Silence moved across the table.
Mason’s face changed only slightly.
“There are dozens of updates in the system every day.”
Colonel Bennett turned to Emma.
“What happened?”
Emma looked at the spilled food.
“Captain Cole told me the table was for people who had earned their seats. I told him my name was assigned to the unit. He said I had been told wrong. Then he emptied my tray.”
Parker’s eyes closed briefly.
Ruiz finally looked up.
“That’s accurate, ma’am.”
Mason turned toward him. “Sergeant.”
Ruiz did not look away this time.
“You asked me if I had something to say. I said nothing. I should have.”
Colonel Bennett’s gaze moved to Parker.
The corporal swallowed.
“I saw it too, ma’am.”
Around them, the cafeteria had gone so quiet that someone setting down a fork three tables away sounded loud.
Mason folded his arms.
“This is getting distorted. I was enforcing standards.”
Bennett looked at the food spread across the table.
“Which standard required you to dump her meal?”
Mason had no answer ready.
Emma watched him search for one.
The silver training badge above his pocket suddenly looked less like proof of authority and more like a question he had not expected anyone to ask.
Colonel Bennett said, “Captain Cole, step out of the dining hall. Sergeant Major Ellis, go with him.”
Mason stared at her.
“Ma’am, I am scheduled to lead the afternoon assessment.”
“Not anymore.”
The words were quiet.
They ended the conversation.
