“M y mech squads should take front positions on the walls when they come.” Admiral Tricon looked down at the table where Killa had spread a cream-colored map. “I’ll leave them here under Major Rippa’s command and take the fight to the Karnayer destroyer orbiting the planet .”
Riot’s eyes raced over the map, tracking the admiral’s words along with what she was seeing in front of her. The Trilord capital was on a hill with the dense jungle extending to the south and west. To the east was flat, then rolling lands that led to the Brute faction, while the north extended miles through rough terrain before a massive mountain range marked the end of the map .
“I wish I could join you, but the Titan is out of the fight.” Colonel Harlan looked down at the map, shaking his head. “The Valkyrie is out, as well. Until General Armon gets here with our space force from Earth, you and Ketrick’s dragons are our only weapons in the sky .”
“We’ll hold them until your general arrives.” Admiral Tricon stroked his grey beard. “We’ll play defense until then. Once the force from Earth arrives, we can concentrate on blowing that destroyer out of the air .”
“We have a great chance of ending the Karnayers here.” Ketrick crossed his arms over his massive chest. “We can’t let them escape .”
While the others were discussing the placement of troops and strategy, memories of the conversation Riot had just had with Killa played back in her mind. She looked over to the Trilord commander, and the two shared a troubled glance .
“We should anticipate we’re doing everything they want us to do,” Riot said, bringing all eyes around the table up to her. “They have creatures fighting for them from every corner of the universe. Creatures they’ve captured and bent to their will. We’ve come up against a few of them already. Who knows what Alveric unloaded in the jungle ?”
“You think he wanted all of this to happen?” Queen Revna asked .
“It would seem that he wants us all here together, humans included, in order to kill us in one fell swoop,” Commander Killa said, nodding to Riot. “We should be prepared for anything .”
A moment of silence passed over the room as each of the minds in the chamber thought on Riot’s and Killa’s words .
“Admiral Tricon has the most experience of fighting the Karnayers, and the tactics the Karnayers use,” Queen Revna said, looking over to the shorter Grovothe. “I’m willing to have you take the lead on this conflict .”
“Thank you,” Admiral Tricon said as he looked over at the others around the table. “We keep the plan simple and play defense until the rest of the force from Earth arrives. Then we reassess. If the Karnayers have still not attacked, then we take the fight to them, with myself and General Armon attacking through the air. The Trilords and my mech units will take the ground forces through the jungle. I can even afford to send some Grovothe shock troops with you, as well .”
“The War Wolves aren’t going to sit by,” Riot said, looking over to Colonel Harlan. “I don’t think any Marine plans on doing that .”
“You bet your ass.” Colonel Harlan grinned at Riot. “If and when it comes down to an attack, we’ll be there, leading the charge. Tip of the spear .”
“Then it’s decided.” Ketrick rubbed at his weary eyes. Naturally red, it was hard to tell how tired he really was. “Defense, until it is time to go on the offensive .”
“Let’s get what rest we can,” Queen Revna said, dismissing the room. “I think the next time we have a lull in the fight, we’ll either be the victors or have much larger issues to deal with .”
The room emptied, with Admiral Tricon talking with Colonel Harlan about troop strength and what forces General Armon would be bringing with him. Killa and Queen Revna stayed behind in the room, talking in low tones about their own troops and placement of the city defenses .
But fatigue was muddling Riot’s thought process. She knew she should be thinking of a hundred other things at the moment, but right now, only three things could occupy her mind: the state of her team, sleep, and the mischievous grin Ketrick had plastered across his face .
“Before you pass into a sleeping coma”—Ketrick motioned for Riot to follow him—“I have something to show you .”
“Will do.” Riot stifled a yawn and rubbed at her eyes. “Sorry, I’m still up for our date. Let me just check in on the rest of the squad. I’ll follow you .”
Ketrick nodded along with Riot’s words as he led her through the pyramid and to a stairwell located in the corner of the structure. The pyramid was empty for the most part, with servants turned into soldiers and more than likely guarding the walls or preparing for another attack .
“Evonne, can you patch me through to Vet?” Riot asked the AI via the nanites that connected her to everyone else .
“Right away,” Evonne responded at once. “You are now connected .”
“Thanks,” Riot huffed as she followed Ketrick up multiple flights of stairs. Trying to keep pace with the Trilord prince was nearly impossible. Wherever he was going, he was excited to get there. “Vet, can you hear me ?”
“But I want to wear the pretty dress tonight,” Vet responded in a mumbled tone .
Riot scrunched her brow, trying to figure out what was happening. “Vet? Vet, can you hear me ?”
“You promised I could be the ballerina tonight .”
“Vet, wake up!” Riot said, finally understanding what she was listening to. “You can be the ballerina when we get back to Earth. Today you’re a Marine !”
“What! Who? Riot ?”
“Vet, pull yourself together, man,” Riot said, holding in a chuckle. “What’s your status ?”
“Oh, right, sorry,” Vet said with a yawn. “Rizzo, Wang, and I are bunked up. Doc wanted to get a few reports in. Evonne is taking care of repairs on our armor and weapons. Rippa went to speak with the admiral and make repairs on her mech .”
“Roger that,” Riot said, nearly tripping on another step. She looked down at the army of switchback stairs she had just climbed. She was about halfway to the top of the pyramid. “Get as much sleep and food in you as you can handle. One way or another, this fight is going to end soon. We’re on notice to get back into the action when the Karnayers attack, and if they don’t, we’ll be mounting our own offense when General Armon and the rest of the fleet arrive .”
“Copy,” Vet said over the nanites. “We’ll be ready to roll when the time comes .”
“I know you will,” Riot said. “Now get back to your dreams of being a ballerina .”
“What?” Vet sounded half-panicked, half-ignorant to what she was talking about. “I don’t want to be a ballerina .”
“Hey, man, we all have our secrets,” Riot said as Ketrick looked back at her with a wide grin of his own. “I’m not judging you .”
“Dance is a highly respected art and takes years of training,” Vet said, catching himself close to admitting something. “If … if I wanted to be on Broadway, which I don’t .”
“Whatever you say, Twinkle Toes.” Riot didn’t say anything else. There was a silence on the other end, signaling Vet had signed off and was going back to sleep .
Riot’s brow was beginning to perspire as she and Ketrick crested the last set of stairs leading to a hatch-like entrance placed into the top of the pyramid .
Ketrick reached up and opened the latch. The final floor of the stairwell was located directly in the middle of the pyramid .
Riot had to look back at how far they had come to understand that the stairwell they climbed actually sent them on a diagonal path from the corner bottom floor of the pyramid to the center top of the structure .
When Ketrick opened the hatch, a brilliant light made Riot wince. She looked at Ketrick through tired eyes, managing to raise an eyebrow in his direction. “Look, Muscles, this is cute and all, but a girl’s got to get her sleep if she’s going to take on the bulk of the Karnayer army soon .”
“Trust me,” Ketrick said as he winked. He climbed up the few ladder rungs set into the wall and hoisted himself out of sight .
A moment later, Riot followed, grabbing onto the rungs as she pulled herself to the rooftop. What she saw took her breath away .
Ketrick stood at her side as the two looked out on the Trilord city and the surrounding landscape of Hoydren. They were on the very top of the square pyramid, more than a hundred feet in the air. The square landing pad they stood on was no more than a twenty-by-twenty block of brick. Scorch marks and pockets of debris marked the area like acne on a teenager .
This was the place where Rippa had made her stand inside her mech when the Karnayers made their run on the city .
Twin suns beat down warm rays on Riot, but this high up, a cool breeze ran past her body and played with her short, dark hair .
While Riot was still taking in the scene Ketrick was busy unpacking a large basket of what looked like pillows and blankets .
“I’m not much of a cuddler,” Riot said, moving over to help. “Where did all of this stuff come from, anyway ?”
“Perks of being a prince is that you can ask servants to do strange things, like arrange for there to be a canopy and a pile of blankets and pillows on top of the capitol building, and they run to fulfill your request,” Ketrick said as he erected a square awning with white metal poles and a blue fabric top. “And you’re in luck. I’m not a cuddler, either .”
“If we make it out of this thing alive,” Riot said, grabbing a handful of blankets and pillows to place under the shade, “you’re in trouble .”
“When we make it out, you mean.” Ketrick plopped himself down onto the makeshift sleeping area. “You mean when we make it out, and I happen to like trouble .”
Riot lowered her guard, something that was becoming slightly easier with practice. She took a spot next to Ketrick, her left shoulder and arm rested against his right. The blankets underneath her and the pillows against her head nearly swaddled her in an embrace of sleep .
“You did good, kid,” Riot said to Ketrick as she placed her hand in his. “I can’t remember the last time I held hands with anyone. I feel a little like an awkward teenager right now. Ketrick? Uh, Ketrick ?”
Riot looked over to see the Trilord prince fast asleep his mouth wide open and a line of drool rolling out from the corner of his left lip .
Riot couldn’t help grinning to herself. She gave his hand a squeeze, then rolled over onto her side. Sleep came for her instantly, a nightmare only a half-step behind .