Galactic Empires Read Online Free PDF Page A

corresponding to DNA. Dimitros Fiech. Address in Sydney. Works for Colliac Fak, a software development company. He’s a sales rep, so he travels around a lot. Oh, get this, Colliac’s Leisure Division supplies software to the travel industry, including the resort at Fire Plain.”
    They left the express and started to run through the vast terminal to the platforms serving the trans-Earth loop. “Mine his background,” Paula told Christabel, then put a call in to the Directorate’s Sydney office. “I want a tactical team armored up and ready when we arrive. Have a helicopter pick us up at the station.”
    “Yes, ma’am,” the duty officer replied. “The suspect’s taxi dropped him at the Wilkinson Tower off Penfold. We have two officers there now. As far as we know, he’s still inside.”
    “Good work. We’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”
    “I’d like to observe, please,” Nelson said.
    “Yes,” Paula said. “But that’s all.”
    “I know.”
    *
    The loop train took them to Mexico City, followed by Rio, down to Buenos Aires, and then over the ocean to Sydney. A Directorate helicopter was sitting on the station security division pad, rotors spinning idly.
    Paula and Christabel started putting on their armor as it lifted into the dark sky cloaking the city. Nelson watched enviously.
    “If you do need back up-” he said.
    “Then the city police will be happy to provide it,” Paula said.
    He sighed and gave up.
    The ancient harbor bridge was illuminated in orange and blue holographic outlines as they flew in parallel to it. A wall of skyscrapers punctured the cityscape behind Circular Quay, their surface illuminations throwing cold monochrome light down onto the deserted nighttime streets below. They landed on the roof of the fifty-story Wilkinson Tower. Five of the Directorate’s tactical team were waiting for them.
    “Stay here,” Paula ordered Nelson as she hopped down onto the roof.
    Dimitros Fiech’s apartment was on the thirteenth floor, looking inland. The Directorate team was evacuating the residents above and below.
    “Fiech is a legend,” Christabel said as the elevator opened on the thirteenth floor. Three tactical team members were waiting for them, dressed in black armor and holding big ion pistols.
    “Basker validates an eighteen-month employment record with Colliac Fak. Fiech’s CV and general background are false. It’ll withstand a standard employment agency search, but our RI burned right through it. Records were inserted, referees are false. He’s a genuine undercover agent for someone, all right.”
    “Thanks,” Paula said. Her red virtual finger touched a communication icon, opening a secure link to the tactical team. “Be aware, we confirm target is hostile. He has access to weapons and does not hesitate to open fire. Civilians are not safe. Squad sergeant?”
    “Yes, ma’am.”
    “Can you immobilize him?”
    “We’ve got a nerve jangler drone, but we’ll have to blow the door open to get it in there. We don’t know if it’s reinforced.”
    “Has he rigged the approach?”
    “No sensors detected in the corridor.”
    “All right, let’s go. Be careful.” Paula called up feeds from the cameras on the suits of the entry team, seeing jerky images of the corridor as they hurried along. The wooden door to Fiech’s apartment was painted a dull green. They gathered around it and quickly rolled an explosive tape along the edges. One camera showed the drone being held ready, a small triangle of gray plastic.
    “Go!” the squad sergeant ordered.
    The explosive tape detonated, shattering the wooden door. The remnants crashed inward. Suit sensors went active, cutting through the smoke and dust, producing a sharp black-and-white image. The drone streaked in. Icons blinked green and amber, showing that the nerve jangler field was active. Theoretically, it would stun Fiech’s nervous system, giving the team time to get in and cover him before he could go for any