<As a crowded civilian shuttle is about to take-off, the peace is suddenly shattered by a five-year-old boy who picks that moment to throw a wild temper tantrum. No matter what his frustrated, embarrassed mother does to try to calm him down, the boy continues to scream furiously and kick the seats around him.
<Suddenly, from the rear of the plane, an older man in the uniform of a Royal Manticorian Navy Chief begins to make his way up the aisle. Stopping the frustrated mother’s upraised hand, the white haired, courtly, soft-spoken Chief leans down and, motioning toward his shoulder, whispers something into the boy’s ear.
<Instantly, the boy calms down, gently takes his mother’s hand, and quietly fastens his seat belt. All the other passengers burst into spontaneous applause. As the Chief slowly makes his way back to his seat, one of the cabin attendents touches his sleeve. “Excuse me Chief”, she asks quietly, “could I ask you what magic words you used on that little boy?”
<The Chief smiled serenely and gently confides, “I showed him my shoulder patches, service stripes, and battle ribbons, and then explained to him that they entitled me to space one passenger out of the airlock.”>
Chief
Poker & Mange
Edited to remove coffee mug art and comments.
and, Mangy Fur the Smart Alick Spacecat.