Chapter 9 - The Shockwave
My father looked like he had been struck by lightning.
“Major... General?” my father whispered, swaying slightly on his feet. He looked at General Sterling, then at me, then back at my shoulders, as if trying to physically erase the silver stars shining on my epaulets. “That’s... that’s impossible. She’s... she works in logistics! She pushes papers!”
General Sterling turned his head slowly, looking at my father with a gaze cold enough to freeze steel.
“Major General Ross commands the entire Pacific Joint Logistics and Strategic Operations Command, Colonel Ross,” General Sterling said, biting down on the title with heavy irony. “She is one of the youngest two-star generals in active service, responsible for coordinating multi-billion-dollar supply chains and tactical deployments across three continents. To refer to her as an administrative clerk demonstrates a profound ignorance of your own flesh and blood.”
Kevin looked violently sick. He took a step backward, nearly tripping over a folding chair, his face entirely drained of color.
My mother looked like she wanted the marble floor to open up and swallow her whole.
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I kept my expression completely neutral, my posture ramrod straight, looking down at the man who had spent sixty years demanding respect while treating his own family with contempt.
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