"How do you know our numbers?" Bechler asked sharply.
"Please." Aeron sneered. "We've been studying you for years. Our spies have infiltrated every walk of life. We’re in your government. Your military. Your civilian population. We know everything we need to know."
"I doubt that," Jace said.
Aeron blew out an impatient breath as he rolled his eyes. "Yes, we know about the ships you received from Luatha. And your attempts to reverse engineer them. We also know you've had limited success with the help of Kira's cousin and her people." Aeron pinned Jace with a look. "Like I said—we've been watching you."
The humans went silent, their expressions fierce as they stared at the general.
Aeron ignored their antagonism, continuing with his presentation. "The home world is heavily defended. In addition to a large ground force, there is a fleet patrolling the neighboring sectors. Trust me when I say, if you were to encounter it, your ships would be shredded before you get anywhere close."
Shepperd tapped the table thoughtfully. "A distraction might work. If we can draw their forces far enough away, it might give us enough time to get in and do some damage before getting out again."
"Did you not hear what I said?" Aeron asked.
Shepperd waved him away. "Yeah. Yeah. They'll make mincemeat of our ships. Don't worry. I don't think it'll be as easy as you assume. Us humans still have a few tricks up our sleeves."
Kira was beginning to like this brash captain of Jace's. She could see why the other man had made it into her friend's inner circle.
"Even if you’re able to distract the fleet long enough to attack the planet, you'll find the surface guarded by a network of automated defenses. If by some miracle you make it through them, you'll be up against the ground to atmosphere energy cannons which will target any unauthorized ship attempting to land." Aeron's face was grim as he looked at Kira. "This is a suicide mission. Even for someone as powerful as the Phoenix."
Maybe so, but Kira wasn't willing to give up. There was always something. Some little detail or overlooked chink that she could leverage.
She absolutely refused to walk away. Not when they were so close.
"We do it like we did on Paxus," Kira said.
Graydon and the rest of the Tuann showed confusion as the humans turned stiff.
"What happened on Paxus?" Graydon asked when no one spoke for long moments.
Raider shifted uncomfortably as he darted a glance at Kira. "We nearly died."
"But we didn't," Kira responded.
And that was all that mattered.
"Would it work?" Jace asked.
Raider considered before nodding reluctantly. "The Curs might be able to do it."
"We do what Shepperd suggested," Kira said urgently. "We create a distraction to move the bulk of their fleet away from the planet. Then the rest of us go in for a targeted attack."
"Were you not listening?" Aeron demanded. "There is a defense network. You'll never get close."
"Yes, we will," Jace said, holding Kira's gaze. "One ship to lure the fleet. The other two to trigger the defenses and create a gap just wide enough for a small drop team to be inserted into the atmosphere of the planet. Once down there, they do as much damage in as short a time frame as possible. That's what you're thinking, right?"
"Got it in one."
They always did work well together like this.
Odin lifted a hand. "I can help with the last part of that plan."
Jace's face puckered as if he'd tasted something sour. "How?"
"I'm a decent hacker. If I do say so myself." Odin's grin was mischievous. "And I have some familiarity with their outer defense network. I might be able to make a blind spot big enough for a ship or two to slip through. It'd give your drop team a chance at least."
Jace seemed tired as he agreed. "Fine."
"What about the general?" Bechler asked, watching Aeron carefully.
"He's coming with us," Jace instructed, rising. "If he's lying about any of this, he'll be the first to die."
A dangerous rumble came from Aeron. "Keep dreaming, human."
"I do. Every night." Jace focused on Kira. "I can only commit three ships to this attack. The rest of the fleet will still deploy according to Centcom's orders."
Kira inclined her chin. "Understood."
That was three more than she'd been expecting when she flew onto this base.
Jace jerked his chin at her. "We'll ship off in three hours."