Chapter 9 - THE FORMAL EVALUATION
At 1100 hours, Colonel Hargrove summoned Captain Mercer to the main briefing officer's room inside the annex headquarters.
The room smelled of floor wax, coffee, and old paper. Hargrove sat behind a heavy oak desk, three thick manila personnel files laid out neatly before him. Outside the window, a pair of MH-60 Seahawk helicopters swept low across the horizon, their rotors beating a steady, rhythmic pulse through the glass.
"Captain Mercer," Hargrove began, opening the top file. "Your record in Naval Special Warfare is exemplary, but your current administrative leave was extended due to psychological stress evaluation markers."
"I am aware of my file, Colonel," Evelyn said, standing at attention before the desk, her arms straight at her sides.
"I was prepared to sign the decommission orders for Ares, Zeus, and Thor this morning," Hargrove continued, leaning back in his leather chair, tapping a brass pen against the oak surface. "A three-dog tactical team that cannot be reassigned is an operational liability costing the Department of the Navy thousands of dollars a day."
"They aren't liabilities, sir," Evelyn corrected firmly, her eyes locked on his. "They are specialized assets suffering from operational trauma. With proper integration, they are more effective now than they were before, because they know how to work through extreme stress."
Hargrove stared at her for a long, silent moment. The skepticism that had defined his face all morning was slowly replaced by a heavy, pragmatic realization.
"You want them," Hargrove stated, it was not a question.
"I am requesting immediate reassignment as master handler for K9 Tactical Unit Delta," Evelyn replied without hesitation. "We clear the retraining cycle in four weeks, or you can sign my discharge papers alongside theirs."
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Hargrove looked down at the signature line on the evaluation form. He picked up his pen, signed his name with three sharp, decisive strokes, and slammed the file shut.
"Four weeks, Captain," Hargrove said, looking up at her with stern eyes. "Don't make me regret this."
