Merkiaari Wars: 01 - Hard Duty by Mark E. Cooper Read Free Book Online

didn’t stray toward the weapon on his hip even once on the trip back, though he was well aware Eric had armed himself. Eric appreciated professionalism like that. Alert but sensible was good for a position like a bank guard. No doubt he had warned his chain of command somehow, because although Eric hadn’t picked up anything on sensors on the way back, there were more security personnel suddenly in evidence just loitering.
    “I have everything, thanks,” Eric said with a small smile at the wary look he imagined he saw deep within the man’s eyes.
    The guard smiled professionally. “A good day to you then, sir.”
    “And to you,” Eric said and turned toward the doors.
    Eric orientated himself just outside the bank using his internal 3d map of the port and headed toward an exit and hopefully transportation to a hotel. He found a taxi outside easily; he was pounced upon by a driver before he could even raise a hand. Not many customers this time of day maybe, but Eric wasn’t in the habit of taking chances.
    Computer: initiate full spectrum security scan. Range out to 500 meters.
    >_ Sensors: full spectrum sweep in progress.
    Eric let the driver take his duffel and lead him to his taxi. He stowed the duffel in the trunk and even opened the rear door for him. Eric hesitated for just a second but shrugged internally and climbed in. He could rip the door off if the driver tried to lock him in.
    >_ Sensors: no threats detected.
    A bit late now he was in the car, but good news all the same. He didn’t need to attract attention before he was even settled in.
    The driver got in behind the controls and turned to lean over his seat. “Where to, my man? If you want me to take you to the mines, I can do that. Have to go airborne though. Will cost extra.”
    “No mining for me. Now if they were fighting a take over and needed some extra muscle?” Eric said easing into his role as an out of work merc. Corporations of all kinds had their own armies to protect their investments or they hired merc companies to ease the way in “negotiations” with rivals.
    The driver’s eyes narrowed. “Our companies are honourable, they don’t use or need mercenaries,” he said with distaste for Eric thick in his voice. “I guess you could try out for a security guard or something.” He didn’t sound enthusiastic.
    Eric didn’t laugh, but the driver’s instant dislike of him made that hard. It was cheering that decent people like him still existed; people who believed in a world where mercs weren’t wanted or needed. He was wrong of course, but that didn’t make the guy’s sentiments less warming. Maybe Thurston could stay clean of the corruption that lead to underground wars between mega corps, wars between hired armies fighting and dying not for a cause but for pay. Maybe it could keep the shadowy world of organised crime that infested the underbelly of the core worlds at bay, stopped at Thurston’s interface with the rest of the Human sector of the galaxy—the station. Eric doubted it. The Alliance grew, Human’s colonised new worlds in ever greater numbers, and things changed, but Human nature? That never would. Until it did, there would always be a need for people like him willing to fight violence with violence.
    “We’ll see,” Eric said. “Take me to a hotel; somewhere not too pricey but close to the action.”
    The driver nodded and turned back to his driving, and Eric entertained himself by watching the world go by.
    The road out of the port arrowed straight for Ashfield, the land between still untouched and pristine, meaning jungle covered it. Having such a large section of real estate left virgin was a conscious decision Eric suspected. The original settlers had planned things very well in other areas, why not this? It was a good idea regardless of reasons, but was probably done for safety. Shuttles were quite safe, but accidents still happened. Besides, Ashfield wouldn’t stay small forever.
    “Where did the