Disclaimer: I do not own Voltron/Go Lion/Voltron Force or any of their characters. They are the property of WEP and Devil's Due Comics and Toei Animation. All other characters are mine. This is written purely for entertainment purposes and I am not monetarily compensated in any way.
A/N: This little snippet was inspired by the Voltron Force episode "To Deceive and Conquer" and the very lively discussion from the Voltron Forum. I'd like to imagine this as an edited scene from that episode.
Special Thanks to SnyperLady for the awesomely appropriate story title and her proud service in the US Navy.
For the honorable Kogane Akira who never lets his friends down.
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot
"Wait…What the-?" Lt. Lance McClain couldn't believe his eyes. Or his ears. It was not just improbable. It was impossible. It was like getting sucker punched in the jaw and the gut at the same time. It was unbelievable. Keith had just handed over Black Lion and command of the Voltron Force to Daniel.
Ok, it was true, he had thought, everyone had thought, that it he was next in line for command. He piloted Red Lion. He had been Keith's right hand man, literally, for how many years? And when Keith was on the run he had stepped up and held things together and kept tabs on Wade. So, really? Who else would it be? Hunk? Pidge? Maybe. But Daniel? Stupid, thoughtless, self-centered Daniel? No way.
Lance hurried his steps to catch up to Keith in the corridor. He placed a hand on Keith's shoulder to stop him. "Keith! You can't be serious?"
The Voltron Force commander turned and looked at Lance then looked down at his feet and sighed heavily. "Daniel's the most logical choice—"
"What? No, he isn't! He's a liability! Shit, dude! The space mice are a more logical choice than he is! "Lance argued.
Keith glared at him for a moment. Lance just didn't understand. "Lance, you didn't get this upset when Allura stepped down and Larmina took her place in Blue."
"That's totally different and you know it. Larmina's sole purpose was to takeover Blue so Allura could finally ascend the throne and govern Arus. Like she would have been doing from the beginning if Sven hadn't been almost killed. But to be honest, I'm not exactly super thrilled about her either. Especially since we just lost Pidge! I mean, what, was Danny Boy whining that everyone was a Lion pilot but him?" Lance retorted mocking the tone of Daniel's voice.
"Lance, I've given this a lot of thought. I had a feeling that there would be -uh, a reaction to this… It's nothing personal. I just feel he's ready for the job." Keith explained.
"Lemme get this straight…you thought long and hard about this. You considered every option. Reviewed all of our service records? With their years of accomplishments, commendations, and unwavering loyalty… Mine, Hunk's, Pidge's…and you think that fucktard, Daniel is the most qualified individual to pilot Black and lead the Voltron Force?" Lance asked becoming more irate with each word he spoke.
Keith nodded. "I have. Seriously. There's more to it—"
"Seriously, what the hell has he ever done except run his mouth and cause problems?" Lance snapped back. "This is about what happened between me and Allura while you were gone, isn't it?"
For a moment Keith's blue eyes flashed with anger, but then he shook his head again. "No, Lance. It's not. Really. I've had a long time to come to terms with that…and I understand, things happen." He looked down again wondering how to continue, if he should bring up his relationship with Allura to defend against Lance's accusation.
"Yeah, I noticed." Lance replied sourly. Allura's sudden proposal to Keith had taken everyone by surprise, him most of all. He had no idea they had even started seeing each other again. He thought of all the times while Keith was on the run that he had lain awake with guilt while Allura slept next to him. He had felt like a pig for sleeping with his best friend's girl. But the truth was he had loved Allura. And she had loved him. In those crazy days after Lotor's defeat, Wade's grounding of Voltron and Keith's disappearance they had turned to each other. He knew it could never last. They were both rebounding in their own ways. Relationships that form under such desperate circumstances never last. Except when they do. Like his and Allura's did. Until Keith came home.
Keith swallowed hard. He had wanted to spare Lance further disappointments but there was no avoiding the subject. "I know everyone thought the most logical person to take over command when Allura and I—" he paused noticing the clenching of Lance's jaw and he shifted uncomfortably, but it had to be said. They needed to talk about it. Get it settled once and for all. "Everyone thought that you would be the most appropriate choice to take over command when I step down from Black and Allura and I marry. But-"
"But what?" Lance demanded.
For a moment Keith had no answer. "But you're getting old. We're all getting old. Soldiering is a young person's job. Don't you remember being on call seven days a week year after year? Never having a life. A girlfriend? Anything?"
"Yeah, I remember." Lance answered. Perspective is a funny thing, he mused. He had a life. And that life had a purpose. To defend the innocent against Zarkon and Lotor's tyranny. Girlfriends? He had plenty. Sure there weren't many or any, he wanted to settle down with, but he never lacked for company. None of them had. And most importantly they had each other. They had been through so much and learned to trust each other so completely they were closer than family. Or so he had thought.
"Aren't you tired of it?" Keith asked.
"No! No I'm not fucking tired of it! And how is this different? Except instead of being on call twenty four seven and taking your orders I have to take orders from that inexperienced, hot headed, impulsive, teenage moron you just made Commander!"
Keith paused again, choosing his words carefully. Lance had every right to be angry, but he had to understand. Things were different now. Times had changed and they needed to change with them. "That's what they said about us, remember? When we first found the Lions. We were all inexperienced teenage morons. And you were the most impulsive hothead of all of us. None of us were ready either. He just needs a chance to prove himself."
Lance said nothing. They had been young and hotheaded, true. But inexperienced? Nah. Morons? Never. They were not like this new generation of over privileged brats that had can't handle criticism, overcome obstacles, or show even a shred of accountability for their actions. He had seen enough of these whiney marshmallows pushed through the Academy. If it wasn't for the massive attrition rates created after Doom's defeat and the war's official end most of their applications would have never been considered.
They, the original Voltron Force, had grown up during that war. Not in the economic boom of aftermath, watching holos about how one man saves the world with impossible to believe special effects and every plan comes together into a happy ending. When they grew up, dying on the playground at recess was a real possibility. They didn't have to turn on their gaming systems to 'play' soldier. They lived it. Now he was being passed over by the most incompetent, self-centered brat of them all? Why? Because Keith said so? Had he lost his mind?
"Look, Lance I know you're mad—"
"Mad? Mad doesn't begin to cover it—"He stepped back slightly and clenched his fist at his side then exhaled a deep breath and released it. "You know what, Keith? This is a big mistake. A big one… and it's going to bite us all right in the ass! Fuck you, buddy. And fuck this. I may have to live with it, but I don't have to like it." Lance said through clenched teeth, turned around and stormed out of the castle.