The swiftness of military justice was absolute.
A few days later, the entire unit was assembled on the tarmac in full dress uniform. Silence hung heavy in the air as Sergeant Miller, Corporal Vance, and Specialist Hayes were marched out in handcuffs. The military tribunal had been brief and merciless. Found guilty of attempted murder, mutiny, and treasonous conduct during a combat operation, the three men were stripped of their ranks, dishonorably discharged, and sentenced to maximum-security military prison for the rest of their natural lives.
As the mutineers were escorted away, a black transport vehicle pulled up to the front of the formation.
The door opened, and Captain Kate Evans stepped out. Her right hand was heavily bandaged, and she walked with a slight limp, but her posture was as rigid and unyielding as ever. She took her place at the front of her unit, returning the salutes of the men and women who now looked at her with a profound, undeniable reverence.
For the 104th Airborne, the incident became a permanent, chilling reminder: treason always leaves a trail, and true command isn't broken by a fall—it is proven by the landing.