Interesting. The force was better organized and disciplined than he would have expected. Sending scouts on ahead, since that was the obvious role of the lead runners, was an innovative idea. Almost as if-well, yes-like real combat conditions. Who would have thought to find such conscientious roleplaying in the Space Legion?
Spengler was amused to note that the two weird-looking nonhumans-what were they again? Sinthians?-were literally being carried by some of their teammates. The sergeant had both performed and supervised similar exercises as a drill for carrying wounded comrades, but had never seen anyone attempt the practice through an entire confidence course. And wasn’t that … Yes! The unit’s commanding officer he had seen earlier was running the course along with his troops! For that matter, so were the other officers and what looked like the entire cadre!
The master sergeant’s normal disdain for the Space Legion was slipping away and being replaced by a growing, though grudging, admiration for this scrappy crew. They weren’t the Red Eagles, to be sure … not even close. Still, if one couldn’t make the grade in a real outfit, this wouldn’t be a bad outfit to belong to.
A flicker of motion on the course ahead of the main force caught the sergeant’s eye.
What the … ? One of the “scouts” had apparently climbed up the wooden framework of the first obstacle and was cutting down the “swinging ropes,” tossing them to his teammates on the ground who, in turn, scampered off down the course bearing their prizes.