“Lieutenant Tate’s final Phase One training report is not included in this file,” Admiral Duquesne stated. “Chief Vidmeyer, since you are here in person, would you mind giving that report to me now, for the record?”

She heard the faint rustle of Vidmeyer standing up behind her but didn’t turn around to look at him. Instead, she stared down at the table and all those beautiful gold eagles clutching tridents and flintlocks.

Vidmeyer’s voice rang out behind her. “Trainee Tate has passed all required training evolutions and is recommended for continuation into Phase Two of BUD/S, sir.”

What?

She did turn around to stare at Vidmeyer then. He stared back at her, his expression deadpan. Only by a single brief dip of his chin did he acknowledge her.

“Do the rest of you concur with that assessment?” Duquesne asked from behind her.

“Yes sir!”

She jumped at the loud bark from all of the SEALs at once.

She pivoted back to stare at Duquesne. What was he going to do with that?

The admiral leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, staring at her and then at the rows of SEALs seated behind her. At length, he said, “We appear to have consensus. I concur that Lieutenant Tate should proceed on time with her classmates to Phase Two of BUD/S.”

A cheer went up behind Sherri that was almost as gratifying as the table full of Budweisers in front of her.

Admiral Duquesne stood up, and the executive officer called the room to attention. Sherri and the SEALs stood up quickly.

“Gentlemen, it seems all of you are missing the appropriate insignia on your uniforms. Please remedy that situation immediately. Dismissed.”

Duquesne whirled and strode out of the room, and Sherri watched him go in shock. Cal Kettering grabbed her hand and pumped it warmly as he gave her a half hug with his other hand. “You did it, Tate. Congratulations!”

The SEALs swarmed her as a group, pounding her on the back and shaking her hand. It hurt her sore and bruised body, but it was the best possible kind of pain.

The reality of what had just happened broke over her, and she smiled widely. She’d scaled the all-male fortress of the SEALs and cracked it wide open.

“How miserable are you guys going to make Phase Two for me after this?” she asked wryly.

A big laugh went up around her. “Oh, we’re going to make your life a living hell,” Peevy crowed.

She grinned back at him. “You know, I think I’m okay with that.”

She stepped outside into the warm California sunshine and turned her face up, enjoying it on her skin.

“Wait up, Tate!”