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Delgado’s communicator chimed, interrupting Sergeant Testo’s progress report on infiltrating Tyrell’s computer core.
“Delgado here.”
The miner’s honest face appeared.
“Ed Limix, Major. You left a note for me at the Miner’s Union.”
“Yes, thanks for calling back so fast, Mister Limix.” The call-back had been prompt — alpha shift came up from the ore face a scant half hour ago. “I’d like to buy you a drink and chat. When are you free?”
Limix gave Delgado an amused look. “Fishing expedition, Major, or is there something you want from me.”
“To be perfectly honest, Mr. Limix, there is something I’d like to ask you, but over a drink.”
“Okay, Major. You buy, you bend my ear. Meet you in the Reach in twenty minutes.” Limix faded out as he cut the link.
Once again, the noise and heavy aromas threatened to overwhelm Delgado as he stepped into the dimly lit bar. He saw a group of off-duty Erinyes in one corner, and they nodded politely at him before returning to their animated discussion. Ed Limix, who’d spotted the Marine, stepped out of a booth and waved his arm high over the crowd. Delgado walked over, followed by a waiter who’d obviously been warned by Limix.
Limix and Delgado shook hands before sitting. Then, as promised, the Marine ordered drinks for both of them. They made some small talk while waiting, Delgado deliberately steering away from his reasons for the meeting. Marine officers rarely interacted with trade unionists, and it felt strange to be here socializing with the local boss.
After all, officers were considered management, but Limix seemed perfectly at ease, though his eyes were wary, searching, wondering what Delgado wanted.
The drinks appeared, and the Marine thumb-printed a chit. With the waiter gone, he sat back, leaned his head against the divider, and took a sip.
“Tell me, Mr. Limix, how’s the atmosphere on Tyrell? I mean, between labor and management?”
“Call me Ed, Major. Everybody does.” The big man grinned, friendly and open. Likable. “We get along pretty well at Assenari. To tell you the truth, though, it wasn’t always that way. A couple of years ago, we were represented by the Amalgamated Mineral Workers Union, and they were cutting shady deals with the big corporations, especially the ComCorp outfits. When they started bullying us at the Norden Mines, out on Hesperia, we threw the bums out and went on strike to make Assenari recognize our new union. Those were pretty rough days. We had a few scraps with company security and Amalgamated toughs who were doing dirty tricks for the local chief administrator. That’s when I enjoyed my first taste of union work.”
Limix paused for a sip of whiskey.
“Couldn’t stand the slimy asshole who was the local boss at Norden. He never worked underground a day in his life and lived off both our union dues and kickbacks from the mine administration. Probably was connected with the mob, too. What finally broke the whole thing wide open was when we found proof that Amalgamated reps were selling illegal drugs to the miners in connivance with the chief administrator. We pushed the evidence through to head office. They immediately sacked the administrator, recognized our embryonic Assenari Miner’s Union, and compensated the guys busted up in the fights. Couldn’t convince federal prosecutors it was worth an indictment, of course. It didn’t take long before the other mines threw Amalgamated out and formed locals of the new union. Since those days, I’ve been active in one way or another. This is my third tour at Tyrell and my second stint as the local shop steward. Things have been smooth. Yeah, we see eye-to-eye with Assenari.”
“How about Chief Administrator Movane?”
“What’s this leading up to, Major?” Limix frowned as he studied Delgado. “I’m not an Amalgamated crook if you’re looking for drugs, contraband, or someone to stir up trouble.”
Delgado held Limix’s gaze as he raised his glass before replying.
“I’m a combat soldier, not a cop. My only interest is protecting Tyrell and everyone here. I needed to know about your relationship with Movane before I ask you for a favor. I don’t want to get you in trouble, and your answer will decide whether I go it alone and piss everybody off or see if we can’t come to an understanding.”
Limix didn’t answer for a moment, though his eyes never wavered.
“You strike me as somewhat different from the usual Marines who come through here. They’re only concerned with a trouble-free tour and don’t ask funny questions. In fact, this is the longest conversation I’ve ever had with one.” He paused and looked at the crowded room before turning back to Delgado. “I pride myself on having a good instinct for people. You come across as someone trustworthy.”
Delgado acknowledged the compliment with a slight nod.
“Movane, as chief administrators go, is average. She’s not what you would call a people person. She works hard, knows her stuff, and keeps her eye on the profit margin. That’s fine with us. This place works on a per-share bonus system, and the more productive we are, the richer we become. Low productivity means less bonus pay. In other words, what’s good for Assenari and the Fleet is good for us. You need to understand that most of us are here so we can make a bundle, enough for early retirement, before hard work underground ruins our bodies.
“Hell, another tour after this one, and I’m chucking everything by the board to buy me a nice little tavern back home because I’ll be flush for life. Old sourpuss Movane’s the same. I heard she came up through the ranks, started as a heavy equipment operator, and clawed her way to the top. You could say we understand each other. We want to make money and enjoy a long retirement. For that reason alone, Movane keeps the relationship between the company and the union on an even keel. Does that answer your question?”
“Thanks, Ed. Let me order us a refill, and I’ll tell you what I’m contemplating.”
Delgado signaled for a waiter. Both men remained silent, watching the crowd while they waited for the drinks. When they arrived, the Marine raised his in a silent toast and took a sip. Limix responded in kind.
“As I said, my chief concern is keeping this place safe and operational. For that, my people and I must be familiar with every square centimeter of this place, and I mean familiar by having been there. The difference between seeing a place in person instead of only in a virtual projection can easily become the margin between life and death during an emergency. Bottom line is my people should see the shafts and walk the galleries at least once. Movane won’t allow us to go underground, and Engstrom is playing along with her. They don’t understand that the minor inconvenience of letting us into the mine proper could be repaid by saving dozens of lives.”
Limix’s frown returned.
“What are you concerned about, Major? While not a secret, this place isn’t known much outside of Assenari circles, and what we refine won’t attract raiders, pirates, or other assorted scum. Too bulky for the value,” Suddenly, Limix’s eyes lit up. “Aw, crap. The rumors that a recon droid found something unholy are true, aren’t they? Is that why the Fleet replaced Captain Jerrold with a Major and much tougher looking Marines?”
Delgado figured either Limix was a superlative actor or Engstrom and Movane didn’t keep him in the loop on everything, which meant no real triumvirate. And the union boss didn’t seem like a practiced dissembler, but Delgado had been wrong about people many times before.
“I couldn’t possibly comment. If an emergency occurs on my watch, I’ll be ready, no matter what Movane or Engstrom, or you, for that matter, may think. I’d rather someone around here cooperated willingly, but if I must, I’ll do things my way because I’d rather not risk lives because of turf wars.”
Limix nodded, his expression carefully neutral.
“Understood. I’ll help you — just say the word. Engstrom and Movane make a big deal about me sitting at the table with them, but I’m not part of their little command group. I don’t get a say in matters beyond worker safety or when one of my members submits a grievance. Oh, they’ll listen politely, but most of the time, it’s forgotten two seconds after I leave Engstrom’s office. However, you and I share a common concern — staying alive and keeping the mine productive. I’ll talk with the team leaders over the next few shifts and convince them to take a patrol into the galleries. Strictly off the books, of course. There are ways of making sure operations don’t notice.
“Mind you, I can’t force them, especially if Movane said no, but I can convince most. Big Ed Limix’s word carries a lot of weight in Tyrell. I’ll let you know what the guys say. Not everyone will risk running afoul of Movane, and not all of them like the military either. They have their reasons, which are as good as anyone else’s. One thing, though, nobody’s stepping into the shaft cars without an orientation briefing. I’ll organize a couple of quiet sessions for you.” He finished his drink. “Just be warned. No Marine garrison ever entered the mine proper, and the rumor of a recon droid finding something has reached every last ear on Tyrell, so most will make a connection.”
“Thanks, Ed. Knowing I can count on your support makes my job a lot easier.” Delgado drained his glass and rose. “You can contact me anytime you want. Just call my command post, and they’ll put you through. If you drop by the barracks, I’ll give you a quick tour of my outfit, which usually ends with a dram of Glen Arcturus.”
“I’ll take you up on that, Major. Since I’ll be working hand-in-hand with a management representative, I might as well enjoy the perks.” The shop steward chuckled as he and Delgado shook hands. “Talk to you later.”
Across the dimly lit room, in another darkened booth, a man and a woman had watched Delgado and Limix talk. Though they couldn’t hear what was being said, plainly, the union boss and the Marine had come to an agreement. But about what? Thinking of Harry’s claims about the new troopers, Lyle Fournier felt his stomach churn with worry.
Big Ed Limix was known as a straight arrow, the guy who’d kicked the Amalgamated Mineral Worker’s Union out of the Assenari operations because of drug-dealing and corruption. He was well-liked by most of the honest miners and respected by the rest. He was the kind of shop steward who drew the line at how much protection a brother or sister would receive, especially when it offended his sense of morality.
However, Fournier, a short, sharp-faced man in his forties, never got along with Limix and still held a grudge against the union boss. He’d done well during the Amalgamated days — plenty of money, power, and status. Now, with the squeaky-clean AMU, he only accumulated what he scraped together himself through his little side business.
He looked at his companion, a solidly built woman of indeterminate age with short blond hair and washed-out blue eyes.
“I don’t like it. Limix has no business socializing with Marines, let alone an officer. Do you think Big Ed suspects something? And if so, will he tell this Delgado character?”
“Relax, Lyle. If Limix knew anything, he’d have acted before this. He’s the kind who figures he doesn’t need outside help to keep his own turf clean. Even if he found out, he wouldn’t call in the military unless he couldn’t handle it anymore. Before that happens, we’ll know and can silence him. Just let it go for now. If we act scared and jump at every shadow, we’ll just attract attention to ourselves, and that will put us right in it.”
The woman looked hard at Lyle, enough so to make the miner swallow nervously. Then she spoke in a very soft tone, filled with menace.
“You and your buddies will not, under any circumstance, do anything beyond watching your backs more carefully when you’re about our business. We will not change our plans or procedures. If I find out you’ve been panicking, I will make sure I’m covered.” She made a slicing motion across her throat. “I hope you catch my drift. Those Marines, whoever they are, don’t scare me.”