You can’t attack the hare in its warren

“You can’t attack the hare in its warren” is a tactical expression that turns the vulnerability of an opponent’s stronghold into the logic of a trap: rather than strike where the enemy is secure, make the enemy come out. In the plan against Venus, the image describes both the intended maneuver and the risk the group is trying to control.

Meaning and Image

The saying contrasts a hare protected in its warren with one exposed beyond it. Its practical lesson is to change the conditions of a confrontation: do not attack where an opponent has the advantage; draw that opponent somewhere vulnerable. The image is concise, but its emphasis is on strategic patience rather than a direct assault.

Use in the Plan

Ikka explains that the group wants Venus to know where Ava will be. Whoever is working for Venus can pass along that information, leading Venus to believe she can surprise them. The group expects that, to reach them, Venus will have to leave her “safe and cozy den.” The expression therefore frames the disclosed location not simply as a danger but as bait intended to draw Venus away from safety.

The Council and the Trap

The plan depends on uncertainty about who within the Council is aligned with Venus. Sid explains that the group needed the whole Council to hear the message, rather than contacting it privately, so that the information would reach anyone compromised. The saying captures the larger design: controlled disclosure is meant to bring Venus into the open, where the group hopes she will be more vulnerable.