Re-Awakened :I Ascend as an SSS-Ranked Dragon Summoner-Chapter 352: Day 3 in hell (Ghost crew response)

[Location: Vanguard station]

[Day 3: Ghost crew meeting]

The briefing room aboard Vanguard Station hummed with the low thrum of recycled air and distant engine noise, a constant reminder that they were floating in the void between stars rather than standing on solid ground. The reinforced viewport showed the curve of Earth below, its blue-white surface deceptively peaceful from this distance.

Lieutenant Cassandra Beaumont stood at the head of the conference table, her short Platinum blonde hair pulled back in a regulation bun that somehow managed to look both professional and effortlessly elegant. Even in standard EDF fatigues, she carried herself with the kind of confident grace that made junior officers forget their words mid-sentence and senior commanders remember why they’d fast-tracked her through the ranks.

But today, the usual spark in her blue eyes was replaced by something harder, more focused. The kind of expression she wore when academy recruits were about to learn that real combat was nothing like the simulations.

"Gentlemen," she said, her voice carrying the crisp authority of someone who’d trained some of the most promising soldiers in human space, "we have a problem."

Commander Alexei Volkov, Chief Training Officer, looked up from the tactical display he’d been studying with grim intensity. At fifty-two, he was built like a piece of industrial equipment—broad shoulders, thick arms, and a face that looked like it had been carved from granite by someone who wasn’t particularly concerned with aesthetics. His gray hair was cropped military short, and his pale eyes held the kind of steady calm that came from thirty years of making life-and-death decisions.

"The Sirius system’s latest intelligence briefing?" he asked, his thick pre-seed russian accent passed from his parents still noticeable despite decades of standardized military speech.

"Among other things," Cassandra replied, activating the holographic display that dominated the center of the table. "But first, let’s address the elephant in the room."

Commander Mei Lein looked up from her data pad, her dark, almond shaped eyes looking sharp with analytical focus. At barely five feet tall and looking young enough to be mistaken for one of the academy cadets, she was easy to underestimate until you saw her work. The Tactical Adaptation Specialist had a mind like a quantum computer, capable of processing battlefield variables and strategic possibilities faster than most people could follow conversations.

"Sirius Prime, Alpha, and Beta," she said simply, her voice carrying the slight accent of someone who’d grown up in the orbital habitats around Mars. "Three days of radio silence across all three worlds."

The holographic display shifted to show the Sirius system, with tactical overlays marking resource facilities, and the last confirmed positions of their deployed teams across the three planets. The data looked clean and organized, but Cassandra could see the gaps—places where information should be but wasn’t, like missing pieces in a puzzle that was supposed to show them how to save lives.

"Let’s start with what we know," Volkov said, his thick fingers moving across his tablet with surprising dexterity. "First deployment: Reconnaissance squad under Sergeant Mitchell to Sirius Prime. Twelve hours after touchdown, communications went dark. No distress signals, no status updates, nothing."

"Standard protocol," Mei added, pulling up the relevant documentation. "Loss of communications in hostile territory triggers automatic reinforcement deployment. Second wave: Full battalion with heavy support personnel across all three worlds. Initial contact established, then complete silence."

Cassandra felt the familiar weight settling in her chest, the one that came with sending people into danger and not knowing if they’d come home. It was part of command, part of the job she’d accepted when she’d agreed to develop the Vanguard Program. But that didn’t make it easier.

"Which brings us to the third wave," she said, her voice carefully controlled. "Commander Pierce’s deployment."

She activated another display, and suddenly the tactical discussion became intensely personal. Multiple faces appeared on the holographic projector—dozens of young, determined soldiers carrying the confidence of those who’d proven themselves exceptional in just weeks of active duty.

"Pathfinder Team 5, 7, 8 and 12 along with support," Cassandra said, and despite her professional demeanor, warmth crept into her voice. "Noah Eclipse, SSS-class. Lucas Grey, S-class with advanced tactical training. Sophie Reign. Maya Melendez. Lyra Davids. Kelvin Pithon. Diana Frost. Led by Commander Pierce with a full squadron of Vanguard recruits."

Volkov leaned forward, his expression becoming more focused. "How many personnel total?"

"One fifty -three soldiers," Mei said quietly, her analytical mind already processing the implications. "Including support staff, technical specialists, and command personnel. They’ve been radio silent across the entire Sirius system for three days."

The weight of it settled over the room like a physical presence. The Vanguard Program was barely weeks old—no graduates yet, still experimental, still proving itself. But these recruits had already become celebrities within EDF ranks, soldiers who’d encountered Harbingers twice in their brief careers and returned with excellent results each time.

"Eclipse is SSS-ranked," Cassandra continued, her voice tight with controlled emotion. "Grey is S-class with advanced tactical training. The entire team has proven themselves exceptional in combat situations that would break regular soldiers. They’re not just statistics—they’re the future of human defense."

The room fell silent as the full weight of the discussion settled over them. This wasn’t just about military strategy or resource allocation. This was about young people—barely weeks into an experimental program—who had volunteered to put themselves in harm’s way for the protection of humanity, and who were now facing the possibility of being written off as acceptable losses in a larger strategic calculation.

"The Ark has sent new operational parameters," Cassandra said, activating another display that showed the formal military communication from EDF Central Command.

"Escalation Protocol Seven," Volkov read, his expression darkening. "Mass deployment authorization. They want to send a full division."

"Twenty thousand soldiers," Mei said quietly. "Supported by orbital bombardment platforms and heavy armor. They’re preparing for total war across the entire Sirius system."

Cassandra nodded grimly. "The Ark’s position is that we’re facing organized Harbinger strongholds with advanced defensive capabilities across multiple worlds. Their recommendation is overwhelming force deployment followed by systematic elimination of all hostile assets."

"In other words," Volkov said, his voice carrying the weight of someone who’d seen what overwhelming force could do to planetary surfaces, "they want to turn the entire Sirius system into debris and sort through what’s left afterwards."

The silence that followed was heavy with implications. Everyone in the room understood military necessity, understood that sometimes difficult decisions had to be made to preserve the greater good. But they also understood that there were still human personnel down there—one fifty -three of their best people who might be alive, might be waiting for rescue, might be counting on their training and their leaders to find a way to bring them home.

"What are the other options?" Mei asked, her tablet already displaying alternative tactical approaches.

Cassandra pulled up the full strategic analysis. "Central Command has identified four primary response categories. Cautious defensive approaches: quarantine protocols, orbital surveillance, limited probe missions, or full containment strategy."

"Sensible," Volkov noted. "Minimize additional casualties while gathering intelligence."

"Or aggressive responses," Cassandra continued. "Mass deployment, scorched earth protocol, elite unit insertion, or classified asset deployment."

Mei’s eyebrows rose slightly. "Classified assets? They’re considering undisclosed experimental deployment?"

"Among other things," Cassandra confirmed carefully. "The Ark has been developing some... unconventional approaches to Harbinger engagement that I’m not cleared to discuss in detail."

The implications hung in the air like smoke from a fire that was burning somewhere just out of sight. Everyone in the room understood that ’classified assets’ could mean many things in the current military climate—some more disturbing than others.

"The Ark’s preference is clear," Volkov said, his voice carrying the resignation of someone who’d seen military bureaucracy make decisions based on efficiency rather than humanity. "Experimental asset deployment. Send in undisclosed resources, see what happens, be prepared to escalate to orbital bombardment if they fail."

"Which brings us to why we’re here," Cassandra said, her voice taking on the edge that her trainees learned to recognize as a sign that she was about to make their lives more complicated. "Because this isn’t just about abstract tactical decisions. This is about my people."

She gestured to the faces still displayed on the holographic projector. "Commander Pierce, one of the leaders of the Vanguard Program. Pathfinder Team 7—soldiers who’ve proven themselves exceptional in just weeks of service. ONE FIFTY -THREE of our absolute best personnel, including some of the highest-ranked soldiers in human space."

Volkov studied her face, recognizing something in her expression that he’d seen in mirrors during his own early command decisions. "You want to lead a rescue deployment personally."

It wasn’t a question.

"I helped develop the Vanguard Program," Cassandra said simply. "I know their capabilities, their thinking patterns, their likely responses to crisis situations. Pierce and I designed half the protocols they’re using. If anyone can find them and bring them home, it’s someone who understands how they fight."

"The Ark won’t approve personal deployment of senior program staff," Mei began.

"The Ark will approve whatever recommendation we send them," Cassandra said, her blue eyes flashing with determination. "Because we’re the ones with expertise in Vanguard operations and young elite soldier deployment. We’re the ones who understand what this program was designed to accomplish."

She stood up, her full height adding weight to her words. "Gentlemen, we have an opportunity to prove that precision and expertise can accomplish what brute force cannot. We have a chance to bring our people home and gather intelligence that could save countless lives in future engagements."

"And if we fail?" Volkov asked quietly.

"Then we fail attempting something worthwhile," Cassandra replied. "Rather than succeeding at something that destroys everything we’re trying to protect."

The silence stretched between them, heavy with the weight of decision and consequence. Finally, Volkov nodded slowly.

"I’ll support your recommendation to the Ark," he said. "Elite unit deployment with enhanced assets and orbital support."

"Agreed," Mei added, her analytical mind already working through the tactical requirements. "I’ll begin preparation of mission parameters and support protocols."

Cassandra felt something loosen in her chest—not relief, exactly, but the satisfaction of knowing that the decision had been made and the real work could begin.

"Thank you," she said simply. "Now let’s bring our people home."

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