Game Date: 07.25.2002

The Training Session

Chris looked at the Wardens Reserve team, correction, the Wardens. They needed a lot of work, thought Chris. They needed a whole lot of work. Leon, Pantera and Tigre were strong, stronger than he was and just as quick, but great Zeus or was that good Lord? They needed to learn how to think proactively instead of reactively. Puma, Ocelot and Gato were quick, quicker than he was and just as strong, but once again, their thinking was reactive. At least they worked well together, but they needed to step it up several notches to get to where they needed to be.

"Yo, Leon, do you actually think you're going to defeat paranormal threats that way? Waiting for your opponent to come to you can be suicidal, especially when you give them the chance to do it in a methodical manner. Notice how I moved in, sizing you up, faked an attack then whacked you. You're lucky Shadow Tiger isn't in this practice, or you'd really be stuck. Puma, Ocelot, Gato you have got to use your speed a heck of a lot better than you did, or your frontline is going to be getting flanked and embarrassed all the time. Pantera, Tigre, you two need to get the lead out. What exactly were you trying to do? Be quick? Be strong? Both? You did neither. Move up take the initiative. A lot of times this is the only way you can support your teammates, blast it. You are going to face some serious threats in your new assignment. The rest of us won't always be around to help you out or give advice. You have got to get better at this. Am I clear?"

The reserves stood quietly for a minute. They hung their heads at various stages. Puma spoke up, "What do we have to do? Nothing seems to be good enough for you."

"Keep practicing. You work well together, and that's good, but you need to get much better. You need to start taking the initiative more instead of waiting for your foes to come to you. You really need to work on this some more. You have harder challenges to face. You need to get better. The upcoming situation requires it."

The reserves looked at him like he was out of his mind, this was not the way that John Battle had taught them. Their survival was the key, victory hinged on escape and evasion. Fight a controlled and calculated retreat, taking the fight to the enemy was an act of desperation that would only get them killed or captured. But theirs was a different mission now, one of protector not of prey. John Battle had said that the only thing in life that remained constant was change.

Chris surveyed the group, they looked like they could use a break but he wasn't going to give it to them. "Now back at it, go through the drill again. We're going to work at this until we get it right. That's right, we're doing it again. Get to it!"

The reserves' collective face fell. They looked like they had no idea of what they had to do and they were right, they didn't. Chris ran them through the exercise again, and again, and again. The reserves were tired and they were dragging, but they were improving ever so slightly.

"Practice does make perfect," said Brasidas, "and the proper phrase is 'Great Zeus'."

It's my exclamation, thought Chris, and that makes it 'Good Lord'. Are you enjoying yourself, oh rugged Spartiate? We've successfully worn them out.

"We wear them out now; they wear the enemy out later. You know the rules. You followed them at Miami, remember?"

Chris remembered. Spring drills and two-a-days hurt, but the victories in the fall made all the work worth it. He was confident that the reserves would see that when they racked up their victories against the evil that men do and the thugs would get more bruises than ever. That thought made Chris smile. He waited until the last drill was over.

"That was better, everybody. Gather round. I have something to tell you."

The reserves, shocked by the praise, which they hadn't heard in four days of virtually non-stop practice gathered around Brasidas.

"You are getting a little better at this and your reward is that you're about to find out why you're going through all of this workout misery. The potential threats are greater than when I came to the Wardens and I have the scars to prove it. But you're going to be better; you're going to be much better. I'm working you this way because I want you to be more than prepared to defeat what you might face. Spartiates trained their whole life for battle. That's why they remained dominant for a couple of centuries. They got together, they worked together, they stayed together and they won together. You have the ever-present Grand Empire. I am sure John Battle told you about them but if you need a refresher, just ask Silver Star. There are other threats, too. Some of which you cannot imagine. But I'm going to get you ready for them all and that takes practice. So we practice, and practice hard."

He paused to let that sink in. The reserves' spirits seemed to lift ever so slightly.

"'Atta boy," said Brasidas. "You might be becoming good at this. They are starting to believe they can be better. I might even call you Spartiate, runt."

Really? thought Chris.

"Don't push it, whelp. You need work, too. This, however, is a good start. You will be sad that you cannot lead them personally when you depart to deal with the Olmetec threat, but you train them so you can be proud of them. So train them so I can be proud of you. You are doing well."

Chris felt the approval. It picked up his spirits. So you're finally beginning to respect me, he thought.

"I've always respected you," said Brasidas. "That's why you're here."