He stepped forward.
The colonel didn't praise too high, but he didn't keep it generic either.
His voice turned slightly more specific, the way it did when the paperwork had notes.
"Performance and leadership evaluation indicate consistent high output across endurance, marksmanship under fatigue, and team cohesion," the colonel said.
"During the base attack, Holt maintained control of a small element, prevented panic spread, and executed movement and cover decisions without direct instruction."
He pinned the insignia.
Aiden felt the weight of it, not physically, but because everyone understood what Corporal meant.
It meant you weren't just trying to survive anymore.
It meant you were the reason someone else did.
He saluted and stepped back.
The ceremony continued. More ranks. More names.
More absences where names should have been.
When it ended, they were dismissed in units.
No cheering. No music.
