Preston thumbed his microphone. "This is Playboy Base. Go ahead."
"Deadrock here, Tom. They're coming up the mountain."
"Roger. Keep us advised."
The waiting again, then Deadrock called once more, excitement in his voice. "Tom, there's another vehicle of some kind coming in from Steamboat."
"Good! How are you fixed?"
"We can handle a regiment. Scotty is going down around the mesa to cut them off in case they try to run for it. Hank is going down on the base side. How important is it for Careless Mesa to track the shoot?"
John Gordon gave Preston the answer. "Not important enough to risk not catching all of them. The other stations are tracking."
"Get 'em," Preston ordered.
"Right. Soon as it's a little lighter. We don't want one wriggling away in the dark."
Rick looked outside. Dawn was just breaking. It would be light enough in ten minutes. The ten minutes took an hour to pass. Then he had to wait ten more, until Deadrock came back on the air.