Six months later the base dining hall was bright and peaceful every morning.
New leadership had restored trust and high morale among all the young troops.
Commander Clara Evans walked through the cafeteria doors to grab a coffee cup.
The cafeteria workers smiled warmly at her from behind the shiny counter.
Cafeteria Worker: Good morning, Commander Evans, nice to see you today.
Clara: Good morning, Sarah, everything looks wonderful in here today.
She sat down at a quiet corner table near the big glass windows.
A young female lieutenant walked over holding a tray of hot breakfast.
Lieutenant: May I sit with you for a brief moment, Commander?
Clara: Of course, Lieutenant, please take a seat right here with me.
The young officer sat down gently and looked at Clara with deep respect.
Lieutenant: Everyone still talks about the courage you showed in this room.
Clara: Courage is just choosing what is right over what is easy.
Lieutenant: You proved that true character always wins against loud aggression.
Clara: Never let anyone push you down or make you feel small.
The young lieutenant smiled brightly and took a bite of her warm food.
The massive American flag on the wall shifted slightly in the air.
Clara looked around the room filled with happy talking young soldiers today.
The memory of that violent morning had turned into a valuable lesson.
Justice had been served completely and the base was stronger than before.
She touched the smooth rank emblem pinned neatly onto her uniform collar.
It was a constant reminder to stand firm for truth no matter what.
She finished her hot morning coffee with a quiet peaceful heart inside.
Her mission on this base was complete and done with total perfection.
She was ready for whatever new challenges lay ahead in her future.