All Personnel, Salute Her!

General Marcus Reed arrived at the banquet hall shortly after eight.

He greeted officials, accepted handshakes and posed for photographs, but his attention repeatedly moved toward the entrance.

His assistant, Captain Elias Moore, noticed.

“Are you expecting someone, sir?”

Reed looked toward the doors.

“Colonel Claire Hart.”

Moore checked the guest list.

“She confirmed attendance.”

“Good.”

Moore hesitated.

“Is she receiving an award tonight?”

“Not officially.”

The restrictions surrounding Operation Night Lantern had finally been reduced. Some details remained classified, but Reed had been authorized to recognize the officer who led the rescue.

He planned to speak with Claire privately before announcing anything.

Reed had never forgotten the final transmission from Falcon-07.

The last transport had been climbing out of the valley when hostile vehicles appeared on the road below. Claire’s aircraft had suffered a navigation failure, and visibility had been nearly zero.

Reed had ordered her to follow the lead aircraft.

Her reply had been calm.

“Negative. Lead aircraft has civilians aboard. I will draw attention east.”

She had deliberately separated from the group, risking herself to protect the others.

For eleven minutes, Reed had heard only broken transmissions.

Then her voice returned.

“Falcon-07 clear. All passengers accounted for.”

Reed had closed his eyes in relief.

That sentence had become legendary among the people inside the operations center.

Now, years later, he intended to thank her in front of the officers who owed their lives to her decisions.

A colonel approached Reed near the stage.

“General, did you say Claire Hart is attending?”