@wildrecruits: The Spilled Coffee — Chapter 2: THE NAME IN THE BRIEFING Vanessa stared at her. “Observing?” Sophia offered no explanation. That word disturbed Dalton again. He turned slightly at the table. Vanessa noticed. “Major, sit down.” He sat. Sophia remained beside the counter. Near the beverage station, a private whispered something to another soldier. Vanessa heard voices but could not make out the words. “What’s everyone staring at?” Nobody responded. “Eat your lunch.” People began moving their plates again. The returning noise sounded forced. It was like an audience pretending the performance had ended. It had not. Vanessa took a napkin from the counter. For a moment, Sophia wondered whether she was finally going to clean the coffee herself. Instead, Vanessa dropped the napkin directly into the spill. “There.” She looked at Sophia. “Now you have something to start with.” Linda sharply inhaled. Sophia stared at the wet napkin. Her patience shortened. “Pick it up.” Vanessa nearly laughed. “What did you say?” “You dropped it.” “I heard you.” “Then pick it up.” Vanessa stepped forward. Only inches separated them now. “You really don’t understand where you are.” Sophia did not move backward. “I understand perfectly.” “You’re on my base.” Several nearby officers looked up at that statement. Sophia narrowed her eyes. “Your base?” Vanessa corrected herself. “You know what I mean.” “I’m not sure you do.” Vanessa lowered her voice. “Careful.” Sophia matched her volume. “You first.” For several seconds, neither woman moved. The struggle over authority had become obvious to everyone in the room. Vanessa relied on the rank that people could see. Sophia relied on authority she had not disclosed. One woman expected obedience. The other was evaluating character. Only one of them understood the full situation. Vanessa stepped back first. She...
