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And just before calling the sergeants to talk, Whiskeyjack adds to the 4th squad 'And you are responsible for the one at your side, If you allow him to skip his drills, you'll be joining him, in his punishment.' And with that, the three sergeants follows Whiskeyjack for a private meeting.
Whiskeyjack walks to where his sword fell, and retrieve it. ’You should understand now, that your drills have meaning.’ he says to Aloft and then turns to everyone else ’All the three squads, beginning today, you will rouse from sleep an hour earlier and go to sleep one hour later. In that time, you will train. Except Aloft, that will rouse from sleep two hours earlier and go to sleep two hours later. Now, finish your water. The march is about to resume.’
Whiskeyjack pulls free his weapon and when Green Howls pale significantly the man says ’Easy there lad.’ He turns to Rafi and says ’Now, pay attention.’ ’I’ve seen you and Smiles training,’ he says to Sloade ’you’ve done but two of our most basic drills. They are not designed to be burden or anything to occupy our soldier’s time. Now, you are fighting with the squad at your side, you are not ever alone when it comes to battle.’ he takes a wide stance putting his sword in front of him ’You’ve not been trained in advanced tactics, but I want you two to try and disarm me.’ he lieutenant says calmly.
He seems about to say something as the man notices Green Howl and with a smile he calls he calls ’Green Howl, step up. Smiles, step up’ The man calls both of the soldiers.
@Others While you are talking and discussing, you hear Whiskeyjack calling you up. 'Squad, listen up!' he says after talking with Rafi.
”Fail in training all you want.” he says to Ti’ck ”It makes you learn, it makes you better. Fail at the battle, and you are dead.”
It all happened too fast. Green charged, the next moment he was sprayed on the ground, beaten and unconscious. What the Lieutenant did? None of you are sure. The sword was a blur in his hands, Recruit Green did not even saw that hit him. The crowd, gathering, laughed away and went in their business, disappointed it ended that fast. "Now, report to your Sergeant, and take Green Howl with you. You are his brother, and it is your duty to look out for the person at your side, and prevent them from doing harsh things. Because of that, All of his tasks, are to be performed by the two of you. Do you understand it recruits?" he says firmly.
The man smiles, as he pull his sword, taking a wide stance. "Eager, eh? Whenever you are ready, recruit." he says. That, attracts a lot of attention, as everyone around stop to check what will happen. The mood is particularly humorous and it does not seem that Whiskeyjack in in habit of being mean to others.
To Ti’ck, the lieutenant adds ”It is still requested of you the proper observance of ranks, and thus you should address a superior officer with respect, and that includes using sir, after anything you say directed to a higher ranking officer. I may be lenient with this, but others aren’t. Better learn fast Soldier Ti’ck.” Whiskerjack patiently explains to the armored freak. Then after Braven Truth question, he says ”You are recruits, not yet recognized as soldiers, no matter what you were before joining. Malazan military works much like what you expect from your society.” he says ”One advance by his own merits, but unlike you, we don’t challenge our leaders, we obey them. The 4th squad leader is Dujek. He may already have choose a corporal or may still do so, who knows.” and then to the blank look on your face, the lieutenant sighs and with a matter of fact voice continues. ”The Malaz army is divided in Legions. At this point, there are ten existing legions, waging from one to ten, as to be expected. We belong to the third legion.” ”The supreme commander of the army, is of course Emperor Kellanved. But the Military leader, the commander-in-chief of all armies is Dassem Ultor, the First Sword of the Empire.” ”The Commander of a ground campaign, such as this one to quell the rebellion on seven cities, in which the Second and Third legion are currently engaged, is called High Fist, which in this case, is Dassem Ultor as well.” ”Each Legion’s commander is Called Fist, in our case, is Fist Gamet. Each Fist has a series of Commanders, usually commanding a group of companies. Each commander can, if it is necessary, have a Sub-Commander.” ”Ahead of each company, there’s a captain, in our case is our beloved Captain Kindly. He in turn oversees a series of Lieutenants, and each lieutenant is responsible for a number of squads.” ”Each squad, has a sergeant, and each sergeant has a corporal to help him.” ”Is there any more questions?” he asks patiently, and you get the impression he approves of asking questions.
”Slow learners?” he says mostly to himself. ‘Officially, you’re in 4th Squad, one of three squads under my command. The 5th and 6th squads are supposedly on their way over from the tent city west of Ubaryd. We’re all in the 9th Company, which consists of three squads of heavy infantry, three of marines, and eighteen squads of medium infantry. Our commander is a man named Captain Kindly—and yes, you’ve already met him some hours ago. Nine companies in all, making up the 3rd Legion—us. The 3rd is under the command of Fist Gamet, who is a veteran of war.’ He paused, grimacing at the slightly glazed faces before him. ‘But never mind all that. You’re in the 4th Squad. You sergeant is called Dujek and he’ll be the one responsible for your training. You’ve got some more coming, but even with that, you’re undermanned as a squad, but so are all the others and before you ask, I ain’t privy to the reasons for that. Now, any questions yet?’
"Not before." the lieutenant says.
”The name is fitting.” he says after laughing at Green Howl warface. ”Best learn it, and learn it fast.” he finally adds after he manage to stop laughing ”Within military facilities, it is expected you salute your superior. There’s no need for ‘Sir’ before anything you want to say, and unless you are talking to someone really high up, don’t need to be that formal.” he says to Green Howl, then he turns to Ti’ck has he continues ”Got no idea what a Golden Moranth is doing here, but if here you are, you should do as we do, and that means protocols, such I just described to soldier Green Howl must be observed. Understand it soldier Ti’ck?” The finally he turns to Braven Truth and reluctantly add ”Bargash tattoos and one unmasked. I’m sure there’s an exciting tale behind it all. Be careful lass, your ways are not ours.”
While Shea observed the lieutenant, other recruits arrived, talked with the man, then left. Overall, he did not seemed to be anything else than a veteran soldier, even if he was not that old.
Deciding it was already time to meet the officer, she stepped up, only them noticing the armor-covered freak, walking towards the camp, asking for directions, and the hulk of youth, walking shyly towards the lieutenant. She remembered seeing them at the gathering, but there was no way she would know they had been pointed towards the man. It was the tree of you, walking towards the lieutenant, which dragged his attention from the camps. In his eyes, recognition, in more ways than any of you would be able to understand. To each of you after saying your names, he asks clearly amused.
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