Julian's jaw tightened. His dark blue eyes fixed on the pulsing red marker on the map.
"I won't let that happen," he said quietly. Not a threat. A fact.
The room's tension shifted. Emma set down her spoon. Fey glanced up from her data-slate. Zoe's ears twitched. Even Dori straightened in her chair.
Julian stood. He walked to the map and traced his finger along the approach routes to Eclipse's central stronghold.
"We need a plan," he said. "Not a raid. A coordinated assault."
He looked at Vex. "Your Greenday fighters. Rain's food supply network. The mineral stockpile from Neo. The energy from Xlomoph. We cut Eclipse's resources, now we use them against what's left."
Vex crossed her arms. Her face was hard, unreadable.
"Really?" she said. "We're not in a good situation. Your people are exhausted. My people are terrified. Rain only follows because you put fear in his head. Everyone's still full of doubt."
Julian didn't flinch. "I know."
"Then you know this is insane."
