M Rank (Part 2)
"I was never a leader and my current rank is only meant to give me authority. You, instead, started from nothing. You've made an outstanding career and the army trusts you so much that they are going to put countless lives in your hands.
"Sergeant Tepper thinks you capable of teaching others how to protect their lives and those of the civilians and so do I.
"You should be proud of yourself. Just don't let it go to your head. Every life your cadets will save will be on you, but so are also those they'll lose." Lith said.
"Thanks." Vipli straightened his shoulders.
Lith's words were more than compliments. Hearing Vipli's own accomplishments from a brother-in-arms allowed him to put things in perspective. Lith was indeed more successful than him, but that didn't take anything away from Vipli.
"Save the speeches for the recruits, Cadet 1416." Tepper said with a grunt, calling Lith by his recruit identification number. "They are going to need it."