[05] Elite: Reclamation Read Online Free PDF Page A

a holiday off-world. First-class hotel passes, our own private transport system and a nice hot shower.’
    ‘Anything else?’ Dufus prompted, deadpan.
    ‘And I want to personally fuck all three of the Senator’s daughters.’
    Dufus smirked. ‘Don’t we all. And what will you settle for?’
    ‘Just the older two, not so bothered about the dark-haired freak.’
    Dufus stifled a laugh, ‘I meant on behalf of your protest.’
    ‘Our working hours as they would be in the core of the Empire. Medical supplies, food and drink, accommodation that’s not full of shit and bugs. You know our demands, we want our rights, that’s all. We’re Imperial slaves, not vagabonds. A decree from the Senator that this will be done, signed by the Patrons.’
    ‘And if you don’t receive this?’
    ‘Tantalite mining stops. Maybe Senator Algreb loses his head. Feelings are running high, Dufus. We can’t keep a lid on this forever. The Senator’s madness must be dealt with …’
    ‘He’ll order you starved out, you know that.’
    Rieger laughed. ‘Think we haven’t planned this? We can last far longer on what we’ve stashed away than Algreb can whilst trying to placate his buyers without having a product to sell. We know the situation, we’ve got off-world contacts. Buyers will go elsewhere for Tantalum if they need to.’
    ‘If the buyers go, we all lose.’
    Rieger grinned. ‘Unlike you with your very fine uniform and fancy food, we ain’t got that much to lose, if you take the time to notice, begging your pardon. We figure Algreb has more at stake than we do. All we’re asking for is our rights.’
    Dufus nodded. ‘Let me send that in.’
    ‘You do that.’
    Rieger stepped back a pace. Dufus turned and walked a few steps across the Piazza, touching a finger to his ear and beginning a conversation with a third party. He turned to look at Rieger, part-way through the conversation. Rieger stood, awaiting the outcome.
    Dufus frowned. Rieger caught a little of what he said.
    ‘… not necessary, we can handle …’
    A cry of dismay went up from the crowd. Armed personnel carriers and assault vehicles appeared from behind the administrative buildings. Even from hundreds of metres away it was obvious they were bristling with dark and forbidding weapons; heavy calibre chain guns, rocket and incendiary launchers. They hovered, turning towards the crowd.
    Dufus turned, holding both hands up in a clear message.
    Hold your fire!
    A sharp crack echoed across the Piazza.
    Dufus spun around, stumbling to his knees, a bright red stain spreading across his tunic. Rieger stepped back in alarm and surprise, arms held up in a gesture of innocence. Dufus fell, full length on the floor. The guards surged forwards towards Rieger, rifles at the ready.
    As they did so, there came a deafening explosion from across the Piazza. The right side of the administrative building collapsed in a shower of debris and flame. The guards were sprawled to the floor by the air blast as it whipped past. Massive chunks of masonry spun through the air and landed across the Piazza, shattering into boulders and dust as they did so. Another, flung upwards into the sky, smashed into one of the personnel carriers, crushing the stabiliser at the rear and spinning it out of control. Men and equipment tumbled out to be dashed to fragments on the ground. The carrier itself careened across the sky, trailing smoke and debris, before spiralling into the terrified crowd in a whirling maelstrom of disintegrating metal. People screamed and surged backwards as rubble rained down.
    The guards struggled back to their feet, catching Rieger as they did so. Rieger disappeared under the mass of bodies.
    ‘Not us! Not us!’ He was yelling as rifle butts descended. His voice was lost as a roar of noise descended from above. The armed vehicles tilted forward and accelerated towards the panicking crowd.
    The sharp bark of weapons fire reverberated across the gardens. Tracer fire split