The slow steady squeeze of the trigger. (PM for Invite)

[Maximus Stanforth]

Maximus stood behind the firing line of the Barracks range looking at the series of weapons lined up barrel pointed down range. The main purpose for the day was to allow the Platoon to get some practice with their weapons. However Maximus had invited a few of the civilians along for the ride because let's face it if the enemy ever hit them at home there would be no such thing as a non-combatant.

Maximus stood by a standard VLR-5 "Valor" Assault Blaster laying on it's side seemingly discarded. Turning he address the troops and guests present.

"Ladies and Gentlemen before we begin today and everyone is assigned a firing lane there are a few things I would like to go over for safety purposes." "For some of you this will be a refresher, for others new information."


Maximus motions to the rifle on the ground.

"This is a VLR-5 Assault Blaster standard issue for the Republic Army." "The first rule of Blaster safety is what.................."

Maximus scans the soldiers before address one of them.

"....................Cpl what is the first rule of blaster safety?"

 

[Kana Truden]

What was the saying, better safe than sorry? Well, Kana always were an ardent believer of it. A lightsaber was good but in case of emergency one could never be too sure about their odds. Ysalimari were still a thing, right? So there had to be ways to not only counter them but to manage yourself in a situation where there were no force and as such she had decided to spend a day with the soldiers of the republic. She may be a jedi but that never meant she automatically forgot the importance of skills taught outside of the temple.

Not that this was the first time she had received training of this kind. She had gotten help from a friend but that was really long ago and as such her memory of the basics were a bit lost on her for the moment.

She listened to the soldier as they went on about 'the first rule of blaster saftey'. What was the first rule? She wanted to call out 'no sticky chocolate fingers' but decided against it, there was no need to anger the soldiers. Especially not if you're a jedi.

[member="Maximus Stanforth"]

 

[Maximus Stanforth]

[member="Kana Truden"]


Maximus smiled as the Cpl responded with Treat every blaster as in it were loaded.

"OUTSTANDING Cpl."

"Nothing takes you out of the fight faster than shooting yourself in the foot or worse because you were not paying attention."


"The second rule is never point a blaster at anything you don't intend to kill."

Maximus scans the group.

"The last rule is keep your grubbing fingers off the trigger until you intend to fire."


Maximus smiles slightly.

"Any questions?"

 

[Slate Estrada]

It had been a while since Slate had held a blaster... The last time he had was during the One Sith's invasion of Coruscant. However, Slate doubted he should need sit through Maximus going over the basics. In all honesty, Slate didn't even like Blasters, he preferred the good ol' trusty Slugthrower.

Slate turned to face the rest of the group. Those who were in uniform knew what they were doing, and most of them had smug expressions on their faces. It was obvious they were just waiting for the shooting, they were probably only here to show off to friends and prove who was the best shooter. But some people had an very lost expression. An expression showing they had never fired a weapon like this before.

'This should be interesting...' Slate thought as he turned back to the 2nd Lieutenant, who was still going over the weapon safety rules.

[member="Maximus Stanforth"]

 

[Kana Truden]

A long moment of silence came to pass as the soldier had asked for questions yet they hadn’t moved on.

“I think the silence means no questions, sir.” Kana called out. “Maybe we should move on?”

She held the blaster in her hands and weighed it up and down just like she had the last time she held one. It still felt as good as usual to hold one, though compared to a lightsaber it was nothing.

[member="Slate Estrada"] [member="Maximus Stanforth"]

 

[Maximus Stanforth]

[member="Kana Truden"] [member="Slate Estrada"]

Maximus looked at the young woman for a moment.

"Are you an expert on dealing with Soldiers Miss....................?

Maximus studied her for a moment.

"Slow and methodical you read not what they say with there voice but with their eyes, their body language." "You look for recognition or like this young Private......................."

Maximus walked to one of the Troopers standing to the woman's left with a glassed over look in his eyes.

".............. a looked of complete detachment like he has not heard a word that has been said." "All things that are difficult to notice if you are still running off at the mouth."

Maximus looked at the weapon in her hands.

"Did oyu bring a personal weapon to my range ma'am or did you just decided to start off on your own without waiting on the group?"


Maximus returned to his original position.

"Ladies and Gentleman distraction will get you or the person beside you killed." "Doing your own thing without thought or your squad get's you and your squad killed."

Maximus then addressed [member="Slate Estrada"] first.

"Please take firing lines 1 through 12."

Then he once again addressed [member="Kana Truden"]

"Please step up to line 13."

Maximus called out to everyone.

"All right people today we will be using lines 1 through 24." "The first in each line with shoot while the person behind them spots calling out hits on target or misses with corrective adjustments." "First firing position is standing."

Maximus pauses.

"Shooters to the line, check your weapons are empty and on safe." "Remember at no time should your weapon be pointed anywhere but down range." "Control the weapon do not let the weapon control you."

 

[Kana Truden]

Kana stepped up at line 13 and aimed down the range. This was just like that other time she had received training with Noah. Maybe there was a slight difference in the trainer's approach but it was pretty similar nonetheless.

"Empty clip," Kana whispered to herself. "Check."

"Safety on," Kana checked the safety. "Check."

She continued aiming down the range and awaited further instructions.

 

[Slate Estrada]

With the blaster in his hands, Slate approached his lane. It had been a while since Slate had even held a blaster, let alone fired one. However he trusted his previous military training would carry him through this simple target shooting task.

Keeping the blaster pointed down the range, Slate suddenly felt uncomfortable. He always preferred firing in the prone position. The angle of the body and the support of the arms allows for much more accurate firing. But Slate was in no position to ignore the Captains orders, especially now he had just re-enlisted and was trying to rebuild his reputation he had lost when Coruscant fell to the One Sith.

The tapping of Slates fingers on the side of his weapon showed how anxious he was to get this over and done with.

All he could do now was wait for the Captain to give the next command.

[member="Kana Truden"]
[member="Maximus Stanforth"]

 

[Maximus Stanforth]

[member="Kana Truden"] [member="Slate Estrada"]

Maximus looked up and down the line waiting for the thumbs up from the other range officials before speaking again.

"All right we are going to do this by the numbers." "Skip a step or moved ahead of the commands and you are gone."

Maximus paused.

"LOAD."

Watching down the line Maximus until everyone had loaded the weapons paying special attention to Kana and the other civilians before proceeding.

"MAKE READY."

Once everyone was locked and loaded ready to fire Maximus hit a switch as the targets for each firing lane popped up. Maximus stopped there waiting to see how many of them would instinctively fire or wait until actually given the command to fire.

Not even the Supreme Chancellor would be able to save the ones that did from his wrath.

 

[Kana Truden]

Kana continued staring down the range. Her previous lessons in ranged weaponry had proved a bit more lighthearted than this. Even if said training was still pretty unforgiving at times. Maybe it was just a bad vibe or something but her previous insubordination must have tickled the leader of this course to take particular interest in seeing Kana fail. He wouldn't be the first to wish it and he sure wasn't going to be the last.

Her gun was loaded and she stood ready. Finger off the trigger she remained ever vigilant for the soldiers' orders.

[member="Maximus Stanforth"]
[member="Slate Estrada"]

 

[Slate Estrada]

"LOAD." Shouted the Captain.

Following the order the sound of metal meeting metal could be headed as people started to reader their weapons for shooting.

With one flowing crisp movement, Slate placed the clip into the gun and pushed until he heard the satisfying click. Aiming the weapon down range again, the soldier waited for the next order.

After what felt like a lifetime, the Maximus finally shouted the next command, "MAKE READY."

As the blaster powered up, Slate rearrange his position. One of the most important steps in accurate shooting was to find a comfortable postion. If Slate wasn't comfortable, his shots wouldn't be on target. Eventually he found a supportive and maintainable posotion.However much he moved, Slate didn't let his finger slip onto the trigger. He had done this at basic and almost failed his whole training. Now he waited for the final command. The command which would allow him t start firing and get this drill over and done with.

[member="Kana Truden"]
[member="Maximus Stanforth"]

 

[Maximus Stanforth]

[member="Kana Truden"] [member="Slate Estrada"]

Maximus smiled at the sounds of weapons being loaded and charged. It was the greatest sound in the world. Scanning for a moment Maximus waited not for two long but long enough to see if anyone would in their rush would fire prematurely.

No one did and that made Maximus a very happy man. It seemed even the civilians had been exposed to enough training to get that part correct.

"FIRE."

Maximus listened as the first round went down range and watched as hits and misses were recorded along the line paying the most attention to the young lady on line 13.

((call hits and misses based on marksmanship ability ideally enough for 5 shots per post.))

 

[Slate Estrada]

Slate was aiming down the sights to the target infront. With the state he was in, Maximus roaring the next command made Slate jump. Luckily, Slate managed to recover his position quicky before he hearing sounds of blaster firing. Bad idea. These were rushed shots. It was unlikely that these round would be accurate.

Closing one eye, Slate concentrated on the middle of the target. Slowly and steadily, he breathed in. Before firing Slate released half of the air in his lungs. Squeezing the trigger, he waited for the moment the plasma would leave the barrel. Finally, the red light protruded from the muzzle and traveled through the air towards the target. Following the glowing light was the iconic blaster noise.

As the plasma neared the target, Slate waited until it disappeared from view.
"Okay. The shot swerved a little to the right of the centre. But still a confirmed hit." The spotter informed Slate. For someone who hadn't shot a weapon in a while, it wasn't a bad shot. But it wasn't the best on the range either.


Aiming for the same point on the target, Slate repeated the process. Breath in. Breath out. Fire. Again, the soldier watched as the light shot down the and diappeared as it hit the target.
"Alright," The spotter said, looking from his optics "Another confirmed hit, still straying towards the right." So far Slate was doing well. All he had to do now was continue what he was doing.


The concentrated Slate didn't let his sight stray from the centre of the target. Maintaining his current postion was the key to close groupings and accurate shots. After following his regular routines, Slate fired once again. It was obvious that this shot had curved to the left, the opposite direction to his other shots.
"Oops unlucky Sergeant Major. That's a miss, that time it was too far left."


Last two shots. Slate had to make them count. After his previous shot, he had to make sure the next two would hit the target. Taking even longer to fire the next shot, Slate ensured he was breathing correctly, his position was stable and the optics were straight. His eyes narrowed down onto the centre of the target. Until the red blaster bolt escaped the muzzle and began its journey to the target.
"Great shot Sergeant Major!" The soldier exclaimed, "Straight to centre of the target. Do that again and you mgiht get one of the top scores!"


Hearing this relieved Slate. He still had it. However this final shot could ruin his score. Breath in. Breath out. Fire. Like before the previous times the light exploded from the barrel and rapidly approached the target. All Slate could do was hope the shot followed the path of his previous shot.
"You've got this, Estrada! Its going to be hard for someone to beat this score!" His spotter happily boasted, still looking through the optics. The plasma had landed just to the right of the centre, there was almost no gap between the fourth and fifth shot.

Before he relaxed, Slate flicked the safety switch and looked up from his rifles rearsight, waiting for the unload command.


[member="Maximus Stanforth"]
[member="Kana Truden"]

 

[Slate Estrada]

((OOC Note: Nevermind about this. I changed it.))

[member="Maximus Stanforth"]

 

[Silara Varis]

[member="Maximus Stanforth"]

Blaster rifles. Not Silaras cream of the crop skill and as pilot she was sure the Army dudes thought they would have a good laugh. Either way they were mistaken as a couple of years of freelance piloting before joining the academy had put the youngster in some positions where she had to pick up poodoo like this and fast.

She racked the bolt, and locked i back inserting the gas cartridge and let it ride with the release. Then she squared up pressing the rifle into her shoulder and began to recite through her points of marksmanship.

Steady position, Good sight picture, Breath control, Trigger control.

All these warped into one as she stood, held her breath at the top aimed and squeezed ever so lightly.

The first round went downrange.

"Hit."

The second round went.

"Miss.. Up to the left."

Too easy, lost breath control, trigger control, reset, fire.

"Miss."

Reset fire.

"Miss."

The bolt locked back as the weapon jammed.

"Kark!"

She slammed the cartridge and racked back the bolt, resetting the gas system and took aim at her final shot. He finger squeezed the trigger and the last round went downrange.

"Hit."

Silara dropped the muzzle rleasing the magazine and locking the bolt to the rear.

"Alright then, ready for a review lane 1."

 

[Maximus Stanforth]

[member="Kana Truden"]

Maximus watched the young woman waiting for her to take her shots. So far she had not but had some good instincts. Maximus gently prodded the young woman.

"The long you hold that position the more you will tire out and the less accurate you will be." "Do not be afraid to try and fail."


[member="Slate Estrada"]

Maximus turned to his left as he heard lane 12's spotter. Looking back for one of the SFC's to take over Maximus walked over to the lane looking at the shot group.

"Not bad Sgt. Major not bad at all."


[member="Silara Varis"]

Maximus followed down the line of soldiers and civilians looking at each position and the shot groups. As to be expected the results in a group this size were all over the map. Some were good others not so good. Getting to the end Maximus looked at the results on the target.

"Great first shot, then a little all over the place, and then back on target." "It happens if you go too long without getting some range time in." "One note though." "Why is your weapon unloaded Ma'am?" "Nobody gave the command to unload."

 

[Kana Truden]

"Uh, yessir." Kana shook herself awake from her abesent-minded internal ramblings. "I'll try and not fail."

Kana held the blaster still and got herself ready. Kana had taken note of what Silara had done and decided to follow her.

Squeezing the trigger ever so gently as she aimed her shot down range.

"Miss!"

The little jedi grumbled for a bit before pulling the trigger again.

"Miss!"

She felt frustration build up inside, just like last time she had received this type of training. What was it that the instructor had said? 'Adapt and overcome' that firing the weapon was just like using the force. You had to keep your mind clear and emotions in check or you were bound to mess up. Kana took a deep breath and pulled the trigger again.

"It's a mi-... Hit? Yep, a hit, my bad."

Kana looked down range in surprise before she pulled the trigger again.

"Hit, again!"

She quickly followed it up with another shot.

"Miss!"

"I'm done!"

[member="Maximus Stanforth"] [member="Silara Varis"] [member="Slate Estrada"]