by Randal Sloan
As soon as her group disembarked from the limo, their honor guard presented themselves along with the Secret Service escort and they quickly traversed the hallways to the waiting area for the presentation. Somewhere along the way Caitlyn and Joe disappeared, but Julie didn’t have time to look for them. She was sure they would get help to direct them to where they needed to be. Her entire honor guard was supposed to attend the presentation, so they, along with the rest of her party, left to take their positions in the presentation room.
That just left Julie and Zeke as her escort. Their pair of Secret Serviceman led them a room where they were instructed to wait until called. Julie had just started to get a little nervous when she was surprised to see the First Lady enter their room. Julie immediately rushed forward to give her a hug, careful so as not to mess the uniform up.
“I’m so glad I get to see you,” Julie told her. “I know I shouldn’t be, but I’m actually quite nervous. Hopefully I’ll be able to settle down once we get started. I usually seem to be able to do that.”
“I know you will. I just wanted to give you a little encouragement and remind you why we do this kind of thing. I know you don’t think what you’ve done is that heroic, but it’s important to others that we’re able to do this. If not for yourself, think of other young officers and what it means to them and to future generations who may be inspired by this.”
The First Lady looked Julie in the eyes, “So just go out there and shine. I know you will.” Turning to Zeke, who had been waiting patiently beside them, she told him, “She’s all yours. Just a warning for you, Zeke; the next award you’ll be sharing with her, so take it easy on her over this one.” She laughed at his expression. “I believe it’s now time for me to go out to take my front row seat.” Saying that, she left rather quickly before Zeke could think of a response.
Zeke took Julie’s arm as a proper escort, but he pulled her rather close, whispering to her. “Next time we’re in front of a formal group like this, hopefully it will be for our wedding. Think on that one, love.”
Sufficiently distracted by that thought, it seemed to Julie that it wasn’t long before the prompt to enter the presentation room was received. She breathed a sigh of relief. Hopefully it would be over soon.
#
As Julie had expected, the presentation was being held in the East Room of the White House, the largest room in the White House. When she walked in, she was surprised by the number of people present and couldn’t help but notice the VR camera. She wondered at just how large an audience was watching, hopefully not too many, but she feared it might be a larger audience than she would have wanted. That got her a little stressed out again.
As Julie and her escort paused at the entrance to the room, she had to resist the urge to wave at the President who stood proudly in front of the podium. She remembered him saying more than once how much he enjoyed giving out these rewards. The Air Force general officially in charge of the US Space Force unit stood holding the medal in a large case, and Julie had to admit the medal was very impressive. Finally, an Air Force chaplain was also present for the ceremony, a move Julie knew the current President had reinstated with his administration, something Julie was very much in agreement with.
At a subtle signal that Julie almost missed, Zeke escorted her in, both of them walking in the measured military pace. When they reached the center of the stage, Zeke saluted her and then turned to stand off to one side. Julie turned crisply to face the President, General, and Chaplain, saluted the three of them, and then facing forward again, stood at attention.
She could see a number of her friends and family present, as well as the Space Forces that had come as her honor guard. Uncle Ted and Carla were standing together, both in dress uniform. Emily, wearing the cadet dress uniform of the Academy, was standing together with her and Zeke’s parents. In a move that caught Julie by surprise, not only was Caitlyn at the ceremony, but all the members of her former soccer team were also present, those that had graduated in military dress uniform as was their due and those still in school in the cadet uniform. Also there for the presentation were a number of interested parties, including a couple of Senators that Julie recognized, members of the media, and a few previous Medal of Honor recipients, who were all wearing their medal. Julie was almost moved to tears seeing all of the people gathered.
As soon as everyone was settled, the chaplain led the assembly in a prayer, talking about the importance of service to God and country, and thanking God for bringing everyone home safely during that incident in Kinza.
When the prayer concluded, the President stepped up to the podium with a huge smile on his face. Speaking to the waiting crowd, he told them, “Today we are gathered for what to me is one of my favorite duties as the President of our great country. That is the presentation of this award to such a worthy person. When I first learned of the events that transpired that day in the tiny little country of Kinza, I immediately felt this award was appropriate. Since then, the more I’ve learned of the situation, the more certain of that I’ve become.”
He paused a moment for that to sink in and then went on to introduce the general and chaplain, each of the previous Medal of Honor recipients, the Senators, and finally each of the other groups present.
“What I knew at the time I was first introduced to this young officer, was that she was the key in saving a number of her classmates. I knew that she personally made the choice to act to rescue them, even though she herself was not a captive of the coup’s armed forces at that time and quite possibly could have escaped without risk.
“Instead, she took the initiative, insisting that their little group not take the easy way out, abandoning their teammates to who knows what fate. Working with the Special Forces agent on the scene, she led the group in the rescue of the others, subduing the men holding them captive in an amazing display of precision shooting using a security forces dart gun. Then while her companions secured the doors to the arena and released the prisoners, she proceeded to the roof where she used her sniper rifle from her school competition team to disable all of the army’s vehicles.
“Once again, when, after escaping out of the arena through a tunnel unknown to the surrounding forces, they were stopped at the airport by a group of elite guard forces, she fought and defeated the four of them in hand-to-hand combat, enabling the group to escape to their plane. Still not finished, when she discovered that the pilots of their plane had both been injured, she drew upon the skills she had studied in her school simulators. She was able to fly the plane and safely land it at a military airport, even though she had never actually flown a real plane before.”
“What I now know is even more incredible and revealing. Only a few months before this incident, this young officer had awakened from a coma of nearly two years with absolutely no memory of her past. She had to relearn to walk after being comatose for so long. Yet as soon as she could get out of the hospital, she enrolled in advanced studies at our superb Space Academy, where she excelled in classes.
“Discovering she had some ability, she joined the shooting competition team for the school. She also took a voluntary sniper training class, becoming certified so that she could shoot in the demonstration sniper class in the shooting competition. We know that her team did well, in fact winning all of their competitions for the year, no doubt at least in some part due to her contributions.”
“In the same vein as in the work on the range, when she was also taught basic self-defense moves in class, she went the extra mile and learned from the school’s VR simulators and others who had more advanced training. This training she didn’t even get credit for but she did it anyway to better herself.”
“We now also know that some of the same students she was so instrumental in rescuing were not only not her friends, but they were in fact antagonistic toward her. But when the rest of her shooting team could not conceive of a way to use their skills to help the others, she stepped up and led by her example. Yet she tells us she was
only doing her duty, that she couldn’t leave her fellow students there to be at risk at the hands of their captors, men who did not have a good reputation for treatment of others with even basic human rights.”
“Some of you in the audience today are here because you know just what this means to you personally. Some of you quite possibly would not be here if it wasn’t for her actions. You know very well what her choices meant; how many of us, if the positions had been reversed, would have had the courage to attempt to do what she did?”
“So in closing, I submit to you, although in a sense she is right, she was only doing her duty, having the compassion and courage to do that in the face of the level of difficulty facing her team, and then going out and doing whatever it took to accomplish it, that is the very essence of what the Medal of Honor stands for. And we continue to see behavior since then that exemplifies the type person she is, all of which tell us how worthy she is to receive this medal.”
“So it is with great pleasure that I, as the representative of this great country and in association with the United States Congress, do hereby present you, Lieutenant Julie Randolph, with the Medal of Honor.” Accepting the medal from the general and smiling broadly, he placed the medal around Julie’s neck. Standing beside her with his hand on her shoulder, he turned to the general, “Sir, if you will please, read the citation accompanying the medal.”
The general proceeded to read the citation, again repeating the acts that Julie had done as Miranda those weeks before when rescuing her team members and helping them all to escape. Julie had been feeling a little weak in the knees, but the President’s touch gave her enough assurance that she was able to regroup her thoughts.
With the completion of the reading from the citation, the President came around in front of Julie. “In standing with military protocol, any member of our armed services, no matter what the ranking, will from now on be required to salute you when you are wearing this medal. As the Commander in Chief, I am proud that I am the first to be able to do you this honor.” He gave her a crisp military salute. When Julie returned his salute, the President turned to the general standing beside him. “General Evans, I believe you have a couple more medals there. Lieutenant Caldwell, please step forward.”
Completely taken by surprise, nevertheless, Zeke stepped forward, a nearly automatic response. He didn’t know what was happening, but he knew Julie was to blame.
President Scott smiled broadly; this was very much his favorite duty as President. And thanks to Julie, he was able to do just a little more. “Lieutenant Ezekiel Caldwell, it is with great honor that I am able to present to you the very first award of the Space Force Cross. Twice, first while serving as a cadet and second while serving as a reserve officer in an active campaign against the Organization Space Station, you placed yourself at great risk to protect another member of our armed services, namely our most recent Medal of Honor recipient. Due to your injuries in the second incident, which was in time of active combat, you are also awarded the Purple Heart. Your dedication to duty and to your cause also exemplifies the US armed forces.”
He pressed the two medals onto the uniform of Zeke, a special sticky tape on the medals holding them in place. Surprising Zeke, he also saluted him. Still running almost entirely on automatic, Zeke returned the salute. He did manage to send a message to Julie. “I know where this came from. I won’t forget.”
Julie was spared from a response, as the President turned to the chaplain. “Please, sir, close our proceedings with a word of prayer.”
The chaplain complied, thanking God for our great country and those that came forth to lead us, both political and military, that they represented us to the rest of the world with integrity and honor and with great courage.
#
As previously instructed, Julie and Zeke were escorted to a nearby room where a number of VR photographs were taken. The President had stood off to the side except when a close-up of him presenting Julie with the medal was taken. The pictures finally complete, the President invited Julie and Zeke to sit at a nearby table.
“Thank you for allowing me to do that. You claim that you were only doing your duty and only what you had to do, but you could have done much less and still have done your duty. So again I tell you, thank you for doing what you did!”
At this point, Julie had tears in her eyes, the emotional overload just too much for her, so she just nodded her response.
The President continued, “I really felt that it was important at this time, that we demonstrate once again to the world the kind of person you are. Your delicate handling of our little incident with the planes has also helped us greatly. You know that if my wife had told me what was to happen before that all transpired, I would have tried to prevent it, but she wisely kept it from me.
“Even now, knowing your level of competency flying your spacecraft, I would never willingly let you be put in harm’s way. But it has all worked out much better than anyone other than my wife could have expected. The bad news for you is that it’s looking more and more likely that you’ll be dealing with me for the next four years. I feel with great certainty that you’re not done with all that you’re going to do for the cause of good.”
Julie grasped Zeke’s hand and looked up at the President. “No, sir, I don’t expect we are. But know sir, that we will do only what we have to do, and that we will attempt to do it with honor and courage as exemplified by this medal and as we pledged to you those few weeks ago.”
The President nodded. “I expect nothing else.” He rose and turned back to her, “Have a safe flight home. This time I expect it will be an undisturbed flight.”
#
Shortly afterwards, they were all invited to a reception in the Blue Room. One of the state parlors on the first floor of the White House, the Blue Room was distinguished by its oval shape and beautiful decorations. Gathered there were many of the people that had been in the audience, with the exclusion of most of the media types. Julie was glad of that. As Zeke escorted her into the room, the first thing Julie saw was the Space Forces lined up on both sides of the doorway. As soon as she stepped into the room, they all immediately gave her salutes, including the mercenary component, once again bringing her close to tears.
When she was able to get herself composed, Julie told them. “I have to tell you all, I couldn’t have asked for a more excellent honor guard. You guys look absolutely resplendent in those uniforms. I know just what you guys are capable of doing, so I know just how special you are. Thank you for doing this.”
It was then the team members had to struggle with their own emotions. They had bonded with Julie every bit as much as she had done with them. The group almost as one told her, “The honor is ours.”
Still struggling to keep her emotions under control, Julie told them, “Then I accept your honor with pleasure.” She quickly moved forward, determined not to burst into tears in front of everyone.
When Julie came to her Uncle Ted and Carla, they fell prey to the saluting too. At least both of the Special Envoys did not, but both gave her bows, Xiu’s so deep that Julie knew by custom it meant almost the same thing.
“You too?” she said. “I’m never going to get used to this, am I?”
Uncle Ted laughed. “No, I suspect not. Lucky for you, you don’t wear your uniform or medals very often. But you’re going to just have to accept that it is very much deserved.”
Julie nodded. “At least I get to see all your medals too. Someday you’ll have to tell me about them.” Turning to Carla, she said, “Now, yours, you’ve already told me about. And I know how much yours are deserved.”
She followed up with her envoys. She didn’t want them to get off scot-free. “And you two; Xiu, you’re absolutely beautiful in that dress, with such a very handsome escort. Thank you all for coming here. At least I wasn’t standing up there in front of an empty room. That would have been embarrassing.”
Xiu laughed. “Julie, I suspect you just had the largest audience anyo
ne has ever had for any medal. Your presentation was sent out over VR, and a large worldwide audience was captured by it. Including my country, where it was watched by millions.”
Julie just stared at her for a moment, totally flabbergasted. Luckily, she was spared from giving Xiu an answer, as Caitlyn and the soccer team came up to her at that moment. They were also quick to salute her, and although theirs were not quite as practiced as some of the others, she realized it really meant a lot to her. It helped make it all worth it, helping her realize why she had done the things that brought her here. Once more she struggled to hold those tears back.
“I can’t believe you all came,” Julie told them. “I knew Caitlyn was coming, but I was completely surprised when I looked out there and saw all of you.”
Caitlyn was herself holding back the tears. “We all had to come. We’re the ones that owe you the most. I still have nightmares thinking about what would have happened if you hadn’t saved us.” She looked around at the others and they all nodded. Caitlyn went on, ”I called them as soon as I heard about the medal, and everyone insisted that they had to come. So I called the office of the Presidential Chief of Staff, and as soon as I told them why, they quickly agreed. Luckily, I was able to keep it hidden from you, hence the surprise.”
Julie knew she was sincere, as were all the girls. “Well, thank you for coming. It was a very pleasant surprise.” Turning back to Caitlyn, she told her, “As soon as things settle down, why don’t you put together a lunch or something with everyone so we can get together in a more relaxed setting.”
