Rise of the Omnimage

Sorin, Linx, and Cain stood in a line waiting for the new commander for tense and purposes. She had their weapons sheathed and were at what Sorin knew to be standing "at ease" in the military. Relaxed with hands behind their back away from weapons always in the presence of their superiors.

After a few more minutes she appeared walking down the path in a martial artists robe of the same colors as their but more extravagantly decorated.

Next to her was another servant carrying a leather wrapped bundle. They stopped both in front of the men and she flipped the top of the leather off the bundle revealing new practice weapons.

"Set steel to the side gentlemen." Sorin said. They all took off their steel weapons and, in a line, went before Lady Aegis and waited for her command.

"Take weapons. You each will spar with me to determine for myself your prowess. Sorin, you're first." She said.

Sorin saluted and took the twin short swords from the bundle and backed away from Euryale.

"Begin!" She commanded and Sorin leapt forward. He slashed low to high catching some of the manicured dirt with his blades and swung up and Euryale who flowed to the side away from weapon and dirt and flowed into her strikes at him. He angled out quickly guiding the blades through looking for an over extension, but there was none save for a back swing at his neck then a reversal for another swing from the other side. Sorin took a step back out of range then attempted an x-cross scissor slash upward under her guard only to be met with twin blades downward. He pressed the blades together and heaved. He outweighed Euryale and forced her to give ground to keep from getting bowled over. She seemed to float backward then darted in close, flipped her swords with razor hook points down coming at the sides his chest looking to rip into him from the armpits inward.

He met them sword for sword and went to strike with a kick but was beat to the punch by Euryale who sent him sliding backwards then followed up with short fast slashes coming faster and faster. Sorin was in tier 3 and could see if all but did not want her to know that. He timed all of his blocks at the last moment each time and screwed up his face to demonstrate a sort of worry from being outmatched. With a shout and a heavy swing from the side, Sorin let his blades get ripped from his hands.

"Good! Corporal Varris has instructed you well. She will receive a good review concerning you. Fall back. Linx!" She said and called out.

He fell back and the man in question went to work. He flowed in and out of her range being close in her guard forced her to stay falling back until she had seen what she wanted to then matched him for speed but way more strength. He was smashed to the ground with a dual hammer strike with her swords. The fight with Cain went more or less the same except she caught his blade with her swords curve and ripped it out of his hand and forced a surrender.

"I'm pleased by the efforts of your trainer. She will receive a very good review concerning you there. Well done."

She stuck her swords in her armpits and clapped her hands. Four men who had shown up during the individual spars stepped forward on the court with a hook sword, great sword, sword and shield, and a spear. They took up positions across from them. Euryale took up a central position behind Sorin as he motioned for the team to take up the arrowhead formation.

"Begin!" Euryale said and the two teams rushed together. Right before impact Sorin called out "shift right!" He Linx and Cain shifted right collapsing on the spear user. Linx was on the left and took up position reinforcing Euryale who stepped forward to reinforce Linx in return.

It was fast for Cain and Sorin to defeat the spear user. Sorin locked his spear, and Cain delivered the training death blow as Sorin efficiently timed switched targets pushing into the enemy formation as Linx shifted with them out of habit through training. Euryale picked up on the tactic and shifted with the team forcing the team to split their attention. Linx ducked a strike over his head and darted in before the one with the great sword could bring the blade back.

Reading, Euryale slammed the blade, boosting the momentum into the sword and shield user who blocked it and charged. Linx couldn't counter or strike from the side as he was finishing ending the claymore and he bowled Euryale overexposing her to strikes. Linx shifted and attack the shield user but took a shield swing ruining his attack trajectory and swung down at Euryale at the same time. Cain and Sorin disarmed and crushed the one with the hook blade and were moving quickly to protect their charge.

They couldn't get there in time as he touched the wood blade to her neck. "Dead my lady."

Everyone stopped and he backed away. "Thank you for the lesson, Arms Master Reeger." She said. She immediately glared at the three of her troops.

"What is your primary objective?" She hissed.

"To protect you ma'am." They said together. "Well, do I look protected?" She responded. It's all peachy that we were winning that battle until they broke through and took me out. That is a loss in training and death in real life!" Not off to a good start in your primary objective. Reform up! We will restart and continue until we are moving as one organized unit." She said.

The two teams formed up. Sorin had heard what she said. Arms master. He looked at Linx and Cain. "We go with primary strategy target number 3." Sorin said.

"Do you command this team conscript?!" Came the seething rebuke. Sorin immediately turned and bowed his head.

"No lady Aegis. I apologize for overstepping."

She struck him on the side of the left arm with the flat of her blade making a hollow smack. Sorin felt it, but it should have been harder.

"Explain your strategy." She said coming closer.

"Yes ma'am. We have different formations, and we designate largest left to right numbered. If we want to focus on a target for whatever reason we number, it. We used a balanced arrowhead formation first and it didn't work because we had a higher threat, and we were complacent trying to end it quickly as we were used to against other conscripts. We were wrong.

This formation has higher defense and allows for defense of objective with minimal risk. It's new to us because we have had a wooden dummy that did not fight along us. So, this will be the best adaptation since you will have higher speed and offense than me who will be taking the beating.

She nodded. "Very well. Continue. It is sound strategy conscript. Begin!"