A flock of Drill Sergeants descended on each and every recruit who made any minor mistake and blasted them with a firehose of verbal abuse.
I'd like very much to believe this is a literal flock of pegasus sargents literally descending from the clouds screaming like banshees
Oh, she's not training soldiers. She's training warriors, champions to break the lines of the enemy for the grunts to do their jobs. I hope all four become what she expects and much more. Bonus points if the three ponies do end in minotaur valhalla drinking and fighting with her.
“Normally, yes,” the mare confirmed while wondering how exactly Ashen’s eyes could glimmer with desire like that. “But I never stand in the way of awesome. I take it you’re interested?”
She wouldn't be Rainbow if she did otherwise. I kinda expect them to meet again in the prologue or so, a piece of his old world still there.
I remember my days in boot camp, despite all efforts to forget about it. 42 1/2 years, and no success yet. Some things you CAN'T forget. Nuclear engineering school was just as bad, with better barracks.
If I may ask, just what is Lion Maze's rank? Enomarches is not in my lexicon. Just curious.
If I may ask, just what is Lion Maze's rank? Enomarches is not in my lexicon. Just curious.
That's a good question. Enomarches is an ancient Greek word used for not quite a rank, but more of a... office. It's "Guy who leads new warriors to war". As far as I can tell it was only used by the Spartans, and since it is a very common and normal thing we know little about it specifically because you don't write down the things everyone knows. It would likely be equivalent to a Sargent or Lieutenant in modern day, but with an emphasis on taking green troops through their first few active engagements.
10608355 Sort of, except they would bascialy be leading people in combat situations directly rather than simulated war. I assumed if such a civilization survived unto the present day as I have it fluffed for the Minotaurs that they would likly keep old millitary posisions names but change the jobs behind them. So this modern version would be something like a dojo's instructor who might occasionally be moved to a spec-ops unit to fill a missing man's place from time to time. It's not really a good analogue to modern millitaries, but if you had a civilization that trained a warrior caste, you'd still see that kind of stuff even today.
“Mistake?! HA ! You do not assign three crippled recruits to a visiting officer as a part of a pre-arranged training program by mistake.
Is it normal during wartime to train crippled people to be soldiers/warriors?
Ashen finished climbing out of his pod and looked at his fellow recruits for the first time. He frowned, trying to understand why anypony would admit a three-legged pony into the military.
I'm curious about that too, but I'll wait and see how she handles herself
The very moment Ashen assumed formation, Lion cracked her neck. The loud pop made the three flesh and blood ponies jump. Never in their life had they ever heard such an aggressively loud crack from a simple joint pop.
That's because the "Neck Crack" is a technique that has been passed down the Maze family for generations
“To kill as is needed and to die as She demands,” Ashen replied instantly.
“And who is she?” Lion pressed.
Ashen’s changeling programming latched down on his will, preventing him from answering truthfully..
Curses, my paranoia does not react well to those lines
Lion laughed and stood up. “So there is a soul in that shell! You may or may not be worth my time, I don’t care which it is. I want to see where this goes.”
I like her
Enōmotarches Lion had gone beyond the call of duty and acquired a set of odd robotic gauntlets for her recruits. Engineering samples of a new Lyra Machine and Tool product designed to help adapt pony hooves to Minotaur weapons. They were far refined from Lyra’s toy of a prototype. These ones folded up and replaced the front set of boots or shoes for a pony when not in use.
Cool
“Oh, my grandmother taught me how to do that.
Of course she did
What was it Lion said that technique was called?”
“ATTEN-SHUN!” The oddly attention grabbingly pronounced and booming order cut through the rain like an axe.
I don't think that's what she called it Sarge
Ashen watched the mare as she walked up to him. Something about her made him feel uneasy, but also welcome and safe. Much like how a foal would feel about their mother after she beat the ever-loving snot out of a mugger while the foal watched.
Heh
“Buck no!” the mare said, grinning despite herself. “Twice the battlebot in one place? That sounds awesome!
Yes, yes it does
Then, a voice whispered in Ashen’s ear. One only he could hear. “Soldier of Iron, you must accept her offer.”
Ashen stopped shaking his head. The voice was powerful, motherly, even noble. It had to be that of the Changeling Queen who had welcomed him to this world. If
He has a name Lady I'm also pretty curious about how she communicated with him ... ... .............why is my paranoia pointing out that this might not be the Changeling Queen talking
Is it normal during wartime to train crippled people to be soldiers/warriors?
Call me ableist, cancel me, but, ABSO-FUCKING-LUTLY NOT! Yes, handycapped people can do quite a lot of things, and can be functioning members of scosiety in most ways. For CIVILIAN life! At least for the US military, they will refuse anyone with a disability and they DO check to make sure you're able bodied and sound of mind as part of the recruitment process. If you become disabled during service, you're discharged back into civilian life (Medical discharge is an honorable form of discharge.). The US Military will refuse you if you're too fat, let alone missing a few fingers, or a leg, or otherwise not whole of body and able to function within the human norms unassisted.
Why? Think for about six seconds. Being a soldier is some of the most physically demanding work you can do. Not everyone who enlists will pass muster. Many will fail and go home. Many healthy, able bodied, mentally sound people cannot serve even if they want to. Even if they didn't reject disabled applicants, do you really think people want to have to rely on a guy in a wheelchair or with a prosthetic leg, to run those 300 yards through enemy fire to safely deliver orders to a squad whose radio is out? No. No they do not. They don't even want to rely on the average joe for that. They want fit motherfuckers at the head of the bell curve for athletic performance. Because of very obvious reasons.
And no, they don't let people just be a desk jocky if they're handicapped and enlist. Hell there's a whole movement right now to let people disabled in combat serve out their duty in non-combat rolls but the brass are having NONE of it. Every single memeber of the millitary must be fighting fit while in service. Full stop.
I'm curious about that too, but I'll wait and see how she handles herself
So yeah, Equestria has much diffrent standards. BUT, IMO the existance of cybernetics changes the rules for loosing a limb. It's no longer a big deal. Full capability can be restored, and natural limits can be broken. I expect that once we have cheep ones IRL we'll change the policy too.
why is my paranoia pointing out that this might not be the Changeling Queen talking
Very impressed with the pacing, level of detail, world-building, and characters already, and we're aren't even in the wasteland yet. Definitely looking forward to more.
I'd like very much to believe this is a literal flock of pegasus sargents literally descending from the clouds screaming like banshees
Oh, she's not training soldiers. She's training warriors, champions to break the lines of the enemy for the grunts to do their jobs. I hope all four become what she expects and much more.
Bonus points if the three ponies do end in minotaur valhalla drinking and fighting with her.
She wouldn't be Rainbow if she did otherwise. I kinda expect them to meet again in the prologue or so, a piece of his old world still there.
I remember my days in boot camp, despite all efforts to forget about it. 42 1/2 years, and no success yet. Some things you CAN'T forget. Nuclear engineering school was just as bad, with better barracks.
If I may ask, just what is Lion Maze's rank? Enomarches is not in my lexicon. Just curious.
10607477
That's why I used the word "flock".
10607631
That's a good question. Enomarches is an ancient Greek word used for not quite a rank, but more of a... office. It's "Guy who leads new warriors to war". As far as I can tell it was only used by the Spartans, and since it is a very common and normal thing we know little about it specifically because you don't write down the things everyone knows. It would likely be equivalent to a Sargent or Lieutenant in modern day, but with an emphasis on taking green troops through their first few active engagements.
10608212
Okay, no wonder I never heard of it. Sort of like a drill sergeant or recruit company commander. I still remember both of mine.
10608355 Sort of, except they would bascialy be leading people in combat situations directly rather than simulated war. I assumed if such a civilization survived unto the present day as I have it fluffed for the Minotaurs that they would likly keep old millitary posisions names but change the jobs behind them. So this modern version would be something like a dojo's instructor who might occasionally be moved to a spec-ops unit to fill a missing man's place from time to time. It's not really a good analogue to modern millitaries, but if you had a civilization that trained a warrior caste, you'd still see that kind of stuff even today.
10608388
Logical. Thank you!
Is it normal during wartime to train crippled people to be soldiers/warriors?
I'm curious about that too, but I'll wait and see how she handles herself
That's because the "Neck Crack" is a technique that has been passed down the Maze family for generations
Curses, my paranoia does not react well to those lines
I like her
Cool
Of course she did
I don't think that's what she called it Sarge
Heh
Yes, yes it does
He has a name Lady
I'm also pretty curious about how she communicated with him
...
...
.............why is my paranoia pointing out that this might not be the Changeling Queen talking
Also while I'm here: Happy New Year
10608614
Call me ableist, cancel me, but, ABSO-FUCKING-LUTLY NOT! Yes, handycapped people can do quite a lot of things, and can be functioning members of scosiety in most ways. For CIVILIAN life! At least for the US military, they will refuse anyone with a disability and they DO check to make sure you're able bodied and sound of mind as part of the recruitment process. If you become disabled during service, you're discharged back into civilian life (Medical discharge is an honorable form of discharge.). The US Military will refuse you if you're too fat, let alone missing a few fingers, or a leg, or otherwise not whole of body and able to function within the human norms unassisted.
Why? Think for about six seconds. Being a soldier is some of the most physically demanding work you can do. Not everyone who enlists will pass muster. Many will fail and go home. Many healthy, able bodied, mentally sound people cannot serve even if they want to. Even if they didn't reject disabled applicants, do you really think people want to have to rely on a guy in a wheelchair or with a prosthetic leg, to run those 300 yards through enemy fire to safely deliver orders to a squad whose radio is out? No. No they do not. They don't even want to rely on the average joe for that. They want fit motherfuckers at the head of the bell curve for athletic performance. Because of very obvious reasons.
And no, they don't let people just be a desk jocky if they're handicapped and enlist. Hell there's a whole movement right now to let people disabled in combat serve out their duty in non-combat rolls but the brass are having NONE of it. Every single memeber of the millitary must be fighting fit while in service. Full stop.
So yeah, Equestria has much diffrent standards. BUT, IMO the existance of cybernetics changes the rules for loosing a limb. It's no longer a big deal. Full capability can be restored, and natural limits can be broken. I expect that once we have cheep ones IRL we'll change the policy too.
10608788
Thank you for the explanation
And my paranoia just got intensified... cool
Ok, a mysterious new player entered the game and Rainbow Dash is stealing select recruits like a thief in the night
Very impressed with the pacing, level of detail, world-building, and characters already, and we're aren't even in the wasteland yet. Definitely looking forward to more.
10673473 I'm working on more off and on :3