Ch 24: Cause Chaos

Their eyes adjusted and they saw in front of them a young man sitting with a bright smile, perfectly coiffed brown hair, and soft gray eyes. He was sitting in a chair behind a crude wooden table, but sat up and offered his hand.

“I’m Lance, I’ll be in charge of you for the exercise.”

Michael, in the lead, grasped it firmly and shook it, his old office life training kicking in easily.

“Michael,” he said as Lance released his grip. His handshake was perfect, firm, but not too firm.

He went down the line to the rest and shook their hands too, getting each of their names. Once he was done he motioned for them to sit with him around the small table.

“Huh, I expected a map,” said Ollie.

Davi shook his head. “No need for one. The area is relatively small and empty and its edges are marked by guards.”

“Exactly,” said Lance as he leaned back. “We also already know that each group is in one corner of the woods, so as long as we mark something in our own corner we have a general idea of where to go. By the end of the two weeks, we’ll know every creek, thornbush, and tree. That said, I already have scouts and patrols starting to sweep over everything for landmarks, water sources, and any other groups they encounter.”

“The exercise isn’t meant to begin until the horn sounds,” said Davi.

“The exercise started when we got our fucking orders,” replied Marcus. It was the first thing he’d said in some time.

Lance pointed at him. “Exactly. Do you know what our orders are as black group?” he asked.

They shook their heads.

“Our goal is attrition. We want to have the most people remaining and the most kills by the end of the two weeks.”

“Simple, at least,” said Pyotr.

“It is, but it’s also difficult and high risk.”

“I’m guessing we weren’t told the other group’s orders?”

Lance smiled. “We weren’t told them, but I already know,” he held up a blue piece of fabric. “Blue is meant to guard a large amount of cargo that is in their camp,” he placed it down, picking up a red piece. “Red is meant to destroy as many supplies as they can. That includes our food, any fortifications we make, tents, flags, any of that,” he picked up a green piece of fabric. “Green’s objective is to take as many flags, supplies, and hostages as possible.”

Michael raised an eyebrow. “Seems like all of the objectives really fuck with everyone else. Some seem particularly unfair.”

Lance shrugged. “The judgement of success is weighted. The groups with harder goals aren’t expected to achieve them as well as the groups with easier ones.”

“So. What’ll you have us do?” asked Ollie. “I mean, you want us to patrol, knock some heads, mess up people’s plans? That kind of thing?”

Lance smiled. “You’re smart, that’s exactly what I want you to do.”

“Don’t give him too much credit,” said Michael. “You’re giving us free rein?”

“That’s right. I’m going to be giving everyone else precise orders, and jobs, but you five I just want out there mucking everything up for everyone else. Causing chaos, making it so that everyone else has a bad time. Does that sound like something you all can do?”

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Michael and the others exchanged a glance and looked back at him. “Yes, I do think that’s something we can do.”

Lance nodded. “Good! I’ll want reports once a day starting tomorrow. Until then I’d recommend a meal and rest. The horn will likely be sounded soon.”

They nodded and started walking out. Michael, curious, looked at Lance for a few extra moments. He seemed relaxed, but he had a tremendous amount of pressure on his shoulders. He would be spending the next two weeks making decisions that would affect not only his career and life in Stent, but those who followed his orders as well. No one would die, but the jobs they received and the experience they gained could be life or death for them in the future.

Lance’s Titles and Deeds became visible to him.

Titles:

Lance Kreg

Heir to Solda

Heir to Vym