The fluorescent tube overhead flickered twice and sent a low hum through the quiet liaison office.

“Option one is a formal referral to a general court-martial,” General Vance said.

“That puts him in confinement in the brig before sunrise,” I said.

“It voids his enlistment contract, strips away his benefits and leaves him with a federal conviction,” Vance answered.

He moved his hand across the desk to rest on the second folder.

“Option two is nonjudicial punishment under Article 15,” Vance said.

“An immediate administrative reduction to private, forfeiture of half his pay for two months, and ninety days of remedial ethics duty.”