Trident Fury (The Kurgan War Book 3) Read Free Page B

fleet had no idea just how well defended Abbas’ home really was. Blocked from view by an electronic field that obscured the complex from observation, it stretched out for four square city blocks. Sheridan saw that there was at least a company of well-armed mercenaries spread throughout the compound, along with anti-tank and anti-personnel weapons that were mounted on several stolen military eight-wheeled fast-attack vehicles.
    Cole nudged Sheridan in the ribs and indicated with his head at a row of tall objects covered by tarps. It was apparent from the shape and size that they had found the missing air-defense missiles.  
    Smith led them past the missiles and down to a set of stairs that led underground. They walked along for a couple of minutes before coming to the room that housed the compound’s generator. Smith typed his passcode into a panel on the wall. The door slid open. He turned to face Cole. “Okay, I’ve lived up to my part of the bargain. I’ve gotten you inside and now I’m leaving before you get caught.”
    “Just a minute,” replied Cole, grabbing Smith by the arm and pushing him into the room.
    “I’m not getting anything,” Sheridan said, tapping his hearing aide. Built into his earpiece was a powerful receiver-transmitter. Until a minute ago he had been able to hear comms chatter from the ships waiting on the far side of the planet to begin their assault.
    “Perhaps all the metal down here is blocking your signal.”
    “No. I should be able to still hear the Orleans ,” he responded, mentioning their assault ship.
    “You won’t be able to receive or transmit anything inside the compound,” Smith explained.
    “Why?” Cole asked.
    “Not only has Abbas installed a satellite scrambler, he also had a comms shield installed a year ago to prevent anyone from doing what you’re trying to do. He’s paranoid about his security. I’m sure you’ve heard that there have been several attempts on his life in the past. All of them failed, and the clans that tried to kill him were slaughtered. Not even the women and children were spared. He’s an animal.”
    “We’ve found the missiles, but we haven’t found where they are being controlled from,” said Sheridan. “Until we know where that is, we’re not leaving.”
    “What do you want to do?” Cole asked.
    Sheridan looked around until he found a toolbox. He opened it up and took out most of the tools. “I’m going to go for a quick walk around the compound. If I get stopped, I’ll simply say that I was sent to find more tools to fix the heater. You can keep an eye on Smith until I get back.”
    “Don’t you think I should go?”
    Sheridan smiled. Cole never changed. If there was a dangerous assignment, he was the first to volunteer. “It’s okay, I’m supposed to be an on-the-job trainee. Not knowing one tool from another will come in handy.”
    “If you’re not back in fifteen minutes, I’m coming after you.”
    “I hope to be long gone from here by that time.”
    Sheridan picked up the toolbox and made his way back outside. Snow had begun to fall from the cloud-covered sky. Sheridan pulled up his hood and walked back toward the missile battery. At the first launcher, he put his toolbox down and bent to tie his laces. As before, he checked that he wasn’t being followed. He brought his head up and looked for an obvious spot to house the computer system that controlled the Skybolt missiles. It took him only a few seconds to eliminate all the nearest buildings except for one which was guarded by two men in full armor. He stood up and walked toward the mercenaries.  
    One of the guards saw him coming and pointed his assault rifle at Sheridan. “Stop where you are. What do you want?”
    Sheridan stopped in his tracks and pointed to his toolbox. “My boss told me to go and look for something he called a sonic spanner. I thought there might be one in that building.”
    “You thought wrong. Now move along or I’ll be forced to