NAVY SEAL COMMANDER SLAPPED A FEMALE CAPTAIN IN FRONT OF 1,040 TROOPS—THEN HER CLASSIFIED IDENTITY WAS REVEALED

"Take him to the holding facility at Building 402," Admiral Vance directed the guards. "Place him under continuous video surveillance. Confiscate all personal communication devices."

"Yes, Admiral," the senior guard answered.

The guards took Sullivan by his upper arms. The arrogant SEAL commander didn't resist. His legs dragged slightly as they led him down the wooden stairs.

As he reached the bottom step, he turned his head back toward me. His face was twisted with venomous hatred, all traces of panic replaced by pure, distilled malice.

"You think this is over, General?" he snarled, spitting onto the concrete. "You think you're the smartest person in the room because you have a star and a badge?"

"Keep moving, Sullivan," the guard warned, shoving him forward.

"You don't know what you walked into!" Brock shouted back over his shoulder, his voice echoing across the parade deck. "You think those munitions were just sold for cash? You think I was working alone?"

Admiral Vance’s expression hardened. "Get him out of here!"

"You opened the cage, Hayes!" Brock screamed as they dragged him past the rigid ranks of his former command. "You opened the damn cage!"

His shouts faded into the distance as the heavy metal doors of the security transport slammed shut. The vehicle sped away, its siren silent, leaving only the sound of the ocean wind blowing across the tarmac.

Admiral Vance turned to me, his posture stiff with respect.

"General Hayes, on behalf of this command, I apologize profoundly for the assault you suffered. Medical is standing by in my office to tend to your injury."

"The lip is fine, Admiral," I replied, folding the handkerchief and placing it back in my pocket. "We have more urgent matters."

"The munitions?" Vance asked, lowering his voice so the aides couldn't hear.

"Not just the munitions," I said, looking out toward the Pacific horizon where two grey Navy destroyers sat anchored offshore. "Sullivan was right about one thing."

Vance frowned. "What's that?"