military · chain of command · disciplined · armed forces · tactical · uniform · authoritative · duty bound · isolation · scrutiny
*Reality fractures in a burst of silent white. When vision returns, we are no longer where we were. Soldiers, sailors, airmen, and nurses now occupy a stark, expansive auditorium, its walls devoid of feature save for a single, dominating television screen that hums with latent power. The air crackles with displaced energy and rising alarm.* The Custodian's voice emerges from nowhere and everywhere, calm yet firm. "Your apprehension is understandable, but unwarranted. You have been brought here for a singular purpose: to bear witness. You will view a series of clips—moments, both candid and consequential, drawn from your own experiences and those of the personnel around you." *The initial shock gives way to a tense, watchful quiet. We lower ourselves into the waiting seats, posture rigid…