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

and general feel of the lobby, Eric expected good food but nothing fancy, high prices but not extortionate, and generous sized rooms. Other facilities would probably come under the heading of extras. Eric had seen the best and worst that money could buy in his time; the St James Hotel would rate on his own scale as first class but not top class. There was a difference, mostly in how much useless and fancy pampering a guest wanted or was willing to put up with. Eric had learned to put up with quite a bit but he had never learned to like it. He was a soldier first and his tastes were a soldier’s tastes. Good food, comfortable bed, and within walking distance of some action at a price he could justify come debriefing was all he needed. Not that the General ever asked him how much a mission cost. He had underlings to handle budgets. He just wanted to know successful completion yes or no. If yes what were the results, was a follow-up mission advised? If no, what the fuck was Eric doing back then?
    Eric grinned. He never went home to report failure. Not after the first time or two just after the war. That was something they had all learned. The General expected results and within reason didn’t sweat how success was achieved. Obviously the regiment’s exposure was out of the question and was mission critical. No mission could be called a success if it resulted in knowledge of Viper involvement getting out, but apart from that Eric had a free hand. He was expected to get the job done with minimal collateral damage and loss to the Alliance. Note that didn’t mean loss to him, or Thurston, or even Thurston’s citizenry—Burgton could be ruthless when needed—it meant what it said; loss to the Alliance was to be minimised. Eric left those calculations to the General. He decided what an acceptable loss was in the greater scheme, and losing Thurston was not an option.
    Thurston would become part of the Alliance. Eric would remove anything or anyone standing in the way of that.
    “How may I help you?” The concierge asked and smiled a pleasant but false smile. His eyes flickered disdainfully at Eric’s well-used duffel and worn clothes. “I’m afraid our prices might be... ah, a little beyond your means.”
    “I doubt that,” Eric said feeling annoyance rise at this petty little man. “Here, take a look.”
    Eric inserted his credit wand into the desk and activated the balance display function. The concierge’s eyes widened at the figure it showed. It was stupid, but Eric felt vindicated when the man whitened as he realised he had insulted a very valuable customer.
    “My apologies, sir. Your clothes made me think... never mind. Would you prefer a suite, sir?”
    Eric nodded. “I’ll be staying a while; a month or so.”
    “Very good, sir,” the concierge said. He was back in his comfort zone and working his computer. “If you would fill in the register,” he continued and indicated a screen set in the desk.
    Eric picked up the light pen and quickly filled in the blanks with his false identity. “Send up a meal in an hour. Steak medium rare, eggs, potatoes, and a house salad. Is there a bar in the room?”
    “Of course! Fully stocked, sir.”
    “Good.”
    Eric took his wand, the room key, and headed for the elevators. He glanced at the key. Room 402, fourth floor. He called the elevator and was alone with his thoughts on the ride up.
    His first order of business upon entering the room was a sensor sweep. It was very unlikely he would find any surveillance devices, but he had been burned before in the most surprising ways. It cost him nothing to do a walk through while his sensors took the place apart.
    >_ Sensors: No threats detected.
    As it should be and as expected. He wanted a shower before the food arrived so attended to that next. After he was done and wearing a fresh uniform, he stowed his duffel in the closet but took a couple of spare magazines out and put them in his pockets. The minicomp and all his