Gideon

Chapter 10

A voice boomed out from the mezzanine level above them.

A large black man, his voice even larger and deeper than his personality, stood on the landing and he exuded confidence.

"Welcome to Denizen 1. My name is Patrick Nkoni. I manage all security issues in this facility. You're all here because you've chosen, by free will, to fight the enemy known as Xenocon. Today is the start of your training. You will be taught combat skills, and trained to use highly capable but complicated weapons. Failure during this training will mean you will be deployed to fulfill other tasks, just know this, you are always welcome to opt out at any time. Every individual, every team is a vital cog in the wheel. Respect each other and we'll win this war. Let's get to it."

Below, the crowd of men and women were separated into teams of six. Each under the control of a team commander and his or her assistant leader.

Callum was on Kendall's team.

She called them into a circle around her.

"Welcome. The first thing we need to do is find a name for our team. Any ideas?"

No one said a word. She continued, "Color names, like red or green or blue are allowed. Rivers and mountains make good team names. Does that help?"

"Ukhozi," a woman suggested. She stood in the middle of the group.

"Ukhozi?" Kendall repeated.

"It means Eagle."

"Sounds good to me," Kendall said. "Anyone else?"

No one else came forward with a name. "Ukhozi it is. We're going to teach you how to fight, some of you are trained soldiers, and that will help. We are an independent group that will challenge all the other teams to improve our effectiveness. We play an adversarial role. In other words, we usually play the enemy in training. If it's action you want, this is the team..."

"Denizen 1 is an extremely effective and organized counter insurgence facility with strong cultures. We explore alternative futures for our combat teams so that they are effective in any scenario. You'll be going on your first gauntlet in 72 hours. Your role will be only to observe what we do. But we'll also be watching you."

Callum stepped forward. "I was told our first gauntlet is tomorrow night."

Kendall approached him with a determined stare from her cold grey eyes. "What you're told and what we actually do are worlds apart. "So, you're this team's self appointed team captain?"

"I was told..."

"I don't give a fuck what you were told, Cadet. You being here is a matter of life and death for everyone in this facility.  72 hours. Even that's too short. You will learn how to incapacitate Xenocon, and if you think they're a pushover, now's the time to leave." Kendall  turned as she spoke inside the circle. "We aren't looking for bravery. Bravery is stupid. It can cost lives, including your own. In this fight, we can't afford to lose any man or woman. So if you see something out there that requires bravery, my advice to you is to restrain yourself. Is that clear?"

The team nodded, some mumbled a quiet "yes".

Kendall said, "I can't hear you. Is everything clear?"

The team belched out a quick "yes".

"That's better. We understand each other."

Callum watched Kendall intently as she spoke. Her voice was never too high-pitched, but always assertive, and she used wide, sweeping gestures with her hands. When she spoke, people listened.

A well-built, dark man stepped forward and asked to speak. He introduced himself as Mishak Tshabalala-Maine.

"Can you tell us where this gauntlet mission will be?"