The Misfits (The Phoenix Initiative Book 4) by Cordova Jason & Ikenberry Kevin

Author:Cordova, Jason & Ikenberry, Kevin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Seventh Seal Press
Published: 2023-03-08T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Reilly Compound

Tennessee

Earth

Jessica had to give it to her father, whatever he’d been doing since his return to Earth, he’d accumulated a fair amount of influence. The arrival of a MinSha queen on the planet should’ve been a massive global event. Instead, Honored Queen Taal, General and Queen’s Consort Tirr, their aide-de-camp Keshell, and a squad of warriors walked off the ramp of James Francis’ personal shuttle, Katie, into the cool autumn day, and into the arms of friends instead of a crowd of security forces and modern-day paparazzi.

They were far more secure than anyone knew. Given the Crusader incursion, successfully defended by the Hunters, and the enhancements Lucille brought simply by her presence, nothing was getting anywhere close to their visitors. Free of harassment, Jessica and her friends could get down to the business of war against the Peacemaker Guild.

After the introductions were made, they’d gathered in the old headquarters building around a group of tables and Tri-V displays showing the planet Kleve and its facilities. Only Dref-na was missing, and Jessica knew she wouldn’t return, as she’d stepped aboard the Katie with barely a goodbye. Dref-na’s grief was far too great, and she’d lost too much with Sunshine’s death. Jessica understood and believed the aged Besquith should indeed depart. She’d told the group when they first sat down to plan, and it had steeled them. Everyone knew the stakes of failing the mission, and they were determined to get it right.

For the past hour, they’d reviewed the objectives and where intelligence, mainly gathered by Lucille from Crusader transmissions, indicated the balance of enemy forces stood. There were around four thousand Crusaders and Peacemakers on the planet, with two squadrons of ships in orbit in four sections of six ships—allowing them to be 90 degrees offset from one another. There was no way any incursion wouldn’t be seen or addressed by enemy forces.

“Hey, y’all.”

The murmuring voices hushed, and everyone turned in his direction. Jessica narrowed her eyes but felt hope rising in her chest. “What is it, Ricky?”

The Pushtal leaned back in his chair and put his big feet on the table in front of him. “I love y’all, I really do, but y’all are overthinkin’ this problem.”

“How so?” Kr’et’Socae asked. “Tactically, we’re at a disadvantage.”

Larth flinched as if he’d been shocked. “Oh! Who said anything about tactical? Why can’t we just be sneaky bastards?”

“Logistical shipments are highly secured. No one’s getting in or out of the system without authorization,” Tara replied. “And if you’re thinking of grabbing a Crusader ship or something, we can’t be sure Counselor isn’t there somehow and could compromise Lucille before we even get to Kleve.”

“Not a ship. We use our ships and change the information,” Larth added.

“Nah, we cain’t jus’ do that no more,” Ricky said and took his feet from the table. “Changin’ our identity is easy. It’s making them think we’re sumthin else long enough for an advantage that’s the ticket.”

<<Sleight of hand,>> Lucille chimed in from a speaker under the central Tri-V.

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