Frozen Flame of Dawn - Chapter 59

Chapter 59: Chapter 28: A New Path Forward_2

Aiden and Tommy stepped out of the armored vehicle, the tension from the council meeting was still there. The warm glow of strategic lamps lit up the headquarters, which was buzzing with activity even though it was late.

Everyone had been anticipating their return, curious to know what the council’s verdict would be.

As soon as they entered Aiden turned to Tommy. “Gather everyone in the training hall.” he said with voice calm but tinged with exhaustion. “I’ll join shortly in 20 minutes.”

Tommy nodded and headed off while Aiden made his way to his office as he knew he couldn’t show it just yet but the day’s events weighed heavy on his shoulders.

Sometime after in the Training Hall

Members of the Dragon Unit were gathering in the training hall, which was buzzing with activity. Their faces were marked with tension and curiosity.

Meanwhile Tommy who was standing in the center was trying to stay calm as the rest of the team rushed around him with questions.

“Tommy, are we really letting those prisoners go?”

“Did the council really side against us?”

“Are we actually going to be restricted under their watch now?”

Tommy held up his hands to calm them. “Alright, alright, one at a time,” he said with his tone steady but carrying an edge of frustration. “Here the situation the prisoners are being handed over to General Varek its decided and no longer in our hands.”

“And yes the council’s verdict was entirely against us, they even decided to restrict us under their supervision.”

Some soldiers clenched their fists, their anger evident. Others looked defeated, their faces pale with frustration. Tommy continued before they could spiral further.

“But,” he added, his voice firm now, “our captain, Aiden, anticipated this. He already had a backup plan. As of now, we’re no longer under the council’s jurisdiction. We’re free.”

The hall went silent in shock, some of them exchanged glances as their anger soon turned to confusion and curiosity. One of them finally blurted out, “How did Captain Aiden pull that off?”

Before Tommy could answer, the sound of boots echoed through the hall. All heads turned as Aiden

entered, his commanding presence silencing the room. He walked purposefully to the far end of the hall, his steps measured and deliberate.

The soldiers, sensing the gravity of the moment, immediately straightened their postures, falling into line without needing instruction.

Aiden stood at the head of the room, his sharp gaze sweeping over the gathered soldiers. He didn’t waste time with pleasantries.

“I know you’ve all been discussing what happened at today’s meeting,” he began, his voice low but carrying across the room. “So let me bring you up to speed. Yes, the council ruled against us. And I failed to secure justice for our fallen team members. This failure will stay with me—and with all of us—for the rest of our lives.”

He gripped the edge of the podium, his knuckles turning white. The tension in the room was palpable, but no one dared interrupt.

“However,” Aiden continued, his tone hardening with resolve, “we cannot let this stop us. We are Dragon Unit. Our oath is to protect the citizens of the Federation—even when the Federation itself fails them. And believe me, it has.”

His dark eyes scanned the room, meeting the gaze of every soldier. “The council has decided to barricade the central province and focus solely on securing its borders. They’ve chosen to neglect the other provinces entirely until they feel safe and ready. We know what that means. It means countless innocent lives in those provinces will be lost—because they don’t have the resources, leadership, or military strength to fend off the chaos like we do.”

Murmurs spread through the room, soldiers whispering to one another. Aiden raised a hand, silencing them instantly.

“That’s why I raised the request and now have received authorization from the Elder Council to make Dragon Unit an independent force. As of now, we are no longer bound by the council’s jurisdiction.”

The room erupted in whispers again, but this time it was different. Relief washed over many faces, while others looked shocked. Aiden gave them a moment to process before speaking again.

“Here’s what I’m asking of you,” Aiden said, his tone softening but retaining its gravity. “This mission won’t be easy. We’re leaving the central province and taking the fight to the regions that need us most. But I understand that many of you have families here. If you don’t want to risk your life by going into dangerous territory, I won’t blame you. You have a choice. If anyone wants to back out, there will be no judgment, no consequences.”

Aiden paused, his voice taking on a more personal note. “But for those who choose to stay, I won’t leave your families behind. I won’t let them remain in the hands of a Federation that has already abandoned its duty to protect them. We’ll take them with us and ensure their safety.”

A hand shot up. It was Yvonne, one of the elite soldiers. She hesitated for a moment before speaking. “Captain, won’t it be dangerous to take our families with us? How can we guarantee their safety?”

Aiden nodded, acknowledging her concern. “Good question. But let me be clear—we’re not taking them into battle. Our first destination is Icelorn Basin. There’s a large military compound there, capable of housing 15,000 people. It’s fortified, equipped, and secure. We’ll establish our base there and settle our families. From there, we’ll focus on stabilizing Vandrim province, then move on to Borealis.”

Another soldier stepped forward. “And what if something happens before we get there? What if the journey itself is too dangerous?”

Aiden’s expression hardened with his voice steady. “It will be dangerous, but don’t forget who we are our Dragon Unit is not a small team but has over 3,000 elite, combat-ready personnel, many of whom are awakened individuals. We’re not just capable of handling danger—we’re built for it.”

He paused as his gaze sweeping the room. “During the journey those of you with defensive abilities like Tommy will be assigned to protect the families and everyone will have a role to play.”

Suddenly, there was silence in the room as Aiden’s words hit the soldiers hard but soon their resolve became clear as they slowly began to nod one by one.

“Listen up,” Aiden said firmly, breaking the silence. “We head out at dawn two days from now, so use this time to prepare—stock up on weapons, ammo, food, medical supplies, and ensure your families are ready.”