Suddenly, the XO transferred an urgent com to the captain.
“Captain! We have a visual on two vessels about 5,000 kilometers out. A gunboat and a shuttle. All codes match. Would you like me to hail them?”
“Go ahead ,the major and I will be there in just a minute,” the captain responded.
“Well, Major, would you like to talk to your missing team mates?” the captain asked.
“Yes I would, Captain, thank you,” the major replied, trying to keep her calm.
They walked onto the bridge and the corporal at the door called the bridge to attention.
“At ease, everyone,” the captain said. The XO had the ships on the screen and the com officer was ready to hail them for the captain.
“XO, hail the ships,” the captain ordered.
Aok saw the incoming hail from the Warhammer and asked everyone to quiet down over the ship’s com.
“Reaper,” she said, “we have a hail from the Warhammer.”
“Put her on ship-wide com, Lieutenant,” Ben said.
“Keep playing,” he told everyone. “We need to have a champion before we dock.”
“Captain O’Shaughnessy, this is Lieutenant Aok.”
“Lieutenant Aok, will we need to have medical waiting when you dock?” the captain asked.
“No, Captain, I think we can get them there,” Aok replied.
“I was under the impression you had wounded, Lieutenant,” the captain asked, confused.
“Yes, Captain, but they are all on the mend and mobile. We picked up a couple of Trillond med techs on our travels and they have been tending the sick,” the lieutenant explained. Just then a cheer went up from her ship and someone yelled, “We have the lead, Lieutenant.”
“Okay,” she responded, “let’s get a couple more and put them in their place.”
“Sorry, Captain,” Aok said into the com, “we’ve been having a trivia competition between ships. It has become a big hit.” Aok laughed at the fun her people were having. “Captain, should we dock with the airlocks or come around and into the cargo bay?” she asked.
“Use the airlocks, Lieutenant, until security can vet everyone. We will bring them off in small groups, get their information and find somewhere to put them,” the XO said, answering her question.
“You won’t have to take everyone, XO,” Aok said. “These are both newer vessels and we can assign some of the survivors to these ships if it will help. The living quarters will accommodate 17 on the gunboat and about the same on the shuttle. They will want to take their meals on the Warhammer, I’m sure. I don’t think Reaper is a very good cook.”
“I heard that, Lieutenant,” she heard him yell along with a chorus of passengers agreeing with her. Another question was asked. They knew they were running out of time. The game would go until the locking clamps were secure on the airlock of the ship.
The major stood behind the captain on the bridge. She didn’t know what to think. She should be mad about the total lack of any military decorum, but how could she? Everyone sounded so happy. Was it disrespectful to put the captain on an open com while a game was being played? It must have been alright, because the captain was smiling and she didn’t cut the com. The bridge was caught up in the excitement of the survivors and they wanted to hear the end of the game.
Lieutenant Aok was docking the shuttle first, then she would dock the gunboat on the other side. It was making its approach to link up with the Warhammer. The question had been asked by the gunship team. The shuttle team was discussing their answer in frenzied conversation. The ship eased up to the airlock and stopped. They yelled out their answer right before the locking arm grabbed the shuttle. There was a argument over the answer.
“Lieutenant, could you rule on the answer please?” Reaper asked.
“The answer is correct,” she said. There was cheering and booing. After two days, the game had ended in a tie. The bridge crewmembers of the Warhammer were all smiling. They were unsure from reports what to expect when they met up with the two ships, but this wasn’t it. They cut the com and the captain and major along with a security team went to met Reaper and the survivors.
They heard Natalia coming down the corridor. The shuttle door opened and Reaper stepped into the airlock. It cycled and he stepped onto the Warhammer. He saw a 13-year-old ballistic missile coming straight for him. He let go of his helmet, knowing what was coming. The captain and major stepped back as Natalia sailed through the air between them. He caught her and held her as she hugged his neck and kissed him.
“You’re a hero!” Natalia said to him, smiling.
“Stop it! You’re making me blush,” Reaper said, teasing her.
“I missed you. Everybody has been so worried,” she said.
Word had spread of the shuttle’s arrival. The whole team walked down to see him get off the shuttle. Nurse Tanaka showed up, as well as the sergeant from the officers’ mess hall. They moved on into the cargo bay so others could start getting off the shuttle. There was no prying Natalia loose, so Ben made a half-hearted attempt of reporting to the captain and major. The captain just laughed and the major shook her head.
“Don’t worry about it, Reaper, there are at least five women on this ship that wanted to do just what Natalia did but who can’t get away with it.” the captain said, winking at him. The major, Nurse Tanaka and Ronnie all looked at her. The men standing in the group were laughing and shaking their heads. “We don’t stand a chance with him around,” one said.
“That’s no shit,” Snake said. “He’s like some hero in a kids’ book. Brave, handsome, kills the baddies and gets the girl. All the girls.” They all laughed.
The mess sergeant walked up to Reaper and asked if he could make him anything to eat. He liked Reaper and adored Natalia.
“Sarge, that would be great,” Reaper told him. “Also, it would mean a lot to me if you would start some hot meals for the people on the ships. They haven’t had a decent bite to eat in two weeks.”
“I will get right on it, sir,” the sergeant told him, walking away.
“Let’s go meet the lieutenant,” Reaper said, and started walking over to the other airlock. A second security team was already standing there, waiting. Reaper looked around but he didn’t see Emily anywhere. She would have no reason other than curiosity to be there anyway.
Lieutenant Aok came through the airlock door first, walked up to the major and reported in. She was followed by the mother, daughter, son and the orphan boy. They saw Ben holding Natalia as he walked up to them. He knelt down and let go of Natalia, and the sister and brother jumped in, hugging him. Then the orphan wormed his way in for a hug. Ben stood up and the mother gave him a hug too.
He noticed it was quiet and he turned to find about twenty people staring. He told the mother to talk to security so they could go get a nice dinner in the mess hall. He introduced Natalia to all the children. He asked her to stay with them and be their guide on the ship, then turned back to face all the people.
“Let’s get whatever needs doing done so I can eat and shower,” he said.
“You have a debriefing with the general, the major and Emily Brous,” the captain said.
“Alright, let’s go,” he said and started walking. “What time will the general be on the horn?”
“It should be any minute now. I sent him word before I left the bridge. Can you get Ms. Brous to meet us in the conference room please?” He put his helmet on and opened the door to the conference room but didn’t enter. He blocked the door and pretended to be looking around. He looked over the top of their heads and up and down the corridor. The captain and the major looked at him and finally the captain asked, “Reaper, who are you looking for?”
“Some ladies to go first, but there are none in sight!” he said and laughed, knowing something was going to happen.
They both pushed him at the same time and started hitting him. They were laughing as they tried to do something to him that would have an effect. Someone behind the
m cleared their throat.
“Is this a private party, or can anyone join in?” Emily stood in the doorway.
“No, come on Emily, the more the merrier,” The captain said. She jumped on his back. They were trying to twist his arm and knock him down. They weren’t doing well with any of it.
Someone else cleared their throat, and they all stopped to see the general on the wall vid. He had a admiral with him. She had an amused look on her face as she studied the scene. They all let go and stood at attention, straightening out their uniforms.
“At ease, and no more fighting,” the general said with a grin on his face. “I can assure you, Admiral, that these three are usually model officers. Two of them have exemplary records. Then they get around him, and what good sense they have goes right out the window.”
“What kind of man could turn years of training and discipline into a free-for-all like that?” the admiral asked to whoever wanted to answer.
“Admiral, give it a day and you will have your answer,” the general said. “He will give his report and then Commander Brous will have to go interview the survivors and make her report. That will only be a fraction of who he is, but it will help explain things.”
“I can’t wait, General Grey. Sit down, Reaper,” the admiral ordered.
Reaper sat down and waited. The admiral was thinking about her question. “How many Allith did you kill on Hyson?” she finally asked.
“More than ten and less than 75,” Reaper replied.
“You don’t know exactly?” she asked.
“No Ma’am,” he answered, “why would I count? Counting would be a distraction I can’t afford when fighting the lizards. My unofficial mission became getting the prisoners to safety. Killing the Allith raiders was going to be part of completing that objective no matter what. Had my mission been to kill Allith raiders and nothing more, I would have a more accurate count for you.” His tone was matter-of-fact but not disrespectful. “That’s kind of a psych question isn’t it, Admiral?”
A smile touched her mouth for a brief second. “Just curious,” she said
Yeah, right. So this is how it will be with her when she asks questions, he thought.
The questioning went on for about 20 minutes. He got the feeling the admiral was just trying to get a handle on who he was and why the general put so much faith in him. Emily sat taking notes and watching the admiral. He had a feeling she was watching her boss, which meant the admiral was Military Intelligence.
Ben had sat through the whole thing with his helmet on. He was ready for it to all be over so he could eat and shower.
“Reaper, would you remove your helmet? I want to take a look at you,” the admiral asked with a hint that it wasn’t a request.
The general frowned and looked at her. “I want to see his face,” she told him.
“Emily, can I ask you to leave the room please?” the general said.
“No,” the admiral interjected, “she can stay.” The general’s frown deepened. Reaper could tell he was not aware this was going to happen. He wasn’t sure it was such a good idea either. The general looked from the admiral to Reaper and nodded.
“General, I’m not so sure this is a good idea,” Reaper said.
“Just do it,” the general replied. “It may be better this way.”
Reaper sat, not moving or saying anything. They couldn’t see his face to get any idea of what he was thinking. He didn’t want to put any strain on his relationship with the major. She had a hard time as it was with the attention he got. Emily was a part of his life, a friend and his first love. He felt a storm coming and didn’t know why the admiral would want to start it.
“I don’t think so, General. I see no purpose in it,” he said. Everyone sat very still. The general didn’t react immediately but the admiral did.
“Whether you see a purpose in what I asked or not is not relevant. You will comply or I will have you locked in the brig,” she fired at him, her face getting a little red.
“Admiral! If you want to play a game of who has the biggest balls, rock on,” he said, standing up quickly and startling the three officers in the room. “I’ll play with you.” He reached for his sword and dropped it on the table. He unlatched his belt with his pistol and knife and dropped them on the table. The big broadsword was next and it hit the table, making a very loud racket.
“Major,” he said, “would you make sure my weapons are taken to my quarters please. Captain, would you call the brig and have my new quarters made ready.”
He headed out the door and started walking towards the brig. The admiral must have known about his and Emily’s history. She was playing games, games that had no useful out come to him or Emily or the team.
The general did not look happy, the major thought, but not with Reaper. He was unhappy with the admiral. She wasn’t sure what kind of game was being played, just that there was one in progress.
“Is he always this volatile?” the admiral asked no one in particular. The officers nodded and laughed. “Captain,” she said, “are you going to send a escort with him to the brig?”
“If you order me to I will, but otherwise no. I expect he will be there in a few minutes,” the captain answered. “My NCO on duty will contact me once he is secure.”
“Well, a cooling-off time will do him some good,” the admiral said.
“He won’t be cooling off, admiral, because he is not angry,” the major said. “That was his way of diffusing a situation he didn’t want to be in. In addition, you just locked up a returning hero in the eyes of this ship and the Trillond citizens he saved. When they tell their government you had him locked up, they are going to be asking questions of people much higher in the food chain than you. You know politicians love a hero.”
“What was so important about him taking his helmet off anyway?” the captain asked.
“With all due respect,” the major said, “aside from Emily and yourself, we all know what he looks like and my understanding is he is supposed to be a ghost. Revealing his face to everyone that thinks they can order him to do so is not going to work well for the ones who try or for him.”
Chapter 20: Brig Time
“He has arrived at the brig and is secure,” the captain reported to the admiral.
“I must say, General, your briefings are a lot more exciting than mine,” the admiral said in much lighter tone, now that she had had a chance to reflect on what the major and captain had said.
“How long does he have to stay locked up?” the general asked.
“That is up to you,” she answered. “I may have been a bit rash in my decision to push him. The last order of business I have is assigning Emily Brous to your ship on a permanent basis until I need her somewhere else. I think the assignments the general will be sending his team on will provide you with plenty of things to do, Emily.”
The captain and the major looked at each other at the same time.
“General, I need to go, It seems that the team has heard about Reaper and they are at the brig,” the major said.
“Yes, General,” the captain said. “But protesting is not what my men are telling me.”
“Damn, go take care of things,” the general told them “I will contact you later. Grey out.”
The officers got up quickly and hurried down the corridor. They got there just in time. The two parties were still in a stand-off.
“Why is he locked up?” Snake yelled at the two officers. “They’re saying he came voluntarily and put himself in the brig.”
The major, with the sergeant major and Gunny now behind her, confronted the rest of her team.
“Stand down!” she shouted over the yelling. They quieted down but were still tense.
“Now listen up. Reaper had a difference of opinion with an admiral. The admiral threatened to put him in the brig. He voluntarily decided to be locked up. You will apologize to the sailors here in charge of the brig for your behavior, and if you cause another disturbance like this ever again you
will be seeing these sailors on a daily basis from behind their bars. Am I clear on this?”
“Yes sir,” they responded. Snake stepped forward and apologized to the staff sergeant in charge and his men. They relaxed and nodded their approval of his apology.
She turned to the sergeant major and Gunny. “Would you take this bunch of misfits and find out if there is anything we can do to help the guests we now have on the ship?” she said. “Captain, do you have any suggestions?”
“I think they should all go volunteer their help to the sergeant of the mess with the food and or the clean-up,” the captain said. “He has a lot of extra work.”
“You heard the captain,” the major said. “Sergeant Major, take our volunteers and make sure they work.”
With that out of the way, the captain and the major entered the brig. They walked in with the thought that Reaper would be in the empty cell, but they didn’t get that far. They stopped and stared in the cell that Lorelei occupied. She had been a model prisoner and the men had given her books and things to read, a chair and foot stool and a curtain to pull across the bars for privacy. Emily had been in to see her a couple of times to get information out of her and she had told her a lot. Reaper was lying on her bed, sleeping or resting they assumed, and Lorelei was sitting in the chair reading. She jumped up and shook him, waking him up.
The captain opened the cell and she and the major stepped in. Reaper didn’t get up.
“Are you okay, Lorelei?” the captain asked. “He didn’t threaten or try to hurt you, did he?”
“No ma’am, he ‘s been very nice,” Lorelei answered. “I was worried when he first walked in but he told me he needed my help.”
“What did he need your help with?” the captain asked.
“He just wanted me to guard him while he slept. He said someone may come and to wake him if anyone showed up.”
The Chronicles of Benjamin Jamison: Call Sign Reaper Page 26
