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Sam nodded. “Okay—we have a lead on how to find the Colonel. Anyone have any ideas how to get offthis rock once we grab him? Back into theLaden ’s water tank?”
“Too slow,” Kelly said. “We’ve got to assume that when Colonel Watt goes missing, his people aregoing to look for him.”
“There was a Pelican on the dock,” John said. “We’ll take it. Now let’s figure out how to operate thecranes and airlocks.”
Sam hefted his pack of explosives. “I know just the way to politely knock on those airlock doors. Don’tworry.”
Sam tapped his left foot. He only did that when he was eager to move. Fred’s hands were clenched intofists; he might be nervous, but he had it under control. Kelly yawned. And Linda sat absolutely still.They were ready.
John got his helmet, donned it, and checked the nav marker.
“Bearing 320,” he said. “It’s on the move.” He picked up his gear. “And so are we.”
They left the showers and strode through the dock, past massive drop doors and into a city. This part ofthe asteroid looked like a canyon carved into the rock; John could barely make out the ceiling faroverhead. There were skyscrapers and apartment buildings, factories, and even a small hospital.
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John ducked into an alley, slipped on his helmet, and pinpointed the blue nav marker. It overlay a cargotram that silently rolled down the street. There were three armed guards riding in the back.
The Spartans followed at a discreet distance.
John checked his exit routes. Too many people, and too many unknowns. Were the people here armed?Would they all engage if fighting started? A few of the people gave him strange looks.
“Spread out,” he whispered to his team. “We look like we’re on a parade ground.”
Kelly stepped up her pace and pulled ahead. Sam fell behind. Fred and Linda drifted to the right and left.
The cargo tram turned and made its way slowly through a crowded street. It stopped at a building. Thestructure was twelve stories tall, with balconies on every floor.
John guessed these were barracks.
There were two armed guards in white uniforms at the front entrance. The three men in the tram got outand carried the crate inside.
Kelly glanced at John. He nodded, giving her the go-ahead.
She approached the two guards, smiling. John knew her smile wasn’t friendly. She was smiling becauseshe was finally getting a chance to put her training to the test.
Kelly waved to the guard and pulled open the door. He asked her to stop and show her identification.
She stepped inside, grabbed his rifle, twisted, and dragged him inside with her.
The other guard stepped back and leveled his rifle. John sprang at him from behind, grabbed his neckand snapped it, then dragged his limp body inside.
The entry room had cinderblock walls and a steel door with a swipe-card lock. A security cameradangled limply over Kelly’s head. The guard she had dragged in lay at her feet. She was already runninga cracking program on the lock, using her data pad.