Hearing that, I looked for Kaley and told her I'd be away for a while and she gave me a quick peck on my cheek as Jennifer and I made my way to where the Admiral and the others were. They obviously made the ATC room our strategic room of sorts, but I discovered that not only Mitch was present with the few other higher-ranked officers but also Bartow.
To my surprise, it was because the two were being promoted, Mitch to Captain and Bartow to First Lieutenant—alongside others who had gone a rank or two as well for staying behind and holding the fort.
'He looks like he recovered fast…'
The hardass actually gave me a mocking glance when walking back to his seat while holding his new rank given to him, but it kinda lost meaning when everyone was getting promoted left and right.