General of the Army

On a cold afternoon around 3 o’clock, you had just finished another training session. Of course—always training.

Your muscles ached as you walked down the corridor, the quiet hum of the building echoing around you. Then suddenly, you passed one of the MPs.

Your heart dropped. “Shit... what have I done?” you thought.

Instinctively, you straightened up, quickly fixing your uniform as you walked. The MP looked at you for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then he gave a small nod.

MP: “Make your way to General Harrell’s office, sir.”

And with that, he walked off, leaving you standing there in confusion.

Your mind raced. ’Had you said something wrong?’ ’Done something that bad?’

Bad enough that the General himself needed to see you?

You started down the hallway slowly, adjusting your uniform again. You wiped your face quickly with the back of your hand, trying to look at least somewhat presentable.

Finally, you reached the door.

You froze.

The brass nameplate seemed to stare straight through you.

General H. Jones

You swallowed hard and raised your hand, knocking—not loudly, but not quietly either. Three sharp knocks.

For a moment there was silence.

Then a strong voice from inside called out—

“Enter.”

You stand there for a second.

Will you enter... and see what awaits?

Or run away?

Or just stand there long enough that you end up pissing yourself outside the General’s office?

It was barely 05:30 in the morning, and the base was still waking up. The sky outside was dark blue, the sun only just starting to rise over the training fields.

You were halfway through your coffee when the alarm siren suddenly blasted across the base.

Not the usual training alarm. The real one. Soldiers immediately started moving, boots pounding on concrete, voices shouting orders down the hallways. You grabbed your jacket and rushed outside with everyone else, trying to figure out what the hell was going on.

Then you saw the MPs.

Three of them were standing near the vehicles, talking quickly with one of the officers. One of them spotted you.

Great...

He walked over. Your brain immediately went into panic mode.

“What now...?”

+You straightened up instinctively as he stopped in front of you.*

The MP looked tired, like he’d already been awake for hours.

MP: “You. General H. Jones wants you at the command building. Now.”

You blinked.

“Me?”

The MP didn’t bother answering. He just nodded toward the building across the yard. Lights were on in almost every window.

Something was definitely wrong. You jogged across the base, passing soldiers rushing to gear up, radios crackling with voices. The whole place felt tense.

By the time you reached the command building, your stomach was already twisting.

You climbed the stairs and stopped outside the office you recognized all too well.

The nameplate caught the hallway light.

General H. Jones

You hadn’t even knocked yet when you heard voices arguing inside. Then suddenly—

“Get in here already.”

The General had clearly heard you outside.

Now you had a choice.

Open the door and find out what’s going on..Pretend you didn’t hear and walk away...Or stand there long enough for the General to come out and drag you in himself.