{Frank Wells}
It's been a month since I became a recruit, I've been given a slave to manage which basically means that I am responsible for everything they do wrong or fail at. He is a pitiful thing but the legion pays me for his work, but most goes to maintaining him and I'm not exactly sure what I am meant to spend the money on the legion provides everything I need.
"ON YOUR FEET!"
I leap to my feet and form up with my Columberia our recruit Decanus is waiting with his veteran legionary.
"I am happy to say that you wastes of the legions resources are no longer my problem you have been reassigned to Mars knows where go to the quartermaster to receive your travel supplies."
They walk off and we pack up our tent and camp area then march to the quartermaster.
"So you boys are off then. Yes you are moving to serve the Malpase Legate. First of all turn in your chestplates. Those are from the stock assigned to our Legate Augusta and I won't waste our resources in arming another Legates men when It can be used to arm ours."
Once we have turned them in his slaves carry our travel packs out and give them to us. He checks our slates against the ones behind his counter then walks further into his store tent and returns accompanied by several slaves carrying large bent sheets of metal.
"You are ordered by Veteran Decanus Lentros to march with these to your location."
We each pick one up, they are massive and look like they are cut from the pre war road signs that I saw in my old life. We walk to the entrance and form up as a Prime Decanus approaches.
"By order of Veteran Decanus Lentros you are to march with me to the destination I have been commissioned with you are to carry those shields and care for those shields. If you loose your shield you must find it if you cannot your brothers shall beat you to death with their shields understand." "YES PRIME DECANUS." "Good, your slaves have been reassigned they will not be coming with you and you will not see your brothers in this camp again. You are no longer Recruit Legionaries you are now initiate Shield Bearers and have only the rights of initiates understand." "YES PRIME DECANUS" "FORWARD MARCH."
We have marched for 2 weeks my uniform is sweated through and I need a shower we all do. The Prime Decanus removed his face plate on day 4 and slung his chestplate onto his pack on day 6. Luckily we filled up on water at a camp on day 7. I thought the march to the fort when I was a regular Initiate was torture this is worse. Finally we crest a hill and we see it. A massive concrete structure built between two hills around it is a camp as we approach our Prime Decanus lets out a sigh of relief but keeps composure. We march into the camp and are met by another Prime Decanus and two Veteran Legionaries one of which grips our Prime Decanus's shoulder and leads him into a tent where we can hear the muffled sound of someone falling into a chair. The Prime Decanus currently stood in front of us stands waiting then finally speaks.
"You have an hour to set up your tent. Collect a fresh uniform from the Quartermaster and have a shower when the drum sounds you are to form up in the parade ground where you will be told what you are here for by Veteran Decanus Lentros. Fall out."
We walk to an empty patch of ground and set up, once camp is established we find the Quarter master at his tent. He hands out our fresh uniforms thankfully we still get the legions colours but he takes our padding.
"Oh you don't get any padding or armour until the Veteran Decanus says so."
Once we have everything we head to the showers. We scrub ourselves down with buckets, sponges and soap and get dressed. We are sat in our tent when the deep thrum of the drums rouses us. Grabbing our shields and run to the parade grounds. We form up with 9 other columberia and wait. Soon something hairy strides into the parade ground. It strolls town the path between us and up to the podium we are facing where it lays down. It lets its touch lol out of it's mouth and begins panting. Shortly after boots approach, prime legionaries march along the path splitting off in pairs that form up opposite each other. They stand to attention then pull their machetes and form an arch. He walks down the path between the raised machetes and up onto the podium stopping to give the creature a pat on the head. He is dressed in standard Veteran Decanus Uniform but slung over his shoulders is a patchy fur cape with the head of a yougui resting on his right shoulder. At his belt is some form of serrated sword. He looks out at us the sharp featured mask glaring out at us.
"You were not chosen because you are special you were not chosen for any skill you have, on the contrary you were chosen because you are not special you are the perfect template for a legionary, perfectly maluable and adaptable however I must apologise because you will not be so for long. The shields I had you bring are the beginning. You see this structure?"
He waves an arm at the massive concrete structure behind him.
"This is a scale replica of the battlefield you will fight upon and the one you will die upon. The shield legionary corps is not expected to live it is expected to die so that your brothers in arms can kill the enemy. You will advance under fire, you will hold onto your shields with all your strength and you will take the bullets that would have otherwise killed your brothers. You will deliver them to the front lines with minimal losses that is now your duty. But those who survive will be honoured beyond most and those who die will die with glory. I will not apologise to you because this is your duty it is what the legion requires of you and you will fulfill it. So I shall end with this."
He reaches up and removes his copper coloured mask. His face is chilling, his left cheek has a nasty scar his right eye is pulled open by a scar. As he smiles at us his missing teeth snarl down on us.
"Welcome to hell."
We have been stood here for 3 hours and we still haven't left the parade ground. Shortly after the Veteran Decanus welcomed us to Hell we were ordered to hold our shields above our heads with fully extended arms prime legionaries are walking among us and every now and then they poke us with pointy sticks if you flinch or react another strikes you with the flat of their stick. Everyone is covered in welts from the strikes.
Finally after another 3 hours a Prime Decanus shouts.
"At ease."
With a contented sigh everyone drops their shields a round of strikes has us all rushing to retrieve our shields.
"WHO SAID YOU COULD DROP YOU SHIELDS!? YOU ARE NOT TO LET THOSE SHIELDS BREAK CONTACT WITH YOUR SKIN. YOU WILL SLEEP ON THEM, YOU WILL EAT WITH THEM AND YOU WILL SHOWER WITH THEM FAILURE TO DO SO WILL BE TREATED WITH INCREASING PUNISHMENT UNTIL YOU LEARN. NOW GET YOUR SORRY PROFLIGATE SELVES TO BED YOU WILL BE ROUSED BEFORE DAWN TO DO 6 LAPS OF THIS COMPOUND FALURE TO COMPLETE YOUR LAPS BY DAWN WILL RESULT IN PUNISHMENT."
Veteran Decanus Lentros wasn't wrong this has been hell. The shields are uncomfortable no matter what and you have to lay on top of them to ensure they won't fall off. One person from my contumberia tried to be smart and use it as a blanket but they check up on us in the night and we were awoken as they beat him for letting his shield break contact with him. Our days are split between brutal training and lessons. Instructors rant about theoretical techniques and formations as prime legionaries patrol striking anyone who zones out. One guy from another Columberia dropped his shield during a lesson luckily the first thing he did was dive to it and curl up under it. It saved him from being struck but the prime legionaries stomped on the shield until he was forced to let go. Luckily the teacher stopped them from striking him and we spent the rest of the lesson desperately trying to keep hold of our shields as the prime legionaries stomp on them, if you let go they kick it off and stomp on you until you get it back. The only benefit so far is that everyone has got stronger in the every week they do a strength test and each week we have gotten stronger. Hopefully we will be able to complete the laps before dawn soon.
Finally after 2 months of this torturous training we finish the laps before dawn. Instead of dragging us off for the morning shield holding torment they bring us to the parade ground where a Prime Decanus address us.
"Congratulations initiates it only took you 2 months to pass the first trial. Now we put the theory in practice. You are all to strip and form a shield walls consisting of two Columberia each. You will get low and behind your shields."
We form into 5 shield walls and prime legionaries walk along the wall with their sticks. They relentlessly drive there points into any bit of exposed skin. Finally they stop.
"You may find the sticks annoying but in this case these sticks are bullets. Your enemy will aim for your weak spots and in this case that is you. It is easier to shoot you than the shield and they will aim for any exposed flesh. You must learn to protect yourself with your shield as much as possible while exposed so that when armoured you are as protected as possible."
They continue the prodding but this time it's more constructive. Each time they prod us the prime legionaries then considers it and adjusts the shield. Several of the instructors are watching while discussing. One jogs over to our group.
"You two come here."
Me and another step forward. He pushes us together then overlaps our shields. He steps back and mutters to another instructor and a cultist of Vulcan.
"If the shields were more straight we could overlap them so each man supports the shield of him to his left making the edges more secure." "Yes but a flatter shield reduces the resistance." "Well we need to compromise somewhere."
He steps forward and pushes against our overlapping shields. We hold but he soon pushes his hand between them.
"See if I can push my hand past then concentrated fire will plow them apart." "We could make some form of clip. I'm thinking the shields lock together when stress is placed on them but if pulled lightly will release." "How quickly can you get some prototypes mocked up." "Give us 24 hours."
The cultist runs off and the instructor waves us back to formation. They have us form tight boxes but quickly dismiss it. As they are discussing I step forward and shout.
"This Initiate Shield Legionary has a suggestion Instructor."
Several Prime Legionaries bear in on me with fury brandishing their sticks. But the instructor's wave them back.
"What is your suggestion initiate. It better be good or we will string you up for your insolence." "This initiate thought that as well as a sideways wall we could increase protection with a vertical wall." "Explain." "May I have an assistant to demonstrate?" "Yes."
I pull one of my brothers forward and have him crouch behind his shield then step behind him and place my shield over his with the lip situated on his strap and it lent towards me. The instructors approach and examine us.
"What is your thought process Initiate." "That the loss of mobility from the position could be elevated by increasing height with a second wall." "Why have you sloped it?" "Holding it vertical is more difficult and would reduce my grip on my shield Instructor."
They step back.
"It's not a bad suggestion. Of course the connection needs work as it could be a scoop for grenades but for a spur of the moment suggestion it's ok."
They look at us.
"At ease Initiates. Your suggestion has merit and it will be presented to the Veteran Decanus along with your name. Return to formation."
It was reckless but it worked. I am known.
Blessed be the Legion.