ooc: Need to finish this fast.
"Non, merci," Aulrene replied. "Come, let's get to class."
After pulling on a fresh shirt and a pair of khaki shorts, Aulrene exited their half-can barrack. He sat down on a empty crate and waited for his squad mates. As usual, everyone had to arrive together at their scheduled training, not one man missing. Any sort of lateness or disregard for the squad resulted in a trip to the Correctional Office, a place no recruit in the LOL wants to find himself. It was a harsh set of rules, but it was necessary in building teamwork, and most importantly, the bond of comradeship...
It might all seem like a bit of romance you find in war novels and movies, but the concept couldn't be more serious.
The second day of training, the instructors putted on a film for them to watch. The film was grainy and rustic, it was an old black and white war clip. Three bodies were laying on the ground, their bodies perforated with pieces of blood stained shrapnel. The scene switched, this time to a man on stretcher, his left leg dangling loosely out, bits rotten flesh visible where his thigh was cut. Next, a black patch of jungle with burnt corpses covering every inch. Every inch. Burnt to a charcoal crisp.
He wouldn't forget what the instructor said after the film was over. The things they saw, were captures of real fighting during the Riyu Conflict. It was the aftermath of a devastating napalm strike by the enemy. A full-strengh Loyanese infantry company was completely annihilated. The cause of the tragedy couldn't be more absurd. The unit in question, Iron Company 107, was hiding in a jungle area deep behind enemy lines. During camp rest, several members of the company got into an argument with each other regarding watch shifts. A melee soon ensued, and the commotion caught the attention of enemy patrol guards. The fight was still going on as enemy bombers dropped several tons of incendiary bombs down on the camp...
Nearly a hundred Loyanese soldiers were burned alive at that moment. After the flames cleared, the disorganized and traumatized survivors wander aimlessly into the jungle. They were later cut down by the enemy patrols. Only two soldiers and one officer survived. Dehydrated and wounded, they were found two weeks later by Saletsian paratroopers.
Real life allegories like this is what made comradeship so necessary in any army. Men die, painfully and needlessly, when they can't keep their cool and work with those beside them. Like the Sergeant said, "you might not like any of your squad mates, but once the fight begins and bullets start flying, better be best friends with them if you don't want to die".
Dalibor was the last to walk out. A textbook and notebook were clasped between his left arm. From his expression, he was still out from the run.
"Dalibor...," Aulrene said.
"Yeah?" Dalibor replied.
"We're using Field Manual Two now. Unit Arms and Tactics..."
"Shit...Be right back!"
Something tells Aulrene a visit to the Correctional Office was coming very soon...
