Chapter 10 - THE FINAL FRONTIERThe rain had turned into a heavy downpour by midnight, lashing against the glass facade of the Titan Tactical headquarters as a sleek black government SUV idled curbside in the subterranean parking garage.
Marcus Vance stood near the exit, holding a briefcase containing the certified court transcripts and the unredacted digital mirror drives. He looked terrified.
“Avalon, this is insane,” Marcus stammered, clutching the handle of the briefcase. “If you go to Washington tonight with Colonel Carney, you’re walking right into the lions' den. Senator Sterling has federal marshals, executive protection, and half the DOJ in his pocket!”
“Which is exactly why we aren't going to Washington quietly, Marcus,” I said, zipping up my jacket and securing my service ring on my left hand. “We’re going straight to the Federal District Court steps where the press conference is scheduled for dawn. When Sterling’s legal team tries to enforce the congressional transfer order, we’re going to broadcast the unencrypted master key live across every national broadcast network simultaneously.”
Carney opened the door of the SUV, stepping out into the rain to hold the handle for me.
“The trap is set,” Carney said, a grim smile touching his lips. “Your mother and brother are currently locked in holding cells down at the precinct, realizing they were just expendable pawns in a much larger game. When the sun comes up tomorrow, the entire network—from the corrupt procurement officers to the sitting senator—goes down in flames.”
I climbed into the back seat of the vehicle, feeling the familiar, steady thrum of the heavy engine beneath my feet. Twelve years ago, I had crawled out of a burning aircraft in the deserts of Kandar, carrying secrets that powerful men would have killed to bury forever. They had tried to brand me a liar, a fraud, and a thief. They had used my own family as a weapon to strip away my honor, my company, and my name.
They forgot one fundamental rule about soldiers.
We don't break under fire. We use the fire to forge the blade.
“Let’s move,” I said, looking out the tinted window as the SUV accelerated into the rainy night.
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The war wasn't over. But by sunrise, the enemy was going to learn what happens when you declare war on someone who has already survived hell.
What happens when Avalon and Colonel Carney launch their live broadcast on the courthouse steps? Would you like to explore the confrontation with Senator Sterling in the next sequence?
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