Reaper Inc. (5 page)

They cleared
the atmosphere, expecting the dark of space, stars and that feeling of how
small you are in the vast black. It was not as expected but not a big surprise.
There was a full-fledged space battle going on between the Warhammer and four
other ships. Laser fire lit up the screens as it shot through space and danced
on the shields.

"Power up our weapons,
Andrea," E'Aria ordered. "Lorelei, cut the engines to a quarter
thrust. Let's ease into to this."

"What the
hell!" Andrea let fly. Did they just shoot at us?"

"Andrea,
target the weapons turrets and engines of both the Corvettes. That will give
Captain O'Shaughnessy a chance to concentrate on the others."

"Belay
that order, Andrea. We can't fire on any of those ships unless fired upon
first," Alona spoke, walking on the bridge with the senator in tow.
"This ship has diplomatic status and we cannot act as an aggressor."

"You! Do
not give orders to my crew. Is that understood?" E’Aria yelled, as she
rose from her seat.

"Yes
Captain, I just wanted to stop a potential nightmare and possible war,"
the Prime Minister responded.

Lorelei had not
been told to do anything by anyone as she let the ship continue to get very
close to the action.

"Lorelei,
full stop and take a defensive position," E'Aria ordered.

"Captain
E’Aria, there is a Captain Mahajan who says he needs to talk to you. He is from
the CNS Mace. Oh wait, hold on." Natalia laughed, punching the com.

"Captain
Mahajan, she is busy arguing with her Aunt Alona. Can you hold on just a minute
and while you are waiting, can you stop shooting your weapons at Captain
Aisling’s ship please? She is the best captain in all the Navy and it’s not
really nice of you to do that."

"Excuse
me, do you know her?" Captain Mahajan asked.

"Oh yes, I
know her and as my dad says, don’t make her mad or she will kick your
ass." Natalia turned to find everyone looking at her. She turned back
quickly to her console.

"Captain
Mahajan, Captain Aok is available now." The view screen came on to a dark-haired
handsome man with graying temples. His uniform was perfect as he stood next to
his captain's chair.

"Captain
Aok, are the rest of your crew as interesting as the one I just had the
pleasure of talking too?" he asked.

"You have
no idea, Captain. Now, what can I help you with?"

"Your
intentions, Captain. That’s what I want to know."

"We are
traveling under a writ signed by the King of Trillond and the President of the
Alliance granting us diplomatic status. I am transferring it to you now."

Ben walked on
the bridge and stood behind E’Aria. He had put his armor on, not because he
thought he would need it but it had great visual effect. Captain Mahajan eyes
became a little wider for a second. That is what Ben was looking for.

"Captain
Mahajan, would I be correct in assuming you have a member of M.I. aboard your
ship and involved in directing you to the situation you find yourself faced
with?" E'Aria asked. The captain didn’t answer. He looked to his right at
someone out of the picture, then turned back.

"Were you
told, Captain Mahajan, that Captain O’Shaughnessy, as well as others, were
making up a story to cover their asses about an invasion? That is, by the way,
why we are leaving, to go work out details in hopes of preventing the phantom
invasion if you believe M.I."

Captain Mahajan
seemed to be unwilling to answer.

"Our
intentions are to assist Captain O'Shaughnessy. Do you have anything further
you wish to ask?"

While the
captains and spooks had been conversing, Lorelei eased the Claymore exactly in
front of the Warhammer in the line of fire. Shields were at max and Andrea had
all her targets set. Ben laid his hand on E'Aria's shoulder and gave it a
squeeze. He then stepped over to Natalia's station.

"Natalia,
can you get me through to the Warhammer on a different frequency?" Ben
asked. He knew she had been training on the ship, as well as everything else.

"I
can." Natalia tapped the console screen and pinged the Warhammer. "If
they got that, they should answer us in a moment."

"Captain, we
just got pinged by the Claymore on an odd channel; it's not regulation."

"Ensign,
you forget what we are doing here. Regulations just went out the window. Put it
on the com."

"Go ahead,
Claymore," Ensign Ellison responded.

"Shawna,
is that you? It's Natalia. Is the captain there?"

"Natalia,
dear, why are you calling me?"

"It's my
job, Captain, and I got a new pistol and a knife."

The bridge crew
of the Warhammer looked at their captain.

"That is
great dear, but I am kind of busy."

"I know, I
told Captain Mahajan you were going to kick his ass but I think you should run
now while they are arguing with E'Aria. It looks like we can't help you because
we are diplomats or something."

Ben stood
listening to Natalia with his arms crossed. It seemed she had just given
Aisling the same advice he was going too.

"Captain
Mahajan, it seems that if you want to get to the Warhammer, you will need to
move us first," E'Aria yelled.

"I am
sorry Captain Aok, but I have my orders. Mahajan out. "

"Andrea,
the minute they fire, you fire," E'Aria ordered. Lorelei, get ready for
evasive maneuvers."

"Natalia,
do you still have the Warhammer on the com? If so, tell her to get ready."

"Captain,
looks like we are not diplomats anymore. Captain E'Aria says get ready.
Claymore out."

The bridge crew
of the Warhammer looked at their captain. Every one of them remembered Natalia.
Ensign Ellison looked to her captain. "Captain, she has a pistol and a
knife and she is working on the bridge of that warship."

"Oh yes
Shawna, to you she still sounds like a teenage girl, but she has been with
Reaper for about four months and I guarantee they haven’t been wasted. She has
at least four of the best teachers around. I would bet you a month’s pay in a
few years she will be piloting a starship and by the time she is your age, the
captain of one."

"I won't
take that bet, sorry Captain."

"Lieutenant
Benson, do you have a lock on your targets?"

"Aye Captain, just give the
word."

"Lieutenant
St. James, keep the bow pointed at the Mace. I want the smallest possible
target always appearing on their screens. Ensign, inform Chief Miller we are
going to make two FTL jumps, a short and a long with minimal time in
between."

Ensign
responded, "Aye Captain, message from the Claymore incoming. Should I put
it on the screen or your console?"

"Put it on
the screen." E'Aria and the Prime Minister came into view.

"Captain,"
E'Aria said. "In a moment, one of those starships is going to fire on our ship.
When that happens, our status as a diplomatic envoy will be mute. We are going
to attack both of the corvettes simultaneously and force them out of formation.
We want you to use the opening and FTL to safety."

"E'Aria,
may I ask what you plan to do if we leave?"

"We are
going to run, Captain. With you gone and hopefully safe, we are hoping to draw
them away from Anubis. They do not know the capabilities of our ship, we plan
on just keeping ahead of them dangling the carrot, and once we are far enough,
we will FTL to Hyson space."

The Prime
Minister interrupted and said, "Captain, the Trillond Empire offers you
asylum for as long as needed. I have arranged for a blockade of our border and
will notify Trillond Naval Command if you can tell me you would wish to retreat
there. They will not be allowing any other Colonial Navy starships entry. You
and your crew will be safe."

"Thank
you, Madame Prime Minister. We will take you up on your offer."

E'Aria had been
studying the captain’s face and saw a flicker of relief for a moment. "We
will see you there, Captain."

"E'Aria,
they have fired on us. If you two are done gabbing, we should respond in kind,
don't you think? Safe travels, Aisling," Andrea was yelling from her
station.

Captain
O'Shaughnessy smiled at E'Aria. "Safe travels, Claymore. We are ready, go
slap them around some and then a little extra for the Warhammer."

E'Aria cut the
transmission. "Lorelei, you heard Captain O'Shaughnessy, let's slap them
around. Andrea, 25 percent power on the laser cannons should get their
attention. Aft cannons fire on the portside and forward cannons the starboard.
Shields at max power. I don’t think they will be as kind as we are. Target
their weapons, later we will target their drives once we have them at a
sufficient distance from Anubis."

The Claymore
fired precision salvos as it entered space dividing the two corvettes. The
Allond, compared to the Colonial and Trillond standard of starship was building
more capabilities over their starships. The drives and generators could power a
colonial destroyer with surplus in reserve. E'Aria used her engineering
knowledge to compare the Claymore to a number of Colonial warships during the
months on Anubis. She knew after her research what her ship was capable of,
lacking any practical experience other than the trip home from Hyson.

Lorelei
maneuvered the Claymore in a way that wouldn’t give away their advantage. She
tapped the thrusters spinning the Claymore while engaging the drive for a
second at a time. She kept the ship moving erratically just to irritate
everyone, including Andrea and E'Aria. The two corvettes had to move apart by
default so they didn’t end up hitting one another in a crossfire.

"Did you
learn these maneuvers in pirate school?" Andrea asked.

"You
colonials are all the same. Three hundred years of shooting at dumb Allith
raiders using text book maneuvers the Allith are too dumb to figure out. If
pirate school means being chased around, shot at and chased some more, and
surviving it for 20 years then yes, I learned something and know what your
people are going to do probably before they do it. Being alive, sitting here,
means I passed the class," Lorelei answered.

                                   
****

The Warhammer
eased forward, giving as much as she was getting against the other two ships.
Captain O'Shaughnessy had faith in her crew. It was understandable if their
hearts were not totally on board with engaging their own people.

"Lieutenant
St. James. When those two corvettes are 250,000 kilometers apart, I want full
thrust, then FTL jump number 1. Pick a spot off the beaten path to drop out and
make sure it has some cover."

"Aye,
Captain. Coordinates already loaded just waiting for your order."

                                   
****

"Lorelei,
set course for Hyson and let’s start drawing them away. We should have given
them sufficient incentive to follow," E'Aria ordered "Andrea, keep
firing at them." Lorelei completed the slow turn and increased speed. The
corvette on their starboard side accelerated to cut them off.

"Increase
speed, Lorelei. Andrea, increase power to the laser cannons. Let’s hit them
hard enough to discourage their current course. Target the area just below the
bridge. Let’s rattle their cage."

                                   
****

"Captain
Mahajan, the alien ship is accelerating. It looks like Captain Henderson is
accelerating to intercept."

"Lieutenant,
notify Captain Stren to break formation and assist Captain Henderson,"
Captain Mahajan ordered.

"Captain
Mahajan, we cannot let that ship escape." The voice from the tall man in
black standing next to him grated on the captain's nerves. He hated having
anyone stand next to him looking over his shoulder. Especially a spook.

                                   
****

The Corvette
Stiletto shook. The occupants of the bridge were not expecting the cannon fire
that just knocked them out of their seats or off their feet. Up until that
point, the cannon fire had not been much of a factor. The crew began to get
back to their stations when they were hit a second time, then a third. Lights
flashed on and off and some sparks flew as electronics were overloaded.

"Damage
report, lieutenant!" Captain Henderson yelled.

"Minimal
damage to the hull, no breaches reported. It seems the bridge is being targeted
specifically, no other damage to the ship."

"Helm hard
to starboard, evasive maneuvers. Let’s not give them any more free shots."

                                   
****

"Lorelei,
increase speed to half. I believe we have that captain's attention."

"E'Aria,
corvette number 2 is leaving formation," Andrea reported.

The Claymore
was gaining on the Stiletto. They would overtake it in a matter of minutes.
Andrea continued to fire on the Stiletto at the increased power level but made
sure to avoid the drives.

"The
Warhammer has increased its speed to half and is continuing to increase. She is
taking fire but her shields are holding. It looks like she will have just
enough time to get past them before they close around her," Andrea
reported.

"The
minute she jumps FTL, we will increase speed and overtake the Stiletto. Let’s
hope all four of them follow us."

"The
frigate is following the Warhammer. The other three are locked on us. Speaking
of locked, the destroyer just fired two torpedoes. Lorelei, increase to full
speed and adjust our heading to a collision course with the Stiletto."
Lorelei already knew what she wanted to do. The Claymore rocketed towards the
corvette Stiletto.

"Over or
under the corvette captain?" Lorelei asked.

"Under,
then pull up hard to port and continue on to our destination." Lorelei
ordered. "Andrea, be ready with the cannons if we don’t shake the
torpedoes."

"Do you
think they will impact on the Stiletto?"

"I doubt
it but the Captain of the Stiletto is not going to be happy with the Captain of
that destroyer. We have already shaken them up. Lorelei, give me 75 percent
power to the shields in the front, 25 to the rear, until we are clear and then
reverse that config. at the point we are out ahead of them."

"Attention,
all passengers. We are about to make some high speed maneuvers in our escape
from the colonial assault group. Secure yourselves and any loose objects."

                                   
****

Ben walked
through the ship checking on everyone that wasn’t on the bridge. Cook was in
the galley belted in a jump seat. The jump seats folded into the wall to
maximize space and not be in the way. Buddy and Grubb sat in every other seat
in the row down from him. He left them to check on the senator and his aide. He
requested entry and found them both strapped in their jump seats with a crystal
decanter in the seat between them, while each held on to a crystal glass half
filled with amber liquid. The aide held the neck of the decanter in a
white-knuckled death grip.

"Benjamin,
are we going to survive our departure?" the senator asked.

"Hell yes,
no worries senator. Your captain and her crew have been playing with them. I
think they are going to shake them up a little more before we run. In two or
three days, we will be in another scrape when we disable them. You will want to
repeat what you are doing right now. Just try and relax and don’t get too
hammered, ok? It will be over in a matter of seconds and then smooth
sailing."

"Oh ok.
Thank you."

"Sure, I'm
going to check on the Prime Minister and Emily now." Ben no sooner stepped
out of the room when the Claymore dived, dumping him on his ass, sliding
towards the bridge. He saw the door frame of the Prime Minister’s room
approaching and grabbed for it. He caught hold about the time the ship pulled
up into a steep climb, reversing his momentum and sliding him back towards the
hold. He tried using the sole of his boots to slow himself but the polished
metal flooring was too slick. The Claymore leveled out before he made it to the
closed door at the end and then dived again before he could stand. Now he was
barreling head first on his back towards the bridge.

"Oh
shit!" Ben yelled, as he fast approached the bridge. The nose of the
Claymore elevated, leveling out the ship but not in time to slow him down. Ben
slid head first into the metal console between Lorelei and Andrea. He lay there
holding his head, with his eyes closed. When he opened them, four sets of eyes
watched him as four faces waited to burst out laughing.

"That will
teach you to disregard announcements to get secured," E'Aria said. Ben
stood up smiling, holding his head.

"She
handles great, doesn’t she? No other ship in this galaxy can maneuver like
that. I imagine she is nothing special where she came from but here, she is the
shit."

"Yes dear,
and that is one reason why they want to take her from you," Andrea said.

"The
Claymore has more thrusters than all three of those ships following us. The
three hundred and sixty degree array of thrusters around the nose, as well as
along the sides, pushed the ship according to the commands sent from the helm.
A supercomputer making billions of calculations kept the thrusters in sync.
That allows us to dump you on your ass at any given moment," Lorelei
explained, then laughed.

"Are they
following us like we hoped?" Ben asked.

"Yes,
although the Stiletto is limping along right now. The Captain of the Mace
detonated the torpedoes when he saw they were going to hit the Stiletto. They
were very close when the self destruct code set them off. It probably took out
some of their systems with the blast."

                                   
****

"What the
hell! Captain Mahajan," Captain Henderson screamed. "You fired
torpedoes in our direction. Are you out of your mind?!"

"The alien
ship had not shown us that level of speed or maneuverability, Captain
Henderson. The missiles had plenty of time to take them out based on the
information we had accumulated," Captain Mahajan replied coolly.

"It
doesn’t matter. We have procedures and you know them. Don’t let outside
influences cloud your judgment, Captain. Henderson out!"

"He may be
trouble in the future, Captain," the M.I. officer said.

"He will
be no trouble and he is correct. We have procedures for a reason. Another 10
seconds and we may have killed hundreds of Colonial sailors and damaged or
destroyed one of our own. That would have all been on my head and punishable by
life in prison or death," Captain Mahajan explained calmly, even though
his insides were in turmoil.

Captain Mahajan
looked at the tactical display. "Lieutenant, contact Captain Stren for
me."

"Captain,
I have Captain Stren. Should I put it on your personal com?" the com
officer asked.

"No
lieutenant, on the screen is fine."

Captain Stren
was standing on the bridge of her ship, the Dagger. Her hair was completely
silver gray. She was attractive but had a hardness to her eyes. She looked like
she’d brook no shit from anyone and had all the sense but no humor.

"Captain
Mahajan, do we have new orders sir?" she asked.

"You do, Captain.
You will proceed at full speed and follow the target and if given the chance,
disable it. The Mace and the Stiletto will be following but slower while the
Stiletto executes repairs. We will follow at full speed once it is
possible."

"Understood
sir, we leave immediately. Stren out."

The Claymore
slowed once they saw they were not being pursued with any determination. The
colonials seemed to be on a Sunday drive.

"When do
you think we will see the Warhammer again?" Lorelei asked.

"Captain
O'Shaughnessy more than likely didn’t go far in FTL. She is somewhere getting
her shit together and will be headed in our direction shortly, making most of
the journey in FTL. I think she will contact us once she is somewhere we can
meet her," Ben said

"I
concur," E'Aria said

"E'Aria,
we have a corvette moving in our direction at a high rate of speed. I guess
they made some decision," Andrea announced.