Chapter 9 - The Morning Inspection
The morning sun rose over the lake in a brilliant blaze of gold and amber, burning away the lingering chill of the night.
At exactly 7:00 AM, a low engine rumble signaled the arrival of Captain Sarah Miller and a single MP transport vehicle returning to conduct a final security check before my leave officially commenced.
I stepped out onto the front porch, holding a steaming mug of coffee, wearing my civilian workout gear.
Captain Miller hopped out of the Humvee, marched up the driveway, and snapped a crisp, flawless salute.
“Morning, Colonel! Perimeter secure. No unauthorized personnel within a five-mile radius,” Captain Miller reported sharply.
“At ease, Sarah,” I smiled, lowering my mug. “Thank you for your rapid response yesterday. It saved me a lot of bureaucratic headache.”
“Always an honor, ma’am,” Captain Miller grinned. “Though I have to admit, watching that civilian blow a gasket when we rolled up was the highlight of my week.”
“Mine too,” I chuckled. “How are the logistics looking for my deployment flight back on Monday?”
“All locked in, Colonel. Private transport will pick you up right here at 0600 hours on Monday morning. Until then, the sector is entirely yours.”
“Understood. Dismissed, Captain.”
May you like
She saluted once more, climbed back into her vehicle, and rolled smoothly down the driveway, leaving me once again to the absolute peace and quiet of my sanctuary.
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