As they treated Shaw, Liam stood beside the trail knowing the formation was long gone.
The instructor wrote something on his evaluation card.
Liam knew what that usually meant.
Failure.
That evening, the remaining candidates sat in silence while numbers were called.
“Candidate 17.”
Liam stood.
“Report to the cadre office.”
A few people looked at him with sympathy.
He entered the small room.
Three instructors sat behind a table.
His evaluator placed the card in front of him.
“You deliberately abandoned the movement.”
“Yes.”
“You were specifically told to continue.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Liam looked at him.
“Because I thought Shaw was in danger.”
“You thought.”
“Yes.”
The senior instructor leaned forward.
“You were being assessed on your ability to complete the mission.”
Liam didn’t answer.
The man tapped the evaluation sheet.
“In combat, soldiers sometimes have to continue despite casualties.”
“I understand.”
“Do you?”
Liam’s jaw tightened.
“Yes, sir.”
