Chapter 19 - THE FALL OF THE EMPIRE
High above the wet asphalt of Washington D.C., heavy rotors cut through the sea of early morning clouds.
The three naval intelligence transport helicopters hovered like black leviathans directly over the Pentagon's private executive landing pad.
Inside his corner office, General Thomas Sterling dropped his satellite handset onto the dark mahogany desk.
He looked through the reinforced glass windows as black-clad Shadow Squadron operators dropped onto the balcony outside.
The heavy glass shattered inward under the impact of breach charges, raining safe-silicon fragments onto the carpet.
"Hands where I can see them, General!" the assault team leader barked, his rifle laser dot resting squarely on Sterling's forehead.
General Sterling slowly raised his hands, his face pale and drained of all color.
"You have no authority here," Sterling attempted to sneer, though his trembling voice betrayed him.
"I am a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff!"
Agent Marcus walked through the ruined glass window behind the operators, holding a secure tablet displaying the live transmission feed.
"You were a member of the Joint Chiefs, Sterling," Marcus said with cold satisfaction.
"Three minutes ago, the President and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence received the decrypted ledger."
"Your security clearance has been revoked, your assets frozen, and your arrest warrant executed."
Two operators slammed Sterling face-first onto his mahogany desk, forcing his hands behind his back.
Steel handcuffs clicked shut around the General's wrists with a harsh, final metallic sound.
On the tablet screen in Marcus's hand, live news feeds across the world were already breaking the story.
The offshore shadow network, the illegal procurement rings, and the targeted assassinations were laid bare to the world.
Sterling looked at the tablet screen, his eyes filled with utter defeat.
"Miller... did he survive?" Sterling choked out as he was dragged away.
May you like
"Admiral Miller always survives," Marcus replied, watching the former General being hauled through the hallway.
"And now, he gets to live."
