Chapter 54: The Commander’s Table

That evening, the "Old Guard" gathered at the officers' club. We took over the large table in the back—the one that had once been reserved for people like Sterling.

Charles sat at the head of the table, his hand resting openly on mine. The chain of command was present—the General, the Colonels—and no one looked twice. We had earned our peace.

"To the Porcelain Front," Jax said, raising a glass. "Five years, and she’s still the toughest soldier in the room."

"To the Ghost," the table echoed.

As the night went on, the talk turned to the recruits. Viper, now retired but still a frequent "consultant" on base, leaned in. "You’re too soft on 'em, Coraline. Chalk? In my day, they’d be cleaning the tread of a Bradley with a toothbrush."

"They're learning, Viper," I said. "They see a woman with spots on her skin and a high rank, and they think I’m an anomaly. They don't realize I’m the rule."

I looked at Charles. He was watching me with that same intensity he’d had in the cave, but the desperation was gone. It had been replaced by a deep, unshakeable pride.

"They'll learn tomorrow," Charles said quietly. "When the Section Chief and the Commander lead the five-mile run together. Let's see how many of those 'pranksters' can keep up with the 'Ice King' and the 'Witch'."