We were conquers.
Location: Unknown, Sith-Imperial Space, eight standard months prior to Kintan..
“S’lot of dirt..” one of the privates muttered, dumping a handful of the crap onto his lap.
It only served to bolster the image that the lot of the Legionnaire intake were no better then toddlers plied with weaponry. There were eight other men and women not too dissimilar from him, all at varying levels of their military careers. The lot of them spread out amongst the winding small canyon in pairs, displaying varying levels of despondent boredom. They had holed up in the northern sector in a steep dried river bed. The system’s sun was merciless and burned steadily past ninteenhundred, driving them into the shadier outcrops for an ounce of reprieve. The Major had considered the time, they were only a little over six standard hours into the exercise. A blue flag stood out against the varying shades of camouflage, the engima pattern struggling with the arid terrain and the cut of cloth. The standard was lifeless with no wind to stir it, spiked precariously into the sandy walls that caged them in now.
“Mm yup..” Lyra observed, sweat rolling off her brow. She was equally unimpressed, making notes. Her back was butted up to the canyon wall, having planted herself in the shade; helm discarded at her side. She was waiting to be reprimanded for that.
“Wouldn’t it be a more tactical choice to take the position up top?” One Trooper swiveled his helm toward her, standing directly across from her; another greenhorne.
“If you can climb that, be my guest.” It was Captain Appw’rii that spoke up, the woman sat maybe a yard away. Jutting her helmet’s chin toward the bowing and shelved marbled walls. It could be done, with great difficulty Lyra reasoned silently. “You’ll over heat within the hour up there, or burn your water supply out though. So much for surviving the week?”
Maybe half of them were seasoned, the rest varying prospects hoping to land a place amongst the ranging company. The Major pursed her lips together, her head swinging left to right surveying a lot of..nothing. Not even the dust stirred out here, the stagnant worlds were oft the least glorious of deployments. There hadn’t been a lick of a breeze even on the march in. If there had not been fail safes in place, parts of their armor may as well overheated. The Troopers spoke amongst themselves, several dropping their own helms as another hour drew out. She picked up a whisper on occasion, but it was mostly useless blabber..
Two had taken it upon themselves to watch the south entrance, slacking as the wait drew out. Why had she forgotten her flask? It had been an itch at the back of her throat for the last few weeks, certainly excusable as Tavlar always seemed to have a cigarra on him. Twelve other teams were circulating the grounds with them, actively hunting one another. The game offered a plethora of outcomes and win-lose scenarios but it’s core lesson laid in temperance..and team building but that was beside the point. In her experience either it would ramp up by the week’s end or the first night was going to be brutal. It was one of her fondest memories from Basic, live training.
The original expectation involved more explosions and live fire but Lyra had tailored the course to fit the Company’s goals; of course all that would come into play later. She wasn’t privy to the fireworks planned. No, that had been handed over to a group of overseers, it would just be cheating otherwise. Scratching her chin idly, her hands trailed down the training rifle, refraining from checking the power cell. It was really no better than a child’s toy. Turning her attention toward the sky, the atmosphere provided an off colored blue and it was only beginning to hint at sunset. A rock shifted overhead and a small trail of sand trickled down the canyon, startling the lot of them. They all had reached for their rifles, even herself but Lyra could feel the squirreliness rolling off the few of them. She was not commanding this squadron, Captain Appw’rii was up this time. The Captain’s admirability did not change the lack of verbal expectation.
Lyra had an idea of what the woman was trying to accomplish with their choice of tactic, but anything could change within a short span of minutes. Shifting in the sand, Lyra cracked her neck before dropping her rifle back in her lap; the others slowly uncoiling. It was too quiet. Unexpectedly a small hum bubbled in her throat and soon she was nodding her head to a tune in her head; fingers wagging at her side like a conductor. Appw’rii regarded her as if she had grown a second head but the Leftenent shading himself nearest, pipped up with a dry laugh; catching on.
“He was just a rookie trooper…” Voi’kryt muttered under her breath, as if testing the waters. She couldn't sing worth shavit by any means but she could carry a tune. Lt. Jissard made a show of clearing his throat before they both were crooning.
“..and he surely shook with fright..”
“He checked all his equipment and made sure his pack was tight..”
It was a mediocre performance, but the recruits were entrapped.
“He had to sit and listen to those awful engines roar.”
Jissard pumped his rifle in the air and his laughter bleed into the words.
“You ain't gonna jump no more!”
“Uh ma’am...we’re picking up a lot of activity..”
“Major please-” Appw’rii interjected already on her feet, the Troopers scrambling with their weapons; confused. Several visors drifted between their distraction and the Captain.
“Gory, gory, what a hellu'va way to die..”
“Ma’am our position is-” another Trooper cried at her.
They ended on a high note as blue bolts filled the mouth of the canyon, Lyra scooped up her helm and slapped it on as she rose to her feet. One of their ‘sentries’ hit the sand paralyzed by a shot and one of the greenhornes pushed up to drag him back; falling under the heat. The radar was going off as the squad surged toward the bottle neck to secure their position. A cluster of ‘enemies’ was on their front door. The shouting drew some concern and she frowned behind her mask when she heard the jeering tossed around. Looking at the radar, Lyra raised a brow as it read another entity and she looked up as she stepped out of the shade looking at the top of the canyon. It maybe was six meters to the top of the plateau but the radar beeped steadily.
Raising the dud rifle, the Major retreated slowly; sights trained on the horizon. The mess to her side would resolve itself as Appw’rii threw around orders, the comm crackling in her ear. An errant bolt grazed before her and Lyra pushed her back into the wall; dragging dust along her plates as she took cover. A shadow skirted over her head, counting under her breath. She stepped out firing off three rounds above her. A hard thud sounded, more dust pouring down, dousing her. Her feet dragging her back, then it dawned upon her..She hadn’t considered if what was stalking them fell..Panic seized her chest briefly and she dropped the rifle with a graceless toss. Ready to catch a man..but nobody fell. Lyra waited a beat and she exhaled heavily, the filters on her helmet working double time. Slapping a hand across her visor she bent over, embarrassment washing over her. A stern reminder it was a game.
“Who’d I shoot up there..” Lyra shouted, stepping out as the fire fight fizzled out. Victors stumbling around to collect the flags off the slain, yellow team had been sent packing out.
“Corporal Moneus..” the man’s voice strained, she couldn’t see him quite but the radar picked up his signal; the dot registering red. He hadn’t picked himself up yet and Lyra crossed her arms, the bolts could hardly even be considered stun grade..it was just a bit of a shock.
Appw’rii had approached her, sand bathing her visor. She had a yellow flag in hand from her own conquest, but the Major knew the woman was displeased. They’d speak of it later. Lyra crossed her arms her helmet masking the quirk of her lip.
"You almost shoot him off the ledge..?" The Captain's voice bordered accusatory. As if she had meant to do it..
"He did put himself up there, and should have considered the risks of being shot.." Lyra defended. Stupid games had stupider prizes..“Hey Moneus..!”
“Yes..ma’am."
Some sand spilled into the canyon, and she caught his shoulder as the ranger picked himself up.
“Color me impressed, you actually climbed up there!” Lyra called out, and she almost was. More concerned if the man was suffering from heatstroke yet..but there had been a staff meeting almost two weeks prior; something about positive reinforcement. “You wanna drop your flag down and head back to the gate for me?”
“Aye ma’am..”
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