Chapter 14 - STERLING FACED THE PEOPLE HE BROKESterling's court-martial began four months later.
He looked completely different.
No polished command presence.
No booming voice.
No frightened soldiers surrounding him.
Just a defendant.
Brenda testified first.
Then Hayes.
Then Miller.
Finally, me.
Sterling wouldn't look at me.
The prosecutor displayed photographs from the cafeteria.
My blood.
The damaged tray.
Security footage.
Sterling's recorded threats.
His defense argued that Camp Vora had developed a culture of extreme discipline.
The prosecutor asked one question.
“Does discipline require terror?”
No answer could save him.
Sterling was convicted on multiple charges.
When sentencing was announced, he finally looked at me.
I expected hatred.
Instead, I saw emptiness.
His power had existed only because other people believed in it.
Now nobody did.
As guards led him away, Miller stood behind me.
“Is it over?”
“For Sterling.”
“And Harbor?”
I looked toward the courthouse doors.
May you like
“No.”
Not yet.
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