“Did you inform your squad member of standard protocol with regard to senior personnel?”

“Sir, yes, sir,” Mason answered at once, his low voice cutting cleanly through the background noise of the terminal announcements.

“I warned Lance Corporal Carter three times to get away from Lieutenant Colonel Miller.

I recognized her division patch from the official joint briefing manual, sir.”

The answer hung in the stale, air-conditioned air of the concourse.

Evan glanced sideways at Mason, his eyes wide with a sudden, desperate sense of betrayal, but Mason kept his chin level and his body still.

“Lieutenant Colonel Miller,” General Vance said, turning to face me.