R. T. Brown

The Cannons at the Gate: the Alpha Mission R. T. Brown

An adventurous, animated tale of six skilled predators; a lion, a lioness, a collie, two afghans and a Siberian tiger who are called upon by their animal nation to destroy an enemy fortress built upon a mountain top overlooking the narrow straits between two continents. The fortress has a protected bunker housing four powerful cannons which prevent safe passage through the straits. The team of six, known as Eagle Canyon Squadrion, have four days to infiltrate occupied enemy territory, get to the fortress, and destroy the cannons to allow six ships to pass through the straits to rescue a group of stranded nomads on an island north of the Arctic Circle. If the rescue is not accomplished the nomads will be swallowed by an approaching winter storm and all will perish. To complete the mission the team from Eagle Canyon must overcome several challenges; a lioness who is a double agent and her recruit, an enemy soldier in disguise, a leaky trawler, a climb at night up a cliff in the rain, an injured teammate who must be carried by litter overland, and a relentless army of German shepherds who seemed to be tipped off to their every move. It is a tale of courage, friendship, leadership, and trust pitted against arrogance, subversion and betrayal.