Chapter 9 - BEYOND THE STANDARD GRID
"Who cleared you for this range cycle, Bennett?" Daniel asked, turning his body to face Maya directly.
Maya finished wiping the bolt carrier group and clicked her dust cover closed before looking up at the veteran instructor.
"Special Operations Command Logistics Detachment, Master Sergeant," Maya answered smoothly, her tone remaining completely respectful and even. "I was instructed to complete standard small-arms re-certification before my transfer."
"Transfer where?" Logan demanded, stepping forward, his arrogance replaced by a rising wave of suspicion. "Your unit file lists you as administrative support."
Maya looked at Captain Pierce, her clear eyes offering no information. "Administrative orders are filed through main headquarters, sir."
Daniel looked down at his clipboard, flipping past the standard qualification sheets until he reached the back section—the high-level range clearance documents stamped with red ink from the Pentagon's Joint Special Operations Command.
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On the third line of the document, right next to Maya Bennett's service identification number, was a single, stylized classification symbol that Daniel had only seen twice in his twenty-four years of service. Both times had been during classified ballistics testing for unacknowledged sniper systems designed for extreme-range anti-materiel operations.
Daniel let out a long, quiet breath through his nose. He understood now why she hadn't cared about the mocking laughter, why she hadn't bothered to explain the scoreboard, and why her posture had remained as still as stone under the North Carolina sun.
