"The Closing Net"

[Joe Manning 0]

Simon Graham looked over the three mercenaries of the starship Qob, trying to assess their motives. Trustworthiness could not be easily assumed for any of them, and the unpredictability of an independent spirit could disrupt so much of the night's planning. Still, there were many contingency plans for eliminating the Guardians' rapidly closing net, and Qob was involved in nearly all of them. The cooperation of Qob's crew allowed for the smoothest contingencies, and so this arrangement would be allowed to play out.

 

"Let us not dwell too long on Joe Manning," Simon said. "The promised burning of Tranquility City is but twenty minutes away. While I may see fit to delay retribution if you can assure my escape from this world, I will not allow doubts of my sincerity to linger overlong.

 

"Whether Manning is removed from the picture or not -- a process I will leave to your discretion -- there is still the matter of averting the Guardians' security force at the port ... to say nothing of their fleet in orbit. The element of chaos is in our favor; the fear of the mob will provide a useful distraction. But I am not inclined to leave anything to chance. I am sure you have a clear plan for gaining access to your ship?"

 

"Well, gaining access to the Qob should be easy enough," said Shane casually. "The Guardians are expecting us to try and gain access to the port. So we give 'em what they're lookin' for. Give some of your devout and loyal followers a 'sacrifice for the cause' speech and have them make an open raid on the Guardian post there to draw their forces away. That'll leave us with an open avenue to the ship." Pher remained silent, but nodded a passive approval. Shane's approach needed no elaboration, and if this guy rated her purely as a gold digger, that was fine with her.

 

"I have few people left on this planet to spare for such a venture," Simon replied. "Though if you believe it would help you gain access to the ship I might convince them to conduct a lightning raid on the port. The Guardians may just be understaffed enough at this point that the diversion would be adequate. Still ... the port would be watched closely. I have my doubts that you would reach your ship without at least making efforts to conceal yourselves.

 

"There is also the matter of the Guardian vessels in orbit. I have provided a distraction for them as well; as we speak, they are searching the asteroid belt for flaws placed in the radiation shield network. My assumption that your ship will not alert their sensors ... this is an accurate assumption?"

 

"Once we're out of the atmosphere, we're home free," Troy answered, hoping he'd find that in his absence, Joe had gotten the ship back into a state in which that promise could be kept. "Do you have any additional requirements we should know about, in terms of cargo, accommodations, or communications?"

 

"I will be accompanied by three or four of my most trusted associates, but no special cargo. My only requirement is that you get us off this world and out of the Guardians' net. When we are off world, we will discuss our destination and the means of my payment for your services." Simon nodded to the boy, who circled around to the back of the computer bank. "You all have not put quite as much planning into this escape attempt as I had hoped. You are either leaving a great deal to chance or you have assets of which you are not informing me. Either way, I will not put myself at risk. I will send you the channel of an untraceable communications link through which you may contact me. Inform me when you need a diversion created at the port, then again when your ship has departed its landing pad. At that time, I will provide the coordinates of a rendezvous site outside the city.

 

"Now I must make preparations of my own, as this may be my final departure from this office complex. If you have nothing else to bring to my attention, Redera will return your weapons and show you the way back to the undercity ... "