Recognition and Invitations

Chapter 22: Recognition and Invitations

The sun cast a fake glow of gold upon the Martian skyline, its view a reflection of sleek domes and high-rise structures that lined the bustling metropolis. It was weird how alive this city felt compared to the battlefield they had just been dragged from. The team was spread out through the city in different corners.

Caden strolled through the market district, his eyes scanning the riotous holographic displays advertising everything from advanced cybernetic augmentations to handcrafted off-world delicacies. Mira walked beside him, hands tucked into the pockets of her jacket.

"You don't seem like the type to enjoy crowded places," she observed.

Caden smirked. "I do like crowded places. But after weeks of nothing but war, a bit of noise sounds too loud."

Mira nodded, her gaze drifting to a floating drone outside the display window of a nearby store showcasing high-tech armaments. "Ever wonder what comes afterward?"

"Next?" Caden blew a raspberry. "We get inaugurated, chose our military university, and buckle down for something in the far-off future."

She surveyed him a second before shrugging. "Seems simple enough."

He chuckled. "You got something better?"

Mira's head tilted slightly. "Not really. But I have a feeling whatever comes next won't be quite as uncomplicated as choosing a school."

Caden wouldn't disagree. Something about their battle, the way the Proximar had fought it put a tiny edge in his mind. But for now, he shoved those thoughts aside.

Elsewhere, Ryan and Selena had made their way to an arena combat area where several competitors were holding exhibition matches with energy weapons and suits. Ryan leaned against the railing, watching as a fighter dodged a plasma strike before delivering a brutal counter.

"Think they'd let us join in?"

Selena raised an eyebrow. "We just got out of a war, and you want to fight again?"

Ryan grinned. "Gotta stay sharp and besides I can't have Caden been better than me."

She rolled her eyes. "At least let us enjoy the break before we start throwing punches again."

Meanwhile, Darius and Ava had acted on their plan to go to the zero-gravity lounge. Weightless, suspended in an airlocked chamber, they were both challenging the very sense of motion with and without gravity.

Darius twisted in mid-air, spinning toward Ava. "Admit it. This was a good idea."

Ava crossed her arms, managing to stabilize herself despite the weightlessness. "It's not terrible.

Darius grinned. "I'll take that as a victory."

As the day wound down, the team regrouped at a high-rise observation deck, overlooking the Martian city as twilight set in. The sight of neon-lit pathways and the rhythmic movement of hovercrafts created a surreal beauty.

Liam let out a low whistle. "Hard to believe we're the same people who were knee-deep in battle just a few days ago."

Ava nodded. "Really makes you understand how fast things change."

Their moment of reflection was abruptly cut short because the communicator they were given before leaving camp suddenly went off. There was a flashing message across its screen.

**Report to base immediately. Formal recognition starts anytime now.**

Back at the base, the group stood at attention in a sea of officers and soldiers, many high-ranking, it seemed. The commander was at the head, her expression unreadable.

"You have all distinguished yourselves on the battlefield," she said. "Your actions have secured not just victory, but a future. And because of that, you are no longer just soldiers. You are the foundation of humanity and the foundation of what comes next."

Behind her, a group of sharply dressed people stepped forward. They were representatives from the top military academies-institutions that trained the best of humanity's warriors, strategists, and commanders.

A man in a sleek black uniform with golden embroidery took the lead. "Each of you has proven your worth, and now you have a choice. The best human academies across the known universe are offering you a place among them. Where you go from here is up to you."

The offers lay before them-schools of martial training, battle strategy, elite specializations-the choices were open.

Caden looked sideways at his group. They all had survived their war together, but now there was a call for a determination as to where to go into the future with the choices ahead of them.

The silence in the room was thick with tension. This wasn't about just naming a school, but it was about carving their futures and defining what kind of soldier they will be.

Caden's fingers slightly curled at his sides, but he already knew what he wanted-he glanced at the others. Ava had her arms crossed, her expression unreadable, but the sharp focus in her eyes meant she was weighing the options. Darius, on the other hand, was grinning as if he had just been handed a golden ticket. Ryan and Selena stood side by side; the former looked intrigued, the latter more unwilling. Mira was unreadable, her hands still in her jacket pockets.

The System piped up in his head, its voice laced with amusement.

[A grand smorgasbord of choices laid before you. So, what's it gonna be? The path of strength? Strategy? Or something more… unique?] Caden ignored the system trying to be mysterious act for now as the representatives began to list details about each academy.

The Titan Academy: A place that solely focused on raw power and combat efficiency; where warriors were forged, with rigorous physical and battle-oriented training.

Novastra Academy: Most famous for its strategic warfare division, churning out legendary commanders and tacticians.

The Eclipse Institute: Specialized in covert operations, elite assassination tactics, and cyber warfare.

The Helios Vanguard Academy: A balance between all disciplines, training soldiers in a more holistic approach versatility over specialization. It was the best military academy

The announcement of the last option, and something clicked in the expressions of his team for Caden; they all knew what they were going to choose.

Finally, Mira spoke up with her head tilted toward Caden, "Really? Do we really need to think about this?"

Ryan then cracked his knuckles. "We've fought together, bled together. What's the point in splitting up now?"

Ava let out a rare smirk. "Helios Vanguard gives us the most flexibility. We're not just brawlers, we're also not just strategists. We've already proven that much."

Selena crossed her arms. "It makes sense. We cover for each other's weaknesses."

Darius slapped a hand on Caden's shoulder. "And you're our leader, aren't you? What's your call?

Caden exhaled and smiled. "Helios Vanguard it is."

The man in black gave a curt nod. "A wise choice.

Once again, the woman stepped forward-an approving glint in her eye. "Well, then-It's official. You're to be made cadets, part of the Helios Vanguard Academy. Do not, think you can do whatever you want just from being students of Helios Academy. Training there is much more worse than the war you just faced.

Caden simply grinned wider, showing his pearly whites. "Wouldn't have it any other way.".

The transport shuttle hummed with quiet efficiency as it soared toward the sprawling complex of Helios Vanguard Academy. The academy itself was a marvel of modern military engineering: vast training fields stretched out alongside towering structures, their surfaces gleaming with reinforced alloys. Defense turrets and patrol drones lined the perimeter, a reminder that even in a place of learning, war was never far from mind.

The team joined the long line of incoming students pouring off: some recruits fresh off civilian life, others battle-hardened soldiers just like themselves. It wasn't until they had stepped through the grand entrance-to the fluttering banners with its insignia inside the artificial Martian breeze-that weighed their journey.

Inside, a large induction hall held lines upon lines of recruits standing to attention. Facing them was a podium from which officers observed them with unreadable expressions. An air thick with tension filled it, and a few students were whispering to each other, looking in the direction of Caden's team. News about the war heroes joining their ranks had traveled quickly.

A holographic display flickered to life at the center of the room, projecting a massive emblem of Helios Vanguard Academy. Then, a voice rang out-deep, commanding respect.

"Welcome to Helios Vanguard Academy."

A giant of a man stepped out: an officer in a snow-white military coat with gold braiding, a face lined with experience, eyes like gimlets that seemed to bore into the very souls of the recruits.

"I am General Alistair Voss, and for the duration of your training, I will be watching you. You stand here today because you were deemed worthy, but let the entry into this academy not lull you all into thinking of it as an assurance toward greatness. Helios Vanguard does not raise soldiers. It forges legends. The weak shall break. The uncommitted shall be discarded. Only those who endure shall become true warriors of humanity."

A moment of silence passed and another officer spoke up- a female, short in height with close-cropped black hair and with several medals laced across her uniform.

"I am Colonel Sienna Raines. You will refer to me as Colonel Raines. You are now students of Helios Vanguard, and your training starts the minute you enter into your quarters. There will be no time to drag your heels-no quarter given when failure arises. This is an academy founded on discipline, skill, and the ability to adapt. Anyone not meeting these standards will not be with us for very long."

Her sharp gaze raked the hall as she went on to say,

"First years, you are to be put into dorms by rank and merit. Combat records have already been looked at; war experiences noted, you will be placed as such. Separate quarters for males and females. Your training schedules will be forwarded to your communicators. You are dismissed."

The moment the order was given, a flurry of movement spread through the hall as recruits rushed to check their assignments.

Caden's communicator vibrated, displaying his dorm information. "Cadet Quarters—Sector C, Room 412."

Darius nudged him. "Looks like we're grouped in the same sector. Makes things easier."

Ava glanced at her own display. "Sector C as well. Female quarters, though."

Ryan smirked. "And here I thought we'd all be rooming together. Guess they still have some sense of order here."

Selena shot him a flat look. "If we did, I'd have personally requested a transfer."

Caden chuckled, but before they could move, a figure approached.

A senior cadet, his uniform crisp, his posture rigid, eyed them with cold calculation. "So, you're the ones who survived the war." His tone carried neither admiration nor resentment-just analysis. "I suggest you don't get too comfortable with the praise. Helios Vanguard doesn't play favorites. If you can't keep up, you'll be left behind."

Caden met his gaze without flinching. "Thanks for the advice."

The senior just nodded curtly and then turned to disappear into the crowd.

Mira crossed her arms. "Friendly place, isn't it?"

Caden exhaled. "Yeah. Feels like home already."

[It better does, cause you will be staying here for a very long time] the system said and Caden rolled his eyes

Caden barely had time to process his surroundings before another shrill chime sounded through the hall, signaling the final part of their induction. The large doors at the back of the chamber slid open, revealing several squads of senior cadets in full academy uniform, standing at attention; each one had a different emblem on the shoulder, representing their respective divisions.

A female officer stepped forward, her platinum hair neatly tied back, her gaze piercing. Her uniform bore the insignia of the *Vanguard Elite Corps*.

"I am Captain Elara Voss," she said, the words echoing seamlessly across the hall. "In due time and for those fortunate enough to have survived long, you may serve under my division. But first, do not get ahead of yourselves. A first-year needs to prove why they belong first and foremost here."

Her gaze swept the room, finally coming to rest briefly on the group Caden was part of. No recognition, no favors-just hard scrutiny like that accorded to everyone else.

Caden felt its weight, but he nodded. He wasn't here for puffs of praise; he was here to grow stronger.

Elara wrapped up, "Tomorrow at dawn, your physical assessments begin. Be ready. And remember failure is not an option here at Helios Academy. Dismissed."

The recruits began to disperse, some talking to others, others moving in quiet determination. Caden turned to his team, already searching their communicators for further instructions.

Ryan smirked. "Physical assessments? Sounds like fun."

Selena scoffed. "You're the only person who would call that fun."

Ava folded her arms. "Still, we gotta expect these guys to be brutal. They won't go easy just because of our records."

Mira inclined herself toward Caden. "Guess we'll find out just how much this academy lives up to its reputation."

Darius stretched his arms with a grin. "Either way, I can just hope there's some challenge. Wouldn't want things to get boring."

He let out a steady breath as he looked to the looming shapes of academy beyond induction hall: War made them survivors, but Helios Vanguard made legends.

His fingers unconsciously curled in a bit.

[You can feel it can't you?], the System chuckled. [That hunger, to rise. Higher.]

Caden replied with nothing; he didn't need to.

The real training was to start tomorrow.

And he was ready for it.