Chapter 10 - The Admiral’s Decision
Calloway dismissed everyone without essential clearance.
Only Hannah, Pike, the military police officer, and three senior controllers remained.
“The nearest submarine is the USS Talon,” Calloway said.
Hannah knew it.
Fast attack class.
Silent propulsion modifications.
Currently docked beneath Hangar Six.
Pike shook his head.
“You cannot give her command.”
“I’m not asking permission.”
“She has no active clearance.”
Calloway looked at the casualty file.
“She should never have lost it.”
Hannah stepped toward the table.
“The Talon’s captain won’t accept orders from a dead officer.”
“He will from me.”
“And Sloane will monitor your command channel.”
Calloway understood.
Any official deployment order would reveal the submarine.
Hannah needed a different approach.
Pike looked at the countdown.
“Use my credentials.”
Everyone turned.
He swallowed.
“Sloane still believes I might cooperate.”
Hannah studied him.
“You want redemption?”
“No.”
His voice was bitter.
“I want my brother to know I finally stopped being a coward.”
Pike could transmit a false message claiming Hannah had been secured aboard the Talon for transfer.
Sloane might allow the submarine to depart, believing she was being delivered.
Calloway nodded slowly.
“It could work.”
“It could also place the entire crew in a trap,” Hannah said.
Pike met her eyes.
“I know.”
The military police officer stepped forward.
“I’ll accompany her.”
Hannah looked at him.
“You called me an impostor ten minutes ago.”
He removed his patrol cap.
“I was wrong.”
“That isn’t a qualification.”
“No, ma’am. But boarding security is.”
Calloway approved the mission.
Before Hannah left, he handed her the identification badge.
The photograph showed her three years younger.
Clean uniform.
Uninjured face.
A living officer.
“Welcome back, Commander,” he said.
Hannah closed her fingers around it.
“Not yet.”
She looked at the prisoner countdown.
“Bring my crew home first.”
They moved through a secure lift toward the submarine dock.
Pike remained in the control room to send the false transfer report.
As the elevator descended, Hannah leaned against the wall for one brief second.
The military police officer noticed.
“You need medical attention.”
“I need time.”
“You haven’t slept.”
“Not enough.”
“When did you last eat?”
She did not answer.
The elevator doors opened.
The USS Talon waited beneath the base in a black underground channel.
Its captain, Daniel Cross, stood on the boarding platform.
He looked at Hannah.
Then at her badge.
Then at Calloway’s sealed command order.
“You’re supposed to be dead.”
Hannah stepped aboard.
“So is the crew we’re going to find.”
Behind them, an alarm sounded.
Pike’s voice came through the dock intercom.
“Commander, do not launch.”
Hannah turned toward the speaker.
His breathing was ragged.
“Sloane knows the transfer is false.”
A gunshot-like impact sounded through the transmission.
May you like
Then silence.
👉 Pike had tried to help Hannah—and someone inside the control room had just stopped him.
