07-31-2024, 05:37 PM
Givens had answered Miles' question quite professionally and to the point, while also getting the gist of his underlying question. She also followed up regarding how the Artemis was under a microscope. With what had happened with Crawford and Elias, Miles wasn't truly surprised that this was at least the minimum.
What came next was surprising, as Givens closed out the Q&A and moved along to other matters. Miles expected a mission briefing at this point, but was instead met with boxes being taken out of a crate. Such boxes, Miles noted, were usually saved for medals, ranks, and recognition. He watched intently as she named everyone in the room save herself, Han, and...Miles himself.
His face gave nothing away as she spoke about the Gold Star, how it could come with some mixed feelings, but these appeared to be in regards to last mission. The same mission that had seen the exit of Crawford and Elias after an investigation. She was right about mixed feelings. For one part, they were being rewarded while two of their own had been punished. On the other, more personal side for Miles, it was not lost that he had not been included.
Han he could understand, as she had not been a member of the Artemis during the previous mission. He, on the other hand, was a surprise. He didn't care for the recognition or rewards, per se. That's not why he joined. But it was strange that everyone else had been rewarded. He thought back to the mission to think of any way, any reason, he would have been excluded. Was it because, as Pilot of the Liberty Bell, he didn't immediately call everything quits when the cloak was activated? Was it something else?
He said nothing, however, as he congratulated those who had received medals, before turning his attention back to Captain Givens for the next part of the meeting.
What came next was surprising, as Givens closed out the Q&A and moved along to other matters. Miles expected a mission briefing at this point, but was instead met with boxes being taken out of a crate. Such boxes, Miles noted, were usually saved for medals, ranks, and recognition. He watched intently as she named everyone in the room save herself, Han, and...Miles himself.
His face gave nothing away as she spoke about the Gold Star, how it could come with some mixed feelings, but these appeared to be in regards to last mission. The same mission that had seen the exit of Crawford and Elias after an investigation. She was right about mixed feelings. For one part, they were being rewarded while two of their own had been punished. On the other, more personal side for Miles, it was not lost that he had not been included.
Han he could understand, as she had not been a member of the Artemis during the previous mission. He, on the other hand, was a surprise. He didn't care for the recognition or rewards, per se. That's not why he joined. But it was strange that everyone else had been rewarded. He thought back to the mission to think of any way, any reason, he would have been excluded. Was it because, as Pilot of the Liberty Bell, he didn't immediately call everything quits when the cloak was activated? Was it something else?
He said nothing, however, as he congratulated those who had received medals, before turning his attention back to Captain Givens for the next part of the meeting.