[Felix frowned slightly as he watched Finn get back into position. His eyes scanned the kid's form idly, but rather than finding faults the mercenary was contemplating the question that had been aimed at him after Finn's attempt to act serious.]
Accelerated training through boot camp lasted barely three months during the war. After basic combat training it was figure it out or die trying. I didn't have a choice but to get good in order to survive.
[A beat and then he continued.]
When FORECON recruited me I spent another three months in advanced training. By comparison, basic training was nothing. They break you and remold you in basic training so that most soldiers are the same; instead, they sculpt you with a fine tool in Force Recon, sharper, harder, no room for failure. You need advanced weapons training, combat expertise, and more than anything you have to be able to think critically and perform efficiently with little to no direction while on the battlefield. Because when you're fifty miles deep into enemy territory there's no one to guide you back out but yourself and your team, and no room for failure if you hope to survive.
[He blinked out of his reverie and locked eyes with Finn.]
Ten years in the military fighting the Great War. Another five years spent as a mercenary. And you want to know how long it took me to learn all that I know?
Fifteen years and counting. You stop learning after basic training and you don't survive out in the wild. Complacency gets you killed.
[Complacency was what had gotten him killed. Complacency, and trust.]
no subject
Accelerated training through boot camp lasted barely three months during the war. After basic combat training it was figure it out or die trying. I didn't have a choice but to get good in order to survive.
[A beat and then he continued.]
When FORECON recruited me I spent another three months in advanced training. By comparison, basic training was nothing. They break you and remold you in basic training so that most soldiers are the same; instead, they sculpt you with a fine tool in Force Recon, sharper, harder, no room for failure. You need advanced weapons training, combat expertise, and more than anything you have to be able to think critically and perform efficiently with little to no direction while on the battlefield. Because when you're fifty miles deep into enemy territory there's no one to guide you back out but yourself and your team, and no room for failure if you hope to survive.
[He blinked out of his reverie and locked eyes with Finn.]
Ten years in the military fighting the Great War. Another five years spent as a mercenary. And you want to know how long it took me to learn all that I know?
Fifteen years and counting. You stop learning after basic training and you don't survive out in the wild. Complacency gets you killed.
[Complacency was what had gotten him killed. Complacency, and trust.]