The Girls From Alcyone
Page 33
"Triple it. Quadruple it," Gillings said. "Someone in that blasted organization is bound to know something. I want to know where they've gone. And perhaps you should add some of this business with the Mercenary Guild to the news feeds. It might not be a bad idea to implicate them along with the Hekatians in this rebellion."
His attaché made a quick note on his pad. "Of course, sir. Might I say, early reports show the stories are playing very well with the public. Seventy-eight-percent of people polled are calling for a military strike on Hekate."
"Seventy-eight? Change it to ninety-two and run that story."
"Very good, sir. With those numbers, you might actually be able to persuade the Council to move against the Mercenary Guild now."
Gillings dismissed the idea. "No. Not just yet. With the losses on Scorpii, I'm afraid we'll still need to suffer the Mercenary clans, at least for the short term. We still need to retain them under contract to maintain order." He drained his glass. "Soon, though. Let's just deal with the news campaign first. We'll need full public support to move against the Guild."
Gillings' attaché bowed and headed immediately down the elevator to the parking level where his car was already waiting for him. The chauffeur held the door for him and he slipped inside. Unlike Gillings, the man who waited for him in the car did offer him a drink, and he took it, raising the glass politely.
"Thank you, Karl. Might I say, you're looking much better than the last time I saw you."
Karl Tarsus snorted a laugh, nodding to the man he'd only known as Smith until very recently. His real name, he now knew, was Harry Jones, Special Attaché to the Council Chair, and Personal Aide to Randal Gillings. He still didn't trust him, but the money and resources he could get his hands on were staggering. Tarsus still hadn't been able to trace the source, but it was not the Council or Coran Industries. More investigating would be required.
Thanks to Harry Jones, Karl Tarsus was now a man on the move—a new player in Mercenary Services. But he was operating as an Independent now. The Mercenary Guild would not take him back, but that was just as Mr. Jones wanted.
"Have you arranged for the new ships?" Jones asked.
"Crewed and ready." Tarsus took a case out from under his seat and opened it. "And I got your package—CTF Naval transponders. Not easy to get your hands on."
Both men knew that to be true. Tarsus held out one of the tiny devices in his hand; all CTF ships carried the transponders that would confirm their identity to other ships."
"Have them installed right away. I have your first target. Crucis Prime."
Tarsus closed the case and looked up. "Crucis! You can't be serious. Six ships against that facility…Perhaps with fifty ships…"
Harry Jones chuckled and poured two more glasses of whiskey. "Don't worry. We only need to poke the hornets' nest, not destroy it. I want you to get in, cause as much trouble as possible, and get out. Just make sure you've got these installed." He patted the case with the transponders. "I want every Mercenary on that station to know who attacked them."
"I don't suppose they'll be too happy with the Council."
"No, I don't suppose they will."
"This might actually galvanize the clans against them."
"I would imagine that's a possibility."
"They may even chose to move against the Council in force."
"I would be surprised if they didn't."
Tarsus studied him for a long while, then shook his head. "Harry Jones, you're an interesting man. I don't suppose you'd care to tell me the rest of your little game? What this is all about. Is it Power? Money? Women?"
"Why not all three?"
Tarsus's grin was bordering on leering. "Forgive me, but you don't seem the type—at least, not for such mundane pursuits. Now, do tell."
Harry Jones opened his mouth to answer, but then closed it and raised his glass instead. "To possibilities, Mr. Tarsus."
The End
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Table of Contents
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE