Chapter 9 - THE SILENCE OF CHARLIE
Behind the concrete partition, the thirty soldiers of Combat Group Charlie looked at each other in absolute, stunned silence.
The infantrymen who had been cracking jokes five minutes ago—the men who had boasted about their own expert marksmanship badges and laughed at the quiet support girl—now stood with their mouths half-open, looking at Emma as if she were an alien species that had just descended onto Range 4.
The sergeant from 2nd Platoon who had asked if she kept her eyes open quietly backed away from the partition, his face burning with intense, agonizing embarrassment.
They realized, with a terrifying suddenness, what had just happened.
Emma Carter hadn't missed the target on her first five shots out of incompetence. She had placed every single round through a pre-existing hole in the paper because she was practicing a level of discipline so refined, so absurdly advanced, that she didn't even bother creating new tears in the target sheet.
She was operating on a plane of marksmanship that made their infantry qualification badges look like child's play.
Master Sergeant Donovan walked over to the concrete partition and looked at the crowd of quiet, chastened combat troops.
"Any of you boys want to step up to Bay 7 and demonstrate proper rifle technique for Private Carter?" Donovan asked, her voice dripping with dry, razor-sharp irony.
Not a single soldier moved. Every man kept his eyes locked firmly on the pale gravel beneath his boots.
Colonel Mercer stood in front of Emma, holding the M4 carbine that Donovan had cleared. He looked down at the weapon, then looked up at the quiet young woman standing before him.
"Master Sergeant Donovan," Mercer said, his voice quiet and firm.
"Sir?"
"Pull Private Carter’s service record from the main database immediately. I want her full personnel file—unredacted—on my desk in thirty minutes."
"Understood, sir."
Mercer turned back to Emma. He extended his right hand toward her—a gesture of respect he had never once offered to a junior support soldier on Range 4.
"Private Carter," Mercer said, his tone entirely serious. "As of this moment, your assignment to the logistics detachment is suspended pending administrative review. You will report to the battalion marksmanship unit at 0600 tomorrow morning."
May you like
Emma looked at the colonel's extended hand. She didn't hesitate, nor did she show any overt excitement. She reached out, took his hand, and gave it a single, firm, disciplined shake.
"Understood, Colonel," Emma replied calmly.
