Re-Awakened :I Ascend as an SSS-Ranked Dragon Summoner - Chapter 455

Chapter 455: Crisis Management

[Briefing Room 7, Vanguard Space Station]

[Three Weeks Later]

The atmosphere in the briefing room had grown considerably more tense since Commander Brooks’ arrival. What had once been a problem shared between three commanders was now a full-scale operational crisis that required immediate resolution. The holographic displays showed updated timelines, communication logs, and personnel status reports that painted an increasingly dire picture.

Commander Seraphina Brooks sat at what had become her usual position at the table, her tablet displaying detailed psychological profiles of the missing team members. Her perfectly styled black hair remained immaculate despite the long hours she’d been spending on this situation, and her glasses caught the light from the floating displays as she reviewed data with the methodical precision that had made her an effective academy instructor.

“Current status report,” she said, her voice carrying the authority that came naturally to someone who had managed hundreds of military cadets. “It’s been thirty-eight days since Pathfinder Team 7 went dark. We’ve sent fourteen official communication requests to Raiju Prime through diplomatic channels. Zero responses.”

Commander Cassandra Beaumont looked exhausted. The strain of maintaining operational security while managing the growing crisis had taken its toll, and the dark circles under her eyes spoke of too many sleepless nights. “The situation on the station is becoming untenable. We’ve had forty-seven inquiries from other recruit teams about Team 7’s extended absence. The official story about a classified training exercise is wearing thin.”

Commander Viktor Volkov nodded grimly. “Pathfinder Team 3 submitted a formal request yesterday asking when they could expect similar extended deployment opportunities. Team 5 wants to know why they weren’t selected for whatever special assignment Team 7 is supposedly on. The other recruits are starting to view this as a privilege rather than a disappearance.”

“Which creates its own set of problems,” Commander Mei Lein added, looking up from her personnel management reports. “Morale among the remaining teams is actually improving because they think there are exclusive opportunities they might qualify for. If we suddenly announce that Team 7 has been declared missing or AWOL, it’s going to create panic and destroy confidence in the entire program.”

Brooks set down her tablet and looked directly at each of her fellow commanders. “We’ve reached the point where maintaining the cover story is more dangerous than acknowledging the truth. But we’re not there yet. We still have options.”

“Such as?” Volkov asked, though his tone suggested he already knew what she was going to propose.

“Retrieval mission. Direct approach. We take a team to Raiju space, locate our assets, and bring them home.” Brooks activated a new display showing tactical deployment options. “I’ve identified six personnel from Pathfinder Team 2 who have the skill sets and psychological profiles needed for this type of operation.”

Cassie frowned at the display. “You’re talking about unauthorized entry into sovereign territory controlled by one of the original families. The political ramifications if we’re discovered could be catastrophic.”

“The political ramifications of losing an SSS-ranked asset and five other valuable personnel are already catastrophic,” Brooks replied. “We’re just choosing which catastrophe we prefer to manage.”

Mei pulled up additional files on her tablet. “There’s another consideration. Intelligence reports suggest that the Grey family maintains military assets that could pose a significant threat to an unauthorized EDF presence in their territory. We’re not talking about a simple extraction mission. This could turn into a combat situation very quickly.”

The mention of the Grey family’s military capabilities created a noticeable shift in the room’s atmosphere. All four commanders understood the implications of crossing one of the original seven families. These weren’t ordinary human settlements or corporate territories. The original families represented something fundamentally different, and their power extended far beyond normal political or military authority.

“The Greys have maintained their sovereignty for many centuries,” Volkov said carefully, his voice carrying the respect that military professionals reserved for genuinely dangerous opponents. “Their defensive capabilities are… substantial. If they perceive our presence as hostile, we could find ourselves dealing with weapons systems that make our standard military hardware look primitive.”

Brooks nodded, acknowledging the concern while maintaining her focus on the mission parameters. “Which is why this needs to be handled as a diplomatic retrieval rather than a tactical extraction. We go in with minimal personnel, we locate our people, we negotiate their return.”

“Negotiate with what leverage?” Cassie asked. “Lucas Grey is exactly where his family wants him to be. We have no authority to compel his return, and without him, the rest of the team might not be willing to come back voluntarily.”

“That’s where my knowledge of these recruits becomes relevant,” Brooks replied, highlighting several personnel profiles. “I taught four of the six missing team members. I understand their personalities, their motivations, their relationships with each other.”

She pointed to Noah’s profile first. “Eclipse is driven by duty and protection of his team. If he believes his presence is endangering others, he’ll make the rational choice to return. But he’s also fiercely loyal. If he thinks Lucas needs support, he’ll stay regardless of orders.”

Moving to Kelvin’s profile, she continued. “Pithon is Eclipse’s closest friend and follows his lead in most situations. Where Eclipse goes, Pithon goes. But Pithon also has family obligations that could be leveraged if necessary.”

Sophie’s profile came next. “Reign is emotionally invested in Eclipse. Their relationship gives us a potential point of influence, but it also means she won’t abandon him easily.”

“The other two are more complicated,” Brooks admitted. “Diana Frost is from Academy 8. Different training, different psychological profile. I don’t have the same insight into her decision-making process. And Lyra Davids…” She paused, glancing at the heavily redacted file. “Well, Lyra is a unique case.”

Volkov leaned forward. “So your assessment is that if we can convince Eclipse to return, the others will follow?”

“With the exception of Lucas, yes. And Lucas stays anyway. The EDF has no jurisdiction over Grey family members in their own territory.”

Mei looked troubled. “There’s still the question of authorization. We can’t just send a team into Raiju space without proper clearance. The Ark will want answers if they discover unauthorized EDF personnel operating in original family territory.”

“Then we don’t get discovered,” Brooks said simply. “Small team, civilian transport, minimal EDF identification. We’re a training exercise that happened to encounter our missing personnel during routine system patrol.”

Cassie shook her head. “The risk assessment is still too high. If this goes wrong, we’re looking at court martial proceedings for all four of us, dissolution of the Vanguard program, and potentially a diplomatic crisis that affects EDF relations with all the original families.”

“If we don’t act, we’re looking at the same consequences when someone with more authority than us starts asking questions we can’t answer,” Brooks countered. “The only difference is timing and our level of control over the situation.”

The room fell silent as each commander considered the implications. Outside the briefing room, the normal operations of the space station continued. Other vanguard teams conducted training exercises, support personnel maintained equipment and systems, and the daily routine of military life proceeded as if there wasn’t a crisis brewing that could affect the future of humanity’s war effort.

Volkov was the first to break the silence. “If we do this, who leads the mission?”

“I do,” Brooks replied without hesitation. “I have the best understanding of the missing personnel, and I have command authority to negotiate their return.”

“And the team composition?”

Brooks activated another display showing six personnel profiles. “Team 2 has the right skill mix and psychological stability for this type of operation. They’re experienced enough to handle unexpected complications, but young enough to adapt to rapidly changing situations.”

Mei reviewed the profiles quickly. “These are all male personnel. Is that intentional?”

“Partially. The mission profile requires individuals who can blend into civilian environments while maintaining combat readiness. The selected team members have demonstrated the right balance of skills and temperament.”

Cassie studied the tactical deployment information. “Timeline?”

“Forty-eight hours for mission preparation. Civilian transport to avoid military identification. Estimated mission duration of seventy-two to ninety-six hours depending on complications.”

“And if the Greys detect our presence and respond with force?”

“Then we withdraw immediately and report that the mission was unsuccessful due to unforeseen complications.”

Volkov stood up and began pacing, his expression indicating the internal conflict between military necessity and political caution. “This is exactly the kind of unauthorized operation that ends careers and starts wars.”

“This is exactly the kind of operation that saves careers and prevents wars,” Brooks countered. “We retrieve our assets, restore operational security, and maintain the viability of the Vanguard program.”

After several more minutes of discussion, the four commanders reached their decision. The risk of action was balanced against the certainty of consequences if they continued to wait. Brooks would lead a retrieval mission to Raiju space with the objective of locating and returning the missing members of Pathfinder Team 7.

—

[Loading Bay 7, Vanguard Space Station – Forty-Eight Hours Later]

The civilian transport vessel, Meridian’s Edge, sat in the loading bay like a statement of intentional anonymity. Unlike the sleek military ships that normally occupied the station’s docking facilities, this vessel was designed for merchant use, with the kind of generic hull configuration that could be found in any commercial spaceport throughout human space.

Six young men stood near the boarding ramp, their postures and bearing clearly indicating military training despite their civilian clothing. They wore the kind of practical garments that experienced travelers preferred – dark pants, neutral shirts, lightweight jackets that could conceal equipment without drawing attention.

“Still can’t believe we’re going on a mission in regular clothes,” muttered Private Jackson Reeves, adjusting his jacket for the fifth time in as many minutes. “Feels wrong not suiting up.”

Corporal Rocky Miles, the senior enlisted member of the group, shrugged. “Commander’s orders. We’re supposed to look like college students on a system tour, not military personnel on an extraction mission.”

“College students,” Private Danny Liu repeated with skepticism. “Right. Because we definitely look like we spend our time studying literature and taking exams.”

Private Kevin Santos laughed quietly. “Speak for yourself, Liu. I’ve got that intellectual look down.”

“You’ve got the look of someone who breaks things for a living,” Private Alex Bill observed. “Which, to be fair, is accurate.”

Private Ryan Foster, the youngest member of the team, seemed more nervous than the others. “Anyone else think it’s weird that we’re being led by the new commander? I mean, she’s been on station for three weeks and now she’s taking us on some kind of classified retrieval mission.”

“She used to teach at the academy,” Miles replied. “Apparently she knows the people we’re supposed to find.”

“That’s another thing,” Santos added, lowering his voice. “Why are we retrieving other recruits? What kind of mission are they on that requires us to bring them back?”

Bill glanced around to make sure they weren’t being overheard. “Word is they went AWOL. Followed their team leader when his family called him home.”

“Team 7?” Liu asked. “The ones with that dragon guy everyone talks about?”

“That’s them.”

Foster shook his head. “Eclipse is supposed to be some kind of combat genius. Why would he desert his post?”

“Maybe he didn’t,” Reeves suggested. “Maybe this is all some kind of training exercise and we’re the ones being tested.”

Before anyone could respond to that theory, footsteps echoed through the loading bay. The six recruits immediately straightened their postures as Commander Brooks approached, her presence commanding attention despite her civilian attire.

She wore dark pants that emphasized her tall, athletic figure, and a fitted jacket that managed to look both professional and approachable. Her black hair was pulled back in a practical style, and her glasses added an air of academic authority that complemented her natural confidence.

“Gentlemen,” she said, her voice carrying easily across the loading bay. “Pre-mission briefing. Our objective is straightforward: locate the missing members of Pathfinder Team 7 and facilitate their return to the station. We’re operating under diplomatic protocols, which means we avoid confrontation and focus on communication.”

Miles stepped forward slightly. “Ma’am, what’s our cover story if we encounter local authorities?”

“We’re educational consultants conducting research on colonial development patterns. Our presence in Raiju space is purely academic.” Brooks activated a small holographic display that showed their planned route. “We’ll dock at the main commercial station, conduct discrete inquiries, and locate our targets through standard investigative techniques.”

Santos raised his hand. “What if they don’t want to come back?”

“Then we determine why and address their concerns through appropriate channels. These are EDF personnel, not enemy combatants. We’re retrieving colleagues, not capturing prisoners.”

The mission briefing continued for another ten minutes, covering communication protocols, emergency procedures, and contingency planning. Throughout the discussion, Brooks maintained the kind of professional demeanor that had made her an effective instructor, but there was something else in her expression – a personal investment that suggested this mission was more than just duty.

As the team prepared to board the transport, quiet conversations resumed among the recruits.

“Commander Brooks is really something,” Foster whispered to Bill. “I mean, she’s got to be one of the most beautiful officers on the station.”

Bill nodded approvingly. “Smart too. You can tell she knows what she’s doing.”

Liu joined their quiet discussion. “Think she could take Commander Beaumont in a fight?”

“Different skill sets,” Santos replied thoughtfully. “Beaumont’s more of a strategic commander. Brooks has that instructor background – she’s probably better at direct combat.”

“Both are way out of our league,” Miles added with a grin. “Focus on the mission, gentlemen.”

As the final preparations were completed and the team began boarding the transport, Brooks stood at the bottom of the boarding ramp, reviewing her mission tablet one last time. The vessel’s engines began their startup sequence, filling the loading bay with the low hum of activation.

She walked up the ramp and made her way to the bridge, settling into the passenger observation area as the pilot initiated departure procedures. Through the viewport, the stars of deep space beckoned with the promise of answers and the threat of complications.

As the Meridian’s Edge cleared the station’s docking bay and set course for Raiju space, Brooks stared out at the infinite darkness and allowed herself a moment of personal reflection.

‘Eclipse, what the hell are you and your friends up to?’

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