This chapter of the science fiction blog novel introduces the conflict between the pirate clans.
CHAPTER 3
BETRAYAL AND MURDER
In another part of the outpost, Whitey gathered his men. He looked at them with pride and confidence, these were good men. Each was a mercenary who sold his services, but they were men with a sense of honor; they possessed intelligence, experience, and confidence. “Men, in a half hour we are going to provide security for the general in a meeting with Command. Remember, we protect the General. If we take care of him then he will take care of us. If things go badly and shooting starts we get rid of that Screwball Stone, and those like him. Stone is a murderer and most of the others are wanted men too. The bounties on their heads are not much but if we can collect all the better, so make sure your helmet cams and gun-sight cameras are on if the shooting starts, we'll need the recordings to claim the reward. If things go really bad then we finish off the Supreme Commander and her staff too. We can do just fine without her. Let’s get going now.”
He led his ten men into the corridor. They marched in two orderly rows side by side.
"Boss," The communications device in Whiteys' ear crackled. "Boss, they have changed the time. The meeting is starting now. I am alone with The General."
"Hell," Whitey cursed.
Far ahead he saw Stone and his ragtag pack of pirates. “He’s got the jump on us.” Whitey held up his hand. The group stopped. He gave the signal for stealth, and the men began to trot silently up the corridor.
Stone entered a room on the left.
Whitey touched the radio in his collar, "All teams, Command Code Alpha. Command Code Alpha,"
Boom! Boom! zaaAAAaap! Boom! Muffled sounds of a desperate dogfight echoed in the corridor.
“Oh, No. Too late.” He signaled his men to a full run.
The men divided up at the three separate doors to the conference room. They waited for Whitey’s nod. He stood facing the center door. His quick blue eyes darted to the men right and left; never hasty but quick, he gave a nod. Blasters fired at each door blowing them back through white smoke to slam the walls. The men sprung through the smoking entrance. Whitey stepped through the center door a blaster gun in each hand.
The room had the smell of electric static and blaster smoke. The general was face down on the floor, a dark red pool of blood spreading around him. Over his body was the body of Carl, Whitey's man, who sheltered the general with his own, now mangled, body. The bodies of eight pirates were strewn about the room, nine more nursed wounds.
The room was crowded with men and weapons. Stone stood in the center of the room his bald head shining with sweat. A beautiful woman with light brown straight hair and brown eyes sat at a long conference table behind him. Calmly as if nothing happened, she was writing on a piece of paper in disregard to the sudden entrance of armed men. Thirty of The Supreme Commander’s personal guard stood around the room, their weapons ready. Two dozen of Stone’s men filled the gaps between the guards. Whitey, like an animal of prey, saw it all in an instant, it was a trap- a stupid deadly trap.
(c) Adron
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