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[color=#736AFF][b][h1]Ranbu no Izayoi[/h1][/b][/color]
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For the moment, Izayoi could content herself with the fact that the majority of the party was in agreement with the idea to rescue Hien, even should their proposals differ. Unity in the goal was most important at the moment. She nodded towards Rudolf and Eve for their support before looking back to Galahad.

[color=#736AFF][b]"For what it is worth, I meant what I said back at Balmung. I have no desire to command, nor to supplant yours. If you would not have approved, I would have gone off on my lonesone, no matter what. Valheim is my mission. The Blight is yours."[/b][/color]

With that said, she turned back towards the rest of her table. 

[color=#736AFF][b]"Final command of the overall situation belongs to Ciradyl, though Galahad retains full control over Kirin's movements."[/b][/color] Izayoi said firmly, hoping to head off any debates over jurisdiction before they began. [color=#736AFF][b]"With that said, I agree with Esben's overall appraisal of the scenario. We lack the numbers ourselves to run an effective distraction without crippling our combat capability for the true operation, and any alert will end our efforts lest we are already underway."[/b][/color] She paused as the Mystrel manservant laid a map of Kugane's troop movements and concentrations over the table before continuing.

[color=#736AFF][b]"I believe that the young master will be under heavy guard at every single point of time between now and the execution. The question remains of when to strike. As I see it, we have three options:" 

"One: As Caradoc said, we strike while Lord Hien is still being held in lockup, most likely overnight. Assaulting a static location in the dead of night provides us with clear advantages, but we would also put ourselves at risk of failure being on Valheimr's home ground. They know the prison better than we do at this point."

"Two: We attack while he is being moved. This eliminates the advantage of surety for both sides, but also places us at the mercy of the enemy's timetable and route. Should we desire to take the fight to close quarters, the roofs would have to be secured before we make our move, lest their gunners fire into the street with impunity."

"Three: The execution ground. Frankly, I would consider this only as an option of last resort. Caradoc's assessment is correct. Too many sightlines and their riflemen will already be dug in."

"Regardless of what we select, Ciradyl's division of forces has merit: the infiltration team ought to be in place before the main assault begins, and eliminate targets of opportunity to ease the way for the extraction team in a two-pronged attack. Once the young master is freed, both groups ought to link back up and fight our way to exfiltration. Ciradyl, I trust your people can handle our flight to a safehouse?"[/b][/color]

Izayoi planted her hands on the table, her gaze burning as she fell into her element from the war. Though she hadn't quite needed to actually [i]consult[/i] anyone for her tactics back then. Just because she'd lost her taste for leadership didn't mean she couldn't still strategize.

[color=#736AFF][b]"Thoughts? Revisions? Objections? Name them now. Every minute is crucial at this point."[/b][/color]