“It would take the twelve ships over three days to collect and deposit every last Follower.” The Command Center’s screens filled with a manifest of soldiers, battle plans, data logs. Jules pointed to the most relevant information. “If Svana stirs up a true rebellion, we may be under siege the entire time, both here, and while annexing Greth Dome. Projected casualties may more than double.”

Exactly. Shepherd looked his subordinate dead in the eye. “Then it will not take three days... The final wave of our men will not survive to see freedom.”

“Every last one of our brothers understands the sacrifice. All of them would die at your command.”

Knowing all of this, Shepherd calculated. “Mated pairs, those who’d recovered their families after the breech will go first. Those in prime reproductive years will follow. The oldest and wounded will remain to defend their brothers’ future.”

Jules offered, “If we put the Citadel on immediate lockdown, there is a greater chance for our brothers’ survival.”

“No.” Speaking the truth as he knew it, Shepherd warned that Svana was not to be underestimated. “There is a possibility Svana had this planned all along. Our regime removed her every last adversary. She knows the inner workings of our organization. Taking Greth Dome would be more difficult than cutting down our authority. If we let her know before launch that we anticipate attack, she will strike all the sooner. We have to buy our men time.”

Nodding, Jules agreed.

“Svana must be detained immediately. Her capture will not stop true rebels from attacking, but we need her alive.” Though from the look in his eyes, Shepherd was greatly considering killing her himself. “Enforcer Corday is the key.”

“I request that you assign me to track her.” There was a darkness under Jules expression, a bloodlust. “I know Svana very well.”

Shepherd denied the request. “I need you here, leading our men from the Command Center while I defend the Citadel from attack.”

It was very rare for the Beta to question a direct order. “Shepherd, we need her. Without Svana, there is nowhere for our transports to land.” Eyes so vibrant a blue they seemed unnatural, Jules asked for something he’d earned over and over again. “Trust me. I will find her. I will hold her accountable to us all.”

The future slipping from his fingers, Shepherd conceded. “The instant transports light up the sky, Svana will know her plans were uncovered. You may have less than twelve hours before war begins.”

In strategy and war, there was no mental match under the Dome to Shepherd. Jules knew that better than anyone. “You can hold her back, bring the city to its knees. Outmaneuver her men, and save our brothers.”

The Dome would have never witnessed such carnage as what Shepherd intended to bring down upon Svana and her rebels. “I swear it to you, Jules.”