The Zero Point Rite (2026) : 3x4

After only 9 hours, all but the groups in London and New York, the 2 core weaving cities of the world, have gone into retreat and damage control. Shortly after, the global death toll crosses one million. It appears in a report Arden is reading. She stops for a moment, then continues. A government briefing intercepted by Vane's intelligence division uses the phrase "acceptable losses" in reference to projected civilian casualties. Vane reads it twice. Juno moves through the compound surrounded by people preparing for a war they might not survive and understands, maybe for the first time with full clarity, exactly what her technique means to all of them. She finds Iris and asks: "If it came to it - would you want me to do it?" Iris doesn't answer immediately. Then: "I want you to want to." Liam is in his safehouse. He used the phrase "acceptable losses" in his own planning documents. He remembers writing it, but even then something feels off. For now, he shrugs it off as nerves.