Free Search for the Phoenix: Phoenix Series Book 2 by Jim Proctor

reference point for his position, he could burn the jets too long, come to a stop, and then accelerate back the way he came without ever realizing it. Force equals mass times acceleration. Constant mass, ignoring the consumption of fuel, and constant force meant constant acceleration. He’d never feel a change in his direction of travel.
    Then he remembered his helmet had both forward and rear-facing cameras that could be projected onto his faceplate. He quickly enabled the rear camera and looked at the image, partly obscured by the pack, and saw the Independence coming up fast behind him. Watching for a moment, he tried to guess his speed relative to the ship, and then glanced at his fuel gauge. He was glad he remembered to put on the diaper. He was closing fast on the ship, and his fuel was down to twenty percent. Just then, he flew past the ship, still moving at a good clip. He had waited too long to fire the jets, and now he was a dead man.

Chapter 5
     
    Three unmarked, black panel trucks jumped the curb and came to a stop on the front lawn of the Galactic Data Center in downtown Aberton, a suburb on the south side of Dawson. Six armed soldiers leaped from each truck and ran into the building. Screams were briefly heard, cut off as the doors closed behind the last of the invaders.
    Five minutes later, two soldiers escorted the data center’s director from the building, placing him in a containment cage in the back of the first truck.
    Lieutenant Daniel Stevens sat in the director’s rather comfortable chair behind his large desk while the rest of his squad rounded up the shift managers to be introduced to their new boss. He smiled as he leaned back and put his hands behind his head, pleased that this facility was now the SACOM Data Center, confident he would be promoted to captain, finally.
     
    When all the managers on duty were assembled in the director’s office, Stevens stood and paced behind his desk, letting the tension build. These people were nervous, and rightfully so. He enjoyed that, and he wanted it to last just a bit longer.
    Finally, he stopped and faced them. “Ladies and gentlemen, I am Lieutenant Stevens, your new director.” A soft murmur went through the assembled group. “This facility is now a part of the Strategic Aerospace Command.”
    “Where is Mr. Harrison?” someone asked.
    “The former director is no longer associated with this agency,” Stevens said.
    “What have you done with him?” asked a quavering voice from the back of the room.
    Stevens raised a hand like someone swearing an oath. “I assure you, Mr. Harrison is perfectly safe.” He smiled and lowered his arm. “He will be informed of the new management of this organization, and he will be advised to accept a generous early retirement package. At that point, he will be escorted home,” Lieutenant Stevens said.
    “What do we do now?” someone else asked.
    “You will all continue your work as before, keeping the data system running. That is all,” Stevens said with a smile.
    The managers looked around at each other for a moment, and then began to file out of the room in small groups.
    When they were all gone, Stevens looked to Second Lieutenant Walter Pierce and asked, “I think that went well, don’t you?”
    Pierce nodded. “They took it better than I expected.”
    “Are our people in position?” Stevens asked.
    “I have them stationed throughout the building to keep a watch on everyone,” Pierce said.
    “Good. I wouldn’t want anyone to get any… heroic ideas,” Stevens said.
    “We will make a swift example of anyone who tries anything,” Pierce replied.
    “Good. We need to keep them in line, and keep them doing their jobs,” Stevens said.
     
    * * * *
     
    Clarice Jones sat at her workstation and watched the SACOM guard stroll by. When he was out of hearing range, she leaned to her left and said in a whisper, “You do realize what this means, don’t you?”
    Dan Phelps glanced at her briefly