Faction Campfires and Cognac [NIO Army Types]

[Grigory Tallis]

Location: Adumar, D'Artigan Mountain Range, 'The Pinnacle' Approximately 1800 Meters Above Sea-Level
Objective: Cooperation Mountain Shame, Battalion C
Time: 19:41 Local

From their location atop a plateau in the mountain, the hundred or so soldiers from Battalion C, of the chosen six thousand troopers and military personnel from various branches of the New Imperial Order climbed atop the mountain known as 'The Pinnacle'. Now they rested as the sun set across the horizon and the small hamlets, homesteads of the Ancien valley beneath them began to light up beneath them. The troopers of Battalion C had now been marching for about nine hours full stop from the army barracks in the now distant city of Cartann in an effort to simulate three objectives. First and foremost, the evacuation of personnel and equipment from urban centres in the event of a surprise attack. Secondly, to hone the bushcraft and survivalist instincts of troopers who often times fought solely in the sealed vacuum of space or the concrete jungles of the Galaxy's urban centres. Thirdly to have instructors provide knowledge as to how to fight irregularly. And finally, to cultivate teamwork between the various moving parts of an imperial style military.

In spite of his rank being junior to most among them, Major Grigory Tallis, a brash and tall man had lead the exercise and the long march. A decision by IMPCOM which had baffled its membershop. Expletive ridden rants levelled at the naval portion of Battalion C had echoed through the fields and forests demanding that the troopers and servicemen keep an indomitable pace, along with boorish goading at some rookie stormtroopers who had aired their complaints within earshot. Now, for the first time in nine and half hours, the army major, attired in dirtied grey fatigues paused. He set down his pack, which like many others, weighty thirty five kilograms, and then made an about face. His movements for a man of his age, impressive due to their fluidity and ease of performance.

"Alright. Battalion halt!" He barked, voice crisp and tone, "The air's thin, the sky is darkening, and it's time for you all to get some much needed rest. Tired soldiers are not, good soldiers!" The major snapped, before pausing, "But do not allow yourselves to become complacent. Our enemy is relentless, unwavering in their hunger for your flesh!" He warned with a fierce almost crazed look in his eye, "So be sure to amongst yourselves, choose sentries, guards but also those to provide both food and warmth, and with this cold mountain air. These will be necessary." He clicked his tongue, "Alright troopers, disperse into squads, and begin making fires and cooking your rations." The officer barked to those now under his care, "I'll be sure to inspect and every one of you."

"Dismissed!"

 

[FN-999]

LOCATION: MOUNTAIN "PINNACLE"
OBJECTIVE: SOCIALIZE
EQUIPMENT: IN SIGNATURE
TAGS: Grigory Tallis ​

Fifteen minutes prior, FN-999 had selected nine troopers from his platoon to join his campfire squad.

Their first objective had been creating a fire. For such an endeavor, they needed a considerable quantity of firewood. Thankfully, Pinnacle Mountain was below the planet's treeline, and there were trees to be found around the clearing which countless troopers and officers were entering. However, it was clear that there would be competition for the best firewood among the hundreds of squads present. Fortunately, FN-999 had anticipated for such a competition. Him and his squad had dropped off their supply packs twenty meters away from the edge of the clearing and five of the ten of them had immediately bolted into the woods. They took two trips each lasting roughly five minutes, each with a different assortment of wood. The first trip yielded a considerable quantity of large and dry logs, perfect for keeping a strong fire alive for hours. The second trip's yields were a larger quantity of smaller sticks and branches intended to provide the initial fuel for the fire.

In the meantime, FN-999 and the other four troopers set up a suitable base for the campfire. In the center of their intended campsite, they created an indent in the dirt and began to gather stones. At their high altitude, exposed rock was not an uncommon sight. Consequently, the five stormtroopers hardly even had to leave their campsite before they had gathered enough stones. With these stones, all around the size of a stormtrooper helmet, they created a large circle around the indent they had created earlier. That way, the fire could be contained within the stone circle. After the stone circle had been constructed, two of the five troopers with the buckets in their supply packs to gather water. That way, if the fire went out of control, then it could be rapidly doused. The two were fortunate enough to find a nearby river in a small ravine, using its water to fill their buckets.

Once the troopers had returned with water and firewood, they begun to assemble the firewood in a log cabin formation. Then, FN-999 took out a match from his pack, lit it, and threw it into the fire.

Two minutes later, the flame was about the size of FN-999 and slowly growing. As the sky began to dim, the fire illuminated the campsite and cast shadows upon the stormtroopers. As the fire grew, they had unpacked their rations and emptied them all into one large pot. They had constructed a metal bar above the fire, and secured the pot to the bar. For the next twenty minutes, there was close to nothing required from the squad aside from raising their tents. It proved to be a simple task for the veteran troopers, and they still held sixteen minutes of free time.

"I'm gonna go check on the rest of the platoon." stated FN-999, ending several minutes of comfortable silence between the squad. "Keep the fire stable and leave some rations for me, even if it gets cold."

Without another word, the trooper departed the campsite. Without his supply pack on his back, he felt lighter and more energetic. The only part of the pack that remained on him was his riot baton, kept with him in case he needed to break up a squabble in a non-lethal manner. All around him, campsites were set up and fires were constructed, with varying degrees of success. Four nearby fires almost as large as FN-999's marked the campsites of the other portions of his platoon, who all shared the experience of their commander. However, the campsites of many Navy officers remained dark. It made sense since they were likely more used to survival in space; however, the trooper still couldn't help but to feel bad for them. If an Imperial vessel were to crash onto an unknown world, its crew would likely have to adapt to the wilderness rapidly.

Lost in his thoughts, FN-999 continued to walk through the vast clearing, the evening sun descending overhead.