HONOR BURIED IN ASH

The heavy doors of the office burst open. Six tactical operators in body armor flooded the room, carbines raised, laser sights painting Marcus's chest and Ava’s forehead with crimson dots.

""Step away from the desk! On the ground! Now!"" the team leader screamed.

Admiral Hayes leaned back against his leather executive chair, lighting a cigar with steady hands. ""Commander Vance has surrendered. You may neutralize the threat if he resists. And secure that terminal.""

Marcus didn't move an inch. He kept his hands resting on the edge of the desk, looking directly at the tactical squad's lead officer, Lieutenant Miller, a combat veteran who had served under Marcus in the Persian Gulf.

""Miller,"" Marcus said, his voice cutting through the shouting with absolute command authority. ""Check the screen on that monitor before you pull the trigger.""

Miller hesitated, his barrel dipping slightly. ""Commander, step down—""

""Look at the screen, Lieutenant!"" Marcus roared, the sheer power of his command voice vibrating the heavy glass windows. ""Look at the shipping manifests! Look at the signatures selling our destroyer maintenance codes to Sterling’s cartels! Look at who betrayed your brothers at sea!""

Miller glanced sideways at the glowing screen. The decrypted documents were already propagating across the naval base's internal network, bypassing Hayes's local blocks through the hardwired JAG terminal. Audio files—Sterling bragging about bribing the Admiralty—blared through the office's intercom system.

Miller’s face twisted in horror. He looked from the screen to Hayes.

""Admiral..."" Miller whispered, lowering his weapon completely. ""Is this authentic?""

""Shoot them, Miller!"" Hayes screamed, his composure finally shattering, his face turning an ugly, mottled purple. ""That is an order from your superior officer! Shoot them down!""

None of the tactical operators raised their weapons. One by one, the red laser dots drifted away from Marcus's chest and Ava's forehead, settling instead on the chest of Rear Admiral Hayes.

Marcus reached across the desk, retrieved his service weapon, and leveled it at Hayes’s temple.