Deliberate deliberations

General Puller and I were standing outside the doors to where the Joint Chiefs were deciding our fate. It was only an hour or so, but it felt like it had been days. The MP’s stood rigid around us, but they didn’t have their weapons pointed or anything.

“You’ll be lucky to walk out of there with your [beep] intact,” he said calmly.

“Sir, I think we’ve both got a lot to worry about,” I answered. “What do you think they’re going to do to a rogue general?”

“Oh, I’m in too deep, son,” he chuckled. “I’m in too deep. I’ve got too much on them, they can’t touch me.”

“So that’s it?” I asked. “Is that all? You’re gonna let them skewer me and you’re just gonna walk out of here like nothing at all?”

“That’s the breaks, kid. If it’s any consolation, no con’s going to [beep] with a Colonial Marine. You’re tough, heh heh, plenty tough.”

“You suck [beep] piece of [beep],” I said. “I can’t believe you’d [beep] on your troops like that.”

Oh man, I can't believe I just said that. The General was staring at me in disbelief, then he looked like he was getting real angry.

“What do you know, you little twinkle-toed [beep][beep]er?” he demanded. “I am the Commandant of the United Space Colonial Marine Corps. Every marine, tank, boat, building, and pencil is mine. Mine! And they live and die by my command.”

“I may not be a fancy general,” I answered. “But I’ve learned a few things while leading my squad. Losing even one of my men on a pointless mission is too much, and I lost two. If you’re what a leader is supposed to be, then I don’t want to be one.”

The General's brow furled as he thought for a moment.

“Perhaps you're right, son,” he conceeded. “Maybe I did lose touch with the troops under my command. I've been in the corps for a long time, so long that I've forgotten who the backbone of this place is. It's guys like you, you little [beep]ing communist [beep][beep].”

The general started chuckling, then his face cracked into a wide grin. I laughed as well, maybe we both learned something today. Just then, Corporal Ferro rounded the corner and saw me. The MP’s stepped in front of her so she couldn’t come near me.

“Hudson, what happened?” she asked. “Are you under custody?”

“It’s… complicated, Ferro,” I answered. “General Puller and I were just standing before the Joint chiefs. They are deciding what’s going to happen next.”

“Oh,” she said. “Well, I really hope everything goes alright. If there’s anything I can do for you, let me know.”

“Thanks, I will.”

She turned and walked away. The General smiled and nodded as we watched her turn the corner.

“That’s a good looking little filly,” he admired.

“Yeah,” I mused. “She and I go back. Way back.”

“Well, if you’re lucky enough to walk out of here a free man, I say you should really think about getting to know her better.”

“What? Corporal Ferro?”

“Sure, son,” he chuckled. “Didn’t she see how she came looking for you? It seems pretty obvious that she fancies you.”

“Corporal Ferro?” Then I started to think about it. Yeah, I can see that, I can totally see that.

Just then the doors to where the Joint Chiefs were sitting opened. The sergeant of the guard stepped out and pointed his thumb back towards they were sitting.

“It’s showtime,” he said with a grim smirk on his face.