Jaffa Master Imotekh sat on the porch of his house, clutching a mug exuding the tart aroma of a strong drink. Having finished his drink, he popped a lard sandwich into his mouth. Nearby, like reflections in the water's surface, sat his two comrades, just as old as he. The best proof of the junior Lord Szarekh's intention to fulfill his promise was this house. After all, no one would build a sanctuary for ten thousand Jaffa destined to soon depart for the next world.
"Tomorrow is an important day, we'll have to continue torturing, or rather, training, the youth," said one of Imotekh's companions, his voice sounding like the rustling of dry leaves.
"I'm already running out of ideas. The last of the planned exercises is to hang a squad upside down and order them to fire at a target."
"And for every miss, I have to run ten kilometers with a fifty-kilogram load on my shoulders," the second one chimed in, as if throwing coal onto a fire.
"Isn't that too cruel?" someone timidly objected.
"We are Jaffa, the most steadfast warriors of our gods. The youth will endure," Imotekh waved, as if swatting away a pesky fly. The last few months had truly been like one long training camp. Never before had the Jaffa masters unleashed such a barrage of zeal and dedication on their students, especially when the younger Lord Szarekh gave carte blanche to any method of enhancing the strength and skills of his warriors. Women trained, of course, but the god hadn't intended them for battle. They were being trained to defend themselves and serve as an inexhaustible source of motivation for the overly arrogant younglings. It was enough to hint to a weary Jaffa that a woman who hadn't uttered a single groan on this route—and pride, like a sarcophagus, would resurrect the warrior. And even if that wasn't always true.
The ruler of this planet had apparently been deceived by one of the elder gods. His desire for young, strong warriors had resulted in him summoning Jaffa women to form families. Instead, he was given elders who were carrying their last symbiont, only to die. However, Lord Ra had not ordered them to die as warriors, and the younger Lord Szarekh had been deceived. But he did not allow circumstances to break him. Realizing he had many experienced warriors at his disposal, he opened the Neta right under his warriors' feet. Imotekh knew that Szarekh personally led his warriors into battle—a rare fate for a god, but so had Lord Heruur. Lord Ra always had courageous children. But young Jaffa could become complacent with victory, and it was the elders' job to show them their place. And so they began to do with fervor. Including women, Phaeron Szarekh's army numbered eleven thousand fighters, not counting the ten thousand-strong corps of elders. If each teacher only worked one day, the training cycle could be maintained daily: one day for Jaffa training, two for rest and the development of new methods.
Of course, this wasn't pointless torture. Before them stood ten thousand of the most experienced Jaffa in the entire Goa'uld Empire. Therefore, they developed a program based on their own knowledge, with minor adjustments based on the Phaeron's recommendations. He insisted on extensive, sensible training. A motivational system was implemented: every Jaffa was to understand that every training session made them stronger, and that those who devised new methods (striving to become stronger) in the name of their god would be rewarded. Thus, the troops began training in catching flies, performing somersaults, double somersaults, and other acrobatic feats on the sand. These feats were of little use in combat, but they prepared the warrior for a change of scenery. Each new exercise was reviewed by the Council of Trainers, who considered how to integrate them into their training. After all, they weren't looking for a new form of torture; they molded warriors like a craftsman molds clay, striving to create the strongest, most resilient Jaffa, who would exterminate anyone in the name of their god. Lord Szarekh's recent reform required warriors to study various disciplines in specialized classrooms, with each teacher imparting their expertise through lectures. The best representatives from both sides of the war were chosen to teach. So the Jaffa spent eight hours in classrooms, followed by eight hours of training in the "fresh air." For example, a severe storm was about to hit the other side of the planet. The Jaffa needed to be adaptable and resilient, capable of fighting in any conditions, so he would fly his squad directly there. And they would "fight" in the storm. Exactly what was needed.
Imotekh approached the senior warrior, Krel, about garrisons to control the slaves. He replied that this was unnecessary, and that the slaves were loyal to Phaeron Szarekh as their lord. The Jaffa should not be distracted by such trivial matters, devoting themselves entirely to protecting their lord and preparing for war. The old Jaffa master agreed: the local slaves truly did not need supervision. Naquadah flowed freely from the mines, and their homes were built without any supervision and on schedule. And the planet, which Szarekh had conquered in just a few hours, was also left unguarded. When asked why, the master replied that there was no point in wasting such valuable warriors on garrison duty. Therefore, he threatened the population that if they rebelled, he would blow them up. Not the worst method, keeping all the troops in one place, under control, ready for attack and counterattack. This was especially true for preparing the entire infrastructure for Jaffa training.
"Maybe we should put black armbands on the students and drop them off in the forest? Their eyes are failing them, we need to develop all their senses. Let them survive a week in the forest without sight."
— Isn't this a bit extreme?
— At a certain stage, they'll be ready. What's the situation with piloting the gliders?
"Preparations are proceeding according to schedule. We have several ideas, and the simulators created by the Lord are very helpful. He wants to separate the gliders: one for the fleet and one for the ground forces. The latter should support the infantry. The infantry should be able to request bombing runs, and the bombs should fall within thirty meters of our forces, causing no harm."
— Such precision requires preparation.
"But if this is implemented, any fortification will become just a joke, and this will increase the tempo of the attack.
They knew Lord Szarekh was already fighting with a limited force against far superior foes. Enemies and planets had fallen at his feet, and now his warriors were growing even stronger and more ferocious. Improved equipment would make Szarekh's warriors invincible. The Jaffa would crush all of Ra's enemies.