Chapter 2
By the time the men returned to the base and were able to get their armour off the commander had been called before the queen with Riker and Hayden. Everyone knew it was going to end badly; they just didn't expect what was going to happen. The rest of the men stayed silent looking at the door waiting for the three to return for what seemed like hours would pass
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Hayden and Riker would walk back into the barracks silently moving to take their gear off as at least 30 men stand there watching their every move. Hayden sighs as he looks at his fellow brothers in arms speaking with sorrow" Commander Elliot has failed the queen for the last time". Each and every hound knew what that meant and what would happen going forward as they all looked down for a moment in silence only being broken by Hayden's voice sterner now with just a hint of uncertainty" I alongside Riker will be the honour guards new commanders any issues need be addressed come to us…." before taking his chest plate off returning to the normal cloth uniform it being one of charcoal grey with a hound insignia on its chest.
Alright, boys training time we got put in extra time to please our queen" Riker spoke as he looked around the room see hard-working men already exhausted from their last mission standing with just a little less moral than when they last left this room two days ago.
About twenty minutes later the men were lined up as they should be rank and file awaiting orders from their new commanders Hunter stands watching the soldiers him being officially third in command he stood in front of his platoon as his eyes seemed locked on the holy gates thinking to himself" I wonder what those gates look like from the other side are they better or is it unknown to the angels and mortals their that there's anything other than heaven.
Hayden and Riker stepped out of the barracks as they walk to the troops as they line up "today we're going to practice what we failed until we don't queens orders" Riker had spoken to the group as they split off into teams of six men five to capture one to be the threat as the commanders walked from group to group critiquing things that should be and giving tips on faster safer takedowns.
One group had started to merge with another as 9 people worked to get one. It started with the man being blindfolded for a few minutes as the team got into position and as the man felt the first soldier come towards him he was able to attack back
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Hayden had stopped to watch what unfolded next as the "threat" a new corporal named nexus had waited until the first hound took his blade two inches from his face nexus had stepped back kneeling and rolling out of the way removing his blindfold his eyes staying the normal radiant orange that all hounds shared as he brought up his kammas blocking his opponents strike and kicking the attacker to the ground turning himself slowly as he watches the other guards as they mentally prepare for the next wave of attackers.
The next wave would come suddenly and would have three guardsmen trying to corner the man as he worked on dodging the attacks ducking dodging blocking parrying as he jumped into the shadows what little was on the arena coming back down behind one of the men knocking him down before looking to the other two circling them a little bit as he did waiting ever so patiently. the two would rush from each side locking blades with nexus as the circle their swords knocking the kammas out of his hands as they press their blades to his neck as he holds his hands up in surrendering nexus saying with heavy breath" I yield I yield" looking to the new commander as Hayden just watches carefully.
Riker observes another group this time; two combatants fought seven and no one seemed to be wanting to wait around.
The men had their blades locked using the shadows to get the upper hand only to be kicked back and to repeat the process leaving Riker in astonishment as he got the group's attention speaking firmly " listen up people we lost five men on our last mission stop holding back we will heal here but there holding back will get us killed has gotten us killed and quite frankly I'm not ready to die yet I'm not sure about each of you" looking at each of the men before him "now run it again faster, stronger, better. I don't want to lose any more people to one of those uptight fallen' ' shaking his head, not even sure what he was doing in command. He wished Elliot were still here.
A few more rounds and the men were running the obstacle course and pushing even harder then they had in quite some time as if the men were trying to prove their worth to their new commanders even hayden and Riker would race through the courses about twelve times before even considering letting up not caring the whole platoon needed this more now than ever to feel whole after the loss they had just suffered by not only the men on the mission but Commander Elliot as well by the end of theirs time on the course it was close to mess and lights out the men took a few moments to quickly shower and change into their formal uniforms preparing for evening mess.
The rest of the night would prove to go smoothly as the men would eat and talk about fond memories of their fallen comrades, a few even vowed to kill every fallen angel that has or will fall due to this holy war…the night would conclude and as the men went to bed Hayden nor Riker could sleep and walked out side resting on the balcony of the barracks as Hayden had done the morning before thinking silently almost identically" what in the hell were they gonna do now they were in control of well over three hundred thousand soldiers all now looking to them to know what to do" As the lookup to see the queen's messenger approaching they bother stood silently as they were handed an envelope