"Hey, I—I don't want to recuperate! I'm perfectly fine, why should I recuperate? I want to go back to the company, I want to go ba—" With a clatter, the entire hospital bed was wheeled into a craft.
A female doctor wearing a white mask ticked something off on her clipboard, then pressed a mechanism at the head of the bed. Smoke puffed from the oxygen mask, and the man on the bed immediately flopped down with a thud, falling silent.
Several soldiers hurried over to secure the bed, while the young company commander politely said to the woman, "Doctor, Old Squad Leader is in your care."
"Don't worry. I guarantee he'll come back lively and kicking." The woman spoke gently, then waved to those behind her. "Prepare for takeoff."
Whoosh. Blue plumes erupted from the craft's vectored thrusters, propelling it swiftly along the track. It would take off beyond the transfer station.
Watching the craft disappear into the distance, the young company commander sighed and murmured, "Old Squad Leader's body is gradually giving out."
The few joking soldiers, too, began to look troubled.
"Yeah. Old Squad Leader shouldn't keep forcing himself. He should transfer to the clerical department."
"But Old Squad Leader isn't educated. How could he work in the clerical department?"
"Then he should just retire. It's peacetime now, anyway. Old Squad Leader's still single, right? The important thing is for him to retire and find himself a wife."
"I think that'll work! Hey, what did you think of that doctor just now? We couldn't see her face with that mask on, but her eyes and figure were both pretty nice. If Old Squad Leader doesn't want her... I won't hold back!"
The soldiers had no sense of propriety, but the young company commander sighed inwardly. *Uncle, don't