[center][h1][color=9e0b0f]Ava Lane[/color][/h1]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/DzjHvu3.png[/img]
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Ava listened to the Professor's assessment.

If she were to be honest, Ava was pleasantly surprised. The Professor might be the designated XO for this project, but his background was not in the military. Undoubtedly, he was a respected name in the field of Framewerk Technology, or rather, he was the father of the new generation Framewerk models, of which people's minds would go to upon hearing 'Framewerk'. But expertise on Framewerk Technology did not automatically translate to military matters.

Ava half-expected that he would defer to Lieutenant Ritsu on the debriefing, and yet he gave out his own assessment, and a very fair one, proving that he was well-versed in military matters as well, at least in terms of tactics and strategies.

On her part, Ava completely agreed with the Professor's assessment of her. She executed her job well enough, however her tactics and strategies were 'straightforward', they were textbook strategies that any experienced pilot with a decent mind for strategies could concoct.

The part of her developing tunnel vision when the situation became more complicated was also true. It would especially be a detriment in the actual battle when the stakes are higher, and the situation would surely be far more complex than a mere training exercise.

Which was why—as it should—despite being the leader of the winning team, she should not be the leader of—

It was then that the Professor's declaration of his leadership pick—completely the opposite of what Ava thought—made Ava's train of thought grind to a halt.

Her?

The leader of the squad?

Did the Professor not read her dossier that the brass must have given him!?

She WOULD not be responsible for these people's lives! She could not!

It was one thing for Ava to risk her own life and die on the battlefield against the Cruxi; she had accepted that. But it was another thing to be in charge of the one giving the order that might end up costing the lives of the other pilots.

Ava opened her mouth, ready to protest, before closing it quickly.

It wouldn't do for her to object here and compromise the authority of the XO. This was the sort of thing that she should have brought up in private.

Thus, when she heard some of the other members start cheering her on, Ava saluted Lieutenant Ritsu before grabbing the armband and pistol from the box offered by the Lieutenant.

"Thank you, Executive Officer, Lieutenant. I'm honoured by the appointment. May we meet later in private to discuss some matters?"