Cole: The Wounded Sons, Leah Sharelle [the reading list .TXT] 📗

major was, which was not surprising considering how Ammo felt about our commander. All in all, they had not been happy, but they understood orders, lived by them, just like I did.

“You went out on your own 2nd Lieutenant Stephens, you radioed in and requested orders. You made that call without your team,” Brigadier Bryant barked at me. Being one of the highest-ranking officers on the panel, he was the main one I had to answer to sitting there.

“Yes, sir, I did, and I would do it again. That night we walked into a firefight of fucked up proportions. Locals we were told we could trust turned on us; I had no choice but to get the team and our support out of there. Had we all gone in after Deke, it would have been much worse.”

“Worse than losing Private Williams?”

Fisting my hands on my thighs, I resisted the urge to tell one of the highest-ranking officers in the army to go fuck himself. To scream at him, ‘Would he have done it better with the resources and time available that I had that night?’. Challenge him to do what I do every time they send us to a foreign country and to step away from his one-star rank and think like a soldier in the heat of battle.

“No one feels the loss of my teammate more than me right now, sir, I was the one that saw him take his last breath. I got him out; I did what I was ordered to do,” I defended, hearing low affirming mumbles behind me from my mates.

“And yet he died.”

“From injuries sustained before I got to him,” I shouted, losing my control briefly, then quickly gathering myself before I said something that would get me court marshalled.

“They had been at him for hours before I reached him; I had no idea of the extent of his injuries at the time. I carried him to the LZ, got him on the chopper before we knew anything; he didn’t tell me and I didn’t ask. I had other things on my mind, like getting the hell back to the FOB.”

“We read the medical report,” the colonel interjected, giving the Brigadier a sideways glance, “Private Williams’ internal injuries were extensive, and you could not have known. What we are interested in is why you agreed to go in alone? You had to know that the world media would get hold of the news that military forces gunned down a whole village.”

“Rebels,” I interrupted, “rebels who infiltrated and deceived our side, sir. To my knowledge, no civilians or friendlies were hurt in any way. That compound belonged to armed forces, no women or children were there.”

I could feel the anger vibrating off me, I felt the same from my team. If the brigadier thought he could land the blame at my feet, then the prick was very wrong. I followed orders, always. Yeah, I gave the major an option or two, but at the end of the day, it had been his decision, not mine, but when he gave it, I did what I was told.

No way were they going to make me feel more guilt than I was already carrying.

The last member of the panel, a major general, who out-ranked all the members, stared at me with a look of disconnect on his face.

“I know that Team FIVE has a … let’s say a legendary reputation in the army. Thanks to the original team and now the one Captain Booth commands. I do not necessarily like the loose rope we let you run with, but I agree that what you offer to the force is worthwhile and needed.” Pausing, the major general glared at the men behind me, his head shaking. “In saying that, let it be known that Team FIVE is on my radar as of now. The special privileges you all enjoy are still in place, you report when ordered, and until then, you have the freedom the regular members don’t have. But—”

Pointing his finger at me, then behind me, his eyes narrowed and the contempt evident.

“I will not be supporting any further advancements in rank for any of you for the foreseeable future. Lance Corporals Walsh and Webber will advance to the rank of corporal. That motion was set before this disaster occurred, so I will not stop that.”

“The rest of you, will remain at your current rankings. Lieutenant Johnston, your promotion to captain is on hold, as is Captain Booth’s to major. Major Arthur has been informed his promotion is off the table as well. This hearing is dismissed.”

“2nd Lieutenant Stephens?” the brigadier barked at me, his tone demanding my attention.

“Sir?”

“Your skills are unequivocal to us, that is not in dispute. The skillset of all Team Five is too, for that matter, but what won’t be tolerated is blatant disregard for procedure. The US Navy has demanded answers to why one of their SEAL teams was your back up that night. I do not like being commanded to a ‘please explain’ on something I have no intel on. Is that understood, soldier?”

“Yes, sir, it is,” I clipped, barely refraining from giving him the bird instead of the salute I gave him.

Standing up, the officers walked around the long table, each one shaking their heads at me, but it was the major general who looked the most annoyed.

“I dealt with the original Team Five back in the day, and they were the same pain in my arse as you lot are.”

Biting back a chuckle, I stood at attention while they filed past me, keeping my face stoic, but inside I was laughing my arse off.

You don’t have a clue how more annoying we can be. Sir.

“Nothing like getting your arse fucked by commanding officer’s dicks to start a day,” Bastian growled, throwing himself down on his bunk.

“Did you know this was happening today, Tank?” Rafe asked, an expression of complete bewilderment on his face.

“Not a fucking clue,”