Cassian stood at the far edge of the hangar, his presence commanding despite the muted chaos around him. Mechanics scrambled to service the shuttles, their voices echoing through the cavernous space, but none of it seemed to touch him. His sharp eyes tracked the returning operatives as they disembarked.
His gaze lingered briefly on Rylan, before settling on Saria. Her gut tightened under his scrutiny, but she forced herself to meet his eyes, her posture as steady as she could manage.
Rylan reached him first, snapping a crisp salute and handing over a secure data module. "Recon team Alpha returned three hours ago. The Codex's supply routes are mapped, and we've confirmed their defensive network," he reported, his voice clipped but heavy. "The situation is worse than expected. Their forces are far more organized than we'd projected."
Cassian accepted the module silently, his gloved hand tightening briefly around it. His expression betrayed nothing as his gaze shifted back to Saria. "And her performance?"
Rylan hesitated. His jaw worked, as though the words were difficult to force out. "She… performed her duties," he admitted at last. "Saved my life, actually."
Cassian arched a brow, a faint flicker of surprise breaking his otherwise composed expression, followed by a low chuckle. "High praise, coming from you."
This was exactly the situation Cassian had hoped for. Though Rylan was an exceptional soldier—disciplined, efficient, and relentless—Cassian needed him to become more than just a soldier.
He needed him to see beyond the immediate mission, to understand the broader strategy and take ownership of it. Leadership wasn't about following orders perfectly; it was about seeing the full picture, adapting to the unexpected, and inspiring others to do the same. Moments like this, uncomfortable as they were, were part of that growth—that's at least what Cassian tried to justify why he liked Saria. The real reason was much simpler: she reminded him of Rylan's mother.
Rylan's jaw tightened, as he mumbled under his breath, "It's not praise. It's a fact."
Cassian's eyes lingered on Saria, weighing her. She forced herself to remain steady, though the knot in her stomach twisted tighter. "You did well." said at last, his tone cool. "Get yourself to medbay. Debrief in two hours."
Cassian then moved towards the returnees, speaking to each survivor personally. His words were measured but sincere, a balance of empathy and resolve.
When he approached a young lieutenant clutching a blood-streaked helmet, Cassian placed a firm hand on the soldier's shoulder. "You did everything you could," he said, his voice steady. "Their sacrifice won't be forgotten."
Later, as the hangar quieted, Cassian called for his butler, Sven, a composed older man who had worked with the family for years. "Here are the names of the soldiers we lost," Cassian said, handing him a small data pad. "Make sure their families are taken care of."
The butler nodded solemnly, understanding the unspoken urgency. "It will be done, sir."
He exhaled quietly and squared his shoulders. With a brisk stride, he made his way to the briefing room, his mind already shifting to the next challenge ahead.
Though the grief in their eyes mirrored his own, Cassian gave them something to hold onto: direction, purpose, and the assurance that their losses were not in vain. By the time he stepped into the briefing room, the weight of those conversations lingered, sharpening his focus.
The briefing room was filled with quiet tension, the cold light of holographic projections making the air feel heavy. Floating maps, logs, and diagrams hovered above the table, casting shadows that shifted as they moved. Cassian stood in the center of it all, surrounded by officers and strategists, his face lit by the flickering display.
Saria entered quietly, her ribs still aching from medbay treatment. She moved to the side of the room, staying just outside the cluster of senior officers. Her eyes swept over the map dominating the space—a sprawling network of supply routes, depots, and defensive stations marked in vivid red and blue.
Cassian slid the data module into the central console, and Frost Fang's intricate network came to life. Converging trade routes and hidden refueling stations illuminated like arteries in a circulatory system. A sharp intake of breath rippled through the room as the full scope of the Codex operation revealed itself.
Cassian spoke, his voice precise. "This is confirmation of our worst-case scenario. Frost Fang is more than a supply hub—it's the keystone of Codex operations in this quadrant. Their supply routes are fortified, with redundancies in place to mitigate disruption. Automated defenses are more advanced than we've seen before."
He gestured to two key points where the supply lines converged. "These choke points are critical. Sever them, and we cripple their network. At first glance, it seems like attacking them is the obvious choice. But the Codex isn't careless. These aren't gaps—they're deliberate vulnerabilities."
The room stirred with unease.
A senior strategist leaned forward, his sharp features tight with skepticism. "You're suggesting they've built weaknesses into their system intentionally? That's counterproductive."
Saria's voice cut through before Cassian could respond, her tone firm but thoughtful. "It's not counterproductive—it's calculated. Those 'weaknesses' are traps, carefully placed to lure us into making the wrong move."
All eyes turned to her. Cassian's expression sharpened, but he gestured for her to continue.
Saria stepped closer to the map, her voice steady. "They want us to think we've found the key to unraveling their network. If we commit to striking here"—she highlighted one of the convergence points—"we'll overextend. They'll bleed us dry while consolidating their power elsewhere."
The strategist frowned, his skepticism evident. "You don't have any hard proof to back this up."
"I don't need proof," she shot back. "I've seen this tactic before. The Codex doesn't aim for straightforward victories. They thrive on destabilization—forcing their enemies to fight on their terms, to chase shadows while the real threat grows in the background."
Cassian's gaze didn't waver. "And what's the real threat?"
Saria hesitated, piecing together fragments of memory. "Velaris," she said at last. "It's their staging ground. Neutral trade routes, proximity to disputed systems—it's perfect for covert operations. Frost Fang is the distraction. Velaris is the objective."
Rylan, standing near the console, folded his arms. "If Velaris is so critical, why operate Frost Fang this close to our borders? They're inviting detection."
"Because they want us to detect it," Saria replied. "But only enough to act. It's bait. They're playing on our instincts, forcing us to commit resources while they finalize their preparations."
Another officer spoke, his voice measured. "And if you're wrong? If Frost Fang is their real stronghold?"
He turned to the strategist. "Didn't you notice anything missing from the data?"
"Fleet compositions, troop deployments, key installations," the man replied. "Without decryption keys or alive operative, it's incomplete."
Cassian's gaze shifted back to Saria. "Joanne Vasiliev. You mentioned her as a potential lead."
Saria nodded. "Assuming they don't know I've switched sides—which I doubt—this is what I gathered about her from the Morpher-level commander I answered to at the Erythian League. She's operating on Planet Velaris at the Onyx Spire Quarter. It's a densely populated district, bustling with trade, making it the perfect place to stay hidden while coordinating operations. The Onyx Spire itself is notorious for its labyrinthine structures, designed centuries ago to confuse invaders."
Cassian didn't hesitate. "We need to stop chasing ghosts."
He paused, scanning the room. "We're not committing to Velaris until we have solid intel. If there's even a hint of them consolidating elsewhere, I want to know before we make our move. We'll play this game, but we'll do it on our terms, not theirs."
The room erupted into motion as officers hurried to carry out their assignments. Saria lingered by the edge of the map, her thoughts racing.
Cassian found Saria in one of the observation bays, the vast expanse of stars stretching endlessly before her. The faint hum of the ship's systems filled the air, but she seemed lost in her own silence, her shoulders rigid as though carrying a weight she refused to let anyone see.
He approached quietly, his boots barely making a sound against the polished floor. "Saria," he called, his voice softer than usual.
That made her turn, her brow furrowing slightly. "Sir, Do we have new orders?"
He met her gaze, his expression unreadable but his tone steady. "Your family. They made it to Nivara safely. The extraction team confirmed their arrival last night."
Saria froze, the words hitting her like a physical blow. For a moment, she didn't speak, her mind racing to process what she'd just heard. "They're... they're safe?" she repeated, her voice trembling slightly.
Cassian nodded. "Yes. The team secured them a place in the safe zone. Once this operation is over, you'll have clearance to meet them in person."
Her knees nearly buckled, and she gripped the edge of the console for support. A shuddering breath escaped her, and she quickly turned her face away, as though unwilling to let him see the cracks in her composure.
"Thank you," she managed, her voice barely above a whisper.
Cassian studied her for a moment, his sharp gaze softening. "I'm only keeping my part of the deal." he said simply.
She turned to face him fully, her expression hardening as she forced the emotion back down. "I understand," she said firmly. "I won't let you down, sir."
He inclined his head, a rare flicker of approval crossing his features. "We'll head to Selene in two hours."
As he turned to leave, Saria's voice stopped him. "Sir?"
Cassian paused, glancing back over his shoulder.
"Thank you." she said again, this time with more strength.
He gave her a small, almost imperceptible nod before walking away, leaving her alone with the stars—and the fragile, newfound hope she clung to like a lifeline.