CHAPTER 5
The shuttlecraft drifted down to the street in near-perfect silence. The streetlights gave the vehicle's gleaming white finish a pale yellow glow.
Although its descent was quieter than a whisper, the shuttle's propulsion system did make the air vibrate, and these subsonic vibrations caused every animal within a radius of one hundred and fifty meters to react. House pets and street vermin either barked or meowed or twittered or chirped, and those not enclosed within walls ran to escape the unnatural movements of the air.
Because of the curfew imposed on the entirety of the United States, there were no running vehicles in the residential area of Los Angeles called Echo Park. The shuttlecraft landed in the middle of the street, then lowered its port-side loading ramp.
A squad of a dozen Shock Troopers ran out of the shuttlecraft towards a bungalow on the east side of the street, while two other squads fanned out and created a perimeter around it. The leader of the first squad led his troops to the door.
With silent hand and arm gestures he directed one of his men to plant low-yield explosives on the door's hinges, then stood back as the charges' fuses were lit. A couple of small pops destroyed the hinges, and although the locks were still engaged the door was easily removed.
The squad leader moved his left hand, and six of his men rushed into the house.
A minute later the soldiers dragged out a man who looked to be in his late forties.
One of the men went to the squad leader.
"We have him in custody, sir."
"Do we have the right man?" the squad leader asked.
"It appears so," the Shock Trooper replied. "A cursory inspection of the residence reveals a large stock of specialized materiel and equipment for counterfeiting operations, sir."
The squad leader nodded, then stepped into the house. He found the light switch, then he removed his helmet. Although his visor was equipped with a night vision enhancement system, he preferred the soft yellow light that filled the room.
He walked through the house, and in one of the bedrooms he found an assortment of provisions and gear – printing presses, computers, magnetic strip analyzers, and other tools and pieces of equipment – that a modern counterfeiter would need.
He withdrew his communicator and opened the channel.
"I need an inspection team in here immediately."
"I'm sending one now, sir. What are they to search for?"
"I need evidence this Dan Pascal helped the rebels infiltrate the medical center tonight, as well as perhaps any information leading to the location of their headquarters."
"As you wish, sir."
"Very good. Brian out."