Page 8 of Alien Mercenary's Wife
The silence on the other end of the line stretched long enough for Hendrick to start looking uncomfortable. When Martin spoke again, his voice carried an authority that made bureaucrats pay attention.
"Put me on speaker, Captain."
Reese set the com unit on Hendrick's desk and hit the speaker button. "Colonel Frank Martin, veterans affairs liaison, speaking to Claims Officer...?"
"Hendrick," the man squeaked, suddenly sitting up straighter.
"Officer Hendrick, what's the issue with Captain Payne's claim?"
Hendrick cleared his throat nervously. "Well, sir, she's filing for disability benefits related to neurological damage, but her final operation report shows equipment operator error. Policy states we can't approve disability claims when the injury resulted from the claimant's negligence."
"I see. And have you reviewed her full service record?"
"Well, I... the disability claim is what I'm processing today, sir."
"Pull up her complete record.Now."
Hendrick didn't argue, his fingers flying over his keyboard as sweat beaded on his forehead. "I... yes, sir. Loading now..."
"Captain Payne served with distinction for nearly twenty years," Martin’s voice filled the small office, ringing with authority. "Three combat tours, multiple commendations, exemplary service record. She's entitled to long-service medical benefits regardless of that final report, isn't she?"
"I... yes, sir. Veterans with over ten years of active service are eligible for comprehensive medical coverage..."
"Good. Process those benefits immediately. And while you're at it, I want you to file a formal dispute against that final operation report on Captain Payne's behalf."
"A dispute, sir?"
"Yes, Hendrick. Veterans have the right to dispute findings they believe are inaccurate. It's standard procedure. And once you've filed that dispute, you'll need to submit a form KT-224."
"KT-224?" Hendrick sounded like he was drowning. Or wished he was as long as he was anywhere but here.
"Interim benefits authorization. Allows you to pull down temporary disability payments while disputes are being resolved. Captain Payne shouldn't have to wait months for medical care while bureaucrats shuffle papers."
"Yes, Colonel. Of course. I'll... there seems to have been an oversight on my part. Let me process these forms immediately."
Hendrick's fingers pecked frantically at the keyboard, the sound like nervous applause. Within minutes, he'd printed out multiple forms, though his hands shook slightly as he handed over the paperwork.
"This covers your long-service medical benefits, the dispute filing, and the interim disability authorization," he said, not quite meeting her eyes. "Should take care of everything while we... resolve the matter."
Taking the forms, she stood, her left leg holding steady for now. Thankfully. The last thing she needed was to fall flat on her face in front of this little weasel. "Thank you, Officer Hendrick. I appreciate your thoroughness."
Martin’s voice came through the com unit one more time. "Reese, you call me if anyone gives you any more trouble, you hear? And Officer Hendrick? Captain Payne won't need to make another trip down here for something that should have been handled correctly the first time, will she?"
"No, sir. Absolutely not."
"Excellent. Reese? Don't be a stranger, okay?"
"Not at all, sir, thank you."
Ending the call, she slipped the com unit back into her pocket. "Have a good day, Officer Hendrick."
She walked out of Hendrick's office with her head high, though she felt his eyes boring into her back. The temporaryapproval was a victory but a hollow one. The money wasn't the issue; getting someone tolistento her and the others was.
In the lobby, she passed the same veterans who'd been waiting when she arrived. The double-amputee was still dozing, the older woman still clutching her folder. All of them were fighting the same battle against a system designed to grind them down until they gave up and went away.
Outside, the morning sun felt warm on her face, though she could barely feel it through the numbness spreading up her left arm. The temporary approval bought her time, but time for what? More meetings with doctors who'd dismiss her symptoms as psychological? More lawyers who'd hit classified roadblocks every time they tried to subpoena Nexus Dynamics?
She pulled out her com unit and scrolled through her contacts, looking at the names of veterans who'd been part of her lawsuit. Half of them had been crossed out in the past month—accidents, suicides, sudden illnesses that had nothing to do with defective implants and everything to do with corporate cleanup operations.
