The General’s eyes slowly rose from the paper, fixing on Andrew with a cold, terrifying stillness.

The paper rustled in the General’s grip.

He closed the folder slowly, the slap of the cardboard loud in the quiet afternoon.

He looked at me, then at the stunned family in the front row.

The General reached for the radio on his belt.

His thumb hovered over the talk button as he stared at the document in his hand.

“All military police units on standby,” the General muttered into the receiver, his voice shaking with a controlled rage.

“Stand down the color guard,” General Vance barked, his voice cutting through the dry Texas air like a blade.

The sergeant major at the edge of the dais hesitated for a fraction of a second before saluting.

“Aye, sir,” the sergeant major said.

The General turned his stern, weathered face toward the assembly.

“This change of command ceremony is temporarily suspended,” he announced into the microphone.

A murmur rippled through the rows of officers and local dignitaries.

“Colonel Parker, Lieutenant Colonel Carter, follow me,” the General said, his voice dangerously low.