Decembrist showed Merrick around the Academy facilities, ending with her office. It was considerably smaller than her other office, but the location and workload here were definitely preferable. Aeos had, of course, left the place clean and tidy, with everything neatly filed and organised. Merrick promised herself that she’d keep this desk clear of the piles of.. stuff.. that her other desk had accumulated. But she had an assistant there, too, and it didn’t make any difference. Checking for any messages first, she picked up her gear and made her way to the quarters she’d be staying in. She wouldn’t really call them [i[hers[/i] just yet. She changed out of her dress uniform and unpacked her gear and weapons. Remembering that they had passed several firing ranges in the quick tour of the grounds, she holstered one of her blaster pistols on her hip and gathered up the gear for her rifle. Those recruits that hadn’t graduated had been given the day to do as they wished, and Merrick was surprised to see a number of them at the ranges.

Merrick had already heard tell of the recruits complaining of having a desk jockey as their new Instructor, and it made her thankful she’d always stayed fit. None of them would know that she still went into combat from time to time, and the thought of them underestimating her made her grin.  She selected the range intended for long range slugthrower rifles and set up, ignoring the glances and comments from the few people nearby. She fired off a few clips and packed up again, lingering around  to casually watch a couple of the others take their shots at the targets. Some of them got a bit nervous when they noticed her eyes on them. She smiled to herself and left them to it. They would all get to see her again in the morning.

--

It was early, barely light, and the recruits were gathered on the parade ground in front of Merrick and Decembrist. They stood to attention, awaiting the announcement of their new routine. A groan ran through the assembled troops in training as Decem announced they’d be going for a long run at this time, every morning, followed by weight training, hand to hand combat, classes in tactics and combat effectiveness, weapons practice and another run in full armour and pack. They did appear slightly heartened by the knowledge that Merrick would be joining them in all aspects of the physical and weapons training.

The recruits quickly got over their pleasure of being joined by their Instructor on the morning run when they realised she meant to push them harder than they had been pushed so far in their training. They were all pleased to return to the academy grounds, even if it meant a new kind of torture. They’d had their fill of running.

OOC:

New story. Let's do some training kids!