"You still use coins here," Anderson noted, turning one over in his hand. "I'm amazed."
"They're struck with a gauss field so they have an encoded signature. Every cash counter can check them. So it's not worth forging them. Once asteroid mining took off, Earth should have gone back to real metal coins, not plastic."
"Instead we have rechargeable cards. Lighter weight."
"Yeah, but no character." Vaughn flipped a Cr5 coin through the air to land on the table with a ring. There was silver in there. That was classy, Bart agreed.
"I checked insystem flights," Marlow said. "We can be on one tonight at nine divs, or tomorrow at three. Once I get used to your screwy clock."
"What, ten divs of one hundred segs? Easier than Salin's sixty-four minutes and twenty hours and god knows what months. I needed about a week to get used to it."
"Just so everyone knows," Marlow said, "I have to relay the bad news, too."
"Go ahead," Bart said.
"We are all missing and presumed dead."
Into the silence that followed, Anderson said softly, "Does that mean they intend to make us dead?"
After a moment, Vaughn said, "Likely not. That's why they've left options open. They can't jail us if we're dead, and don't want to admit the gaffe. This means they can smear us with more dirt if they do find us."
"They'll claim we faked our own deaths, probably," Marlow said.
"Right."
Bal said, "I am so sorry. This just seems to get worse, doesn't it?"
Shrugging, Bart looked at him and said, "I expected as much. It is harder on you and Jason, having families." He looked around.
The expression on Jason's face suggested that there would be vengeance.
* * *
Horace shook his head all the way down. Cash on the counter, seven tickets, board the craft with weapons in carry-on luggage and pistols worn. All they'd been asked for was to clear the chambers and holster or case them. There'd been little surprise.
He shared a cabin with Bart and said, "I can't help but wonder about that. It almost seems like an invitation to have ships pirated."
"I wondered about that, too," Bart replied. He was stretched out on a large bunk with his hands behind his head and legs sprawled. He looked very happy to have so much room. "I suppose there aren't many places one can take such a craft, unless you have your own maintenance, support, and fuel facility. And if so, why steal one?"
"All colonies overreact against the controls of Earth," Horace said. "If they were like the rural parts of Africa, they'd have far stricter controls. Of course," he shrugged, "it hasn't helped much to stop civil wars."
"Pfah. You don't fight effective wars with rifles and pistols," Bart said. "Not without support weapons, artillery, and some recon and power in the sky."
It was a good start to an intellectual conversation, which lasted most of the ten days in. They took turns guarding Bal, though it was obvious no one recognized him nor cared, and there weren't any other passengers who were a believable threat. Some were families, some business types constantly sending messages, and there were a couple of college kids coming back from Novaja Rossia. The two of them hit it off and spent most of the time in a cabin together, after swapping space to be alone in that cabin.
I could use a woman, Horace thought with wry amusement tinged with bitter frustration. When this assignment is over, hopefully in a few days, I intend to be far less spiritual, and far more carnal.
The only real excitement was in the transfer from the system craft to the landing shuttle. The orbital station was not much to speak of: very sterile, small, and mechanical, being designed for a safe transfer between craft, as a support point for those craft and not much else. However, their intent to go through together came to a halt when they realized the lock was only big enough for three to five with luggage. Bal got cut out of the group and directed into the lock with no one else from the team.
After a hesitation, some looks, a quick shuffle, Aramis took his place and went ahead. That made it obvious to everyone that they people were up to something. Horace kept a studied neutral expression and pretended not to be aware of the stares. He kept expecting customs agents or cops, even though neither existed here. There were safety officers who were akin to cops, but not on hand, nor would they show up unless called. Apparently, their little dance had not been enough to merit it.
Once locked aboard, one here, one there, it was a matter of taking seats and the typical cramped, annoying, mildly nerve-making descent through atmosphere, gravity returning, going away, sharp pressure on speed-killing turns and lifts halfway around the planet, before a long, screaming approach to Jefferson Starport. That was the best choice to find a studio making broadcasts for export, and was the only choice of a landing for today. Westport was the other starport, and it only handled traffic every two to three days, as the western edge of the Serpent continent was colonized.
* * *
Taxi and hotel. Elke had no real time to see much of Jefferson or Grainne, other than to note the stiff gravity, bright Iolight, and mostly modern architecture with some old Colonial blocks being replaced as fast as possible. It was cool, this being autumn, and the local flora were a riot of blues and yellows mixed with the greens and reds of Earth transplants. This was definitely a multibillion dollar economy, not the waste they'd just left. Bal looked very sober, and never took his eyes off the scenery. The city was small but modern, with large greenways between it and the port, most of it agricultural.
This time, they went to a cheaper location, but it was easy to tell from the outside it was of decent quality, and the cabbie recommended it. They cycled in in three groups and got organized. Elke stretched as she sat, and then started unsnapping her boots to change socks. Her boots were very well broken in and comfortable by now. They were also very sweaty and stale. The climate system had sensors for contaminants and the fan speed increased with only the barest hint of breeze. The smell evaporated in seconds. This wasn't a pricey place, but it was very roomy. That was an advantage of being out here.
Jason came in last. "Okay, I've got my phone back in service, and I called a friend. We're borrowing a car. At some point, he'll need the car back or the money."
"How upset will he be if it's money?" Elke asked.
"Not very," Jason said. "I warned him it was business, without saying what."
"Good. How are we doing on cash?" Alex asked.
"Down to about two thousand credits," Jason said. "Just enough for some ammo, food, and a few bribes. We've got to make this work. However, I also have hyperweb access and friend is bringing a spare computer. I can acquire more money tomorrow."
"So we can find a schedule at one of the larger studios," Aramis said.
"Yes."
"I'll do that, if you like. UN station preferred? Just so it's harder to deny?"
"Why would that be harder to deny?" Bart asked.
"It's a perception," Aramis said. "If it's on a Grainne station, it means it's faked. On a UN station it's credible."
"Even though a UN station will have better security than a local one," Jason said. "And of course, by 'better' I mean 'worse but more of it.' "
"I was wondering if you'd got into my medications," Shaman said. " 'Better' indeed."
"What is our approach to be?" Bart asked. He was finishing up a sandwich he'd snagged at the spaceport. Both he and Aramis had started packing away calories once insystem.
Elke said, "I would see first if we can just walk in. That would be easiest."
"I doubt it," Jason said. "They tend to have guards against fringe groups making statements on camera. Quite a few are willing to bust in and pay the court costs for minor trespass in order to disrupt the propag— I mean news. Of course, that means they don't panic and cut power at the first sign of intruders."
"I would assume they run a strict schedule, and vet everything as they do insystem. In Sol System, I mean," Aramis said. "Bal is not going to be allowed on camera unidentified, and ther
e's no fake ID we can use that will be of interest. His real identity will be a problem." Bal looked up at the mention, but offered nothing. He'd been going through stages of depression and elation. Seeing the money in the economy around him had depressed him again.
"So we'll have to bust in loudly and with lots of distraction," Jason said. "Afraid so."
Elke grinned brightly from the room's computer terminal. "Luckily, I just found a store that sells explosive listed on the hyperweb. It's within walking distance." She might have to move here and look for work.
"Explosive," Alex said. He didn't sound ready for this.
"Just enough for distractions," she said. "And intimidation, of course. Meridian and Thirty-Eighth Streets. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Inc."
"Earthies keep going there thinking it's an official office," Jason commented. "But their prices are decent."
"Make up a list," Alex said. "We've got a budget."
"And we need a plan," Shaman said. "One with supplemental plans so we don't have to resort to wholesale violence."
"Yes, and I cannot stress that enough," Jason said. "I'll order more food. I promise it will be cheap, but it won't be ship food or military rats."
"I will appreciate that," Bal said. He mostly stayed out of the debate. He was along for the ride at this point.
Elke knew her part of the plan. She'd have enough explosive to destroy everything they didn't need. Beyond that was up to Alex.
Jason's friend showed up discreetly with the car, handed over keys, and left after a warm hug. No chatter, no name given. The man had to be a professional himself. He also left a case of beer. Alex doled out two bulbs each and took inventory in the lot behind the hotel.
"That's a little more than a 'car,' " he said.
"It's technically not a truck," Jason replied.
"Technically, it's balls," Aramis said, grinning. "I don't recognize it, but I like it. Oh, yes, yes I do."
"If I didn't know better, I would say that bumper was designed for ramming," Bart put in, resting his foot on it and shoving to test the resistance.
"Then you don't know better," Jason grinned.
Elke read the logo and name plate on the glacis, because it was certainly more than a hood. "Is this 'Goliaphant' a dangerous animal?" The logo glinted in the bright Iolight. She was cold, despite that. Jason had been honest about the UV, gravity, and thin air, but it was invigorating. Even in the city it had a freshness not found on Earth.
"Can't you tell?"
"I am glad we are in an urban area," she grinned.
The Goliaphant was angular but blocky and an AM General product. It had the distinctive look of a rally vehicle, and was beefy enough to be a light military vehicle. She'd been worried about using a civilian vehicle, but this would do nicely.
"Will we need to crash through a gate?" Bart asked.
"We might," Jason admitted. "And this will do it. Our biggest problem will be that, while weapons are legal to carry, what we'll have will definitely be attention-getting. And when they try to stop us, we're going to be blatantly obvious."
Alex asked, "What is our legal position with UN personnel, vis-à-vis armed force and the law?"
"There is a cutout there," Jason admitted. "Unless they are paid residents, they have no standing to appear in court. The station and the broadcaster both count as Corporate Persons and could bring charges for damages, but that's a harder case to prove. They'll want to be paid for damaged equipment. If we don't actually kill anyone, we're not too bad off. But a lot of their help are locals under contract with standing to sue."
"Elke, dial the blasts down."
"I will," she said. "But I want my protest officially filed with Corporate." She'd comply, but so far she'd been able to use an amazing amount of stuff that went bang. She wanted to finish the race that way.
"I'm serious," Alex said. "And you watch it, too, Aramis."
"Yeah, I'm allergic to being indentured. Can I stun someone heavily?"
"Good idea at this point," Alex nodded. "Nonlethal force preferred, try to limit armed force to attention getting and cheap accessories—couches, walls, not cameras or stages."
Jason said, "Okay, we have a good vehicle, we have three general targets. Our time frame is limited by our funds. I'd say we have a week at most to make things march."
"So let's go back inside and work things out," Alex said.
* * *
"Okay," Aramis said from one computer, which was netted to Jason's, hardwired for security, cable snaking between the desks. "We have a choice of ABCNN, NBCBS or AIMSN. AIMSN has a reputation of being antigovernment."
"Sure, about five percent of the time," Jason said. "They're pretty much indistinguishable from this end."
"Right, but I'd say we hit one of the progovernment stations so it'll have more impact," Alex suggested. He was surprised at how much information his people had on this subject.
"I concur," Jason said. "Who's the most suckup?"
"NBCBS. Who are, coincidentally, also the biggest fuckups on accuracy and have been hacked several times." There was no love lost between Alex and them, it seemed.
"Hmm . . . perhaps ABCNN then. Didn't they have that story about—"
"Yes," Aramis cut in. "Complete inside info and they paid cash for it. Of course, they're also the most antimilitary. So fucking them would give me a warm fuzzy feeling."
"Would you like some lube?" Shaman chuckled.
"No, I want it to hurt." Aramis sounded vicious. He must have been caught in one of their stories.
"When is a good time?"
"I dunno," Jason said. "I don't watch much video, and a lot of it's cryptic. You pick out a title."
As the production schedule scrolled past, Elke said, "That one." A few moments later, Aramis said, "That one." Shaman spotted two.
"All four are talk shows where losers are exploited for humiliation factor," Alex observed. "What a comment on our species."
"On your culture," Jason said. "I'm not American anymore, and they're producing those strictly for the Earth market. They won't get much slice here."
"Nor am I part of it," Elke added.
"It is popular in Germany, but I am not fond of such," Bart said.
"And Africa is full of enough real tragedy," Shaman said.
"Likewise," Bal finished. "I believe it's for you." He indicated Aramis and Alex with a grin.
"Do we want busy time of day, or late night?" Aramis asked. "Slow traffic, or lots of concealment?"
"I'd say late night," Jason replied. "Less fight, less bystanders, people slower generally. Get in fast and do it."
"And we need to make sure they've started and are live," Alex said. "I also need an ephemeris or whatever it's called on ship departures so we know we're getting some transfer."
They settled on the popular Lewis Spaniel show, out on tour. Spaniel had stopped on Grainne for a session entitled, "I Moved Here for the Drugs and Hookers and Now I Need Help."
"I'd think that was obvious," Elke snickered. "And here's yesterday's title. 'Teenagers Who Declared Themselves Adults to Become More Attractive to Older Men.' "
"Are you sure we can't shoot him, the guests, and the audience?" Shaman asked, stepping back slightly as if distancing himself from a toxin. "This is rather foul."
"Tempting, but no." Alex looked bothered by the titles. "He gets lower every time I'm forced to endure him."
"But he has high ratings, likes doing live gigs for the 'rawness,' and there are five major ships in the pipe as he's on. They get the live feed, they record until they jump, and then dump it, and it's rebroadcast."
"How many immediate viewers?" Bart asked. "Won't it be held for the slot and caught before then?"
"In Sol space, definitely," Jason agreed. "But other colonies will have it on contract or syndication, and will find that one segment interesting. The point is to make enough noise to governments. The public viewers won't care, unless they see shooting on camera."
"You keep encouraging m
e with talk like that," Aramis said. "I know, I know. Minimize collateral damage."
"We need the vehicle," Alex said. "Cash. Body armor. Explosive. More ammo. Field medical kit needs updated. I want maps inside and out of the entire area, and maps for nearby buildings. Double-check on the ship departures and show schedule."
"We should be fast, and pick a large audience," Bal said. "Popular shows, no matter how sordid, will give the visibility we need."
"I still say we should wait," Shaman suggested.
Alex shook his head. "No. Schlenker wants her money, her crew are going to drink and talk. She can't get back into UN space until we clear this up. Our departure has to have been noted. Another two days, tops, is all we have, and I don't think it's going to get any better. That show shoots in two days and we're on it. Jason, can your friend roll us and do it quietly?"
Better to Beg Forgiveness-ARC Page 47