With Rinaldi needing to be rescued, the runners had to split their already pitifully weak forces. It couldn’t be helped. If their attack against Hyde-White went off before they rescued the Circle’s captives, there was too great a chance that the captives would be killed out of hand. If they made their rescue attempt before the spoiling attack, the Circle would be alerted that Sam’s team was back in action. That surprise element was their only advantage, and a pair of simultaneous operations was the only way to use that advantage. It was also a good way for the runners to be defeated in detail.