A couple weeks later, Shannon gets a reply, and a package.
Dear Shannon,
Congress backed down, and plans on publicly awarding you the Thanks of Congress. Admiral Chin had recommended you for the Cross, but when she found out about your wishes, she was willing to downgrade to the Thanks of Congress, with C device, for saving her and a good chunk of her fleet. Would you like your parents and your Cousin Eimear to accept it, or do you want someone else to? We'll hang onto it for you, don't worry. Cousin Eimear says to tell you thanks for the congratulations on her promotion! She's found a good mentor, who I won't name, for everyone's safety. Thanks for the birthday wishes!
I asked around on book recs to send you, and put together a package. I hope it gets to you. Please let me know if there aren't 100 books in it (I figured you'd have a lot of time on your hands), and if there are 100, list the titles that made it, so I can figure out what types of titles make it through the censors okay. I'll be sending more later, along with some snacks we all know you like (No, I don't believe that Eimear stole the box of cookies off my desk when she was 5 and you were 10. You had chocolate all over your face, and she was in the other room reading her books. Please stop trying to frame her.) The museum is being dedicated in a few months, and the Queen has invited your family to the dedication.
Stay strong,
Your Family
Shannon opens the box and counts the books. There's 100 books, and a bunch of her favorite non-perishable snacks, as well as some other goodies.
Admiral Tourville walks over, and says, "So, what do you think about the Cross, Shannon?"
Shannon replies, "Given how badly things went, I'm going to decline it, and if the Congress insists on giving me something for telling Admiral Chin to hyper out because of Apollo's range, I'll accept the Thanks."