Two sentries stood at attention as I passed the security desk.

I swiped my badge at the elevator and pressed the button for the fifth floor.

My office sat at the end of a long, windowless corridor.

Lieutenant Commander Marcus, my night duty officer, was waiting outside my door.

He held a secure manila folder with red border tape.

“Ma’am,” Marcus said, handing me the folder. “We received the hard copy three minutes ago.”

“Thank you, Marcus,” I said. “Keep the outer office clear.”

“Understood, Admiral.”

I walked into my office and closed the door.

The only light came from the banks of monitors displaying global ship tracking data.

I sat behind my mahogany desk and turned on the green banker’s lamp.

I tore the seal on the folder.

The document inside was a formal request for expedited transfer under Navy Personnel Code 1040.

It bore Nathan’s signature at the bottom.

Attached to it was a personal memo.

He had written that this transfer was the only path to save his career after a recent operational setback in the Pacific.