The figure stepped forward, using his body to shield Alwin and the gang from the blinding lights. While Uchronia and Gus continued to wince and squirm, struggling to adjust the glare, Alwin fared much better. All of the times his corneas had been scorched by bright white rooms had actually come in handy. Through the lights, he could make out the form of Commander Cooper and the object cradled in his hand.

  Like most of the monsters in Tentative Camp, Commander Cooper resembled a common animal except with a bipedal twist. In this case, his base animal form was already a bipedal creature so this bit of extra description was practically redundant. But, Alwin was trying to be more detail-oriented and was definitely not panicking knowing that the fate of his squad lay within this guy's hands—wings in this case.

  Commander Cooper was a chicken. But not just any chicken. He was a jacked chicken. A poultry powerhouse with more muscles than feathers. He wore a camouflage uniform just like his subordinates, though his clung to his body like paint, accentuating every nook and cranny of his muscular physique. The black combat boots he wore were shaped to accommodate his bird feet, with small slits for his talons to pop through.

  In his wings was the object that he had been stroking this whole time. It was also the reason for the unbearable heat within the tent. Here, Alwin thought the Commander just wanted his own private sauna. No, instead Commander Cooper held an egg and stroked it with much tender love and care.

  "So this is the strongest squad of recruits?" Commander Cooper asked, continuing to caress the egg.

  Uchronia straightened herself. "Yes, sir!"

  Gus waved a paw as he devoured another muffin, while Alwin stayed silent. His focus was split between the egg and the gear atop his head.

  Commander Cooper’s eyes flicked between Gus and Alwin before finally speaking up, "Well the more eccentric ones do tend to be stronger. I assume you know the current situation in Tentative Camp?"

  "Yes, sir!" Uchronia answered again. "Your company has been tasked with the gathering of information about a cultivator sect that plans to expand its territory and put a stop to it. We, as students and part of our final exam, are to be assigned a mission that would help achieve this objective."

  "Correct! And that leads us to why I called you here. Do you know what's the most important part of this military operation?" Commander Cooper asked.

  "Intelligence about the enemy?" Uchronia offered, confident in her response.

  "Close, but not quite. Any other guesses?" He looked at Gus, then at Alwin.

  "Food?" Gus spat out a mouthful of saliva-infused crumbs. Commander Cooper immediately angled his body to the side, shielding the egg from Gus' bombardment.

  "While food is indeed very important, especially when it comes to morale, it's not the most important thing of this military operation."

  "Really? Something even more important than food? Really?"

  "Yes! It's so important that it means the life or death of this entire operation. Your turn." Commander Cooper stared at Alwin. Both Uchronia and Gus did too, waiting for him to give an answer.

  Between the heat and all of these stares, there was so much pressure. The spotlight was on him. Think, Alwin. Think. And that means you too, Niwla and Winal. What could be so important that it may mean the downfall of the entire operation? Nothing came to mind. A big fat zero. You know what else looked like a big fat zero?

  "Is it the egg?" Alwin asked, nodding his head in its direction almost causing the precarious tower of gear to topple.

  "Yes!" Commander Cooper cheered. "What an intelligent young fellow. You must be Uchronia."

  "Actually, sir. I'm Uchronia."

  Commander Cooper turned to look at the potted plant girl next to him. Her leaves radiated with energy as the lights in the room shined upon them. While her face glowed with a mix of embarrassment and rage, depending on who's looking.

  When Commander Cooper turned back to face Alwin, her face morphed into anger. A scowl covered her usually stoic expression and her eyes screamed that she'd turn Alwin into chopped salad. But, when Commander Cooper's gaze returned, the scowl disappeared. Replaced with an awkward smile.

  "I'm sorry for the confusion, Uchronia. I was informed that you were the brightest student and just assumed it was this slimy fellow when he gave the right answer," Commander Cooper said.

  "That's okay, sir. But yes, I am generally regarded as the smartest among my peers."

  "A narcissistic type, I see. Here I thought you were riding off the coattails of these two strange gentlemen. You might very well be the strongest squad of your batch.”

  He turned toward the muffin extinction event next to him. “Now, based on the info I was given. You must be Gus. " Then he turned to the balancing act, barely able to keep things upright. “And you're Alwin."

  "Now that I can put names to faces, allow me to introduce myself formally. I am Commander Cooper, a Warfowl and Commander of Company FieldOps currently stationed at Tentative Camp. And this." Commander Cooper held up the egg like a trophy. "This is Cooper Trooper."

  All three of them stared at the big white egg in front of them. Uchronia didn't know how to respond. Gus' salivary glands churned out juices with more vigor than ever before. Meanwhile, Alwin was wondering where the bathrooms were.

  "Now that we've got introductions out of the way, I'll be assigning your mission. It is the most important mission in this entire operation, no exaggeration there."

  Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  The trio leaned in—well, Uchronia did. Gus leaned over a muffin, and Alwin tried not to lean at all in case the pressure in his abdomen reached critical mass.

  "I want you to look after Cooper Trooper."

  Silence followed. However, only Uchronia was silent because of shock. Gus had a frown on his face most likely because he couldn't have scrambled eggs for lunch anymore. On the other hand, Alwin was still wondering where the bathroom was. He hadn't gone for a week!

  "Excuse me, sir?" Uchronia raised up her leaf.

  "Speak recruit."

  "Did I hear right? We're to look after Cooper Trooper?"

  "That you did. Problem?"

  "No sir, it's just..." She hesitated for a moment before answering. "Is that really the most important mission in this entire operation?"

  "Why of course it is!" Commander Cooper screeched, startling the trio. "If anything were to happen to Cooper Trooper, my wife will kill me. Or worse. Leave me! Do you want to be the reason I become single again? That's exactly what those cultivators want! They want to break us up and make me emotionally unstable. Once that happens the whole operation would be a bust and those humans will take over even more of our territory, displacing thousands of innocent civilian monsters."

  He paused to catch his breath after that mini-tirade, chest heaving. Then his demeanor softened as he looked at Cooper Trooper. He snuggled the egg closer to his beak, gently caressing it. "I'm sorry, baby. Did Daddy scare you? I promise that won't happen again."

  Commander Cooper rocked the egg back and forth cradling it with great care. Yet, all Alwin could think about was whether it would be appropriate to ask for the location of the bathrooms. It's been days since he went. Days! If he continued holding it in any longer there was a high chance that the pressure would cause his guts to burst like a water balloon. Not a good feeling at all.

  "Do you understand now? This is an extremely important mission. If anything should happen to Cooper Trooper then consider this whole operation a failure."

  "Sorry, sir. Understood, sir." Uchronia saluted.

  "Good," Commander Cooper said, wiping the sweat from his brow with a wing. Now, let’s go over your duties.”

  He cleared his throat, assuming the tone of someone delivering sacred rites. “Firstly, it is of utmost importance that Cooper Trooper stays warm. That's why I've got all of these heat lamps set up within this tent. If any of the heat crystals burn out, you are to immediately go to logistics and request a replacement. Just tell them it's for Cooper Trooper. And make sure the flap is fully closed so that none of the heat gets let out. Second, this is my precious baby. It needs a nice comfy safe place to stay and grow up.."

  He moved out of the way revealing a small wooden crib lined with blankets, pillows, and cushions. Plush pillows and fluffy blankets overflowed from it, creating a perfect egg-shaped indent in a swirl of soft comfort.

  "Third, Cooper Trooper loves lullabies. I have sheet music taped up near the crib. You are to serenade my baby or else he'll get upset. And don't just sing the same thing over and over again. Change it up. Fourth, don't touch Cooper Trooper unless absolutely necessary. I don't want any scratches on my precious baby. Any questions?"

  "Sir?" Uchronia raised a leaf again.

  "Yes, recruit?"

  "How long do we have to look after Cooper Trooper?"

  "Are you sure you're Uchronia? The answer is so simple even a human could figure it out. You protect my baby until the whole operation is over. That's your mission. That’s your final exam. Now, are there any smart questions?"

  "No, sir. Sorry, sir."

  "Good."

  Commander Cooper walked over to the crib and placed Cooper Trooper down with the utmost care. He stroked the top of its head and gave it a peck on the shell. "Daddy will be back soon, okay?" he whispered.

  When he turned back to face Alwin and squad, the soft gentle face he possessed melted away as a steeled grizzly look appeared in its place. Gone was the chicken, replaced by a hawk.

  "If there's nothing else, I will be returning to my office. I'll be performing periodic spot checks to make sure you recruits are treating my baby right. Understood?"

  "Yes, sir." Uchronia saluted. "But, sir? Isn't this your office?"

  "This? My office? Absurd. This tent is the most centralized one in the entire camp. Surrounded by platoons conducting training and guarded by the cream of the crop from Alpha Wolves, Battle Rams, and Caesar Salads. No other tent is allowed within the vicinity so that the view remains unobstructed at all times. Only the most important individual would be given such accommodations, and that person is definitely not me. Far from it, in fact. That designation goes to Cooper Trooper.”

  He gestured proudly at the crib.

  “Now, if you need any advice such as what key to sing in, you may come to consult me. One and I repeat only one of you is allowed to leave the tent at the time and only for essential reasons. Otherwise, I expect all three of you to always be looking after my precious baby. Understood?"

  "Yes, sir." Uchronia saluted again.

  "Good."

  With that, Commander Cooper turned to leave. He opened the flap, stepped out, and closed it at such blinding speeds, it was as if he had teleported. But, he didn't. Alwin knew that because there wasn't a big bright flash that normally happens when someone uses a teleportation skill.

  Now, it was just the three of them, plus Cooper Trooper. Alwin turned to look at the crib as part of his duty. Sitting within the nest of blankets was the egg, It was still there. This was going to be the easiest final exam ever! Thank you, Commander Cooper!

  However, some people didn't share his sentiments. Some people being Uchronia who clenched a leaf into a fist while doing her best impression of a tomato.

  "Babysitting," she mumbled through gritted teeth.

  "You okay?" Alwin asked.

  "Obviously not. A whole year's worth of training just to be asked to babysit an egg. Why would you bring an egg into an operational camp? Seriously? No wonder they use birdbrain as an insult."

  "Uchronia, be quiet," whispered Gus. "You're scaring, Cooper Trooper."

  She shot him a glare so cold that it rendered the heat lamps shining down on the crib useless.

  "Not now, Gus," she growled. "Or else I'll—"

  As if her eyes were really that powerful, one of the heat lamps went out. A puff of smoke rose from the red-hot crystal as the remaining rays of light died out. Without their warmth, how could the egg survive? Oh, how could Alwin let this happen? He wasn't going to let it happen. His grades were on the line!

  "Great." Uchronia rolled her eyes.

  "Don't worry, Uchronia. I'll go get a replacement crystal. Plus I need to go to the room of baths really badly," Alwin said.

  "What?" She cocked a grassy eyebrow.

  "I'll go to logistics then after that I'll go to the bathroom. Or maybe I'll go to the bathroom first. I really, really, really need to go."

  "Thanks, Alwin," Uchronia sighed with a small smile. "At least you're more reliable than some people." She turned to look at Gus who was offering a muffin to Cooper Trooper. "I just need some time to process everything. Sorry about this."

  "No problemo!" Alwin dashed through the tent entrance over the moon from earning praise. Somehow the stack of gear remained on his head.

  First logistics then the bathroom.

  Okay, maybe bathroom first.