Reaper Inc.

by Thomas Wright

  Chapter 6

  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.

  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."

  Chapter 7

  "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.