New Earth by Orrin Jason Bradford

Author:Orrin Jason Bradford [Bradford, Orrin Jason]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: UFO, Alien Attack, Alien First Contact, Contact, shapeshifters, First Contact, Artificial Intelligence, Alien Contact, female protagonist
ISBN: 9781930328877
Publisher: Porpoise Publishing
Published: 2016-10-17T04:00:00+00:00

Part Three

Drop

JAMES TURNED TO HIS right to gaze at Pat who slept scrunched up in the copilot seat beside him. He took a moment to study her. Still quite an attractive woman, he thought. Life sure has been kinder to her than to me, though he did notice the start of crow's feet at the corner of her eyes and a few gray hairs.

He reached over and shook her gently. “Time to wake up, sunshine. It’s about time to drop our guys out.” He waited until Pat opened her eyes and stretched, enjoying the view despite himself.

“You awake?”

“More or less,” Pat answered. “Thanks for letting me sleep. The last few days...”

"No problem. I need you alert and on your toes. Keeping me out of trouble can be a full-time job."

“I imagine it can. Speaking of trouble, can I ask you something about this mission?”

“Sure, what’s on your mind?”

“Well,” she paused as though unsure what to say next.

“Go ahead, ask away,” James prompted her.

“You know you’re not going to be making many friends here in the Middle East.”

James nodded. “What’s your point?”

“I’m just wondering if you’ve thought this through thoroughly?”

James smiled. “Yes, I have. In fact, it’s by design.”

Pat looked at him, perplexed. “Meaning?”

“For some of us, this mission has a dual purpose. Besides rescuing the Kindred, it’s a partial payback.”

When he didn’t continue, Pat asked. “Care to elaborate on that?”

"Not really." When she continued to stare at him, he continued. "A few years ago I headed up a mission. It was supposed to be an easy in and out, but we were set up. Our inside connection was from an influential family from Dubai. I lost a couple of good guys on that assignment. So, payback."

“Okay. Thanks for clarifying that,” Pat said. “What do you need me to do?”

“I need you to go open the door for the jump team and then close it after everyone is out.”

“Sure, no problem,” Pat replied as she began to unbuckle her seat belt. She glanced behind her to where Alp continued to sleep.

“Poor kid, this has got to be hard on her; and at such a young age.”

"Yeah, for sure. But I'll tell you one thing; Alp's a tough kid. They all are, and it would be a mistake for anyone to underestimate them; a big mistake."

“No doubt,” Pat answered.

“You remember how I showed you how to open the ramp doors?”

Pat nodded.

“Be sure to stay clear. Otherwise, you could stumble and fall out the back. That’s okay for the guys with the parachutes—not good for someone without one.”

Pat laughed. “Don’t worry. I’m not interested in starting our mission with such a mishap.”

She eased herself around Alp, being careful not to awaken her. She opened the cockpit door and climbed down the ladder to the cargo area where the jump team stood. In the blue lighting used for jump runs, she could see the team going over their checklist in preparation for jumping into the night sky.

Four men sat side-by-side along one wall in the rear of the C-130 transporter, their equipment packs wedged between their legs.

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