"Drill terminated." Maya's voice held no warmth at all. "You two, explain."
Edmund and Brad glared at each other, both seeing the same stubborn defiance in the other's eyes. But under the pressure of Maya's and Welles's stares, they still stiffened their necks and explained themselves one after the other.
Edmund stressed the need to scatter quickly when ambushed, using the terrain for mobile defense and counterattacks.
Brad insisted that in an unknown environment, maintaining a complete formation and using alternating cover was the safest way to reduce casualties and advance steadily.
Maya listened without the slightest change in expression. Then she said coldly, "Edmund's tactics are suited for dealing with small, agile enemies that lack heavy firepower.
For example, walker herds or scattered raiders. They make full use of individual combat ability and reduce casualties during initial contact."
Her tone shifted as she looked at Brad. "Brad's tactics are suited for frontal advances, defending fixed positions, or dealing with enemies that have a certain degree of organization and firepower. They ensure sustained fire and a stable formation."
Then Maya's gaze stabbed into both of them like ice. "But while neither of you is wrong, neither of you used your brains!"
She raised her hand sharply and pointed at the complex terrain across the training ground.
An open field connected to an obstacle zone made from abandoned vehicles. Beside it stood clusters of cover formed by low walls and dirt mounds, and farther out were simulated building ruins.
"Look at this place! There are open areas that need to be crossed quickly, and there are cover zones suited for holding ground and complex close-quarters combat!
What is a commander's responsibility?
To choose the most suitable tactics based on the actual battlefield environment, the enemy situation, and your own side's condition. Sometimes that means combining the strengths of two tactics!
Not acting like two blindfolded, stubborn mules who only know how to put their heads down and keep walking the one path they're familiar with!"
Lieutenant Welles cut in, his tone even harsher, carrying the severity of a regular army officer. "Out here, survival is the only objective!
It is also the only standard for judging whether a tactic is right or wrong!
I don't care if you used to be Delta Force, Rangers, or National Guard!
Whatever habits you have, whatever pride you're holding onto, it all makes way for survival!
Right now, you are one team!
You are teammates who may one day have to entrust your backs to each other!
Either you learn to put down that pitiful pride right now and work together,
or you wait until real combat, where the enemy picks you off one by one, or your stupidity gets your teammates killed! Understood?!"
His gaze swept over every member of the group like a bone-scraping knife, including Daryl, who had been silently hiding behind a broken wall as if none of this had anything to do with him.
"Understood, sir!" Brad instinctively straightened his back and snapped to attention.
Edmund curled his lip, still looking somewhat unconvinced, but under the combined pressure from Maya and Welles, he muttered, "Understood."
"Start over!" Maya ordered without any hesitation. "Edmund, I want to see you combine dispersed maneuvering with formation coordination. Adjust your tactics according to the terrain.
If you can't do it, the whole group goes without dinner tonight!"
Under that pressure, the group threw themselves back into the drill.
The threat of losing dinner was clearly very effective on these big-eating men.
At first, they were still stumbling through it. The passing of orders and the transitions between movements felt raw and clumsy.
But after repeated attempts, things slowly began to improve.
Edmund started ordering the squad to spread out and advance when the terrain required them to seize key points quickly. When crossing open ground or consolidating a position, he also adopted Brad's suggestion of alternating cover.
Brad, for his part, no longer stubbornly insisted on keeping a tight formation at all times.
Daryl, however, still did not blend in that quickly. The lone-wolf habits he had developed over years as a hunter made it hard for him to adapt to a military model.
Maya watched the entire session and finally decided to move Daryl, that introvert, into his brother Merle's group.
Calista, who had happened to stroll over, witnessed the whole minor conflict and the integration that followed.
She stood in the shadows at the edge of the training ground, her brows faintly furrowed.
Calista understood how difficult it was to integrate people from different backgrounds, but Edmund and Brad's initial insistence on sticking to their own methods, with no flexibility at all, still left her somewhat displeased.
A simulation on the training ground was still a layer removed from reality. It lacked the urgency and variables that came with real life-or-death pressure.
Rather than arguing tactics here, it would be better to drag them into a real environment and force them to adapt quickly.
When the group drill finally met Maya's basic requirements and everyone was panting with exhaustion, Calista walked over.
"Maya, Welles."
"Calista." The two immediately turned toward her.
Calista's gaze swept across the team members, whose faces were still slick with sweat, then she said to the two commanders, "Looks like training only inside the base won't produce anything real. Some people start overthinking the moment they have free time, then trap themselves in their old ways."
Her tone was calm, but Edmund, Brad, and the others, who had just gone through a round of "ideological education," all felt their faces grow hot.
Calista continued, "Instead of letting them argue on the training ground about which tactic is more correct, rotate them outside directly and have them carry out real reconnaissance, search, and even clearance missions.
In live combat, facing real walkers, running into real raiders, and dealing with complex, unknown environments, let them quickly work out the combat style that suits them best.
After a few rounds, they'll naturally learn."
She paused, then added, "As it happens, Rickson and I finalized a series of matters this morning.
The reconnaissance and search teams both need to expand their range of activity to look for fuel, parts, medical supplies, and reference materials, while also keeping an eye out for suitable survivors.
There's plenty of work to do. Get them all out there doing something. Don't let them sit idle!"
Maya and Lieutenant Welles exchanged a look, both seeing agreement in the other's eyes.
Maya spoke first. "Good. Real combat is the best instructor, and it breaks down barriers the fastest.
When people are on the edge of life and death, no one cares which unit they used to belong to. They only think about how to survive with the teammates beside them."
Lieutenant Welles nodded as well. "I agree. It kills two birds with one stone. It solves the integration problem while also pushing forward the base's supply collection and perimeter clearance."
"Very well." Seeing that neither of them objected, Calista made the decision. "Work out the specific rotations and task assignments with Leah and the others, then start putting it into action as soon as possible.
I want results, not pointless infighting."
"Understood!" Maya and Lieutenant Welles answered in unison.
Calista turned and left.
Sending out teams that had not fully meshed yet carried risk, but Rock Fortress did not have much time to waste on endless indoor debates.
Besides, every member of these groups already had experience and a solid foundation as fighters.
True cohesion could only be forged in blood and fire.
This winter, Rock Fortress's blade had to be sharpened even further!