Volar's Story - part 06 The training continued littim after littim; prayer and meditation, stretching and obstacle courses, dancing or combat training, then studying the many things soldiers must know. Most of which was new to the Lazaveltians. All of which was repeated by rote ad nausium. Physical training increased every four days. First one obstacle course per day; then two; then run the 1/2 tsan to the clearing, run two obstacle courses and return within fifteen littims. By this time, about one fourth of the men and women had their armor fitted. The machinists were fitting two people per littim. Some of the Lazaveltians looked forward to being fitted. Those who were, could throw themselves against the obstacles full force and not be hurt. Some dreaded it because they noticed once fitted, they had to wear their armor at all times while they were awake. The armor, with it's weight distributed superbly over the entire body was not cumbersome, but it did have just enough weight to tire those wearing it. It was especially noticeable on the obstacle courses which were rapidly becoming speed drills. One course required you to throw your body through the air in different ways. Another required a series of balancing feats. Another was composed of every type of climbing imaginable interspersed with dodging heavy swinging weights. While the last was a maze with heavy pieces that had to be pushed or lifted to pass through it. Those wearing armor found all of these tasks to be more tiring - not much, but the extra weight was noticeable. The armor gave their wearers an insurmountable advantage in the dance. They could trade punches, chops and kicks at full speed and barely feel it when they were hit. Unarmored troops could not compete against them. As soon as one squad from each platoon was fitted, the leader and second began battle drills. The lasers were set to the D setting and the two squads shot at each other while practicing squad tactics, maneuver, and concealment. After every battle drill, both squads were brought together and their mistakes were pointed out by the other squad. Another battle drill immediately followed. After four littims, the battle drills changed so two squads were opposing one. This forced the two squads to coordinate their efforts while the lone squad opposing them had to work twice as hard. Everyone involved in these battle drills went to sleep exhausted every dark. Some went straight to sleep with no attempt at washing. Volar and the other specialists participated in all of this training, but Volar's training was constantly interrupted as the number of injuries slowly climbed. The Lazaveltians were exhausted and the pace of training was increasing. Stirip the Reader reported to the second that he had heard several complaints as people could not keep up. Volar noted the people he was treating were only those who had not been fitted. After treating ten injured people in one littim, Volar reported to the leader that it was his professional opinion the people were exceeding their limits and must have time to rest. If a rest were not granted the number of injuries would rise dramatically. The leader called the second and all of the subleaders into his office and had Volar repeat what he'd said earlier. Then the leader asked for opinions. While the leadership shared their observations of how the training and fitting were proceeding, Volar noticed he and Nan were the only ones present not wearing armor. Thinking back through the day, he realized none of the fourth platoon had been fitted. His thought were interrupted when the leadership agreed the people must have a rest. The second, looking at his data pad, stated the training cycle they were on ended next dark. The leader announced they would complete the training cycle they were on then they would rest for one littim. The littim after that, training would resume at an accelerated rate as dictated by the training plan. Volar was shocked to learn the leadership considered the training to be proceeding at fifty percent of it's intended pace. Volar thought to himself that he was physically exhausted. Every first light he woke without having dreamed. He felt he had slept for only five tipas, though a look at his chronometer told him this wasn't so. The leader continued the shock treatment by informing Nan some of his machinists were to be sent away. Nan was ordered to pick his twelve best workers, divide them into three teams of four. Each with a leader capable of running a platoon. They were to be sent to three other hidden training sites that are having difficulty fitting the armor to their people. When Nan protested, Jocham reminded him that the entire planet was preparing for war, not just this one little group. Some other groups need help so they would get it. Nan would be provided twelve replacements which would probably need to be trained to augment the eight original machinists he got to keep. When Nan replied "I don't like this one bit..." the second cut him off with "You don't have to like it. You just have to do as the council directs." The effect was immediate and dramatic. It was as if the second had slapped the headsman across the face. Nan the Machinist stood stiffly and said "I and my family will do what needs to be done." He then turned and left the room. In the lull that followed, the leader seemed to notice Volar was still standing there and said "Thank you, healer. Don't hesitate to bring whatever medical advice you feel is necessary for me to have." Looking into his eyes, Volar could see the concern and fatigue in all the leaders. So they were also feeling the strain. Volar nodded to the leader and left the room. When informed of a rest littim, a cheer went up from the company. When first light came, some of the company slept the entire littim and dark. Most just slept late. Quite a few ate double helpings at the meal. The dancers stretched but didn't otherwise exercise. There also seemed to be many who just wanted to wear normal clothes again. They set aside their dark green body suits and the site blossomed into all the colors of the universe. Lazaveltians reveled in color and form. A lot of hot water was used in the showers. Those who were not asleep shared conversation, reminiscing about home and wondering what the future would bring. All in all, it was a good littim. The next day training resumed at an even faster pace. Obstacle courses and battle drills were run every littim. The new machinists were put to work as soon as they arrived. Having regained their strength, training continued for several littims unabated. What a difference a rest made! While running the obstacle courses (again) Volar could feel his body growing stronger. He knew this because the obstacle courses were becoming easier. The Lazaveltian were now running the one half tsan to the clearing, running all four obstacle courses, and running back to the cave all in under twenty five tipas. This continued for several more littims. Volar still felt tired, but was no longer exhausted. He was also gaining muscle mass. He knew those around him were getting stronger because he didn't have to treat any more pulled muscles. On the edge of his perception he could almost feel the company growing stronger. On yet another littim of training, Volar had just completed the third obstacle course and was about to enter the strength maze (which he always saved for last) when one of the machinists ran into the clearing and yelled "All training is canceled. Everyone is to assemble in the multipurpose room now!" As Volar ran back to the cave, he asked those running with him if they knew what was going on. Sharon the Painter yelled back "The space ship must have returned." The Lazaveltians arrived, sat in their platoon areas and watched the vid. The screen was split. The left view showed a diamond that was the rear of the ship with it's three huge exhaust ports and several smaller ones as was seen from Moon City. The right view showed the underside-it's triangular shape clearly visible as was it's launching bay. This view was from Second City's University Observatory. As they watched, a shuttle craft dropped out of the landing bay, unfolded it's wings, and dropped straight toward the capitol. Four smaller craft escorted it down; two on the left and two on the right. Although it took them five tipas or so to arrive, what was most impressive was the shuttle's landing. It hovered one pace off the ground, folded up it's wings, then set straight down. These visitors had some kind of anti-gravity technology. The University feed had a voice speculating that this was how they could decelerate so rapidly. They had some way to counter G forces. This time, the shuttle set down not at the airport, but on the front lawn in front of the Planetary Administration building. The four escorts did not land, but circled the city at low altitude. The shuttle lowered a ramp and out walked four men in white armour with weapons held across their chests. Yes, these were definitely men. Now that Volar had seen the historical vids from the Shifter War, these couldn't possibly be shifters. A man in a gray-green uniform walked down the ramp as several administrators rushed out to meet him. They greeted him in the traditional Lazaveltians manner; with a bowl of fruit and a pitcher of water. Down the ramp came a second man in a gray-green uniform. This second man ran a scanner of some type over the food and water, then stepped back. The first man, obviously used to commanding respect, ate a fruit and drank some water. Next down the ramp was a man in a metal suit, or perhaps it was a metal man? The man in the gray-green uniform spoke and the metal man translated: "We have returned exactly as we said we would. The Emperor sends me to receive your answer. I wish to speak to your government leaders". As he was shown into the Hall Of Administration and brought to the speaker's box several of Volar's team mates asked When did they say they would return? Where are our administrators who stepped onto that shuttle thirty littims ago?." These were shushed into silence by those seated on the floor of the multipurpose room as the man from the stars spoke and his metal companion translated: "People of Lazavelt, What is your answer?" One of the administrators stood and asked "We have several questions regarding the size and organization of your empire." The speaker replied "The Empire is huge. It spans all of known space. Complete information will take a long time, and will be provided after you join." Another administrator stood and asked "We have questions regarding your technology and sociology such as..." The Imperial officer interrupted him with "We mastered hyperspace travel millennia ago. We control the space around your planet for thousands of light years in all directions". A third administrator asked "We have question concerning any non-human species". The Imperial replied "We have no contact or records of these shifters of yours. Look, I did not come here to answer questions. I came to hear your answer. You have seen one of our warships. The Emperor has many. You have seen our technology is superior to yours. Now the Emperor asks Will you join him?" After a tipa of animated discussion one of the administrators stood and spoke above the others " Sir, the people have questions. We need more information before a reasoned answer can be given. Then we must submit a plebiscite to the people for their approval." The Imperial leaned against the podium and scowled "How long will that take?" Subtitles identified the standing administrator as being from Second City as he responded "Five to ten littims to answer the people's questions, Five to ten littims for public debate, followed by..." The Imperial burst out "Another six days! We could takeover this entire planet in six days! The Emperor has already given you seven! You cannot make the only obvious choice!? Why won't you answer?" The administrator from Indus stood and said "Sir, we are not empowered to answer you. We have no authority..." The Imperial cut him off with "Then why am I wasting my time talking to you?" With that he left the podium and walked out of the Hall of Administration. As soon as he boarded the shuttle, it lifted, unfolded it's wings, and shot quickly into the noon sky. It's four escort craft surrounded it as it rose. The view changed. The observatory's long range vidcams showed as soon as the shuttle entered the landing bay sixty to seventy escort craft came out. The commentator pointed out there were two different shapes. Most of them were white spheres with black hexagonal wings on both sides. About ten of them were double cylinders with elongated hexagonal wings, again on both sides. The escort craft broke all at once into several smaller groups and dropped at an unbelievable rate through the atmosphere. It reminded Volar of historical vids he had seen from the Shifter War but it couldn't be... The small craft were over the major cities in minutes. The company watched the vids as these craft swung low over the cities and began strafing and dropping bombs. Only then, sitting there in shock, did the Lazaveltians understand... Source: Mark Nielipinski These pages are in no way endorsed or sponsored by Lucasfilm Ltd or West End Games. ®, TM & © Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL). All rights reserved. Trademarks of LFL used by West End Games under authorization.