First-Class Merit

The Liaoning docked. The Shandong took over its combat-readiness patrols, while the Fujian Carrier also began making frequent sorties to test its various systems.

After docking for maintenance and resupply, the Liaoning would soon set sail again to replace the Shandong. This was one of the advantages of conventionally powered carriers: they were easier to maintain, unlike nuclear-powered carriers, whose maintenance was far more complicated.

Once a warship docked, its personnel naturally took turns going on leave. When the Liaoning sailed again, they would likely have no time to rest.

"Here. Your phone."

"Thanks."

At the storage office, after finishing his report on the contact with extraterrestrials, Liu Jun retrieved the phone he had checked in. Beneath the familiar HarmonyOS logo, the phone powered on. Opening WeChat, he found that he had fewer than fifteen contacts in total.

He opened Mom's profile picture and checked her message: Son, are you coming home for the New Year? I'll make some of your favorite dishes!

The corner of Liu Jun's mouth lifted. After calculating the dates, he realized that the Liaoning would already be at sea by the New Year.

He then opened Dad's WeChat. There was only one sentence: Take care of yourself.

Men were never good at expressing their feelings. Fathers and sons were no exception.

He wanted to send them a message saying he was coming home, but after some thought, he put his phone away. What if an emergency mission came up? His parents would have gotten excited for nothing. Better not tell them yet.

Several other profile pictures had also sent him messages, all containing final exam scores. Liu Jun smiled with relief.

Just then, footsteps sounded behind him. His master, Zhang Peng, caught his eye, pulled Liu Jun into a corner, and said mysteriously, "Xiaojun, come here."

"Okay, Master."

Following Zhang Peng toward the Island, Liu Jun entered the briefing room and saw the captain, Senior Colonel Zhang Jun, commander of the carrier aviation wing; Senior Colonel Yang Wei, the political commissar; and the two pilots from Aircraft 140 standing before them.

Upon seeing Liu Jun, the two immediately nodded to him. Though they said nothing, they knew perfectly well how he had risked being shot down by the alien craft while it was on his tail, gambling his life to give them a chance to break away.

There was no need for unnecessary words. If the need arose, they too would not hesitate to shield their comrades from missiles!

"You're here."

Yang Wei smiled kindly when he saw Liu Jun. Zhang Jun, beside him, gestured for him to stand opposite them. Liu Jun seemed to realize something.

Meanwhile, in an ordinary residential complex in a small third-tier city in central Great East.

Inside a home of just over seventy square meters, a gray-haired man was writing on rice paper. After setting down his brush, he looked with satisfaction at the lines of poetry he had written.

In the kitchen, a woman carefully picked through vegetable leaves, occasionally glancing at a livestream on her phone. There were not many entertainment options once one got old, but she enjoyed watching livestreams.

Watching the host lavish praise on the products, she felt a powerful urge to buy rise from deep within her. That was how livestreams worked—buying things was pure impulse consumption, regardless of whether one actually needed them.

"Pah, pah, pah! They're all scammers! I'm not buying!"

The woman swiped the host away and started watching videos of cats and dogs.

"Hm? What's that sound?"

Suddenly, the woman frowned as if she had heard something. She paused the livestream and listened closely. Soon, she discovered that there really did seem to be the sound of gongs and drums. It was not her imagination.

"Old Liu, what's that sound?"

Hearing his wife call, Old Liu set down his brush and went to the balcony to look outside. He could vaguely see people gathering at the entrance to the residential complex, apparently watching some excitement.

"Looks like they're holding some kind of event at the entrance. Maybe another new shop is opening."

After saying that, Old Liu returned to his room to practice calligraphy. Yet as he wrote, the sound of gongs and drums outside grew louder and louder, as though it was approaching their building.

"Huh?"

"Old Liu! Old Liu! Come here, quickly!" the woman suddenly called urgently, her voice trembling slightly.

"What is it?"

Old Liu walked to the window and saw his wife clutching the front of her clothes with both hands, watching the approaching crowd. In the middle of the crowd, someone held up a plaque whose words he could not make out, while several people at the front looked familiar from the local television station.

"Do you think... do you think Xiaojun could have... could have gotten into trouble?!" As she spoke, her voice began to choke with tears.

"Don't talk nonsense. Have you ever seen anyone beat gongs and drums so festively for a death? If something had really happened to Xiaojun, it would be military personnel knocking on our door!"

"Ah! Right! Look at me... Pah! Pah! Pah!"

While comforting his wife, Old Liu looked outside carefully. As the crowd drew closer, he finally made out the words on the plaque: Home of First-Class Merit.

According to regulations, those who made relatively significant contributions could receive Third-Class Merit. Those who made important contributions could receive Second-Class Merit. Those whose contributions and impact were major could receive First-Class Merit.

Of course, there was considerable room for interpretation in determining such things. But Aircraft 140 and Aircraft 139—one was the first aircraft in Great East's history to be damaged by an extraterrestrial civilization, while the other was piloted by the first person in human history to shoot down an alien creation. Their impact could be called historic!

If humanity won its battle against the extraterrestrial civilization, human history would record that a Great East pilot was the first to shoot down an alien! The Liaoning flight squadron had made history! And humanity only remembered the first, just as everyone remembered Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin, the first person in space. But who remembered who came second?

Under such circumstances, awarding First-Class Merit was not excessive. The reason Liu Jun was not awarded Special Merit was, first, that Great East had not entered a state of war, and First-Class Merit was already the highest award; second, Liu Jun was still young, and excessive honors would not be a good thing for him. He needed more tempering.

Liu Jun still had a long road ahead. Once the whole military was notified of his commendation, everyone would know of him. The group army had already taken note of him, and even the upper ranks knew there was such an outstanding pilot. Promotion was only a matter of time.

The three men looked at the pilots before them, their chests lifted high. The Liaoning had also received collective First-Class Merit, and later it would be recognized as a Model of the Era. It could be said that this was the highest honor in Great East!

"Today, we solemnly hold this ceremony to award First-Class Merit, offering our warmest congratulations to the pilot comrades who have made outstanding contributions in their posts!

"This honor is not only recognition of your bloody battles and fearless sacrifice, but also the highest praise for your loyalty to the Party and loyalty to the people!

"In the previous battle, with unwavering conviction, solid conduct, and exceptional skill, you successfully shot down alien aircraft, proving that extraterrestrials are not invincible.

"Whether in upholding the honor of Naval Aviation or proving that the People's Army could fight and win, you displayed extraordinary ability and responsibility. Your contributions have not only brought honor to the collective, but also set an example for Great East.

"Here, I sincerely hope that you will cherish this honor, continue to maintain a modest, prudent, and neither arrogant nor impetuous attitude, and continue carrying forward the spirit of daring to take responsibility and striving for excellence.

"At the same time, I hope you can become examples to even more people, inspiring more people to use you as their standard and contribute their own strength together to the collective and to the people!

"Finally, I once again offer my congratulations to you, comrades!"