Dark Chronicles of Nooria 13

I assume being officer cadet simply remains on your file, no action needed. After all the CO never told me what to do. So it comes as a surprise when an angry young Lt hauls me out of English class, "why have you been skipping meetings?"
"Which meetings, ma'am?"
"Don't be a moron, the OC meetings."
Drily I reply, "I only found out today that I was officer cadet."
She simmers down a bit, "ok, Room 36, 6:30 to 7:30 tonight. Once a week."
I show to see a dozen girls and this Lt. Everyone including Lt has smug smirky looks so I know what's coming, I'm the pigeon.
Exact 6:30 Lt rises, "tradition, new person gets baptism of fire. Nooria, open this envelope. Read it through once. Two minutes to gather your thoughts and you're on."
I open it, "Script #94, your background is insurance executive in pre-World War 2 Germany. Because of lung trouble, you are not deemed fit for any frontline duty, but are enrolled in the reserves at the rank of Captain. Your pleasant little routine of one evening a week and one weekend a month comes to a crashing halt, called up to active duty, acting rank Major.
"You report for duty, discover you are commander of a medium level concentration camp. Your most urgent problem is the level of drunkeness among your own men, on and off duty. They're bored to death, using alcohol and atrocities to asauge the boredom.
"Your second most urgent problem is you're getting heat from command about lack of production. Atrocities are cutting into labor time in the camp brick kiln.
"Your third most urgent problem is chronic shortage of almost everything and crushing burden of red tape.
"The day you assume command, 3 of your men are in sick bay and 2 dead from events of last night, that is drunks firing off shots at random.
"Your secretary is on leave and the filing system is chaotic at best.
"Your 2-i-c has just filled out forms to volunteer for the Russian Front, anything to escape this pit of pestilence.
"The editor of the local newspaper is outraged at you. Some prisoners escaped, caused trouble in town before being recaptured. He blames your camp for sloppy security.
"Further you just received a Dear John letter from your fiancee.
"Now tell the group what actions you will take and your rationale."
I grin, this is dead easy, why not give me something hard?
I rise, "now in command situations, you can inherit 2 basic extremes. If you inherit smooth as a Swiss watch, you'll regret it. You'll never measure up, people will always compare you with the previous person. But this, couldn't ask for better. No one with an ounce of sense expects you to solve all the problems, they'll settle for half. And you, well you get to choose which half.
"Rolling along, the editor should be easy to deal with. Tell him there's a cell with his name on it, if he publishes anything verboten.
"2-i-c wants Russia, let him have it, he'll soon be clamoring to get back.
"As for men drinking, name an army in history that hasn't experienced that. The worst element, you punish with boring duties, KP or prisoner files. They'll soon enough learn and back off their drinking to a more acceptable level. Or they won't, no big deal.
"Chaotic files? Who doesn't have that?
"Prisoners can be bribed for production. Extra food, cigarettes, movie, day of rest. Now, any questions?"
A large girl asks, "what you gonna do about the Dear John letter?"
"None of your concern, personal, not business."
Lt jumps in, "that's a very western concept, separation of personal and professional. Doesn't cut much ice here. Tell us, what about the Dear John letter?"
"What else? Accept the inevitable. With lotsa men dead already, shouldn't be too hard finding another girl."
I see the girls watching, wondering what to do, to say. The large girl grins, "you know, I get the impression you'd actually enjoy this. It'd be a worthy challenge."
I smile, "after years of insurance boredom, I'd love it. And if drunks shooting at random kill me, so what? We all die sometime anyway. Better that than some horrid cancer that eats you alive for 10 years."
Lt rises, "now if there are no more questions, we'll call a vote. Question, did Nooria do the best that could be done under the circumstances? Anyone who thinks not, hasta say on the ballot, what they'd do that's better. Leave the room a few minutes Nooria."
A few minutes later I am called back in.
Lt smiles, "Nooria, judgment of your peers, by a large majority, you did the best that could be done."
"Thank you ma'am."
"If I may ask a rather personal question. Your eyes lit up, you looked alive, thrilled. I assume you have experience of chaos."
"Yes ma'am."
"And you prefer chaos to routine?"
"Yes ma'am, I believe I mentioned that."
"We-ell, I'm sure you have a promising future ahead of you. We have lotsa that, chaos I mean. Now class, more boring stuff, akin to KP or prisoner files."
Boos and catcalls.
"Committee work. Huge list of repairs, price in rupees next to each item. You have only 500 Rs left in repair budget. Come to agreement. Nobody goes home til we get a majority consensus on how to spend the 500."
Everyone groans, except me. Large girl nudges me, I join in.
I soon see the way. Large girl Tasmina is most knowledgable on repair and consensus forms up with her. Not so fast Lt gets upset, but fast enough we get out in time.
As we walk back, Tasmina says, "so, you from the cannibal barrack?"
"Yeah."
"No wonder you handled the Nazi script so well, you understand savagery."
"Nothing savage about it. You don't kill. Just cut up bodies. They got no more use for the body and you, got no choice."
"Hey, I'm sorry. So how'd you know, which way to swing on the script?"
"I like to read, history."
"Makes you a rarity here. Rest of us hate it. Too boring."
"Tell me Tasmina, that group. They volunteer as OC? Or mostly drafted?"
She grins, "gotta sharp eye. I'd rather be stranded in backwoods New Guinea than do this."
"Why?"
"Enlisteds, party time, smoke dope, have fun. Officers, gotta be paragons of virtue, accomplish wonders with zero money. Rather be a sgt, or work for a foreign NGO in Pak or be a hooker. And you? Different, you actually enjoy this nonsense. Must have mental problems."
I grin, "stay outa my way during the full moon. Resta the time I'm ok."
"Cool, next meeting will be full moon. Promise not to bite."
I make a wolf howl.
"Rumor has it you started the uproar."
"Uproar?"
"Rumor of bankruptcy. You're cool, I like you."

Shauzia has a sniffy attitude, "so how was your meeting?"
I grin, "sort of fun."
"Must be nice, inside track to the fat job. Me, end up a cook, that's corporal."
"Right, we'll trade, I'll resign as OC, say I prefer cooking."
I meant it as a joke, but it misfired.
"My aren't we high and mighty? Just remember pal, I'm still your jailer", with that, she throws me the straight-arm Nazi salute.
Arifa steps in, "chill people. Shauzia, it ain't that way. Girls don't push their names in. Chosen by a panel of teachers." Awkward smile, "Shauzia, you realize a corporal and Lt get the same salary?"
I see her deflate a bit.
Arifa continues, "you 2 stay friends. Hug and make up." We do.
We sit as Arifa leaves, she whispers, "tell me, rumor true? You caused all the uproar bout payday?"
I blush, "it was an accident."
"Don't be so modest. Everyone thinks you're so cool."

Next OC meeting, Tasmina's turn. Tough one, she gets to play supreme commander of Soviet forces encircled in Leningrad.
"Now looking at figures for number of people and supply situation, only one option. Allow cannibalism. Times when people's lives come before social mores."
Lt smiles awkwardly, "we have an expert here. Nooria, your take?"
"Ma'am, I back Tasmina 100%. Think I'd stand by, watch everyone die? And if history trashes me, so what? Buncha armchair generals."
"Ok class, we vote."
Unanimous, everyone backs Tasmina.