~excerpt from #2 in the Daemons of San DeLain. No title as of yet!
“Alright, James Bond, give it to me in English.” Kage was going to need more coffee if he was going to have to deal with Hudson in super spy mode.
“Synthetic-aperture radar, or SAR, is a form of radar that’s used to create two-dimensional images or three-dimensional reconstructions of objects, such as landscapes. 3D SAR can enable localization in all spatial directions—even giving the potential to resolve, or separate, the target from surface clutter.”
Kage was tempted to snarl at the cell phone. “All I heard was blah, blah, blah. Simple English, dammit.”
“It looks like a base, but there’s an underground bunker. Images show what looks to be inhabited cells and possible labs that are all under a few miles of dirt. Which means we’re going to need access in order to get underground.”
“Dammit.” That was going to take some planning.
“It’s time to call a meeting with the paranormal leaders here in San DeLain and hammer out a damn plan of action. We need to see who’s really all in and who’s just talking a good game.”
“You want to do that or me?” Kage asked.
“Let me. You strike fear into too many paranormals.”
Kage snorted. Like other paranormals were any more comfortable about dragons.
“Where do you want to have this meeting?” Hudson asked. “Any suggestions?”
Closing his eyes, Kage leaned his head back against his desk chair, thinking for a moment. He opened them again and stared at the ceiling. “Away from the prying eyes of the humans, that’s for sure. Especially with that many paranormals in attendance.
“I’m going to throw this out there now—I don’t want that many paranormals on my home territory. I don’t suppose you do either—”
Kage sat up. “Absolutely not.”
“They wouldn’t be comfortable there, anyway. Besides, we need to do this on neutral ground.”
“There is no neutral ground, not if we want away from humans.” Kage pointed out.
“Shit. Let me think for a moment.” Dead silence filled the line. Kage could hear Hudson breathing. Finally, Hudson spoke. “I have an idea, but you’re not going to like it.”
A soft sound at the door of this office caught his attention. Austin stood there, a question on his face. Kage waved him on in, and Austin perched on the edge of the desk.
“Is that Hudson?” Austin mouthed.
Kage nodded to Austin as he answered Hudson. “I don’t like any of this.” If Hudson was leading with that, his suggestion must be a doozy.
“Yeah. Although, to be fair, if this works, you won’t be the only one unhappy. How about Beau Monde? The owner owes me a favor. I’ll ask if she’d be willing to shut down for one night and host us.”
Kage didn’t bother to fight the shoulder that wracked him. “Gods, Hudson.”
