Chapter 433: Honour !!!
Star Harbor.
Sea Shell Homestays.
The property had been reserved almost entirely for participants of the upcoming Sterling Launchpad.
For the next several days, apartments that usually hosted tourists and families were filled with university students, school teams, startup founders and young entrepreneurs from across Haven.
Suitcases rolled through corridors.
Prototype boxes were carried upstairs.
Teams argued over presentations before they had even unpacked.
Among them...
A group of students entered one of the larger apartments.
"Finally."
One of the boys dropped his backpack beside the sofa.
Another student came behind him with two suitcases.
"Don’t block the door."
"I’m tired."
"We’ve been sitting in a car."
"Exactly. Very exhausting."
A girl entered last and closed the door.
"Can you two stop playing around and help?"
"Coming."
Another boy noticed something on the dining table.
A package.
He walked toward it.
"What’s that?"
One of the students picked it up and opened the envelope.
Several laminated cards slid onto the table.
Their photographs.
Names.
Team number.
Sterling Launchpad branding.
"Our IDs."
Immediately, the mood changed.
One boy grabbed his.
"Let’s go!"
The girl caught the back of his shirt.
"Go where?"
"Explore."
"We just arrived."
"So?"
She pulled him back.
"Help set everything up first."
He sighed dramatically.
"Fine."
The suitcases were opened.
𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢
But unlike most students staying in the nearby apartments...
Not everything inside was clothing.
Equipment appeared one piece at a time.
Compact screens.
Small electronic units.
Cables.
Adapters.
A black terminal.
The joking disappeared.
Within minutes, the dining table no longer looked like part of a vacation apartment.
One student sat before the terminal.
Another checked the windows.
A third closed the curtains.
"Ready?"
The boy at the terminal pulled out a small radio.
Static answered first.
Then a voice.
"Almost."
Everyone became quiet.
The student at the terminal watched the screen.
"Status?"
"Drive going in."
A few seconds passed.
The screen remained black.
Then...
A signal appeared.
"Connected."
The boy leaned forward.
"Receiving."
One window opened.
Then another.
Then another.
Camera feeds began appearing across the screens.
Entrance.
Hallway.
Parking area.
Reception.
Rear access.
Elevator corridor.
One by one...
The surveillance cameras across the property appeared in front of them.
A smile slowly spread across the student’s face.
"We have eyes."
A voice came through the radio.
"Confirmed?"
"Confirmed."
He looked at the feeds.
"Pull it out and come back."
Static.
"Copy."
The students exchanged glances.
Then suddenly...
Cheers.
One punched the air.
Another laughed.
"That actually worked."
"Quiet."
The girl smiled despite herself.
"This is just step one."
Someone started to say something else.
Knock.
Every person froze.
The room became completely silent.
Another knock.
One of the students immediately looked toward the surveillance feed.
A figure stood outside.
Dark hoodie.
Hands in his pockets.
Face hidden.
The boy at the terminal lowered his voice.
"He’s here."
Everyone straightened.
The electronics remained on the table, but the playful mood was gone now.
One student walked toward the door.
He opened it.
The man stepped inside.
The door closed behind him.
For several seconds...
No one spoke.
Then the man lifted both hands and removed his hood.
A smile appeared.
"Well done, boys."
He looked around at the equipment.
Then toward the screens.
"And girls."
The students smiled.
The man walked closer.
"You’ve done better than I expected."
One of the boys leaned against the table proudly.
"This is only the beginning, sir."
The man’s smile widened.
"You all understand what’s at stake?"
A student nodded.
"Yes."
The man looked across their faces.
"You do this properly..."
He paused.
"...and every one of you earns more money than your parents probably make in years."
The students exchanged excited glances.
One of them spoke confidently.
"Don’t worry, sir."
He looked toward the Soul Tower advertisement playing silently on the television.
"We’ll get deeper."
"The Launchpad gives us access."
"Events."
"People."
"Buildings."
Another student smiled.
"We’ll get into their core."
The man slowly looked toward him.
The student’s expression hardened.
"Sterling Enterprises will go down in history."
A pause.
"This time..."
"...there won’t be another revival."
The man stared at them.
Then laughed.
Low.
Satisfied.
Outside the apartment...
Students continued passing through the hallway.
Laughing.
Talking about presentations.
Arguing about business models.
Planning their futures.
None of them knew what had just entered the building with them.
...
Citadel Air Force Base.
Ceremony Hall.
The large doors opened.
Every conversation ended.
President Maxwell Abbott entered first.
His presence alone changed the atmosphere.
Behind him walked Vice President Vivienne Horrow.
Then First Lady Catherine Abbott.
Nicholas Abbott.
And Evelyn.
The presidential family had chosen to attend together.
Senior officers immediately rose.
The chiefs of the Army, Navy, Air Force and other military branches stepped forward.
Formal greetings followed.
Salutes.
Handshakes.
Quiet words of respect.
Maxwell responded to each before his attention shifted.
Then he saw Miles.
Standing in uniform among men who had spent decades wearing theirs.
Maxwell smiled immediately.
"Miles."
Miles stepped forward.
"Greetings, Mr. President."
Maxwell looked him over.
Then laughed.
"Look at you."
Miles smiled faintly.
Maxwell gestured toward the generals around them.
"Standing out among all my generals already."
Several senior officers smiled.
Miles replied,
"I think that’s because everyone keeps staring."
Maxwell laughed.
"Get used to it."
Then he turned slightly.
"Come."
He gestured toward Vivienne.
"Meet the Vice President."
Vivienne stepped forward.
"Miles Sterling."
Her expression was warm.
Composed.
Perfect.
Miles extended his hand.
Their eyes met.
For a brief moment...
Nothing else existed.
Miles knew her name.
Vivienne Horrow.
The woman connected by coincidence, or perhaps something more, to Marcus Vane.
Vivienne knew something else.
The young man whose records had been sealed so tightly even her people couldn’t touch them.
The one standing in the way of plans she had spent years protecting.
Neither showed any of it.
Vivienne accepted his hand.
"Nice to finally meet the young hero."
Miles smiled.
"Just doing my duty as a citizen."
Vivienne’s smile deepened.
"If every citizen performed their duty like you..."
She looked toward Maxwell.
"...we’d have very little work left."
Miles chuckled.
Vivienne returned her gaze to him.
"How did I never meet you before?"
Miles was about to answer.
Maxwell immediately interrupted.
"She keeps asking me the same question."
Vivienne gave him a look.
Maxwell laughed.
"My friend Vivienne has very sharp eyes."
He gestured toward her.
"She has a habit of identifying talented people before anyone else does."
Vivienne raised an eyebrow.
Maxwell continued,
"I didn’t want her stealing you away."
Vivienne stared at him.
"What am I?"
"A fox?"
A few officers nearby laughed.
Maxwell raised both hands.
"My apologies."
Then he looked toward Miles.
"Miles and I go back years."
Vivienne listened closely.
Maxwell continued,
"Believe me..."
"This boy has contributed more to this country than any medal could properly represent."
Miles looked toward him.
Maxwell smiled.
"But I’m glad he finally accepted an official rank."
His eyes moved briefly toward the insignia on Miles’ uniform.
"Keeping the Sterling legacy alive, I might say."
Vivienne nodded slowly.
"That’s one way of putting it."
Her gaze moved toward Timothy farther behind.
Then back to Miles.
"There used to be a saying."
Miles raised an eyebrow.
Vivienne continued,
"’The blood of the Sterlings, all for the motherland.’"
Miles laughed softly.
"It seems everyone knows more about my lineage than I do."
Maxwell laughed loudly.
"That is becoming a problem."
Then he turned.
"Come."
He gestured toward Catherine.
"You know my wife."
Miles smiled.
"Nice to meet you again, First Lady."
Catherine immediately shook her head.
"Still calling me that?"
Miles smiled.
"Formal setting."
"Excuses."
She looked at him properly.
For several seconds...
Her expression softened.
"Seeing you all grown up makes me happy."
Miles became quiet.
Catherine continued,
"Look at your face."
She smiled.
"There’s color there now."
Miles touched his cheek jokingly.
"Was I that pale?"
"You were worse."
Catherine’s eyes became gentler.
"Not the lost boy I remember."
Miles looked toward his family.
"Thanks to them, I guess."
Catherine followed his gaze.
"Of course."
She stepped toward Elena first.
Formal greetings were quickly forgotten.
Catherine welcomed the family warmly.
Elena thanked her.
Daniel shook her hand.
Timothy received particular respect.
Hope and Asher stood unusually straight after being reminded several times to behave.
Then Nicholas appeared beside Miles.
"Hi."
Miles turned.
"Nick."
Nicholas looked him up and down.
"Uniform, huh?"
Miles smiled.
"Jealous?"
"Very."
Miles looked at him.
"Look who’s talking."
Nicholas laughed.
Then Miles noticed the young girl standing beside him.
For a moment...
He simply looked.
The face felt familiar.
But different.
Older.
More refined.
Nicholas noticed his confusion.
"Unrecognizable, right?"
Miles looked toward him.
Nick smiled.
"Evie."
Miles’ eyes widened slightly.
"Really?"
Evelyn immediately became shy under everyone’s attention.
Miles smiled.
"All grown up."
Then gently added,
"Nice to see you again, Eve."
Evelyn smiled awkwardly.
"Nice to meet you too."
She looked toward his uniform.
Then quickly added,
"You look cool."
Miles chuckled.
"Thanks."
Her cheeks became slightly red.
Nick noticed.
His smile immediately became dangerous.
Evelyn shot him a warning look before he could speak.
Maxwell saved her.
"They wanted to come."
Miles turned toward him.
"Both of them insisted."
Nick nodded proudly.
Maxwell continued,
"They wanted to see you."
Miles smiled.
"Thank you for letting me meet them, Mr. President."
Maxwell shook his head.
"You talk as if I keep my children in a vault."
Nick muttered,
"Sometimes it feels like that."
Maxwell turned.
"What?"
"Nothing."
Several people laughed.
Then Maxwell looked toward the ceremony hall.
"Come."
"Everyone’s waiting."
"Let’s begin."
...
The families moved toward their reserved places.
Miles returned to the seats arranged for the Sterlings.
Timothy leaned slightly toward him.
"So..."
Miles looked over.
"You know the entire presidential family?"
Miles nodded.
"Pretty much."
Timothy raised an eyebrow.
Miles added,
"I spent a few days at the Ivory House when I was younger."
Elena didn’t even look surprised anymore.
"Of course you did."
Daniel laughed.
"At this point, I’m afraid to ask where else you’ve stayed."
Miles thought for a second.
"Long list."
Chloe gently took his hand.
Miles looked toward her.
She smiled.
He squeezed her fingers once.
Then the room settled.
...
Maxwell walked onto the platform.
The national emblem stood behind him.
To one side rested the velvet case containing the medal.
Senior commanders occupied the first rows.
The presidential family sat nearby.
The Sterling family remained together on the opposite side.
Maxwell reached the microphone.
He looked across the room.
"Hello, everyone."
A chorus of greetings answered.
Maxwell adjusted the microphone slightly.
Then slowly looked across the hall.
Generals.
Commanders.
Senior officials.
Uniforms everywhere.
His mouth curved.
"This hall looks like a war room."
Laughter immediately broke the formality.
Sloane shook his head.
Miles smiled.
Maxwell waited for the chuckles to fade.
"Well..."
"I assume everyone knows why we’ve gathered today."
The room quieted again.
Maxwell looked toward Miles.
"For most of my years as President..."
He paused.
"...people kept asking me one question."
He imitated a formal voice.
"’Mr. President, why did you abandon the tradition of appointing an Honorary General?’"
Several officers laughed.
Maxwell smiled.
"For the record..."
"I did not abandon it."
More laughter.
"I simply had not found one."
His expression became more serious.
"Then I appointed Miles Sterling."
He looked around.
"And immediately..."
"The questions changed."
He began counting on his fingers.
"Who is he?"
"Where is he?"
"Why have we never seen him?"
"And from today..."
Maxwell smiled.
"...the question will probably become..."
"Why him?"
Several senior officers smiled.
Particularly those who had seen what happened during the terrorist crisis in Star Harbor.
Maxwell noticed.
He pointed toward them.
"I know that smile."
The men laughed.
Maxwell continued,
"The people smiling..."
"They’ve seen Miles in action."
He looked toward the rest.
"And those of you who aren’t..."
"You haven’t."
The room grew quieter.
Maxwell’s tone changed.
"Yes."
"He’s young."
"Very young."
"Twenty-three."
Several people glanced toward Miles.
Maxwell continued,
"But age is a terrible way to measure a person."
He stepped slightly away from the podium.
"Can you imagine..."
"A young man entering an enemy base..."
"...and dismantling it almost entirely through combat?"
The room remained silent.
"Can you imagine one person..."
"Fighting dozens of terrorists in Star Harbor..."
"...while an entire city was under threat?"
Elena looked toward Miles.
Hope and Asher listened with wide eyes.
Chloe’s hand remained around his.
Maxwell continued,
"Some of you know the reports."
"Some of you were there."
He looked toward Miles.
"Some of you only know the public version."
His expression became firmer.
"But let me tell you something."
"The public version is usually smaller."
Several officers understood exactly what he meant.
Maxwell continued,
"The recent WEB conspiracy..."
"Horizon Biotech."
"The infiltration of our institutions."
"The network that had spent years buying officials, compromising systems and hollowing governments from within..."
Maxwell paused.
"...was uncovered and destroyed inside Haven largely because of the young man sitting there."
Silence.
Vivienne remained composed.
Only her eyes moved toward Miles.
Maxwell continued,
"Not because he stood alone with a weapon."
"Although he can."
A few commanders chuckled.
"But because he knew when a weapon was necessary..."
"...and when intelligence was stronger."
"When he needed soldiers."
"When he needed businessmen."
"When he needed agents."
"When he needed technology."
"When he needed politicians."
Miles muttered quietly,
"That last one hurts."
Chloe almost laughed.
Maxwell continued,
"On the field..."
"Miles can be a soldier."
"Undercover..."
"He can become a spy."
"When someone needs protection..."
"He becomes a shield."
"In a war room..."
"He becomes a strategist."
"In business..."
"Well..."
Maxwell smiled.
"I don’t think anyone needs me to explain Sterling Enterprises."
Light laughter moved across the hall.
Maxwell’s eyes returned to Miles.
"And now..."
"He can issue orders as a General."
The room became serious again.
"Miles Sterling has achieved more in twenty-three years..."
"...than many people accomplish in a lifetime."
Maxwell looked toward the senior commanders.
"Hand-to-hand combat."
"Lethal weapons."
"Survival."
"Strategy."
"Intelligence."
"Leadership."
He smiled.
"I promise you..."
"There probably isn’t anyone in this room who wants to test whether I’m exaggerating."
Several officers laughed.
Sloane openly smiled.
Wilfred smirked.
Maxwell added,
"Actually..."
"I know one person who would disagree with everything I’m saying."
Everyone looked curious.
Maxwell pointed toward Miles.
"Him."
Laughter filled the hall.
Miles covered his face for a second.
Maxwell laughed.
"He never asks for credit."
"He never wants ceremonies."
"He doesn’t want journalists."
"He doesn’t want his name in headlines."
Maxwell leaned toward the microphone.
"The last time I publicly mentioned his contribution..."
He smiled.
"...I spent the entire evening imagining Miles standing in some corner of Star Harbor cursing me."
The entire hall laughed.
Even Elena.
Chloe looked toward Miles.
"Did you?"
Miles whispered,
"Maybe."
She laughed softly.
Maxwell waited.
Then his tone softened.
"Miles."
The room became quiet again.
Miles looked toward him.
"You deserve it."
Maxwell wasn’t smiling now.
"All the praise."
"All the respect."
"Every bit of love the people of this country have shown you."
"You deserve it, even more."
Miles’ expression slowly changed.
Maxwell continued,
"And I know..."
"...you don’t believe that."
The words landed differently.
Miles remained silent.
"But that’s alright."
Maxwell looked toward his family.
"Because you finally have people around you who will remind you."
Elena’s eyes became wet.
Daniel smiled.
Timothy sat proudly.
Chloe gently squeezed Miles’ hand.
Hope and Asher looked toward their brother as though he were the greatest person in the world.
Maxwell smiled.
"I’m glad you found your home."
Miles lowered his eyes for a second.
"I’m glad you found your family."
Maxwell looked around the hall.
"And I’m glad..."
"...that for once..."
"...you came when we asked you to stand here and receive something instead of disappearing before anyone could thank you."
Small laughter softened the moment.
Maxwell continued,
"I promised you this ceremony would remain private."
"No cameras."
"No press."
"No headlines tomorrow."
His eyes moved across every person present.
"And it will."
Then his voice became firm.
"But I also promise something else."
"No person in this room will forget what Miles Sterling has done for the Republic of Haven."
Applause began.
Not forced.
Not ceremonial.
Real.
One officer stood.
Then another.
Within seconds...
The entire hall was on its feet.
Elena stood.
Daniel.
Timothy.
Chloe.
Hope and Asher immediately copied everyone.
Sloane clapped proudly.
Catherine smiled.
Nick applauded loudly.
Even Evelyn stood with a bright smile.
Vivienne stood as well.
Her hands moved with everyone else’s.
But her eyes remained on Miles.
Miles slowly stood.
For once...
He didn’t know what to do with the attention.
He looked toward his family.
Chloe smiled at him.
That helped.
Maxwell waited until the applause slowly faded.
Then he turned toward the velvet case beside him.
An officer stepped forward and opened it.
The medal rested inside.
Maxwell looked toward Miles.
His voice carried clearly across the hall.
"General Miles Sterling."
Miles straightened.
Maxwell smiled.
"Please come forward..."
"...and receive your Medal of Honour."