This story involves severe discipline and bodily functions, so if that is something you don't want to deal with, please read no further. All characters are well over 18.
As Chief of Staff of the Women's Republic Corrections Service, Kate had the responsibility of implementing new Corrections Secretary Gloria's policy that provided for making the retraining regime for men sent there by their 'responsible women.'
It's not that the camps were gentle with their inmates. Men arriving at Hergolia Camp, for example, were immediately given pink panties to wear with a new pair provided every other day. Barracks sergeants imposed strict discipline in terms of deciding when inmates could leave their barracks, how their time was spent, and, most importantly, whether each had progressed sufficiently to win release.
The general practice was that most men would be able to go home after two weeks, but barracks sergeants held the prospect of being kept on as a real possibility if an inmate behaved badly. The sergeants knew that this was their strongest weapon in maintaining tough discipline at the camp, so they would warn inmates who gave them lip or did not cooperate that they might be "left back." They found that use of that traditional grade-school term that referred to a pupil being held in the grade he or she was in for an extra year had effective impact on unruly inmates.
GEN Kate called her old boss, COL Rachel, into her office to discuss this challenge. She asked Rachel to keep a lookout for younger officers who might bring the needed authority to commanding what had the reputation as the Republic's toughest camp.
Rachel considered the object for a short time and then recommended to Kate that she send MAJ Nicole's second-in-command at Kate's old section, the Disciplinary and Retraining Unit, CPT Cynthia, to Hergolia to strengthen the retraining camp's discipline.
"Cynthia has been number two to Nicole for a long time and needs to be freed of her tie just so she can develop more independent skills," Rachel observed. "She has direct experience at Hergolia where she was deputy commander to Nicole," she added. "I would call her in and be very direct in telling her that although some regard being sent to that camp is a punishment, she knows what it involves and that it could lead to bigger things for her. Both she and Nicole may be distraught at being separated, but the needs of the Service, and indeed for Cynthis, should come first."
Kate agreed with Rachel and thanked her for her helpful advice. She had found recently that one of the most attentive and diligent noncoms in her old unit had gone to Officers' Training School, which was run by the Disciplinary and Retraining Unit and from which Kate had graduated.
Calling 1SG Wendy to check out SSG, now 1LTJennifer, Kate was pleased to hear that Wendy had a positive view of Jennifer.
"She's sometimes irked people here because she's very much concerned with having all the rules followed, but she's been a pillar of strength for me in the noncom component. Talk to Nicole, too," Wendy said.
Kate arranged for MAJ Nicole, her successor as Commandant of the unit, to come to her office. Nicole always felt queasy being called in by Kate, because although they now were very close as top managers in the Service, she always worried that something would remind Kate of how Nicole betrayed her way back when Nicole was a barracks sergeant at Hergolia and fucked Kate's husband there, when Kate had been annoyed with Harry and sent him off for retraining.
Since then, however, Nicole and Kate had gotten along well, and Kate had picked her as her successor in the disciplinary unit. They had done Goose Cookers commercials for underwear together, and Nicole had made Kate feel at ease when she felt that these ads might show her and the Service in a bad light.
Nicole arrived at Kate's expansive office suite and was shown in by Kimberly, Kate's veteran secretary. Kate greeted her happily and they engaged in some catch-up chat on events in the Service. Then Kate said that in implementing Gloria's policy regarding stricter operation of retraining camps, Kate was intending to name Cynthia to be the new Commandant of Hergolia Camp.
"I know I'm taking away your trusted second-in-command but she's ready to be given a responsible leadership post, Nicole, so I hope you'll be supportive," Kate began.
Nicole knew that Kate didn't need to convince her, nor even to consult her, so she was pleased that Kate had chosen to talk to her about this even though it wasn't something she liked.
"I'll admit that I hate to lose her, not just because we're good personal friends, but because of her abilities," Nicole replied. "But I won't stand in her way of getting advanced, I really owe her that for the support she's given me for so long."
"I'm glad that's your view, because I wanted to speak to you about it before it happened," Kate responded. "I'm also pleased with what I've seen and heard about your unit's operations. I should add that I'm interested in appointing 1LT Jennifer as Cynthia's deputy."
"Kate, if I may call you that..." Nicole went on.
"Yes, you can of course call me that between us," Kate assured her.
"I do hate to lose Jennifer," Nicole said, "as she's been a pillar of strength in her past work there, as you of course are aware, and will not be easily replaced. But I also don't want to stand in her way. Will she get a promotion out of it?"
"I expect she will eventually," Kate said. "Cynthia already has her captain's bars, and I'll see about getting her promoted so that Jennifer can move up. But it may not happen right away."
"I'm pleased for both of them," Nicole said calmly. "Should I put a notice up for both slots?"
"You'll be able to do that after I announce their assignments," Kate told her. "You might also think if there's anyone you'd like to consider suggesting for either position. I need to give you that opportunity when I'm taking away these two excellent officers."
"Thanks, Kate," Nicole smiled, "and I mean that. I'm going to give this some thought. Can I tell both or either of them what's afoot?"
"I'm going to ask you to wait until I have it all set up," Kate answered. "In fact, I'd like you to get me any suggestions or recommendations for filling their positions asap or by the end of next week."
"O.K.," Nicole replied. "I'll do my best to identify two who can do their jobs well. Again, thanks for involving me."
"I'm pleased you have taken the attitude you have, Nicole," Kate summarized. "I tend to agree that we need to toughen things some in the camps. This will help with that. Let me add that if only we had barracks sergeants all over the Service with your ability and attitude that have moved you up the ladder."
"Thanks for the compliment," Nicole grinned. "I'd like to get together less formally sometime if you are up for that, Kate. Can we have dinner later in the week?"