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Nineteen - IN SPACE
The Vamoos ship was more than five hundred feet long and consisted of a ram scoop, some very complex separators, and six cylinders, each of which was divided into multiple tanks.
As with all the Vamoos race, the intelligence who controlled the ship and served as its single crew member was known by his job description, a rather lengthy affair that filled the brains of no less than 107 nonsentient storage beings, but could be Summerized as: "The one who travels vast distances in search of materials required to repair, maintain, and further Vamoos infrastructure to the benefit of the race".The last part was especially important, since all activity was measured in terms of its usefulness to the race, and anything that failed to meet stringent criteria went unresourced.Still, as with most of his peers, the pilot had chosen an abbreviated identifier in the form of a two symbol poem: Far/Fetcher.But none is that was on the Vamoos' mind as he cruised the ocean of clouRelated chapters
HALF BREED Twenty - EARTH
It was dark, and the lights of Los Angeles looked like gems scattered on black velvet. Thousands of grav platforms, robolifts and aircars crisscrossed the local sky grid.No one paid any particular attention to the unmarked personnel carrier that rode a priority vector in from the east, dropped out of traffic, and landed on a high rise. Three men exited the aircraft. It was gone moments later.John Usmos shivered in the early morning air. His fatigues had the word "Prisoner" stenciled on the back, his hands were cuffed in front of him, and chains rattled at his feet. His excort consisted of two MPs, neither of whom was much of a conversationalist. The first, an individual whom John had christened "Dickhead", motioned toward a sudden rectangle of light. "Put your ass in gear, John - we haven't got all day".No "sir", no "please", just "put your ass in gear". But that's how it was for prisoners, especially those who were or had been officers.John e
HALF BREED Twenty One - EARTH
Leshi Quinn nodded and glanced at the wall display. The steadily dwindling numbers indicated that only two hours and thirteen minutes remained until one of NI's subsidiaries would seize control of seventy two percent of the planet's voice, data, and video networks along with ninety four percent of the deep space com gear. "Yes, Governor, Zuon is ready, or will be at 0 600 hours local".Sandral nodded. "Excellent. And what of our allies?"Senator Vaano had left many days before in order to ensure that he would be seen on board the Kindred before the shit hit the fan. His job was to slow if not actually prevent response by the Confederacy.Ambassador Hardin Ishimoto-Seven was present, however, he was preparing to leave. He had bobbed his head. "My ship lifts within the hour. I will do everything I can to bring the Hegemony around".Sandral was well aware of the fact that Ishimoto-Seven lacked the full support of his government, but hoped he'd find the means to secure it. S
HALF BREED Twenty Two - EARTH
"If you think the wars ended fifty years ago, then think again. We continue to deal with rebellions, interplanetary disputes, and outlaw armies. The men, women, and cyborgs seen here were encouraged to fight for the Confederacy, only to be abandoned like so much trash".The camera cut back to her face. She looked angry and determined. "Well, not any more! Thanks to their courage and skill, we can still take this planet back."I will serve as governor until the emergency is over and elections can be held. Complete details concerning my staff, our military arm, and related matters can be found on the net. A series of programmes describing your responsibilities and privileges will be broadcast around the clock. Please take the time necessary to view them."Remember, there is no reason to panic. You, your homes, and your livelihood are intact. The only thing that has changed is your status as second-class citizens. You are free!"The politician adopted a somewh
HALF BREED Twenty Three - EARTH
Captain Tyson Salom broke the corner, saw two energy bolts whip through her peripheral vision, and felt Chief Grinnell jerk her back. "Bad idea, ma'am. They have this corridor sewn up. Where are we headed, anyway?"Salom was grateful for the "we". "The Admiral's cabin. Before they capture is kill him".Grinnell nodded. "Aye, aye, ma'am. Let's try 'B' Corridor".The naval officer followed the NCO back to a passageway labeled "Connector 10" and from there to Corridor "B". A rating raced by.The chief stuck his head around the corner, motioned for Salom to follow, and ran toward the stern. The Admiral's cabin was large enough to have entrances onto both "A" and "B" Corridors. They would enter from the "B" side if the hatch was open.Salom's mind started to race. There was so much to consider... And so much to do. Reach the admiral, secure the bridge, restore discipline. If only...A power tech stepped out of an access hatch, saw Gri
HALF BREED Twenty Four - EARTH
The general stood and removed his web belt from the back of the chair. "All right, you heard the traitorous bastard, put everything on the street. Let's meet the scumbags head on, kill every last one of the sonofbitches, and bụry them deep".General Sucre Darren, the academy's commandant and one of the most respected officers in the Legion, stepped forward. She had doubts about Page, about the manner in which he had ignored a multiple of danger signs and seemed blind to his own culpability. She had tried to broach the subject once, to warn him of what was brewing, but he had dismissed her out of hand. "Stick to the academy, General. I'll handle the rest".But it was too late for recriminations, meaningful ones anyway, and there were others to consider. "What about the cadets, sir? Shall I evacuate them?""Hell, no", Page replied carelessly. "They are soldiers, aren't they? Let them fight. Should be over soon. The experience will do them good".Suc
HALF BREED Twenty Five - EARTH
The corridor was momentarily clear. Chief Petty Officer Grinnell hollered "Now!" and began to run. Captain Tyson Salom followed. What began as a thin trail of blood droplets thickened and vanished under a body. The rating lay facedown. Loyalist? Mutineer? There was no way to tell.Half-congealed blood had adhered itself to the bottom of Salom's black high-tops. They made a scritching noise as she ran. Someone yelled, and she waited for the seemingly inevitable impact.But the port side midship lock appeared up ahead, the hatch opened, and they slid inside. Bullets flattened themselves on metal. Salom used her override to lock the door."This looks about right", Grinnell said, pulling a set of emergency space armor out of the locker. "Hope you like white"."It's one of my favorites", Salom said as she struggled into the suit. "The shoulder beacons are a bit much, though"."You might want to deactivate those hummers", the noncom s
HALF BREED Twenty Six - EARTH
A voice spoke in Morgan's ear. She recognized it as belonging to Kendall Riob, a sixteen-year-old who actually liked the stuff they served in the mess hall and couldn't get enough of it. "Alpha Three to Alpha One... I have smoke on my forward positions. Over".Morgan knew what that meant. The smoke was intended to blind her troops. Infantry would follow, and not just any infantry, but infantry supported by cyborgs. They would hit the front lines together, attempt to flank her, and attack Page's rear.Morgan commanded what amounted to a light battalion, including three rifle companies of approximately one hundred thirty cadets each, plus a headquarters company that consisted of herself, some com techs, the medium armor weapons (MAWs) and two 60mm mortars. The same ones firing from her rear.Her mission, as laid down by General Page, was to delay the enemy forces long enough for the regulars to secure the inner city and turn toward the south. That was a task
HALF BREED Twenty Seven - EARTH
Monitors, receivers, transmitters, routers, switchers, amplifiers, junction boxes, and more, hung from ceiling-mounted racks, filled his homemade shelves, and covered eight worktables. Hundreds of cables squirmed this way and that, tying his Kingdom together and connecting Kenny with the world.The teenager sat in his favorite chair, an executive model he had rescued from a dumpster and equipped with wheels. Large wheels that enabled him to roll over cables, empty meal paks, and cast-off clothing.A spot threw light down across Kenny's shoulder-length hair, badly scared face, and filthy T-shirt. The youngster felt jubilant, frightened, and defiant all at the same time. He and his fellow netheads had created Radio Free Earth, what? Twenty four hours ago? Thirty six? He couldn't remember.The whole thing had happened so quickly. Most of the infrastructure already existed, resident not only in his garage, but in hundreds of similar facilities all over the wor
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