Page 57 of Dark Rebel's Mystery

Kian nodded. "I'm well aware of that, but given the intensity and the number of times Syssi has had visions about Kyra, I believe that they were meant to impart a sense of urgency and to guide us to her."

Onegus tapped the folder in front of him. "I agree, but I just thought it was important for everyone present to know this might end up in nothing."

"I'll take Syssi's visions to the bank," Yamanu said. "It's like having a window into the future."

Onegus continued his briefing. "We will fly you on Kalugal's jet to eastern Turkey, to an airport near the Iranian border. Turner has arranged for two transport helicopters to take you from there straight to Tahav. They will come equipped with Revolutionary Guard uniforms to change into."

Max leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "Are they the stealth type?" he asked. "I mean the choppers."

Onegus shook his head. "They are old model transport birds, the kind the Revolutionary Guard would have used to transport troops in the area. This should help with the element of surprise. They will be painted to look like the Guards' machines, so there's that."

Turner seemed to have contacts worldwide, which didn't surprise Kian. As a Special Ops guy who'd served for two decades, he'd gotten to work with all types of international players. Kian was always amazed anew by what Turner could arrange on short notice. The guy was invaluable, and yet again, Kian silently thanked the Fates for bringing him to the clan.

"They'll be noisy fuckers." Max cast Jade and Drova an apologetic glance. "Pardon my French." He turned to Yamanu. "Can you shroud these large choppers?"

Yamanu pursed his lips. "I can cover them visually. I'll project an illusion that melds with the sky, so from the ground, anyone watching will see empty space. But I can't cover the engine noise. If I attempt that, I'll have to split my energy in multiple ways, and that would weaken the overall effect."

Kian frowned at that small snag. "So, we can't do anything about the sound?"

Yamanu leaned back in his chair. "Sorry, boss. I can reduce the visible signature, but acoustic illusions are a separate form of mental manipulation, and doing both simultaneously at that scale would push it even for me. I can try partial muffling, but I'd rather not. If the illusions flicker in and out, we'll be spotted. I prefer to maintain focus on the visuals."

As Onegus continued, Kian observed the team. Jade looked as formidable as ever, and she would be an asset to the team. Drovawas a surprising bonus. When Max had proposed using her on this mission, Kian didn't expect Jade to agree, but to everyone's surprise, she was on board with the idea as soon as he suggested it. He hadn’t had to do any convincing. The rest of the Kra-ell seemed serious and eager, and Kian knew all too well how lethal they could all be. Ell-rom was gentle and lacked combat training, but his unique killing-with-a-thought ability could prove an essential element in their arsenal and might decide the battle. Jasmine was the only weak point, but she had to be there.

Onegus tapped a pen on his notepad. "The Iranian air-defense network in that region is demolished or severely undermined. Some say it was an internal sabotage, others say it was a foreign strike, but either way, it makes infiltration by air possible in a way it wasn't a short time ago." He smiled at Kian. "The Fates indeed work in mysterious ways."

Kian chuckled. "Talk about massive prep work. All this just so we can rescue Kyra, but then a lot is at stake. If she is the key to finding my mother's one true love, no amount of effort to get her out of there should be spared."

Murmurs of agreement sounded around the table, surprisingly from the Kra-ell group as well.

Everyone was rooting for his mother to get her love back.

"The team will approach low and fast at dusk," Onegus said. "Yamanu will cover the helicopters from eyes on the ground, and the birds will be well away by the time anyone wonders where that noise is coming from. The choppers will drop you off over the ridge, a couple of clicks away and downwind. Chances are that little, if any, noise will make it to the compound." Onegus paused to sip some water.

"The pilots will wait for your return to the landing site and, if needed, will take off and land at the alternative pickup zone." Onegus pointed to a spot marked on the plan he was holding up for all to see. "While Yamanu will maintain full shrouding, the Kra-ell team led by Jade will take down all the active eyes, both on the ground and in the watchtowers."

The Kra-ell warriors sat up a little straighter when mentioned, and Drova looked excited but scared.

Looking directly at the young compeller, Onegus's tone became a little softer as he addressed the teenager. "You have proven yourself well in your last mission, but I don't want you engaging the enemy. You will stay by Jade's side at all times, and you will carry a miniature megaphone with you. From now until you land at the destination, you will practice key command words in Farsi so that you know all of them by heart and can pronounce them with the correct accent to ensure none is misunderstood. You will issue compulsion commands only if and when Jade, Yamanu, or Max instruct you to do so. Are we clear?"

To her credit, Drova didn't wilt under the chief's attention, and nodded.

Onegus raised his eyes and focused on the entire group. "Apart from that, this is a standard infiltration mission. You grab and you go."

Max let out a wry chuckle. "There is nothing standard about infiltrating a Revolutionary Guard stronghold halfway around the world. No big deal, though. Maybe next time we can pick an easy job, like eliminating the regime's nuclear power."

It was obvious that Max was trying to lighten the mood, but Kian didn't find the suggestion funny. Perhaps the clan shoulddo something about those madmen creating nuclear bombs to eradicate all the infidels. They wouldn't even care if those bombs killed half their population, along with all the nonbelievers that they hated so rabidly.

Right now, though, he needed to focus on saving Kyra, not the entire world.

Kian managed a small smile in return. "They won't expect an elite commando-type raid. They are used to dealing with the Kurdish resistance forces, which are amateur soldiers. Brave and committed, no doubt, but amateur nonetheless." He turned to Jade. "Are your people okay with a helicopter flight?"

The Kra-ell had a problem with deep water, and they hated sea voyages. There were no reports of them having difficulty during the flights that had brought them to Southern California, but a helicopter wasn't a charter jetliner.

Jade leaned forward, her long raven ponytail sliding over one shoulder. "My warriors and I are more than ready. I took several simulator classes on flying a chopper, and I enjoyed it very much. I don't foresee my people having a problem with charging ahead as soon as the helicopters touch the ground." She smiled at him, full of fangs. "We will be thrilled to leap out even before touchdown, and if the choppers bring us next to the compound walls, we will take the enemy by surprise. The Doomers won't anticipate our presence or our strength."

Her team of two hybrid males and four full-blooded females all flashed their fangs in agreement.

"We can handle an entire squadron of Doomers if it comes to that," Jade said.

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