Chapter 5 - The First TargetI stood silently in front of Colonel Hayes’s desk for nearly a minute, watching the digital clock on his computer monitor tick away the seconds. The snow outside continued to batter the reinforced windows, but inside the command office, the temperature felt suddenly, perfectly clear.
“Captain?” Hayes prompted gently, breaking the silence. “What are your orders, ma'am? As the current senior installation commander and a legacy custodian of the Trust, I am bound by oath to assist you in whatever operational path you choose.”
I reached down, picked up the titanium keycard from the velvet lining of the box, and slipped it into the breast pocket of my uniform shirt. The metal felt cold against my chest, like a brand-new set of dog tags.
“Colonel Hayes,” I said, my voice steady, carrying the absolute authority of a commanding officer addressing a subordinate. “I need a secure terminal, a complete roster of regional defense sub-contracts awarded over the last twenty-four months, and a cup of black coffee.”
Hayes blinked, a slow, predatory smile touching the corners of his mouth.
May you like
“Coming right up, Captain,” he said, standing up and reaching for his secure landline. “Who’s our first target?”
“Let’s start close to home,” I replied quietly, pulling my phone from my pocket and tapping the screen to bring up a text message from my father sent three weeks ago, begging for that $4,000 loan to save his sinking ship. “Let’s start with Palmer & Sterling Development.”
Related Stories
