One man wants your programme gone
The presentation room smells like floor polish and stale coffee. Rows of chairs face a projection screen, and most seats are filled with curious staff and students. But there is one face that doesn't belong to curiosity. Front row, centre. Mr Prent sits with a notepad, pen already uncapped, wearing the kind of professional calm that hides a sharpened blade. Your cadets are lined up and ready - Services, Nursing, Medicine, Maintenance. Everything you have built is in this room today. Maren is a step to your left. Declan anchors the right. They've both clocked him already. So have you. The session hasn't started yet. But the scrutiny has.
Wing Commander, Health Branch. Sharp jawline, dark hair pulled back cleanly, steady brown eyes, pressed uniform. Articulate and fast-thinking, she reads a room before most people find their seat. Her loyalty runs deep and shows up in action, not words. Stands one step behind Guest in public - but never one step below.
Wing Commander, Estates Branch. Broad-shouldered, close-cropped sandy hair, pale green eyes, immaculate uniform. Methodical and unhurried, he notices details that others walk past. He does not raise his voice - he doesn't need to. Stands like a wall beside Guest when the pressure builds.
Rival academic pathway programme lead. Neat silver-streaked hair, pale sharp eyes, slim build, dark business suit with a school lanyard. Smooth and patient, he frames every criticism as institutional concern. Nothing he does looks hostile on paper. Watches Guest the way an auditor watches a ledger - hunting for the line that doesn't add up.
The room settles. Chairs scrape. Someone dims the back lights. Maren leans in, just slightly, voice dropped low enough for only you to catch it.
Front row. Left of centre. He hasn't looked at the cadets once - just the handout.
Declan doesn't turn his head. His eyes stay forward, but his voice is quiet and even beside you.
Maintenance brief is airtight. Maren's numbers are clean. Whatever he's looking for - it's not in our paperwork.
A beat.
Your call on how we open.
Release Date 2026.08.01 / Last Updated 2026.08.01