Fort Kerrigan boot camp

[Shamira Karuto]

[SIZE=12pt]Location: Fort Kerrigan, Tygara[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]Time: 1100 hours. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]To say that Shamira’s performance during Serenade outbreak was poor and disappointing would be an understatement to say the least. To put it plainly, she froze many times during the course of the mission. And when she didn’t freeze, her actions were rash and headstrong, and it was lucky that the learner didn’t come out with worse injuries than she already had. It was certainly a mission that had left a bad taste in many mouths about the Togruta’s capabilities.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]For Shamira to push those aside completely, to just carry on with her normal training and forget the whole ordeal, would have been the wrong action to take. The learner knew this, too. While her failure was a large one, it wasn’t something she would hold against herself long, focusing that energy on preparing herself better so that something like that would never happen again. And of course, what better place is there to learn about military tactics, become more physically tough, and to become better capable of surviving large scale conflicts than boot camp. Specially, the one held at the fort so conveniently named after the ruler of Firemane, where the alien was hoping to be molded into something much better than she was currently.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]After her transfer request was approved for a month, Shamira packed just a few items into a small pack and hopped on the first military transport down to Tygara. She arrived near mid-day, the sun beating down on her headtails as she approached the military office closest to the landing zone. The inside was brightly lit, small waiting room with a very bored looking clerk sitting behind a glass window. He didn’t even lift his head from his magazine to look at Shamira as she approach, at least until the trainee cleared her throat softly.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]“And you might be..?” His gruff voice croaked out, obviously slightly annoyed at the intrusion to his reading.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Shamira did her best to stand straight, one arm at her side while the other held her pack over her shoulder. “My name is Shamira Karuto. I’m transferring in for the month.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Her response earned her little more than an eyebrow raise as the human looked the alien up and down before nodding lightly in response. “Take a seat. I’m sure someone will be here shortly.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]While it wasn’t the answer she had been expecting, the Togruta gave a curt nod and turned back into the waiting room, sitting down in one of the less than comfortable chairs. She set her small pack between her feet, folding her hands in her lap for what she anticipated would be short wait.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]| [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"] |[/SIZE]​

 

[Glory]

[member="Shamira Karuto"]


The not at all egotistically named Fort Kerrigan had been built in the early days of the colonisation of Tygara, shortly after the Exodus. Back then the intent had been to provide a bulwark that could protect the new settlements from Xioquo raiders. Indeed, a large battle had been fought here. One which demonstrated how efficient - and brutal modern warfare could be. Especially against people whose technological level had not progressed beyond the 19th century.


But the Xioquo had been defeated a long time ago. Their new queen was beholden to Firemane - and determined to break with the old ways of darkside despotism, though this was a bumpy road. Indeed, today the base also served the purpose of providing training for those it had been originally constructed to defend against.


Regardless, Shamira Karuto would have to wait for a bit. Hopefully she'd brought some interesting reading materiel. Or had other ways to occupy her time. Regardless, time passed. After a while, a Private in fatigues entered the room. "Come with me. The Captain will see you now," he said, then turned on his heels and walked out of the waiting room.


Assuming the Togruta followed him, she'd eventually reach a door to the Captain's office. Coming to a halt, he knocked the door. "Captain Glory, one of the trainees is here to see you, ma'am," he said. A moment later he opened the door, snapping to attention.


"Enter," a professional, clipped voice addressed Shamira. Once the Initiate crossed the threshold, she'd find herself standing inside a very Spartan office. The Captain was seated behind a desk. There was a bunch of paperwork on it. Rather than a dress uniform, she wore Firemane fatigues. They emphasised her muscles. She had a pretty but somewhat scarred face, dark skin and very short-cropped hair. Her eyes were piercing. She did not offer the Initiate a chair. Presumably a salute would be a good idea though. "State your name, rank and skills."

 

[Shamira Karuto]

[SIZE=12pt]The wait wasn’t the longest period of dead time Shamira had endured, but it certainly didn’t take away from how boring it was. Taking the opportunity to mediate and calm her nerves about the approaching time of trials. Nervousness was one of many emotions that she felt, however excitement was definitely among them. While the training was assuredly going to be among the toughest endeavors she had ever taken on, she hoped, by the end of it all, she came out better prepared to relate to and command troops in the field. Or at least be able to not freeze up in the middle of battle.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Those thoughts were interrupted young looking private in fatigues tapping her on the shoulder. Thankfully, it seemed to be finally time to meet the captain, which had the togruta grinning lightly as her excitement overtook her nervousness. Her light bag was thrown over her shoulder and the grey skinned alien followed the private through the military base. The activity seemed pretty minimal as she only saw a few other army personnel as the pair walked together to a set of office buildings.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]When they approached what Shamira assumed to be the captain’s office, the private knocked, and she was beckoned in, the initiate gave a curt nod to the young man before entering the office. She took a few steps forward, placed her bag at her feet, and stood at attention for the dark skinned captain after a salute in her direction.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]“My name is Shamira Karuto, initiate in the Order of Fire under the guidance of Mistress Tempest.” The final part of the three was a bit harder to think of on the spot, but after a moment’s pause, she was able to continue.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]“I’ve had training in melee combat, force control, some physicality training. I’ve had some light training in slicing and blaster combat, but not enough to call myself skilled at either one.” The alien finished with a curt nod, continuing to stand at attention for the captain. [/SIZE]

| [member="Glory"] |​

 

[Glory]

[member="Shamira Karuto"]


Glory looked frosty. "It's Major Tempest, not Mistress Tempest," she said sharply. Being a career soldier, she was big on military protocol. When interacting with military personnel, it was common to refer to Order of Fire members by their military ranks, assuming they had any.


It showed unity and made their position in the hierarchy more transparent. After all, you may be a Mistress of the Order, but still only rank as a junior officer or even a specialised grunt as far as the regular military was concerned. Being a Major, Tempest was a senior field officer, though she still followed orders from higherups. By contrast, Elpsis had no military rank and, though a Mistress, was treated as a highly specialised grunt when she worked with Firemane troops, deferring to the NFU NCO or officer in charge.


But what bothered Glory more was Shamira's demeanour. "Toughen up, snowflake, this isn't the frakking fire-arse temple where you meditate, drink tea and shoot lightning at training bots. This is a proper military. Your 'powers' don't count for chit if you can't hold your own in a fight without them. Here, I'm going to see if you have the guts to be a proper soldier, and not some dress up queen. Your 'mistress' isn't here to hold your hand. Clear?"

 

[Shamira Karuto]

[SIZE=12pt]The grey skinned alien did her best not to wince or make any movements at her correction, aside from a curt nod. It was a dumb, simple mistake to make, but for someone who called someone a certain title every day, an easy one to make. Shamira continued to stand at attention while the gave the run down of what would be happening, as well as make sure to berate her at her “tea drinking” temple life. Not that you would catch the Togurta disagreeing.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]She wasn’t here to be coddled or to be treated highly. No, Shamira was here to learn how to best train for conflict on the battlefield, as well as to toughen her mind to the trials ahead of her. If she wasn’t here for those reasons, it would be a total waste of the captains and her own time, as well as the military personnel gracious enough to allow her to train with them for a while.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]With another curt nod in the captain’s direction, Shamira kept her face straight and shook her head lightly at the statement.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]“Yes ma’am. Completely clear. I didn’t come here expecting to be taken easy on, nor would I want that. You’ll not hear a complaint from me.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]| [member="Glory"] |[/SIZE]​

 

[Glory]

[member="Shamira Karuto"]


"Then shut your yap, girl. I'm not interested in your feelings. You will say 'yes, ma'am' or 'or no, ma'am' and as little else as possible, am I clear, snowflake?!" Glory thundered, in the timeless tradition of rigid disciplinarians. She pressed a button on her desk and the Private from earlier entered the room. He snapped to attention.

"Are the trainees assembled?"

"Yes, ma'am," he reported crisply.


Without a further word, Glory got up from her seat. While not ripped, she was very muscular and towered over the Togruta. Indeed, she was even taller than Tempest. "Come on," she ordered Shamira and left the office. It was a bit of a walk, but eventually they'd reach a courtyard.

Various members of the Order of Fire were waiting. Shamira might recognise some from her training sessions with Tempest. Some were older than the Togruta, others her age or younger. It did not matter. They all had to obey orders and function like cogs in a well-oiled machine. If they wanted to have a future with Firemane. "Get in line, girl," Glory ordered.


Her eyes fell upon the trainees while Shamira presumably joined them. "I am Captain Glory. I don't care about your 'powers', the names of your 'mistresses', your fancy titles or what you can do with a glowstick. None of this matters here. Only one thing matters: do you have what it takes to be soldiers or not? Here you will learn to fight without that crutch you call the Force. Many of you will fail," she said bluntly. "Some will succeed. Firemane only wants the best. For the duration of your stay here, using the Force or a lightsabre is prohibited. Transgression will be penalised severely. Your first challenge is a five mile run in full military kit. Battle armour, repeater, sidearm, grenades, spare ammo and so on. And to make doubly sure you don't cheat, every single one of you will wear a ysalamiri nutrient canister." Not made out of beskar, but durasteel was also heavy and would keep the lizard from getting hurt.