Weeks later, Katherine stood in uniform as her name was called. For her decisive leadership and bravery, she received a medal and was promoted to field operations chief. She accepted the honor quietly, thinking of Ahmed—and the others—who’d held on through darkness and shown extraordinary courage in the face of injustice.
As applause echoed around her, Katherine felt no pride—only resolve. There were still vessels uninspected, routes unchecked, systems unchallenged. What had happened aboard the Voyager wasn’t a mistake. It was a symptom. And she knew that her real work—ensuring this never happened again—was only just beginning.