[ Empire of Akino | Cho Clan heartlands, some distance north of the port-city of Aegir, at a fortified camp ]
[ Third Imperial Division | The Axebiters - part of the Hell's Raiders | Eòin's Company ]
[ Wroten with a bit of @Lesli chiming in at the near end | Mentionings of the following characters:
For several weeks now had the unit been in training. It had been far from easy but the platoon would endure. From sunrise to the afternoon did they train. At evening and night, they were either able to regain energy for the next day of drills and training. Or they were assigned to duties that were expected of their rank. From doing patrol rounds, standing guard to the likes of digging latrines.
The platoon existed out of twenty-five people. They were separated into squads of five, each lead by a sergeant while the platoon itself was supposed to be under the leadership of a lieutenant.
And while they were all treated equally rough by the drilling sergeants and lieutenants of the brigade, they weren't all from the same origin. Seeing that she was to be the acting lieutenant once the platoon would be deployed with the rest of the brigade, Meilin took it on herself to learn the names of the group. And it soon became clear that they were one of the less experienced elements of the brigade.
There were various volunteers, hailing from different parts of the Empire. There were a couple of men that hailed from Keishi, while others came from the Hon, Sarutobi or Cho clan. A few also came from the Natsui Dominion or the Yakimara. Thus forming quite the melting pot.
There wasn't much interaction, at first, outside of training. They only came together to train and work together underneath the supervision of their trainers and drill sergeants. Or when being assigned to perform duties in and around the camp.
Outside of those times? They didn't seem to entirely trust each other well enough. The Taika minority of the platoon stayed together while the Chonobi stuck with each other. The two Yakimara volunteers that served in the platoon? Meilin found it quite funny that the two men had an easy time to win the trust of both camps.
With various attempts, Meilin would try to create a more cohesive unit. During drills, she would show compassion and care for all in the unit. And outside, she would regularly engage to make the group come together. Usually at her expense, as she would have to often smuggle and snatch alcohol or other goods to share with her platoon.
The first few attempts ended in failure. The distrust between the various groups was too large and it hampered their performance during the unit drills and training. And each failure during those drills was always punished with more exercises and training. Or to curb in the free time that the platoon had if the drill sergeants and lieutenants felt like it.
This together with the training underneath the guidance of Chief Medical Officer, Corin Mei, Meilin certainly had her hands full. This only became more intense as she would receive training from Tsuchida Iwane, a captain underneath the banner of the Axebitters. Meilin did like the cheerful man. The optimism often causing her to want to do better as he would help her understand what her role would be as a lieutenant. Though he also engaged in training a few other lieutenants, Meilin would often be the one to ask most questions. Luckily for her, the patience of Tsuchida was as big as his grin.
Eventually, it became Meilin's task to guide and coordinate training for the platoon with the aid of captain Tscuhida. He was always rather quick to point out to Meilin what she did wrong. What could go better and how to lead by example rather than through force or persuasion.
And so, days became once more weeks.
The unit was more cohesive and able to endure a lot together. And talks were surfacing that the preparations to ferry them to the eastern continent were almost done. Somehow, the whole excitement and tension around the idea of being deployed to an unknown continent caused more cohesion. Even with some current differences in culture, clans and religion, the unit seemed more than ever ready to face the challenges that awaited them.
And as the last test, Meilin was to lead her unit through the final courses of training. Being briefed by captain Tsuchida on what awaited her, she was to prepare her unit as good as she could for the upcoming challenges. The first was an obstacle course where the platoon was to compete with another platoon from another brigade - in who could be faster in completing the course. All in full gear together with a rucksack with provisions and some necessary tools.
First came the hurdle of the platoon needing to sprint as fast as they could over a field of fifty meters. Soon after the second hurdle would come into play. The platoon would need to crawl and drag themselves through mud and what seemed to be blood and organs. All while a network of sharp wire was laid low.
The third hurdle was requiring the platoon to once more sprint fifty meters and proceed to vault over various obstacles. From wooden fences that came to the height of an average person's hips. To the end obstacle of the third hurdle: a tall wooden wall that had to be climbed.
The fourth hurdle required the platoon to form up in formation and use their training shields to protect themselves against the drill sergeants and lieutenants - who would throw rotten fruit, vegetables and other wares at them.
The fifth hurdle would be the other platoon that would form up on the other side. Then it came down to which platoon was able to 'defeat' the other. Though there were several rules involved, it would be far from nice and gentle play between the two competing platoons.
The platoon would ready up behind the line. All of them were determined and ready to get going. When the signal was given, the group sprinted forwards. The first to be at the head was Aoi and Dagrún, both who Meilin asked to take the lead as she would linger back. Shouting at those who were not sprinting as fast, Meilin would attempt to motivate them to move faster.
By the time that Meilin had reached the second hurdle, she would get down and start to crawl. The sharp wire certainly didn't invite anybody to stick their head up, literally forcing them to slide themselves across the mud. Luckily, it wasn't anything new for the platoon.
The worst and surprise part of the second hurdle was when they reached halfway. Pig blood and organs, likely courtesy from the medical course, were thrown over them by drills sergeants, causing some of the platoon to hesitate and waver.
The first to move in was Aoi, quickly followed by Dagrún Hon. More quickly followed as nobody wanted to linger behind and cause the platoon to lose in the competition.
The platoon then waited as Meilin ordered them to move on the third obstacle together. This allowed a small window of reprieve on the likes of Aoi and Dagrún. And let the last ones to catch up. Once they all were assembled, Meilin would lead the unit. Despite the heavy equipment, she felt at home. Vaulting and moving rapidly over the course, she would often wait and motivate her unit to keep pushing onwards.
The platoon then reached the tall wooden wall. Whistling to get the attention of the unit, Meilin braced herself for what was to come.
Standing in front of the wooden wall, Meilin placed her hands against the wood. Instruct another to climb on her and do the same, she wanted the unit to form a human ladder.
The platoon did as their lieutenant asked but it was met with some hesitation until Madoc spurred some of the men to follow the order. Painfully and slow, the ladder would be formed. Allowing Madoc to climb to the top and allowing to drop the few ropes that would allow the others to scale the wooden wall and descend from it again.
The platoon was pretty winded due to the previous hurdles but they were instructed to keep up the pace. Moving in front, Meilin would raise a fist and shout the required instruction. Falling in line, the platoon formed a protective formation. Using their heavy shields, the unit would slowly march forwards as impacts could be felt as objects were thrown by them.
Halfway across the necessary distance, Meilin whistled hard. Madoc would take his place out of the unit to throw an apple back at one of the drill sergeants to surprise the lot, before moving back into the protective formation. While it certainly brought the wrath of the drill sergeants, it improved morale.
Reaching the end of the fourth hurdle, the platoon would have a small window to catch their breath before Meilin gave new instructions.
The fifth hurdle was the competing platoon. Both platoons would quickly form up a strong line. The opposing unit soon enough let out shouts and hurled insults at Meilin's platoon. Underneath Meilin's strict orders, her platoon would stay silent as they slowly advanced in a steady line of shields, backed by their muscle and steel will.
The collision came around halfway the small field. The opposing platoon attempted to push with their shields and else use the blunt, heavy practice weapons to dissuade Meilin's unit from achieving their victory, in order to gain their own.
Grunting, Meilin lingered a bit behind her platoon's formation. Passing instructions and several times moving into the thick to prevent a gap being created, her platoon started to win terrain. Slowly but surely, they started to push the opposing unit back to their starting position.
Exhausted from the previous hurdles and sore from the various spots where she had been hit, Meilin kept shouting at her platoon. As one, they started to push while letting out a cohesive shout.
Until they managed to win and achieve victory over the other platoon.
She could barely stand but felt immensely proud of the unit. They were standing in full formation, their practice weapons 'sheathed' while they held their shields in front of them - on the ground with their hands on top of the shield's rim. Standing five by five, Meilin was position in front while the sergeants of the unit were standing behind her, as first-line.
For a good ten minutes, they were all still standing. No complaint left their lips as the colonel inspected the unit. Finally, the colonel gave his blessing to the platoon. Causing a certain 'silent' celebration to pass among the members who couldn't resist to pat each other on the shoulder or share a grin when they were relieved.
Just before Meilin could take her leave with the unit, the colonel approached her. Causing her to stand at the ready and salute the higher officer. Lowering her arms and keeping her back straight, she awaited to what the colonel would want to tell her.
"You did a mighty fine job today," the colonel said calmly, gesturing to the leaving members of Meilin's platoon.
"I am impressed with your performance of leadership. It seems that captain Tscuhida has a high opinion of you as well."
The words almost caused Meilin to smile. She was exhausted but happy to hear that captain Tscuhida was happy with her performances. If anything, she wanted to ask for her leave. But that was improper due to her being of lower rank.
"Thank you, Colonel, sir!" Meilin replied, managing to keep her expression neutral.
"It does me good to see potential folk taking leader positions," colonel Eòin calmly continued as he moved his gaze back at Meilin,
"but I only want the best of the best. If you want the position of this platoon as a lieutenant, then you won't mind to prove me your determination. Right?" The colonel asked, a polite smile crossing his lips.
Meilin felt her heart sinking. She indeed wanted to prove her determination. But she was exhausted and felt her limbs aching from the hurdles that they had to cross. Steeling herself, Meilin replied resolutely.
"I am ready to prove myself, Colonel, sir."
The colonel nodded slowly as he would turn half around. Raising an arm, he would point to a certain point.
"Then you won't mind doing a ruck run. You are likely familiar with it already. Perform one and if you are able to report back here within the usual time. Then I will allow you to take the position as lieutenant."
Following the man's finger, Meilin wished anything but a ruck run. By the mere mentioning, her legs started to ache more than they already had. But she understood that she had two options. Either to cave in or to break. Seeing she had asked consistently the best of the platoon during the previous combined obstacle course, Meilin would respond back to the colonel.
"Yes, Colonel, sir."
Her shuffled her forward. The pain from exhaustion was becoming more intense than it had been before. Even breathing costed precious energy. Tears were already rolling over her cheeks and falling to the ground as Meilin pressured herself to keep moving on. The ruck run was no joke when one had to perform it before a day of exercises and exhausting drills. The full equipment of her gear and rucksack wore heavily on her. And for a moment she regretted everything. Most of all to position herself at the bottom of the human ladder at the wooden wall. Her shoulders were becoming numb and Meilin wasn't sure if she was going to last longer.
But she then picked up some sounds. Her feet weren't the only ones that shuffled. Her breath wasn't the only one that raspy and hinted towards exhaustion.
Meilin threw a look to the side and much to her surprise saw Aoi and Madoc at her right. They were in full gear as well, keeping up with Meilin. To her left were Dagrún and Mamoru. Feeling the tears at her eyes, Meilin bite her upper lip for a second.
At the end of the day, it became official. Meilin would become the official lieutenant of the platoon. With Aoi, Dagrún and Madoc as her sergeants.
