Chapter 6: New Orders
Three days later, Valerie sat in the bright, utilitarian office of Admiral Hayes at the Navy Yard. The oppressive atmosphere of her father's estate felt like a lifetime ago. Hayes sat across the desk, sliding a manila folder toward her. He didn't offer pity; he offered purpose.
"The board reviewed your medical discharge," Hayes said, leaning back. "You can't deploy on active combat rotations. But we aren't about to lose one of our best tacticians."
Valerie opened the folder. It was a billet for a senior instructor at the Naval Academy.
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"These cadets need leaders who know the actual cost of survival," Hayes continued. "They need to see what real resilience looks like. Your scars aren't a liability, Val. They are your credentials."
A genuine smile broke across Valerie’s face for the first time in months. She wasn't broken. She was simply forged for a different kind of fight. She signed the acceptance papers without a second thought.
