Chapter 9 - The Promotion
The following morning, the entire unit assembled on the outdoor parade grounds for morning colors.
The sky was clear and bright, a cool ocean breeze blowing off the Pacific. Five hundred sailors and officers stood in crisp, tight ranks, their dress uniforms gleam in the morning light.
At the front of the formation stood Avery.
Admiral Vance stepped up to the microphone set up on the raised podium.
“Attention to Orders!” the commander’s voice boomed over the public address system.
The five hundred personnel snapped to rigid attention.
“For exceptional meritorious service, superior intelligence analysis, and outstanding combat proficiency,” Admiral Vance read from the official parchment, “Petty Officer Third Class Avery Mitchell is hereby promoted to the rank of Petty Officer Second Class, with immediate assignment to the Naval Special Warfare Intelligence Directorate.”
The entire parade ground erupted into formal, rhythmic applause.
Admiral Vance stepped down from the podium, accompanied by Captain Sterling, and walked up to Avery. He unpinned her old rank insignia and replaced it with the gleaming silver crow and chevrons of a Second Class Petty Officer.
“Congratulations, Mitchell,” Vance said, shaking her hand firmly. “The Directorate is getting a fine operator.”
“Thank you, Admiral,” Avery replied, saluting sharply.
As the formation was dismissed, dozens of junior enlisted personnel—the very same recruits Briggs had bullied for months—surrounded Avery, cheering, slapping her back, and thanking her for taking down the tyrant who had made their lives miserable.
Avery smiled, acknowledging them warmly, but her eyes drifted toward the perimeter gate near the base exit.
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A marked NCIS transport van was pulling out onto the main road, its rear doors locked tight. Through the small barred window in the back, a bruised, broken Ryan Briggs sat in chains, staring out at the sunny parade grounds as he was escorted away to federal prison.
He met Avery’s gaze for one brief second before the van turned the corner and vanished down the highway.
