Frozen Flame of Dawn - Chapter 45

Chapter 45: Chapter 22: Crimson Outburst_1

“Honestly? I think Karep gets away with it.” His tone was steady, but with a hint of frustration beneath it.

“Seriously? Even after all this?” Tommy asked, incredulous. He set down his plate, leaning forward. “Chancellor Helen looked ready to rip his head off when I saw her earlier.”

Aiden was nonchalant, and wore an expression that vaguely conveyed his worry. “You know, as well as I do that Kareps has a few friends in important places and I don’t have to say he is creating waves under the Vice Chancellor. Such people always find a way to be out of trouble,” he said apathetically.

Tommy leaned back, crossing his arms. “So, what, he just walks? That’s it? After all the crap we went through while they sat on their asses?”

Aiden’s expression darkened. “Not necessarily. If Chancellor Helen decides to push this, really push it, he might not walk away so easily. But let’s be honest—it’s going to take more than her usual temper to bring Karep down. She’d have to make an example of him. Also that’s assuming she doesn’t face backlash from the Vice-Chancellor’s faction as they will spin this to make it her fault.”

“Her fault?” Tommy repeated incredulously. “How the hell could this possibly be her fault? We asked for backup. They didn’t show. End of story.”

Aiden snorted softly. “It doesn’t matter what the truth is. It matters what they can make it look like. And if Vice-Chancellor’s faction spins this the right way, they’ll say Helen’s leadership was weak, that her negligence caused the chaos, and that’s why Karep couldn’t act in time.”

Tommy ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. “This whole thing stinks. And what’s worse? While we were putting out fires—literally—the military, the people who were supposed to have our backs, did nothing.”

“Yeah,” Aiden said quietly, his gaze distant. “And this is the central region. The safest, most resource-rich province. Imagine what it’s like in the outer provinces. Vandrim, Borealis. Places surrounded by forests and mountains, where wildlife reserves have probably turned into breeding grounds for those damn beasts.”

Tommy’s face grew serious, his brow furrowing. “And we’re blind. With the communications down, we’ve got no updates, no idea what’s happening out there.”

Aiden nodded slowly. “That’s what worries me most. The Federation is supposed to be the shield that protects everyone. But right now, it’s cracked, and no one’s talking about how to fix it.”

A brief silence fell between them, heavy with unspoken fears and frustrations. Finally, Tommy broke it again, his tone lighter but tinged with sincerity.

“You know, I’ve been thinking about what Amira said to you about bringing our families here to the capital.”

Aiden glanced at him, his expression softening.

“It was good advice,” Tommy continued. “Knowing they’re safe… it makes it easier to focus. To do what we need to do without second-guessing ourselves.”

Aiden nodded. “Yeah and we must thank her for it when we meet her next time.”

The moment was interrupted by the sound of boots on the café floor. One of their squad members approached, a small radio console in hand.

“Sir, Ezzie wants to talk to you. Said it’s important,” the soldier said, holding out the device.

Aiden and Tommy exchanged a glance, their brief moment of peace slipping away like sand through their fingers. Aiden reached for the console, his expression once again serious and focused.

“Guess the break’s over,” Tommy muttered, grabbing his coffee for a sip as they listened.

After sometime Ezzie’s voice had gone silent on the radio console, but her words lingered like the sharp edge of a blade, cutting through the quiet.

Aiden held the radio console tightly, his knuckles white, his jaw clenched. Ezzie’s voice had just gone silent, but her words lingered, each one pounding against his skull like a war drum.

Tommy, sitting across from him, had stopped eating entirely. His usual easygoing demeanor was gone, replaced by frustration that showed in the way he drummed his fingers against the table.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” he muttered, his voice low but brimming with irritation. “They deployed two of our squads without even telling us? Who the hell do they think they are?”

Aiden didn’t respond immediately. His jaw was tight, his grip on the coffee mug in his hand steadily tightening. To anyone else, he might have looked calm—his breathing measured, his posture composed. But the cracks in his façade were clear in the way the porcelain began to splinter under his fingers.

With a sudden crack, the mug shattered, shards falling onto the table. Tommy glanced at the broken pieces, his eyebrows shooting up in mock surprise. “Well, that’s one way to show you’re pissed,” he quipped, though his tone lacked its usual humor.

Aiden’s gaze flicked up, and for a brief moment, his amber eyes glowed faintly with suppressed energy. “I’m not just pissed, Tommy,” he said quietly, his voice low and dangerous. “I’m furious.”

“Oh, I can tell,” Tommy replied, leaning back in his chair. “But breaking cups isn’t going to fix this mess.” His voice was tinged with frustration, his usual sarcasm barely masking the anger simmering beneath the surface.

Aiden exhaled sharply, placing the broken pieces of the mug carefully on the table, his movements deliberate. “Two squads. Two of my squads, deployed without my approval. And for what? Some shady mission they couldn’t even bother briefing us on? It’s not just a breach of protocol, Tommy—it’s a breach of trust. They put my people in danger, and for them, it will not go well.”

Tommy’s brows furrowed as he leaned forward. “You’re right. No one except Chancellor Helen has the authority to assign us missions. Not the Vice-Chancellor, not the military—no one. And General Karep? He’s barely a step above me but on same position as you. Major General or not, he has no damn right to pull this kind of stunt.” His voice rose slightly, his frustration spilling over. “What are we going to do about this? Because I swear, if you don’t, I will.”

Aiden stood up quickly and pushed his chair back, making noise as he did so. Even though he was controlled in his moves, there was fire in his eyes that showed that a storm was building inside him.

He said, “Let’s go,” and there was no way to argue with that.

Tommy blinked once, taken aback for a moment. “Wait—where are you going?” he asked, knowing full well what the answer would be. “You’re not going to barge your way into the central military camp and demand them down for answers, are you?”

Aiden didn’t stop walking. “And that’s precisely what I’m going to do.” His voice was steady, but there was an edge to it that smiled bitterly for Tommy.

“Of course, you are” Tommy mumbled, shaking his head as he stood up. “That’s the Aiden I know. Fine, let’s go. Let’s have some fun. I believe General Karep is about to receive a wake-up call he will not soon forget.”

Aiden looked over his shoulder, an unreadable look on his face. “If he doesn’t give us a proper explanation, I’ll make sure that the chancellor Helen hears about this by the end of the day.”

There was now a glint in Tommy’s eyes, his anger now replaced with glee. “Honestly? I hope he screws up. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you really well lose your temper.”

The two left the café, the blood chilling afternoon air stinging their skin as they walked toward the central military camp. Streets were quieter now, the city looking to return to normal after the frenzy of recent days. But the tension in the air had not gone away—it had simply shifted.

*****

Meanwhile in the lavishly adorned office, the huge oak desk placed in the centre of the room, papers piled neatly and untouched on the surface, books lining the walls but seemingly only for show.

Cain sat behind the desk, fingers steepled before him, listening to Grant’s report. There was an air of silence between the two, an as unspoken tension hung in the air as Grant recounted the mission.

He didn’t seem to react much to the briefing, except for the slight stiffening of his spine. He grew more and more attentive with every piece of information that was presented. When Grant was done, he sat back on the chair, and the corners of his mouth lifted up in a weak smile that didn’t quite meet his eyes.

“I suppose you did not kill them, then,” Cain said with a bemused note. His tone remained controlled but it was the kind of control that made Grant feel like lying in the stupid position he was currently in.

Grant’s hands trembled as he replied, “Yes, there was resistance but we were able to… minimize their number. Although some made it out, I don’t think they are in any state to make issues.”

“Minimize their numbers, you say? ” Cain let out, a small sigh of disappointment. “That sounds inefficient, Grant. Loose ends have a way of unraveling even the most intricate plans.” He tapped his fingers against the desk, with deliberate rhythm as if he is in deep thought.

Grant became tensed but didn’t speak, waiting for Cain to continue.

“However,” Cain said, his tone shifting to one of calculated thought, “we can still salvage this. Tell me, when you returned to the capital, were you and your team the first to arrive? Did anyone see the remaining Dragon Unit members?”

“No, sir,” Grant replied, his brow furrowing slightly. “We were the only ones to land so far. They are still on their way.”

“Good,” Cain said, the corners of his mouth curled upward into a smile that carried no warmth. “Very good. That works in our favor.”

Grant hesitated before asking, “Sir, what’s the plan?”

Cain leaned forward, his voice dropping slightly as if he were sharing a secret. “We change the story. The Dragon Unit squads? They’re dead. All of them. Their bravery, their sacrifice—it saved you and your team. You barely escaped with your lives, injured but alive, to bring back important resource and intelligence.”

Grant’s eyes widened slightly as the pieces of the plan fell into place. “And those who survived? The ones still on their way?”

“Ah, yes,” Cain said, waving a hand dismissively. “We’ll ensure they don’t become a problem. First, we’ll send most of the soldiers stationed at the military center to assist the city defense and police in stabilizing the outer areas. Only those loyal to us will remain. When the remaining Dragon Unit squads land, there will be no one left to ask questions, and no one to save them. They’ll be… dealt with. Quietly.”

Grant’s expression shifted from confusion to understanding, then to a small, cruel smile. “I see. That’s… brilliant, sir. But what about General Karep? I’ll need his authority to move the soldiers out.”

Cain’s smile widened, his confidence unshaken. “Leave Karep to me. He would either do as I say or he would be in a very uncomfortable position. All you need to do for now is follow my orders. Make sure when the Dragon Unit gets here, the loyalists only be the ones remaining here. And rest everything will fall in place.”

“Understood, sir. I’ll see to it immediately.” As Grant stood up and said.

“Good. Now go. Time is of the essence.” Cain waved him away dismissively, already looking at the papers on his desk as Grant exited the room.

As Grant strode across the hall in direction of military camp, his boots thumping on the floor. In his mind he was already running through the steps of the plan. Now there was a dangerous glint in his eyes, the sort that lured with power.

When he arrived at the camp he started barking orders at his subordinates, sending groups of soldiers to assist the city defense forces. He made sure to separate those loyal to Rienfeld’s, instructing them to stay behind and guard the military center. The rest, he sent away, thinning the ranks around the military camp.