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The rendezvous with Task Force Umbra took place in the shadow of a massive assault carrier that dwarfed Cassandra's transport. The "Retribution" was one of the new generation of command ships—bristling with weapon systems, launch bays, and communication arrays that could coordinate operations across multiple star systems.
As her transport docked with the larger vessel, Cassandra felt the familiar mix of anticipation and apprehension that came with major operations. Everything was about to change, and there was no way to predict exactly how.
The docking bay was a controlled chaos of personnel and equipment—soldiers checking weapons, technicians running diagnostics on combat suits, officers coordinating deployment schedules. But when she walked down the transport ramp with her Beast Gear backpack and weapon clearly visible, conversations quieted and heads turned.
"Well, I'll be damned," a voice called from across the bay. "The Black Saber herself."
