History Main / TimeToStepUpCommander

* In {{Ender's Game}}, Bean has to step up to be in charge of Ender's toon, causing some resentment.

* One of your soldiers you can talk to in the pub may tell you that "Its time to step up Gerald" in ''VideoGame/KingdomUnderFireTheCrusaders.''

TheHero / TheCaptain has been temporarily [[TheHeroDies or permanently]] taken out of commission, and TheLancer / NumberTwo has suddenly found his group declaring him TheLeader. But he's genuinely [[ReluctantHero reluctant]] to [[TakeUpMySword take up the role]]. He may feel guilty for [[TheUsurper usurping]] the position, or afraid he's UnfitForGreatness. One or more of his new subordinates in FiveManBand / TheSquad will say "[[GetAholdOfYourselfMan Get ahold of yourself, you're our leader now.]]" a DareToBeBadass for the chain of command. If the DecoyProtagonist has met his untimely end, this can be the unveiling of [[TheHero the real hero.]]

* Happens all the time in ''Franchise/StarTrek''.
** A specific example would be "Best of Both Worlds", where Riker is faced with this from Guinan.

* Happens to Colonel Tigh in ''BattlestarGalacticaReimagined''. After Adama is shot, Tigh's wife is telling him that he is in charge now, even though he does not have the character or charisma for being in charge. Then, let's just say things go downhill...

* Happens to Colonel Tigh in ''BattlestarGalacticaReimagined''. After Adama is shot, Tigh's wife is telling him that he is in charge now, even though he does not have the character or charisma for being in charge. Then, [[ItGetsWorse let's just say things go downhill...]]

* At the beginning of ''In Harm's Way'', Lieutenant (j.g.) [=McConnell=] is the command duty officer aboard a destroyer that is docked as the attack on Pearl Harbor begins. With the captain and first officer are ashore at church, he orders the engine room to light all boilers. When there is enough steam to maneuver, he orders that all lines be cast off and that the ship go to open sea. He refuses to slow down for the captain and first officer (who try to catch up to the ship in a launch) to come aboard, as this would make the destroyer an easy target for the Japanese pilots.

* One of your soldiers you can talk to in the pub may tell you that "Its time to step up Gerald" in ''KingdomUnderFire: The Crusades.''

TheHero[=/=]TheCaptain has been temporarily [[TheHeroDies or permanently]] taken out of commission, and TheLancer[=/=]NumberTwo has suddenly found his group declaring him TheLeader. But he's genuinely [[ReluctantHero reluctant]] to [[TakeUpMySword take up the role]]. He may feel guilty for [[TheUsurper usurping]] the position, or afraid he's UnfitForGreatness. One or more of his new subordinates in FiveManBand[=/=]TheSquad will say "[[GetAholdOfYourselfMan Get ahold of yourself, you're our leader now.]]" a DareToBeBadass for the chain of command. If the DecoyProtagonist has met his untimely end, this can be the unveiling of [[TheHero the real hero.]]

* In ''FinalFantasyVII'', after Cloud goes missing and Tifa leaves, Barret talks about taking (back) leadership... but realizes he's not cut out for it (plus everyone present came to the team after Barret's stint as AVALANCHE's leader), so he nominates Cid, who replies "No way. Pain in the ass!" Barret talks him into it, however.

* ''GirlGenius'': Gilgamesh questions his father's alleged death because they NeverFoundTheBody; Boris agrees, but says he has direct orders to immediately acknowledge Gil's leadership anyway, just to keep the Empire running smoothly.

TheHero[=/=]TheCaptain has been temporarily [[TheHeroDies or permanently]] taken out of commission, and TheLancer[=/=]NumberTwo has suddenly found his group declaring him TheLeader. But he's genuinely [[ReluctantHero reluctant]] to [[TakeUpMySword take up the role]]. He may feel guilty for [[TheUsurper usurping]] the position, or afraid he's UnfitForGreatness. One or more of his new subordinates in FiveManBand[=/=]TheSquad will say "[[GetAholdOfYourselfMan Get ahold of yourself, you're our leader now.]]" a DareToBeBadass for the chain of command. If the DecoyProtagonist has met his untimely end, this can be the unveiling of [[TheHero the real hero.]]

[[AC: {{Live Action TV}}]]
* Happens all the time in ''Franchise/StarTrek''.

[[AC: {{Film}}]]
* In ''K19TheWidowmaker'', the young reactor engineering chief at first chickens out when it is his turn to do some welding in the highly radioactive reactor core. Getting ignored for his cowardice, he mans up, sneaks into the core, and not only does his job, but does ignore orders to come out unless the job is done, and does a {{Heroic Sacrifice}} in the process.

[[AC: {{Video Games}}]]
* One of your soldiers you can talk to in the pub may tell you that "Its time to step up Gerald" in ''KingdomUnderFire: The Crusades.''

* Optimus finds himself constantly being praised as leadership material after Zeta Prime bites it in ''[[TransformersWarForCybertron Transformers: War For Cybertron]]''.

[[AC: {{Webcomics}}]]
* ''OrderOfTheStick'': When [[spoiler: Roy is killed during the battle for Azure City,]] Haley is distraught and unable to take action. Durkon reminds her that she's second-in-command, reminds her that [[spoiler: Roy can be resurrected]], and tells her to take action on the situation. This kicks the rogue into action.

* Happens all the time in ''StarTrek''.
** A Specific example would be "Best of Both Worlds", where Riker is faced with this from Guinan.

TheHero[=/=]TheCaptain has been temporarily [[TheHeroDies or permanently]] taken out of commission, and TheLancer[=/=]NumberTwo has suddenly found his group declaring him TheLeader. But he's genuinely [[ReluctantHero reluctant]] to [[TakeUpMySword take up the role]]. He may feel guilty or afraid he's UnfitForGreatness. One or more of his new subordinates in FiveManBand[=/=]TheSquad will say "[[GetAholdOfYourselfMan Get ahold of yourself, you're our leader now.]]" a DareToBeBadass for the chain of command. If the DecoyProtagonist has met his untimely end, this can be the unveiling of [[TheHero the real hero.]]

Alternately, this can occur when a former subordinate is pressganged or voted into leadership after a HeroicTeamRevolt or a {{Mutiny}}, whether or not the previous leader is left alive to [[StillTheLeader complain]].

Alternately, this can occur when a former subordinate is pressganged or voted into leadership after a HeroicTeamRevolt or a {{Mutiny}}, whether or not the previous leader is left alive to [[complain StillTheLeader]].

TheHero[=/=]TheCaptain has been temporarily [[TheHeroDies or permanently]] taken out of commission, and TheLancer[=/=]NumberTwo has suddenly found his group declaring him TheLeader. But he's genuinely [[ReluctantHero reluctant]] to [[TakeUpMySword take up the role]]. He may feel guilty or afraid he's UnfitForGreatness. One or more of his new subordinates in FiveManBand[=/=]TheSquad will say "[[GetAholdOfYourselfMan Get ahold of yourself, you're our leader now.]]" a DareToBeBadass for the chain of command. If {{Decoy Protagonist}} has met his untimely end, this can be the unveiling of [[TheHero the real hero.]]

Alternatively, a character who was previously not the leader may find themselves the unwilling catalyst for a change of leadership in a group who are dissatisfied with the previous leader. For all the apparent lancers protests that they are not the leader of the group, they'll inevitably find themselves leading the group by force of personality, usually while the previous "hero" grumbles that they're StillTheLeader.

See also {{You Are In Command Now}}, where the subordinate finds himself in charge more or less by accident, {{Field Promotion}}, where a ''senior'' character promotes the subordinate as opposed to just one of his peers, and {{Take Up My Sword}}, which this may also be if its the teams [[TheLancer lancer]] or other member who is replacing {{The Hero}} permanently. If Commander is the character's actual rank, its CommandingCoolness.

TheHero[=/=]TheCaptain has been temporarily [[TheHeroDies or permanently]] taken out of commission, and TheLancer[=/=]NumberTwo has suddenly found his group declaring him TheLeader. But he's genuinely [[ReluctantHero reluctant]] to [[TakeUpMySword take up the role]]. He may feel guilty or afraid he's UnfitForGreatness. One or more of his new subordinates in TheFiveManBand[=/=]TheSqad will say "[[GetAholdOfYourselfMan Get ahold of yourself, you're our leader now.]]" a DareToBeBadass for the chain of command. If {{Decoy Protagonist}} has met his untimely end, this can be the unveiling of [[TheHero the real hero.]]

In the {{Five Man Band}}, {{The Hero}} has been temporarily [[TheHeroDies or permanently]] taken out of commission, and {{The Lancer}} has suddenly found his group declaring him TheLeader. But he's genuinely [[ReluctantHero reluctant]] to [[TakeUpMySword take up the role]]. One or more of his new subordinates will say "[[GetAholdOfYourselfMan Get ahold of yourself, you're our leader now.]]" a DareToBeBadass for the chain of command.

This is often when {{The Lancer}} reveals his or her position in the team, if this wasn't clear: they're the ones that everyone finds themselves looking to now. Alternatively, if the {{Decoy Protagonist}} has met his untimely end, this can be the unveiling of [[TheHero the real hero.]]

For military settings, there may be a {{Number Two}} to {{The Captain}} or other high-ranking good guy. This is often how the main character of a piece gets his position in the first place. They may feel that they aren't up to the post, especially if they feel unworthy of or guilty about the promotion. Faced with a dead/missing leader and a dithering second, someone else in the squad will tell the {{Number Two}} to step up.

See also {{You Are In Command Now}}, where the subordinate finds himself in charge more or less by accident, {{Field Promotion}}, where a ''senior'' character promotes the subordinate as opposed to just one of his peers, and {{Take Up My Sword}}, which this may also be if its the teams [[TheLancer lancer]] or other member who is replacing {{The Hero}} permanently.

Alternatively, a character who was previously not the leader may find themselves the unwilling catalyst for a change of leadership in a group who are dissatisfied with the previous leader. For all the apparent lancers protests that they are not the leader of the group, they'll inevitably find themselves leading the group by force of personality, usually while the previous "hero" grumbles that they're still formally the leader.

Clarification: This is when a character who is hesitant to take charge in place of their groups leading hero or formal superior is prompted to get on with leading the group by a character of equal or lesser rank. It doesn't apply to when senior characters promote the character, that's a {{Field Promotion}}.

The basic premise of this trope is when a leader of a side has been temporarily or permanently knocked out of the action, and other characters prompt a reluctant [[TheLancer lancer]] or formal second-in-command to take up the post of the fallen leader.

For a {{Five Man Band}}, this usually means that {{The Hero}} has been temporarily [[TheHeroDies or permanently]] taken out of commission, and {{The Lancer}} has suddenly found him or herself as the dominant personality of the team. (however reluctantly.) Unlike {{Take Up My Sword}} though, {{The Lancer}} hasn't formally stepped up to the plate yet, and frankly, doesn't feel ready to. This is when another character steps in and says "[[GetAholdOfYourselfMan Get ahold of yourself, you're our leader now.]]" Basically, it's a DareToBeBadass as it specifically relates to the chain of command.

* In ''K-19'', the young reactor engineering chief at first chickens out when it is his turn to do some welding in the highly radioactive reactor core. Getting ignored for his cowardice, he mans up, sneaks into the core, and not only does his job, but does ignore orders to come out unless the job is done, and does a {{Heroic Sacrifice}} in the process.

* Happens to Colonel Tigh in ''BattlestarGalacticaReimagined''. After Adama is shot, Tigh's wife is telling him that he is in charge now, even though he does not have the character or charisma for being in charge. Then, [[ItGetsWords let's just say things go downhill...]]

Clarification: This is when a character who is hesitant to take charge in place of their groups leading hero or formal superior is prompted to get on with leading the group by a character of equal or lesser rank. It doesn't apply to when senior characters promote the character, thats a {{Field Promotion}}.