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"I can subcontract Johnny's boys. Get you air cover."

"On a SAM-busting job?"

"We can use them for an exit strategy. They'll come in when you alpha-clear and hammer any meatmobile brave enough for a pursuit."

"Huh. I don't know. What do you think, Gray?"

Gray took a step closer to the table and looked at the map. A low-orbiter took some nice, fresh shots. They had a situation report attached to it. It looked innocent enough.

"I don't think the exit will be problematic. I say we save the money."

The Captain nodded.

"Anything else you want to add?"

"I have a few questions of my own."

"You, Gray? Questions?" - said Gabe, brow reared. He was a sturdy, smallish man, wide in shoulder but cut short in height. He had a bark for a voice and held himself with great certainty. A charismatic, quick-talking man, popular with women on whatever rare chance he got to mingle with them. He was lord-commander of the motor pool. Is a commission called for his services, it was a tough commission.

"Yes. Those SAMs. I don't recognize the model."

"It's a Russian surplus "Gorizont" launcher modified to accept S-750 missiles. According to the report, the have a german Orion radar and command center to go with it."

"Quite the chimera."

"Quite. Does it matter?"

Gray nodded.

"Soft-skinned, then."

"Very. Launched off a deployable mount based on a truck. Nothing a lobo can't handle with a standard loadout."