The Prescot family were miners. At one time, they were contracted to
develop technology for a mineral-rich but uninhabitable system.
Gradually, all the investors shied away. Then the Prescots broke through
with the technology needed to exploit entire planets, and incidentally
develop domed playgrounds for the perversely rich, including indoor ski
slopes and cable cars over megavolcanos, casinos and rides. This created
the economic problem of being the richest people in the universe, having
more money than most governments and effectively unlimited resources.
Money is a small blessing when enemies are quite willing to spend
billions for the chance at trillions. Bryan Prescot and his daughter
might as well have targets painted on their backs for the thugs,
kidnappers, and assassins their competitors would throw at them.
Bodyguards were necessary--Highly trained bodyguards who could be bought
once and be utterly loyal no matter the circumstances. The altercation
comes to a head inside the domes and mines of Govannon, with their enemy
desperate to do anything to save their own lives, now that the gloves
are off. Caron Prescot has only six bodyguards against an army, but she
has two aces in the hole: The miners are on her side, and Elke, Ripple
Creek's psychotic demolition expert, has a nuke. The problem with Elke
having a nuke is that Elke will use it.
