The moment Vallyrie had stepped off the transport, she knew she was in for it. Yaga Minor was breathtakingly beautiful, especially in this part of the mountains. The landing pad had been carved out of a mountain, and built with what looked to be the finest Imperial architects; they would have had to have been to keep the thing upright. Below the landing pad lay a vast valley with a river running through it. A patchwork of greens, separated by rock walls and farmsteads lead all the way to a small town in the distance. Winding paths covered the mountains on either sides, disappearing into the dark patches that were caves. It would be the first field operation with Vallyrie commanding Second Platoon.
There were grumbles among the veterans of the platoon behind Vallyrie, but she ignored them. Sergeant Vorro approached, still wearing his helmet despite Vallyrie taking hers off. They were all in olive drab painted assault trooper armor. She gave the platoon sergeant a nod quick nod. “Get the platoon ready for the briefing. Make sure they get chow.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Sergeant Vorro acknowledged. Vallyrie started toward the base entrance where Iron Company’s commander was with the other platoon leaders. She could hear Vorro yelling to get Second Platoon moving. Checking the time on her wrist panel, they would have an hour before the briefing for the training would begin; just enough time to get settled in a bunk and get some food before they began doing whatever it was the Empire had them on the planet for.
“Winters,” Captain Sogal greeted with a nod. Vallyrie returned the nod. No saluting in the field. Was a good way to get the officers killed by snipers. At least, that’s what they told every new recruit in basic.
“Captain,” she said. Vallyrie hadn’t met the other lieutenants yet, but she was pretty sure the Weapons Platoon leader had hit on her in a bar on Raxus. Time to see if her rejection had struck a nerve with him or not.
“Get your troopers squared away, then get everyone to the briefing room. Once third platoon arrives and gets squared away, we’ll start,” Sogal said, shifting his gaze between then platoon commanders.
“Yes, sir,” Vallyrie said in unison with the other lieutenants. The Captain waved them off, and Vallyrie made her way into the base proper. It took a few minutes to get her bearings, but she was able to find Second Platoon’s birthing and grab a bunk in the corner. She was able to catch up for chow just before the last trooper in her platoon got their food. The sounds of engines coming in to the landing pad while they were eating told her third had arrived.
Within the hour, Vallyrie was standing in the back of the briefing room with the other officers of Iron Company, the troopers under their commands sitting in the seats in front of them. A Colonel stood on the stage below, a holo-projector displaying the valley brightly showing behind him.
“Welcome, Iron Company. There’s a lot of go over and not a lot of time, so sit down, listen up, and let’s get through this,” the colonel said. “This field exercise is designed to test your abilities to handle counter-insurgency operations. Enemy combatants will be training droids. The people are actors, but they are very good at what they do and will react accurately to how you conduct yourselves; they’ve been at this game longer than most of you have been in the armed forces.”
He paused, holding out a hand toward a woman. “During your training, you’ll have a Knight attaché. My suggestion is to do your job and not fuck with them. They’re here to participate if they wish, but mostly to observe.” Vallyrie’s brown eyes turned to the woman. Imperial Knights overseeing COIN training? A shiver ran up her spine.
“Iron Company’s objective is to use this base as a staging area to conduct operations in the valley. Kick the insurgent forces out of the valley, or get kicked out of the valley yourselves. Debrief will happen when the training exercise is complete. Anything you’d like to add, ma’am?” The colonel asked, turning to the woman.
@LadyRen
There were grumbles among the veterans of the platoon behind Vallyrie, but she ignored them. Sergeant Vorro approached, still wearing his helmet despite Vallyrie taking hers off. They were all in olive drab painted assault trooper armor. She gave the platoon sergeant a nod quick nod. “Get the platoon ready for the briefing. Make sure they get chow.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Sergeant Vorro acknowledged. Vallyrie started toward the base entrance where Iron Company’s commander was with the other platoon leaders. She could hear Vorro yelling to get Second Platoon moving. Checking the time on her wrist panel, they would have an hour before the briefing for the training would begin; just enough time to get settled in a bunk and get some food before they began doing whatever it was the Empire had them on the planet for.
“Winters,” Captain Sogal greeted with a nod. Vallyrie returned the nod. No saluting in the field. Was a good way to get the officers killed by snipers. At least, that’s what they told every new recruit in basic.
“Captain,” she said. Vallyrie hadn’t met the other lieutenants yet, but she was pretty sure the Weapons Platoon leader had hit on her in a bar on Raxus. Time to see if her rejection had struck a nerve with him or not.
“Get your troopers squared away, then get everyone to the briefing room. Once third platoon arrives and gets squared away, we’ll start,” Sogal said, shifting his gaze between then platoon commanders.
“Yes, sir,” Vallyrie said in unison with the other lieutenants. The Captain waved them off, and Vallyrie made her way into the base proper. It took a few minutes to get her bearings, but she was able to find Second Platoon’s birthing and grab a bunk in the corner. She was able to catch up for chow just before the last trooper in her platoon got their food. The sounds of engines coming in to the landing pad while they were eating told her third had arrived.
Within the hour, Vallyrie was standing in the back of the briefing room with the other officers of Iron Company, the troopers under their commands sitting in the seats in front of them. A Colonel stood on the stage below, a holo-projector displaying the valley brightly showing behind him.
“Welcome, Iron Company. There’s a lot of go over and not a lot of time, so sit down, listen up, and let’s get through this,” the colonel said. “This field exercise is designed to test your abilities to handle counter-insurgency operations. Enemy combatants will be training droids. The people are actors, but they are very good at what they do and will react accurately to how you conduct yourselves; they’ve been at this game longer than most of you have been in the armed forces.”
He paused, holding out a hand toward a woman. “During your training, you’ll have a Knight attaché. My suggestion is to do your job and not fuck with them. They’re here to participate if they wish, but mostly to observe.” Vallyrie’s brown eyes turned to the woman. Imperial Knights overseeing COIN training? A shiver ran up her spine.
“Iron Company’s objective is to use this base as a staging area to conduct operations in the valley. Kick the insurgent forces out of the valley, or get kicked out of the valley yourselves. Debrief will happen when the training exercise is complete. Anything you’d like to add, ma’am?” The colonel asked, turning to the woman.
@LadyRen
