Free Soldiers of Fortune by Joshua Dalzelle Page A

then they would be in serious danger. The Kellaan regime doesn't allow much in the way of dissenting opinion." 
     
                  "So as soon as the attack and blockade happened you hired us to extract Senator Vongaard," Jason finished. Crisstof simply nodded as he looked out over the crowd.
     
                  "Senator Vongaard is crucially important if we're to ask the ConFed Starfleet to step in. As the most respected member of the opposing minority, he would be the obvious choice to approach the council to plead his case. The Eshquarian government, while sympathetic, isn't a voting member of the Confederated Systems. Not only could they not petition the council on behalf of Corran, but any active assistance would be a violation of the treaty they entered.
                  "We're spinning this to look like the Senator escaped by his own ingenuity, and the story being told by the agents you left behind mostly confirms that," Crisstof finished his lengthy history lesson and leaned back.
     
                  "I guess I'll ask what we're all thinking," Doc said. "What's this next job about?"
     
                  "Ah... If you're open to the possibility, we'll discuss that tomorrow in a more secure locale," Crisstof said with a smile. "What I will promise you now, however, is that this job is in line with your code, your ideals. While it won't be strictly legal, it will help a lot of innocent people if you can pull it off." Jason opened his mouth to answer, but was cut off by a little girl's voice screeching in delight.
     
                  "Lucky!!" They all turned and saw that Seleste, Senator Vongaard's youngest daughter, was almost at a full run before she flung herself into the arms of a very surprised battlesynth. Only his preternatural reflexes allowed him to bend quickly and break her headlong rush into him by picking her up.  
     
                  "Seleste," he said, seeming genuinely happy to see her. "How are you enjoying your party this evening?"
     
                  "It's great! But where's Crusher?" She asked.
     
                  "He is off protecting the others right now as I stand watch over Captain Burke and Doc," he answered with a wink. Once he placed her back on the ground he noticed the attention he had garnered and moved back a step further from the light of the table lamp. He was saved from further scrutiny as the Senator and the rest of his family approached the table. Out of respect for him, many of the partygoers turned away to give them their privacy. The tale of their harrowing escape had been spreading and everyone was full of sympathy. Or the closest thing to it the political class can manage.
     
                  "Forgive me, Captain," Vongaard said with a smile. "She got away from us as we were getting ready to leave."
     
                  "No apologies necessary, Senator," Jason said, returning the smile. "I'm sure it made Lucky's evening."
     
                  After Senator Vongaard had collected his errant daughter and departed, the others agreed that it was a good time to adjourn their own deliberations as well. The three members of Omega Force agreed to meet with Crisstof the next day and then made their way around the perimeter of the ballroom to the side exit they had come in through. At least they didn't make us sneak in through the kitchen.
                  Once outside, they stood in the cool night air and looked around. So far as they could tell, there was no sign of the vehicle. "Fucking typical," Jason quipped. "How far is it back to our rooms, Lucky?"
                 
                  "Two-point-one-seven kilometers," he answered without hesitation.
     
                  "Walk?" Jason asked. When the others nodded they set off down the side street, letting Lucky and his impeccable sense of direction (and