Chapter 152: Demotion

Chapter 152: Demotion



General Harper stood at attention before Vincent, his posture rigid as he prepared to deliver his report. Vincent sat behind his desk.

"Sir, I have the report on the recent events on Akarios Island," Harper began, trying to

maintain a steady tone. "The situation was..."

Vincent cut him off with a sharp gesture. "When did you first realize the situation was beyond control?" His voice was calm, each word precise.

Harper hesitated, feeling the growing pressure. "It became clear that the situation was escalating rapidly, but I believed we could manage it without additional support. I didn't report it immediately because-"

"You didn't report it because you were too focused on your own assessment rather than the safety of our forces," Vincent interrupted, his tone now icy. "Lives were lost, Harper. Lives that could have been saved if you had fulfilled your duty and informed command when it mattered."

"Sir, I thought—" Harper stammered, but Vincent held up a hand, silencing him.

"You thought wrong." Vincent's voice was low but carried a weight that made Harper feel like the room was closing in on him. "Your job was to report the threat immediately, not after you decided you could handle it. You were given command because I trusted you to make decisions that would protect our soldiers. You failed in that responsibility."

Harper felt his throat tighten. He knew what was coming, but he wasn't prepared to hear it. "Sir, I... I request a second chance. I can rectify this. I won't make the same mistake again."

Vincent stood up, his eyes locked onto Harper's. "There are no second chances when it comes to the lives of our men and women. Your failure to act cost lives. Command is a position of trust, and you have broken that trust."

He moved around his desk, standing directly in front of Harper. "As of this moment, you are relieved of your position as General. You are hereby demoted to the rank of Major."

Harper's face went pale. "Sir, please..." he started, his voice almost a whisper.

"You are lucky this is only a demotion," Vincent said, his voice devoid of any sympathy. "This is not about punishment; this is about accountability. You are no longer fit for command. We cannot afford to have leaders who hesitate or think they know better than to communicate critical information."

Harper felt a knot in his stomach, the gravity of his failure settling in. He had known the risks of command, the responsibilities it carried. He had always been confident in his decisions, but now he realized that confidence had blinded him.

"If only you had reported earlier, we could have intervened. But I think you want to prove yourselves by handling the situation on your own, which is a grave mistake," Vincent continued coldly. "Command isn't about proving yourself. It's about making the right decisions for the welfare of those under your care. You put pride above duty, and that cost lives."

Harper swallowed hard, the reality of his actions weighing heavily on him. He had wanted to show that he could handle the crisis without outside intervention, to demonstrate his capability. But in doing so, he had forgotten the core responsibility of his position-to protect his people.

General Harper met his second-in-command, Colonel Brandt at the saloon located in the Akarios Village. There, soldiers were having their fun time drinking, playing billiards, poker, and other things. But his presence attracted attention from the many. Some were looking at him with a mix of curiosity and sympathy. The news of his demotion had already started to spread through the ranks. Harper could feel their eyes on him, the weight of their unspoken thoughts hanging in the air. He had once been a figure of authority, someone they respected, but now, he stood among them, stripped of his command.

Colonel Brandt approached him quietly, offering a brief nod. "General-" he started, then corrected himself. "Major Harper."

Harper sighed, waving off the formality. "No need, Brandt. Just call me Harper." He glanced around the room, seeing the soldiers glance away quickly, trying not to be caught staring. The camaraderie he had once shared with them felt distant now.

Brandt followed his gaze, his expression unreadable. "It's a tough break, sir. Everyone knows the risks of command, but that doesn't make it any easier when things go wrong." Harper let out a bitter chuckle. "No, it doesn't. I thought I was doing the right thing, Brandt. Thought I could manage without dragging HQ into it. But I was wrong, and now I've paid the

price for it."

Brandt paused before responding. "It's not the first time a commander has made a call like that. But it takes a certain kind of leader to admit it afterward. Some never do."

Harper shook his head. "Vincent didn't give me a chance to explain. But maybe he was right not to. This is war. There's no room for hesitation, no room for second-guessing." He took a deep breath, the sting of his demotion still raw. "I should have reported earlier. Maybe more lives could've been saved if I had."

Brandt was quiet for a moment, then nodded. "The men still respect you. They know the kind of leader you are. You took responsibility. That counts for something." "Maybe," Harper replied, though his tone was filled with doubt. "But respect doesn't undo the losses we've suffered."

Brandt glanced toward the soldiers playing cards, the din of laughter and conversation filling

the room. "You might not be a general anymore, Harper, but your experience is still valuable. The men need leaders they can rely on, especially with what's coming. Don't let this demotion make you think you're any less of a leader."

Harper looked down at the drink Brandt handed him and nodded. "I'll do what I can," he said

quietly.

The two sat in silence for a few moments, the lively atmosphere of the saloon continuing around them. But Harper's thoughts were far away, back on the battlefield, replaying every decision, every moment where things might have gone differently if he had acted sooner. After a while, Brandt stood up and gave Harper a firm pat on the shoulder. "If you need anything, you know where to find me."

Harper nodded, offering a faint smile of appreciation. "Thanks, Brandt."

As Brandt walked away, Harper stayed seated, watching the soldiers around him with a

mixture of guilt and resignation. His demotion was a bitter pill to swallow, but deep down, he knew it was deserved. Command wasn't about ego or proving yourself-it was about the men and women under your leadership, their lives resting on the decisions you made.

And he had failed them.