"The Loyanese Army is the most fit and competent in the world. Do you really think a bunch of foreigners will be able live up to that?"
Superintendent Ying Chen, opponent to the Oversea Legions Bill
Mr. Masseu, this is Marshal Wai from the recruitment office. I see you'r not home right now. I'm just calling to tell you your application to the LOL has been accepted. If you're still interested, give me a call. I'll set up a time for your physical and aptitude test sometime next week. Well, call me.
12 days later...
Spring rain dripped form the sky over Ottawa. A cool breeze from the south blew across the city districts, blowing wet leaves and sparse litter all around. Aulrene pocketed the piece of paper in his hand, his contract, and pulled his hood over his head to shelter from the rain. On his right, a gym bag with his possessions and clothes laid beside his feet. he listen carefully to the whirs of traffic, hoping to catch the sound of a bus not schedule for the next ten minutes. His hands fidgeted, his eyes jump from object to object, and he kept pivoting in circles around his bag. It was obviously he was nervous.
The last two weeks had been a eventful ride, perhaps the most active days of his life. He still remembered those aimless years of high school, when he would just stay at home and listen to the radio. He would skip school and only come out once every month wander around the local mall. It was a pointless existence, he knew it even as he lived it. What the fuck was he doing with his life then? It was like the moment he was born, the switch to his soul was turned off.
"...you passed the tests Mr. Masseu....now let me run you through the contract........just to let you know about the penalties for desertion.......sign right here..........good to have you join us.................bus will come pick you up at............. take what you'll need..................yes Mr. Masseu, you can keep your passport..............Legions..................set your things in order..............be gone a long time...."
The strong smell of diesel snapped Aulrene out from his daydream. Looking up, he saw a large bus parked right next to his face. The doors fling open, and hits him in the face. He backs away and clinched his nose in pain. A heavy voice called for him to get on.
"Come on buddy, we don't have have all day..." said a heavy built driver of Oriental background. He was wearing army camo, a dog tag hanged from his well muscled neck. The guy was like a tank.
Aulrene recovered, then walk slowly up the bus steps. All eyes were on him, and a familiar feeling hit him. It was like the first day of school, the faces of strangers looking at you while you had to file down the bus looking for a seat. God he hated the stares.
He crab walked down the aisle, careful not to hit his fellow passengers with his bulky gym bag. All the seats at the front and middle were taken. At the back and right side of the bus, he took a empty seat to himself. The stares eventually die. Aulrene took the window spot, and placed his gym bag on the empty spot beside him. He heard the click of the transmission crutch, and soon the bus was moving down along the street.
Hell, what have I gotten myself into...
Six months of grueling exercises, six months of endless lectures and tests, four months of intense weapon and combat training, and a last week exam which everyone was still feeling hurt from. But they made it, all five of them. At the formal ceremony in Montreal, they proudly received their official white trillium badge and their private rank patch.
(http://french-foreign-legion.com/images/FRENCH_FOREIGN_LEGION_1.jpg)
The day before, they received their formal ceremonial uniforms from Sergeant Tiu in their little hotel room, who summarily congratulated them with a bottle of rye whiskey. "I know how you foreigners like liquor," he grinned as he poured into paper cups. "Here's to earning your place here! To honour and soldiery!"
The drink was much needed, they were still very much sore and batter from the 200 km run from Fort Jolen to Montreal city with fifty pounds of combat gear. After their small party, all five of them fell asleep the moment the Sergeant left. It was the first time they had slept in for months.
After the ceremony, squad 81 received their end-of-training report cards, overall evaluations by the exam instructors and training officers.
Dalibor was found "proficient" in the enemy suppression field, and was recommended for the squad machine gunner position.
Viktor dominated the marksmanship tests and exam segment, and received his designated marksman badge. He was promptly given his DMB attachment and scope for his rifle. It was a proud achievement, but he still had to go through a two week advanced marksman course before he could cash into his DM bonus. More training for him...
Aaron received top scores in his physical examination, and received a Physical Achievement badge for his efforts. He was also recommended to get his medical certificate for his good understanding of battlefield first aid.
Sancho's success in specific fields of study and training got him recommendations for squad demolition role. As one officer comments "I'm still amazed at how he manage to blew that steel hatch with half the recommended amount of C4."
Lastly...Aulrene, while he scored near last in both marksmanship and physical training in the training division, he scored fifth place in combat and military studies. He was recommended for the Signal and Communication (SAC) position, and was promptly promoted to Sergeant two weeks later by impressed instructors.
Out of the 9,300 recruits that went through training that six month alongside Squad 81, 203 were kicked out, 3,238 quited before completion of their training, and 329 failed examinations or were disqualified for medical reasons. That left 5,530 fully qualified and combat-proficient recruits to make up the first divisions of the LOL. Critics back in Loyan were still casting their doubts on these foreign troops, could they really serve effectively and loyally? These mercenaries without link to Loyan, citizens of other countries, men who have given up the sanity of civilian life for the grist and sweat of Army life. How dependable can they be? Nothing is clear until the time comes, perhaps these skeptics will be proven wrong?
(http://www.thelegion.tv/images/riou_book.jpg)