Page 61 of Honor Bound

“Remind me to tape your mouth shut before you volunteer us into another suicide mission next time,” La’Rue retorted, her lips quirking at the corners.

The group, awed by having three of the Ancient Knights standing before them, released low murmurs of growing inspiration and support. Josh knew it was important that they have this support if they were going to have a chance in hell of surviving.

“We volunteer as well.”

The quiet voice from the left pulled Josh’s attention. Cassa’s smothered protest and tightening hand told him that Packu was among those who had slipped into the room.

“You’re going to need someone who knows the programming for the Legion ships to have even a hope of getting past them,” Bantu said, grimacing when he looked at Roan.

“Then, it’s settled. General Ba’tar, I would like you and General Har to see to the evacuation of the base. Fall back to the new one being constructed. General Gomerant, you and your fighters are some of the best pilots I’ve seen. I am asking you to create a distraction to give us a chance to slip under the Legion’s defenses,” Josh requested.

“We will give you the opening you need,” General Gomerant said.

“Thank you. Remember, we can do this if we all work together. Dismissed,” Josh added.

Josh waited until everyone left but the small group of volunteers. He released Cassa’s hand and stepped up to Julia. She flowed into his arms the moment he opened them. Closing his eyes, he hugged Julia as tightly as she was holding him.

“Thank you,” she murmured.

He opened his eyes and looked down at her with a questioning expression. “For what?”

“Saving our lives,” she said.

His lips quirked and he looked over her shoulder at Sergi who was watching them with an intense, knowing expression in his eyes. One more. They needed to find Mei.

“You may not be too pleased once you realize the mess we’re in,” he teased.

Julia looked at Roan who was watching them with a penetrating, interested look.

“Oh, I think I know.” She looked up at Josh and smiled. “I don’t think the Legion knows whotheyare dealing with. As Mei would say, that is our superpower.”

“She really is a badass,” La’Rue muttered, drawing laughter from the group.

“So… You have a plan, yes? Or are we doing this the way Ash would? On a wing and a prayer?” Sergi asked, rubbing his hands together.

* * *

The tension in the room was palpable, the air thick with concentration as the team poured over the holographic map of the space lab. The intricate web of conduits and ventilation systems was enough to give even the most seasoned tactician pause.

Josh leaned forward, his eyes scanning the detailed layout. The three-dimensional lines and multi-level pathways made the space lab resemble a small city rather than a research vessel.

“We can approach from underneath,” Packu suggested, tracing a route along the base of the structure. “It’s less visible, and with all the noise from the battle cruisers, they won’t notice a small heat signature.”

Roan shook his head. “The bottom will be too heavily guarded. That’s where their main security is concentrated due to the lab and weapons. However, there’s another way.”

He tapped the holographic display, highlighting a sealed hatch near the top of the lab’s superstructure. “This hatch was used during the lab’s construction. It was sealed upon completion and never accessed again. So, if we break through it, we’ll enter the conduit system that runs throughout the ship. It was designed as a containment vent in case of a chemical leak. The airflow pushes everything down through a series of tubes and venting hatches into space.”

“The perfect way to move undetected,” Bantu said, nodding. Then he frowned. “The problem will be the sensors. They’re programmed to detect any anomaly in the system—our body heat, carbon dioxide levels—they’ll pick us up instantly.”

Josh crossed his arms, his brow furrowing. “Can you disable them?”

Bantu rubbed his chin thoughtfully, a deep frown furrowing his brow as he considered his options. “A simple reconfiguration of the sensors will allow us to move about undetected; they will see us as normal. But, it could take a while as I need to figure out the password to access the mainframe first.”

A faint smile tugged at Roan’s lips. “I think I can help with that.” He glanced at Julia. “Remember the disk Roanna gave you?”

Julia nodded, reaching into her pocket and handing it to him. Roan slid the disk into the console, and the holographic map expanded, revealing a detailed blueprint of the space lab.

The room fell into stunned silence.

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