The Adventures of Connor Jakes: Masks (The War for Terra Book 1) by Prosser James

Author:Prosser, James [Prosser, James]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2014-08-15T16:00:00+00:00

6

“Before the fall of the Confederacy, humans had become arrogant and willful. I can only hope we have learned our lesson.”

Alfredo Ortiz

My Heart, The Stars

“I’m coming with you, Connor.”

Jakes looked to Melaina with quiet exasperation. After securing the cargo vessel, Sweet Liberty had docked at the starboard airlock and Melaina had come aboard. The remaining pilots acceded to Connor’s demands without an additional fight. The team had cleared the ship of additional guards and blown the bodies into space. The next step of their plan required stealth and subterfuge more than firepower, and Connor was worried about their possibility of success.

“Darlin’, this ain’t open for negotiation…”

“I’m glad we agree,” Melaina responded, stepping past him and into their quarters. “I’ll get changed.”

Connor raised his hands and took a deep breath. He had changed his clothes and now sported a neatly-pressed suit and stylish torc at the neck. He had washed his long hair and tied it neatly behind his head. In every way, Connor Jakes now looked like a wealthy businessman. After shaving, he had looked at himself in the mirror … and recognized the man he had once been. It was startling how much the last six years had aged him. For the briefest of moments, he wondered if his family would recognize him now, but he pushed the thought back into the tiny corner of his mind where he had stored his family.

Melaina, we ain’t got the time for this,” Jakes said, standing in the middle of the room. “We’re behind schedule as it is.”

“Don’t worry, this’ll only take a second. The outfits Holcombe recommended aren’t much. Bonnie is using one of mine. You should see it, it’s way too short for her. I think she pulls it off, though.”

“Bonnie is trained for this kind of thing, precious…”

“Don’t you precious me, Connor. I’m tired of staying behind,” Melaina said. “This mission is perfect for me. In and out and gone, right?”

“That’s the plan, but what if something goes wrong?” Jakes countered. “I need someone flying the Liberty who can come back for us. The doc ain’t qualified.”

“I’ll fly her.”

Connor turned to the door to see Eli Mendel. He was standing with his hands clutching the sides of a guard uniform jacket. The leather armor was pulled tight over Mendel’s big frame, but he was not wearing the padded trousers that completed the uniform. Instead, he had on his usual pocketed military fatigues. He had an honest expression which made Connor want to slap him.

“How do you figure you’ll do that from the planet?” Connor asked.

“I don’t think this’ll work, Captain,” Mendel replied, letting go of the jacket and letting it snap apart. “I’m not even going to talk about the pants and what happened there. It might be better if I stayed on the ship. At least if something goes wrong I can come get you. I’m better with the shoot-em-up stuff anyway.”

“That settles it,” Melaina said from the other room. “What do you think?”

When she re-entered the room, both Jakes and Mendel had to stare.

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