Author's Note: I finally got Windlifter pinned down for something! Prompt suggested by Bandit.
L is for Leader
"Professor…how would you define a leader?"
The question that wide-eyed vehicles was asking him was an honest one, but Windlifter wasn't exactly sure how to put his feeling about the subject into words. He had seen so many different types of leaders out there that he had a hard time distilling that experience into something less than a three-hour lecture. Just reflecting at his time as a firefighter at Piston Peak National Park for example, gave him such a variety of examples to draw from.
There was Blade, a leader who was steady with a sharp tongue that could easily cut through any nonsense that was placed before him…but he was also a vehicle that was driven with a deep sorrow that made him willing to put his life on the line to protect those who worked beneath him.
There was Maru, a vehicle who might not look like a leader from the outside, but one who's orders one ignored at your own peril. The small mechanic's leadership was rarely understood within the confines of the base, but when shit hit the fan while the team was deployed on a major fire, there was no tug you would rather see taking control of your medical care. Because while Maru wasn't the always the most senior mechanic on the flight line, but you always knew he had done his upmost to be the most knowledgeable.
Then there was Cabbie, a plane who had commanded aircraft on a scale that Windlifter had a hard time imaging, yet also an aircraft that did is best to make sure he always gave his full support to vehicles currently in command that were far his junior in both age and experience. In his own quiet way, Cabbie was one of the most nurturing teachers that Windlifter had ever witnessed. The old C-119 would always give a fledgling leader the space they needed to grow into their new position, but he was also always willing to provided needed advice and when holes in the leadership structure appeared during an emergency the old plane would always seamlessly plug them in a way that kept those around him safe. The Skycrane was certain that one of the reasons that Blade had grown into as strong of a leader as he had, was in large part due to the safety net Cabbie had given him during his first two years on the job.
Then there were the ground pounders. Windlifter had seen and awful lot of smokejumpers during his years at Piston Peak, but the ways the lead never ceased to fascinate him. The current combination of leaders were a particular delight to watch from above. Dynamite epitomized someone who lead from the front. On every fire, she was willing to lead the charge, to bushwhack the path, to be the first to place her tires squarely in front of the danger. Her team was willing to follow her to the ends of the earth because they knew that she would never ask them to do a task she wasn't also willing to do.
Avalanche's leadership style was nearly a polar opposite of the ATV's. His size and weight, prevented him from being the nimble captain leading the charge. Instead, Avalanche took a role similar to that that Cabbie played in the air…he became the team's safety net. Every smokejumper knew that they could give their all, because if they got stuck, Avalanche would be their to pull them back to safety.
And those were just the vehicles on his team. There were so many other leaders who lived and worked at the park. Some were incredible vehicles to work under…others left something to be desired, but all showed that leadership was a term that didn't have a simple definition…and when simple definitions failed him, Windlifter turned to analogies.
"The definitions of what a leader is are as numerous as the number of snowflakes in a snowstorm, and each vehicle who wishes to become a leader must go on a journey to discover which of those myriad crystal of ice represents how they will serve their communities. Does that make sense?"
"I guess…" His student managed to reply after a long pause. It was clear from the look that the car was giving him, every single word of Windlifter's imparted wisdom had completely gone over his roof…but in some ways, that meant the world was exactly how it should be. Deep, complex topics took time to truly soak into one's soul.
So, with that, the helicopter gave a solemn nod, and turned his attention to the next student in line. Wondering with a delight that caused his engine to quiver, what additional questions his pupils might have come up with.