Omega Force 5: Return of the Archon Read Online Free PDF

and ended up shearing off the entire top section, killing all on board both the ship and those station decks.
    Jason personally thought that entire story was bullshit. Who jumps into slip-space unaware that they have no ability to navigate their ship? Given the shoddy maintenance everywhere else on the station, and coupled with the fact most starships used liquid hydrogen for fuel in their antimatter reactors, he figured the refueling booms were most likely detached by a massive explosion down in the pumping station that used to be housed right where the "crown" now sat.
    Regardless of how true the story was or not, it did serve as a reminder that there were dangers on the facility that didn't necessarily relate to the bottom feeders that inhabited it. They were just one faulty seal away from explosive decompression at any time aboard the dilapidated hulk. It was certainly a motivating factor in trying to scrounge up a lead on a job and get back aboard the pristinely maintained gunship.
    "So what are we looking for?" Crusher asked as he looked at the passing foot traffic with disdain.
    "The usual," Jason said, also keeping an eye on the crowd. "Someone who doesn't belong." Crusher simply grunted at this and continued his scrutiny as they strolled along the main promenade. The tactic had been Jason's idea originally, something he had picked up from being deployed in third-world hovels and observing human behavior. It was surprisingly simple; look for people who stood out for the wrong reasons. For starters, they would have the wrong clothes for a station inhabited by cutthroat pirates and smugglers. Then there was the look that seemed to transcend all species in their situation: the slow dawning of realization of the sheep that wanders into the lion's den.
    These types had usually exhausted all options and were now looking to outside help to solve their problem. Omega Force had picked up contracts on at least a dozen occasions where they were asked to ferret out packs of raiders or narco-gangs that were terrorizing one small settlement or the other. Often these infestations simply had to be eradicated, something Jason and the boys were more than happy to help with. After being the small town bully for so long, many of these groups were hopelessly unprepared for the level of violence the small mercenary crew would bring to bear. The smart ones ran. Those that didn't were no longer around to cause any further trouble.
    Jason's "lost sheep" method worked so well, in fact, that they were even funneling taskings to Crisstof's group for the times when a little bit of political pressure would be far more effective than a thermobaric warhead. Given the predatory nature of mercenaries in general, he figured he was doing them a great service by identifying them first. Some of the crews he was walking among wouldn't hesitate to kill off the problem, take what they had, and then take everything the contract holders had as well.
    They walked past the usual smattering of beggars and con artists before coming upon a dirty and emaciated little girl of a species Jason thought he had seen before, but couldn't name off the top of his head. She was holding a scrawled sign that read, "Please help. Family stranded. Have credits." He stopped and looked down at her while her eyes darted fearfully between Crusher and Lucky.
    "How did you get stranded?" Jason asked her in Jenovian Standard.
    "The ship we were on left us here when we all got off while it was being repaired," she said quietly. "There are six of us and we just need to get back home."
    "Where are you from?"
    "Um ... Kellariss-2," she said. The hesitation didn't go unnoticed.
    "Wow, you’re a long way from home," Jason said. "Where were you going?"
    "I don't know," she said plaintively. "My parents just said we have to leave. Can you help us?"
    "Maybe. Where are your parents?"
    "Back in one of the service corridors that lead to the auxiliary docking complex. My mother is not well and they