Read Star Risk - 03 The Doublecross Program for Free Online

Arms Hotel.
    Grok turned on a random-noise generator and went back to sit down.
    "So," von Baldur said. "This is an initial briefing, since we have not handled a contract this large yet, and want to ensure we play our cards correctly. What are our goals?"
    "To be considerably richer than before," Goodnight said.
    "Of course," von Baldur said. "And the steps thereto?"
    "We'll need to get whatever prime intelligence the Khelat have on our enemies," Jasmine said. Friedrich nodded.
    "First on the Shaoki," Riss said. "But certainly on how much of a myth or threat these bandits in the hills actually are."
    Again, a nod.
    "I think we need to assess the troopies on our side," Goodnight said. "I wonder if any of them are any good, and if not, let's fire the bastards and steal the money for ourselves� and for the people we're going to need to hire."
    "Correct," von Baldur said.
    "One other thing," Riss said. "We should be figuring out some nice, spectacular things that'll knock the socks they don't seem to wear off our clients."
    "An excellent thought," Friedrich said. "That will unquestionably make a demand for increased funding or expenses more palatable. With all that established," he continued, "then it shall be time to launch an offensive or two against the Shaoki. Maybe that will be enough to produce peace."
    "Maybe," Grok said skeptically. "But this is very close to a civil war in this cluster, and civil wars among you humans, I've read, generally aren't over until things escalate to total butchery."
    "They can do that," von Baldur said indifferently, "after we're paid and gone. I have little interest in genocide."
    "It pays so shittily," Goodnight said.
    Riss smiled slightly.
    "And one other goal, just to keep things open and aboveboard, for me at least, is finding out who was responsible for Lanchester's death, and getting his ass on toast."
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    SEVEN � ^ � There were almost six hundred of them, in full dress uniform of their commander's design, in rigid rows.
    "Your men parade well," M'chel Riss told the CO, Joch Rohm, yet another man who rated himself a general. In the Alliance, command of half a thousand men might get someone a colonelcy. But this was mercenarying.
    "Thank you, uh�" Rohm looked for rank tabs on Riss's deliberately blank dark green coveralls.
    "Miss Riss," M'chel said. "However, we're not running parades. Please dismiss your men, and have them fall out within the next half hour in patrolling uniform."
    "Uh� yes. Miss."
    It took an hour before the mercenary force was back on the parade ground. They didn't look nearly as perfect�their field gear, for the most part, looked as if it had just been issued and never worn.
    Riss walked down the ranks.
    "You� Sergeant. Front and center."
    The noncom paled a little but doubled up to her.
    "What are the five blocks in a patrol order?"
    The man looked blank.
    "Pull your team out and move them into the woods in open formation."
    "Yes� ma'am."
    Ten men and women obeyed, moving as if they'd barely learned their lessons from a book.
    Riss watched them trot away.
    "General, what's the size of your marksmanship training team?"
    "We don't have one."
    "Communications training team?"
    "We have technicians who could teach, I suppose."
    "What about ground-to-air light missile training."
    "I'm sure we could assemble some of my experts into a team."
    Riss nodded.
    "How many hours do your men have in zero-G hand-to-hand?"
    "That's an area we haven't been training on."
    "How many of your men have an instructor rating from the Alliance, or an equivalent?"
    "I don't have that figure handy, I'm afraid."
    "Guess, General."
    "Maybe a dozen� maybe two dozen."
    "How many men are experienced at in-space transfer under hostile conditions?"
    "Well, my warriors have been more trained at hands-on, on-planet conventional warfare."
    "I see," Riss said. "If you'd step over here, away from your