TNL 37 – Recruitment Part Three
A few days later Brandon also returns from the island with his four squads. As soon as the wounded soldiers are installed in the infirmary and the other soldiers have visited their own room, Brandon calls the squad leaders and Morris together.
"Lenn currently has half a squad in Fort Alpha. Tomorrow I want to send him the rest of his men with two other squads for support. Then we have three squads there and another three here. That should be enough for now. The two squads are the third and fourth of the second platoon." Brandon looks at the relevant squad leaders. "As soon as you are there, you have one day of rest before you go back on patrol. Of course, one squad will stay at Fort Alpha at all times."
Then it's the turn of the other squads.
"The rest of us stay here and I will keep all the injured soldiers here as well. We have better medical facilities here in the city than there are in Fort Alpha." Brandon looks at Morris. "Can you get some of your mounted troops to bring a message to the capital? I can spare your recruits better than a squad of soldiers right now."
"Yes, that should work. I can send Cordell with his four men."
"Don't you think we should send more?"
"This should be enough. Since we restored order in the province, the entire road is safe. In addition, five mounted warriors are not exactly a rich target to rob. No loot, you see."
"Well then," is Brandon's final conclusion, "the other mounted troops can help with patrols."
Slowly but surely things are starting to get back to normal. Despite the reduced manpower of the New Legion, patrols are being carried out again. This is supported by the mounted units led by Morris, who can easily reach the distant areas. The first wounded are slowly but surely coming back on the list of available personnel.
A few days later, a soldier enters the office while Brandon is busy with the administration. With a bang, the door blows open, because there is a strong autumn breeze outside.
"Beware, soldier! A bit more careful with my door please."
"Sir, there is a fishing boat approaching from the direction of the pirate village. They fly our flag, so there are soldiers of ours on board."
Brandon gets up right away. "I'm coming. You can ensure that rooms are prepared for our guests."
Arriving at the harbor, the fishing boat just docks. Brandon immediately sees that there is a whole squad of soldiers on board. When the squad leader comes to him a little later, he immediately calls out to him:
"Squad leader Ice isn't it? Weren't you out with Sergeant Raidon? What's the news?" The squad leader does not answer immediately, but first walks towards Brandon. When he arrives, the squad leader stands tightly in the posture.
"Squad leader Ice with full squad reports, sergeant!" he shouts. Brandon looks a little surprised at him. According to the regulations, this is completely correct, but never before have they adhered to this as tightly as this squad leader. A little surprised, he replies:
"Welcome, squad leader Ice, how did your chase go? A short answer is good, then we will discuss it in detail later in a meeting."
"Sergeant, the pursuit has failed. We chased the remaining pirates all over the island and at the end they were met by some ships and escaped." Squad leader Ice remains silent for a moment, but just as Brandon wants to answer, he continues a bit softer. "We did find something else. A place of the old legions. Sergeant Raidon stayed there with the other squad. He asks if some fishermen can provide a direct connection between that place and Aran. We must show them the way and return to the sergeant."
Brandon is a bit overwhelmed. "A place of the old legions? Something like Fort Alpha?"
"No, Sergeant, I think this place is as big as Aran and still completely intact!"
All Brandon can do is say:
"Wow!"
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The time comes when Raidon expects Ice and his squad to return. A day in advance, he leaves two soldiers on guard at one of the harbor towers. This way they know when the squad is coming.
Only halfway through the next afternoon a fishing boat is seen. Slowly it comes closer, only to not enter the port in the end. The fishing boat swings away just before the opening and heads for the beach nearby. The two soldiers on guard quickly notify Raidon. Raidon takes two extra men with him. At the gate they wait for the sailors and passengers to arrive. It is indeed the second squad, with four fishermen from the fishing boat.
These say that they wanted to enter the harbor, but that they saw just in time that a huge chain is stretched just under water. No boat can sail in until this chain is removed. Raidon invites Ice and his squad and the fishermen to come in. They go back to the barracks where the others are already waiting.
The four fishermen are overwhelmed by what the naval base looks like. It is almost as big as their own city and totally deserted.
Raidon receives a message from Brandon. Two more men have died from their injuries, but the others are doing well. Twenty-two soldiers have now died and eleven more are wounded. Four harnesses also seems to have been damaged because there was a pirate who waved a war hammer around.
Raidon starts calculating. It means that there are now seventy-seven active soldiers in the New Legion and eleven more wounded who will get better soon. They still have a hundred and six harnesses and some parts. Fortunately, more than two hundred and fifty harnesses have been found intact in the naval base. And they have the forge. So once they find someone who can operate it and learn from the books what’s needed, they can make more harnesses.
It also means that they can now train two hundred and sixty-nine recruits if they put all these harnesses into use. Raidon decides that Brandon can recruit twenty-two men and train them in the city. These can make up for the losses they have suffered. Another forty must be found and will be trained at the naval base, in order to bring the number of soldiers in the New Legion to one hundred and fifty. Fortunately Brandon has already found three recruits, but the other fifty-nine still have to be brought in from somewhere.
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The report also says that several of the poorer people have decided to move to the island. Two fishermen with their families have already moved to make their new home there. In addition, five farmers and twenty townsmen have come over to try their luck in this new land.
Raidon decides to make an offer to the fishermen of Aran. He needs sailors for at least one of the ships. Everything has to be transported from the mainland to the island. Not only is a good connection needed between the different locations of the New Legion, but also supplies need to be provided.
This is difficult with only the small boats that the fishermen have. That is why he wants to hire more fishermen with knowledge of the sea in order to form a core of good sailors.
"If you know experienced people who would be interested in this, such as younger sons, then we can use them all. In the future, I think we will need even more large ships, so there is plenty of work for everyone."
"I know a few young people who know the sea well, but don't really like fishing," says one of the fishermen. "But I don't know if they're suitable and if they're interested in it though."
When the fishermen return to Aran, they take two soldiers with them. These bring a message to Brandon with Raidon's plans for the next few weeks and months. Raidon thinks it's important to keep Brandon informed about how the New Legion is doing, as he is the second in command.
Raidon decides to explore the city with his remaining eighteen men. He has two men on guard in the same tower near the harbor. Four are going to see if they can do something with that chain. He himself only accompanies the groups exploring in the morning, in the afternoon he stays in the barracks to study the documents. Of course, he also studies the new handbook.
It takes Raidon a week to go through the new handbook. At the end of that week, the messengers return from Aran with a message from Brandon. They also have five recruits with them and the first three new sailors.
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When Ryker, the old fisherman, hears through some acquaintances that huge ships from the time of the old legions have been found, he is at first surprised at all the fuss about this. What can anybody do with those. Derelict ships from another time are of no use to him. Maybe for the shipbuilders, so that they can learn something from them before they completely fall apart, but for him there is nothing he is interested in.
But then suddenly there is a squad of soldiers at his door.
"Fisherman Ryker? We were sent by Sergeant Brandon to ask you to come with us to the island. An interesting find has been made. We have found intact ships that you may be able to help with."
"What could I possibly do with that junk? Bring a shipbuilder. I belong on the sea, building a boat is not something I know about."
"I believe you are misinformed. Like I just said, they have been found INTACT. They are almost perfectly preserved as far as I have been told. Sergeant Raidon wants you to come along to see if they are actually seaworthy."
Ryker can't believe his ears. This is a lot different from what he had in mind. If these ships are indeed seaworthy, then that's a whole new adventure! He can’t manage to keep the enthusiasm out of his voice when he answers.
"When are we leaving?"
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As Ryker prepares to leave for the island, a message is sent to Fort Alpha. Duncan is busy restoring Fort Alpha, as this is still not quite ready. The fort is starting to look like how it must have looked in its heyday, but there is always something that needs to be done.
When the messenger arrives, he finds Duncan hard at work outside the walls. Since one of the messages is for him, he delivers it before going to the commander of Fort Alpha.
Sextilis 5421 PR
Duncan
We have made great discoveries here. The whole naval base is full of things from the old legions, many of which we can use, but others are too technical. I want you to get ready to hand over your work to others and then come here as soon as possible. We need you!
I'll see you soon. Hurry up!
Raidon
Duncan doesn't believe his eyes. He's not ready yet! There is still so much to do before Fort Alpha is back to its former glory. He can't just leave that behind, can he?
But then he thinks about what he might be able to learn if he leaves for the naval base. Although he already knows a lot more about building defenses than any engineer in the army, there are still many things the army knows more about. If he leaves for the naval base, he can probably learn more from the legion.
Then suddenly comes the thought: Maybe I should join the legion. Then I really belong. Duncan decides to consult with the commander of Fort Alpha first.
If I go to the naval base, how does the construction here continue while I'm away? Duncan is still hesitating about what to do.
An hour later he sits around the table with squad leader Lenn, who is currently the commander.
"What do you think? Have they really found something worthwhile?" asks Duncan squad leader Lenn.
The squad leader bursts into laughter. "Duncan, you really mis everything that goes around, don’t you? That naval base is the size of a city! So much has been found that it will take years before we find out everything about it."
Duncan looks at him glassy. "Really? I thought only a few old things had been found." But then he gets excited. "If it's really that big, then I just have to go there! When can I leave?"
"Well, as soon as you have handed over your tasks and packed your things, then I think your escort is ready too. They are only waiting for you. Oh, and don't forget to tell John. I know you've become good friends in recent weeks, at least during the times when he wasn't trudging through that jungle."
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Because indeed. Since returning to Fort Alpha with squad leader Lenn, John has mostly been off in the wilderness. The dense forests with their game paths fascinate him. He has already walked most of the passable paths, and even some that looked a lot less passable.
Playing garrison soldier is difficult for him. He knew that from the beginning, when he had to get used to the discipline in the New Legion with a lot of help from his squad mates. Every time there is action, such as fighting pirates, he feels completely in his element. But at times like this, with nothing to do except man the fort and do a single patrol, he has a difficult time. That's why John often wanders through the wilderness on his own. With the permission of Lenn, who finds it difficult to contradict the stubborn man, John is working alone to improve his tracking skills.
In order to get better at sneaking and similar skills that a scout needs, he and Lenn have agreed that John will also try to test the fort's guards. The latter can be quite dangerous, because the men who are on guard can might expect that it is John who they hear, while it can be an enemy. That is why John also has permission to punish the guards with extra training and other tasks. John still secretly laughs when he thinks back to that one time when he had instructed the guard to clean the latrine on his own for three days. Most of the time, however, he sends the men to Duncan if the man has some tedious chores. Then everyone benefits from it.
John has also discovered something special in the wilderness. During one of his trips he found out that he has been promoted to squad leader. However, he doesn't feel like being saddled with a bunch of weirdos to command. When he thought hard about it, he saw that his rank signs were fading again! After some practice, he managed to hide his rank at will.
It has taken him some work to figure out how it is possible that he has acquired this skill, while others cannot. With difficulty he broke into Lenn's office and read his handbook. As is so often the case when someone in the New Legion needs certain knowledge, a piece of text lit up. This almost caused John to be caught, but the passage of text did explain to him that there were some special units within the old legions that had the ability to hide their rank. These units were mainly used as scouts and spies.
Many of the private armies within the old empire had their own opinions on certain matters. Of course they did make their opinions public, but they were much less wary of the 'simple' soldiers of the legions. In this way, a lot of information was gathered.
For the moment, however, it is John's little secret that he is actually a squad leader. One day he will tell Raidon, but he hardly ever comes back to Fort Alpha.