With things wrapped up with Kaiden, Avery along with the two Woest siblings headed for the entrance to the Alliance police award ceremony.
At the entrance were several officers verifying invitations and leading people to their seats.
When Avery handed over his terminal for verification, the young officer that looked fresh out of the academy went wide-eyed once he confirmed Avery’s identity.
He then stood up straighter and went compete rigid, as if his commanding officer had just caught him doing something against regulation.
"Please follow me sir. I’ll lead you and your guests to your seats." The young man said.
"Oi! I’m not here as anyone’s quest. I’m being recognized as well."
Infuriated at being ignored, Kaiden called out to the officer and scowled at him.
Swiftly, but with little interest, the young man scanned Kaiden’s invitation and directed him to the general seating for mercenaries.
However, when Avery tried to follow, the officer nervously stopped him.
"Sir Asteria. We’ve actually prepared an assigned seat for you and your crewmember. If you would please follow me."
Shrugging his shoulders, Avery followed after the young man. He understood that his achievements were the best of any of the mercenaries here, so it made some sense that he was being singled out for special treatment.
Still, he had not been expected to be brought to the very front of the hall where the highest-ranking Alliance Police members were sitting.
There were commanders, subcommanders, and captains all lined up, and he was certain that an empty chair right in the middle was meant for Deputy Chief Ikla.
Taking his seat, Avery took a deep breath to calm his nerves.
Ceremonies like these were a part of being an upper ranking mercenary and he would just have to get used to them here. The greater his achievements, the more recognition he was going to receive.
’Yep, there aren’t any other mercenaries around us.’ Avery thought, glancing from side to side.
They were surrounded by top officers of the Alliance Police. With all of the other mercenaries being seated practically on the other side of the room.
However, this did not stay that way for long.
A giant of a man with dark red skin and two long horns protruding out of his head soon walked in and was brought over to the same area that Avery and Kasandra were at.
With only a single look, it was clear that he was a mercenary and not a member of the Alliance Police.
"Do you recognize him?" Avery asked Kasandra.
She had been working as a mercenary longer than him and had gotten decently famous within the Yuson System. As far as other mercenaries active in the area, she knew a lot more than Avery did.
"No, I’ve never seen him before."
Yet Kasandra had no idea who he was either. Still, it was easy to tell that he was not only strong but skilled as well. He carried himself with the confidence only those that were truly capable could.
’If Kasandra doesn’t recognize him, but he’s being brought up to the front like us, then I think I might know who he is.’ Avery thought, recalling the battle with the energy lifeforms.
There had been one other prominent mercenary there that had really proven himself. Someone that was not a regular of the Yuson System but had just rolled in.
Four star mercenary Ezra. The small craft he piloted was named the Specter, and if Avery had not gotten lucky and killed the queen energy lifeform, he might have been the one to receive the highest accolades for that mission. That was simply how impeccable he had been.
’It makes sense that they put him in a seat of honor as well. Without his skills and courage, the first squad and remains of the fourth squad probably would have ended up wiped out.’
While Avery had held up the rear, Ezra was the one who cut a path through the energy lifeforms when they were about to be overrun. Without him, things would have ended a lot worse.
His presence her also made Avery wonder if this award ceremony was a contributing factor for why his rank was so abruptly advanced to four star. It might have seemed suspect if he was still a lower ranked mercenary but received a higher award than Ezra.
Of course, this was just speculation on Avery’s part. There was really no way of telling what politics were going on behind the scenes and driving people’s decisions.
"He’s really sizing you up." Kasandra whispered to Avery.
Since arriving, Ezra had kept an eye on Avery. Looking at him as if trying to appraise his worth.
"I mean, I’m curious about him as well. His skills certainly were something, and the ship he is piloting is undoubtably custom made and fitted with high quality equipment and weapons."
Avery knew about a majority of the common base models ship manufacturers in the Alliance made thanks to his time as a salvager, but the data he had recorded on Ezra’s vessel did not match up with anything he recognized. That meant his ship was probably one of a kind or had been assembled outside of the Alliance.
"Well, if you want to approach him, I think there will likely be a chance after the ceremony. You’re both four stars, so I think you could try to talk to him in a professional capacity."
Nodding his head, Avery figured that this was a good idea. He certainly would not mind making the acquaintance of someone so skills. Plus, there was something familiar about Ezra that he just could not quite place and was hoping to get to the bottom of.
That was going to have to wait though, as Deputy Chief Ikla had finally arrived and took his place at a podium set up at the front of the room on a raised platform.
"Thank you all for coming. Every brave man and woman in this room recently proved themselves pivotal in one or both of the recent crisis that befell this system. As such, you’ve been gathered here to have your efforts acknowledged. The Alliance Police are eternally grateful for your efforts, and while it is only a small token, what more can we do than provide awards to all of you for your valor."