Hades
"Striking the Cauterium accomplishes multiple objectives," Montague continued, his voice steady and measured. "One: we potentially rescue Ellen before she can be fully utilized. Two: we rescue our captured Gammas and any Eclipse Rebellion members held there. Three: we destroy Darius's experimentation facility and cripple a major strategic asset."
"And four," Kael said grimly, "we send a message that we're not waiting to be attacked. That we'll come for our people."
"The pushback will be severe," Silas warned. "Darius won't take an assault on the Cauterium lightly. It could trigger the full war immediately, before we're ready."
"We're as ready as we'll ever be," I said, the decision crystallizing in my mind even as I spoke. "The domes are nearly complete. Our Gammas are trained. The refugees are being integrated. If the Blood Moon accelerates, it means our timeline is already compromised. We'd be reacting to Darius's move, not initiating conflict ourselves."
