Back at the vanguard station, the team had safely landed and made their way to report.
The debriefing room felt sterile and cold as Team Seven sat around the metal table, their Category 4 beast gear suits replaced with standard station uniforms. Noah placed the three one horn cores on the table's surface—each one pulsing with dark energy.
"Three one-horns," the debriefing officer said, his voice carefully neutral as he examined the cores. "In vacuum. On a reconnaissance mission that was supposed to involve mineral sampling."
Lucas maintained his military posture. "The asteroid cluster wasn't natural, sir. It was an engineered platform—a staging ground."
"And you decided to engage rather than retreat because?"
"Because retreating would have meant the creature destroying our shuttle," Noah replied evenly. "It launched itself at us with clear hostile intent."
The officer made notes on his tablet. "Describe the engagement parameters."
