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The Great and The Good (A_Great Captain_Roberts Tale!!)
Chapter 4 - And then, there's other plans[]
Some men...
…live a life of violence, and do so by choice and nature. The efforts to dismantle private military contractors, private 'mech ownership groups, and the Mercenary Trade under the Republic has left a lot of these men without gainful employment for a variety of reasons from poor reputations, to bad luck, to narrow specialties that aren't in demand.
Some men live to see worlds burn, and barring that, will sell their services to any employer.
"This is the target? I don't understand, I mean, the money's really good, but this isn't exactly hitting a fortified residence or politician, why is it that good?"
The Contact, Mister Smythe, shrugged, "Does this mean you're not interested? I have other prospects…"
"I didn't say that, but a reasonable amount of risk assessment seems wise, your principle is offering a hell of a lot for what amounts to a low-impact hit."
"The target's more dangerous than that."
"More dangerous. HOW much more dangerous? Is there going to be serious security? Political sponsors?"
"Sufficient to justify four million up front." Mr. Smythe said, "You'll have to do your own recon, but the target needs to be eliminated by the first of November, no later. That ought to be enough pre-financing for you to handle your own recon and recruit your team. This is kind of a rush job, and my principle doesn't want splash-back."
"Hence the anonymity. Okay…so why me?"
"Distance and disconnection. Your past with Lohengrin isn't likely to be in their databases, nor the reason you're no longer with that agency. You have a selection of the right training and traits, and you're definitely not someone my principal would be logically connected to, of course. Avoiding getting caught is on you, and if you can make it…creative? That's a plus for this work."
"Rush job, what's the deadline?"
"End of October, early November timeframe. Eliminate the target, get out clean, collect the other half of your fee. Simple enough."
The gun for hire mulled it over, then took the job.
Smythe watched him leave the bar, and checked the time.
The next one would be arriving soon, for the same deal, with the same target. The strategy was simple enough-throw enough amateurs and low-end pros, and they'll miss the real team, the real objective, and the real operation.