Chapter 373: To live is to die

**[Location: Vanguard Station]**

**[Time: 24 hours after hell]**

The command briefing room aboard the Vanguard Station felt smaller than usual, its polished steel walls reflecting the harsh fluorescent lighting that cast sharp shadows across the four figures seated around the holographic tactical display. Commander Cassandra sat with her back straight despite the regenerative cast on her left arm, her expression carefully neutral as she reviewed the mission files one final time.

Across from her, Commander Alexei Volkov—a bear of a man whose weathered face told stories of three decades fighting humanity’s enemies—leaned back in his chair with the casual confidence of someone who had seen everything the universe could throw at him. His gray eyes held the calculating intelligence that had made him legendary among the officer corps.

Commander Mei Lein sat to his right, her delicate features and quiet demeanor masking one of the sharpest tactical minds in the EDF. She rarely spoke in meetings, preferring to listen and analyze, but when she did offer her thoughts, even Volkov paid attention.

And then there was Pierce.

He sat at the far end of the table, his uniform immaculate and his posture rigid. But Cassandra could see the tension in his shoulders, the way his hands remained perfectly still on the table’s surface. He hadn’t said a word since they’d begun, and she intended to keep it that way.

“The Sirius Prime operation,” Volkov began, his voice carrying the gravelly authority of someone who had commanded soldiers in battles that most people couldn’t imagine. “I’ve reviewed the preliminary reports. Two hundred thousand civilians extracted from hostile territory. One SS class telepath recovered. Casualty rates within acceptable parameters despite facing a four-horn Harbinger.”

He paused, his eyes meeting each of theirs in turn. “On paper, it looks like a textbook success. But I’ve been doing this long enough to know that paper rarely tells the whole story.”

Cassandra activated the holographic display, bringing up tactical recordings from the operation. The three-dimensional battlefield materialized above the table, showing unit movements, casualty reports, and engagement timelines in glowing detail.

“The operation began as a standard extraction,” she said, her voice steady and professional. “Intelligence suggested we were dealing with a telepathic mass-control situation. What we found was something far more complex.”

The hologram shifted, showing the underground facility where Bruce had been held. “The Harbinger known as Kruel had been using the telepath to control the entire civilian population. But this wasn’t random predation—it was strategic. The civilians were being used as a manufacturing force, culling units and surveillance,”

Mei Lein leaned forward, her dark eyes studying the display with intense focus. “The technological implications are troubling. If the Harbingers can organize industrial operations on this scale…” She trailed off, but they all understood the implication.

“It gets worse,” Cassandra continued. “The operation was compromised from the beginning. The Harbinger knew we were coming. It was prepared for our tactics, our equipment, even our personnel.”

She brought up footage from the final battle—Noah and Lucas fighting Kruel with a coordination that spoke of months of training together, not the few weeks they’d actually had. The display showed the moment when Kruel evolved from three horns to four when fighting storm, his power spiking to levels that made the readings flicker.

“That’s when things got interesting,” Volkov said, his voice carrying a note of respect. “Your recruits didn’t just survive a four-horn Harbinger. They held their own against it.”

“They did more than that,” Cassandra replied. “They wounded it. Severely. Had the situation continued, they might have actually killed it.”

The hologram shifted again, showing the final moments of the battle. The Purge soldiers materializing from suspended sand, their dark chi weapons cutting through the air, the portal opening behind them.

“The Purge,” Mei Lein said softly, her voice carrying a note of unease. “They’ve been planning this for some time.”

“Years,” Cassandra confirmed. “The timing was too perfect, their equipment too advanced. They didn’t just want to capture Kruel—they wanted him specifically. A four-horn Harbinger,”

Volkov’s expression darkened. “Do we have any intelligence on their intentions?”

“Limited. But what we do know is troubling. They have portal technology that can move between star systems instantaneously. They have temporal manipulation capabilities that can freeze entire battlefields. And now they have one of the most dangerous Harbingers in recorded history.”

The room fell silent as the implications sank in. The Purge had been a known threat for years, but their capabilities had been vastly underestimated.

“Your assessment of the recruit team?” Volkov asked.

Cassandra allowed herself a small smile. “Pathfinder Team 7 performed beyond all expectations. In less than a month, they’ve faced threats that would challenge veteran soldiers. They’ve adapted, grown, and emerged stronger from each encounter.”

She brought up individual performance profiles—Noah’s evolution from reckless talent to tactical genius, Lucas’s growth into a natural leader, Sophie’s development as a confident support specialist.

“Noah achieved SSS RANKED ranking before this operation,” she continued. “Only the second soldier in EDF history to reach that level. However, his void manipulation abilities have grown exponentially, and his tactical awareness is approaching precognitive levels.”

“Lucas Grey has shown remarkable leadership potential. His ability to coordinate team actions under extreme stress speaks to natural command instincts. Sophie Reign’s abilities have proven invaluable in both combat and support roles,”

She paused, bringing up footage of Kelvin’s cybernetic integration. “Kelvin Pithon lost both arms to Harbinger attack but has adapted to full cybernetic replacement with remarkable resilience. His technical skills and morale impact on the team cannot be overstated.”

“Diana Frost’s momentum nullification abilities saved multiple lives during the operation. Her growth from academy student to combat-ready soldier has been exceptional. And Lyra Davids intelligence gathering and tactical analysis contributed significantly to mission success.”

Volkov nodded slowly. “Impressive. But there’s something else you’re not saying.”

Cassandra’s expression didn’t change, but she shot a glance at Pierce. “Command structure during the operation was… complicated. Field leadership proved to be more effective than predetermined hierarchy.”

It was a diplomatic way of saying that Pierce had been useless, and everyone in the room knew it. But Cassandra had made her choice—she would protect her recruits, even if it meant protecting Pierce’s reputation in the process.

Mei Lein spoke up, her voice gentle but pointed. “Command in combat situations can be… challenging. Perhaps some time away from active operations would be beneficial.”

“I agree,” Volkov said, his tone suggesting it wasn’t really a suggestion. “Pierce, you look like you could use some recovery time. Why don’t you take extended leave? Visit Earth, spend time with family. Let the stress of recent operations settle.”

Pierce’s jaw tightened, but he nodded. “If that’s what you think is best.”

“It is,” Volkov said firmly. “We’ll reassign your current duties. Take all the time you need.”

The meeting continued for another hour, covering logistics, resource allocation, and strategic planning. Pierce said nothing, his presence becoming increasingly uncomfortable as the other commanders discussed operations he had no input on.

Finally, Volkov called an end to the session. “Good work, all of you. Get some rest. We’ll reconvene tomorrow to discuss long-term implications.”

As the commanders filed out, Pierce lingered, watching as Cassandra gathered her files. When they were alone in the corridor, he caught up to her.

“Cassandra,” he said, his voice tight with emotion. “I… thank you. For not…”

“Stop,” she said sharply, glancing around to ensure they were alone. “I didn’t do it for you.”

Pierce’s face flushed. “Then why?”

Cassandra turned to face him fully, her expression cold as space. “Because my recruits don’t deserve to have their accomplishments tainted by your incompetence. They saved two hundred thousand lives while you cowered in the rear. They faced down a four-horn Harbinger while you hid behind logistics reports.”

Her voice dropped to a whisper, but every word cut like a blade. “Those kids—my kids—have been through hell three times in a month because of missions you approved for deployment without proper intelligence. They’ve bled, they’ve sacrificed, they’ve grown into soldiers that most veterans would be proud to serve alongside.”

Pierce tried to speak, but she held up a hand.

“I protected your reputation because they don’t need the distraction of dealing with official investigations and command reshuffles. They need to focus on staying alive and getting stronger. But make no mistake—if you ever put them in danger again through your cowardice or incompetence, I will personally ensure that your career ends in the most public and humiliating way possible.”

She stepped closer, her voice becoming deadly quiet. “They call me Black Saber for a reason, Pierce. And my Blade is reserved for protecting the soldiers who actually deserve it.”