Unless there's someone small enough to fit through? A girl, maybe? Faina wondered aloud. She felt her old shyness resurfacing, voicing an opinion. Why did this alway happen?

"Regardless of how it is that we accomplish this, somehow, the furnace must be shut down. That is the only way that we will be able to pierce the protections surrounding the prison and those guarding the high-security cell block, not to mention prevent the thing from going underground while we're in it." Erk turned from the diagram for a moment, and looked over the faces of those around the table.

"As it is, what hope we have now is infinitesimal, at best. If we are taken underground in the prison, there will be no escape for you; not this time. We've only one shot at this, and our time window is brief."

As he was speaking, his twitchy assistant had been busily mounting another scroll under the glass pane and replacing the diagram of a facility. This scroll, revealed under the dim, red light, seemed to be a map of the continent. Erk took up his crayon again, and placed a dot over an area of land that appeared devoid of structures and landmarks.

"In this desert, this spot is the last place where the prison was reported to have been seen. Here is where we begin the search. We must travel light, however, and under cover of night. For one, the desert is terribly hostile during the day. For another, it is imperative that we avoid detection." Erk turned towards the squirrelly man, and nodded. He began to collect the scroll and reseal the case with a lit candle.

"Now, we don't have much time. We leave tomorrow at sunrise. Bring only what you absolutely need. By what you absolutely need, I mean food, water, and weapons. Leave your armor at home. You won't want it in the desert, and besides; it won't do you any good if we get caught in any case." His pronouncement given, Erk turned and opened the door with a flick of his finger, as he exited, leaving the man still at the task of resealing the scrolls and the students still in the room.

Faina sighed. This was insane- a suicide mission. But it was worth it, if they managed to rescue Shinu.

With a shrug, she walked over to Kira and tapped his shoulder. Do you want to meet me before we go? Maybe a little last minute training could be helpful...?