I.P.R.N.S. Enterprise, Indy Europus System, 14 June 2407 (Military Calendar)
After sharing their brief intimate moment, and wordlessly agreeing to keep it private, Sokka and Azula marched toward the Demon Dogs' maintenance bay, finding the Marines working hard to repair the five bombers that were damaged in the pirates' attack, while the flight and deck crews of the four bombers from Sokka's flight cannibalizing the two severely damaged bombers for parts.
Despite seeing their dedication to their work, Sokka noticed there was a slight disheartenment in their body language, as they were still mourning the loss of their fellow Marines.
Sokka keyed his commlink. "Sergeant Major Galindez, get the squadron formed up."
"Aye aye, sir," the sergeant major replied.
Within fifteen minutes, the squadron was in formation in the center of the maintenance bay. Sokka and Azula marched over to where Sergeant Major Galindez waited.
"ATTENTION ON DECK!" he bellowed, causing the whole squadron to snap to attention. When Sokka approached the sergeant major, the latter about-faced and saluted.
"Sir, twenty-two in sick bay, fourteen killed-in-action, all remaining personnel accounted for and present."
Sokka returned the salute. "Thank you sergeant major. I'll speak to the squadron now." The sergeant major stepped aside, ready to support his new commanding officer.
"At ease squadron," Sokka called out, prompting his Marines to relax their posture, but they all turned their attention to him.
Not used to speaking to the whole squadron, Sokka suddenly found himself nervous. He looked at Azula for reassurance…
She smiled and nodded slightly, as if telling him, They already respect you. Just be yourself.
Sokka looked back at his squadron, who still waited for him to speak.
"Alright Demon Dogs, I know we've suffered huge losses recently, and I feel the same pain you do," he began as confidently as he could.
"But we can't let that hold us down, not for too long, because we're Interplanetary Republic Marines.
"And dammit we're also the Demon Dogs, the most vicious space bomber squadron in the Corps!"
"Oorah!" the squadron called out.
"And why are the most vicious?" Sokka asked, but he did not wait for any answer.
"Because when we get bit, we bite back harder! And we just got bit pretty damn hard, so once we find these damn pirates, we're not just gonna bite them: we're gonna eat them like they're a fucking gourmet meal!"
"OORAH!" the squadron bellowed, including Sergeant Major Galindez.
"Out-fucking-standing," Sokka said. He turned around and said, "Sergeant major, get them back to work."
"Aye aye, sir," the sergeant major said, saluting Sokka and followed his orders.
Sokka walked over to Azula, who wore a proud smile.
"'Eat them like they're a fucking gourmet meal?'" she asked with a slight tease to her voice.
"Hey, it felt right," Sokka said with a cheeky smile.
"After seeing the few times eating in the officers' mess, I'm not surprised," she said with a smile.
Before leaving the maintenance bay, Sokka looked at his squadron and saw the results of his speech.
There was now determination in their steps and actions as they worked to get the bombers ready.
"So other than giving rousing speeches," Sokka began to ask Azula, "what else goes into leading a squadron?"
Over the next week, Sokka got his answer, multiple times over.
Some of it was what he expected, especially under the circumstances: establishing a new chain of command, supervising the new flight leads, and holding inspections.
But he underestimated how much more went into being a squadron commander, much to Azula's amusement. There was much more involved in the development of his Marines' training, education, and career guidance through online training, not hands on as was more familiar with. Establishment of policies and procedures through formal documentation, not informal word of mouth. Management of resources not only within his squadron but also through official channels to request much needed supplies and equipment with the Marine Corps and the Navy.
"Ugh," he lamented to Azula as she worked on her own screenwork of documents for her own squadron. "Who decided to have this much screenwork for a fighting organization?"
"The Marine Corps," Azula replied simply.
"Well if I become Commandant, the first thing I'll do is cut back on all the screenwork across the Corps," he declared with false determination, knowing he would better luck flying sling-shooting around a star in his bomber without burning up to some degree.
"Good luck with that," Azula said as she finished up with her work. "But when I become Commandant, I'll increase the amount of screenwork just to spite you." She approached him as he looked over his tablet with a serious face. "What is it?"
"A disciplinary issue," Sokka said. "Sergeant Major Galindez brought it up earlier today, but I was more focused on requisitioning 3D printed parts from the Navy. But now I have to deal with this… and I'm not sure how."
"Who's the Marine and what's their infraction?" she asked, putting on a serious tone.
"Lance Corporal Jeremy Singer, one of our avionics techs," Sokka began. "He's on his first tour, fresh out of boot camp and the schoolhouse. According to the report, after having a few drinks at The Soaring Bootnecks, he and three fellow Marines were returning to their quarters, where they overheard two voidsmen blaming our squadron for the foil up that led to Navy ships being damaged. Lance Corporal Singer took offense to this and shoved one of the voidsmen into the bulkhead. Before a fight could break out, a Navy ensign stopped it, but is insistent that Lance Corporal Singer be demoted and," Sokka trailed off, not believing what he was reading, "sentence to the brig for thirty days? Is that ensign fucking joking?"
"Apparently not, given the report," Azula said. "What are you going to do?"
"Honestly, I'd rather do nothing and wipe this thing under the rug," Sokka said before looking at her, seeing the disapproving look on her beautiful face. "What? I don't blame the lance corporal at all. Hell I'd do the same thing if I was him."
"But you're not him," Azula said. "You're his commanding officer, and you have to set a precedence for what is acceptable behavior, and what is not acceptable behavior." She breathed deeply before continuing. "I understand and admire how you can relate to your Marines, officer and enlisted, but you don't have the luxury of being their friendly easy-going officer."
"I'm their squadron commander," Sokka began, "and I have to maintain good order and discipline… even if that means being the bad guy."
"Unfortunate, but necessary," Azula said. "What do you believe you should do?"
"Well Lance Corporal Singer has no prior disciplinary incidents, works exceptionally hard, and while too early to tell, there's possibility that he's avionics expertise may result in him becoming a warrant officer if he wishes," Sokka explained before looking up the ensign who filed the report.
"Ah, the officer who filed the report is one Ensign Eric Sims, a restricted line officer who's aspiring to become a security officer. Sounds like he's trying to prove he's up to the task," Sokka said.
"Not a terrible thing for him to do," Azula pointed out.
"But he's overreaching his authority," Sokka countered.
"Agreed," Azula said to his delight. "But the lance corporal's action cannot go unpunished."
"Yeah," Sokka said before sighing. He thought for a few moments before coming to a decision. "Okay, I'm not going to demote Lance Corporal Singer, and I'm certainly not going to put him in the brig. But I will restrict him from going to any of the ship's bars and have him see a psychiatrist to see how alcohol can effect his emotional and mental state, and how he's processing the losses in our squadron. What do you think?"
Azula thought this over for a few minutes, long enough to make Sokka feel that it was not enough.
"I'm of the opinion that if you forbid your Marines from consuming alcohol, this incident would likely not have happened," Azula began, much to the chagrin of Sokka. "But given the circumstances and how rude the voidsmen were, I'd say this incident was one that would've happened at some point, regardless of alcohol consumption or lack thereof."
"So," Sokka said, unsure what to make of Azula's opinion, "you think I made a good decision?"
Azula looked at him with a blank expression, before smirking with pride at him.
"Yes, I think you made the best decision possible," she said.
Sokka smiled brightly before typing up his decision for his sergeant major to issue to the lance corporal.
"Say," he said before putting away his tablet, "would mind if I buy you a drink?"
"Just one?" Azula teased. "Why not a whole bottle of red wine?"
"Really?" Sokka asked. "Drinking a whole bottle of red wine at the bar?"
"Not at the bar," Azula said with a devilish look in her eye. "But in my quarters."
Sokka's eyes widen in surprise, but he smiled. "Is that an order colonel?"
"You're damn right it is major," she said before walking away. "Now get to it Marine."