//------------------------------// // 6. Many Surprises (And Some Discipline) // Story: The Atlantean-Dominion War // by The Atlantean //------------------------------// While Colonel Silvercrest recovered in the field hospital, the task of keeping the Second Coastal fell largely on the Lieutenants. They divided up the various issues “equally,” with the acclaimed NCO Private Dawn getting most of the work piled on him. The others thought it was because of the incident when they arrived, but then the NCOs of different platoons pulled chunks off and explained that they always did it whenever they could. As good a commander as Silvercrest was, she happened to not notice the officers below her most of the time. When she did, she cracked down. But her in the hospital, the Lieutenants and such thought they’d get away with it. “Thanks,” Crimson told them as they all sat down for lunch that day. “No problem. We’ve all done it for each other, and the Colonel says you’re the new guy. It also makes you look a lot better with speed. But with those lazy-asses in charge, we make do while they get reprimanded and sometimes demoted,” one smiled. He was the Unicorn Sarge’s own younger brother, but didn’t look anything like Sarge. Instead of a grass-green coat, a dirty blonde mane and tail, and a wheat cutie mark, the Earth pony Chief Warrant Officer Treetop had a joker card cutie mark over his grey coat and a jet-black mane and tail. He also normally wore a poker face. “We’re all one big not-necessarily-happy family here in AREA, after all.” “I wonder how Silvercrest is doing.” Crimson commented right before a shriek combined with a wolf’s howl reached their ears from the hospital tent. All seven of the NCOs and the red Pegasus shot to their hooves and raced to its source. ------------------------ “This is why I- ah!” Silvercrest shrieked again when another contraction pulsed through her. “Damn honeymoon.” “This is why mothers don’t run the army, Moonshine.” Rose Thorn said. Soothingly, she added, “I’m not holding this against you.” “If only I hadn’t married last year, I’d be-” She was interrupted by another contraction and her head wound opening up again. “Harmony dammit. I should’ve remembered the date better.” Through clenched teeth, she screamed yet again. --------------------- “What the actual hell is happening with Colonel Silvercrest?” Treetop loudly asked the medical officer at the entrance to the hospital tent. “She be screamin’ like the end of the Harmony-damned world!” “Remember last year? She got married and apparently busy as well. Just your luck; she’s choosing her replacement for the duration of maternity leave as soon as it’s done.” he replied. “I was wondering why her bellys was rounder than most, and why she tended to tires more easily. Not that she ever let thats show,” Warrant Officer Woodpecker stated. He looked just like his namesake: fairly tall, skinny, interesting pattern, and a bird-like tail. He was also one of the few pony omnivores to ever exist. “The Colonel never lets being tired get in the way of dutys, so we didn’t really notice. But her diets did get quite a bit more nutritious these last few months.” The others agreed. If Silvercrest had been with child, she’d naturally try to hide it from her comrades and go on. That was just her style, and it was successful as fuck. “Well, here’s to her new kid,” Crimson said, holding a half-empty cup of army-authorized hard cider. The others nodded and held their pretend ones to his and they all drank. Then the real cup passed around the circle. They walked back to the mess tent with giddy smiles all around. When they came back in, First Lieutenant Polar “Major Asshole” Icecaps stomped in their way, demanding a good enough reason for them to be absent during lunch roll call. “Well, you see, sir, we’s all heards Colonel Silvercrest screamin’ likes a stuck pigs. When we gots there, we asked the dudes at the fronts, ‘Whut the fuck’s goin’ on?’ He saids the Colonel’s givin’s birth right now, so that’s why she be screamin’. Apparently she hids it from us all those past eleven months,” Woodpecker said. “You expect me to believe that ridiculous story when you can’t even speak polished Equestrian?” Icecaps raised an eyebrow. “Yes, Major Asshole, we do,” Treetop replied. “Unless you’re wanting us to pull the guy at the entrance over here to confirm it, you will drop the subject. Just because you outrank me doesn’t mean Colonel Silvercrest actually trusts you more. In fact, she’d rather have Second Lieutenant Shortcake over the both of us combined.” Icecaps burned with fury. The lowest cooking officer in the army, preferred over him? It didn’t help that he had a crush on the mare. “You dare? I’ll arrest you for insubordination!” “Yes, I dare. And in case you haven’t noticed, Lieutenant, there’s a Major right behind you.” Treetop said as he recognized the insignia on the stallion’s uniform as he strode over. He saluted the Major briskly. “Sir.” Icecaps turned around and saluted. Having a pissed-off Major staring directly into his eyes was unnerving. “Sir.” he gulped. “What’s this about Colonel Silvercrest? NCO first.” “Chief Warrant Officer Treetop, sir. My fellow NCOs in the Second Coastal and I heard what we assumed was Colonel Silvercrest based on the distinct wolf’s howl in her voice. We hurried to the hospital tent, where we knew she was ‘cuz of her head wound two days ago, and asked the guy at the entrance what was happening. He told us her kid’s coming. So we came back to finish lunch.” Woodpecker, Crimson, and the other NCOs with them nodded agreement. “Alright. And you, Lieutenant?” “First Lieutenant Polar Icecaps, sir. I am in command of the Second Coastal until further notice, sir. I was concerned that they were using the Colonel’s name inappropriately.” Icecaps held back another gulp. “I just came from Medical. It also turns out that I hoof out disciplinary actions around here,” the Major stated cooly. “And yes, the Chief Warrant is telling the truth. However, your statement about being in command of the Second Coastal is incorrect, Lieutenant. Colonel Silvercrest informed me herself that the care of her regiment in her absence falls on the Non-Commissioned Officers until further notice. She says they do all the work you dump instead of doing it yourself. You and the other commissioned officers of the Second Coastal Regiment are to report to my division at fourteen hundred hours.” The Major turned to Treetop. “You, Warrant, will coordinate your regiment. Do not make me feel as if I made a mistake. Is that clear?” “Crystal, sir.” Treetop held back an audible gulp of his own. “I won’t let you down, sir.” “It won’t be me, Lieutenant. It will be your Colonel.” “Yes, sir. Wait, Lieutenant?” “Yes. No regiment may be led by an NCO under any circumstances unless he or she is all that’s left. You’ve been promoted. Is there a problem with that?” “No, sir.” Treetop said quickly. He was still getting over his initial shock. Woodpecker pushed his hoof up to close the newly promoted Treetop’s dropped jaw. It shut with an audible clunk. The Major walked started to walk away and Icecaps brought Treetop to his eye level. “Don’t think you and your buddies can get away with this, punk.” “WHAT WAS THAT, LIEUTENANT ICECAPS?” came the Major’s thundering roar. “Nothing, sir!” Fear was plastered all over Icecaps’ face, with his eyes a full mile wide. “I thought so.” The Major continued to walk back to his table. The group of NCOs and Treetop walked to their own. The whole way was lined with their comrades congratulating the Earth pony on his promotion. It was in interesting lunch, to say the least. -------------------- “Forward march!” Treetop called. He led the way as the Second Coastal Regiment went down to Martian and the training grounds. It was directly after lunch break, and everypony wanted to be a good impression since their officers were literally just sent to Discipline and probably the whipping post - maybe even dishonorably discharged. Treetop had to do his best with what experience he had - which wasn’t much. Bats tripped in the front row, much to the amusement of those watching. Treetop was about to do something when Crimson stepped up and did it for him. “Get back in line, Bats! Watch your step before we become the laughingstock o’ the army!” “Sorry, sir!” Bats called back. Crimson had no response. He didn’t know what the protocol was, so he had no idea how to proceed. The good thing was that nopony else among the NCOs and his friends did either. They decided to have a talk about marching discipline later, pushing it to the backs of their minds. When they got to the training grounds, Martian was waiting impatiently. “Everypony in your spot, just like before! Get a sword and be ready for the best workout yet!” The ponies of the 2nd Coastal groaned simultaneously. Whenever Martian said, “Best workout ever,” they typically were going to pass out by the end if it weren’t for dinner. They grabbed their wooden training swords from the rack and stood in their “squad spots." “Right! Left! Jab! Overhead swing! Swap with your right! Backhoof! Uppercut! Left! Jab! Overhead! Left! Swap with your left! Right!” And so on. Eventually, the dreaded card was pulled. “Shield wall!” The ponies up front took out their wooden-and-steel shields while those behind them formed up two ranks deep. Then the middle rank took out their own shields and filled remaining holes in the line. “Too slow!” Martian called. “Squads, now!” When the weary troops finished shuffling back, he yelled again. “Shield wall! We’re doing this until you colts give me speed!” More groans came.