Chapter 3 - The Sealed Files
When the court adjourned for the day pending jury deliberations, I remained in the witness holding room, methodically organizing my classified logbooks and inspection manifests into my leather briefcase.
The door opened with a quiet creak. Captain Cole entered, followed by an older man wearing a pristine service dress uniform with the two silver stars of a major general on his shoulders.
I snapped to immediate attention, raising a crisp salute. "Good afternoon, General."
Major General Thomas Sterling returned the salute with an easy, fatherly smile. Sterling had been my wing commander when I was a captain at Nellis Air Force Base, and he was currently the director of logistics for Air Combat Command. He had personally endorsed my promotion to major and knew every detail of my spotless service record.
"At ease, Natalie," General Sterling said, pulling out a chair and sitting down. "Hell of a day for you."
"Just doing my job, sir."
"You did it with exemplary composure," Sterling said, resting his hands on the table. "I reviewed Ryan's complete investigative package this morning from the Air Force Office of Special Investigations. The falsified inspection logs are only the tip of the iceberg, Major."
My heart gave a faint, instinctive thud. "Sir?"
Sterling slid a red-tabbed classified folder across the laminate table. "Your brother wasn't just cutting corners because he was lazy or stressed. OSI uncovered an illicit procurement ring operating out of the supply depot at Hill. High-value turbine components and diagnostic avionics modules were being marked as 'defective and scrapped' on Ryan's forged inspection reports."
I stared at the paperwork in disbelief. "They were diverting government equipment?"
"Over four hundred thousand dollars' worth of specialized ground-support parts ended up on private aerospace salvage forums over the last eighteen months," Sterling stated grimly. "Ryan was receiving cash kickbacks to certify the parts as destroyed so they could be walked out the back gate. The trial counsel held those charges in reserve, waiting to see if he would cooperate during this court-martial. But now that his defense tried to paint you as a vindictive sister, the convening authority has decided to file supplemental charges under Article 132 for frauds against the United States."
I closed my eyes for a brief second, feeling a wave of exhaustion wash over me. Ryan hadn't just made a mistake in uniform. He had systematically betrayed his oath, his country, and the uniform he wore, all while hiding behind the myth of being our parents' successful, upstanding child.
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"General," I said softly, looking up. "My parents are outside in the hallway. They still believe Ryan is an innocent victim of administrative bureaucracy."
General Sterling stood, his expression turning to stone. "Then it’s time they learn the difference between an honorable officer and a common criminal. Come with me, Natalie."
