FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

"Cadet Sahshir Katje! What do you think you're doing?"

The voice rang out across the open bay. Everyone froze, even though it wasn't their name that was called. Slowly, all eyes rolled to the black-furred Lupari in the very last bunk of the bay. All the way in the back.

This gave their instructor, a Neishor Major, plenty of time to stomp her hooves down the middle of the bay. Every single body in the bay winced at each clack of the hooves. Not because the noise or the person were particularly intimidating. Major Rillian was considered short by every race's standards. She didn't tower over anyone. Yet she didn't need to tower. Her rank brought them all low by itself.

Still, what made every member of the platoon wince was the fact that the major was walking down the middle of the bay, the sacred ground that they worked diligently to clean every single day until it was spotless. Now, a trail of muddy hoof prints marked the path to the back of the bay.

Sahshir quickly snapped to the position of attention in front of the equine superior officer, "Ma'am! I'm writing a letter to home, ma'am!"

Rillian snorted, "Who gave you authorization to write a letter home, hmm?" She let the last syllable draw out, as though it somehow important. The smaller figure slapped the thin digital device out of the larger canine's hands. "It wasn't I! How dare you think you have any privileges in my platoon!"

Sahshir watched the device hit the ground. She didn't get angry, just saddened slightly that the major wanted to cause more trouble. Everyone had been writing letters home for the past week and she hadn't said anything to them. It was only when she started that the major took issue. The Lupari cadet composed herself and threw up a careful salute, "Ma'am! I apologize for my mistake, ma'am! It won't happen again."

Her respectful reply seemed to satisfy the major, as she nodded once. "See that it doesn't, cadet. You're not an officer yet!"

"Ma'am, yes ma'am!" Sahshir paused, looking down at the device longingly for a moment. "Uh...Ma'am? Permission to write home?" As soon as the words escaped her lips, she knew it was a mistake. It wasn't because her request was unreasonable, because it wasn't. It was the way the Major Rillian's shoulders tightened so visibly. Whoops...

The major spun around, a very sickly smile spreading across her long face. "Oh...so now you ask for permission? How wonderful." Her voice was sweet and dripped with poison. "Well, second platoon, it seems your team mate thinks she can speak to her superior officer without going through her platoon leader. Can any of you do that?" Her eyes sliced through the room, daring anyone to say they could.

Sahshir wanted to protest. Everyone had done it at one point or another. The problem wasn't the action of asking for permission or following the proper chain of command. The real problem lay with Major Rillian and herself.

Cadet Sahshir Katje had been enlisted for the past twelve years of her life. She had risen to the rank of Staff Sergeant before applying to become an officer. Her reputation had preceded her as an excellent and caring non-commissioned officer. When the platoons had been named, she had promised those who were organized in her unit that she would do her best to take care of them. She knew what she was doing.

Except their class instructor, Major Rillian, had also heard of her reputation.

"Since Cadet Katje has decided that she is better than everyone else, why doesn't she watch while all of you start a lap around the base." There was a pause, "Why are you still standing here, get running!" Her order came out as a screech. The platoon quickly ran for the door out of the bay. There was the general din of confusion and yelps as paws were stepped on and scratches given. Eventually, everyone else got outside and started running. The equine turned to Sanshir, her green eyes ablaze with some kind of inner fire. "Do you see now, Cadet?"

Sahshir shook her head in slow confusion, "Ma'am?"

"In order to maintain good order in a military unit, discipline is necessary. The military is not the place for warm feelings and hugs. You will never make it anywhere if you coddle your soldiers."

Sahshir felt a sick feeling in her stomach, "I don't know if that's true, ma'am. After all, my people are well-known for our affections..."

"HA," came the loud retort. "Affection? You have to beat that out of you! Push it down! If you want to become the best officer, you must never let those under you become close. Do you understand now?"

Cadet Katje's amber eyes glowed with frustration. The right words that should come out of her mouth were, "Ma'am! Yes, ma'am." They wouldn't come. Major Rillian was just pushing one point of view on how to be an effective leader. It was her own.

Sahshir chose silence instead. It seemed to be her only good option in this situation. Apparently this satisfied the major, because she turned and walked away, waving a single hand as she went, "You are not to join the rest of your platoon as they run the base lap. Do you understand, Cadet Katje?"

"Ma'am. Yes, ma'am." She nodded her head weakly. It felt like she was betraying her team, even though she had done nothing wrong. The major left, leaving her in the empty bay. She stood stock still for a minute, gathering her thoughts. Then, with nary a word, she reached down and picked up her letter to home. She turned the power off her device and set it on her bunk. The major had implied that she wasn't allowed to write home, so she would respect her wishes. She was a good Soldier and would follow the orders of her superiors. With a small smile, she walked to the front of the bay and got out the cleaning supplies.

By the time the rest of the platoon got back, all panting and dripping sweat, the bay floor was spotless again.

No one said anything else. Many wanted to. They wanted to complain on how unfair it was for Major "Runt" to single Katje out. Except Sahshir wouldn't let them call her that, not even when the major wasn't around. They wanted to say so many things. Except Sahshir only smiled at each of them as they came in and congratulated them. It wasn't much, but her every action got them through the rough days. Knowing that she went through so much worse than they, they kept their heads down and worked harder.

While Major Rillian was their class instructor, it was Cadet Sahshir Katje that was their example to emulate.