Chapter 10 - The Nursing Facility
Grace entered the cockpit with Ben and Nash behind her.
The mission map showed the coastal nursing facility eight miles east.
Floodwater had cut off every road.
A small auxiliary runway remained above water.
Weather radar showed a narrow window before the hurricane’s next band arrived.
The pilot looked at Preston.
“We could make one approach.”
Preston answered immediately.
“No.”
Grace stepped forward.
“The facility has forty-three people.”
“The runway lights are down.”
“We have night-vision guidance.”
“Crosswinds exceed limits.”
“Temporarily. The next six minutes show a drop.”
Preston turned toward her.
“You are relieved.”
“You already said that.”
“Then leave the cockpit.”
Grace did not move.
The pilot looked between them.
Command authority belonged to Preston.
But emergency rescue doctrine allowed officers to challenge orders that abandoned recoverable civilians without operational necessity.
Ben placed the updated weather report on the console.
“One approach. Immediate extraction. No ground delay.”
Preston’s face remained rigid.
“The aircraft is carrying injured survivors.”
The mother stood at the cockpit entrance.
“My son and I are stable.”
Preston looked at her.
“You are not part of this decision.”
“No,” she said. “But the old man who saved us is dying because he refused to leave strangers behind.”
The boy clung to her sweater.
“Are there kids there?”
Nash checked the facility list.
“Two staff members have children with them.”
Grace faced Preston.
“We go now, or the runway disappears.”
He stared at her with open hatred.
Then he looked toward the case containing Night Harbor evidence.
“If we divert, everything aboard becomes mission material subject to command control.”
Grace understood.
He intended to seize the evidence during the confusion.
She handed the flight recorder to Ben.
“Keep this on your body.”
Preston saw the exchange.
“Takeoff is denied.”
The pilot’s hands remained above the controls.
Then Everett’s voice came through the cargo intercom.
“Charles, let them go.”
May you like
Preston closed his eyes.
👉 For the first time in his career, every person aboard was waiting to see whether he would choose rescue or reputation.
