This is a story about how soldiers during a march were attacked by bandits, and the division commander, unable to tolerate this, decides to punish the guilty exemplarily. Before watching the video, please subscribe to the channel and like it. This will help us a lot.

1st Armored Division, US Army Southern Command. It was a scorching afternoon, when the murderous heat seemed to melt even the asphalt. Sweat streamed down the backs of the soldiers in full gear, and the heat rising from the baked earth through the soles of their combat boots tested the limits of their endurance.

This was the last stretch of a 20-mile tactical march for the private. Peterson, snap to it. From the sharp shout of the squad leader, Alex Peterson, who had arrived in the unit just three months ago after basic training, jerked his head up.

His consciousness, which had begun to drift away like in a dream, instantly cleared. Nothing remained of his former appearance as a free student from New York. Short-cropped hair, skin tanned to bronze, a young but hardened face from heavy training.

Now he was just an ordinary son of America, Soldier Alex Peterson. Sorry, Sergeant. Gritting his teeth, he adjusted his shifted equipment.

Heavier than the 45-pound rucksack pressing on his shoulders was only the monotonous, unending pain. But he did not want to give up. Being an ordinary, unremarkable guy, here he wanted to become a strong personality, capable of surpassing his own limits.

Above all, he thought of the faces of his parents who would be waiting for him at the end of this path, and of his dreams that he would realize after discharge, and he took step after step. The marching column passed the deserted highway and turned onto a narrow, two-lane road on the outskirts of Dallas, Texas. At that moment, deafening horns and the roar of an engine came from behind.

A black premium-class SUV, racing at insane speed, ignored the barricade signs, crossed the solid line, and whizzed past the soldiers in dangerous proximity. Frightened soldiers rushed to the roadside, and the formation mixed up for a moment. “What a maniac!” Shouts of curses came from the senior sergeants.

The sergeant responsible for escorting the column ran up, waving his baton, and stopped the car. “Driver, can’t you see there are military exercises going on? How can you so recklessly cut into the formation?” However, the person who got out of the car was not one from whom politeness or common sense could be expected.

A sturdy man, covered entirely in tattoos, it was clear at first glance that this was a local authority or member of an organized crime group. He exhaled a cloud of cigarette smoke in annoyance and measured the sergeant with a look from head to toe. “So what if you’re military, you blocked the road? We have more important business, got it?”

From the passenger and rear seats, laughing, three more men of similar appearance got out. In their eyes, mockery and contempt for the soldiers could be read. Realizing that the situation was taking a serious turn, the accompanying officer ordered the soldiers to step back for their own safety and began reporting the incident on the radio.

It was at that moment that the gang leader’s gaze fell on Alex Peterson, who had fallen a little behind the formation to retie his boot. His direct, unbroken gaze even from pain somehow angered the bandit. “Hey! You! Come here!” he shouted, pointing his finger.

Alex hesitated for a moment, but remembering the regulations about the need to avoid conflicts with civilians, he pretended not to hear and stood up. Such an attitude infuriated the man even more, and he, approaching, roughly pushed Alex in the shoulder. “Puppy? Deaf? Hey! Why are you looking so defiantly?” he said in a mocking tone.

Alex did not answer. He just silently looked at his offender. His silence added fuel to the fire.

“What? Got into the army and imagined yourself a king? Not answering, bastard?” “Bam!” a dull sound rang out, and the man’s fist hit Alex’s face. Everything happened in an instant.

Staggering and stepping back a couple of steps, Alex felt blood flowing from the corner of his mouth. The soldiers around shouted in horror, but the bandits threateningly blocked their way, and no one dared to intervene. “Those scum!” the squad leader wanted to rush forward, but the accompanying officer desperately held him back.

He knew that if a soldier hit a civilian, the incident would grow to uncontrollable proportions. The officer’s face turned white from the tension between the regulations and reality. “Look! How he’s looking after one punch! Still hasn’t understood, huh?”

When the gang leader raised his fist again, Alex closed his eyes. Humiliation, anger, and powerlessness mixed, making his whole body tremble. A soldier of the US Army in broad daylight, in front of everyone, was being beaten by a bandit with impunity.

This was not just a personal misfortune. At that moment, the honor of the military uniform, the pride of the nation, were trampled into the asphalt. And at that very moment, when everyone plunged into desperate silence, a low, cold voice rang out, overriding all the noise.

Enough. The voice was not loud. But it had a steel power that made everyone freeze in place….

From the command Humvee, observing the situation from the tail of the column, a man stepped out. Perfectly ironed field uniform, and on the shoulders three large stars of a Lieutenant General. This was the division commander, Lieutenant General Steven Wolf, nicknamed the steel general in the troops.

With the appearance of the division commander Wolf, the atmosphere changed. There was not a shadow of a smile in his eyes. They shone coldly.

He looked not at the fallen Private Peterson and not at the excited soldiers. His gaze was fixed on the gang leader, Sean Eagle, nicknamed Boar. Usually Eagle feared no one, but meeting Wolf’s gaze, he involuntarily swallowed.

This was not the gaze of an ordinary military man. This was the gaze of a predator, hardened in countless combat operations. A gaze that seemed to pierce the opponent through.

Who are you to give orders? Eagle squeezed out with difficulty, trying to keep a good face, but Wolf interrupted him mid-sentence. This is my soldier, my son, dressed in military uniform. He picked up Peterson’s cap from the ground and brushed off the dust.

Then he took a step toward Eagle. The pressure emanating from that one step was so strong that Eagle and his gang involuntarily backed away. Do you even understand who you just raised your hand against and what you’ve done?

No, this… This guy started it first, came the unconvincing justification. The corners of Wolf’s lips twitched slightly in a smirk. Started it.

A soldier in full gear during a march suddenly started picking on a gang of tattooed thugs. That’s laughable. He shifted his gaze to the others, as if considering further conversation meaningless.

Everyone on your knees, hands behind your head. I give you 10 seconds. The general’s order carried an unquestionable force.

But they were not soldiers. They had believed all their lives that the fist is more important than the law. What does this old man think he’s doing?

One of Eagle’s henchmen, deciding to show bravery, rushed at Wolf. At that moment, the watching soldiers cried out. Sir, Lieutenant General!

However, what happened in the next instant exceeded all expectations. Wolf did not dodge. On the contrary, without the slightest hesitation, he stepped forward, intercepted the attacker’s arm, and twisted it inward.

With a soul-chilling crack, the man’s arm twisted at an unnatural angle. Not even having time to scream, he collapsed to the ground. Wolf tossed him aside and, as if nothing had happened, looked at Eagle again.

His movements were concise and deadly, the essence of army hand-to-hand combat, honed over decades. 5 seconds. Fear spread like an epidemic.

The opponent was not just an elderly general. He was a weapon in human form. Eagle and the remaining bandits instinctively understood that they had messed with the wrong person.

They hurriedly dropped to their knees and clasped their hands behind their heads. Without dignifying them with a glance, Wolf approached the lying Private Peterson. He personally helped him up and asked.

“Name?” “Private Peterson?” “Badly injured?” “Everything okay?” “Sir, Lieutenant General?” Although Alex’s lip was split and bleeding, he, overcoming the pain, answered.

In his eyes, instead of humiliation, there was reverence for the commander who had lifted him up. Wolf patted Peterson on the shoulder and said. “Not okay.”

How can everything be okay when a soldier’s honor is trampled into the dirt? Forgive me. My responsibility as division commander is that this happened on my territory.

But I promise. I will definitely return your spilled blood today, tears, and the lost honor of our army. He called the medic, ordered first aid for Peterson.

And immediately gave an order to his aide. Raise the special forces company and military police of the division on alert. Arrest these individuals as caught in the act on charges of group assault on servicemen.

Local police are not needed. This is not a simple assault. This is an obvious provocation against the army and a declaration of war on my division.

Operation “Steel Justice”. Returning to the division headquarters, Wolf entered his office, where an icy cold reigned. He immediately convened the staff officers.

Today’s incident is not a random prank by some hooligans. I am sure that behind this stands a large organized crime group that despises the army and violates order. From his voice, all the officers in the hall held their breath.

I announce the start of operation “Steel Justice”. The goal is the complete destruction and eradication of the “Eagle” criminal group involved in today’s assault. Form a joint tactical group from the military police, intelligence, and special forces unit.

The chief of military police to head the group, and report to me personally on all stages of the operation. The chief of military police, Colonel Davis, stood up and saluted. Yes, sir.

Wolf unfolded the map. He pointed to an old industrial zone on the outskirts of the city. Intelligence to establish the number, scale, sources of financing, and main bases of the “Eagles” within 48 hours.

And report. Especially high is the probability of their connection with local police. Investigate that thoroughly as well.

Find evidence, even if you have to use all our information resources. His eyes flashed. This is war.

An invisible war. With forces that try to undermine the very reason for the army’s existence. I will not tolerate the youth wearing military uniforms being humiliated on this land any longer.

So began operation “Steel Justice”. The division’s intelligence department immediately got to work. Electronic warfare means were deployed, and the cyber intelligence team activated the agent network in the region.

The results exceeded all expectations and were shocking. The “Eagle” organized crime group was not just a local gang. This was an organization with hundreds of members that controlled nightclubs, illegal casinos, engaged in racketeering, and earned huge money from it.

Their leader, Eagle, was cruel and cunning, and behind him stood strong connections with local police. In particular, specific intelligence and evidence were obtained that the chief of the city’s police department, Colonel Paul Savage, regularly received bribes and turned a blind eye to their crimes. Account checks confirmed that large sums were transferred monthly to the colonel’s dummy accounts.

Receiving the report, Wolf flew into a rage. The police, which should protect citizens, turned out to be the patron of a criminal organization? Everything is too rotten.

Instead of asking for assistance from the police, he decided to conduct an independent operation. They could not be trusted. The start of the operation in 72 hours…

At 4 a.m. Targets: the Eagles’ lair in an abandoned river dock and their three underground casinos in the city. Special forces storm the lair and arrest key members, including Eagle.

Military police simultaneously raid the casinos and seize evidence. No slightest error, not a single escapee should be. After the briefing ended, Wolf looked out the window at the parade ground.

There, with a bandaged cheek, limping and leaning on comrades, Private Peterson stubbornly walked. At the sight of this, Wolf’s gaze became even colder and firmer. “Alex and all the sons of this land.”

I will clearly show you that your sweat and tears are not in vain and how this country protects you. The claws of the steel beast aimed at the rotten heart. Two hours before the start of the operation, tension reigned in the special forces company location.

Thirty elite fighters in full combat gear, clutching M4 rifles, twelve with suppressors, silently controlled their breathing. Faces were thickly covered with camouflage paint, erasing human features, and eyes shone like predators that would not miss prey even in the dark. Standing in the center of the operations hall, General Wolf surveyed the fighters and gave the last order.

“Fighters, our task today is not just to destroy a few criminals. We must eradicate the cancer tumor that mocks the law and order of America and tramples the honor of our comrades performing the sacred duty to protect the Homeland.” His voice was quiet, but it dominated everything in the room.

The target is the central hangar in the river dock. According to intelligence, a meeting is taking place there now with Eagle and fifteen key gang members. Resistance will be fierce.

They are likely armed. But our goal is not liquidation, but capture alive. Through them, we must reveal the whole picture of their dirty connections.

He pointed to the “Operation” map. First group through the main entrance. Second blows up the wall from the rear and enters simultaneously.

Third fully cordons the perimeter, blocking escape routes. After entry, use flash-bang and smoke grenades to deprive the enemy of vision and balance and complete the operation within 30 seconds. Remember, we are not punishers, but the sword of the state, administering justice.

Minimize unnecessary damage. Any questions? Silence. The fighters’ gazes spoke louder than any words.

Good. Do not forget that behind your backs is our guard division, the US Armed Forces, and the people of this country. Return alive. Start the operation.

After a loud and unanimous “yes sir,” the fighters began moving silently. Specially equipped Humvees, like shadows, dissolved in the darkness, rushing to the heart of corruption at four o’clock in the morning. The abandoned river dock, piled with mountains of rusty metal and waste, the dock itself resembled a giant gloomy grave.

Loud music and bursts of laughter came from the huge hangar in the center. Inside, chaos reigned. The air was saturated with the smell of alcohol, food, and cigarette smoke.

Eagle and his henchmen, piling stacks of money on the  table, were playing cards. The incident with beating the soldier a few days ago was for them just a minor episode to boast about. Savage called.

Says these military whined and couldn’t do anything. That general or whatever? Looked angry, but what can he do?

We’re civilians. If we file a complaint against them, it’ll be worse for them. When Eagle finished his boastful speech, sycophantic laughter rang around.

Of course, Sean, whether the army or anyone else, no one stands a chance against us. But at that moment, when they were in the midst of their triumph, outside three times sounded a very quiet, strange sound, like a cat’s meow.

This was the signal to start the operation “Boom”. Bang! Bang! In the next instant, an explosion shook the ground.

The huge iron gates of the hangar and the opposite wall simultaneously crumpled like paper and flew inside. Before surprise could turn to horror, black, ghostly figures poured through the breaches. With a sharp sound, a flash-bang grenade exploded, blinding everyone with white light, and then smoke canisters instantly filled the hangar with thick smoke.

A-a-a! My eyes! What’s happening, bastards? Maddened with fear, the bandits screamed and rushed in the smoke.

Some tried to pull out pistols, but it was already too late. In the darkness and smoke, red dots of laser sights precisely aimed at their foreheads, chests. “Move, and I’ll shoot! Everyone hands behind head and on knees!”

The mechanically cold voice cutting through the smoke sounded like the sentence of the angel of death. Resistance was meaningless. The fighters acted in coordination, disarming the bandits one by one.

They broke joints, struck pain points, instantly depriving them of ability. Cries and groans sounded, but not a single shot was fired. 28 seconds from the start of the operation.

Eagle, feeling the cold barrel at his nape, was thrown to the floor. In a last desperate attempt, he shouted. “Who are you? This is private territory! This is illegal!”

When the smoke cleared, the special unit commander stood before him. He whispered quietly in Eagle’s ear. “Illegal? And when a few days ago you beat a soldier on the march in a crowd, was that legal?”

We are military police, and from this moment, we will judge all your illegal actions by the law. At the same time, military police investigation groups burst into the three underground casinos in the city. Managers who locked the doors and tried to resist were helpless in the face of special means and overwhelming numerical superiority…

On site, tens of millions of dollars in cash were seized. Gaming equipment, client lists, and black accounting. The documents detailed who the Eagles paid money to and whose patronage they enjoyed.

The operation ended in complete success. The next morning, a scandal broke out. Starting with local and ending with national media, newspapers came out with screaming headlines.

Military raided businessmen. Especially distinguished was the local newspaper connected to the Eagles, publishing a malicious article on the front page. SHOCK! Guard division exceeded authority.

Dozens of military smashed private business. Power arbitrariness or personal revenge of the general. The article’s content was cleverly distorted.

The beating incident was presented as a minor quarrel, and the army operation as emotional revenge and trampling of the Constitution. Behind this article stood Colonel Savage and the surviving members of the organized crime group. They started an information war, portraying themselves as victims, public opinion instantly soured.

Even inside the army, voices began to sound that direct intervention against civilians was excessive. Calls with censure of unauthorized actions poured from the Department of Defense and Joint Chiefs of Staff. The division commander Wolf, when the situation became unfavorable.

Colonel Savage, as if waiting only for this, convened a press conference. “This military operation is a clear excess of authority. I express deep regret that the army forcibly interfered in a matter that our police should have investigated.”

We will not leave without attention the issue of violation of the rights of law-abiding citizens who suffered from excessive use of force by the military. After his shameless speech, the public seemed to turn even more against the army. General Wolf was besieged from all sides.

But he did not flinch an inch. On the contrary, he calmly prepared for the next step, as if he had foreseen all this. “Decided to play with the press? Good. I’ll show you how heavy the truth is.”

He gave an order to his secretariat. “Prepare an official press conference on behalf of the division command. Location: the headquarters auditorium.”

I will put an end to this dirty game myself. Everyone dissuaded him from this reckless step. But Wolf’s decision was firm.

This was no longer just a battle for the operation’s success. This was another battlefield on which the honor and trust in the army were decided. And into the very center of this battlefield went the steel general.

The headquarters auditorium of the division was packed with hundreds of journalists. Flashbulbs flashed continuously, and the reporters’ faces showed a mixture of expectation and doubt. Will General Wolf, branded as a despot and culprit of excess authority, get out of this crisis?

All eyes were fixed on the podium. At the appointed time, Lieutenant General Wolf entered the hall accompanied by an honor guard. Impeccable uniform, stern expression.

He looked not like a person who came to apologize or justify himself. He stood at the podium, took the microphone, surveyed the hall, and began. “Thank you to all media representatives who arrived here.”

I am Lieutenant General Wolf, commander of the 1st Armored Division of the United States Armed Forces. He gave a crisp military salute. “I stand here today not to defend myself or my division.”

I stand here to restore the trampled truth and prove that law and justice are alive. His words caused a murmur in the hall. Some media and certain forces call operation “Steel Justice” an excess of army authority and violence against law-abiding citizens.

Good, now I will show you one by one the true face of these law-abiding citizens, the reasons why this operation became inevitable. At Wolf’s signal, a huge screen turned on behind him. First, a video was shown.

This is video from the body camera of the accompanying officer, shot at the moment of the assault on a soldier of our division. On the screen, a vivid recording was broadcast in high quality. A black SUV interfering with the march, the provoking Eagle, and the scene of the one-sided beating of Private Peterson.

The contrast between Alex, who, despite the blows, did not resist and tried to preserve the soldier’s dignity, and the bandits laughing at him was striking. Sighs were heard in the hall. The police statement about a minor quarrel at that moment turned out to be an obvious lie.

Is this the appearance of law-abiding citizens? Is this a minor quarrel? Group beating of a young soldier in full gear performing his duty to the country?

Is this the order in America you talk about? Anger sounded in Wolf’s voice. He displayed the next materials on the screen.

This was an audio file. Next, a recording of a phone conversation between the arrested gang leader Eagle and the city’s police department chief, Colonel Savage. Savage’s voice irritably.

Yes, Eagle, what again? Eagle’s voice, laughing. Paul? Nothing special.

Here we taught a couple of boots a lesson? So what? Their general came, started acting up. No problems? Savage’s voice, sighing.

You guys… Okay, I’ll fix everything. Sit quiet. Army oaks, press them a couple of times in the press, they’ll immediately tuck their tails.

Don’t worry and do what you were doing. When Colonel Savage’s voice spread through the hall, the journalists froze in shock. The highest police official in collusion with a criminal group tried to hide.

The incident became public knowledge. Wolf did not stop. He sequentially displayed copies of the seized black accounting, data on million-dollar bribes transferred to Savage’s dummy accounts, and dozens of episodes of the Eagles’ criminal activity, assaults, extortion, hostile takeovers.

All evidence was irrefutable facts with dates, times, and names of those involved. That’s why we were forced to use force against law-abiding citizens. In a situation where the police became a bill for a criminal organization, our army was obliged to protect itself and eradicate forces threatening citizen safety.

This is not excess of authority, but fulfillment of the duty imposed on the army. His words sounded like a roar. I want to ask here and now.

A country where the police, obliged to protect citizens’ lives and property, in collusion with bandits robs the people. A country where a soldier performing the sacred duty to protect the Homeland can be beaten on the street by bandits, and no one protects him. Is this the country you want?

The press conference became a triumphant revenge. The next day, all newspapers were full of materials from Wolf’s press conference and accusations of corruption against Savage. The steel general strikes with truth..

The scandal about the police and organized crime group collusion shakes the country. Public opinion turned 180 degrees. Voices condemning the army were replaced by anger and criticism against Savage and the entire city’s law enforcement system.

But the matter did not end there. The stone thrown by Wolf caused huge ripples on the water, exposing the hidden part of the iceberg under the surface. The arrested Eagle, realizing that Savage alone would not save him, began giving testimony to survive.

Analyzing his confession and the seized documents, the military prosecutor’s investigators were horrified. The Eagles were not just local. The gang was the lowest link in a huge drug cartel that dealt in smuggling drugs from Central Asia.

Traces of illegal weapon smuggling from the Caucasus and its sale were also found. To other criminal groups, the most shocking was that behind them stood a large figure. Eagle’s testimony and decrypted recordings pointed to a person who patronized all their criminal activities and exerted political influence.

It turned out to be the acting Congressman Andrew Thompson. Thompson, positioning himself as a defender of the common people and enjoying great popularity, in fact received huge illegal political donations from the Eagles and lobbied their interests. Evidence was found that he used the bandits to pressure his political opponents and for gain in construction projects.

Colonel Savage was also his appointee. The case went beyond the competence of one division. Wolf immediately reported this to the Joint Chiefs and the National Security Council.

Receiving the report, the President flew into a rage. This was a scandal of enormous scale, undermining the foundations of national security. The President immediately ordered the creation of an interagency investigative group.

A team was formed from the FBI, Investigative Committee, and military prosecution, and the spearhead of the investigation was directed straight at Congressman Thompson. Meanwhile, Private Alex Peterson, from whom it all started, followed the development of events from the hospital via news.

At first, he feared that because of him the matter had gone too far, but seeing how the division commander and his comrades fought huge evil for him and the army’s honor, something hot rose in his heart. He decided not to be afraid anymore. Through a nurse, he sent a message to Wolf, “Tell the Lieutenant General, I, Private Peterson, am ready to appear at all court hearings as a witness and boldly tell about everything I saw and experienced, because I am also a guardsman.”

The courage of one simple soldier added the last spark to the great battle for justice. A year later, a trial took place that went down in history. On the dock sat the organized crime group leader Sean Eagle and his henchmen, former police colonel Paul Savage, accused of bribery and abuse of power, and at the top of this vicious chain, Congressman Andrew Thompson.

The trial caused huge public interest, and the courtroom was full of spectators and journalists every day. Congressman Thompson had a powerful team of lawyers. They tried to annul the trial, citing that the evidence obtained as a result of the military’s illegal investigation was invalid.

They also tried to influence public opinion, presenting Wolf’s operation as personal revenge. But the united investigative group did not flinch based on the initial evidence collected by the military. They conducted additional investigation in accordance with the code and presented the court with more than enough material evidence of Thompson’s guilt.

Financial flows were tracked, phone conversation records obtained, and finally, the decisive testimony of his assistant, who was the link between him and the Eagles. The culmination was the interrogation of witnesses. Many victims gathered courage and gave testimony.

And finally, the one from whom it all started ascended to the witness stand, Sergeant Alex Peterson. Matured and having become an experienced sergeant from a private, he clearly recounted the events of that day in a firm voice. Thompson’s lawyer tried to discredit his testimony by asking tricky questions…

“Witness, are you sure you did not provoke the defendants and did not start the quarrel first? Due to youthful maximalism, such could happen, right?” Alex looked straight at the lawyer and answered. “Before being a soldier, I am a citizen of America.”

Should I attribute to maximalism that I am beaten on the street without any reason? At that moment, I felt not so much personal pain as pain and humiliation from the fact that the honor of my uniform is being trampled. The military uniform I wore belongs not only to me, but to all hundreds of thousands of soldiers who at this very moment silently serve for the good of our Homeland.

His sincere words caused applause in the hall. The last witness called to the court was General Wolf. Coldly looking at Thompson on the dock, he stood at the witness stand.

“I am a soldier. My mission is to protect the country and safeguard citizens’ lives and property. The defendant Thompson and his gang, for their personal gain, insulted the army, which is the basis of national security, trampled the law, and deceived the people.”

While such people exist, our army is forced to fight not only the external enemy, but also the internal one. Operation “Steel Justice” was only the beginning of this struggle. I do not regret my actions one iota.

His testimony was not just a listing of facts, but a fundamental statement about the meaning of the existence of the state and the army. After a long legal battle, the day of the verdict finally came. The judge read the verdict in a solemn voice.

Defendant Sean Eagle, found guilty under US Code sections for organizing a criminal enterprise, illegal drug trafficking, extortion, and sentenced to 25 years imprisonment in a maximum-security prison. Defendant Paul Savage, found guilty under sections for receiving bribes in especially large amounts and abuse of official powers, sentenced to 12 years imprisonment. Everyone held their breath.

Defendant Andrew Thompson is recognized as having forgotten his duty as a Congressman and entered into collusion with a criminal organization, undermining the foundations of the state system, which is an extremely grave crime. Found guilty under sections for organizing a criminal enterprise and receiving bribes, sentenced to 15 years imprisonment with deprivation of the right to hold public offices. Thud, thud, thud.

The sound of the judge’s gavel proclaiming justice echoed through the hall. Shouts of “Hooray” and applause rang out in the hall. The battle that began with the desecrated honor of one soldier ended with the victory of justice, piercing the heart of corrupted power.

Several months later, Sergeant Alex Peterson was preparing for discharge. He celebrated this event at a modest party surrounded by fellow servicemen. At that moment, someone called him by name.

Turning around, he saw Wolf in civilian clothes with a kind smile on his face. He was no longer the division commander. After the successful completion of this case, he retired with honor to fulfill his long-standing dream of teaching at the military academy of the general staff.

Sergeant Peterson, though soon just Alex. Congratulations on discharge, sir Lieutenant General, that is Steven Andrew. What brings you here?

Alex jumped up in surprise. Wolf sat him down, pressing on his shoulder, and sat next to him. Thanks to you, our army solved a big problem.

And I was also able to fulfill my last and most honorable mission as a soldier. I came to say thank you. What are you saying, sir General?

It is I who received a lesson I will not forget all my life. With my whole being, I understood what it means to be a soldier and how the state protects us. For some time, they silently looked at each other.

In their gazes, deep trust and respect were read, going beyond the relationship of commander and subordinate. Wolf extended a small gift box. Inside lay a small fountain pen with the engraving “steel heart.”

I wish you with this steel heart, which will not break before any difficulties, to write your wonderful life. After this incident, the prestige of the army noticeably grew. In society, there became much fewer cases of disrespectful or insulting attitude toward soldiers, and conversely, a culture of respect and support for servicemen began to form.

The government announced real measures to protect rights and improve service conditions. The soldier, and operation “Steel Justice” entered the history of the armed forces as a legendary example of success, instilling pride and courage in every soldier. A few days later, Alex Peterson walked out of the unit gates with a light and confident step like never before.

In the army, he acquired something much more valuable than he lost. It was faith in himself and a steel heart, not bending before any injustice. In the distance, the sun was setting.

But in Alex’s soul, a dazzling sun named justice was rising, which would never set. This was the moment when an ordinary youth became a real man, and one citizen a true soldier loving his homeland. And as long as such steel hearts exist, the sky over America will always be peaceful.