Star's Storm(33)

Ajaska nodded and leaned forward to study the layout of the prison. “What is this?” He asked pointing to a darker area under the surface of the planet. The darker shape ran for a long distance not far from the fortress and appeared to be very deep.

“It is a natural ravine,” Gril said. “It is over 200 meters deep. It weaves around three sides of the fortress. The backside is built into the mountain.”

“Our best bet is to come in fast. Fighters can take out the laser cannons here, here, and here,” Torak said pointing to the three largest cannons mounted up high. “We will drop attack transports here and here. They can come in and take heavy fire with little damage. Two fighters will come in from the east and south to take out the cannons along this wall. This will allow our ground troops to move in using additional armored transports.”

“I will order additional troops to deploy from here,” Gril said pointing to the mountain. “They can move down the side of the mountain easily.”

“What of the west side?” Ajaska asked.

“That is where we suspect Jazin is being held. We will have to take it level by level. We cannot take a chance of firing on it and possibly killing him or burying him alive,” Torak stated looking moodily at the image. “I only hope we can get to him before Tai Tek orders his execution. Truthfully, that is my biggest concern.”

“He will already be out,” a voice from the door said softly.

Torak turned and scowled at his mate. He had left her in their living quarters. He should have known better than to think she would stay there. He had planned to leave her on Kassis but one look at her face told him that was not likely to happen. His fingers moved to his temple that suddenly began to throb. It had a tendency to do that whenever his mate got that look in her eye.

“Why do you believe that, Lady River?” Gril asked looking into the dark blue eyes of the unusual female.

“Because I know what I would do if I was in their place and Star would do the same,” River replied calmly looking at the image floating above the table. “It isn't much different than on Trolis' warship,” she murmured walking into the room and closer to the three-dimensional blueprint.

“Tell us how you would rescue my son,” Ajaska asked quietly, looking intently at River's face as she studied the map.

“What is this?” River asked pointing to a dark spot on the side of the mountain.

“It looks like a duct system for water. It is too small for the warriors to fit through and even if they could, they could not get down the mountain unseen or without triggering the defense system,” Gril responded with a frown.

“A Tearnat or a Kassis warrior perhaps but not a petite circus performer,” River said with a small lift of her lips. “What about this? What is it and where does it go?”

Torak frowned as he studied the thin cable. His eyes shifted to the tower where it connected. It would be impossible for a warrior to use it. If they tried to, they would be fired upon because the laser defense system reached up to within a few centimeters under it. The only way to cross it would be to.....

A curse burst from Torak and Ajaska's lips at the same time. “It would be suicide to try to cross that! It would have to be done after dark or she would be seen and there is no guarantee of the strength or integrity of the cable. It has probably been there since that fortress was constructed a hundred years or more ago,” Torak said.

“And what would she do if she did make it?” Ajaska asked in disbelief. “She is only one small female. She would need to get into the control room and make her way down eight or more levels through a fortress full of seasoned warriors.”

River smiled. “She'll figure out a way. Don't forget, she won't be alone. She has Madas, Dakar, Armet and our unknown informant to help her,” River replied confidently. “We know how she'll get to the control tower. We just don't know how she is going to get Jazin out. We have to be ready for when she does. Because if there is one thing I know, it is this,” River paused to look at each of the men sitting around the table before she continued. “If it were Torak or Ajaska or any other member of my family, I would never stop, never give up until I had them back with me.” She looked at Gril and smiled. “Would you let anything stop you from getting to Madas?”

Gril thought of a time not that long ago. A time when he had been in a position similar to Jazin. Only then it was his mate who had been a prisoner and was sentenced to die. No, he would never give up, never let anything stop him. His large huge head swung around to look at the image again. This time he thought of what his mate would do. He thought like the warrior that she was. A smile curled back his thin lips, showing off his long, sharp teeth.