Warning: Contents May Be Under Pressure

Koltai grunted loudly as the shovel dug a shallow cut into the impacted dirt. Pain shot through his haphazardly bandaged hands from bleeding sores but he ignored it the best he could. He had trouble focusing directly on the bank, but at this point, he was digging solely through muscle memory. His bare back baked in the hot sun while the arms of the fatigue shirt tied around his waist slapped softly against his thighs. He looked over the work of the two recruits' next to him, using what cognitive skills remained at this point to determine if they were still digging somewhat correctly. As section leader, he was responsible for the man and woman to his sides. Or as much responsibility as anyone could claim at this point.

This was the eighth trench the recruits had dug in four days. Four days with two hours of sleep total, and it was beginning to show. No one spoke. Only the deep breathing of the recruits mixed with the striking of shovels against dirt. The work had slowed to a near crawl as each recruit struggled to keep the rhythm of their shoveling constant against the calls in each of their minds to quit. Soldiers paced the ground above the recruits' trench as overwatch, but otherwise remained quiet and observant. The dirt under the dirt under the recruits' feet was colored in sporadic patches of crimson where the blood from open blisters and shallow wounds had collected, coagulated, and dried.

The klank of a shovel head striking a rock generated zero interest in the recruits until they heard the soft footsteps of a recruit walking away from the trench. Every recruit stopped in place to watch her walk towards Captain Tazami.

Tazami was seated on a lawn chair overlooking the recruit's work efforts, reading a book. Next to him was a single post with a large bell affixed to it. Without a word, the recruit stepped to the bell, grabbed the leather strap tied to the clapper, and rang it once. A feeling of sadness washed over the recruits as Tazami waved her off of the field without removing his gaze from the book's page. She did not turn to face the other recruits as she turned her body and walked away from the trenches, never to return.

Tazami finally looked up and watched her leave for a brief moment before closing his book. He stood from his chair and ambled over to the current trench. The other recruits stood numbly as Tazami spoke.

"Another huen dahn....it's a shame, I thought she had it in her."

None of the recruits responded to Tazami. All knew by this point that he was merely testing them. Trying to get under their skin. Tazami smiled at the recruits' silence and watched as they struggled to restart their rhythm. One recruit was having a particularly troublesome time. He seemed to be having trouble lifting the shovel he had buried deep within the dirt.

"Tian di wu yohn, Henderson, pick up that shovel or so help me, you will be building another ruttin' trench by your lonesome, am I understood?"

Henderson nodded slowly and struggled to lift the shovel's head out of the dirt. The dirt was heavy and Henderson strained for a few seconds before the shovel gave way in a cascade of dirt and rocks. Tazami returned his attention to the rest of the recruits as Henderson looked mournfully at the size of the dirt mound that had collected at his feet.

"Fourteen of you are left. Gorram surprise, if you ask me. Sergeant Tilman, have you ever seen this few recruits pass this point?"

One of the soldiers overlooking the recruits responded quickly, "No sir!"

Truth of the matter was the group's drop-out rate was right at average. The two week psychological training regiment, referred to as "The Gauntlet," was a constant barrage of attacks on the recruits' spirits as the performed tedious physical tasks under the most bizarre of conditions. They had to learn to reach within for inner strength, and this was merely one more step in the process.

Lieutenant Koltai grunted heavily as another load of dirt was tossed by his shovel out of the deepening trench. The noise caught Tazami's attention and he walked over to the lieutenant's position.

"Having trouble, Koltai?"

Koltai did not break his rhythm as he responded. He did not even look up to Tazami's position to acknowledge the statement.

"No sir."

Tazami pressed his lips together as he watched Koltai's section for a few more seconds before continuing with his barrage. He focused his attention on the female recruit to Koltai's left.

"You section of wall is pathetic, Drake. You think this go se will protect a single gorram bullet, much less a full assault? Pick up the pace or...."

"Captain Tazami, I think that is enough." Tazami's eyebrows twitched slightly as Koltai cut him off.

"Koltai, exactly what the hell was that?"

The recruits around him stopped working in shock. Slowly the whole line stopped to watch the confrontation. Tazami did not look away from Koltai as the man turned and plunged the shovel in a tired, but defiant stroke.

"Captain Tazami, I am the section leader, if you have a problem with my subordinates, you will address them to me first."

Tazami stared back at Koltai. There was dead silence between the two until Tazami spoke again.

"Are you questioning my method, Koltai?"

Koltai's face did not change as he responded.

"No sir."

"Explain yourself, lieutenant."

Koltai inhaled and spoke slowly. The effort of speech was clearly on the border of his remaining energy.

"...sir, you said it yourself. Always respect the chain of command. That includes yourself."

Koltai finished his statement without a hint of smugness. By all accounts, Koltai was barely aware that anyone, much less the entire recruit corps was staring at him. Tazami remained silent for several seconds, staring back at Koltai's unfocused gaze. He turned in place and walked to the other end of the trench.

"Lieutenant Taka..."

The female recruit turned her head to face Tazami with the same semi-blank stare as Koltai.

"Lieutenant Koltai appears to think that I violated the chain of command by addressing Sergeant Drake directly. Do you agree with the Lieutenant?"

Taka glanced at Koltai quickly before answering with a wavering voice, "Yes, sir."

Tazami nodded without changing his expression. He turned to the next section leader at the end of the trench.

"And you, Lieutenant Robinson?"

Robinson inhaled deeply and spoke with as much confidence as he could muster, "No sir."

"Why not?"

Robinson opened his mouth to answer, but closed it again as no words entered his mind.

A grin broke on Tazami's face as he stepped back to Koltai's position. Koltai continued to maintain his posture as Tazami looked back and forth between Taka and Koltai.

"Lieutenants Taka and Koltai, you will take your sections back to camp for medical treatment and two hours rest."

Koltai and Taka both blinked for a few seconds as the information was absorbed.

"Now, Lieutenants."

Smiles broke out between the lieutenants and their subordinates, though no one had the energy to express anything except quiet joy. The klinks of shovels being plunged softly into the ground sounded as the two sections slowly climbed from the trenches and ambled slowly away.

Tazami watched the two sections leave before turning back to Robinson's section, who were staring daggers not at the leaving recruits, but at Lieutenant Robinson.

"Lieutenant Robinson. Apparently we need to have a discussion about the term 'brown-noser'... "