Read Online The Tejano Conflict by Steve Perry - Free Book Online Page A

small and almost reflexive. “I wouldn’t know about that one.”
    â€œIf I had to guess, I’d say that the cost of Kay’s hunt would be more than that, given the rarity, plus inflation and all in the years since.”
    Zhe shrugged again.
    â€œChristus, you paid a
million noodle
for Kay to risk getting killed by one of the largest predators still allowed on Earth?”
    â€œMillion and a half,” zhe said, “since you obviously want to know. You worried that she’ll get killed?”
    Jo considered it for a few seconds. “Not really, no.”
    â€œThen what the hell? It’s only money, and it’ll make her happy.”
    Jo laughed. “You are something else.”
    â€œDon’t I know it,” zhe said. “My job is to take care of my team.” Zhe paused. “I have to run. My shuttle leaves in an hour. The locals have need of my specialized knowledge. I might even learn something in return.”
    Zhe looked happy at the prospect.
    Jo smiled and nodded. “Have fun.”
    â€œI always do.”
    Formentara headed for hir transport.
    There would be a six-person covert ops team going with hir, and others fore and aft. Once a war was in play, it was a good idea to protect your assets. Technically, nobody was supposed to bother people away from the site of a battle, but then again, technically, Em wasn’t supposed to be dead, either. Better safe than not, and Formentara rated the protection. It was possible zhe might not know how thick it was, but knowing hir, zhe probably did know. Not much got past Formentara if zhe wanted to bother tracking it.
    Anybody who blinked at hir funny on hir trip was going to be made unhappy about that in a hurry.
    Jo hoped Kay would enjoy her hunt.

SEVEN
    In Cutter’s office, with glasses of premium bourbon over ice wafting a delicious odor into the cool air, Gramps said, “What are we going to do about Junior?”
    Cutter shook his head, sipped at his drink.
Ah.
    He allowed himself one glass a day, and the stuff was passing expensive though that wasn’t the reason he drank but one. “We could kill him, but that probably won’t help at this point.”
    â€œHeartwarming thought, though.” Gramps sipped his own liquor and smiled at the taste.
    Cutter nodded.
    â€œHe’ll be looking for a way to stick it to us,” Gramps said, “and if he can’t find one, he’ll make one up. Not a matter of ‘if,’ but ‘when.’”
    â€œYep. My capital in the GU Army is mostly pocket change these days. I don’t have enough clout there to get somebody to pull his leash tight.”
    Gramps said, “Hmm. Maybe that’s not the only way to go.”
    Cutter looked at him.
    â€œLet me reach out to some people,” he said. “The military isn’t the only power in the galaxy with a long reach. Maybe we can find something to help.”
    Cutter nodded again. “Okay. Meanwhile, how is this op shaping up?”
    â€œSo far, so good. Aside from losing Em, nobody has taken any hostile action on our recons. We have built up a pretty good model of the area, I’m talking to Zoree Wood’s intelligence folks, hardware deliveries are on schedule. Jo is at the port collecting troops and supplies. Kay is out in the Alaskan wilderness hunting a rogue bear. Gunny is at the range, practicing with her shiny new pistol to beat you.”
    Cutter grinned. He had an innate talent when it came to CQ combat involving arms, something he cultivated but couldn’t claim credit for: He was a born shooter. Gunny, who trained more than anybody he knew, was the best pure shooter in the unit, maybe on any single planet at a given time, but he consistently beat her in competitions. He couldn’t claim credit for it, but he enjoyed it anyhow . . .
    â€œThat’s not a bad idea. Maybe I’ll go to the range and program the attackers with Junior’s