"And if you fail?" Lyra demanded. "If something goes wrong? If he adapts faster than expected? You'd have no backup, no support, no one to pull you out if things go bad!"
"Then I die," Satou said simply. "But at least I die without having exposed your abilities to The Reaper. If I fail and you're there, he adapts to your administrative coordination, Jessica's healing, Urgak's tactics—everything. Then when he comes for our settlement eventually, we have even less chance of stopping him."
The room was silent. The logic was brutal, but sound.
"I hate this," Lyra said quietly. "I hate every part of this plan. But you're right. Limiting his exposure to our capabilities is strategically sound."
"I can't believe I'm agreeing with a suicide plan," Jessica said, her voice thick with emotion. "But if you're going to do this, you need to promise me something."
"Anything," Satou said.
