An encrypted transmission from the Ark arrived at 0800 hours after their initial meeting. Cassandra sat in her quarters, staring at the official seal that marked the message as Priority Alpha—the kind of authorization that could reshape entire military operations with a few carefully chosen words.
Her fingers hesitated over the decode key. Whatever was in this message would determine whether her people lived or died, whether the Vanguard Program continued or became a memorial to promising lives cut short. She entered her command codes and watched the text unfold across her screen.
•CLASSIFIED TRANSMISSION - PRIORITY ALPHA•
•FROM: EARTH DEFENSE FORCE CENTRAL COMMAND•
•TO: VANGUARD STATION COMMAND STAFF•
•RE: SIRIUS SYSTEM RESPONSE AUTHORIZATION•
•Request for precision rescue deployment: APPROVED•
•Operational parameters: Modified per strategic assessment•
•Personnel authorization: Single Vanguard command staff deployment•
