Chapter 1 - The Hangar
Captain Bethany Cruz stood before the squadron. The afternoon sun slanted through the hangar doors, dust motes dancing in the light. Every pilot, every crew chief, every mechanic was watching.
Lieutenant Colonel Harold Finch held out his hand. His expression was stone. "Your wings, Captain. Now."
Bethany stood straight. Her command pilot wings — pinned on after years of training, combat missions, hundreds of flight hours — felt heavy on her chest.
"On what grounds, sir?"
"Falsifying flight data. Endangering squadron safety. Covering up pilot error." Finch stepped closer. "Hand them over or I'll have them removed."
A murmur rippled through the formation. Bethany didn't move. "Which flight, sir?"
"Tuesday. The near-miss over the range."
"I filed the accurate report," Bethany said. "I noted altitude deviation. I recommended review."
"You took the flight. You were in command."
"I was not piloting at the moment of deviation, sir."
Finch's eyes narrowed. "Are you accusing another pilot?"
"I'm stating facts, sir. As recorded."
"Your word against everyone else's." Finch gestured to the radio operator's desk. "Remove the wings."
Then the squadron radio — left on standby — crackled. Static filled the hangar. And a young voice, trembling but steady, cut through the silence.
May you like
"This is Airman First Class Zoe Feld in the tower. I have the full audio recording. It wasn't Captain Cruz. It was your son. Second Lieutenant Finch. I just sent the file to the Wing Commander."
The room froze. Finch's hand dropped.
