what the hap is fuckening

::: The term of pecking order is used in relation of birds, but more commonly among social animals. Basically it is estabilishing an informal hierarchy among the group, where the birds with higher status can peck the lower one without retaliation, and lower birds has to submit themselves to pecking of the higher ones without question. 

::: In human relation: think about professional workplace relationships where you are share workspace with LOTS of people and on paper these people are on the same rank as you, because they are your colleagues but not your bosses. But eventually you start to notice that there IS an unofficial hierarchy among the group. Now most people - especially nowadays - will deny that humans have any kind of relation to animals or having animalistic behavior. But if you ever get into a open conflict with an older co-worker/co-worker with more experience/co-worker who has bigger social circle, you will clearly see your place in that non-existent hierarchy. 

::: In the prologue chapter, I mentioned my observation that Darman's Theta squad had a very loose hierarchy among them, so I assume that the rest of the Skirata squads are similiar? 

::: Fi and Niner started out bad. 

::: Darman feels reassured by Niner so far. 

::: So far Fi and Atin also incompatible. 
 

•───────•°•❀•°•───────•

Niner already knew he would have his work cut out with Atin and wondered if anything would trigger his natural urge to be one of the squad. He also wondered about his apparent negativity. He’ll shake down, sooner or later. He’ll have to.
•───────•°•❀•°•───────•

You know what I realized? That in the narrative, you can notice that humans (not just aliens) are compared to animals A LOT.  Very high functioning social animals. It's just an interesting observation.

Jusik appeared to be counting and then raised his eyebrows. “This is real, Sergeant.”

Ah. For all their skills and wisdom, there were still some things that even Jedi didn’t know. Niner hesitated to lecture Jusik.

Real. Oh yes, Niner knew what real was, all right.

Padawan Bardan Jusik had certainly never seen the Killing House on Kamino. He’d never stormed the building, with its twisting corridors and innumerable flights of stairs; he didn’t know how many commandos died in training when the rounds were live and the terrorists—or whoever the directing staff were being that day—aimed to kill, and frequently did.

He also had no idea what it was like spending four days lying prone in a scrape in the undergrowth on observation, rifle ready, urinating where you lay because you couldn’t move and give away your position. He had no idea how you learned to judge the amount of charge required for rapid entry to a building the hard way, because if you didn’t get it just right, in a hurry and under fire, it could blow your head clean off. Two-Eight had learned that way.

Jusik didn’t know just how far and how long you could carry a wounded comrade when you had to. He probably didn’t even know how to perform an emergency field tracheotomy with a vibroblade and a clean length of fuel line.

It wasn’t Jusik’s fault. He had far bigger issues to worry about. There was no reason for a Jedi commander to concern himself with the details of a clone commando’s life. But Niner thought he probably would, and he admired the Padawan all the more for that.

“We’ll be fine, sir,” Niner said. “The training is quite realistic.”

HOOOOOOOOOOooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOooly shit, shit just got really dark so fast, NINER OMFGAWD!!!!!!!!!!

LORE. SO MUCH FUCKING LORE ABOUT THE COMMANDO TRAINING AGAIN AND THEIR TRAINING WITH THE LIVE ROUNDS and also the revelation about Niner's first loss in his original commando pod. The commando Two-Eight died during training and in the Killing House.

But the saddest part that Niner downplays all this in his mind. They have seen death before and they had to live with this. Repress this. Ignore this. How this is beneath the Jedi and this is nothing a Jedi should be concerned of. Still, eventhough Niner keeps his thoughts about his past to himself, I think he already acknowledges Jusik as some kind of ally. 
 

And remember Darman from chapter 1? It's the same logic with how and why they are confident in their abilities. 
 

•───────•°•❀•°•───────•

Darman didn’t think he was arrogant. It was just that he could do every job a soldier could be called upon to do, and then some: siege assault, counterinsurgency, hostage extraction, demolitions, assassination, surveillance, and every kind of infantry activity on any terrain and in any environment, at any time. He knew he could, because he’d done it. He’d done it in training, first with simunition and then with live rounds. 

|| Republic Commando: Hard Contact || 2004 || Book series || Military, Sci-Fi || 18+ for violence and harrowing themes || 

“Are you certain you can do this? I could ask Master Zey if he would allow me to accompany you.”

Niner wanted to laugh, but you didn’t laugh at a Jedi, especially one who seemed to care what happened to you. “We lost too many officers at Geonosis, sir. They can’t grow you to order.”
•───────•°•❀•°•───────•

The exchanges between Niner and Jusik are very good in this chapter, very amusing! On the other hand, Jusik is still not interested in complying with the protocol at all, he continues trying to be direct with the commandos, or at least he is curious and friendly. And concerned about the commandos. 

But also Ouuuuuchhhh. Niner is very much self-aware about their own expendability. But also he low-key appreciates Jusik's concern?

And yes. This was in my chest for years now. Thank you for listening.||