The wrath of justice, amphibious combat barge, Political Commissar's office.
"So what you're telling me is, three people died, fourteen are in the infirmary, and this mess of a mess hall, all because your men didn't like the plates they were served on?"
Cain questioned Major Brocklaw, who was in front of him, turning a fragment of porcelain in his hand. Li Feng was sitting on the sofa nearby, with a portable gas stove on the coffee table, clearly planning to cook a small meal with Cain later.
Brocklaw visibly squirmed uncomfortably in the chair he was sitting on. Yugen had brought this chair in for the meeting; Cain had specifically instructed him to bring in the most uncomfortable chair, as every detail helped maintain his authority as Political Commissar.
But why? Brocklaw's discomfort wasn't entirely due to this. Kastin beside him was trying hard to suppress the silly grin on her face, but Cain would soon wipe that expression away for her.
Brocklaw: "Uh... Political Commissar, that might be an exaggeration... things aren't actually like that..."
Kastin sharply interrupted: "How are things not like that?"
Li Feng, who was stir-frying pickles, looked up at the two of them. It seemed the relationship between the Colonel and the Major on this ship was a bit antagonistic...
Cain picked up a plate and examined it. The porcelain was of good quality, fragile yet hard, and only a few had survived the mess hall riot.
The 296th Regiment's emblem was engraved in the center of the plate, very conspicuous.
Cain turned to the data-slate on the table, flipping through the reports and eyewitness testimonies he had collected over the past week. Like a prosecutor, Cain cast an inquiring glance towards Kastin.
"According to this eyewitness testimony, the first person to strike was Bella... Sergeant Treibek, formerly of the 296th Regiment before the merger. Does Madam Colonel have anything to say about this?"
"She must have been provoked."
Kastin said, her silly grin disappearing, only to reappear on Brocklaw's face a moment later.
Cain nodded, then looked at the content on the data-slate: "Ah... is that... so?"
"The provocateur was Tobias... Sergeant Kaelp, who fought with her? He threw the plate on the ground and then declared that he would rather go to hell than eat these..."
Cain looked at the information, carefully and seriously quoting word for word:
"Let me check the data... 'Afternoon tea for flighty hussies' or something like that... Major, do you think those are human words?"
"Pfft! Hahahahaha, that's hilarious!" At this moment, Li Feng, who was making pickled vegetable and shredded pork with tofu, was amused by this sentence. Li Feng's laughter, instead of easing the atmosphere, made Brocklaw's silly grin disappear once again, even causing him to break out in a cold sweat.
"Ah... that's not very reasonable... uh, completely inhuman... But! We still don't know what the overall atmosphere was like."
Cain didn't give Brocklaw a chance to argue, but directly stated:
"I think... I'm very clear about the atmosphere at the time. Since the merger of the two regiments, Soldiers from the former 296th Regiment and 301st Regiment have made no secret of their animosity towards Soldiers from the opposing regiment. In this environment, using the 296th Regiment's complete set of tableware was clearly seen as an insult by the more foolish Soldiers of the former 301st Regiment."
Brocklaw's face flushed with blood. Let him be angry. Cain's only solution to the current problem was a complete overhaul of the regiment, but this was impossible without the cooperation of these two Commanders.
Li Feng now put the lid on the pot, simmering the tofu inside, then raised his hand and asked: "Excuse me, I'm very curious, who initially gave the order to use these dishes?"
Li Feng cast his curious gaze at Kastin, staring at her gradually reddening face, then swept it towards the junior officer to her right... "Lieutenant Sura, was it you?"
"Today is Regimental Founding Day!"
Whoa! That wasn't a small sound! Li Feng was slightly startled, then saw Sura continue to explain:
"We have always used porcelain with our regimental emblem on Regimental Founding Day; it's our proudest tradition!"
Brocklaw suddenly burst out laughing: "Pfft~ It used to be... but you guys need to have some glorious traditions first."
"Hey! What do you mean!" It was obvious both women were provoked.
Li Feng immediately pushed the coffee table away, to prevent Kastin, Sura, and Brocklaw from fighting and affecting his pickled vegetable and shredded pork with tofu.
Cain now sat up straight, raising his voice slightly, reasserting his authority: "Major, I believe the 301st Regiment also had its own Regimental Founding Day."
Basically, every regiment celebrates the anniversary of their first establishment in some form. Brocklaw nodded before Cain said "had," then showed an expression similar to understanding.
Cain leaned back in his chair. This chair was not as uncomfortable as the ones they were sitting on; this was an ergonomic chair generated by Li Feng's STC.
"Major, I'm glad you say that. Such traditions are indeed very important; they are a crucial part of the team spirit needed for the Emperor, her venerable self... (he glanced at Li Feng) to wage war."
Kastin and Brocklaw nodded seriously, almost simultaneously. This reaction was good for Cain; at least it was something they could now agree on.
But Sura remained furious:
"Then you should go explain that to Kaelp and his gorillas."
Cain sighed helplessly, then drew his laspistol and placed it on the table. The officers' eyes widened slightly. Brocklaw showed a wary expression, Kastin had just suppressed her panic, and Sura's mouth dropped open in fright.
Why? For a Political Commissar to execute these two Commanders, Kastin and Brocklaw, might be a bit difficult, but for you, Lieutenant Sura, it would be effortless to drag you out and execute you.
"Please don't interrupt me, Lieutenant. I'll let you speak later." Cain's tone was calm and gentle. But to Sura, this felt like the calm before the storm.
The situation in the room was now very clear. Cain actually had no intention of executing anyone. Cain used a smile to show them that he wasn't that fierce, trying to make them relax a bit.
"But you did say what I wanted to say. If the two parts of this regiment still consider themselves independent formations, then the morale of this regiment will never recover, which means you are useless to the Emperor, and I, as Political Commissar, will accomplish nothing and be kicked out... Do you at least all agree on this point?"
Kastin nodded, making eye contact with Brocklaw for the first time since the meeting began.
"I agree. The question is, how do we do it?"
Cain immediately stood up, slapping the table like a high school math teacher:
"Excellent question!"
That's right! He and Li Feng had already planned a "package" of reform measures, and Li Feng's Mechanicum Workshop had even started manufacturing related items.
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