Greetings Mortals! So I'd like to first apologize for my prolonged absence. Second, I'd like to warn you that this does not mean my return is complete. I've got a lot of life things going on, and writing isn't really a priority right now. However, I do promise I will try and update as often I can. can't say which story will be updated or when though, as I have to feel the chapter... it sounds weird, but I'm sure all the other authors out there know the feeling! So I'll stop rambling now. You guys didn't come here for an author's note! You came here for a chapter and I hope this is still up to par!

however before I start I have to give a massive shout out to the one and only waatp She is literally the only reason this chapter exists so everyone big round of applause to her and you should go check out her amazing work!

As usual, this is the typical disclosure. I own nothing, Al rights and whatever belong to universal and the pitch perfect people. Blah blah, blah. We all know this.

Glancing at her watch, Alice smirked. Quickly scribbling down in her notes, Alice had to bite back her smug laugh. Only five minutes in, and Little Miss Perfect Lieutenant was already off to a bad start. How long was it going to take for the short sergeant to get Lt. Posen? This was the ARMY for God's sake! Timeliness was expected and it had already been more than five minutes since the short sergeant entered the building. Biting her lip, Alice smirked again. So much for Ms. Perfect's fabled punctuality. Only five minutes in and things were looking good for the colonel.

Hearing a door slam, Alice quickly schooled her features back to a blank look while she began to mentally pick apart everything Ms. Posen was doing. Noting her perfect posture and step though, Alice had to grit her teeth to remain cool. She was still late. The day had just begun and Alice had plenty of time and opportunities to tear Posen apart.

Glancing over to the shorter sergeant, (Mitchell was it? Ah, who gave a fuck. She was a colonel. She didn't need to know the name of every single person under her command, and definitely not some stupid ass master sergeant… no matter how attractive she might be) Alice snorted in disbelief. Even with a quick glance, she could see that the sergeant had perfect form. Eyes straight ahead, in step, and at attention, Sergeant Mitchell looked like she just walked out of a drill handbook.

Whatever.

Snapping back out of her thoughts, Alice straightened her face and attitude to something slightly more appropriate for the situation and stood at attention. Stopping two paces away, Aubrey called a halt, and deftly raised her salute.

"Ma'am, First Lieutenant Posen reports as ordered," Aubrey barked, eyes trained forwards and body stiffly at attention.

Pausing, Alice just glared at Aubrey for a moment, picking apart her uniform, her salute, her bearing, before she scribbled down something. Glancing up, Alice noted (unhappily) that Aubrey was still at attention, still had her salute up, and still looked perfect.

"Returned." Alice grunted, not wanting to salute Aubrey back.

There was no way, not even if hell itself had frozen over was Alice going to to return Aubrey's salute. Struggling to even acknowledge 'Little Miss Perfect Posen', the thought struck a chord in Alice's mind that Aubrey believed herself to be so great. Choking back the bile, she looked at the well groomed girl in front of her. She might be the men's commander and the golden girl to the echelon but that didn't stop her being a lapdog to the higher ups. A smirk threatened to post itself on Alice's lips and she rationed in her jealous mind that she was, by rule, the higher up in this instance, being a colonel and all. She wondered how Aubrey would feel licking her boots now?!

For a few moments, everyone stood about awkwardly, with the exception of Lt. posen and MSgt. Mitchell who were standing at attention.

"Lt. Posen," Alice said slowly, slowly circling the two people before her, "1st Lieutenant Aubrey Posen. Two silver stars, a bronze star, three purple hearts, and a bunch more awards no one really cares about… THE Lieutenant Posen. That's you, right?"

"Yes ma'am!" Aubrey said, no emotion showing.

"You're rather cocky, aren't you?" Alice sneered, "Think you're all that, don't you?"

"No Ma'am." Aubrey said simply. "Permission to make a statement ma'am!"

"Denied!" Alice barked, "I want to inspect your troops. NOW!"

"Yes ma'am!" Aubrey said, before turning to Beca, "Sergeant Mitchell, rally the troops!"

"Yes Ma'am!" Beca said, saluting before taking off.

"Ma'am," Aubrey said, turning back to face Alice, "What-"

"NO!" Alice barked, "You WILL NOT speak to me unless I speak to you first and you WILL NOT question me. YOU WILL use your 7 basic responses with me as well. I am your superior and I expect to be treated as such. Is that understood?!"

"YES MA'AM!" Aubrey said, mentally strangling the woman in front of her as she took in the red, cross face before her. How could a single woman be so unbelievably annoying? And so fucking STUPID! Yes, Alice was a colonel. Yes, Alice was considerably higher ranking. But she had not earn her rank. Her rank was bought by her senator daddy, and while Aubrey would respect the collar, there was no way in hell she would respect the fake in the uniform.

"Eyes, Posen," Alice said, grinning wickedly.

"Snap ma'am!" Aubrey said, snapping her eyes over to Alice.

"I want you to look at me when I talk to you, but I want you at attention. I don't know what kind of inspectors you're use to, but I'm going to tell you now, I'm the top inspector DC has." Alice smirked, enjoying the power she had over the famed Lieutenant. "I'm also not sure what kind of things you've heard about me, and frankly I don't care. I do expect my reputation has preceded me though. I'm going to tell you now that I expect nothing short of perfection from you and your troops. Is that understood?"

"Yes ma'am!" Aubrey said, snapping quickly to attention before going back to her previous position.

"And now, between you and me," Alice said, walking very close to Aubrey and dropping her voice so that only Aubrey could hear, "I don't like you Posen. You think you are something reeeeeaaaal special, don't you? No, don't answer that, because all I'll hear are lies. And I detest lies. Just like your reputation. And by the end of this week Posen, the whole world will see that you're just a fake, and that the hype around you is just that. No one will believe the hype and you can go back to the front lines where you belong."

"Permission to make a statement ma'am?" Aubrey asked, never once wavering.

"Granted." Alice smirked, sure that Aubrey was going to beg for a good grade.

"I don't like you either ma'am." Aubrey said loudly, so that everyone, including her troops that were marching up could hear, "And you can't threaten me just because you think your collar means you're better than me. The reason the brass like me is because I get shit done and I actually know what I'm talking about. The reason my men like me is because I don't bother trying to make my superiors like me or try and have high profile missions to make myself look better. Instead of brown nosing my way to the top, I've actually earned my position.

I use my energy to be the best I can be for my men and try to make sure most of the men behind me get home to their families. Taking out a few of the bastards who threaten our homes is just an added bonus to ALL of us here … Ma'am!" Aubrey spat out the last part, scorn clear in her words, "And you can send me away if you want, if you can. Because I have faith in my men, and I KNOW that I have a perfect unit. With the exception of your cousin and a few of his buffon friends who think they're entitled to everything, this has been one of the best squadron's I've ever had the pleasure of working with. So try and shoot us down if you so wish want. You'll find its a lot harder to do, than to say."

Mouth hanging open, it was all Colonel Allen could do to keep some shreds of her composure together as Aubrey's squadron halted before her and Sergeant Mitchell, on behalf of the squadron saluted her and reported in.

"Returned," Allen coughed, trying to compose herself.

Looking at the assembly before her, she could see that what Aubrey said was true. She'd been doing this job for a while now, and she knew the look in the men and women's eyes before her. They were determined, and they were ready. Noting their posture, their uniforms, everything, Alice could see from here there would be very little she would have to use against Aubrey.

With Alice's back turned to her, Aubrey smirked. Let it be said by none that Lt. Posen would EVER run from a fight.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

"SQUADRON! ATEEEEEEEN-SHUN!" Beca barked, in a surprisingly loud voice from such a tiny person.

Immediately, the squadron in front of her snapped to attention. Glancing over, Aubrey bit back a smirk as she noticed all of the inspectors scribbling down on their clipboards.

"OPEN RANKS, HARCH!" Beca barked.

Immediately, the entire flight opened ranks and went into an immediate dress right dress… just like they'd taught them. Walking over to Aubrey, Beca stopped and saluted.

"Ma'am, the company is yours." Beca said, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips.

"Outstanding, thank you sergeant." Aubrey said, returning the salute.

Performing an about face, Aubrey walked up to Col. Allen and the rest of the inspection squad and saluted.

"Ma'am, the 32'nd infantry company is ready for open ranks inspection."

"Returned." Alice grumbled, her nerves frayed. This was suppose to be her chance to expose Posen for the poser she was, but so far, the only thing she could say was that it took her a little too long to meet her. Fuck that shit.

"INSPECTION SQUAD!" Alice barked out, ignoring Aubrey, "FAAAAAAAAAALLLL IN!"

Immediately, her small squad of inspectors fell in before her, Lt. Col. Roiyaru in the front. Squinting her eyes a little, Alice did her best to calm down. She needed to be on her A game now. The 32'nd was a large company, with over 120 recruits and the odds were likely that SOMEONE had some infractions she could write down.

"POSEN!" Alice barked, "FRONT AND CENTEEEEEEER!"

Marching over, Aubrey stopped in front of Alice and saluted the incompetent bitch in front of her once again.

"Ma'am First-" Aubrey started, reporting as ordered.

"Can it Posen." Alice growled, "Assign your staff to each inspector as needed. You will be with me. IS THAT UNDERSTOOD?"

"YES MA'AM!" Aubrey barked.

"Good…" Alice paused for a second and noted that Aubrey hadn't moved yet. "WHY ARE YOU STILL HERE? MOVE!"

"Yes Ma'am!" Aubrey said, suppressing an eye roll, while her stomach turned over. She suppressed the familiar feeling. "Staff! Front and centeeeeer!"

Immediately, her staff appeared before her.

"At ease!" Aubrey barked before anyone said anything. lowering her voice so no one but her and her staff could hear, she began to give her orders and listen to complaints.

"Holy shit LT! This Allen bitch is a fucking bitch!" Jesse hissed.

"RIIIIIIIGHT?" Chloe growled, her usual smile gone, replaced with an angry scowl, "No one treats you like that! Or even anyone like that! Has this woman ever even heard of respect? Its not right!"

"Yeah! How on earth is she even still active?' Luke said, the normally calm man now red faced with anger, "I mean I can't even fathom it right now!"

"Guys, at EASE." I know this is rough, but you're all doing outstanding." Aubrey said quickly, "I'm sorry you have to deal with this, and I promise if we get through this, I'll buy you all a round at the officer's mess."

"Seriously? The officer's mess?" Jesse said, perking up considerably, "I can deal for that!"

"Yes, seriously," Aubrey smiled, the change in her face immediate and that simple gesture allowed the others a moment to just breathe. "Now we just need to play nice for a bit and get through this… Anything to add Mitchell?"

"Nope," Beca smirked, popping the p, "Allens a bitch, but let's make her OUR bitch."

"Couldn't have said it better myself," Aubrey laughed, "Now everyone, go to an inspector, do what you have to and let's roll. Mitchell, I want you with Roiyaru though. Everyone else, you're free to pick who you want. Hooah?"

"HOOAH!" Everyone barked, before they broke formation and rejoined the inspection staff.

Falling in behind Alice, Aubrey smirked when the colonel just walked to the nearest squad and pulled out her clipboard. The squad she just so happened to pick were actually the top of the company and Aubrey had received nothing but praise from Bryant and Swanson about these recruits.

"Recruit, state your name." Alice barked.

"DENISE ASHFORD MA'AM!" Denise said loudly, sounding off.

"Outstaaaanding." Alice drawled, taking her time to pick apart Denise's uniform.

Pulling out a ruler, Alice then set about to make sure everything was perfect in accordance to the uniform manual. Staying at attention, but glancing at Alice from the corner of her eye, Aubrey had to bite back a laugh every time Alice's mouth twitched in annoyance when she found things right with Denise's uniform.

Standing abruptly, Alice almost angrily checked the 10 box for Denise's uniform before moving on to the next recruit in line.

"NAME!" Alice all but growled out.

"ASHLEY DAWSON MA'AM!" The recruit shouted.

The rest of the inspections went in similar fashion. Each time Colonel Allen would ask for a name, sometimes stopping to quiz the recruit on knowledge, but each time, she was answered correctly. As near impossible as it was, everyone in the squad she was in had perfect uniforms, impeccable bearing, and correct answers to EVERYTHING. Dawson, Trank, Thurgood, Ashford, all of them! How the hell Posen managed to have a perfect squad was beyond her, and it pissed her off to no end.

Marking off the final box with a vicious slash from her pen, Alice glared at Aubrey.

"You freaking rigged this!" Alice accused.

"Permission to make a statement ma'am?" Aubrey asked.

"De. Nied." Alice spat out through gritted teeth, "I don't want to hear your fucking excuses or lies Posen. Get your fucking company together for PT. I want them ready in five minutes."

With that said, Alice spun away and met with the rest of her inspectors. Aubrey took a second to compose herself. She was pretty sure that is she strangled Colonel Allen she'd be court marshalled and surprisingly enough going to one of the military's numerous and rather infamous prison wasn't exactly high on her to do list.

Keeping that in mind, Aubrey walked over to the center of the parade field before issuing her orders.

"Staff front and centeeeeer!" Aubrey barked. Immediately, her staff was in front of her, ready for their orders.

"At ease," Aubrey sighed. "It's PT time guys. Mitchell take squads one to three. Swanson four to seven. Bryant eight to ten and I'll take the rest. Applebaum I want your squad formed up as well at the end. Beale!"

"Yes ma'am?" Chloe said stepping forward.

"Make sure your medics are formed up and ready for any testing Colonel Allen may want to give you, alright?"

"Yes ma'am!" Chloe said, sensing Aubrey's nervousness, Chloe's smile widened and she took on a more reassuring tone. "Hey, don't worry about this Lt. We totes got this!"

"'Totes' sargent Beale, really?" Aubrey snorted, relaxing slightly.

"Oh yeah!" Chloe said airily, "We're going to be aca-awesome!"

"What!?" Aubrey asked.

"Don't worry about it!" Beca cut in quickly. "Trust me, you don't want to know!"

"You know what? I think you right Mitchell!" Aubrey laughed. "Alright, so are you guys all ready then?"

"Hell yeah we are mate!" Luke said confidently.

"Outstanding." Aubrey said. "Alright you know your orders so let's execute now."

With a nod, everyone left, getting their charges in place. Noticing Benji hanging back, Aubrey sighed.

"Benji?" Aubrey asked softly, " What's wrong?"

"I- I don't know if my squads going to pass ma'am." Benji said sadly. "And if they don't I know it will all come down on you and that's not fair and I don't want to be the reason you get demoted and reassigned."

"Benji, I have to utmost faith in you and your squad." Aubrey said confidently. "I've seen the amount of effort you and your squad has put in and I know you've got this. And if I get reassigned, it sure as hell won't be your fault. It'll be that ding-a-ling Allen's fault!"

"Which one?" Benji asked, a small smiled starting to form.

"Both of them!" Aubrey laughed, "But you know what? I'm not going to get reassigned because I've got the best damn company in the entire Army and there's no way in hell I'm going anywhere! So now let's move it Applebaum! We've got names to take and asses to whoop, hooah?"

"Hooah!" Benji said smiling.

"OUT-standing!" Aubrey beamed, "Now let's move people!"

Immediately, each person went their own way, determined to not only carry out the task given to them, but to ace it as well. With thirty-two seconds left to spare, the entire company was formed up and ready for PT testing. Taking one last look around, Aubrey smiled at her staff's efficiency and the recruit's willingness to participate. The ONLY recruit she had that had caused and trouble at all was Allen, but Aubrey knew that Alice wouldn't dare write anything back about her little pumpkin. Smirking, Aubrey though back to her little pre-inspection speech.

"FAAAAAAAAAAAALL IN!" Luke bellowed.

Immediately all eighty recruits scrambled place. Looking at her watch Aubrey smiled. Within 7 seconds all eighty recruits were formed up and at a glance they looked pretty damn good. Squinting, Aubrey took a second to make sure everyone was actually in place though. When the inspectors got here, just looking okay from a distance wouldn't be enough. They'd be picked apart and under a lot of scrutiny. However, with only a few little things here and there, Aubrey was pleased with the way things looked at the moment.

With her precursory inspection done, Aubrey turned to sargent Bryant and waited. Snapping to attention, Luke turned the company over to her before walked to her right side where the rest of her staff stood stiffly at attention.

"Recruits!" Aubrey said loudly, her voice carrying across the entire parade field. "Tomorrow the wonderful Colonel Alice Allen will be paying us all a visit. She is the head inspector for this region and I will expect nothing but perfection from my recruits. I know you are all, with the exception of a few TROUBLEMAKERS are outstanding recruits and I am proud to be your commanding officer. I know that you will all do me proud. However, to those few trouble makers, I'd like you to think about what you are doing. Here in the army, you don't fail alone. When you fuck up, the entire company fucks up. So think about that tomorrow when you think you should mouth off to your inspectors. Think about giving your entire barracks a bad score when you decide you're too good to make your bed. Because it won't just be your bed that gets flipped. It will be everyone's beds flipped, stripped and fucked up. So to my better recruits, today you will have the day to make your barracks, your uniforms, your drill, and everything else perfect. Your staff will be available to help you should you need it, however I believe that you are all outstanding recruits and don't need constant oversight. I'm confident that you will all do me proud. So now tell me. Am I right putting my faith in you?"

"YES MA'AM!" Came the thunderous reply of more than seventy recruits. From the front of the formation, Aubrey could see the trouble makers all but sink into the ground in shame and only mumble their answers. Seeing the few sidelong glares aimed their way too, Aubrey allowed herself a small smile.

Sure it was all well and good to shout at the trouble makers, to make them do more push ups, and overall make their life a veritable living hell, but that only works to a point. There's only so much the person in charge can do, because in the end, you really can't make a person do something they really don't want to do.

And for the self thought 'victims' like the fucking trouble makers, yelling would do no good. They'd simply assume that she was some dumbass bitch who got to laze around in her office and yell at recruits when she got bored. Nothing could be further from the truth, but hey! She was a recruit once too… She knew how recruits thought. And while Allen and his little posse were in a class of their own, she knew that their obedience and respect had to be taken by them thinking they were the ones respected. Reverse psychology for the win!

Smiling, Aubrey turned back around and returned the company back over to Sergeant Bryant. With a nod, Aubrey left while Bryant and Swanson went over the rest of the details. She'd done everything she could, and now she had to trust in her staff and her recruits to make this inspection a success.

The shill screech of a whistle drew Aubrey out of her musings. Glancing up, Aubrey was pleased to see her recruits running around the barracks for their mile run. A little ways away, another section of recruits were taking their push-up test, another was doing the sit up portion, and another was doing the pull ups.

Looking back to her recruits now, Aubrey took a moment to gauge everyone's sprees and was pleased to note that with the exception of Recruit Allen, everyone would easily pass this portion of the PT test. Glancing at the colonel, Aubrey bit back the laugh that threatened to bubble forth.

Colonel Allen was standing at the start/finish line, arms crossed, glaring at everyone. When Aubrey saw her look down at her watch and her scowl deepen, it took all she had to not laugh out loud. Was the colonel that bound and determined to have Aubrey fail? Chuckling to herself, Aubrey snapped to attention before walking over to Alice.

"Is everything alright ma'am?" Aubrey asked in a sickeningly sweet voice, " I noticed your look of discomfort and I wanted to ensure all was well with you. If need be my medical staff and even the recruits are well equipped and trained to assist you in any way."

"Can it Posen," Alice growled, only a thin bit of control holding her together. "I know what you're fucking doing and I don't give a fuck. I will expose you for the fake you are bitch!"

"Colonel Allen!" Lt Col. Roiyaru exclaimed, walking up, "Language like that to a subordinate or even anyone is NOT acceptable conduct for an officer! I would like to advise you to please consider your words more-"

"Oh fuck off Roiyaru!" Alice groaned, no longer giving a damn. Honestly, was she just surrounded by fucking robots? "Honestly you're just as bad as fucking Posen over here! I don't give a fuck and I won't give a fuck about you stupid ass junior officers. Even you Roiyaru! I'm the fucking colonel here and you two will fucking remember that!"

"Colonel Allen," Lt. Col Roiyaru tried gently, "I am your executive officer, and I swear all I am trying to do is ensure you maintain your position and reputation. There are a number of high ranking officials on this base, and I doubt things would go well for you should you and your lack of professionalism be overheard by one of the generals on base!"

"Well FUCK YOU and your generals too!" Alice snapped, her frazzled nerves overriding her common sense, "And there's only one fucking general on this god forsaken base, and he's only a fucking ONE star. A fucking Brig Jenny! He's a stupid shit and I doubt that fucking GENERAL DONOVAN will give a fuck about you Posen to even bother with you and your bullshit!"

"I would request that you first of all not speak in such a manner and second of all not presume to know what I do or do not care about Ms. Allen." A man's voice boomed from behind.

Stiffening in fear, Colonel Allen turned around slowly and was met face to face with none other then Brigadier General Donovan. Distantly, she realized that Roiyaru and Posen were at attention and saluting, however, she was far too scared right now to even think about customs and courtesies.

However, she really couldn't be blamed at the moment. Before her, Brigadier General Charles Donovan III, glared down at her. Standing tall at 6'3'', with close cut, silver hair, and piercing grey eyes, General Donovan was NOT someone you wanted to fuck with. He had enlisted back during Kuwait, and now over 40 years later, he managed to claw his way up from the bottom and was one of Washington's most feared and respected generals. His no nonsense attitude and nearly impeccable record was famous through the military world, and he was also practically the poster child for a scary as fuck officer… oh and did I mention he also viewed Aubrey as the daughter he never had?

"Are you so high up that you now out-rank me COLONEL?" Donovan growled, after returning the salutes from the two other officer, "Because the last time I checked, you had a bird on your collar and I'm the one with the star. A Brig Jenny as you so eloquently put it. Does this mean nothing to you ALLEN?"

"Y-yes sir?" Alice stammered.

"IS THAT A QUESTION?!" Donovan boomed, "I WANT AN ANSWER FROM YOU ALLEN! DOES MY RANK I EARNED MEAN SOMETHING TO YOU OR NOT?!"

"YES SIR!" Alice all but screamed, any bit of bravado she had managed to hold now long gone.

"Outstanding!" Donovan growled, "Now I am going to report this incident and until your hearing, you are now relieved of your command. I expect-"

"You can't do that!" Alice screeched, the sudden reality that she was losing her job now overruling her fear, "I this is preposterous-"

"The fact you were able to buy your way to the top is what is truly preposterous." Donovan sneered, "You're done here Allen. Get out of my sight now."

"But but but sir!" Alice stammer incoherently, still desperately trying to save any shred of dignity she could, "I am a colonel!"

"So?" Donovan growled. "You just have a bought emblem on your collar the your most certainly do not deserve. I will show you no respect nor do i expect any one elsewhere to. Those recruits running around the barracks right now have my respect but you do not Allen. So leave now before I have you escorted out."

"But sir..." Alice tried one last time weakly.

"MASTER SARGENT!" General Donovan barked. Immediately Beca was by his side salute raised. Quickly returning the salute, Donovan issued perhaps the best orders Beca had ever heard. "Master sargent please escort Alice Allen off of my base immediately. Use force if necessary but I do not want scum like her tarnishing my base!"

"Yes sir!" Beca said happily. Grabbing Alice's arm, suddenly it was like the beast was awoken and she started to kick and scream as Beca dragged her away.

"This isn't over Posen!" Alice screeched, "I know you're a fake and I will prove it and everyone will realize you're a fraud and that I was right! GET YOUR FILTHY HANDS OFF OF ME YOU PIECE OF SHIT! GENERAL DONOVAN! You have to listen to me! I'm right and I need to prove this!"

"You're welcome to try." Aubrey called after her, enjoying her victory, "But unlike some people I am everything I say I am and I doubt you'll ever find even a single discrepancy in my record!"

Chuckling, Aubrey shook her head as Alice's screams and protest became more and more distant. Hearing the man next to her laugh as well, Aubrey glanced up and saw that the general watching her with an interesting look in his eyes.

"Sir ,may I ask a question?" Aubrey asked tentatively.

"Of course," Donovan said warmly.

"Why are you down here right now?" Aubrey asked, "Not that I mind Sir, however you typically stay up in the administrative part of the base."

"Because of Sergeant Mitchell actually," Donovan laughed, thinking back on his meeting with the short spitfire, "She came into my office, blatantly ignoring orders for her to stand down and demanded that I come meet Colonel Allen. As you can guess i ignored her at first, however, she was very adamant that I do this, and that if I didn't do this I would, in her words, "Lose possibly the best insert expletive here LT in the whole insert another explicit Army and that I had to get my… buttocks down to the barracks before it was too late. Oh, and insert another long string of profanities, throughout."

"That sounds like Sergeant Mitchell," Aubrey laughed, "My sincerest apologies for her behavior though. I assure you tha-"

"Don't worry about it." Donovan said warmly, "I'm actually quite glad your sergeant got me off of my aforementioned buttocks and down here! She was definitely right, and I hope you'll tell her I said as much."

"Of course sir!" Aubrey smiled, "Thank you sir."

"You're welcome." Donovan said, "I need to go back to admin now, before those idiots burn the place down. I believe that you now have things under control?"

"Yes sir!" Aubrey said, looking over to the barracks where Lt. Col. Roiyaru was currently overseeing the inspections.

"Outstanding!" Donovan smiled, "And I've gotta go now before I end up staying down here and start reminiscing about my basic! Good day Lt. Posen, and I expect a good report from the inspectors about you!"

"Of course sir!" Aubrey smiled, saluting.

Returning the salute, Donovan smiled and then turned around, and started to walk back to the admin section. Standing at ease, Aubrey all but glowed, the stress of failing inspections all but gone now that she knew Colonel Allen was no longer a factor. Watching her recruits running around down below, with her staff right next to them, motivating them along, Aubrey felt a swell of pride at how far they'd all come. Sure it was a rocky start, but now it seemed everything was falling into place.

Giving herself one last second to enjoy the sense of peace, Aubrey sighed sadly. As much as she'd wish it otherwise, she knew that when everything is good, something terrible was only just around the corner. But hey! That was Army life for you.

aaaaaaaanf cut! So that's that y'all. Hopefully it's halfway decent... Reviews are really nice though... Just sayin...