Chapter 9 - A New Dawn
Winter arrived early in upstate New York, blanketing the forests and dirt roads in snow. The wood stove in our cabin burned hot and steady, chasing away the mountain chill.
Dad and I spent the weeks repairing the porch, chopping firewood, and prepping the truck for snowstorms. The old engine hummed with reliable strength.
One crisp December morning, I walked onto the porch with a steaming mug of coffee. The snow stretched across the valley, glittering under the pale sun. Not a single footprint marred the white expanse of our driveway. It was a blank slate—a secure perimeter ready for whatever came next.
My phone chimed softly. An encrypted message from Jackson: All accounts stable. Vanguard Foundation is fully funded and operational. Over ten thousand veterans and workers secured for life. Enjoy your retirement, Captain.
May you like
I smiled, typing back a reply: Standing down. Good work, soldier.
I locked the phone, sliding it back into my pocket as steam rose from my mug into the winter air.
