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Ascension: Trojan Horse

Captain Kenichi Ishikawa felt the Hakudo Maru shudder underfoot as the USNE soldiers fought his passengers. The Synod had paid him to transport these outland rebels into near-earth space. But the ultimate cost was his. He could never show his face on Ganymede again and live. The middle road, playing the USNE and Synod against each other, was treacherous and one-way.

Quiet ensued, and he drew his pistol; their commander must be coming. Soon he appeared, motors whirring as his power-armor stepped over the threshold. Courteously he removed his right gauntlet to perform the ancient human ritual. If he asked for the manifest Kenichi would, somehow, have to kill him.

“USNE Navy Boarding Team AR-7, sir. Sorry about the mess.”

“Not to worry, son. You spend as much time out here as I have, you learn not to be too bothered by a little blood on the walls.” In fact, the real crew, hiding in the cargo nacelles, would shortly celebrate the mess.

Next stop; the helium mines of Threeworld.

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