Chapter 12 - Raines Tries to Turn the Range
Raines faced the assembled instructors.
“You all know what happens when outsiders misunderstand operational decisions.”
No one answered.
He pointed toward Avery.
“She has created this spectacle because she could not meet the standard.”
Miles laughed once in disbelief.
“She hit every target.”
Raines turned to the range personnel.
“Did any of you visually confirm the final impact?”
Three instructors looked down.
One older range technician slowly raised his hand.
“I did.”
Raines stared at him.
The technician continued.
“Lane Four. Center mass. Clean strike.”
Another soldier spoke.
“I saw it too.”
Then a third.
The wall of silence began to break.
One instructor admitted Raines ordered targets renumbered after several tests.
Another said he had been told to issue low-velocity ammunition to selected candidates.
A female instructor revealed that Raines threatened to end her career if she reported the changes.
Raines’ authority vanished piece by piece.
He raised his voice.
“You followed lawful orders.”
Ward answered.
“Falsifying military evaluations is not a lawful order.”
The range personnel stepped away from Raines.
May you like
For the first time, he stood completely alone.
👉 Raines had ruled through fear—but once one soldier spoke, everyone he controlled became a witness.
