History Main / TimeToStepUpCommander

* At the beginning of ''Film/InHarmsWay'', 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 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 sortie from the harbor to the 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. (This was based on an actual incident.)

* This turns up more than once in the Literature/HonorHarrington series:
** In the short story "Ms. Midshipwoman Harrington", the story of Honor's middie cruise, an ambush of a pirate ship GoesHorriblyWrong. Honor's ship is heavily damaged, the Captain is critically injured and the Exec is taken out of action by battle damage. It's up to Honor -- a midshipwoman fresh from the Academy -- to recover from the enemy attack and save the ship.
** In ''The Short Victorious War'', during the Battle of Hancock, Honor's battlecruiser (which is the force flagship) is badly damaged and the Admiral commanding the Manticoran force is critically wounded. Protocol calls for her to transfer command to the senior surviving captain, but if she does that she risks further damage to the Manticoran squadron and might lose a chance to trap the attacking Havenite forces. So she simply keeps giving squadron orders, giving the other ships and captains the impression that she's still relaying orders from the admiral.

* At the beginning of ''Film/InHarmsWay'', 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. (This was based on an actual incident.)

%%
%%
%%
%% This list of examples has been alphabetized. Please add your example in the proper place. Thanks!
%%
%%
%%
%%
%%
%%

* ''FanFic/ABriefHistoryOfEquestria'': During the [[MeleeATrois Winter War]], Princess Platinum suffered SanitySlippage due to her plans for Unicornia falling apart. Because of this, Clover the Clever had to lock her up in her chambers and take over the war effort, something she was never trained for. She did surprisingly well, all things considered.

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

* ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'': 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.

* In ''VideoGame/TransformersWarForCybertron'' Optimus finds himself constantly being praised as leadership material after Zeta Prime bites it.

[[folder:VideoG ames]]

TheTeam leader has been temporarily [[CharacterDeath or permanently]] taken out of commission, and NumberTwo has suddenly found his group declaring him TheLeader. The problem is he's genuinely 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 will say "[[GetAholdOfYourselfMan Get ahold of yourself, you're our leader now,]]" in 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: Anime/Manga]]

[[AC: Fan Works]]

[[AC: {{Live Action TV}}]]
* Happens all the time in ''Franchise/StarTrek''. One notable example was in the ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' episode "The Best of Both Worlds: Part II", where Riker is faced with this [[WhoopiEpiphanySpeech from Guinan]].
* Happens to Colonel Tigh in ''Series/BattlestarGalactica2003''. 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...
* Several times when ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' is out of commission for whatever reason, ShrinkingViolet Willow steps up as replacement leader. This can be seen as early as the third season episode "Earshot", where she organizes the rest of team into canvassing the school in order to catch a murderer - she has to raise her voice to get them in line. It becomes even more obvious at the end of the fifth season and beginning of the sixth, even leading the rest of the team to elect her the "Boss of Us".
[[AC: {{Film}}]]

* At the beginning of ''Film/InHarmsWay'', 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. (This was based on an actual incident.)

[[AC: Literature]]

[[AC: VideoGames]]

* In ''VideoGame/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 TheTeam 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.
* In ''VideoGame/TransformersWarForCybertron'' Optimus finds himself constantly being praised as leadership material after Zeta Prime bites it.

[[AC: {{Webcomics}}]]

* ''Webcomic/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.

* In ''TransformersWarForCybertron'' Optimus finds himself constantly being praised as leadership material after Zeta Prime bites it.

* ''TengenToppaGurrenLagann'': After [[spoiler:Kamina is killed, Simon]] is forced to step up to lead Team Dai-Gurren. That is only after recovering from his HeroicBSOD.

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

* 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 ''Series/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...

* In ''Run Silent, Run Deep'', Lt. Bledsoe objects to Cmdr. Richardson's obsessive hunt for a seemingly unbeatable and undetectable Japanese submarine. But, when Richardson is injured, Bledsoe carries on with Richardson's hunt.

TheTeam leader has been temporarily [[CharacterDeath or permanently]] taken out of commission, and NumberTwo has suddenly found his group declaring him TheLeader. The problem is he's genuinely 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 will say "[[GetAholdOfYourselfMan Get ahold of yourself, you're our leader now.]]" in 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 ''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 HeroicSacrifice in the process.

* 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. (This was based on an actual incident.)
* In ''StarTrekIITheWrathOfKhan'', Admiral Kirk is ordered to take the ''Enterprise'' to Regula I, as communications with the station has failed. He is willing to allow Captain Spock to maintain command, but Spock insists that as senior officer, Kirk must assume command.

* In ''StarTrekIITheWrathOfKhan'', Admiral Kirk is ordered to take the ''Enterprise'' to Regula I, as communications with the station as failed. He is willing to allow Captain Spock to maintain command, but Spock insists that as senior officer, Kirk must assume command.

* ''TengenToppaGurrenLagann'': After [[spoiler:Kamina is killed, Simon]] is forced to step up to lead Team Dai-Gurren. That is only after recovering from his Heroic BSOD.

* ''TengenToppaGurrenLagann'': After [[spoiler:Kamina is killed, Simon is forced to step up to lead Team Dai-Gurren.]]

* ''Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann'': After [[spoiler:Kamina is killed, Simon is forced to step up to lead Team Dai-Gurren.]]

* ''Anime/Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann'': After [[spoiler:Kamina is killed, Simon is forced to step up to lead Team Dai-Gurren.]]

* ''Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann'': After [[spoiler:Kamina is killed, Simon is forced to step up to lead Team Dai-Gurren.]]

TheTeam leader has been temporarily [[TheHeroDies or permanently]] taken out of commission, and TheLancer / NumberTwo has suddenly found his group declaring him TheLeader. The problem is he's genuinely 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 will say "[[GetAholdOfYourselfMan Get ahold of yourself, you're our leader now.]]" in 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.]]

* One of your soldiers you can talk to in the pub may tell you that "Its time to step up, Gerald" in ''VideoGame/KingdomUnderFireTheCrusaders.''
* In ''VideoGame/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.
* Optimus finds himself constantly being praised as leadership material after Zeta Prime bites it in ''TransformersWarForCybertron''.

* In ''MassEffect'', after Captain Anderson is forcibly KickedUpstairs by the Alliance brass, Shepard can admit to Joker that they feel guilty about being given command of the ''Normandy'', feeling like they've "stolen" the ship from their mentor.

* Several times when BuffyTheVampireSlayer is out of commission for whatever reason, ShrinkingViolet Willow steps up as replacement leader. This can be seen as early as the third season episode "Earshot", where she organizes the rest of team into canvassing the school in order to catch a murderer - she has to raise her voice to get them in line. It becomes even more obvious at the end of the fifth season and beginning of the sixth, even leading the rest of the team to elect her the "Boss of Us".