Basic Training for Chalwaar

[Captain Awesome]

Chalwaar stood outside, curling his claws into the soft, black dirt again and again, unconsciously turning the ground into swiss cheese. He took in the fresh air, and cherished the sound of rustling leaves and birdsong, after so many monotonous days of recycled oxygen and 79 degrees every second of every day.
Chalwaar was at home here. He wandered around the verdant landscape, stepping through the ferns and fallen logs as he meandered. He was content to do this with his entire day, it was like Kashyyyk all over again, albeit with smaller trees.
Chalwaar turned in his stuff, found his dorm, yeah, yeah, before he found the tallest tree nearby and began climbing. His climbing claws cracked through the bark and tunneled through the wood as he made his way higher, higher, higher, until he was perched on the uppermost boughs, watching the treeline beneath sway, making a wavy pattern like that of a green, leafy ocean.
Chalwaar had no idea how long he sat there, staring at one of Ord Miril's binary suns, before he bacome award of a faint russling sound below.
He instinctively clutched at his bowcaster, only to find empty air. He had been forced to leave his bowcaster, unloaded, in his locker.
Chalwaar glanced down, and could hardly believe what he saw: a slender, hairy, clawed hand grasping at his branch.
It was Kaibacca, hanging by one hand.
["Oh! I-I'm sorry,"] she said. ["I didn't know you were here. I'll find a different tree."]
["No! No, it's fine. I don't mind. Really."]
["Alright, then. Help me up?"]
Chalwaar numbly reached out an arm and hoisted her up and onto the branch, where she sat a comfortable distance away.
It made Chalwaar uncomfortable. He shifted nervously for a second before trying to break the ice.
["So, what are you training for?"]
["Sniper. You?"]
["Recon."]
And so the conversation went on, and on. They talked the sun down, watch the skies turn a dusty pink, and finally, when the sun was halfway down the horizon, Kaibacca spoke up.
["It's getting late. We should head down to camp."]
Chalwaar sighed. As much as he didn't want to have to leave, as much as he wanted his conversation to go on with Kai, he knew it was time to go.
Chalwaar gestured down the tree. ["After you, then."]
And one after another, the two wookiees began to climb down.

 

[Ru the Boatswain]

Back at the base Abele was assembling the rifles for target practice. There was no range instructor on this base so usually anyone with rank ended up doing work. After noon the recruits were supposed to return to eat and by that time she would be finished. "Sometimes I hate you," She spoke down at the rifle that she was placing a new stock in for the use by a Wookie.

 

[Captain Awesome]

Chalwaar jauntily strode down the camp, his step bouncier then it had been for a long time. He passed Abele, cursing angrily at a familiar-looking rifle.
See, if he were Abele, he'd just go and start breaking things; it's a great way to blow off steam.
Chalwaar didn't see Kaibacca for the rest of his evening, but that was fine, he supposed. He sat on a rock and tore at hard rations. Blaugh.
He listened carefully to the alien wildlife, until all was dark. Well...
He sighed and retreated to his tent.

 

[Ru the Boatswain]

Then with no provocation at all the sirens wailed. It was the order to get into full combat gear and get into formation. This was the first night on base and it was going to be as bad as basic.

Abele stood waiting for her squad to form up. They all arrived in a timely manner. An officer called the multiple platoons on base to attention. He gave a long boring speech about duty and honor. The same thing the soldiers had already been through. At the end Abele turned to her squad and in a voice loud enough fro them to hear. "We are to report to the firing range. You will be firing as a squad, I'll be going over a few things wile we are there."

She had them double-time over to the firing range, "Chalwaar, set them up and have them get their weapons. They may begin firing when you give the all clear." Abele walked behind the group so they could get there earlier than she. This was the first leadership test for Chalwaar. She would test others over the course of training to see if they had potential.

((Go through the motions buuuuuuuudy.))

 

[Captain Awesome]

["Right."]
He took a heavy step back, and barked out, [
"[You heard the boss! I'm in charge for the moment, and I say you have exactly one minute to grab your weapon and report back to the firing range. Dismissed!"]
Chalwaar watched in vague amusement as his peers fell right into place. I like being boss, he thought as he strode into his locker, popped it open, before hustling over to the range. He stood before them as they fell into place, noses in the air.
Chalwaar stood before them, pacing up and down, glancing at each troop in return.
["Get that muzzle out of the dirt, Packer!"], he would say, before moving further down the line, and barking, "For the second time, stand up straight, Tiego, or its both of our heads!"]
Chalwaar reached the end of the line and spun around, regarding the assembled recruits, standing stock-still, rifles at their sides, perfectly silent.
He keyed the firing arena to activate.
["Right,"] he began as he made his way back to his place in line. ["I know not all of you can speak Shyriiwook, so I'll make it simple: This is a mark test."]
Stifled groans. These were the hardest.
["You know the drill: Each of you has your individual color code designation. Targets will be moving, popping up, and disappearring all around the wall. It's your objective to find the target marked with your color code and hit it. Standing position!"]
He and the rest of his group spread their legs for support, as they had been relentlessly drilled to do aboard the ship.
["Train 'em!"] Clack-chick! Dozens of blaster rifles were simultaneously raised to fire position. Chalwaar did one last look to check their positions, before he depressed the swich and the hologram flickered to life.
["Aim and fire!"]

 

[Ru the Boatswain]

Abele watched as the Wookie showed an almost uncanny amount of skill as a squad leader. He might even make a good fire team leader. Chalwaar was being a little too intense, the squad was getting a little ticked at his ordering. Abele slid up to the Wookie and placed her hand on his shoulder. Whispering into his ear so none of the others could hear she calmly told him, "You need to back off a little. They don't respect you as a leader yet. Just let them do what they need to do."

 

[Captain Awesome]

Chalwaar resisted the urge to whirl around on the mysterious hand when he figured out that it was his superior. He heard what she said, and he realised she was right. He was having too much fun. Boot camp's not supposed to be fun!
["Yes, ma'am. Sorry, ma'am."] In transit aboard the ship, he had learned the futility of smart mouthing his superior far too well by now, so he nodded slowly. ["I'll ease up."]
["Oh, there's my target!"] He whipped his rifle to bear and popped off a shot.
["Dammit, missed..."]

 

[Ru the Boatswain]

"Just keep it up, you'll get it. Don't breathe when you fire. Breathe in between shots." She returned to watching the team work away at the targets. They were good shots, some were good enough to be a sniper. Some could but would make better spotters. Some were not exceptional shots, but would make solid soldiers all the same.

 

[Captain Awesome]

Chalwaar was about to say something smart, breathing technique is Riflery 101!
And then he realized he wasn't doing it.
He had apparently forgotten, in his zeal, one of the fundamentals of marksmanship. He didn't look back, but he grunted his affirmation - in between shots. He found his target and popped it a sliver off the bull's eye. Much better.

 

[Ru the Boatswain]

She waited until another officer across the room gave her a look that said, 'I think it's time you moved on.' His squad waited for their turn at the course. "Alright! Pack it up. We're done here!" She yelled over the gunfire.

She gathered them outside minutes later. "Next on our list I am to get you past a preset perimeter. This is a race. but if you are caught you lose. There are soldiers with stun guns out there. Your goal is to get from here to the other side of the base. You will be marked on your back and arms with paint to identify you as one of my squad. I will be completing this with you."

Abele looked around herself, as if checking for any eavesdroppers. "The strategy is to stay as a squad and move quietly. I need all of you to grab a few things before we begin. If you have a gun scope bring it. If you have any rope or thick light cloth, get it. We need non lethal weapons." She pulled out a scope and a small sash that was about arms length as an example. She grinned mischievously at the idea of her squad being well prepared.

 

[Captain Awesome]

Chalwaar lowered his gun once more to regard his instructor, first with an air of resignation, but as she moved on, his mood modulated into one of eagerness. Now this was a game...err, drill that he could sink his teeth into!
Though he was stock-still, his mind was fidgeting frantically as he tried to listen to his superior, all the while wishing she'd hurry up and dismiss him. When she finally did, he was the first to sprint off to his tent and gather his effects: he kept on parts of his combat armor (only the pieces that wouldn't chafe and hinder his mobility) and covered them with his trusty ol' poncho. He walked over to his synthrope and detached a length, coiling it around his forearm. He walked over to his rifle and detached its targeting scope and began to make his way out of the tent.
Chalwaar paused at the base of the tent, and doubled back, as if on an afterthought. He popped open his footlocker and slid on his knuckle studs, which were concealed nicely under his hairy hand. He could easily knock someone senseless with these, and had enough experience to do it quickly, quietly, and with an acceptably small chance of causing any permanent damage. He passed other squads, which were smearing themselves with different shades of brown, black, and green paint. He wordly hustled onto his camp and fell into place, hopping from foot to foot in anticipation.

 

[Ru the Boatswain]

When they returned Abele was smeared in combat paint. some others were applying their own now. Some int he squad like the Wookies wouldn't need any. Then many lights flickered on across the base. The test had begun, some of the squad looked around frantically, they expected enemies. "It's alright, we can't be hurt until we start."

Abele split them into three groups of three. They were all to stay near to each other but their two team mates were to stay closer. Abele then produced six ear pieces. The two Wookies wouldn't be able to use the ones she had so they would have to depend on their squad mates for instruction.

"We won't be going through the main gate. We're going over the first few rooftops. Although one team will have to go through the gate so they can record our start time. Of course they will begin only after we have made sure there are no immediate threats in their vicinity."

"Who will volunteer for the gate duty?"

 

[Captain Awesome]

Chalwaar's first reaction was to volunteer, to go through the gate, but he stopped himself. He was recon. It was his place to scout ahead, not to be escorted through a gate.
He kept snapped into attention, not volunteering, even trying to make himself inconspicuous (which was difficult, as he towered over the rest of his squad).
He took to eying the field they would be on. Lots of rooftops, tents, and cement. One tree in the center. He could climb the tree, use it to get a birds-eye view, but he didn't imagine he'd need one for this scenario - the camp was fairly small, he had a good idea of its layout. The tents were mounted over rough terrain on boards. Some of the discrepencies under the tents were large enough to fit under, though he doubted he could pull it off, what with his bulk and combat armor.
The buildings could give you an advantage over those below, but while on a roof you're a sitting duck - there's dismally little cover on these almost-flat roofs.
A moment passed, and he realized that it was almost completely silent.
Still nobody had volunteered.
Chalwaar knew what happens next; Abele picks whoever she wants for gate duty.

 

[Ru the Boatswain]

"I'm on gate duty. **** this up and I'll make sure you don't make it out here before Coruscant freezes over." She stopped for a second and made sure her two were standing next to her. The Wookie girl and a humanoid by the name of Certh. "The rest of you need to cover us and report when you believe it to be all clear. Make sure no one goes down, the people you are up against are soldiers who trained me and that I have trained. They will be sneaky and they will show no mercy.''

She looked back as some swuads began their runs. "Get moving. Let that other group stay ahead of you. Don't help them or interfere in their run. They will work as a good distraction. Go..." As the others quietly scurried off Abele and the other two walked to the gate. She nodded to the guard and he checked them off. They would go once someone reported the all clear.

 

[Captain Awesome]

Chalwaar nodded at the idiots who were making themselves targets for angry bolts of potential stun guns. He looked at Abele.
["You have no idea how much I've been itching to crack some heads..."]
And with that, he was off, keeping low, almost prone, as he crept across the rooftops. He was so glad that it was night, or else he'd stick out like a sore thumb.
For hours he inched along at the fastest pace he was comfortable with. If these soldiers were smart, they'd array themselves on the rooftops, where they could fire on the unarmed troops below without fear of retaliation.
At the realization of this he paused, survaying the nearby rooftops.
He froze. The slightest movement.
Painfully slowly, Chalwaar shifted his head around to guard it out.
At first his eyes registered nothing, but slowly, as his eyes continued to adjust, he began to make out the silhouette of a lone marksman, laying prone, rifle trained at the gate.
Now Chalwaar wasn't stupid, and neither, he guessed, was this guy. If he was willing to train his gun at this gate, zoning out everything else, he needed a spotter to watch his back.
clack.
What was that? That sound? A footfall?
The air at the back of his neck stood on end. Always trust the hair.
Chalwaar spun onto his back and aimed a sweeping kick at his percieved opponents legs
There was an alarmingly loud clatter as the momentum of his impressive weight and muscles brought his would-be assailant crashing down to the rooftop, combat armor and all.
Chalwaar swore to himself as he pounced on his flailing, supine adversary, driving his knuckle stud into the point where the back of his neck met the skull, at a 45 degree angle.
The man sagged. Could anybody match Chalwaar in melee combat?
Chalwaar's victory was short-lived, however. He knew that he had seconds before the sniper came with a gun of his own, and his seconds were almost up.
He needed... He needed a gun.
Chalwaar flailed his head around, searching until his eyes settled on the fallen stun gun. He dove at it just as a stun bolt shot through the empty air he had just occupied. He landed on the gun but was forced to roll himself off the roof to avoid another stun shot, which ricocheted off the shingles.
Hoof! His back hit the dirt none too gently, his head cracking down, but he kept his rifle up.
Chalwaar shook it off, and there was his little soldier friend. He flashed his rifle to firing position and popped off five shots in rapid succession.
His satisfaction quickly turned to dismay as his opponent's limp body fell right on his face.

 

[Ru the Boatswain]

Time passed slowly and Abele Stood quietly inside the gate,t he feeling of being watched crept over her. She'd been a soldier long enough to know when someone had a crosshair on her heart. Then she heard sounds nearby of combat. She tapped her earpiece, "Report." She ordered.

((OOC: Loof you can control the squad you are apart of. Use them as a single unit))

 

[Captain Awesome]

Chalwaar felt the buzzing on his hip, and grunted with annoyance. A second passed as he laid there, staring at the star-studded expanse, before he heaved the unconscious body off of him and tapped the switch at his hip.
He panted heavily for a moment, like heavy breathing in the reciever from the horror holos, before he spoke up.
["Chalwaar reporting in. Two hostiles were positioned on the roof, waiting to light you up as soon as you crossed the gate. They're unconscious, and my squad's fine. We're going to complete the circuit and double back."]
Speaking of the squad, here they came, scampering down the rooftop.
"Kriff!" swore Pvt. Ganner as he bent over Chalwaar. "He'd unconscious."
["I'm not unconscious, nerf-herder. Now help me up."]
"Sure thing, Chal," He held out his hand and Chalwaar grabbed it, rolling to his feet. He didn't need Ganner's help, of course, but he felt it would help his image to accept help from a team mate.
["Now where's Doneeta?"]
"Here, sir." Doneeta's white twi'lek face, painted green and black, seemed to flutter in and out of focus as he moved. Chalwaar was about to correct him for calling him "Sir" as they were the same rank, but he decided against it.
["Doneeta, take that stun gun. Ganner, there's another somewhere over there."]
After they had retrieved their fallen foe's weapons, they continued their circuit.
It wasn't much more to go. Chalwaar and his squad stole along the rooftops like ghosts and shadows, their eyes keenly scanning their environments all the way.
Nothing. There was nothing.
Chalwaar tapped his hip receiver. ["It's all clear on my side, ma'am. Awaiting orders."]

 

[Ru the Boatswain]

"We're moving out. Scout ahead, we'll be moving along the planned route. The other squad should already have swept below, they reported a moment ago." Abele Started off and walked slowly from the gate. A moment later her team stepped into an alley way. they didn't plan on staying int he alley's long as there would obviously be traps or ambushes in the darkness there.

"We're on the first stretch. Check ahead and make sure no one is waiting for us."

 

[Captain Awesome]

Chalwaar nodded silently, as he and his squad hustled up to a nearby wal and hoisted themselves onto the rooftops, where they disappeared from view.
A few moments passed before his voice cracked into the comlink.
["Nobody here. There were some prints, though. I'm gonna find who made 'em, just to check to see if he doesn't double back, an' make sure he doesn't make anymore,"]
Chalwaar darted, low and fast, across the rooftop, followed closely by his squad. His eyes scanned the darkened alleyway below. Not a sign of life.
Wait...
As he passed a nearby light that was set up to illuminate the camp, he noticed something funny about the way the his shadow played off the alleyway.
["I think I found a trap. Some kind of tripwire."]

 

[Ru the Boatswain]

Abele's group moved silently through the alley ways. There were no enemies to be seen. The she stopped for a moment and listened. She heard the sound of many weapons firing a few buildings down. "Chal, stop your group. If there is anything in the immediate vicinity please take care of it now and then meet me up ahead at the planned point." She signed off and found their stopping place. Abele took cover behind a few crates and waited. The third group linked up with them and they divided up weapons. There were enough guns for almost everyone. Abele refused a weapon unless everyone else had one.

In the back of her head she worried about the welfare of the other three squad mates. She wanted to get through without a cinch. She could only hope.