Chapter 6 - The Ultimatum"Negative on coordinates here, Commander," General Vance said, his eyes scanning the crowd of bewildered officers and shell-shocked family members before landing on my father. He raised an eyebrow, recognizing the retired captain's insignia on my father's civilian lapel pin. Ah. Captain Sinclair. I've read your file. Pity you never realized what kind of operator you had under your own roof."
My father flinched as if struck by a physical blow. The humiliation was total, absolute, and public. A four-star general was standing on a naval base, openly rebuking a retired captain for his catastrophic failure to recognize his own daughter's elite status.
"General, with all due respect," my father stammered, stepping forward with a desperate, trembling hand raised. "She's... she's my daughter. We didn't receive any notification—"
"Captain," General Vance interrupted, his voice dropping into a cold, dangerous register that silenced my father instantly. "Classified means classified. Your daughter signed an NDA that carried a penalty of twenty years in a military black site. She protected her country, and she protected you, while you sat at home wallowing in the illusion that only men in mud-soaked wetsuits were serving this nation."
Evan stood frozen on the stage, the gold Trident pinned to his chest suddenly feeling terribly small. For his entire life, he had been the golden child, the sun around which my parents' pride revolved. Now, he was just a newly minted graduation statistic while his sister was being personally conscripted by the highest-ranking command in the armed forces.
"Claire," Evan whispered, his voice cracking as he stepped to the edge of the stage. "You're leaving? Just like that?"
I turned to look at my brother one last time. The anger I once felt toward him had dissolved into a cold, distant pity. He was a tactical warrior, yes—brave, disciplined, and strong. But he was still trapped in the childish need for parental validation, still performing for an audience of two people who measured human worth by framed medals and polished plaques.
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"I have a country to protect, Evan," I said softly. "Enjoy your ceremony."
I turned back to General Vance. "Ready for transport, General."
