He pointed a shaking finger at Arthur. «And Lubyanka Prison? You’ve heard of it? He is the only Western operative to ever be held in its deepest level and walk out on his own two feet.»
«He spent six months in darkness, and when he escaped, he did so with the complete order of battle for the Soviet Union’s Western Group of Forces. The intelligence he brought back single-handedly averted a surprise invasion of Western Europe and prevented World War III.»
The four-star general now stood nose-to-nose with the Brigadier General. «And you, you, a glorified quartermaster whose greatest hardship was a delayed shipment of office furniture, you dared stand in this room, on floors he now humbly cleans, and question his service? You are a walking, talking insult to the uniform you wear.»
Wallace’s voice dropped to its most lethal whisper. «Be in my office at six hundred tomorrow. Bring your full dress uniform, your resignation letter, and whatever is left of your honor. Your career in the United States Air Force is over. Now get out of my sight before I do something we’ll both regret.»
Utterly and completely broken, Thorne turned and stumbled out of the club, his public execution complete. Wallace watched him go, then addressed the silent, shell-shocked room. «Let this be an indelible lesson for every one of you.»
«The true heroes of this nation are not always the ones with stars on their shoulders. They are the quiet professionals, the ghosts, the men like Arthur Jenkins, who sacrificed everything in the dark so that you could stand here, safe in the light.»
He turned back to Arthur, his expression softening with a deep, profound respect. «Art,» he said gently. «It’s over. Your nation has not forgotten you. The director sends his personal, deepest apologies.»
«There’s been a clerical error regarding your service benefits and pension going back thirty years. It’s been fixed. It’s time to come home.»
As General Wallace gently guided Arthur Jenkins toward the door, a ripple went through the room. The Command Sergeant Major was the first, snapping to the most rigid, heartfelt position of attention of his life. The rest of the NCOs followed suit instantly.
Then the officers, one by one, their faces a mixture of shame and awe, all snapped to attention, their hands rising in a salute that was not for a janitor, but for a titan.