Chapter 12 - On the Record
Heavy footsteps echoed outside the kennel bay.
Within seconds, the wide double doors were thrown open, and a dozen military police officers flooded the corridor with raised rifles, tactical lights blinding the interior.
"Nobody move!" Sergeant Miller yelled, his carbine raised.
Behind the security detachment came Colonel Marcus Sterling, followed by two civilian men wearing dark suits and lanyards reading: United States Senate Armed Services Committee - Office of the Inspector General.
Sterling stepped forward, a triumphant sneer curling his lip. "Miller, you are witnessing an armed insurrection. Specialist Maddox and former Staff Sergeant Morales have assaulted an officer and released an uncontrollable weapon. Detain them immediately. Shoot the animal if it moves."
"Hold your fire!" a clear, authoritative voice cut through the shouting.
Stepping past the line of MP carbines was Victoria Ramos, chief civilian investigative counsel for the Senate Oversight Committee. In her hands, she held a secured satellite tablet displaying a live video link to the Department of Defense headquarters at the Pentagon.
"Colonel Sterling," Ramos said, her voice ringing with absolute cold authority. "You will instruct your security team to lower their weapons immediately."
Sterling’s sneer faltered. "Counselor Ramos, this is a local base administrative issue. A compromised asset has—"
"This is not an administrative issue, Colonel," Ramos interrupted, turning the tablet screen directly toward Sterling.
Displayed on the screen was Lieutenant Sarah Chen, sitting beside the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs.
"Ten minutes ago," Ramos continued, "Lieutenant Chen transmitted the un-redacted field logs from the Korengal Valley recovery operation to our investigative panel. We have the original casualty manifest, the forged dental records from the Kandahar clinic, and the microchip registration that links Canine W-794 directly to the unaccounted-for recovery operation led by Task Force Valkyrie."
Ramos looked down at Vance, who was still pinned beneath Viper’s massive paws.
"We also have the complete banking records from your offshore logistics consultancy in Cyprus, Major Vance," Ramos added quietly. "It seems your twelve-million-dollar war trophy wasn't quite as hidden as you believed."
Vance let out a broken groan and let his head fall back against the concrete.
Sterling took a step backward, his face tightening into a mask of pure panic. "This is a jurisdictional overreach. I have full operational authority—"
"Colonel Marcus Sterling," Ramos commanded, signaling the base Provost Marshal’s internal affairs officers who were now stepping through the rear doors. "You are relieved of command. By order of the Secretary of the Army, you are under arrest for fraud against the United States, grand larceny, falsification of combat records, and conduct unbecoming an officer."
Two internal affairs MPs stepped forward, their cuffs clicking open. Within seconds, the silver eagles were stripped from Sterling’s collar, and his hands were cuffed behind his back.
In the center of the breezeway, Adrian slowly lowered himself down to one knee.
He didn't care about the senators. He didn't care about the handcuffs, the sirens, or the disgraced officers being hauled out into the rain.
He looked at the magnificent, scarred shepherd standing over Vance.
"Viper," Adrian whispered softly. "Break. Come here, boy."
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Viper turned instantly. The deadly predator vanished, replaced in a heartbeat by the loyal partner who had kept Adrian alive through blood and fire in an Afghan ditch.
The German Shepherd trotted over, dropped his heavy head onto Adrian’s lap, and let out a long, shuddering sigh of pure relief. Adrian wrapped his arms around the dog’s neck, burying his face into the wet fur, weeping openly as the morning sun finally broke through the Texas fog.
