Ronald's POV
"And what if you become a team leader? If you act like that, no one will follow you, let alone respect you." Sirena remind me of my poor conduct a couple of days back.
I thought about what she said when I stated I believe I am more capable than Mr. Foxmensky who would jump into a gunfight without a plan. Whom, I cannot hope that he would be an effective leader, and he went into a dangerous situation without even bring backup.
"AND WHO IS THE ONE THAT CHOSE NOT TO CONTACT ANYONE FOR BACKUP AND NEARLY GOT KILLED HIS TROUBLES, HMM??" I remembered I said it out of frustration when the Captain choose Todd.
I guess the team must hate for my behavior after what I said and how I expressed myself. Likewise, I doubt being Intelligence officer would be worthwhile, I might get saddled with paperwork while my "teammates" get to be the real "heroes".
"Ronnie! Siting by yourself? Must have a bad day, eh?" Someone spoke… Coldman?
"Coldman, my old friend! Why are you here?" I turned around to greet my family friend.
Coldman is my mother's old friend for many years since my dad up and left. When I was young, he was the one that I would look to the most and the one that encouraged to get into various things like Science, Mechanical work and making me an excellent shot with a rifle. It was his influence that encourages my mother to have me join the rangers, or she'll throw me out on the streets.
I didn't want to become a soldier, and I hated the basic training from day 1. But had to put up with it, in order to get a cushy-office job, easy-peasy. Coldman, however, thought it would have been better for me to join his unit than sit an office whereas he calls "Wrong Position. Wasted Talent".
Ha! As if my luck has already changed, now I am stuck being an intelligence officer in a position that I didn't want, and I had wanted to be a Lt. Captain. While the idiot-
"Lost in thought, must be angry. Checks are turning red." Coldman noticed my frustrations on my face. "You put up a front to hide frustration. You know I can see through it."
"Right…" I took a deep breath "You are good at things because you were part of the Russell Recon." I remember he is still in that role.
"That Correct! Still… Heard that you got promoted, yes?" Coldman lets out a smile which it's rare for him to do so. "But you wanted more, No?"
How did he know? Then again, should I talk to him about my outburst about when Captain Vice promoted an idiot to lead us.
"Yeah, an Idiot got promoted as a team leader instead of me." I expressed my frustrations to him.
"I know. Vice promoted him. Didn't you ask why? You lashed out instead." He shakes his head in disapproval. "That is not you, Ronald. You should be better."
"Excuse me?!" Mortified that he took Vice's side and that idiot. "I have every right! To be team leader, not Todd!" I shouted to him.
"Nasty attitude! No wonder people couldn't stand you. Yelling instead of understanding a fellow solider." he quips at me.
"Oh, I'm sorry! Perhaps, I've -"
"NO!" Coldman yells. "The point is, to be a leader, you got to learn how to serve. You need to learn how to understand your fellow man instead of wasting your breath, complain that he got the promotion, and you don't. Being an intelligence officer is not about doing paperwork or an office job."
"Then what is it, then?" I asked him for clarification.
"As an Intelligence Officer you plan and strategy for the team, you gather intel and assimilate it." Coldsman taps to my head. "You share that knowledge. You get your team smarter and wiser because your role is to make sure that your team stays alive." then he points out to my heart. "That 'idiot' can inspire people and give them confidence by his heart. You will also need to connect with his heart and give him some knowledge so even if you are not around, he knows he can confide in you to see it through."
"Coldman… I don't know…" I am bewildered of what he is saying that… I need to aid this idiot! This… Uncultured Savage?!
"Going to say this once, Ronnie! Listen!" I paid attention to what he is saying. "Instead of lamenting about not making as leader or trying to coast through toward an office job which you would really want."
"Hey!" irritated by what he said.
"Be the support that the team will need. Even if you have to get him up to speed on the day-to-day things during camp." he smiled again. "Even if you have to grab a pan and hit him with it to get him to see sense." my eyes widen in shock…
I was getting ready to open my mouth to call it ridiculous, but thinking about what Coldman says is true. Nobody will listen to me if just yell at them and ... I will have to admit it, I would make a terrible leader if the Captain had chosen me.
I should have simply considered my role in my team instead of complaining about the idiot is leading the team. I should give them the old college try.
"All right! Maybe I should-" I turned to see that Coldman vanished, I hate it when he does that. But I shall… Assimilate my self to my teammates.
Even if I must stop that Idiot, Todd, from getting himself killed again. He is responsible for... leading this team.