Chapter 5 - Transfer To Special Defense Intelligence Group Nine
At 08:00 on Monday morning, I was summoned to the Fort Meade garrison headquarters for an official reclassification ceremony.
In the presence of General Arthur Sterling and the entire battalion command staff, Harrison Cole presented me with an executive military order signed directly by the Secretary of Defense.
“Specialist Claire Parker,” General Sterling announced, reading from the parchment. “Pursuant to your exceptional technical aptitude, tactical logistics record, and unique familial clearances, you are hereby promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant and assigned as the Executive Intelligence Liaison to Special Defense Intelligence Group Nine, under the direct command of Colonel Harrison Cole.”
The room erupted into applause.
Harrison stepped forward, pinned the silver bars of a First Lieutenant onto my uniform collar, and looked down into my eyes with proud, unyielding respect.
“Welcome to the inner circle, Lieutenant Parker,” Harrison smiled.
“Thank you, Colonel,” I replied, delivering a crisp, flawless hand salute.
May you like
As I saluted the man who had pulled my family from the ashes, I realized that I was no longer just a soldier surviving day by day.
I was an officer of the United States Army, armed with the truth, standing beside a titan, ready to take back everything that had been stolen from my bloodline.
