"Do you maggots understand the severity of this situation, if none of you can step up and lead the rest of these idiots, you're all going to die! Is this point not getting through your thick skulls?!" I ran frantically around a large platoon assembled in the courtyard. I had them organized into four squads, two small platoons.

"Let me repeat the question, then. Which few of you shitbags are going to fulfill my platoon leaders, their NCO positions, and company commander positions? I need answers now, or Joe bag-o-donuts is all you have to depend your lives on!! You're all dead meat the first ten minutes we step on their soil!" I stopped to stare at a rather young individual before moving on.

The group remained totally silent.

"Alright shit-for-brains, I guess I'm deciding." The formations was in 3 long elements, I walked between the elements calling out random looking individuals. Some male, some female. "You, you, eugh, yeah you, you, you for sure, and you. All of you, form a line in front of the formation. Now! MOVE!" I frantically gestured, and the several bolted from various sections of the group and lined up.

They shuffled nervously out of formation, clopping noises brushed the courtyard under the eyes of the royalty inspecting my methods.

"Well take your time, wouldn't want you to feel rushed or anything! It's not like you're all giving the enemy time to dress up for the slaughter!" I shouted, waving my arms.

They formed an element of 6 ponies, different colors each.

"There you go, do any of you have any confidence in your own leadership potential?" I asked, walking slowly behind the element.

The one second to the left, a green pony with a yellow head of hair that trailed down his neck raised an arm.

"Oh! Well goooood afternoon new company commander! What's got you so confident?" I asked, running past the female to his left to face his front.

"I'm the current company commander!" He shouted.

I looked to the left, then to the right. It was deadly quiet.

"Who are you talking to?" I muttered, leaning right in front of his face, no more than an inch away.

Several of the individuals cringed as they recognized the problem.

"You." He stared straight through me.

"You, who?" I glared in return.

He stared blankly for a few moments, before his pupils contracted to pinpricks.

"You, sir." He whispered.

I stared at him for nearly an entire minute, no movement, and no words. I only needed him to see my soul, through my eyes.

"Fuck up like that again..." I began softly, before leaning forward and shouting directly into his face. "And you're going to lead this charge, without as much as a slingshot to protect yourself. Do you understand me?!" I shouted, jabbing a finger at his face.

"Yes!" He paused. "Sir!"

I growled and stood upright, I began to feel the stress. I relied on these idiots to save Elliot, this wasn't a funny game, this was Elliot's entire existence. I couldn't fail him. Moving to the left of the element, I walked through, counting off, yet skipping the company commander.

"Musketeer platoon commander, Betty platoon leader, Musketeer-alpha squad leader, Musketeer-bravo squad leader, Betty-Charlie squad leader, Betty-delta squad leader." I stood back in front of the formation, facing the element, and the formation they stood before. "From this point on, these are your command positions. I expect you all back here in exactly one hour with the following: Specific individuals evenly distributed to their squads and squads to platoons, ranks to wear upon your uniform that correspond to your current positions, the rest of you are hereby revoked of rank. You are now the first company in your history to obey human tactics, and therefore you must start from square one, and prove to me the ranks you all deserve. I will not strike you, and will not force you to obey me. If you feel I have severely mistreated you, or you feel threatened, alert me. Otherwise, there is always an option to quit, and lay your uniform forever to shame. Otherwise, you all from here on out will address me as Sergeant First Class, or Sergeant. Not sir, Sergeant! You will show your upmost courage, and confidence. In the next week, I will teach you to rely on each other as family, to think as one unit, and to destroy any civilian spirit in you, so that you may perfect the killing machine you have signed to become! Do I make myself clear?" I shouted, gazing from eye to eye.

They muttered a mixture of responses.

"Was that a yes, Sergeant, or did somebody just shit themselves? Tell me like you've got a stomach, now!"

They shouted a resounding response that rattled the courtyard.

"Because I am tough, and because the training will be grueling you will learn to hate me. But from me you will learn to survive, and to kill the enemy in any means possible, so that victory is guaranteed! You will do things you never knew possible, but believe me, you will win this war!" I turned to the company commander, looking him in the eye. "You have got one hour to have platoons, and squads organized and ready, as well as ranks in order. Get it done, and bring your company back here. Do I make myself clear?" I asked.

"Yes Sergeant!" He screamed, I felt my face dampen.

I couldn't help but grin at him, looking him dead in the eye.

"You will show me confidence like this, every second of the day. And you will teach them, more than I, to do the same." I wiped my face with my hand. "But spit on me again, and by God's mercy I'll kill you. Now, take command." I backed away from the formation and stood at attention.

"BOLD COMPANY, Dis-MISSED.

Author's Note

WAY OVERDUE I WANT TO DIE! I sort of want to redo my other story "Never Bring Me Down", but I lack motivation. Hey, if you want to contact me, shoot me a comment! I LOVE seeing that there's new comments on my story! It helps me improve. Sorry for a long wait for a puny chapter, I'm working on my routine. Also, 2 brand spanking-new stories are coming soon!