Chapter 18 - The Last Lantern
Ward and Ortiz arrived with state police before the shooter could reposition.
The attacker fled into the woods but left behind a vehicle registered to a security contractor tied to Rusk's office.
By nightfall, the military judge had issued warrants.
Rusk still had one move left.
He ordered a complete shutdown of Fort Redstone's logistics network, claiming a cyber compromise.
Olivia saw the real purpose immediately.
"He's wiping the chain."
Ortiz nodded. "And moving physical records while the system is offline."
The destination appeared in one surviving dispatch: Central Depot Four.
They arrived during a thunderstorm.
Trucks were already leaving.
Rusk stood beneath the depot awning surrounded by private security and two frightened administrators.
"Commander Mitchell," he called. "You're suspended."
Olivia stepped from the vehicle.
"You keep saying that like it matters."
Rusk smiled. "You have stolen documents, coerced officers, and endangered an installation."
"Then arrest me."
He hesitated.
Olivia noticed cameras mounted along the depot wall.
Ortiz had already routed them to investigators and the military judge.
Everything was live.
Voss stepped from the second vehicle.
Rusk's face changed for the first time.
"Elias."
Voss held up the recorder.
"Tell her again what you told me about Daniel Mitchell."
Rusk's smile vanished.
He ordered security to seize them.
Nobody moved.
Olivia looked at the guards.
"Every camera here is transmitting outside his control. Decide carefully what you do next."
One guard lowered his hands.
Then another.
Rusk turned toward the depot doors.
Hale walked out from inside, released from detention by emergency judicial order.
"Going somewhere, Malcolm?"
Rusk froze.
Sirens closed in from both directions.
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For twelve years, Black Lantern had survived because everyone inside it believed rank could bury truth.
That night, rank ran out.
