General Vance took out his black pen and initialed the bottom right corner of each transit log sheet.

“The squad travel manifest for Flight 1482 is officially cut by one,” Vance announced.

Officer Knox unclipped a heavy ring of keys from his leather duty belt.

“Lance Corporal Carter, get up and face the back wall,” Knox ordered.

Evan rose slowly, the color completely gone from his face.

“Unbuckle your utility belt and put your dress cover on the side table,” Knox said.

Evan undid the brass buckle of his web belt with stiff fingers and laid it next to his folded cap on the gray desk.