"Two final pieces of news," came the voice over the radio. "The explosion at the Kimber six site has been investigated, and contrary to initial reports, the explosion was not the result of Association activities. The explosion was caused by the premature detonation of explosives planted for a blasting operation. The detonators installed in the explosives had passed their manufacturer's safety date and were dangerously unstable. My sources tell me that the problem was reported to company management over three months ago, but no corrective action had been taken at the time of the explosion. Secondly, my sources in the capital have informed me that the recent hostilities with Ehime have inspired our government to increase their stockpiles of strategic materials. The company has promised to increase their output by fifteen percent, and that production quotas will be raised accordingly. This is Virgil Vox bringing you the news the company doesn't want you to hear, signing off."

Rhade got up from the pile of cushions he had been sprawled on and turned off the radio. This was his first day off in over two weeks, and he didn't want to have anything even remotely work-related intruding. Jeri had the day off as well. As a reward for their dealing with the belligerent miner two days earlier, Harper had given Jeri and Trance each a day off. Today was Jeri's. At present she was in the kitchen area with her mother preparing lunch. After lunch, Elaine had promised to watch Samuel while Rhade took Jeri to the market to do some shopping. There was an open air café that had opened in the market district, and he had promised Jeri that they would have dinner there. Jeri in turn had made some promises of her own to be fulfilled later that evening, promises of a much more intimate nature.

Rhade's visions of domestic bliss abruptly evaporated when the two-way lying near the pile of cushions crackled to life, and Cho Hee's voice emanated from the speaker. "Sheriff, this is Cho Hee. I'm with Juarez and Morgan. We need your help in the market area. The Tans're conducting a sweep, an' it looks like they're looking for trouble."

Rhade suppressed an obscenity and keyed the two-way's transmitter. "Cho Hee, this is Rhade. How many of them are there? Over."

"Two full squads, sir."

"Cho Hee, this is Rhade. I understand. Two full squads. I am on the way. I will request backup for you. Rhade out."

Rhade keyed the transmitter one more time. "All personnel, this is Rhade. This is a Code Orange. Repeat, Code Orange. All personnel assemble at the market pavilion. I say again, this is a Code Orange. All personnel assemble at the market pavilion. Rhade out."

Rhade removed his equipment belt from a wall hook, checked to ensure his force lance was charged, and slipped the two-way into its slot on the belt. He was going to have to tell Jeri that their day off had just been canceled.

Jeri and Elaine had stopped their meal preparations and were looking in his direction. There was a forced looking smile on Jeri's face. "We heard the conversation," she said, walking toward him. "I guess this means you won't be here for lunch." She wiped her hands on her apron, her hands passing over the now obvious bulge in her midsection, and reached out to give him a hug. "Be careful. It's been a while since the Tans made a market sweep, and never two full squads of them. It's like they're trying to provoke a response from you."

Rhade gathered Jeri up in his arms and gave her a kiss. "Most likely it's nothing more than a show of force," he said, trying to sound more confident than he really felt. "The company probably feels the need to make a statement that they're still in charge of south-side."

"I'm sure you're right," said Elaine as Jeri disentangled herself from Rhade. The tone of her voice indicated that she didn't believe a word she was saying. "But please be careful."

Rhade headed for the market area at a pace that was not quite a run. As he walked, he was joined by the rest of his deputies They joined in ones and twos, some only half-dressed, but all were armed and all of them looked nearly as worried as Jeri had been earlier. The streets were strangely deserted, even by mid-day standards. What few bystanders he saw hurried to get off the streets as Rhade and his deputies passed. Rhade suspected that the word of the upcoming confrontation had reached the streets nearly as fast as it had reached him. Two squads meant 26 men. That was as many men and women as he had on his entire force. The presence of such a large number of Tans was puzzling. With the Association broadening its attacks on both the company and members of umwa, Rhade and his deputies and the Tans had come to an uneasy truce with each group concentrating on protecting their respective side of town.

Rhade's musings were interrupted by Cho Hee's voice once more coming in over the two-way. "Sheriff, it's Cho Hee. We're at Victor's. The Tans're giving him a bad time. Moretti an' Dennic just arrived. Moretti recognizes the leader of the Tans. He's the same one who opened fire on the protestors at the plaza."

This time Rhade didn't suppress the obscenity. As part of his investigation of the plaza massacre, he had learned the name of the man in charge of the Black and Tan squad that had opened fire on the demonstrators. The man's name was Burma, and he wasn't just any company thug, he was the head of the company police. The man was brutal even by Black and Tan standards and enjoyed occasional forays into the streets to keep his hand on daily activities. Such forays invariably resulted in bloodshed. Apparently the informal truce was over.

He realized that the men and women accompanying him were looking in his direction. They had heard Cho Hee's announcement and were waiting for instructions. They all knew Jeri had been injured in the massacre. Some of them had even held her head when she had one of her seizures. Rhade put on what Dylan used to call his 'game face.'. This was no time to let personal feelings get in the way of the job.

"Whitehead, Ganim, O'Keeffe, Collins, break off and approach Victor's from the north side of the market, the rest of us will come in from the south. It's unlikely Burma split off any of his detail to act as sentries. They'd be too likely to be picked off by a south-sider with a grudge. Stay out of sight and wait until I call you or a fight breaks out. All of you, if fighting does break out, try not to kill anyone. The Tans have been staying on their side of town. Let's not give them an excuse to resume patrolling here on our side. Now let's move out before Burma decides he can roll over Cho Hee and the others."