Desperate Measures Chapter 43

Chapter Forty-One

“What’s our status?” Erik asked, circling the company from a distance, safely ensconced in the MX 60.

He’d changed the vehicle to a dull gray color and altered the transponder signal. That would cut down on recognition. He was using a disguise, but depending on how aware the local conspiracy members were, that might not help him escape without them realizing he’d been there.

It didn’t matter. The most important time for secrecy was before a mission, not afterward.

While Emma had been able to change the transponder on Jia’s flitter, she couldn’t do anything about the color. They would need to look into an upgrade. He doubted this would be the last time they needed both flitters for a mission, and for that matter, Anne and Kant would need their own vehicles.

“Preparing to insert the spoof programs into the local cameras and drones,” Emma reported. “Fortunately, flitter traffic is light at this time of day. That’s minimizing the chance of surreptitious reporting.”

“I’m monitoring company security,” Malcolm added. “Keeping it high-level, but there are no alerts or elevated risk reports on the basic systems. If I go any deeper, I risk getting someone’s attention.”

“Stick to the plan,” Erik announced. “We’ll bring them down, open them up, and grab what’s inside. They can cry all they want at that point.”

“I hope this is worth it,” Anne offered from the other flitter. “It reminds me of an ancient American folk song my grandmother used to sing to me. In it, this tribe goes after this other tribe because of their treasure, and it turns out the treasure is just a rock that says ‘peace on Earth.’”

“Anything that hurts the conspiracy is worth it, and I’ll eat my TR-7 if it’s a rock that says ‘peace on Earth,’” Erik replied. He took a deep breath and kept his hands tight on the control yoke.

“I’ll hold you to that, Blackwell.”

Erik smiled.

They flew in an irregular pattern, waiting for their chance. The shipment was scheduled to leave the facility in ten minutes, and there was no sign of the police, the militia, or any worry at the company. Everything was going well.

The conspiracy had grown complacent, too used to their secrets being concealed by layers of false companies and smiling socialites with billions of credits. Erik and Jia had torn off the mask, and they could continue to follow the trail until they were done. The jumpship had changed all the tactics.

Now they were ahead of the enemy.

“We’ve got movement,” Malcolm announced. “The bird is leaving the nest.”

Jia glanced at Erik. “Did we agree to that sort of thing?”

“Nope.” Erik sighed. “But let him have his fun.”

“Suppressing local cameras and drones,” Emma reported. “Setting up drone-based redirect of local traffic. You are clear to engage.”

Erik turned the MX 60 and zoomed toward the large cargo flitter. Their target had left the facility and was now above an open sky bridge that was empty except for some cargo drones off to the sides. The Lady was with them so far. Anne and Kant charged in from the opposite side.

Waiting any longer might cost them a great opportunity. It was time to inflict additional fear on the conspiracy.

“Emma, ready the EMP,” Erik ordered.

A button rose from the right side of the control yoke. Despite the impressive-sounding command, the external difference was limited to a plate pulling back to allow the EMP emitter to release without interfering with the flitter.

Erik lined his vehicle up behind the cargo flitter. The target vehicle didn’t alter course, despite the erratically flying MX 60 behind them and the other rapidly closing vehicle. The poor bastards had no idea what was going on, or if they did, they might be afraid to make any sudden movements and tip someone off that they were carrying valuable cargo.

Taking a deep breath, Erik pushed the button. The cargo flitter shuddered, sparked from the bottom, and lost altitude, the bottom scraping the sky bridge. That resulted in more sparks, smoke, and flames as pieces shredded off and bounced around until it skidded to a halt.

Erik let out the breath he’d been holding, grateful there was no one else around. The cargo drones increased altitude, their simple AIs only concerned about avoiding collisions, not stopping daring early-morning heists.

The team’s two flitters dropped fast on either side of the downed vehicle. Both pairs threw open their doors and pulled out rifles. Dark opaque windows concealed the passengers. If the Lady were feeling extra-generous, there might not be anyone aboard.

Erik’s hope was fleeting. The back of the cargo flitter slid open, and stun bolts blasted out of it. He ducked behind his door to protect himself from the barrage. Jia hissed and reached for a stun grenade. The front doors flew open, and guards used them for shields as they fired at Anne and Kant.

“Go to nonlethals,” Erik ordered, drawing his pistol and returning fire. If the enemy wasn’t trying to blow their head off, they’d repay the favor until they had a reason to believe otherwise.

Emma’s drones swarmed the area. Target highlights for the eight men inside the back of the flitter appeared, marked in everyone’s smart lenses for convenience. Thermals indicated two men in the front.

The guards in the back were crouched behind ballistic shields, the barrels of their rifles poking through small slits. They all wore tactical vests but lacked the full suits or helmets of the security Emma had spotted before.

A small insignia decorated the shields.

Jia dropped her rifle and pulled her stun pistol. She fired, but the bolts dissipated harmlessly against the shields. Erik frowned. Something was wrong.

The guards were well-prepared, but if the conspiracy had known someone was coming after them, they would have used something with more punch than stun rifles.

A drone feed from behind Kant and Anne showed they weren’t having much trouble, and were secure behind the armored doors of Jia’s flitter. The two guards from the front of the cargo flitter kept up a near-constant stream of shots, but they were also using stun rifles.

“The insignia on the shields is associated with a local modestly priced private security company,” Emma reported, sounding as confused as Erik felt. “I’m currently occupied, so I can’t dive too deeply into their records, but a general news search suggests nothing that would associate them with the conspiracy other than their appearance here.”

“Budget rent-a-cops,” Erik muttered. “There’s no way they hired rent-a-cops to guard something important. What the hell is going on?”

“You screwed up, Blackwell,” Anne shouted. “We’re hitting an innocent company. We need to pull out now.”

“I don’t think so,” Jia countered. “There are too many lines of evidence pointing here.”

“Then what…” Anne hissed. “We can’t sit around and wait for them to call the police. They might have already done so. We need to get this situation under control!”

“I agree with you there.” Jia yanked a stun grenade off her belt, primed it, and hurled it with practiced ease into the back of the cargo flitter.

“Grenade!” shouted one of the guards in a panicked voice.

She didn’t wait until the first landed before sending another at a lower angle. They scrambled to the back in time for the bright pop of the grenades. Bodies and rifles thudded to the floor. The momentary distraction doomed the men in the front, allowing Kant and Anne to shoot them in the face with their stun pistols. Painful but not lethal.

Erik charged forward and vaulted into the back of the cargo flitter to sweep the area. Twitching men lay scattered around, but there was a noticeable lack of anything looking like a cargo container or crate.

“We’ve got more movement from the company!” Malcolm shouted.

“Reinforcements?” Erik asked, his jaw tight.

“Another cargo flitter, and it’s flying away fast. It wasn’t scheduled, and it doesn’t have an active transponder. It’s not heading toward the spaceport unless it’s taking a really long scenic route.”

“Keep track of that thing,” Erik shouted. “Whatever you do, don’t lose it.”

“Evacuate the cargo flitter immediately,” Emma bellowed. “Run, you fleshbag!”

Erik didn’t waste precious seconds questioning her. Instead, he leapt and twisted, landing hard on his feet and sprinting toward the MX 60. He didn’t make it as far as he would have liked before the cargo flitter exploded.