Chapter 5 - The True Chain of Command
Brock looked down at his right hand. A faint, almost invisible trace of dried red clung to the side of his index finger.
"She's Captain Hayes," Brock insisted, his voice losing its iron confidence, cracking around the edges. "Personnel Directorate. Logistics attachment. That’s what the manifest said!"
"The manifest was a security cover, Sullivan!" Admiral Vance bellowed, his voice carrying straight across the parade field without the aid of the microphone. "Do you think the Department of Defense sends junior logistics captains unescorted into Tier-One operational commands?"
A chill swept through the front ranks. The Master Chief closed his eyes and bowed his head, murmuring a prayer under his breath. He had figured it out five minutes ago.
Admiral Vance broke the wax seal on the folder with trembling fingers. Inside lay a single sheet of heavy parchment, watermarked with the Great Seal of the United States, bearing three distinct signatures: the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Secretary of Defense, and the President.
Beneath the parchment was a biometric identification card laminated in heavy gold foil.
Vance pulled the card out and held it up directly before Commander Sullivan’s face.
"Read it," Vance commanded.
Brock squinted. His eyes darted across the text.
*OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR SPECIAL ACCESS PROGRAMS.*
*SPECIAL PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTEE — CODE-NAME: ARTEMIS.*
*TRUE RANK: MAJOR GENERAL ELEANOR HAYES, UNITED STATES ARMY / DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL OPERATIONS OVERSIGHT.*
*JURISDICTION: EXECUTIVE TITLE 10 & TITLE 50 AUDIT COMMAND.*
Brock’s breath caught in his throat. He stopped breathing entirely.
"M-Major... General?" Brock stammered, the words barely finding their way past his vocal cords.
"General Hayes was appointed six weeks ago to conduct an unannounced forensic audit of your operational command," Vance explained, each word landing like a shell casing falling onto concrete. "She assumed the rank and uniform of an Army O-3 to evaluate unit compliance, ethical leadership, and chain-of-command integrity from ground level."
Vance turned his gaze back to Brock, his eyes burning with disgust.
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"And within thirty minutes of her arrival, you assaulted a two-star General on a live microphone in front of the entire Naval Special Warfare Group."
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