“The Charger Project.” For Frost, it was a familiar story.
“Affirmative. He joined the Space Pilot’s Guild, earned his Rockets and became a long-haul driver doing deep space duty for the Mars colonization. He became part of the legendary group of local spacers known as the Redstone Rednecks. Once he got enough time in to lock in his pension, he quit flying for the Space Authority several years back and now does freelance work as an independent contractor.”
“Yeah, we know all about those freelancers, don’t we, Snow?” Two remarked dryly. To Space Guarders, both active and former, the term freelancer was synonymous with smuggler.
“Records show he just arrived rockside yesterday, sir,” Cee Tee added.
“Just in time to rescue our fair maiden from that bunch of rejects from ‘Deliverance.’ This one seems to fancy himself a hero,” Frost remarked, as he took in the biofile. He knew these men. He knew the cut of cloth they came from. He’d dealt with them before. They were the kind of men you wanted at your back in a scrap. They were also the kind you didn’t relish squaring off against. For the most part, they were an easy-going bunch, but if they ever got riled up … “You got a fix on where he might be bedding down?”
“Not a definite one, but past records indicate he likes to stay at an old fleabag motel called the Spaceport Inn.”
“Old fuckers like us … we tend to become creatures of habit,” Frost rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Chances are that’s where he’s staying — or was staying.” He turned to Two. “I wanna be airborne in five.”
“I’ve already taken the liberty of toning the team. We’ll be ready in three.”
Frost turned back to Cee Tee. “Contact our Authority friends at Von Braun. I want Thomas’ ship grounded so deep worms will have to look down to see it.”
“Well, hell! Let’s go find this ol’ fart!” Seven spoke up, eager and cocky. “If we catch him tonight, hell, we’ll be home by tomorrow!”
Frost turned and gave him a sarcastic smirk, “Walk in the park, you think?”
“What?” The kid seemed perplexed that the others didn’t seem to share his enthusiasm. “It’s just one worn out hillbilly hauler and a keyboard jabber. Against us? C’mon!”
“How old are you, son?”
“Twenty-one, sir.”
“Ex-Guard?”
“No, sir! I came out of corporate security. Tactical response team. We were trained to deal with terrorist attacks … disgruntled employee rampages … dissatisfied customers …”
“I see … and did you ever have such an incident?”
The young man’s eyes fell slightly. “No, sir. Not really.”
“Well, lemme enlighten you, son. This ol’ fart, as you call him, was putting his ass on the line while you were still pullin’ on your mom’s teat. He’s gotta pair with some hair. He was flying missions to the moon and Mars before there were cities on either. On ships that were sometimes held together with duct tape and bubblegum. You ever been to Mars?”
“No, sir.”
Frost shot Two a slight grin. “Then I’d be very careful about underestimating any man who has.”
“Yessir.” Seven was young and cocky. Frost could tell by the tone in his voice the kid didn’t like being lectured. He understood. He’d been young once. But in their business, growing up fast was not a luxury.
“Enough life lessons for the day. Get to your ride, son! I gotta feeling we’ve gotta busy night ahead.”
***
It was all Tiger could do not to push the throttle forward on his truck and start passing cars recklessly, but the last thing he needed was a police chase and a trip to jail. Amber would be left totally defenseless then. Still, it went against his better instincts. In space, everything was about speed. It was all about getting where you were going as fast as you could, do whatever needed done, and then getting back ASAP. It was how he made his living. Rocket fuel was in his blood.
His passenger was not helping things one little bit. “Is this the fastest this heap will go?” Jocko fretted, glancing impatiently behind him every few seconds.
“Relax! Nobody’s following us.” Tiger would have picked up a tail almost instantly.
“We need to get outta town quick! And you need to lose your furry little fuckbuddy!”
“Why’s that?” Tiger sensed something in his friend’s voice. There was something he wasn’t telling him. Jocko looked away uncomfortably, turning to stare out the window, and Tiger’s suspicions were immediately confirmed. “What did you see? Tell me!”
“Just some bad shit!”
“Not acceptable! I want you transparent or I’ll drop your ass off at the next jump-off. Don’t try me!”
Jock shook his head and sighed. What the hell? He might as well know. His ass is in as deep as mine. Probably deeper, if he’s shagged the little bitch.
“Operation Kitsune …” He knew that saying it out loud was just going to make him even more antsy. But what choice did he have? “It is the roundup of all these creatures like your Amber.”
“Why? Roundup for what?”
Again, the hacker paused. His stomach was twisting into a knot and he felt a major migraine coming on. It took all he had to get out one word.
“Extermination.”
Tiger felt the blood drain from his face. But at the same time, another piece fell into place. That’s why she was being transported under armed guard.
“Why are they being exterminated, Jock?” Unconsciously, he’d pushed the throttle forward slightly.
“I dunno. Something happened … something that wasn’t supposed to. But
