“Do you know what you’re looking for?” Epyc Ro’s tone strayed up to the line of derision but stopped short. Barely.

“I was brought in to lead this group, without request and without notice. I like this situation about as much as you do, but orders are orders. I have a job to do, and I always do my job well. I’m looking for someone to obey chain of command. If not you, then I will find someone else.”

Though barely visible in the night, Fela knew her gbeto watched. Passing glances among one another, most with the easily entertained attention spans of wanting to make popcorn to watch the scene playing out. She always felt uneasy about the whole idea of forced chain of command. The notion that she could say something and those under her would snap to obedience. It was an O.E. holdover that chafed against the Muungano way.

“I’ll follow your lead; that’s the HOVA way,” Epyc Ro said.

“Good.” Fela began to turn as if the matter was settled.

“However…” Epyc Ro let the word hang until she captured everyone’s attention. “Knowing the context for leadership is the Muungano way. A good leader, an experienced leader, knows how to best make use of the assets at their disposal.”

“The captain knows how to talk that shit,” Anitra whispered.

“Yeah, she can even make being disrespectful sound respectful,” Robin said.

Fela measured the squad, each in turn. The Muungano alliance was a self-organizing entity. Its leadership determined by the needs at the time and who was in the room with the required skills. The person with the most experience or expertise led in the moment. Rank meant little to them. The squad would naturally follow Epyc Ro, their true leader. Fela being Asili and Epyc Ro being Ugenini only augmented the typical standoff between an inexperienced officer versus a battle-hardened gbeto. The friction of the former fact complicating the expected tension of the latter.

“It’s true, Captain. You have more field experience than I. However, I am mission command, and I know the big picture of the job to be done. And why. You know how to get shit done. So as you were saying…” The leadership responsibility of the whole thing was an unwelcome burden on Fela mostly because eventually there would come occasions when she’d have to order gbeto to their deaths. She had no problem sharing the burden with Epyc Ro as she settled into their world. Their community. Epyc Ro had the heart of her people. Fela was the head that directed them, and a good platoon leader allowed her captains to mentor her.

Epyc Ro gave a single uptick of her chin, but something had softened in her face and bearing. Fela hoped it was the germinating seed of a grudging respect. “Careful. We don’t know what kind of booby traps they’ve left for us.”