Free Reaper Inc. by Thomas Wright

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