Winter was pleased with the reception so far. Let's see how they react to this one.
She clicked the remote and a bespectacled man in his mid-forties appeared on the screen. His face sported a trimmed beard, a nondescript suit, and tie. He didn't cut a striking presence nor did his skin show signs of being kissed by the sun.
-"Please, raise your hand if you recognize him."
Only the first row, composed of Atlas most senior staff, raised their hands.
-"This man, known as Garbo by Mantle espionage officers, was a spy who infiltrated Vacuo."
She activated the remote and a second picture of the same man showed.
-"This man, known as Alaric by Vacuo espionage officers, was a spy who infiltrated Mantle."
She presented the third picture. The very same man.
-"This man created an espionage network and worked from Vale. He had 27 agents working for him. Sending letters and communicating by radio, foiled Vacuan forces, sent old intel about Mantle deployments, discarded invasion plans. For his efforts, Vacuo gave him the distinction of Oum's Iron Claw."
The second image changes, now it depicted him in uniform with an Iron Claw on his lapel.
-"For his contributions, he was awarded membership in the Order of the Mantle Empire."
The first image now displayed him with a cross with the effigy of Mantle's Empress.
Winter addressed the auditorium.
-"We, soldiers, hone our bodies. We hone our weapons. We also hone our minds. But do we hone our words? This -" And she pointed to the screen. "-espionage network. Did. NOT. Exist."
Few went slack-jawed and many hands shot up.
One redhead was the first to show her hand. When Winter acknowledged, the redhead asked.
-"He bullshited his way trough and got two medals? From both sides?" her face was full of skepticism.
Winter reply was terse.
-"If you ain't cheating, you ain't trying."