Chapter 16 - CRITICAL STATUS
The Admiral’s heart slammed against his ribs as Marcus's words echoed in his ear.
"Keep the facility on lockdown level five," the Admiral ordered into his comms unit.
"Nobody enters or leaves that surgical wing without your personal authorization."
"Understood, Admiral," Marcus replied. "What about General Sterling?"
"I am heading to Sector 4 now," the Admiral said grimly. "We handle the General once my family is safe."
He turned back to the lead operator of the Shadow Squadron.
"Bag him, restrain him, and take him to the secondary safehouse," the Admiral commanded, pointing at the executive.
"Ensure he remains alive—he is our primary witness."
"Understood, Admiral," the operator replied, dragging the executive to his feet.
Within minutes, the Admiral’s black SUV was tearing away from Dock 42, its tires screaming against the wet asphalt.
He pushed the heavy vehicle to its limits, navigating the dark, rain-soaked city streets toward Sector 4.
Twenty minutes later, the SUV slid to a stop outside the heavily guarded underground entrance of the naval hospital.
Two heavily armed guards in naval police uniforms saluted as the Admiral rushed past the security checkpoints.
He navigated the sterile, brightly lit subterranean hallways until he reached the surgical waiting room.
Agent Marcus was standing near the double doors, his coat drenched and his face pale with exhaustion.
Little Lily was fast asleep on a vinyl sofa, wrapped tightly in a thick hospital blanket.
"How is she?" the Admiral asked, his voice raw with emotion as he approached Marcus.
"The surgical team has been inside for over forty minutes," Marcus answered softly.
"They said the physical blunt trauma from earlier caused internal bleeding."
Before the Admiral could respond, the heavy surgical doors swung open with a pneumatic hiss.
A lead surgeon wearing green scrubs stepped out, pulling off his surgical mask.
"Admiral Miller?" the surgeon asked, looking around the room.
"I'm her father," the Admiral stepped forward immediately. "Tell me she's okay."
"Your daughter is stable, Admiral," the surgeon revealed, taking a deep breath.
"And you have a healthy newborn grandson."
The Admiral let out a long, shuddering breath, the immense weight on his shoulders lifting for a brief moment.
"Can I see them?" the Admiral asked, his eyes glistening with rare tears.
"You can see your daughter in a few minutes, sir," the surgeon said, his expression suddenly darkening.
"But there is a problem."
"What kind of problem?" the Admiral's tactical instincts flared instantly.
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"Two military police officers arrived ten minutes ago claiming they had a federal warrant to take custody of the infant," the surgeon said softly.
"They claimed the child was an asset under the jurisdiction of General Sterling."
