"W. Michael Gear - Forbidden Borders 1 - Requiem for The Conqueror" - читать интересную книгу автора (Gear W Michael)

pulse rockets at a munitions factory?"
Marta spread her hands wide. "I don't see any other ,
choice. For as long as I've monitored him, I can see trouble ahead unless we
defuse it."
"And you think putting him in the army will do that. Very well, call Bruen.
Talk it over with him. If he agrees, I'll pull some strings." He shook his
head. "But you'd better be right."
Leonidas Andropolous stuck his stassa cup into the dispenser and watched the
thick black liquid fill the cup. Then he leaned back in his squeaky chair and
stared at the woman and two menтАФVegans from the scarves they wore over their
facesтАФwho walked into his sparely furnished office. Years of practice as head
of Myklenian Port Security had given him a sense for the sort of merchants and
traders he dealt with. These he placed immediately: longtime spacers who
didn't mind bending rules here and thereтАФor breaking them outright if they
thought the chance for profits outweighed the risks.
Andropolous placed his cup in the warmer on the side of his desk and laced
stubby fingers over his belly. The hum from the security monitoring computers
in the next room could be heard through the wall.
"Good day, I'm Colonel Andropolous, how may I help you?"
The woman stepped forward and nodded slightly. She wore baggy coveralls, worn
shiny on the knees and elbows and smudged here and there. A bright red scarf
muffled the lower half of her face, but Leonidas could tell she was a striking
woman. Wisps of pale blonde hair escaped the zero g cap she wore.
The men looked like typical nigged merchants, the sort that patronized the
dock bars and brothels and generally gave his men a hard time when they
"whooped it up portside."
"My pleasure Colonel," the woman told him in a commanding voice. "I'm Alexia
Dharmon. I'm here to represent Captain Ruse of the Vegan merchantman,
Trickster. We just grappled dockside and wanted to check in. We thought we'd
see you first thing since we've heard the schedule might be a little rushed
when it comes time to ship out."
"You've heard the stories about war with Sassa." Andro polous drummed his
fingers on the desktop. "You're not the first, and you won't be the last. I
suppose you want an officer to accompany your people while they load? Conduct
the manifest inspection on the spot? You know, it will cost you extra."
"We're willing to pay, Colonel. It's worth it to us to cut our profit margins
in the interest of time."
He chuckled. "You know, you're all going to feel a little foolish when you
make it back to Vega and find out the Star Butcher didn't attack and you paid
all those exorbitant prices for nothing."
She nodded. "That's part of the risk of doing business, isn't it, Colonel?"
He picked up his stassa, sipped loudly, and punched his comm button with the
other hand. Text flashed across his desk monitor. Andropolous raised an
eyebrow. "According to our files, Trickster has a two-hundred credit defaulted
payment from your last port call."
Dharmon reached into the spacer's pouch at her hip and placed five golden
coins on the desktop. "Five hundred credits ColonelтАФin gold, Sassan though it
might be. I believe that should settle all accounts, cover any fines,
interest, and collection costs." She leaned forward, blue eyes eager. "And
we'll settle up in gold before we leave."