Forging a Trap (Jack Forge, Fleet Marine Book 8) by James David Victor

Author:James David Victor [Victor, James David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Fairfield Publishing
Published: 2018-08-20T22:00:00+00:00

6

The landing pad at Fleet Command and Control was surrounded by Fleet Intelligence enforcers, fully kitted out in their black meat suits, pulse rifles across their chests. A group of Fleet Intelligence agents and some Fleet officers stood in a small group to one side.

The sun was high in the sky over Eros, and the shadows were short with clearly defined edges. The shadow of the frigate appeared on the landing pad as Jack maneuvered the craft carefully down to land.

The enforcers approached the ramp the moment it lowered to the landing pad. They marched to the cargo, pushing the Marines out of the way.

“Manners cost nothing,” Torent said bitterly as an enforcer pointed him back to his seat.

Jack looked down into the central corridor. “As you were, Commander Torent,” Jack said calmly. “This is their operation now.”

Jack watched as the crates containing the captured Chits were pushed along on its hovering pad to the ramp in the frigate’s central corridor that ran down to the landing pad. Jack slid down the handrail of the small ladder from the cockpit and followed the enforcers and the crated Chitins down to the landing pad. A group of maintenance technicians came up the ramp, looking at the damage on the frigate. A flight crew came next. The pilot stood in front of Jack.

“I’ll relieve you of the frigate now, sir,” the pilot said to Jack.

“I stand relieved, pilot,” Jack replied. “Take care of her. She’s a good ship.”

The pilot nodded stiffly and climbed aboard Frigate M4.

Jack walked across the landing pad toward the group of officers standing at the doorway to the interior of headquarters at the side of the landing pad. One Fleet Intelligence agent stepped away from the group of officers and toward Jack.

“Major Forge,” the agent said. “I thought that was you.”

Jack stood with his meat suit helmet under his arm. Sam Torent and the team of Marines gathered behind him.

“Agent Visser,” Jack said as coolly as he could.

Jack felt Visser’s cold eyes staring into him, then she smiled.

“Why don’t you come and observe the procedure, Major?” Visser said.

Jack had seen enough of the Chitins, and enough of Visser, for one day, but if he went along, he would have a chance to meet up with Reyes again. Jack nodded.

“Thank you, Agent Visser. I’d be interested to see that.”

Visser smiled again. For the agent, it was a dangerous expression, like a wolf grinning at its prey. “Join me when you are ready.”

Visser turned and walked into the complex through the large doorway at the side of the landing bay. Jack turned to Torent.

“If you want to wait for me, Sam, we can go back up to the Scorpio when I’m done here,” Jack said. “I’m sure you can find a meal or a bunk here at headquarters.”

Torent straightened up, his chest puffed out. “No thanks, sir. I think I’ll find a transport and get back to the Scorpio right away. I’ve got some work to do with my company.”

Jack smiled.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.