Tasad and Sgt. Verde headed to the quartermaster's area and Tasad drew his necessary equipment, a command tent, which was larger than the average soldier's tent since he would have to have all his reports and the like there as well as his cot and personal belongings, a field desk, field chair, writing implements, parchement, cot, and the various other little things that would be required over the days ahead.
Finsihing that Sgt. Verde detailed a few men to set the tenet up in the center of the Company area, which was laid out in typical laegion fashion. The command tent was in the middle of the Company, with the mess tent nearby and the different platoons arrainged around there. There was plaenty of space in between the platoons to make streets for wagons and horses. Around all of this was a palisade of dirt with sharpened stakes driven into the slopped earth on the outside and at the bottom of the slope was a trench that most of the dirt came from, which was also filled with sharpened stakes. Typical of a camp. As they walked Tasad quizzed Sgt. Verde about the cam and discovered that the recruits had built it and could do so in the required time, about two hours.
After esting wit the men, and Tasad was able to meet with a good number of them, both Tasad and Verde retired to Tasad's tent and took seats.
Looking at Verde Tasad growled," Okay while we ae in my personal quarters just call me Tasad, and I want you to tell me what you honestly think so you have permission to speak freely in here as well. If you think I'm making a mistake I want to know cause I'm mortal just like everybody else and will eventually miss something. Is that clear?"
When Verde apllied an affirmative Tasad said," Okay, I assume that you've seen the training schedule that is posted. Well, we are going to change that around to meet the criteria of the HI. Here is what we have now.
The dawn forced march will be taken at a trot to begin with and each day we will increase the pace until we can run it. Now, I don't know how long we will have before we are called upon to fight, but I want to make the most of what we have. This will be difficult I know, but the main handicapp of heavy infantry is that they are slow. I want to change that. Eventually I want us to the point where we can run cavalry into the ground over the long haul."
"The calisthenics will last for the required time but we will increase the number and methods of the excercises to strengthen the men for all of their gear. haevy infantry ain't light."
The morning training will be done in full gear, and the weapons and shields at least will be weighted down with lead if we can find it, rocks if we can't. I would like to add weight to the armor as well but I don't think that would be feasible to do. The after lunch training will be done by us as well since we already know the men can march and perform drill. We will start them on fighting formations and manuvers, as well as continue weapons training. And we already know they can build a breastworks for the camps so we can just continue weapons training and marching manuvers."
With the evening operations, sentry duty, and patrols we can simply set up a rotating schedule and one of us will take charge of that, also rotating so that we each get sleep. If we have any troops that seem particularly capable we can set him in charge of the sentries but I want one of us to go out with the patrols, preferably myself since you are going to be bust training all of us, but in the event I can't make do it you'll have to find a reliable soldier to do so. As a matter of fact get me a list of names of the recruits that show promise and I'll interview them. As long as they meet my requirements we'll make them Sgts. and give them platoons to look after. We'll also set up some corporals to lead each squad in the platoons."
"The evening march will be anything but light. We won't run this time but we are doing five miles and that will be at a forced march. Now any comments or suggestions?"
Verde thought about what the Captain said and after reviewing the information for a while replied," Aye sir. We'll be wearing the men out quickly if we follow this routine. I think we should cut back on the evening march and the morning march as well. Everything else is pretty much what I had thought of."
Tasad pondered what Verde said and then shook his head growling," We can't. We don't know how long we have to train and the more we sweat now the less we'll bleed later. I know it is a grueling schedule but it can't be helped. At the end of each cycle we'll have a mock battle. Weapons sheathed and sealed to prevent casulaties, and place hald the Company against the other. After that they can have a day of rest. I'll talk to the Commander about it and should be able to get that approved due to the intensity of our training."
Looking at Verde Tasad said," We're both veterans here Verde, and we know what these kids are getting into. I know we will lose men but I want to keep our losses to a minimum. I want the men to be rock hard stone cold bastards in a fight, because you can bet that the orcs are going to be. We got to be harder than they are and I intend to to do so in the time we have available to us, however long that may be. Now, I believe that takes care of the schedule. I'll draw a copy up and get it approved by the Commander and we'll implement it tomarrow morning. Instruct the men to be ready at first light with full gear and kit, including shields and swords."
"Speaking of swords, we will be getting a shipment of short swords in tommarrow, so collect the longswords and have them ready to be loaded on wagons once we have unloaded the gladius. Also see to it that the men enamel their armor with the colors and emblem I showed them today. The quartermaster should be able to provide you with what you need. Have them do it now so the enamel will be dried in the brightening. Now, if there is nothing else see to the men and then get some sleep, wake me a half hour before you wake the men."
Verde saluted and left the tent making his way to each platoon to set them about their duties and orders. In the meantime Tasad set about penning the new training schedule for approval by the Commander.