Chapter 28: Kaelen’s Collapsing Integrity Alexia and Silas looked at the data cluster indicating the structural vulnerability within the Integrity Infrastructure Group’s project. Silas had just confirmed the catastrophic potential, the direct result of Master Kaelen’s typical financial overreach. The data showed that Kaelen prioritized skimming funds for his own enterprises over reinforcing the critical supports of the metropolitan transit system, creating a ticking time bomb. This was the immediate, high-impact strike Alexia needed to execute the Integrity Protocol. Kaelen had inadvertently armed his enemy with a devastating public liability. “The Integrity Protocol is confirmed for immediate deployment,” Alexia stated, stepping back from the holographic table. This wasn’t merely a political takedown; it threatened physical collapse, an event that would expose the Coven’s deep integration into the mortal world and force Kaelen to divert all resources into damage control. “We have the full schematics showing the substandard load-bearing points connected to Terminal Gamma,” Silas confirmed, rapidly compiling a tactical package. “The controlled environmental stress test in the next 48 hours is the trigger event. We need to expose the flawed components right before the test for maximum impact. If the test proceeds, it will cause fractures, leading to subsequent failure.” Alexia understood the timing was critical. They needed to launch this before Kaelen’s security team could identify and patch the leak of the Chimera Archives. They had leverage now. They might not have it in twelve hours. A small notification icon flashed in the corner of the lab’s main display. It signified a communication from Ouroboros, who was likely reviewing primary data feeds in his secure quarters. “Ouroboros is awaiting the primary strategic recommendation,” Silas said, not looking up from his work. He was compiling the raw financial discrepancies and correlating them with the compromised engineering reports, translating the complex data into a highly distilled tactical briefing. Alexia moved to the nearest secure console, opening a direct, encrypted voice channel to Ouroboros. “Sir, recommendation for immediate action: Integrity Protocol deployment,” Alexia reported, keeping her tone crisp and factual. “The Chimera Archives reveal a critical failure point in Master Kaelen’s political structure: the Integrity Infrastructure Group’s metropolitan transit project. Kaelen diverted funds allocated for high-stress material reinforcement, rendering the structural integrity of Terminal Gamma substandard.” She paused, allowing the gravity of the systemic failure to land. “The vulnerability is time-sensitive,” Alexia continued. “An environmental stress test is scheduled for Terminal Gamma within 48 hours. If the substandard materials are exposed now, Kaelen must prioritize managing the inevitable public and structural collapse over counter-offense. This cripples his political facade and demands an immediate Coven response that is entirely defensive.” The channel remained silent for a moment, Ouroboros processing the information. “Maximum leverage confirmed,” Ouroboros’s voice returned, smooth and resonant. “Silas, prepare a multi-vector data release. Use the financial discrepancies to trigger immediate regulatory investigations. Simultaneously, upload the compromised engineering schematic with a predictive failure model to high-profile, non-affiliated engineering journals. Disseminate the data to ensure multiple, untraceable public access points before Kaelen can implement a full information control protocol.” Silas moved with renewed urgency, the projections on the holographic table shifting and multiplying as he initiated the complex process of data embedding and wide-scale release. “Alexia, maintain contextual oversight on the projected Coven reaction trajectory,” Ouroboros instructed. “Lycander and Veridian will not sit idle while Kaelen faces exposure. We need to anticipate their immediate moves.” Alexia accepted the directive. She needed to look beyond Kaelen’s financial panic and understand how the other Coven Masters would compensate. “Lycander favors raw power and direct action,” Alexia mused, accessing the Lycander Index again. “He will likely initiate a strike team to recover the Chimera Archives or attempt to neutralize the source of the leak.” “That is logical,” Ouroboros agreed. “We have already secured the Chimera data, and Nexus Omega is impenetrable. A direct assault by Lycander would be a waste of resources for them.” “Then he will focus on resource denial or leverage recovery,” Alexia speculated, watching Silas integrate the attack package. “If he cannot retrieve the data, he will try to retrieve something of equal importance to the Coven that we cannot access. What assets did Veridian’s transport manifest contain?” Silas paused his data release preparations, accessing the list of seized physical assets that had been recovered from the immediate area surrounding Veridian’s capture and transport vehicle. “Veridian’s seized physical assets were mostly classified as ‘non-critical historical archive material’,” Silas reported, scrolling through the inventory list. “They consist primarily of ancient texts, non-monetary Coven artifacts, and a surprisingly high volume of martial training equipment. Ouroboros dismissed them as propaganda or museum pieces, prioritizing the digital Chimera Archives.” “Filter the inventory for items Lycander might value,” Alexia commanded, tapping the screen overlaying the raw manifest. “Something that appeals to his traditionalist leanings and his focus on Coven military might. Look for objects associated with the early Coven history, pre-Veridian’s modern finance structure.” Silas implemented the filter. The list condensed, showing several entries categorized under ‘Archival Weapons,’ including a series of ornately carved stakes, several antique firearms, and a collection of ceremonial blades. One particular entry caught Alexia’s attention, designated as ‘Object Alpha-7: Thorne Relic, Blade.’ “Show me the contextual data for Object Alpha-7,” Alexia directed. The internal network hesitated for a second, indicating that the entry was flagged with a higher security classification within the Chimera Archives. Silas bypassed the internal flag. A low-resolution image appeared: a short, curved blade with an ancient, dark metal finish. The hilt was wrapped in heavy, degraded leather. “The ‘Thorne Relic’?” Alexia questioned, focusing her attention on the name. “My lineage?” “Chimera data suggests that this blade was seized centuries ago from the hunter lineage responsible for the near-extermination of the primary Coven settlements during the Northern Crusades,” Silas explained, reading the archival note. “It is referenced as having been used in the execution of one of the original Coven Masters. It is a historical trophy, Alexia, held by Veridian as a symbolic representation of the Coven’s ultimate victory over the hunters.” Alexia stared at the image. The blade held a primal resonance, even through the sterile digital display. She understood why Lycander would value it. It represented the ultimate shame of the hunters, their defeat personified in a captured weapon. “Lycander will not want Kaelen’s public collapse to distract from his mandate: the eradication of the hunter line,” Alexia theorized. “If he fears Nexus Omega will use a symbol of Coven victory as psychological leverage, he will attempt to secure it. This is not about the data; this is about symbolism and Coven morale.” “The Retrieval Protocol for the seized assets is already in transit,” Silas announced, displaying a transport log. “A low-profile transport truck carrying all non-digital assets left the Omega holding depot thirty minutes ago, mandated by Ouroboros to move the ‘historical refuse’ to a long-term, non-secure storage facility for efficiency.” The destination address appeared on the screen: an industrial deep-storage warehouse on the edge of the city’s jurisdiction, remote and poorly secured. “Ouroboros is disposing of it,” Alexia realized. “He is treating it as ballast, unaware of the cultural significance to Lycander.” If Lycander was already mobilizing a retrieval team, the destination was precisely where they would strike. The warehouse was an easy target, far outside Nexus Omega’s primary defense perimeter. Alexia quickly accessed the Lycander Index, cross-referencing recent encrypted communication indicators with the retrieval transport’s route. She didn’t need to see the full code; just the timing and coordination patterns. Suddenly, a massive surge of unexpected data flowed across Silas’s main console. The projected path of the Veridian asset truck was being analyzed by multiple external entities. “Alert,” Silas stated, his focus snapping back to the threat assessment. “A brute-force decryption attempt is targeting the low-level logistics transmission codes associated with the transport vehicle. The frequency signature matches Lycander’s established military-network protocols.” “He is moving now,” Alexia confirmed. “He bypassed the Kaelen crisis entirely and went for the symbolic asset. He is not concerned with the Integrity Protocol. He wants the Thorne Relic.” Silas overlaid the projected location of the transport truck with a rapid deployment map. “Estimated time until Lycander’s strike team intercepts the transport vehicle: T-minus 45 minutes,” Silas calculated. “The window for the Integrity Protocol to reach critical saturation is still six hours away. This is a separate, immediate conflict.” Alexia saw the opportunity instantly. If she could seize the Thorne Relic, she gained not only a potent ancestral weapon but also a crucial piece of leverage against Lycander. More importantly, she proved her value to Ouroboros in a non-psychological, tactical scenario. “Initiate counter-leverage protocol,” Alexia decided, thinking three steps ahead. “Lycander believes the asset is being transferred to a non-secure location. We need to beat him there and seize the relic first.” “Nexus Omega is not initiating a physical asset recovery mission for historical weapons, Alexia,” Silas reminded her, running the operational risk assessment. “Ouroboros will not divert operational forces for this.” “I will go,” Alexia offered, the words tight and determined. “Lycander is fielding a small, specialized team for stealth retrieval. I am the least traceable asset, and I am already keyed into the tactical context of his movement. If I can acquire the blade, Lycander will have to deal with me directly.” Silas consulted the active data feeds, still monitoring the brute-force decryption on the transport logistics. “He is getting closer to compromising the transport’s manifest,” Silas warned. “If he acquires the full manifest, he will realize the Thorne Relic is aboard, and his assault will be focused and precise.” Alexia knew she needed to act decisively, leveraging the brief window of confusion while Lycander was still decrypting the non-critical data. Alexia accessed the Lycander Index, filtering the recent traffic logs until she found the distinct, highly encrypted sequence unique to Lycander’s personal communications channel. Even as Silas rapidly disseminated the initial batch of public data for the Integrity Protocol—the first shockwave meant to expose Kaelen’s fraud—Alexia focused entirely on the secondary target. The Thorne Relic was more than a trophy; it was a connection to her hunter lineage, a piece of her history that the Coven had tried to erase. Alexia started compiling the mission dossier, a small, highly tactical operation designed for immediate deployment and extraction. “Provide me with a two-person, stealth-capable transport and minimal armament,” Alexia instructed Silas. “A diversionary team is not necessary. We need speed and discretion.” Silas paused the Integrity Protocol data stream, recognizing the unavoidable necessity of the counter-move. This was high-value intelligence that should be exploited, even without Ouroboros’s immediate approval. “A Delta-class rapid deployment vehicle is available in Bay Six,” Silas confirmed, accessing the vehicle manifests. “Elara is currently on standby duty, running diagnostics. She is trained for discreet asset recovery and is operationally compatible.” Alexia nodded. Elara was hyper-efficient, disciplined, and utterly loyal to Ouroboros, which ensured the mission would remain focused on asset acquisition, not personal vendettas. “I need a full tactical map override for the route to the deep storage facility,” Alexia requested. “And the most effective breach kit for a low-security industrial lock.” Silas quickly prepared the gear and navigation package, realizing this secondary mission might yield more immediate tactical results than the slow-burn financial corruption of Kaelen. Alexia moved to the armory console, selecting a minimal, silent loadout: two high-frequency sonic disruptors and a compact grappling system. She checked her hands, already feeling the slight ache from the hastily applied dermal sealant on her cut palm. The pain was irrelevant now. Before she could leave the lab, Silas interrupted her. “Wait, Alexia. I have intercepted the primary decryption key for Lycander’s communication,” Silas reported, his smart glasses flashing with new data streams. “He has committed to a specific acquisition target within the transport—a different relic.” Silas pulled up the coded message, rapidly translating the archaic Coven military language. Alexia watched the text populate on the screen. The translation confirmed Alexia’s initial fear. Lycander was moving. *“Immediate deployment: Strike Team Mu. Objective: Intercept Veridian Transport 05-Alpha at designated location. Asset retrieval: The Black Ash Blade. Prioritize stealth and secure extraction. All other assets are secondary. Eliminate all witnesses.”* Alexia looked at the name Lycander used: ‘The Black Ash Blade.’ Silas cross-referenced the poetic designation with the Chimera inventory. “The Black Ash Blade is the Coven’s internal designation for Object Alpha-7,” Silas clarified. “The Thorne Relic.” Silas looked at Alexia, confirming the high strategic value of the target. “This is the Coven Masters’ most significant trophy from the original Hunter Wars. Lycander will move personally to ensure its recovery if the initial team fails.” Alexia understood now. Lycander was not just trying to deny Nexus Omega leverage; he was asserting his dominance over the crisis. Kaelen’s financial ruin was collateral damage. Lycander wanted the symbol of the hunt's defeat. “He is more concerned with securing an ancestral weapon—a hunter relic—than addressing Kaelen’s political collapse,” Alexia confirmed. The realization was stark. Lycander saw the hunt as a zero-sum game, prioritizing the eternal war over temporary mortal concerns. “The transport requires immediate interdiction,” Alexia confirmed, already heading toward the door that led to the deployment bay. “If Lycander secures that blade, the psychological damage to any potential hunter allies we might recruit will be severe.” Alexia paused at the analysis lab door, looking back at Silas, who was still managing the launch sequence for Kaelen’s data exposure. “I am moving to intercept Strike Team Mu and acquire the Black Ash Blade,” Alexia stated. “I will deploy Elara and myself on an unsanctioned asset recovery mission. Inform Ouroboros only when the asset is secure. Tell him I determined this was the critical strategic vulnerability and required immediate, deep-stealth response.” Silas offered a single, concise nod, his eyes already returning to the complex data map of Kaelen’s unraveling infrastructure. He understood the necessity of acting outside the rigid protocol when presented with the perfect tactical moment. Alexia moved through the Nexus Omega corridors, the polished metal surfaces reflecting the mission’s single-minded focus. She descended to Bay Six, where the humming Delta-class vehicle awaited deployment. Elara was already there, running final systems checks with the clinical efficiency expected of Nexus Omega personnel. She was dressed in her standard combat gear, dark, streamlined armor emphasizing mobility. “Change of mandate, Elara,” Alexia stated, moving immediately to the gear lockers. “Asset recovery, deep-stealth profile. Target is Veridian Transport 05-Alpha, carrying classified historical objects. Lycander is mobilizing. We have a 40-minute window.” Elara didn’t question the sudden shift from operational standby to high-risk deployment. She just assessed the risk profile. “Target destination: Industrial Deep Storage,” Elara confirmed, accessing the minimal briefing package Alexia had forwarded. “Lycander Strike Team Mu—estimated capacity and armament?” “Low saturation, five to six combatants, focused on silent asset retrieval,” Alexia summarized, pulling on her tactical undersuit over her tired body. “They will bypass the human security easily. They are prioritizing speed over an engagement force.” Alexia suited up, prioritizing silence and speed. She armed herself with specialized hunter-grade gear: a compact crossbow armed with silver-tipped quarrels, and a reinforced titanium stake designed for rapid deployment. As they boarded the Delta vehicle, Alexia reviewed the transport truck’s estimated trajectory. It was moving slowly, predictably, a perfect target for a focused strike team. “We need to reach the designated rendezvous point 10 minutes before the Coven strike unit,” Alexia determined, adjusting the vehicle’s stealth profile. “We will interdict the transport vehicle, secure the Black Ash Blade, and extract immediately. If we engage Strike Team Mu, we run the risk of Lycander sending in heavy retrieval units.” Elara engaged the Delta vehicle’s powerful motor. The bay doors slid open silently, and they moved into the city’s unseen infrastructure tunnels, utilizing Nexus Omega's dedicated subsurface transport arteries. The ride was fast, smooth, and utterly silent. Alexia monitored the Lycander Index, watching the faint signal of Strike Team Mu moving aggressively toward the surface. “Strike Team Mu has reached the surface perimeter,” Elara reported, her eyes fixed on the driving path. “They are utilizing a low-altitude air-transit vehicle. They will cut our ground time advantage in half.” “Then we must intercept the transport before it reaches the deep storage facility,” Alexia concluded. “Check the manifest bypass for the Black Ash Blade’s cargo tag. We need to secure that one object and ignore the rest.” Elara adjusted their route to intersect the transport truck on a high-speed inter-urban highway, a stretch of road currently under maintenance closure, guaranteeing no civilian interference. The Delta vehicle surged forward, exiting the tunnel system onto the deserted highway. The air was cool and dark. They spotted the slow-moving transport truck less than five minutes later, its security lights blinking rhythmically. “Interception successful,” Alexia stated. “Elara, initiate non-lethal immobilization protocol. I’ll secure the asset.” Elara executed a perfect tactical approach, disabling the transport truck’s engine with a precise electromagnetic pulse from a roof-mounted directional emitter. The heavy truck glided to a smooth stop. They exited the Delta vehicle, moving with practiced coordination. Elara took point, setting up a perimeter and activating a localized signal scrambler to block Lycander's team from receiving the transport's sudden immobility notification. Alexia went immediately to the back of the transport truck, assessing the locking mechanism. It was a standard industrial latch, easily bypassed with the high-frequency disruptor Silas had provided. She cycled the disruptor. The hinge melted with a faint hiss, and Alexia pulled the heavy cargo door open. The truck’s interior was packed with crates and trunks, Veridian’s seized physical archive. Alexia accessed the cargo manifest on her gauntlet display, locating the crate marked ‘Alpha-7.’ It was a heavy, reinforced metal case secured near the front of the transport bay. A faint, high-pitched whine perforated the silence. Lycander’s air transport was closing the distance. “We have approximately two minutes before visual acquisition,” Elara warned, scanning the horizon. Alexia moved swiftly, locating the Alpha-7 crate. She used a small, specialized pry bar to access the reinforced box. The metal protested, but the focused leverage gave way, revealing a dark, cloth-wrapped object nested within protective foam. Alexia carefully removed the package. It felt heavy and surprisingly cold in her hands. She unwrapped the cloth, revealing the ancient, curved blade. The Black Ash Blade, the Thorne Relic. The name resonated with the knowledge that this weapon had been turned against her ancestors. Before Alexia could fully secure the relic, Elara's voice snapped over the comms. “Alexia! Strike Team Mu has detected the immobility and is accelerating. They are bypassing standard reconnaissance, going straight for immediate deployment. Five combatants confirmed, landing zone designated 50 meters north of our position.” Alexia rewrapped the blade, securing it in a specialized harness on her back. “Extraction immediately. We will utilize the Delta vehicle’s defensive measures to cover the retreat.” As they sprinted back toward the dark outline of the Delta vehicle, the Coven strike team appeared, moving with silent efficiency out of the shadows. They were uniformed, heavily armed, and clearly focused on asset retrieval. The subtle glint of a silver-tipped quarrel shot from Alexia’s crossbow struck the lead assailant, a minor deterrent that slowed him momentarily. Elara simultaneously activated the Delta vehicle’s sonic dampeners, creating a localized field of low-frequency sound designed to disorient the vampires’ hyper-sensitive hearing. But Strike Team Mu was elite. They adapted instantly, communicating silently and spreading out to flank the two agents. “Too close, Alexia,” Elara grunted, unleashing a burst of suppression fire designed to keep the Coven agents pinned down. “They are faster than anticipated.” They reached the Delta vehicle just as the first Coven operative recovered and initiated a full-speed charge. Alexia ducked inside, initiating the vehicle’s engine while Elara provided cover fire. “We need a hard break east to lose them in the unmapped construction zones,” Alexia directed, throwing the gear into the backseat. Just as the Delta vehicle accelerated, Alexia’s comm crackled with an urgent priority signal from Silas. The Integrity Protocol data dump was still cycling, but the critical information had shifted. “Alexia! Emergency confirmation—Lycander’s strike team is only prioritizing the retrieval of the blade. I am intercepting a secondary coded message, highly fragmented, indicating unexpected Coven communications surrounding their political sphere of influence. We need to analyze this immediately.” Alexia pulled the Delta vehicle into a sharp turn, leaving the Coven operatives behind, but knowing they would be in close pursuit. “Forward the fragment to my tactical display,” Alexia commanded, simultaneously navigating the maze of construction barriers. The heavily encrypted text flashed, showing a conversation between two high-level Coven military analysts regarding the sudden exposure of Kaelen's corporate fraud. *Analyst 1:* Integrity Protocol is causing critical external exposure. Kaelen's assets are frozen. *Analyst 2:* Lycander’s priority remains Alpha-7 Retrieval. The Master is focused on the Thorne relic. Political consequences are secondary leverage. Alexia accessed the Black Ash Blade in its harness, confirming the data. Lycander was willing to sacrifice Kaelen's entire political infrastructure to secure this single ancestral weapon. “Lycander’s intent is confirmed beyond strategic denial,” Alexia stated, securing the relic. “He views this as a direct, psychological confrontation with the hunter line, regardless of the political fallout.” The immediate return to Nexus Omega felt too passive. Alexia had the asset. Now she needed to exploit the momentary operational chaos Lycander had created on his own side. She needed to use the captured asset to ensure she remained the most critical variable. “Elara, utilize the subsurface tunnels for the return trip, minimum exposure,” Alexia instructed, her mind already racing through the next operational phase. “Lycander will now double-down on the blade’s retrieval.” Alexia accessed her personal data slate, focusing on the historical archival data Silas had provided earlier regarding the Thorne Relic. She found the name of the Coven Master the blade had purportedly executed centuries ago. Suddenly, a massive surge of data flooded her internal access points, completely overwhelming the fragmented Coven communications from Silas. This was the source of Lycander’s focus: the Chimera Archives contained a detailed index regarding the Black Ash Blade, including its operational history and, more importantly, its original wielder. Alexia quickly decrypted the operational profile associated with Object Alpha-7. The text was old, rendered in the formal, flowery language of an ancient Coven defeat report. It described the blade as having been forged for a specific purpose: to cut through the reinforced heart valves of a Master-class vampire. The metal was unique, a rare alloy of iron and silver, quenched in the blood of the first Coven defectors. She needed to fully secure the weapon to leverage the advantage against Lycander. “We are approaching the Omega subterranean entrance,” Elara announced, pulling the Delta vehicle into the entry conduit. Alexia paused. If she delivered the blade now, Ouroboros would treat it as another piece of leverage, minimizing her role in the recovery. She needed to present it as the key to a future operational phase. “Do not report the recovery of Alpha-7 yet,” Alexia ordered Elara, exiting the vehicle into Bay Six once the door hissed shut. “Secure the blade in a dedicated storage unit under my biometric lock. We will brief Ouroboros only when the asset’s full tactical value is appraised.” Elara, programmed for efficient compliance, locked down the Black Ash Blade in a secure internal locker, designated for high-value research materials. Alexia moved immediately back to the analysis lab, finding Silas immersed in the flow of Kaelen’s financial collapse. The Integrity Protocol was working. News of the fraudulent contracts and the structural vulnerabilities was already beginning to hit specialized financial wires. “The Integrity Protocol is confirmed operational,” Silas reported, looking up as Alexia entered. “Kaelen is currently diverting all resources into managing the asset freeze and the pending governmental investigations. Financial collapse is imminent.” “Lycander ignored the political crisis entirely to pursue the Black Ash Blade,” Alexia stated, leaning on the strategic insight. “I intercepted his retrieval team. The asset is secure, and I have confirmed its high value as a hunter ancestral weapon.” Silas’s focus sharpened. “The Thorne Relic? That is significant operational data, Alexia. Ouroboros must be informed immediately.” “No,” Alexia countered, displaying the ancient Coven report on the blade’s function. “Lycander is not just interested in a trophy. This blade is keyed to the hunter lineage, forged to execute a Master-class vampire. It is not leverage; it is a primary weapon.” Alexia ran the specifications of the blade against the Coven’s internal military profiles, utilizing the full access of the Chimera Archives. She found a secondary log, maintained by Lycander, regarding the continuous monitoring of the blade’s status. The log indicated Lycander was obsessed with preventing the blade from falling back into the hands of the hunters. “Lycander’s security index indicates a highly specific retrieval protocol for this weapon,” Alexia concluded. “He is not sending a general strike team. He is sending specialists who understand the blade’s true capabilities.” Silas accessed the data point, pulling up Lycander’s personal entries on the Black Ash Blade. *Lycander’s Log, Archival Entry 74-D:* “The Thorne Relic must never be reintegrated into the hunter network. Its specific composition interacts violently with the dormant genetics of the hunter line, catalyzing the dormant abilities to lethal effect. It is a catalyst, not a weapon.” The realization hit Alexia with the force of a psychic blow. The Black Ash Blade was not just a weapon against the Coven; it was a tool that amplified the dormant abilities of her own lineage. It was a catalyst for her own power. This single artifact shifted the entire strategic balance. “Lycander believes the blade can activate the full potential of my lineage,” Alexia determined. “This is why he prioritized it over Kaelen’s entire political establishment. He is preempting the activation of a master-class hunter.” Alexia accessed the Lycander Index again, pushing the filtering for all recent Coven transport data, cross-referencing it with the ongoing retrieval attempts for the Black Ash Blade. Lycander’s next move, she knew, would be focused entirely on a targeted strike to reclaim the blade. Her possession of the relic was now the main trigger for the Coven’s military response, overshadowing even the Chimera Archive data. She found a second, highly personalized message, encrypted within a low-band Coven military frequency, sent only an hour ago. Silas rapidly isolated and decrypted the communication. *Lycander’s Personal Directive:* “Strike Command Mu failed. Asset Alpha-7 is compromised. Re-task Retrieval Element Sigma at maximum deployment to the asset location. Utilize the ancestral communications cipher. Confirmation of asset target: The Black Ash Blade. Retrieval is paramount. Execute all necessary force to secure the asset. Secondary retrieval asset: Location of the Thorne descendant.” Alexia absorbed the message. Lycander was now fully committed to a direct, violent strike to retrieve the blade, recognizing the asset’s presence in Nexus Omega’s network. He was also targeting her directly, confirming her identity as the “Thorne descendant.” Now that Lycander knew the blade was compromised, he would move the most critical remaining military force, ‘Retrieval Element Sigma.’ “We need countermeasures against Retrieval Element Sigma,” Alexia stated, moving to the strategic map. “They will be heavily armored and focused on breaching. Nexus Omega is secure, but the tactical objective is not to wait for their response.” Alexia looked at the strategic map, realizing the opportunity Lycander had inadvertently presented. His entire focus was now condensed into a single operational objective: the recovery of the Black Ash Blade. She needed to hit him where it hurt—by denying him the asset again, but this time, doing it publicly, in a way that further fractured the Coven's cohesion. Alexia found the critical piece of counter-intelligence. Retrievers Element Sigma was utilizing an old, exposed asset transfer point for their deployment—an abandoned industrial shipping terminal, scheduled to be active for less than 30 minutes before Lycander would pull them back. “Lycander is using the ancestral communications cipher to coordinate this team,” Alexia noted, running the Coven’s operational profile. “He is utilizing a non-digital, secure network to ensure operational confidentiality. That means the team cannot adapt easily to sudden, digital changes in their mission parameters.” This was pure Lycander: relying on tradition and raw military power, failing to adapt to the digital age that Nexus Omega commanded. Alexia looked at the data; Retrieval Element Sigma was moving to a known, exposed location. “I have the location of Retrieval Element Sigma’s deployment zone,” Alexia claimed, pulling up the map display. “The abandoned Port Terminal 16. It is scheduled for deployment in T-minus 90 minutes.” Silas confirmed the external tracking beacons, amazed by Alexia’s ability to locate the deep-stealth unit. “That location is highly vulnerable, Alexia. It is the perfect opportunity for an interdiction strike.” Alexia looked at Silas. She had the blade, the asset, and the tactical context. She didn’t need Ouroboros’s heavy hitters. She needed speed and discretion. “I will lead a small, rapid-deployment team to intercept Lycander’s Retrieval Element Sigma at Port Terminal 16,” Alexia asserted. “We will utilize the Black Ash Blade as bait. We need to deny him the asset, not engage in a full-scale battle.” This was a personal confrontation. Lycander had chosen to ignore the systemic collapse of Kaelen’s financial empire to pursue her single ancestral weapon. She would force him to confront the implications of that choice. Alexia looked at the secure locker where the Black Ash Blade was secured. The cold weight of the relic represented her own suppressed power, a force Lycander desperately wanted to contain. “I only require Elara and minimal transport,” Alexia stipulated, already reviewing the terminal’s structural schematics for optimal infiltration routes. “This is a stealth interdiction, designed to capture or destroy the asset before Lycander can recall his team.” Alexia knew the danger was immense. Retrieval Element Sigma would be Lycander’s best. But the chance to personally deny one of the Coven Masters their most critical asset, coupled with the opportunity to test the Black Ash Blade’s claims of hunter-lineage amplification, was too significant to ignore. She decided to move immediately, before Ouroboros could divert her attention back to the slow-burn crisis of Kaelen’s collapse. Alexia needed this confrontation, the opportunity to define her role based on decisive, physical action rather than psychic exploitation. The Retrieval Element Sigma deployment zone was a trap Lycander was walking right into, entirely because he prioritized an ancestor’s relic over current strategic necessity. Alexia activated the tactical clock on the display. 87 minutes until deployment. “Initiate rapid mission preparation,” Alexia ordered Silas. “I am volunteering to lead the interdiction of Retrieval Element Sigma. Acquire the Black Ash Blade from the secure locker and prepare it for field deployment. It will be the central lever for this operation.” Alexia was choosing to confront the Coven Master with the manifestation of her own heritage. She was ready to take back her ancestral weapon. Alexia was moving. She was leading the strike force, even if it was only a team of two. Lycander would learn that the hunter lineage was not only active, but also commanded his most prized relic. “I need to acquire a powerful ancestral blade mentioned in my family history,” Alexia said to Silas, who was pulling up the schematics for Port Terminal 16.