies. Their actions will
serve to protect these things we hold dear. Secondly, the crew of the
Morningstar. Those brave sailors and marines deserve better than the injustice
they are receiving and the memories of their fallen are swept away like refuse,
when they should be celebrated as heroes. If I fall, I task all of you with
keeping these alive for me in your hearts. Captain Aisling O’Shaughnessy
out."

Her bridge was
quiet, no one spoke. "You all need to do it too. This is not going to be
like chasing Allith ships around some system, picking them off then continuing
on patrol. These are Colonial warships, and if we get away, if, it won't end
here. They will chase us down and hunt us like animals."

They all began
looking at each other, then talking. They named their families on their home
planets. Then certain family members. They all seemed a little more serious
after they were through.

                                   
****

"Are we
ready to go?" Ben yelled.

"No more
ready than we were three minutes ago when you last yelled that same exact
thing. This is not a shuttle. It has many systems that need to be brought
online and only two of us doing it."

"Work
faster!"

"Your
words of inspiration captivate our hearts," E’Aria said, sarcasm dripping.

"Andrea!
Andrea! Can you come to the bridge?" Lorelei yelled into the com. A minute
later, Andrea was standing on the bridge looking at Ben with hands on hips.

"Get him
out of here," E’Aria said. "Take him to your quarters and keep him
occupied. That seems to have worked in the past."

Andrea wasn’t
sure how to take that comment. E’Aria must be stressed.

"Come on,
trouble maker. You may own this ship but the captain is the ultimate authority.
You are stressing her out! I don’t believe anyone in history has seen a
stressed Trillond before, which only proves you are an irritating asshole. So
march, buddy, get moving." They left the bridge, Ben first, followed by Andrea.

"What
exactly are you doing?" Lorelei asked. "The ship has been ready to go
for ten minutes."

E’Aria replied,
as she worked. "This mission will go smoother if we set some precedence
now. He has given everyone on this ship responsibilities and assigned none to
himself. No one will take any of us seriously if we let him take over whenever
he wants to. There will be a time when we need to listen to every word he says,
but it isn’t now."

"I think
you’re right," said a  voice coming from the entry way. Andrea walked
in and looked over E’Aria’s shoulder at the console in front of her. "When
do you actually plan on being ready to depart, Captain?"

"I am
waiting to hear from Cook. I sent him on an errand. I ordered some things and
as soon as he is back on board, we will depart." Andrea nodded assent and
decided on another walk through of the ship.

Cook returned
from his trip to the supply company at the space port. A hover truck with a
loading/unloading bed sat them right where Cook directed them. He signed the
papers and they departed.

Cook reported
in. "Captain E’Aria, the cargo is secure. I am locking down the hold for
departure."

"Attention
passengers and crew, we will be departing Anubis in three minutes." E’Aria
cut the com. Andrea joined them and took her seat at tactical. The first
mission of Reaper Inc. was under way. The three minutes had passed.

"All
stations check in," E’Aria announced. She put together an order for
checking in so everyone didn’t try at the same time.

Helm is ready
and departure coordinates are set." Lorelei.

"Tactical
ready." Andrea.

"Engineering
ready." E’Aria.

"Communications
ready." Natalia.

"Lorelei,
let’s get this show on the road," E’Aria said. The ship vibrated just
slightly. No one even knew they had taken off. E’Aria knew they could skip all
the check ins. Ben probably would have told everyone to sit down and just take
off. A ship and its crew needed structure. They were not a cruise liner; there
would be danger and the crew needed to know what to do. Every one of them was skilled
but this was all new and more learning was required. Alona had told her of
Ben’s request to get the Trillond Navy to blockade the border. She liked the
idea and hopefully getting some additional crew members.

Ben wasn’t
strapped in. He moved about his quarters reorganizing what Andrea had already
organized. He took the control for the jamming device out and placed it in his
pocket. He would need to shut it off if they had to communicate with the
Warhammer on their way out of the system. He decided to sit and read some of
the intercepted incoming and outgoing messages it had recorded. This was sure
to piss some people off but. . . he didn’t care.

Lorelei was
pushing the ship just hard enough to reach escape velocity. Their ship was much
more powerful than most Colonial and Trillond starships of the same size
category. It could easily be traveling at twice the speed and be an even
smoother ride but they didn’t want to create any problems for the people on the
ground or get the local government upset with them.