Lilac_Everglade

Chapter 449: STRATEGIC THREAT ASSESSMENT

Chapter 449: STRATEGIC THREAT ASSESSMENT

Note: the next Chapters will delve into military strategy and supernatural science. The technical detail will pay off in the action ahead as we reach the finale

Eve

Rounding up all the information we had into one cohesive fact file grew more daunting by the minute. It all stacked up too high, breathing became a conscious effort.

What I had discovered about the room, the chalyx powers that Darius was using and all that I and the other council members had learnt from Jonathan.

Combining all three with what Hades had coupled together with his rescue mission turned expedition made it make sense but predictably it did not soothe me one bit.

We were already drowned.

Still the wave was rising above us, ready to crash into us and drag us into the inescapable abyss.

All of this mostly because Darius possessed a powerful relic that he had been using to stay ahead of us all this time. The wheels had been turning from the moment I shifted into a lycan on that fateful day.

Our fates according to the prophecy had been the catalyst but he had the means all this time.

And now painstakingly going through all the ways we were doomed did not raise morale.

Kael read out the facts once all the information gathered had been relayed in bullet points so it could be simplified.

STRATEGIC THREAT ASSESSMENT - CLASSIFIED

Prepared by: Beta Kael Orlov

Distribution: Alpha Command, Luna Command, Senior Council

HOSTILE ASSETS - CONFIRMED:

• Primary Target (Darius) possesses the Chalyx of Vassir

• Standing army of weaponized ferals (estimated hundreds, potentially thousands)

• Operational vampire asset (minimum one confirmed, additional units possible)

• Concealed command facility ("The Cauterium" - Faculty 14 location)

• Hidden city with advanced concealment capabilities

• Concealed city possibly inhabited by primary target’s inner circle

• Felicia Montague allied with Primary target

HOSTILE OBJECTIVES - CONFIRMED:

• Systematic genocide of werewolf populations via prolonged Blood Moon manipulation

• Recruitment/conscription through forced mutation of civilian populations

FRIENDLY ASSETS - CONFIRMED:

• Eclipse Rebellion maintains custody of Ellen Valmont (Blessed Twin)

• Alpha Hades demonstrates Hybrid Primus capabilities with influence over Chalyx

• Ellen Valmont possesses lunar manipulation abilities and Blood Moon immunity

• Eve Valmont possesses immunity against the Blood Moon

CRITICAL INTELLIGENCE GAPS:

• Full extent of vampire force strength

• Complete scope of feral army deployment

• Ellen Valmont’s current operational capacity (weakened from prolonged manipulation)

• Chalyx of Vassir’s full range of capabilities

OPERATIONAL TIMELINE:

• Estimated six (6) weeks until Blood Moon peak

• Window for countermeasures rapidly diminishing

THREAT LEVEL: EXISTENTIAL

End of Assessment

Kael took his seat. "So, let’s look at the bright side. Lucinda visiting Felicia opened up a whole can of worms, and that’s the reason we’re as informed about Darius, his ploys, and his plans as we are now."

Kael had detached himself from the fact that he had sacrificed himself by getting abducted. But he wasn’t wrong.

The problem was, the bright side was heavily outweighed by the cons that the discovery brought with it.

Yet, Hades seemed oddly calm.

As though there were things he knew that I didn’t—things Kael knew as well.

I looked between them.

Hades had anticipated the Bloodmoon’s coming for years, even before he became Alpha. His father, Alpha Lucas, had anticipated the prophecy would come true since the full moon under which my sister and I were born.

Hades had begun his training then.

And I knew well that old habits died hard, especially for a man like Hades.

He squeezed my hand, but his eyes flickered to Kael, who caught his gaze at the same time. I watched the exchange, my heart thumping wildly, hoping my prayers would be answered.

"Gallinti," he said, addressing the man who still looked like he was a breath away from a panic attack. "I do understand your fears. They’re justified. But you’re operating under the assumption that we’ve been sitting idle for the past decade."

Gallinti’s frantic breathing slowed slightly, his wide eyes focusing on Hades with desperate hope.

"The truth is, my brother Leon and I began preparing for this scenario long before I became Alpha," Hades continued, his voice steady and commanding. "We knew the prophecy would eventually come to pass, and we knew that when it did, we’d need more than just weapons and warriors to survive it."

Kael’s posture straightened, and I could see the first spark of hope flickering in his expression.

"Our first priority has always been civilian survival," Hades said, his gaze sweeping across the council. "Every decision we’ve made, every construction project, every resource allocation has been designed with one goal in mind: keeping our people alive when the worst comes to pass."

Silas suddenly sat up straighter, his eyes lighting with recognition. "The Quadrant Stadiums," he breathed. "That’s why you insisted on those specific designs when you were Leon’s Beta."

Hades nodded grimly. "Each stadium was built with a secondary function that only Leon, Kael, and I knew about. They weren’t just for gatherings and ceremonies."

"What are you talking about?" I asked, though I could hear the hope beginning to creep into my voice.

Kael took over, his earlier despair replaced by something approaching excitement. "The stadiums are designed to transform into massive fortified safe houses. Each one can shelter the entire civilian population of its respective quadrant."

The room went silent except for the sound of Gallinti’s gradually steadying breathing.

"The transformation is specifically designed to protect against aerial attacks," Hades continued. "And more importantly, if Darius’ forces manage to push past our border defenses and spill into Obsidian Pack territory itself, our civilians won’t be caught in the crossfire."

"How do they transform?" Dr. Amelia asked, leaning forward with interest.

"The stadiums have retractable dome sections and reinforced walls that deploy at the press of a button," Kael explained. "What appears to be standard stadium architecture actually conceals expandable protective barriers and fortified structures."

Silas was shaking his head in amazement. "All this time, we thought you were just obsessed with having the best recreational facilities in the territory."

"Obsessed with preparation," Hades corrected. "Leon and I learned from our father’s mistakes. Alpha Lucas was caught off guard when threats emerged. We swore that would never happen to Obsidian again."

For the first time since the meeting began, I felt like I could breathe properly. The weight that had been crushing my chest began to lift ever so slightly.

"So if Darius’ forces break through our perimeter," I said slowly, "our people have fortified refuges."

"Yes," he replied. "And having battled with the ferals myself, the domes will hold them off for a long while even with their ferocity. They are cannon fodder for a reason. They’re fairly easy to neutralize."

Thea flinched.

"So," Hades continued, "each transformed stadium can house up to fifty thousand people and withstand sustained assault while our forces regroup and counterattack. We also know what the ferals are, from the last analysis after they attacked Elliot."

REFERENCE: Chapter 237 (Hybrids?)

"We know that they’re mutated from their baseline werewolf form by the forced integration with Lycan DNA. Which causes increased speed, aggression, regeneration," Kael explained. "We already had a countermeasure for that."

Montague spoke up. "The ammunition specified for the ferals that kidnapped my grandson has been in the works for months now."