“I want these men in the brig immediately,” Miller ordered the guards. As they were being led away, Tank looked back at Victoria. “How did you do that?” he croaked. Victoria looked at him with total indifference. “Years of blood on the mat and real bullets over my head. Things you’ll never know.” The gang was dragged out, their futures erased.
Captain Miller turned back to the recruits. “The Navy isn’t a place for bullies. It’s a brotherhood. If you can’t handle that, leave now.” He looked at Victoria. “I expect your report by 1700, Lieutenant.” “Yes, sir.” “And thank you,” he added quietly. “You handled a bad situation with restraint.”
“I’m a professional, sir,” she replied. Miller and his friends approached her. “Ma’am… thank you. You saved us.” Victoria smiled at the young man. “You showed backbone today, Miller. You didn’t break. That counts for a lot.”
The kid blushed. “But you did the fighting.” “I was doing my job,” Victoria said firmly. “Just remember: real strength isn’t about your bench press. It’s about standing up for what’s right when your knees are shaking.”
She raised her voice for the room. “Protecting those who are weaker—that is the duty of an officer. If you’re here for your own ego, find another job.” The recruits nodded, hanging on her every word. Victoria turned back to the Captain. “Permission to begin interviews, sir?” “Proceed, Lieutenant.”
She cleared her tray and headed for the exit, feeling the weight of hundreds of respectful gazes. At the door, she paused and looked back. “One more thing. Never judge a book by its cover. Sometimes the most dangerous person in the room is the one you don’t notice.”
