The moral mathematics was simple when stated so starkly—one piece of irreplaceable technology against tens of thousands of innocent lives. Still, Kian couldn't force them to give up the tech. He could only ask.
"I'll speak to Aru," he said.
"If we want to use Rashid to spy for us, we need to move fast." Onegus leaned toward the screen. "He's been missing for hours already, and his buddies are probably wondering where he is and why he isn't answering his phone. We need him back on the street with a plausible story before they get suspicious."
"I'll summon Aru right away," Kian said. "And Toven—we'll need his compulsion abilities to implant deep, unshakeable false memories in Rashid's mind. In the meantime, think of something that can explain his absence, the time gap, and the radio silence. I'll also get in touch with Andrew as soon as he's reachable. His expertise on counterterrorism might come in handy, not to mention his access to the government's surveillance resources."
Onegus nodded. "I'll keep Rashid sedated until we are ready to release him."
"There's one more issue I want to bring up," Max said. "Once we have intelligence from all four cells, we'll need to hit them simultaneously. Any delay between strikes and the others will scatter like roaches when you turn on the light."
"We'll need four Guardian strike teams," Onegus said. "Plus backup. That's a significant portion of our forces. We will have tocancel rescue operations for a couple of nights, but this is more important."
"What do we do with them?" Max asked. "Capture or kill? And then there is the issue of explosives. If we want to confiscate them, we will need trucks to transport them and a place to store them that's outside the city."
"One thing at a time," Kian said. "We'll figure it out."
"We can't use Yamanu for more than one location," Onegus pointed out. "Not if we are hitting them simultaneously. We will need cover stories for the ones he can't cover. Perhaps we could use SWAT uniforms or the FBI. The problem is that people who live in those upscale neighborhoods have connections, and they will call their friends to find out what's going on."
"Those are solvable problems," Kian said. "I'm more concerned with the Brotherhood knowing who took out their cells. We are the only ones who can take out Doomers. Then again, I'm tired of playing defense. Navuh needs to learn that attacking humans in our territory comes with consequences."
The words hung in the air, carrying implications beyond this immediate crisis. For centuries, the conflict between the clan and the Brotherhood had been a shadow war, fought through proxies and influence rather than confrontation. But times were changing. The stakes were rising. And the old rules no longer applied.
On the screen, Max and Onegus nodded, but the chief did so with much less enthusiasm than Max. He wasn't convinced that Kian's new approach was correct.
"I'll let you know when the team I'm assembling can make it to the keep. I hope they can all make it within the next hour or so." Kian shifted back to practical matters.
"Good," Onegus said. "The sooner we wrap up this portion of the plan, the better."
Kian crossed his arms over his chest. "There's something else that's bothering me about this. This feels like more than just terrorism. It feels like the opening move in something on a bigger scale."
On the laptop screen, Onegus and Max exchanged glances. "Do you think this is a distraction for something even larger?" Onegus asked. "It doesn't get much bigger than blowing up a venue full of kids."
"It might be a probe," Kian said. "They know that we are located somewhere in the wider Los Angeles area, and they might be testing our responses. While we're focused on these attacks, what else might Navuh be moving into place?"
It was paranoid thinking, but paranoia had kept his clan alive for millennia, and Kian had learned the hard way not to underestimate Navuh.
Onegus shrugged. "Their main goal since forever was to eradicate the clan and the Clan Mother. They may be hallucinating that in the chaos, we will lower our guard and reveal where we are located. But right now, we need to focus on the immediate threat and the many thousands of lives that hang in the balance."
"True. Carry on, gentlemen."
After terminating the call, Kian scrolled through his contacts until he found Aru's and initiated the call. As he waited for the god to answer, he stared out his office window at the village below and the café that was bustling with activity. None of the people enjoying their coffees and the company of friends and relatives knew how close their city had come to devastation, how many would have died if not for a random encounter in a Persian market.
The Fates worked in mysterious ways, turning Soraya's recognition by a Revolutionary Guard from a potential disaster into an opportunity to save thousands.
The Fates were indeed merciful for orchestrating this chance encounter.
However, divine intervention wasn't enough, and the rest of the work had to be done by the community members. The invincible Guardians of everything that was good and decent about humanity.
"Kian?" Aru answered. "How can I help you?"
"I need one of your tiny spy drones. Untold thousands of human lives depend on it."
There was a pause. "When do you need it?"
"Right now. How soon can you be in my office with the drone?"
"I'll get Dagor, and we will be right over."
