“I need you to schedule a formal inquiry board for Friday morning,” I said.

“Subject is Commander Nathan Reed.”

“Understood, Admiral,” Miller said. “What are the charges?”

“Falsifying records, travel fraud, and conduct unbecoming,” I said.

“And Miller?”

“Yes, Ma’am?”

“Flag the IP address I’m sending you now.”

“Someone at that location is attempting to hack a flag officer’s personal file.”

“I want a full trace on it by morning.”

“On it, Admiral,” he said.

I ended the call and drove into the night.

The rain beat a steady rhythm against the windshield.

I knew what they would find when they opened my file.

They would find three decades of service, command of a carrier strike group, and a Senate-confirmed star.

They would find the authority to end Nathan’s career with a single stroke of my pen.

I parked my car in the gravel lot near the naval headquarters in D.C.

The brick buildings stood dark against the stormy sky.

I walked inside, the duty officer saluting me as I passed the security desk.

“Good evening, Admiral,” the young lieutenant said.