A sudden, sharp shadow shifted near the back of the officer line.
Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hayes stepped forward with his jaw clenched tightly.
His hand rested directly on the side grip of his tactical tool.
He yelled out that Maya was an impostor spreading dangerous lies here.
David noticed the sudden panic in Hayes' eyes and stepped in between.
Hayes pulled a sharp concealed blade from his military belt suddenly.
He lunged forward directly at Maya before anyone could move to block.
The metal blade flashed brightly under the strong sunlight in the room.
David shouted out a sharp warning as Hayes closed the distance fast.
Hayes slashed wildly, slicing Maya across her shoulder with the edge.
Maya reacted instantly with sharp, trained military instincts from her past.
She dodged the main thrust, letting the blade miss her vital chest.
Blood dripped onto her dark uniform jacket from the new superficial wound.
She did not scream or lose her balance on the smooth marble floor.
Maya pivoted on her right heel and drove a powerful elbow up.
The hard blow struck Hayes directly on his jaw with full force.
A loud crack echoed off the white walls as Hayes stumbled backward.
Blood spurted from his split lip as he lost his balance completely.
He crashed heavily onto the hard floor, dropping the sharp blade instantly.
The metal tool skittered across the smooth surface toward General Vance's feet.
The other two officers moved in immediately to secure the fallen man.
They pinned Hayes to the ground before he could try to rise.
Maya stood tall over the traitor, breathing heavily in the quiet room.
She wiped a thin line of blood off her lip with her hand.
Her fierce gaze stayed locked on Hayes as he groaned in pain.
General Vance kicked the sharp blade far away across the bright floor.
He looked at Hayes with absolute disgust and burning anger in his eyes.
He realized Hayes was the officer who filed the false report back in 2012.
Hayes had betrayed his own unit to protect his own military career.
The truth was finally out in the open after a decade of dark silence.
David stepped up beside Maya to support her arm gently now.