America's Galactic Foreign Legion - Book 3: Silent Invasion Read Online Free Page B

I
think Captain Czerinski acted on his own to destroy our shuttles.
And it was Czerinski that used a nuke to destroy Finisterra.”
    “General Kalipetsis is smarter than he
appears,” said the Fleet Commander. “But I agree. Something needs
to be done about Captain Czerinski.”
    “Leave it to me,” said the Special Forces
Commander. “I will kill him personally.”
    “His death has to look like an accident, or
at least from unknown causes,” cautioned the Fleet Commander. “Have
a subordinate kill Czerinski. I do not want our negotiations team
linked to the assassination.”
    “I will use nerve agent dipped onto the tip
of an assassin’s claw,” said the Special Forces Commander. “Just
one scratch will kill him instantly.”
    “Remember, we need to be subtle,” said the
Fleet Commander. “We cannot be linked directly to his death.”
    “Czerinski has a reputation for brawling,”
said the Special Forces Commander. “In the chaos of a bar fight,
our assassin can easily scratch Czerinski. The Legion may be
suspicious, but they will not be able to prove anything.”
    “Do it,” ordered the Fleet Commander. “I like
your plan.”
    “One other thing,” said the Special Forces
Commander. “What do you know about this dragon fight between our
champion and some Legion dragon? I did not even know the Legion had
dragons. I am seeing fliers posted all over both sides of Camp
Alaska, announcing the fight.”
    “I know all about that. I have two million
credits bet on our champion,” answered the Fleet Commander. “I
suggest you bet now before the odds increase. I have been given
complementary tickets ringside, if you want to join me.”
     
    * * * * *
     
    The fight was Saturday night. Privately owned
helicopters brought spectators all the way from New Memphis and New
Disneyland. Cable and Satellite TV set up to broadcast the fight
planet-wide. A stretch limousine brought Carlos Bonanno to town.
Bonanno set up a meeting with Guido and the spider marine dragon
handler. Bonanno brought both human and spider muscle to the
meeting.
    “I thought the whole Bonanno Family got
whacked by the Legion in New Memphis,” commented Guido. “Obviously
we missed a few.”
    “Our misunderstandings are ancient history,”
said Carlos Bonanno. “I look to the future. That is where the money
is to be made.”
    “I’m listening,” said Guido. He brought
Private Wayne and Corporal Williams along, but felt uncomfortably
outgunned by the mobsters. “What is this all about?”
    “I have in this vial an adrenalin-activated
poison,” said Bonanno, holding the vial up for all to see. He
turned to address the spider marine. “You will inject this poison
into your dragon fifteen minutes before the fight. When the dragons
clash, the adrenalin will activate the poison and kill your dragon
instantly. Your dragon’s throat will be torn out so fast, no one
will notice why or how the champion’s guard was lowered for just an
instant. You will dispose of the body quickly afterward.”
    “I will not agree to that!” objected the
astonished spider marine. He got up to leave with the several of
his marine friends. “The arrogance of you human pestilence never
ceases to amaze me.”
    “And the naivety of you spiders never ceases
to amaze me,” countered Bonanno.
    One of Carlos Bonanno’s bodyguards blocked
the spider marine’s path, placing a threatening claw on his chest.
“I understand how you feel,” said the spider bodyguard. “To
compensate you for your loss, we will give you ten percent of the
take. You will be rich. This is an offer you cannot refuse.”
    “I do refuse!” said the spider marine. “My
dragon Satan is a champion. I will not throw his life away for
money!”
    “The gambling on this fight has gone
planet-wide,” said the spider bodyguard. “There is now too much
money involved for us to let this go to chance. Your dragon must
lose, because the smart money says so.”
    “I do not care about your