Legions of Orion (Star Crusades Nexus, Book 1) by Michael G. Thomas Page B

infrastructure on Eridani Prime was worth
trillions of dollars, and that didn’t include the value of the ore
and resources being mined and refined.
    “You do understand that reputation goes
a long with this kind of business, don’t you?” asked Spartan with a
tone of feigned injury.
    Agent Johnson grinned at the reply.
    “ Your reputation
couldn’t be any more concrete than if you were made from solid
rock, Spartan. Military service, gladiatorial combat victories and
one of the key saviours of the Alliance, what isn’t there to know?”
he said with more than a hint of sarcasm.
    The vehicle slowed
to a halt, and the door hissed open to reveal two fully armoured
men. Agent Johnson couldn’t but be surprised at how similar they
looked to the Alliance Marines. Their armour was reminiscent of the
PDS (Personal Defence Suits) worn by Alliance troops, yet the
plates and ribbing suggested something even more
substantial.
    “ Nice gear, Alliance issue?”
    Spartan shook his head but gave nothing
away.
    One of the guards leaned closely to
Spartan and spoke directly through the encrypted suit-to-suit
communications channel.
    “ Sir, something is
going on in one of the storage areas. I’ve despatched a security
team, and they have the area isolated. It’s on the route to the
refinery with the hostages.”
    “What?” demanded Spartan.
    “ It’s Jack, Sir. He
managed to break out with two others. Half an hour later, we got
the message of gunfire in this part of the facility.”
    The small group
entered though the triple sealed entrance and into the
decontamination area. Even as the steam and gases washed over them,
they continued their conversation. Spartan thought for a
moment.
    “What’s down there?”
    “In the storage area? Well, no weapons
but there are about fifty spare sets of cold weather gear and some
armour. There’s also a winterised Cobra.”
    The light switched to green and each of
them was able to remove the outer layers from their envirosuits.
Agent Johnson moved up to Spartan and the guard.
    “I take it there’s a problem?”
    The
g uard said nothing, but Spartan decided
to share something with him.
    “There’s trouble in one of the storage
areas. Reports of gunfire and possible theft of equipment and a
Cobra transport.”
    “ Interesting, but
not really something I need to concern myself with. I’ll let you
get on with that. We’ll make our way to Ms Morato and get on with
our interview of Jack, if that’s okay?”
    Spartan nodded,
indicating for one of the men behind the desk to approach them. The
man stood up and moved towards them. He wore a smart suit and
looked half of Spartan’s age. Spartan introduced the new
arrivals.
    “ This is
Intelligence Director Johnson. Please escort him and his assistant
to Ms Morato, and give him any assistance that he might
require.”
    With that, Spartan
left them and made for the nearest elevator. The armoured guard
returned to the entrance of the complex, and Spartan noted that he
locked down the door system.
    Dammit, I can never catch a break, can
I?
    He hit the button on
the wall to select the floor to the storage level and then
connected directly to his office. Teresa
answered it almost immediately.
    “Ms Morato.”
    “ Teresa, I’ve just
arrived. What’s going on?”
    “ Spartan, Jack managed to get out and he’s met up with
some of his old friends. He said something about a cell working
against the Alliance. It has something to do with this
Biomech-hating organisation we were talking about.”
    Spartan shook his head.
    “ Jack, what have you
done now?” he said despairingly. “I’m
away for a few months, and you’re in trouble again.”
    “ Spartan, there is a
tactical team down there. I sent Lovett, and he’s already secured
the perimeter. Hurry, Jack said something about them trying to
sabotage the rift generator.”
    “What, how can they do that from down
here?”
    Teresa shook her head.
    “ I have no idea,
Spartan. All I know is