24086 three legged foolishness

Robin laughed Devlin frowned. “Just why does that get a laugh all the time? I know I didn’t challenge Greg, but it was clear she was the one making the move.”

Robin said. “And the others? I love you but you would never pull off menacing, it just isn’t you. Besides as they are bonded it is still her making the move so you would have no reason to try.” Devlin tried to look upset but had to laugh as he was right. “Thank you for telling me that I can get in, I won’t make a pest out of myself, but I do want to talk to her. Goldwing? Wonder if that is due to her having a golden dragon or something else. Wherever did a gold find her, they are seldom seen any place.” At Devlin’s look he said. “Air units always include the lead dragons color in their name, it makes them easier to track in a fight. The longer the name means the color is a common one, but in truth color means very little, it is just how humans tell them apart. I am going into the service, and will have my strip so have taken more than the basics. I don’t know for sure but there is a chance I will be ground crew. It is harder to be sure of the ties. Regardless I want to learn all I can. There is going to be a war in our life times and I am going to do everything I can to be ready, just as you are. I know you asked to do field service.”

Devlin shook his head a bit. “Now I have to do a service rotation, and it just made since to.”

Robin shook his head. “That works on Father, but Wallace, I and Gale know that medics are not forced to do field work. They would have gladly let you do the time in a rehab unit or even a base hospital. To go into the field you have to ask for it, more so when you are not fit for combat. I may be a high school and so supposedly blind to the events, but I spend what time I can at the grounds, working with the Units stationed there. I know that they are gearing up. I had best head back before Father thinks I went to see Gale tonight. He will never welcome her back, but he will talk to her, just give him time to adjust. Her serving an old God is hard on him, but he was getting accustomed to it, but her to be in command. Well he was still trying to get used to the fact that other lands did have female officers. He struggles more with the difference that are in the world than Mother does.”

Devlin nodded. “I just forget you are not eight anymore. I should have known, but well Father is worried enough, he doesn’t need to know what I am up to. I will be in a hospital most of the time. However there might be some times that I am needed in the field and so I need to learn how to not to be a problem when there. I know I have no business fighting, but I have to do what I can, should the signs be right this time. Father is better than he used to be. I thought it would be worse than that. I am just glad I was able to tell him. I truly wasn’t sure at first that it was her, then it seemed best to wait until I knew what she wanted. Not knowing just what went on.”

Robin nodded. “I understand that, and the others will as well. I just wonder why. But the it would have been hard to see the other gate had opened as there were a lot using it the next day, and I don’t think they checked until that night. Thinking she was just hunting. See you later, don’t worry I am not going to do anything foolish. I promise no doing anything without permission.” He waved and turned around. Devlin shook his head and went on home.

Devlin finished his lunch and went to meet back up with his group at the field as they had been told. He was the second one there so got to see the others as they came up and had to shake his head a bit, for most of them were not in the right gear for the field and they had been told they would be running the course. At least not what he would think of as training gear, for all they had changed, it still was a bit to flimsy for what he was expecting. More fit for a controlled gym than an outside training field. The shoes were going to slip a lot and the clothes they had would off no protection, but they would have to learn for themselves, clearly. Still just what were they expecting? They did know that this was for active duty training not just fitness. Likely they thought he was just as wrongly dressed, giving the looks he was getting. His clothes were not the skin tight stuff most of them had on, but they were made with woods and rough wear in mind, and his boots were issued ones, for all the rest of his uniform would come later in the week. This was going to be interesting.

The instructor came up and said. “Well you all found the right place so that is something. Clear a few of you thought I meant it would be an indoor course it is not. Come on and I will show you the course you will be running.” He led them on around the field to a fenced area and in a gate to the course. There was a lot of head shakes and some whispers. “You will be going through the course and will have a program made off of the results. The point of this is to see that you all have a good chance to make it out of a battle alive. No one is going to have it easy. It is not a game, it is a matter of survival and should be treated as such. Now if any of you wish to change after seeing this you have ten minutes. Participation is not optional if you wish to take service related classes. We are not going to send anyone in to those fields unless they are as prepared as we can manage. If you want to work in active combat situations you need to know how to take care of yourself and those near you.” There were some disgusted looks and a few stormed off, a couple of others called a different a pair of shoes but most just stood there. The instructor shook his head. “You will be placed with a unit after the first run, and that will lead to a second more targeted run, as each unit has its own training style. If you have already been placed with a unit stay here, the rest of you line up in front of this gate.”

As they sifter Gale yelled. “This is not a game! Start over now or get out! I will not tolerate fooling around on the course! Grven why the hell are your guys clowning around? A three legged race! Get them off the course!” That had a few of them turn to look and some laughed as there were indeed some that appeared to be running a three legged race on the course. “Fools. If they want to brake their necks let them do it on their own time. If this is what you are going to be doing then set a time when I am not using the course! This is not a place to play!”

A man said. “What are you? What the hell. You fools clear the cores now and report for stable duty! You are all on report! Grven what the hell were you doing? You were to be watch the greens not letting them fool around! That is not how we behave in train. I am sorry Lieutenant Goldwing, clearly I was mistaken to think I could trust Sergeant Nelison with a command. It will not happen again. Of all the! Just what had you idiots thinking this was a place to play?”

A second person said. “It was an aid run sir, they were practicing helping a wounded man off the field, sir!”

Devlin coughed, trying not to say anything, but it was hard. That was just ridicules. The first man said. “Of all the. That excuse takes it. You can join them in the stables for the next two weeks. See if you can’t learn something! Go!” He watched them until they turned and left, then turned to Gale and said, in a lower voice.. “Of all the nonsense. You really expect that. Again I am sorry for this and will be here after this. I don’t know just what has been going on it will stop. Tell me this isn’t normal?”

Gale said. “The three legged race was a first, but there is a good bit of play that goes on that I refuse to put up with. That is why Steve and I usual have the course alone. I am relieved to hear that you will be staying for a few weeks. That will help, it always settles down some after you have been here, and this year it is needed. There are more troops forming in the dark lands, it is not a time to be slacking. If it keeps like this few of the units here will be fit. That is unacceptable. I do hope you can find out what is going on. The games on the course need to stop. It is not a place to blow off steam. There is the common rooms and field for that not train grounds. You all need to remember that. No matter that nonsense you saw. Acting like that here will hurt you, trying it in the field will get you killed. This is not a game.” There were a few sinkers, and headshakes, clearly they didn’t believe her. “Yes I mean that there will be a war soon, five years if we are lucky but more likely two will see the first open attacks. The raids have already started. Just ask any from a boarder land. There has been a rise in bandits in those regions over the last year. All of you need to know this. If you stay the course you are on you will see fighting. Treat it like a game as those fools were and you will not come home. Train hard and you will have a chance. Only a chance of living. You need to decide now, before you enter the course what you want and then commit to it.”

The instructor nodded. “I have done my best to see they know it, but I fear there are some that will have to see it, as always. I know that you will not take any non-fights into the field but will you take three of these for training, Lieutenant? There are some that would be better served by learning your style as it fits what they will be facing better.”

One of the lads next to Devlin muttered. “Rest in peace that is going to be deadly. She is harsh. Won’t be me, I tell you that. Sunrise runs, no way.”

Gale gave no indication she had heard him. “What three? I can give it a try and see how they do. Not all are going to be willing to put in the effort I expect. Any with me will be put in full gear and take part in the live training drills once they have the skills needed, and they will be working hard to get those skills. Yes that will mean morning runs and daily drills. Know that my unit is on active duty. When we are called up, you will be placed with another team and will still have training runs. Not complying with the rules will get you dropped. I don’t tolerate playing on the field. Dev no point in you just standing there, go find Beth and get started. Or have I scared you off?”

Devlin smiled a bit. “No sir I don’t scare that easy even when there are blohogs involved. I don’t have a pack with me so are there weights?”

Gale said. “Not this time, we need to see where you are then will work on getting you to where you need to be. Beth should be over by the smaller gate.”

Devlin said. “Thank you sir.” And headed off missing the looks he got from the others in his group. He was just hoping that he wasn’t too out of line. He wasn’t sure of the forms of address he would be expected to use. The rank markings hadn’t been covered, so he hoped that he wasn’t expected to know them.