***
Captain Howard surveyed the aftermath of the battle from the USS Ronald Reagan. The pillars of smoke coming from the Mexican warships multiplied, and the rest had surrendered. Sergeant Pint came up behind him when a call came through.
“Captain, Captain Ford is radioing in.”
Howard picked up the line immediately. “What do we have, Ford?”
“The bastards are dropping their guns. We have confirmed reports of surrender in Phoenix and Albuquerque.”
Howard let out a silent sigh of relief. “That’s good to hear, Captain.”
“Gallo himself is heading to San Diego now for the official surrender.”
“He is?”
“Yes, and I thought you’d like to be there to watch.”
“It would be an honor, Captain.”
“Chopper leaves in twenty.”
An uproar of applause filled the ocean air as Captain Howard descended the island staircase and stepped onto the flight deck. But unlike the soldiers around him, he wouldn’t let himself feel this win until it was officially over. When he saw Gallo surrender his men, that’s when the war would be over for him.