‘Did you get my message?’ Cole Hicks, Minos’ representative in Government House, whispered as he was led away from the ground floor common room and down to the orbital bombardment shelter.
‘Yeah, I got it,’ Hector Toshe replied. Thanks to the winter weather in Minos, there was some atmospheric interference on the line.
‘About the VIPER team here in Theseus?’
‘Yes,’ Toshe said, sounding annoyed. He was speaking quietly, but there was no need; he was inside the UN consulate on Minos, where communications were automatically encrypted. ‘I already passed it on to Ariadne First. There’s a UN team here too, in the business-industrial district. They flew in in some kind of gunship. Wasn’t exactly subtle; it was the only thing in the sky for a thousand klicks. They’ve taken Burrow.’
‘Fucking Burrow. Always knew he was a UN man.’
‘Got that right. Helps that he’s rich, too. Asshole. Who have they got there?’
‘Yashego, obviously. Jen Brock. General Rhodes.’
‘Yashego. That blue-stripe motherfucker. And all the talk he’s been giving over the years. So much hot air and bullshit.’
‘Don’t need to tell me,’ Hicks murmured. He was drawing a few looks. He turned away slightly. ‘Where are they heading now? The VIPER team in Minos?’
‘We don’t know,’ Toshe said impatiently. ‘Minos UNAF forces are trying to track them. You know the tech we have down here. Might as well be firing slingshots at a starship.’
‘If they’ve got Burrow they’re probably going to take Alina van Shel,’ Hicks said.
‘Why d’you say that?’
‘Think about it. The UN are picking up anyone who’s been useful to them and who might still be. Burrow’s batted for them for years, and he still has holdings offworld. We’ve had Alina pegged for a while now. She’s been passing intel to the UN.’
Toshe paused for a second. ‘Shit, all right. Checks out. I’ll pass it on to my contacts in UNAF. Anyone else you can think of?’
Hicks sighed angrily. They were on the stairs now, making the long descent through the bedrock. ‘No. And I couldn’t tell you even if I did think of someone. Thanks to these clowns we’re being taken down to the OBS. I’m going to be off comms for a while.’
‘Does anyone know about the VIPER team in Government House?’
‘No, just the staff here. I think they’ve put a comms bouncer up. Can’t get the word out.’
‘I’ll do it,’ Toshe replied. ‘There are Ariadne First elements in UNAF Theseus.’ Toshe paused to cough. ‘Maybe they can come and get you out.’
‘Just—whatever you’re going to do, do it quickly, all right?’
‘All right.’
‘I’ve got to go. Speak to you later.’