Reaper Inc. by Thomas Wright

The ensign turned around quickly
smiling and said, "Damn straight, captain. We all would have. What’s a
little laser burn amongst friends?"
    The Captain
said, "There you have it, sergeant. We have your back." Major
Andersen’s team all smiled. The console at communications beeped. Ensign
Ellison turned back to read the message.
    "Captain,
it’s from Captain Aok. She says they are at Hyson to meet three Trillond Naval
ships then they are departing for Allond space. She would be happy to pick up
the misfits on the way back and will contact us when they have an itinerary for
the return trip."
    "Damn!
Captain, that Claymore is one fast ship if it is at Hyson already,
"Lieutenant St. James commented.
                                       
****
     
    The Prime
Minister stood on the bridge with E’Aria. They were locked in a conversation
about the quantity of crewmembers the three ships wanted to give up. Some
previous messages they had received indicated they would be receiving five
female crewmembers. That pissed the Prime Minister off as the Navy was always
trying to keep the males and send the females to some duty off of their ship.
The captains were purposely pushing back and technically following orders.
    They were still
about two hours out of Hyson. They asked the captains about the beacons and
they were told to stay away. The captains had orders to stay away, so they felt
the advice was sound. There would be three shuttles delivering the new crew
members. E’Aria was tired of the conversation and dismissed the captains. She
turned to her aunt. "Someday I will change that bullshit way of thinking;
that the females are less deserving of a position amongst the crew."
    "I hope to
be alive to see it, my dear. We have no female starship captains in our
navy."
    "I want to
go and kick their green asses and appoint some deserving crew to better
positions," E’Aria ranted. Her aunt was smiling at how she mixed her human
friends’ expressions so easily into her dialog.
    "Let’s go
greet our newest additions. You should ask the Senator to leave his room and
join us so they know who he is. I will find Ben and bring him along."
    "Where
are you? The shuttles are about to arrive with our crew." She
continued walking and could feel herself getting closer to him.
    "I am
in the mess with Adam getting something to eat. You can handle that without me.
They are your people."
    "I
thought because they are serving on your starship, you might want to look them
over."
    "All
right, but I am bringing my food with me."
    He made it to
the door about the time E’Aria arrived at the same location. Cheeseburger in
hand wrapped in a napkin, he just looked at her and walked towards the cargo
bay. Grubb and Buddy were already there, making sure there was plenty of room
for a shuttle to land and depart free of hazards.
    The first
shuttle arrived and sat down gently. The pilot was seasoned and handled it with
skill. The door opened and a young Trillond male exited. He stood, surveying
his surroundings. E’Aria started to walk towards him but Ben touched her arm
and shook his head. She glanced down at the greasy finger prints he left on her
sleeve and scowled at him. The Prime Minister and the Senator arrived a few
seconds later. He recognized her and decided to report to duty to her.
    "Third
officer of the helm, Onak Kar." He saluted with his right arm across his
chest. "Long Live The Empire!"
    E’Aria was getting
even more pissed. First, Ben and now it seemed, the captains had snubbed her by
not sharing with their crewmembers who to report to.
    "Very
good, Third Officer, but you should report to the captain." She turned to
stare straight at E’Aria. Onak had a sudden case of large eye when he followed
her look seeing the very angry female staring at him. He swallowed and took a
step in her direction.
    "Just get
over here and stand." E’Aria pointed to the spot she wanted him standing
in. Onak heard the shuttle leave