Chapter 15 - The General on Television
Victor Rusk spoke about resilience, innovation, and protecting service members. His gray hair and gentle smile made him look like everyone's favorite grandfather. Avery watched him from Daniel's hospital room and felt sick.
"He called my brother's death a tragic sacrifice," she said. "He was looking at a man he knew was alive."
Reed warned against moving too soon. Rusk had influential friends, expensive counsel, and the ability to make records vanish behind layers of contractors. They needed evidence of his direct knowledge.
Daniel remembered a phrase from overheard calls: Project Iron Mirror. Ortiz searched the public procurement database and found a wellness initiative that matched the name. It was scheduled for a live demonstration at Fort Calder in forty-eight hours.
"They'll run another bout," Avery said.
"Not if the program is suspended," Hale answered.
The current suspension, however, covered only the disputed training unit. Rusk's demonstration was classified as a separate contractor showcase.
Chen pushed for an injunction. Reed requested warrants for Keene's offices. For the first time, agencies outside the base began cooperating instead of deferring to Mercer.
Avery visited Briggs under supervised conditions. "If you're telling the truth about wanting to help Daniel, tell us what Rusk ordered."
Briggs looked broken without an audience to impress. "Rusk wanted a perfect test score. Every failed trial cost them money. They said the injuries were acceptable."
"Did he know people were being hurt?"
"He watched the feeds."
Briggs identified a remote control booth in the main training hall. During the showcase, that booth would display encrypted footage from earlier trials. Hale knew the wiring layout and the emergency stop procedure.
Reed made a plan that relied on warrants, not vigilante tricks. Agents would secure the booth and prevent destruction of its records during the event. Avery would give a sworn medical statement, if the base allowed her to speak.
At midnight, Chen called with bad news. A federal judge had delayed the final warrant while Sentinel challenged jurisdiction.
Avery looked down at the printed demonstration program. Its headline promised soldiers who could withstand anything.
Below the guest list, someone had added a new exhibition match.
May you like
CAPTAIN AVERY MITCHELL VS. STAFF SERGEANT COLE BRIGGS.
Avery hadn't agreed to it. Neither had Briggs. And the event was tomorrow.
