Micky’s paperwork hell hadn’t ended even while on the move. It was amazing how much 10,000 soldiers and 2,000 supply personnel could get into. And Micky didn’t even have time to plan his coordination drills or his strategies. While it was true he wasn’t even 1/100dth of the army, he was still sure that his strategy would be important. Especially since he was going to be on the wings. This was the most dangerous place, as it was where most strategies would attack. True the center was the most important, but the wings of the battle lines were where the attacks, particularly the cavalry, would be launched from and towards. This was because it was simply easiest. And if Micky didn’t plan out a complimentary strategy he may end up in a clusterfuck like the vanguard was inevitably going to be. At least that was what he heard from the few veterans he had. In addition, he needed to find the rankers and figure out a strategy around their skills, personality, and capabilities.

The rankers were the most important people in the military. Often they were given non-hereditary unlanded noble titles. This meant that they would have a higher title than the true landed nobles who were sovereigns unto themselves. It was not surprising to see a baron or a count running around. And, while dukes were rare, it was not the rare or the real dukes, or even counts. This was because the titles for rankers was completely different from those from the landed nobility. Instead, it was based on power, instead of authority over people. On the other hand, it was a way to prevent the landed nobles from acquiring and ordering the rankers around themselves.

Luckily for Micky, he did not have any rankers with a title that was higher then himself. It might have gotten awkward if he had to order around a baron. He would have the full rights to, of course. However, rankers tended to chafe at authority in almost all ways. Both having it and on the receiving end. This was a problem considering that rankers were integral to the army itself. A ranker could be ranked from 10 men to over 1 million. This was the theoretical body count of what a ranker could face solo and expect to survive with injuries. For reference, an average regular soldier is at a 10 to 1 versus levi’s. Meaning that the average soldier counts as a ranker. Micky did not have many average soldiers though. In addition, there isn’t much point in rankers of this level aside from looking to promote them after the battle to regular soldiers.

A Levi that becomes a ranker could focus on a soldier promotion path in their tier [Class] upgrades. This would then allow them to become a full time soldier and is the main way to generate soldier classes during wartime.

Micky had a several rankers of the 100 rank and a handful of the 1,000 rank. He did not have any in the 10,000 rank but he did have two that were in the unofficial 5,000 rank. These two could be said to be unofficially in the lead of the rankers. This was because while rankers did not respect authority much, they did respect strength. It was mostly because rankers and the powerful themselves could resist [Authority].

Micky looked at his stacks of paperwork that seemed to be increasing as he was looking at them. Worse, it was mostly requisition forms for useless things like beer and prostitutes. Many of them male prostitutes, since the soldiers had already brought around some female ones. And not just the male soldiers…

Micky decided to leave the requisition form for more requisition forms and get some air. He would have a nice meal of whatever had been hunted and gathered today, then cooked up in the legion pot while he had a nice chat with the top ten of his command.

He grabbed Prin as she was actually one of his rankers. She was in the 100 rank category and would add some leverage to his conversation on the authoritarian side. As he was a fresh faced commander he didn’t expect to have much sway on this battle veterans. Unfortunately or fortunately they did not have what it takes for command. It was the rare commander that was also a ranker. Though this wasn’t always a good thing either. This was because if they were separated they could move freely. Also why the overall commander will never be a ranker.

Micky arrived with Prin at the first tent of the two 5000s. This one was the younger ranker and Micky hoped to connect with them more due to their closer age. Maybe they could play games or have fun chats, or something. Either way, if he could get one of them on his side it would be easier on him. The first thing he noticed is that the outside of the tent had a bunch of oiled up men with nothing but a loincloth and a spear guardian it.

Micky was about to scream at them for this blasphemy before Prin prevented him. Micky was currently in his full centurion armor with all the ceremonial gear and pomp. It would not take much to notice him. But the guards did not care. This only annoyed Micky further.

Micky walked up to the man, preventing himself from punching him or ordering a reprimand. “Hello, I’m your commanding officer, and I would like to have a word with your… house guest?” Micky wasn’t quite sure of the situation here. The rankers under his command did not have, well, command. Only commanders did, in which case they would be rankers and commanders.

“The queen doesn’t want to see you though.” Said the first guard.

“Hahaha, yeah, bugger off!” Said the second.

Micky was about to go apoplectic. Again Prin held him back. “Do you fools know who you’re speaking too! Salute your commanding officer.” Screamed Prin.

“Go suck ‘is cock somewhere else whore, this tent’s filled.” Said the first gaurd.

Prin didn’t give them another chance. She rushed over and smashed the first’s face in and then kneed the second’s balls in. She wasn’t done though. She gave them a sound thrashing and wasn’t done until they just simply whimpered and took it. Which wasn’t long actually.

Once that was done, she turned them over to Micky to give them a trashing himself. He refused. However, Prin continued to state “Next time you salute your superior fucking officer maggot! Now go get the bitch!”

Micky was already thinking that this was getting off to a great start. Next, if it was following the cliche he would have to force the rankers to respect him with strength, muscles, and comradery. Micky shivered, this was why he didn’t like military scrolls. Give him a good action story and he was done for the day.

He was quickly welcomed inside. It was not any better. There were at least 20 men in similar attire to the first without the hoplite spears. Not that the first man had his spear after he ran into the tent with his tail between his legs.

Micky found the ranker he assumed. As well as three other men and two women. “I will assume you are Mira? Or should I call you Queen?” Said Micky.

“Mira is just fine thank you. It’s these pests that call me queen.” Said Mira. The aforementioned oiled up ‘pests’ seemed to blush in shame at that. It seemed to be some pent up emotions. Micky didn’t care, they were pathetic, only trying to use the ranker to ensure their lives and livelihood. They mattered not.

“Ahh, you can have the two out front, they were new and untrained. You don’t get to the 5,000 rank by pissing off your commanders. Not in the military anyway.” Said Mira. Micky nodded. This seemed to be a nod towards the older gentleman that Micky hadn’t noticed until then. He heard a spear dropping and running from outside. But the older man was apparently and 100 rank himself at least and quickly caught up. It appeared she was giving gifts to her new commander to get in his good graces. It might have gone over with Micky better if they weren’t already all his soldiers, oh well.