Stormbreak (Seafire #3) - Natalie C. Parker Page 0,20
an option.
Even if a direct assault were an option, the harbor itself was lined with concrete breakers designed to stem the flow of traffic in and out. A series of tows on autopilot would have to be extremely lucky to make it through them into the harbor itself.
But they also knew that Lir’s fleet was too large for his harbor. At least half of his ships were outside the breakers, protected only by the firing range of the five gun towers. Perfectly positioned for a flock of armed tows.
The simplicity of the plan unfurled between them.
“We could send the tows in as a first wave,” Pisces said, tracking Caledonia’s thoughts.
“And be ready to drive in after the initial explosion,” Amina added. “Taking advantage of the confusion.”
“With their ranks reduced, we might stand a chance against the rest of the fleet,” Tin said.
And as soon as we’re inside the harbor, those gun towers will have trouble targeting us without destroying their own ships, Hime finished.
Caledonia let it all play out in her mind. They wouldn’t be able to control the path of the tows once they released them, so there was still an element of luck at play, but with enough tows, they could take down a third of Lir’s fleet without putting a single ship at risk. He’d still have her outnumbered three to one, but those were odds she could work with.
“I think we have a plan,” Caledonia said at last. “We’re going to attack the Holster.”
“Yes!” Nettle was bouncing again, likely already plotting how she would build the bombs.
“Not you, Nettle,” Caledonia said, breaking the girl’s enthusiasm in half. “I need you on soiltech. Amina, I want you on this.”
“There’s a man named Tipper in town who came in on a rogue ship not long ago,” Pisces added. “He has experience with bombs. If you can track him down, I’ll bet he can help with production. We’re talking about a lot more than fifteen silencers.”
“I will definitely need the help.” Amina absently ran a hand down Hime’s arm.
“I can track him,” Tin said. “I’ve got the manifest.”
“Great.” Caledonia couldn’t help but let the energy of the moment infect her. “We have a plan. Let’s get some sleep and then get to work.”
One minute, Hime signed, standing and tugging Amina up after her. Nettle and Tin followed suit, and Pisces stepped in, all of them circling around Caledonia as they had so often done on the deck of their ship.
Caledonia’s stones. She’d lost some—Lace, her sunny citrine, and Redtooth, her stoic, soft-hearted marble—and gained some—Nettle, her crystal, reflecting rainbow color with the smallest hint of light, and Tin, her cool, sharp basalt—but they were always the solid foundation on which she stood. Amina, her strong, unflinching granite; Hime, elegantly layered agate; Pisces, her flint, every break making her stronger and sharper.
They looked at her with turns of trust and frustration and the kind of love that was so strong it split her heart in two. One half wanted to tell them about the star blossom bombs. The other, to protect them from that knowledge. If she ever had to use the bombs, it should be her decision alone. But maybe, with her sisters’ help, she would never have to make that choice.
Her throat was tight when she whispered, “We fight together.”
And tears burned in her eyes when they answered, “Or not at all.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
For all that life in Cloudbreak felt slower than life at sea, Caledonia never seemed to stop moving.
Every morning began with a spar followed by reports that could either last a few minutes or several hours, and after that there were strategies to consider, rounds to conduct, and readiness drills to run. Today, Caledonia had been surveying yet another improvement to the lifts when the horn sounded in the triple beat pattern that signaled a drill and not a live attack. In this specific scenario, the idea was that Bullet ships had been spotted ten miles out and Cloudbreak’s citizens had a matter of minutes to get their fleet on the water and ready to engage.
Tin had arrived at Caledonia’s side a moment after the horns and together they’d raced into the western mountains, through the cherry orchard and work camp to the caves where the Luminous Wake was docked. They ran every drill as though it were real, so after racing to the ship, they took her out, sailing through the narrow canals at top speeds. If Caledonia ignored the towering walls and treacherously shallow