OMEGA Conscript by Stephen Arseneault

things I've done. I can't thank you enough for what you've done for me."
    Garrett laughed. "You sound a little nervous. And as far as the rest of that short speech, we're the ones who should be thanking you. You keep stepping up without ever being asked. So all I can say is be careful on your hop to that freighter. And watch yourself when you get down to the surface. We want to get to that portal as soon as we can, but that doesn't mean you should take unnecessary chances to try to speed us there."
    The Jess closed to within a kilometer of the freighter. Go blinked out, drifted outside the Jess, and using the BHD glove, powered his way over to the freighter's hull. A soft landing had him safely tucked away in a secure location.
    Go spoke over the comm. "OK, hard part is over. Now we wait."

   Chapter 8
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    As the freighter slowed to approach-speed, Go separated himself from the hull and powered toward Alpha Prime. An hour later he was dropping through the atmosphere, and fifteen minutes after that he was standing on the ground.
    Go looked at a map on his helmet holo-display. "I'm on the ground about a kilometer outside the compound."
    Garrett replied, "We see that. We are watching you."
    Go responded. "You're going to take all the fun out of this, aren't you?"
    Garrett laughed. "OK, sorry, keep the narration coming."
    Go powered over to the high wall surrounding the compound known as Salton City and was soon drifting through the concrete and steel barrier.
    "I'm inside. I'm going straight to the living quarters. It's early morning down here, so they may just be getting up."
    The white marble buildings and greenery flew past on our monitors as Go powered his way across the compound. After passing through two walls he came face to face with a sitting Joseph Harden. Go stopped, observing Joni's father as he sipped on a cup of coffee.
    Harden Salton walked into the room. "Joseph, I can't have you moping around all day. We have work to do. The Galorian Ambassador will be here this morning and we need to solidify our trade deals if we are to get the construction contract we need. It took us five years to get that gate working after moving it. We can't afford to wait that long for the next one."
    Go whispered, "You hear that? I think they are planning on setting up another gate."
    I replied, "Just stay quiet and observe."
    Joseph Salton set his cup on the table in front of him as he stared out an adjacent window into the lush gardens beyond. "You can't keep her locked up like that."
    Harden Salton scowled. "I can and I will. Either you get her under control or I'll be looking for a more permanent solution to her rebelliousness."
    Joseph Salton snapped his head around in anger. "Are you threatening my daughter?"
    Harden Salton grinned. "Joseph, why must you take everything so literally? I love Joni. You know that. All I am referring to is a more permanent form of restraint. I've been thinking of converting the diplomatic quarters into a domicile for her. It's large. She would be free to roam about inside. And it's already fully wired with cameras and listening gear. Her team would be easily able to keep her out of trouble there. We might even arrange for her to have visitors or friends."
    Joseph crossed his arms. "So you mean to keep her prisoner. For how long? The rest of her life?"
    Harden walked to beside the table, looking out the window. "She will be well provided for. She'll certainly have a life that is better than the vast majority of our citizens. And we'll be able to keep a close eye on her, keep her safe."
    Joseph looked back out the window and lowered the tone of his voice. "You know, father would not have allowed you to do what you have done. The break up of the AMP … an assault on another galaxy … conscripting your own people to go off to fight in a war of expansion. He would not have been happy with what you have done."
    Harden Salton's face turned a deep red as he looked down at his younger brother. "He was