this battle on two fronts—the systematic denial of medals and the individual case of the obviously deserving Miguel Restrepo. But someone has to fight it, it’s only right. So, the two of us are in until they lock us up for insubordination.”
Hirata laughed quietly. “I’m a lawyer, I can probably figure out how to get the charges dropped.”
The room erupted into laughter and Kellan joined in gratefully. It appeared his fears about this situation were proving true and it saddened him, even as it fired his anger and motivated him to action.
“Okay,” Jonah addressed the group. “Kellan and I will discuss it, formulate our strategy and then we’ll work out the details with all of you.” He dismissed the group with a nod, even Captain Hirata responding to the natural authority.
When the door closed and they were alone, Jonah turned in his chair to face Kellan. “So, Captain, ready to go to war?”
CHAPTER SIX
Kellan was escorted into the Pentagon office of the Secretary of Defense, Calvin Burnett. This appointment had been difficult to schedule. Senator Gilchrist had finally intervened, when the Secretary’s staff kept trying to schedule Kellan a month out. As they had gathered preliminary information and he’d submitted reports to the senators, Kellan had hoped they might uncover innocent or reasonable explanations for the scarce number of Medals of Honor awarded in the last decade. The silent wall of the Department of Defense had quickly killed that hope.
Jonah’s expression was dark as he stood to watch Kellan enter Burnett’s office. He was having a difficult time not taking their findings personally.
“Mr. Reynolds,” Burnett greeted, shaking Kellan’s hand. “Please have a seat.”
The Secretary gestured toward a comfortable looking guest chair as he walked around behind his own impressive desk. Kellan sat, but Burnett did not. He remained standing and rifled through stacks of papers on his desk. It was rude, dismissive, and an obvious power play. Kellan was supposed to be intimidated. He wasn’t. He was, however, angry and disappointed.
“What can I do for you today, Kellan?” Burnett sought to throw Kellan even further off balance with the familiarity.
“That’s Mr. Reynolds, Secretary Burnett,” Kellan replied, refusing to play the game. “I’m a retired Marine Corps captain, I have a double Masters degree from Harvard University, I’m the CEO of an influential consulting company, and a committee of Senators has asked me to conduct an investigation on their behalf. I’m not a junior staffer to be casually disregarded, so let’s dispense with the games, shall we?”
Burnett looked up at him in surprise. “I wasn’t aware we had engaged in any game playing,” he said stiffly. “What is it we’re meeting about today, Mr. Reynolds ?”
Kellan allowed himself to savor a moment of victory. “You’re fully aware of what I came here to discuss, Mr. Secretary,” he said. “I made no secret about it when I requested this meeting. You’ve also had your staff investigate both my official mission, as well as the rumors that surround it.”
Burnett laughed mirthlessly. “You’re right, Mr. Reynolds. One doesn’t become Secretary of Defense without knowing to have your staff learn everything possible about who you meet with. Unfortunately, my schedule is tight today, and I’m running behind. We’re going to have to finish this talk on the way to my next meeting.”
The Secretary started for the office door but Kellan didn’t move. “That’s much more subtle than having your assistant interrupt us in a few minutes with an emergency meeting you’ve been called into,” he said dryly. “Mr. Secretary, I went through the proper channels and booked an hour of your time today. If you refuse me that full hour, I’ll have no choice but to officially conclude that you knowingly denied Sergeant Restrepo the Medal of Honor for reasons of racism.”
Burnett resumed his seat at
Hirata laughed quietly. “I’m a lawyer, I can probably figure out how to get the charges dropped.”
The room erupted into laughter and Kellan joined in gratefully. It appeared his fears about this situation were proving true and it saddened him, even as it fired his anger and motivated him to action.
“Okay,” Jonah addressed the group. “Kellan and I will discuss it, formulate our strategy and then we’ll work out the details with all of you.” He dismissed the group with a nod, even Captain Hirata responding to the natural authority.
When the door closed and they were alone, Jonah turned in his chair to face Kellan. “So, Captain, ready to go to war?”
CHAPTER SIX
Kellan was escorted into the Pentagon office of the Secretary of Defense, Calvin Burnett. This appointment had been difficult to schedule. Senator Gilchrist had finally intervened, when the Secretary’s staff kept trying to schedule Kellan a month out. As they had gathered preliminary information and he’d submitted reports to the senators, Kellan had hoped they might uncover innocent or reasonable explanations for the scarce number of Medals of Honor awarded in the last decade. The silent wall of the Department of Defense had quickly killed that hope.
Jonah’s expression was dark as he stood to watch Kellan enter Burnett’s office. He was having a difficult time not taking their findings personally.
“Mr. Reynolds,” Burnett greeted, shaking Kellan’s hand. “Please have a seat.”
The Secretary gestured toward a comfortable looking guest chair as he walked around behind his own impressive desk. Kellan sat, but Burnett did not. He remained standing and rifled through stacks of papers on his desk. It was rude, dismissive, and an obvious power play. Kellan was supposed to be intimidated. He wasn’t. He was, however, angry and disappointed.
“What can I do for you today, Kellan?” Burnett sought to throw Kellan even further off balance with the familiarity.
“That’s Mr. Reynolds, Secretary Burnett,” Kellan replied, refusing to play the game. “I’m a retired Marine Corps captain, I have a double Masters degree from Harvard University, I’m the CEO of an influential consulting company, and a committee of Senators has asked me to conduct an investigation on their behalf. I’m not a junior staffer to be casually disregarded, so let’s dispense with the games, shall we?”
Burnett looked up at him in surprise. “I wasn’t aware we had engaged in any game playing,” he said stiffly. “What is it we’re meeting about today, Mr. Reynolds ?”
Kellan allowed himself to savor a moment of victory. “You’re fully aware of what I came here to discuss, Mr. Secretary,” he said. “I made no secret about it when I requested this meeting. You’ve also had your staff investigate both my official mission, as well as the rumors that surround it.”
Burnett laughed mirthlessly. “You’re right, Mr. Reynolds. One doesn’t become Secretary of Defense without knowing to have your staff learn everything possible about who you meet with. Unfortunately, my schedule is tight today, and I’m running behind. We’re going to have to finish this talk on the way to my next meeting.”
The Secretary started for the office door but Kellan didn’t move. “That’s much more subtle than having your assistant interrupt us in a few minutes with an emergency meeting you’ve been called into,” he said dryly. “Mr. Secretary, I went through the proper channels and booked an hour of your time today. If you refuse me that full hour, I’ll have no choice but to officially conclude that you knowingly denied Sergeant Restrepo the Medal of Honor for reasons of racism.”
Burnett resumed his seat at
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