Starforce Ganymede II

By Nick S. Thomas

The second book in an epic science fiction adventure series that chronicles the creation of the first interplanetary Starforce to battle humanity’s descent into crime and corruption.

When the Bureau Commander investigates a powerful Earth Senator, an attempt is made on his life. Faced with threats against the officers and families of the organisation, Captain Kaufman must lead his crew of the Intrepid against the Senator and his ruthless mercenaries before they are shut down or killed.

Struggling with the conflicting paths of saving his colleagues from destruction and pursing a personal vendetta, Kaufman fights for the survival of everything they have built. Battling against a corrupt and powerful politician, Kaufman must be willing to break all the rules. The alternative is to see the Bureau he had sworn to protect destroyed forever.

Starforce Ganymede is a classic action adventure set against the background of humanity’s colonisation of the Solar System in the 24th century.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Swordworks Books
• Release date: Oct 20, 2011
• ISBN: 9781906512897

Book preview

Starforce Ganymede II

By Nick S. Thomas

SMASHWORDS EDITION

PUBLISHED BY:

Swordworks Books

Copyright © 2011 by Nick S. Thomas

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

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CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Chapter 1

IBI (Interplanetary Bureau of Investigation) Remit: -

To research, investigate and bring to justice those involved in the most serious and/or prolific organised crime which is committed across colony borders.

Docking in five!

Singh’s voice rang out across the intercom as the Intrepid approached the Damasia Trade Station. They were going in far faster than the station rules allowed. It was a necessity with their fearsome reputation. Their distinctive luxury craft had become notorious throughout the Solar System, and criminals fled in every direction at its very sight.

Some considered their flagrant breach of colony rules to be an arrogant abuse of the Bureau’s status. The IBI had quickly gained the reputation as being a law unto itself, but few complained after seeing the results they achieved. Captain Eric Kaufman waited by the main exit door with his rifle and wearing his full armour.

I want this going as smoothly as we can make it. Intel suggests the gang to number be between six and eight. They’re well armed but poorly organised, so it should be a walk in the park, said Kaufman.

He thought back to their first assault on a gang holdout six months earlier at what had now become their home on Ganymede. The bloody end of the Gadson Gang had put the fear of God into many of the heist crews that had dominated the news channels of every colony. The months since then had been a continuous pursuit of these gangs throughout the colonies. He was glad to still have with him his old friend, and former partner from the LBPD, Max Barski.

What I wouldn’t give for a vacation, said Max.

You’re getting old! shouted Kaufman.

The reverse thrusters of the Intrepid kicked in and the vessel came to a quick but smooth landing on the deck of the station. The ramp hit the ground as the door opened and they rushed out. The sound of their boots resounded around the wide open docking platform. It was immediately clear how many people wanted to rag them for landing at a reckless and illegal speed, but nobody dared.

The engines had not even had time to power down by the time the nineteen IBI officers were in full flight across the huge bay and into the adjoining corridor that led to the main colony. Kaufman was more confident than ever in the team he led. Little had changed in their structure since the battle on Ganymede. Weber had left due to injuries sustained and returned to his home on Earth. Sergeant Ray Denver had moved on to a higher paid and privileged Secret Service job, also back on the home planet.

Davis now led Denver’s team. He had proven more than capable of the job from the very beginning. Weber was yet to be replaced. Although being an IBI officer was prestigious, it was also highly dangerous. Every man and woman who served in the Bureau knew the chance of injury and death was high. Not only that, many remained unmarried and others had separated as a result of their career choice. Kaufman had replaced another of his original team, Travers, by Damian Wells. The Captain had known Wells as a rookie back at Los Brezos where he had shown great potential.

The security guards did nothing to prohibit the IBI officers entering the station. The officers were the only ones able to pass freely through colonies while armed. The police chief’s assistant ran up to them in a flustered state. He quickly realised that Kaufman and his men were not stopping and turned to run along side them.

Sir, on behalf of the police authorities of Damasia, I welcome you and am here to help however I can. My name is Dahan.

Good to meet you, Dahan, but we have a job to do.

Sir, I must protest. We have been given no notice of your arrival or activities on our colony.

Kaufman stopped, the others quickly halting behind him. He turned to the flustered man with an angry look on his face.

The colonies are corrupt on many levels. We both know that. You have a criminal gang operating on your colony that we will shortly have in custody. Any notice given could potentially have alerted them to our presence.

Are you suggesting that...

I am not suggesting anything, Mr Dahan, only that we only know one thing for certain, and that is we have a job to do. Now please, let us get on and we’ll soon be out of your way.

Kaufman turned and continued along the broad corridor at a jogging pace.

Making friends as ever? asked Barski.

We don’t have time for it, and he’s just lost us vital time. For all we know, he was a decoy to buy the suspects time.

That’s a cynical outlook!

Maybe, but it’s still the fact of the matter.

The Captain lifted his datapad device with a map of their location and the route plotted out for them. Two of their teams had already split off as planned to head for their designated points. Damasia was a successful trade station and the host of businessmen and women glared at their presence. The sight of authorities was always an unwelcome one. They all knew that they bent and broke the rules in various degrees.

Colonists across the Solar System appreciated the work that the IBI had done and continued to do, and yet they never wished to see them in their own colonies or places of work. It was well known that many of the IBI actions led to violence of some sort or another. Kaufman spoke into his intercom as he continued onwards.

Lin, Davis, Morrison. Update!

We’re in position and good to go, replied Morrison.

Thirty seconds, boss, said Lin.

They were rapidly closing in on the gang that called themselves the Northside Crew. Although the media outlets had more aptly named them the Bank Blasters, due to their frequent use of simple explosives to breach security measures. The IBI had received a tip-off which led them believe that the gang was in a shipping storage zone of the base.

Tip-offs had become a common means of gaining information for the IBI since they were allocated a budget for paying for credible information, no matter the source.

Remember the deal with these guys. No explosives or grenades of any sort to be used, said Kaufman.

That’s a bitch.

True, Barski, but if you want to stay in one piece, it’s the only way to go.

Kaufman could see on his digital map that they were just fifty metres out from their location. He already knew the exact address from memory and so slipped the device back into a pouch and lifted his rifle into two hands. As they approached, he slowed to barely more than a walk and was a lot quieter.

With only two entrances into the place they were looking for, they had to hope they still had the element of surprise. He held his rifle up to his shoulder, and he edged around the corner into the corridor where the door into the storage bay was located. A woman gasped in shock at the sight of him, so he quickly ushered her past them. A second civilian followed suit that left the corridor in silence.

Approach with extreme caution, said Kaufman.

They inched slowly towards the doorway with their rifles ready to fire. With little time to research the area or background of the gang, they had little information to work on other than what they’d been given in the tip-off. Kaufman reached the door; he leapt to the side and stood back against the frame. His officers formed up either side. Lopez pulled out a pinhole camera with a feed to a datapad.

He slipped the tiny camera under the doorway and studied the scene intently as the other eight officers waited impatiently. None of them liked the idea of stepping into an unknown fight, but even so they wished to get it over with. Lopez turned and whispered to Kaufman.

Tripwire, and about four guys in sight.

Take it out.

Kaufman watched as he pushed a tiny tool, barely any larger than the camera, under the doorway.

Lin, we’ve got a tripwire here.

Affirmative, Sir. Here too. We are in the process of clearing it.

Lopez carefully manoeuvred the device using the camera feed to guide it. Kaufman could see the sweat dripping down his face beneath his helmet. They wore MILAL suits in every major contact due to the armour they provided and for environmental protection in unexpected scenarios. Kaufman leaned in a little closer to better see the video feed.

Lopez aligned the tool onto the wire and it wrapped immediately. He squeezed the tool’s cutting cord as he held his breath. The wire split in two with almost no sound at all. He breathed a sigh of relief as Kaufman patted him on the shoulder. He quickly threw the devices into his grab bag that hung from his left leg and pulled out a prizing device. He placed its jaws in the small opening between them and began to lever them apart until the locking mechanism gave way with the slightest of noise. He turned back to Kaufman and nodded in readiness.

All units! Prepare to breach on my command. Do not fire unless fired upon, and beware of further explosive devices. On my mark, three, two, one, go!

He ripped the door open and passed quickly through the opening in a crisscross manoeuvre. Barski and the others followed suit.

IBI! Don’t move! Kaufman shouted.

Similar shouts rang out from the far corner of the room where the other two teams had breached the storage facility. Four men were playing cards in the centre of the room. They leapt to their feet and quickly lifted their hands to surrender. Barski continued to shout commands at them to ensure they didn’t do anything stupid. Suddenly automatic fire rang out from behind a five-metre high storage shelf unit. They couldn’t see behind it.

Gunfire rang out from the other side of the room as Lin and Morrison’s teams engaged its source. The men in the centre leapt for their weapons as the gunfire continued.

Don’t do it! Kaufman ordered.

The man nearest to him got a hold on a small submachine gun. Kaufman fired before the man could go any further. Three rounds hit him in the chest that knocked him to the ground. Barski shot another of the men. The other two stopped reaching for weapons and surrendered. The room was briefly silent before an explosion erupted. It was not large enough to do them any harm but the noise momentarily shocked them. Barski then rushed towards the origin of the explosion.

Secure those bastards! shouted Kaufman.

He rushed on past the suspects as his colleagues closed in to detain them. He reached Barski where they found one of the gang members dead. He was shot by the initial gunfire from the other teams.

They’ve breached the wall, and they’re making a run for it! shouted Barski.

Alpha and Bravo on me! Charlie and Delta secure the scene!

They rushed to the breach where dust still filled the scene. A hole taller than a man had been blasted through the relatively thin dividing wall to the corridor. Screams rang out through the corridor as civilians panicked as the dust covered criminals with guns barged their way through the crowds.

Go, go, go! shouted Kaufman.

The officers rushed through the breach at almost a sprint. The unarmoured suspects were fleeing with every ounce of energy in their bodies. They carried nothing but the guns in their hands. The teams had no time to show caution. Criminals with automatic weapons and on the loose amongst civilians, was one of the most feared scenarios of any authority.

How many are there?

At least two, Sir! replied Barski.

They continued up the corridor into a junction where they hesitated before continuing on after the screams from civilians being tossed aside. Kaufman wished he’d had the area sealed off by the local cops before the assault, but he knew that it would almost certainly have alerted the gang to their presence and allowed them to slip away.

They pursued the fleeing criminals down three more corridors and finally came to an atrium. As they reached it, they were hit by gunfire. Kaufman immediately returned fire with his rifle and quickly found safety behind a large pillar. They were always aware of the risk of stray rounds in the open spaces of the civilian districts. It all went quiet and the gang members peered out from behind their cover.

This is Captain Kaufman of the Interplanetary Bureau of Investigation. You are outnumbered and outgunned. You have nowhere to run. Surrender now and you may get a lenient sentence!

Fuck you!

A gun was pushed out from behind a pillar and fired on full auto. The bullets smashed into the architecture all around them. Several of the officers fired back to no effect.

Hold your fire! shouted Kaufman.

Hey, Captain! Back off or I kill the girl!

Kaufman could see that one of the gang members had grabbed a young girl. She was no more than fifteen years old and he was holding a gun to the distraught girl’s head. She was already crying in fear.

He laid down his rifle and nodded to Barski.

I’m coming out, and I am unarmed. I just want to talk! You hear me?

He stood up and slowly moved out from behind the broad pillar. Barski took up the place where he’d been standing. The Captain walked forward in a straight line to block the line of sight to Barski’s position. He noted that the other suspect was further off to the right side behind another pillar. He turned his head just enough to indicate the man’s position to his team. He knew they would recognise the signal when the suspects would not.

Listen to me! This situation is over. You give up now and you might get ten years, or maybe even service in the Marine Corps instead. You hurt that girl and it’ll be life or the death penalty!

Fuck you, pig, you think I care?

Of course you care. You cared about your life enough to rob the money from those banks. You pull that trigger and it’s over. Give yourself up and there is a chance for you to start again one day.

The man looked uneasy, conflicted and unsure of what to do. He looked to his friend who was equally as confused.

I put this gun down and you’ll kill me!

No, I give you my word that we will not fire unless you harm that girl. But I can assure you that you will meet a swift end if she is hurt. Right now, you haven’t hurt anyone. Keep it that way and you will live.

Alright, alright, I’ll put it down.

The man turned the gun away and slowly began to put it down. His friend suddenly screamed.

They’re lying!

He lifted his gun to fire but Kaufman quickly stepped aside to reveal Barski’s position. He friend did not hesitate to fire. He put two rounds in the man’s chest that killed him instantly. Kaufman rushed to the girl and kicked the gun away just as quickly as it had touched the ground. He grabbed the suspect and twisted his arms behind his back, wrapping his wrists with the compression bands they used for detaining suspects.

What the hell!

You made the right decision, son. Life is over for your friend, but you, you ultimately did the right thing. Take your punishment and learn from this.

He handed the gang member over to Wells as he looked down at the frightened girl. She still stood trembling where she had been held hostage. He knelt down in front of her.

Hey, you’re okay.

Screams rang out from down the corridor as a couple, who were clearly her parents, raced towards them shouting her name. They grasped her tightly as Kaufman stepped back and looked at the relief in their faces. The mother looked up at him and smiled in gratitude.

He walked over to the suspect Barski had shot. He stopped beside the Sergeant who was looking down at the body of his victim.

Why did they run? he asked.

Natural human instinct, Barski. Something big and mean comes after you, you run.

But where would they go? They had no way to escape.

Hey, if they’d thought clearly to begin with they wouldn’t have committed the crimes. Plus we’d be without a job.

Kaufman turned around to survey the scene. Several civilians who had hidden behind cover were getting up. Others were staring in morbid curiosity at the body of the gang member. He was skinny with a scruffy white vest and a bald head. A number of them nodded. They were pleased that he had gotten what he deserved.

Lin, report.

No casualties, all suspects accounted for, Sir.

Good work.

Seconds later they heard the stomp of boots as the station police rushed to the scene. Six uniformed officers, with their handguns drawn, appeared from the corridor they had come from. Most police forces hated the interference and presence of the IBI on their turf, but few could doubt the results they achieved.

Sir, I’m Sergeant Higgins.

Captain Kaufman. We’ve got three dead and four in custody. Once we’ve processed them, they are all yours.

Sir? They’re your prisoners.

Not our job, Sergeant. We catch or kill. Detainment and sentencing is beyond our remit.

Great, so you crap on our turf and expect us to clean it up!

Kaufman looked up at the man with disdain. Barski turned with disgust.