Chapter 17 - A DIFFERENT KIND OF VICTORYOne year passed.
Camp Vora became a case study in command reform.
Independent reporting channels were established.
Financial oversight changed.
Whistleblower protections expanded.
Families received compensation.
Nothing could return the dead.
But the living were finally heard.
I was promoted.
Brigadier General Elena Vance.
At the ceremony, Hayes stood in the audience.
Brenda came wearing her best blue dress.
Miller sat beside his mother.
When the star was pinned onto my uniform, I thought about the silver eagle Sterling had called fake.
Power was strange.
People imagined it lived inside insignia.
It didn't.
Power lived in choices.
Sterling had rank.
Miller had courage.
Only one of those mattered when the room went silent.
After the ceremony, Miller approached.
“General Vance.”
“That sounds strange.”
“You'll get used to it.”
“Hopefully not.”
He laughed.
Then handed me an envelope.
No return address.
Inside was a photograph.
An underground facility.
A date.
And two words.
May you like
HARBOR CONTINUES.
My happiness lasted exactly twelve seconds.
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