Free Shadow Force 1: the Garden Planet by J.R. O'Neill

took my seat and drew a complete blank.

Chapter Six
    “Where do we start?” I asked the group in general.
    Max started the conversation. “We start with Harrod. Shadow has dug up some interesting details on him that I am sure we can use.”
    “Such as?” I asked.
    “Such as; he is deeply connected to the black market on New Tehran. As you know, the economic sanctions imposed by the Federation are very strict and what we take for granted the people of Tehran pay enormous sums to acquire, all this smuggling and distribution is big business there. Everything from bath soaps to slaves he has his hands in. He is rich but always looking for more. This should make him very useful to us.
    “Well then on to the plan. We will use Max’s rough idea but let’s work on details. First off, Shadows interior defensive abilities are numerous and effective. And they will need to be to pull off what I have in mind.”
    “And what would that be?” Max asked
    “We set the stage as you suggested, both Sara and Izzy need to get in character as the expensive fully trained recreation specialists. They need to be set up in one of the holding cells, before we make contact with Harrod. Once we have him on board we will let him view our “slaves” and then let him do what he does best, drum up interest in our very expensive cargo. It will be up to the girls to convince him of their value.” I concluded with a giant pit in my stomach.
    “We’re ready.” Both Sara and Izzy replied.
    “Alright we will set up an auction, and once we have Anwar in the room we will stun everyone there and place Anwar into a holding cell. The rest will have their memories erased by using the teacher and we will deposit them somewhere in Khomeini City. When they wake up they will have no memory of us or the auction. They will be confused but that is not our problem.”
    “Good, then we’ll play the roles right from the start. Harrod will play an intricate part in this and as long as he does not know the truth he can't betray us. Even so I’m still uncomfortable with locking you girls in a cell.”
    “Jon, we’re not dealing with amateurs here, if anything is even the least bit suspicious they will try to kill us.” Sara replied.
    “I just don’t like the whole idea of locking you up.”
    “Locking us up is only the beginning, it will get a lot nastier before it’s over.”
    “You’re the expert. But still, remember what we agreed on.”
    “What did you agree on?” Max asked.
    “That no one would do anything dangerous without all of us discussing it first.” I replied, amending the deal I had made with Sara, now I would see if I could get away with it.
    “Fine,” Max agreed “unless discussion is impossible or would jeopardize the mission.”
    “You win.” I said. “Now we have about fifteen hours before we arrive so why don’t we get some rest and then we will work out the final details.”
    I was lying on my bed trying to process the jumble of feelings I was having when the door buzzed.
    “Come in.”
    “Can we talk?” Sara asked as she entered my room.
    “Of course, what’s up?” I asked.
    “I was too nervous to sleep.”
    “Sara, if you don’t want to go through with this, we can call it off.”
    “Jon, please stop. You know I have to go through with this, and why. I believed you would understand after hearing my story.”
    “I do, I think.” I replied.
    “I’ve spent just about every waking minute since I was rescued from captivity hunting down slavers, and terrorists. Don’t you see that for every one I take out, there are literally hundreds of families and children that are spared the nightmare that I suffered? Jon this is a major slave ring, and I have the chance to not only save this mission but to gain the information to shut it down. You have to help me.”
    “And help you I will.” I said while thinking that I was falling in love with a fanatic a fanatic just like me.
    “There is something else that I have to