Flattery will get you far, but there's nothing like cash to win over a superior officer's heart, or possibly a bottle of Stolle 400 Proof. The latter also doubles nicely as a cleaning solvent should you get the promotion and then proceed to force your subordinates to clean your new office with their toothbrushes.
But that's just the tip of the bribery iceberg! I will be glad to share all of my suck-up skills for a moderate fee - only $99.99 plus shipping and handling. Offer not found in stores, so call today!
Vice Admiral It'aelia Zwibble
VA Zwibble / Commandant / / Imperial Academy
Imperial Academy Commandant academy.empirereborn.net
"Deýr fe, / deyia frondr, / deyr sialfr it sama; / enn orztÃrr / deyr aldregi / hveim er ser goðan getr."
Think about it this way. Even the most impartial superior wouldn't promote a subordinate who disparages.
There can only be flattery or disparagation(except in LF's case, where both seems to merge ) and the only other option is silence. Silence obviously gets you nothing and disparagation gets you worse than nothing, so the only option is flattery.
Or, as the esteemed Commandant in all her infinite wisdom said, bribery.