It was an unprecedented act. It had brought together all the key figures of the United States government, including President Elliot Powell and Vice President Edgard Grant. The entire General Staff and practically all members of the Senate and Congress were also present. The journalists accredited to the event exceeded hundreds and were milling around behind one of the containment fences, distributed among cameras, photographers and reporters making live connections. Security around the perimeter of the event and the entire base was maximum. It was not only that the threat of the tragedy in Seville was so recent in everyone’s retinas, but that bringing together so many important government and army officials was a very attractive objective for terrorist groups like Al Qaeda or As Saffah. The combat drones were easily distinguishable flying over the base and an entire squadron of F-22 Raptors had been deployed to patrol the entire Andrews and Washington area.

The event itself had been prepared at the western end of Andrews Air Force Base, in the area where Air Force One was normally parked. They had set up several hundred seats and a stage of about thirty feet. Behind the stage was a USAF C-5 Galaxy military transport plane with the rear ramp lowered. But what caught most the attention was what was between the stage and the first row of seats. There were several coffins, six in total, all made of shiny wood and each covered with the flag of the United States of America and a large portrait dressed in gala uniforms.

They belonged to the American pilots who died during the battle of Seville. Among them Captain Derek Chapman and Lieutenant James Curtis. In fact, the coffins were empty. Their presence there was merely symbolic. Despite all efforts it had been impossible to locate any remains. In all cases their planes had exploded in the air and it was presumed that their bodies had been volatilized by the energy shots of the aliens from 2012 UA.

Jack and Kira couldn’t stop staring at their photos, each lost in their thoughts. They were in the front row, right next to the chiefs of the General Staff and the main members of the government. All the soldiers wore their dress uniforms, with all their decorations and their faces were somber. On stage was President Powell, to his right was Vice President Grant and to his left Secretary of Defense Sarah Palmer and USAF Chief of Staff Robert P. Giles.

All the bustle that had prevailed up to that moment fell silent as soon as President Powell approached the microphone and began to speak. All the cameras instantly focused on him from every possible angle. His speech was being broadcast live…

‘Dear friends, both from the United States and the rest of the world. Today is truly a sad day for all of us. But it is also a day that future generations will be proud of for all of us. Today is the day we say goodbye and honor some brave men and women, who gave their lives to allow us to continue with ours. And they did it in the face of the most adverse conditions and the most terrible of enemies. We feel the tragedy experienced in Spain as if it had happened in our territory. The threat that was experienced there is on a global, planetary scale. A terrifying threat that was no obstacle for the pilots of our air forces to fight it and stop it, even at the cost of their lives. All of us, both my family and all members of the government, have our hearts directed toward the families of those who have left us. These men and women should be an example for all of us. A bulwark to not give up tomorrow if destiny tests our mettle again. That is why I have decided to award the Medal of Honor and the Air Force Cross, the highest honors possible, posthumously to all of them. But before that, I think it is essential to call two people, two pilots from our air forces whose role was key in the battle of Seville. Whose courage and bravery were decisive in ensuring our survival. Please have Lieutenant Colonel Jack Preston and Lieutenant Kira Takeda take the stand,’ he said, looking directly at them.

All eyes fell on the two of them. Jack stood up determined while Kira seemed a little shy, he wasn’t used to being the center of attention in a crowd, and even less so from all those cameras that kept flashing. They walked to the stage and stood to the left of Robert P. Giles. An aide approached Chairman Powell from behind with a small briefcase and opened it, showing him something. He nodded and they both approached Jack. Chairman Powell stood right in front of him.

‘Lieutenant Colonel Preston, for your courage in combat and determination in the face of an unstoppable and terrible force, for your strategic vision and ability to react and make decisions, I present you with the Medal of Honor and the Air Force Cross and I promote you, with immediate effect, to the rank of colonel.’ As he said it he placed both medals on his chest after the assistant passed them to him.

Jack found it difficult to contain the emotion of the moment, although he was unable to get the image of Derek standing next to him and receiving that honor out of his head. After finishing, President Powell stood in front of Kira.

‘Lieutenant Kira Takeda, for your combat expertise and courage beyond all hope, for being an example to all pilots in our air forces, I present you with the Medal of Honor and the Air Force Cross and promote you , with immediate effect, to the rank of captain.’ President Powell placed the two medals on Kira’s chest.

He couldn’t contain his excitement either. Very few in the history of the USAF had received such distinctions and he never thought that he would be one of those chosen. Even so, he would have renounced them and any tribute just to have James at his side again.

After doing so, President told them to approach the microphone and say a few words. They both looked reluctantly at President Powell, but one look from Robert P. Giles was enough to make it clear to them that they could not refuse. Jack was the first to do it.

‘What we experienced in Seville is something that we will never forget, nor will we forget all the comrades who gave their lives so that we could be here today, not only our compatriots, but also our Spanish allies, with whom we fought side by side as blood brothers. Receiving this distinction is a great honor, but the only way to honor those who are no longer here is to not sleep and learn everything possible to be prepared. Thank you.’

Jack gave way to Kira, who stood in front of the microphone and looked at the hundreds of people watching him waiting for his words. Thirty seconds passed before he decided to speak.

‘We are warriors and we have been trained to fight. We will continue training to become stronger and face any threat that arises. And when it happens I will fight again. This is how I will honor my fallen comrades. Thank you,’  he said with a voice that conveyed inspiring firmness and strength.

Immediately all the attendees stood up in unison applauding non-stop. Many of them could not contain their tears of emotion upon hearing his brief but intense words. Even President Powell himself could not contain his emotion and he shed several tears while he gave Jack and Kira a heartfelt hug. That image would be covered in all the media that same day. Then he asked to speak again and everyone sat down again and remained silent.

‘Now we will present the decorations to the relatives,’ he announced.

After doing so, he came down from the stage followed by everyone who was there and they stood in a line next to the coffins. A representative from each family of the deceased then passed by. Jack and Kira couldn’t help but give James’ father a heartfelt hug.

‘I know that he gave his life for a good cause. He was a great boy, I was always proud of him.’ He told Jack while giving him a hug.

Finally it was Estella Chapman’s turn, Derek’s wife. Her face was sad and severe. She very seriously received the medals from President Powell, to whom she responded with a very brief thank you. When she reached Jack he wanted to give her his condolences…

‘Estella, you don’t know how I feel, he was my brother, I…’

‘You killed him, I will never forgive you Jack, you, only you, took my Derek from me. You made him choose you and the air force over his wife and his children. And now look at us. A widow and children who will not be able to continue growing up with her father…’ She said with great bitterness as he burst into tears.

‘I… I’m sorry.’ Jack didn’t dare say more.

Two assistants quickly came and took Estella away while she couldn’t stop crying. Jack watched her walk away from her heartbroken and shattered. As much as it pained him to admit it, he knew that she was absolutely right. Because of him, Derek had died and that pain was going to accompany him for the rest of his life…

After the presentation of the awards, President Powell said goodbye to everyone and took all the personalities inside the nearest hangar to offer them a small cocktail. The press was not given access so the atmosphere was a little more intimate compared to what they had experienced outside. It was going to be a short break before the state funeral that was going to take place in the afternoon. Even though everyone wanted to talk to Jack and Kira, they stayed in a limited area and separated from the rest of the guests. Kira was meditative while Jack couldn’t stop thinking about what Estella had told him.

Robert P. Giles walked past the two officers guarding the area where Jack and Kira were and sat down next to Jack.

‘Preston, I imagine how you feel. I was able to hear what Chapman’s widow said. You know it wasn’t your fault. Captain Chapman made his choices, as we all do, and I know he was proud of the path he took with you,’ he said, putting a hand on his shoulder.

‘Despite this, I never stopped thinking that if I had reacted faster, than if I had made other decisions, perhaps he and others would be alive,’ Jack said with an ashen face.

‘You know better than anyone that on the battlefield one can only react to what happens. You not only reacted in an incredible way but you managed to maintain a strategic vision of the situation, despite finding yourself fighting. This is why we can’t think of anyone better than you.’

‘Better than me at what?’ Jack asked surprised. 

‘There is going to be an international summit in Barcelona very soon. Funds will be raised not only for the reconstruction of Seville, but also for the creation of a new space research, development and defense center. Its location will be that of the European Aerospace Center, which will be converted for this purpose. The conversations are being frenetic at the moment but since Spain and we have been the main parties involved it is clear that we will share its main control. In the first previous negotiations, President Powell has agreed with President Alonso that Spain will have civilian command of the new facilities, but we will be in command of military operations. To do this, we are going to create a new specific military unit and you will be under its command.’

‘Me, but what is going to happen with the Fénix program?’ Asked Jack, stunned.

‘After the events in Seville, the Phoenix program is more necessary than ever, but we believe that it will require a complete redesign. Hopefully we will be able to take advantage of many things from alien technology and we want to apply them in what will be the new Phoenix.’

‘But who will lead my team?’

‘We are placing another qualified officer, although we want Captain Kira Takeda to liaise with you. He will be in charge of giving your vision, and his of course, of the new prototype. At first we wanted him to be in complete charge, but we know that after what happened it will be impossible to separate you,’ said Robert P. Giles with a smile.

Kira snapped out of his reverie and looked wide-eyed at Jack and Robert P. Giles.

‘What do you think Captain Takeda, would you like to be able to offer your experience and everything we can obtain from alien technology to reborn a Phoenix more powerful than ever?’

‘Count me in,’ Kira agreed with a gleam of great interest in her eyes.

‘My secretary will give you the details soon, but get ready. Especially you Preston, I want you back to Seville shortly.’

‘Understood.’

‘Well, I leave you now, as you have a lot to think about and you have earned a well-deserved rest. On the other hand, I now have to deal with the mass of congressmen and senators to ensure that nothing goes wrong.’

Robert P. Giles rose and left them alone and silent. Both Kira and Jack were processing what he had just revealed to them and all the possibilities that were opening up before them. They had feared that after the disaster in Seville the world was not going to learn, it was not going to react as they believed was necessary to be able to face a new threat from outside. But with this new military unit and the possibility of redesigning a new version of the X-56 Phoenix that took advantage of alien technology, it was clear that there was still hope. Hope so that humankind could put up a good fight when darkness closed in on it again…