Deadly Intent by Eric Thomson

Author:Eric Thomson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: science fiction special forces, space marine, galactic empire, science fiction criminal organisations, science fiction espionage, Canadian science fiction, space pirates
Publisher: Sanddiver Books Inc.
Published: 2020-10-14T00:00:00+00:00

— Twenty-One —

“Ran like rabbits, they did.” Sergeant Lambrix chuckled as he climbed out of the unmarked skimmer that brought him and his troopers back to Turenne Base after they dispersed the rather weak-kneed rioters.

“Nicely done. We saw every moment from the drones,” Hak replied. “Niner has a new job for D Troop, so off to the operations center with you. Faruq’s already there.”

“Isn’t the skipper riding Larsson’s call sign?”

“He is. Metellus will give the briefing.”

“Anything that saves us from babysitting a bunch of star-spangled brass hats should be good.”

“This one is. Word came from home while you were hunting black-clad cretins.”

Lambrix was the last of D Troop’s three section leaders to arrive. Command Sergeant Faruq Saxer, leaning against Testo’s worktable, pointed at an empty chair.

“Now that everyone’s here, good show this morning, folks. A lot of noise, a little blood, and plenty of fear, just the way we like it. Whatever the opposition intended with those UCF wannabes, it failed spectacularly. With the rest of the company in Geneva already and the skipper not wanting to sit on the mission, we avoid playing bodyguards for another day.” He glanced at Testo. “The floor’s yours.”

“We received orders from home via subspace while you were disrupting dumbasses.”

An aerial view appeared on the primary display.

“This is the northern part of Geneva.” He pointed at the image. “That’s Lac Léman, and that’s the Palace of the Stars.”

He touched his controls, and the image shifted away from both lake and city in a northerly direction. Then, it zoomed in on a group of buildings nestled at the heart of a park-like setting, just outside a small agglomeration labeled Cessy.

“This is the Sécurité Spéciale’s headquarters. SOCOM, or more likely, our favorite Naval Intelligence commodore, designated it Objective Smiley. The top leadership usually works out of the Palace of the Stars, so we can assume it’s an operational HQ rather than an administrative one. Our job is doing a thorough recce of the place as if we were planning a strike like the one on Mission Colony a few weeks ago. Go in, seize the computer core, destroy what we can and extract.”

Saxer grunted. “I guess the commodore wants to stop pussyfooting around with those bastards.”

“Probably. We know they’re behind the UCF crap. But this recce mission doesn’t mean a strike is on. Call it using our presence here to prepare for various contingencies and not speculate any further. Now, this is probably the most closely guarded site in the area. Perhaps even on the planet, so waltzing in disguised as cleaners won’t work, nor will drone overflights, which means observation posts and drive-by scans, that sort of thing. Our essential elements of information are as follows. How many work there? What security protocols are in place? Is it defended by a sensor network and automated weapon stations? Does it operate twenty-four seven, and if so, are there reduced staffing times? Others, meaning Naval Intelligence operatives, will look for more about the interior. How, I couldn’t say.

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