1. Retired- Chapter Three – Praetorian Guard


    Date: 11/15/2014, Categories: Science-Fiction, Author: Brootforce, Rating: 89.3, Source: sexstories.com

    way through the mud, blood, and bullets to get here today. My door is always open to the men and women under my command. If you have a problem with me in any way, you are to bring it to me. I do not accept muttered complaints. Come to me and voice your complaint like a soldier. “I will be conducting interviews with the company over the next two weeks. I want to know the soldiers who will be standing at my side when we have to fight. You will notice I said ‘at my side’. I do not believe a soldier can be led from the rear. You are not horses -- you are men and women. You deserve the simple respect of a leader who is willing to die beside you to get the job done.” I paused to let my words soak in a bit. “Unit, dismissed!” I was sitting in my office. It had taken me all of ten minutes to unpack my small box of personal effects. My door was open and the senior colonel walked in. “Colonel Daggun J’thob, reporting, sir,” he said, with a crisp salute. I stood and returned his salute. “Relax, Colonel. This is an informal interview. Take a seat and let’s talk.” Once he was seated, I started my questions. “How long have you been with the Praetorian Guard?” “Twenty-five years, sir.” “I assume you were a combat soldier prior to your being asked to join the PG?” “Yes, sir, I spent sixteen years in combat service.” “Very good. What is your feeling on the men under my command? How many of them would survive combat if they were thrust into it?” “The PG is all composed of combat veterans. ...
    Most have survived multiple engagements. The support soldiers are all non-combat. They are all logistics and maintenance soldiers. I would give most of them a very limited chance of survival.” “You and I are going to change that. I want every soldier under my command to retire alive. I hate writing condolence letters.” “There will likely be a lot of grumbling over that, sir.” “Drop the ‘sir’ and just talk to me. I don’t need to be reminded of my rank every sentence. I want the men to grumble and be angry with me. That means they are learning something. I have come out of nowhere and been put in command of these men. Is that likely to cause friction between myself and the men?” “I would not think so. The PG understands that rank in our unit is from ability, not politics. Most of them understand your career caught the eye of the emperor, or you would not be here.” My interviews went on all day as I talked with my command staff. I would start the non-commissioned officer ranks tomorrow. Tonight I needed my command staffs help. All four companies of our support battalion woke up at third hour. No, they did not have a nice gentle awakening with coffee and toast on a tray. I had walked into the barracks at second hour and found the fire watch chair empty. Then I walked through all four buildings as quietly as a mouse and found every bed occupied. They had set no guard of any kind. I went back to the PG and woke a few of the off duty soldiers to get their help with my plan. We loaded ...
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