Andy Fellowes calls Tony Stackhouse from surveillance to report that the intruders’ black nine-seat Suburban has stopped just short of the Institute’s driveway, lights off but visible in the moonlight. Stackhouse declines a monitor feed, pockets his walkie set to a shared channel, and begins coordinating the final phase of the ambush.

Stackhouse confirms positions: Zeke Ionidis is on the admin roof with Felicia Richardson; Doug and Chad are concealed by the driveway and visually confirm the Suburban; Gladys is on the roof with the chemical components ready to start the gas; Rosalind is stationed at the F-Level tunnel, reporting that the psychic hum from Ward A is very loud and that the children seem to be conspiring.

Stackhouse instructs Gladys to start the gas if shooting breaks out, concluding that a confrontation is imminent. He reassures Rosalind, promising normalcy after this, and jokes about baseball to steady nerves, while internally affirming that the intruder—whom he views as a misguided hero—will die.

Going outside into the cool night, Stackhouse feels loyalty and pride toward the staff who remained with him. He moves to the school bus by the flagpole, gathers his shooters for final directives, and sets their target priorities.

Stackhouse orders all shooters to focus first on the Suburban’s driver, identified as wearing his hat backward, then to rake the vehicle front to back, aiming high to shatter the dark windows and take head shots. He instructs them to begin firing only when he raises his hand.

He positions himself in front of the bus, placing one hand on the bus and the other on the flagpole, and waits to give the signal as the ambush reaches its final moments of readiness.