AN: One of the things I've found most unusual is having to check myself for 'miles' instead of 'kilometres'. I just remembered that's what they'd use and had to go back through to make sure I hadn't included any other Imperial measurements. Let me know if you spot any.
Also, regarding names, can I just invent middle names for them all, and then use them whenever intimacy is required? Like 'How are you Vladimir Sergeyevich' if they're talking to Durov. Or even 'Vova'? I'm reluctant to include too many new names for so many new characters as the fic goes on, but also immersion is important. I'm baffled by the range of diminutives and customs but if I didn't want to be I shouldn't have set my story in Russia should I?
So far I've gone through and standardised the naming for perspective changes. Durov is always Durov if he's the POV, but he's Vladimir to Igor, who is Igor in internal thoughts, but Diakonoff otherwise. If I do change the naming conventions I'm definitely limiting it to speech, and keeping everyone with one name when the narration is referring to them.
Chapter 6: Battle of the Beasts
"What do you think Igor's doing over there?" Ilya asked Dimitri.
Dimitri regarded the archaeologist, who was standing on a tank surrounded by a group of Romans.
"He was reading a book last night and one of the romans asked what it was about, and I suppose it escalated from there." Replied Dimitri. He had been sitting next to the Comrade-Doctor as they ate during the evening.
"Must be an interesting book." Mused Ilya.
Dimitri shrugged. "Wonder what it is?" he asked turning to the sniper.
"Not really."
"Well do you have anything better to do?"
"Not really."
"Well then let's go."
They both hopped down from their perch, and strode over toward Igor.
The Romans in the crowd seemed to be very upset, and muttered to themselves as the Soviets pushed through them.
"How's it going Comrade-Doctor?" Dimitri called as they approached, "You are teaching them, no?"
The Doctor laughed nervously. "Yes, but I think I may have gotten myself into something more than I should have."
"How do you mean?"
Igor glanced around the group. "Look, can you go and get Vladimir to call me over for something?"
The two soldiers looked at each other and made their way back through the crowd. The Roman/Soviet camp was not a large one, Igor had told them how the Romans here hadn't preserved some of the traditions of their ancient ancestors, one of these being the construction of fortified camps at the end of marches.
"I'm more interested in what's he's reading them to have gotten them so riled up." Dimitri admitted as they passed into the inner camp. The Romans at least maintained a cordon between the legionaries and their non-Roman allies, so the descendants of the Greeks, Syrians and other auxiliary troops that had been with the Legion when they were abducted had formed their own smaller nations, but remained allied to the Romans.
They eventually reached the centre of the camp, with the largest tent and various standards and flags planted around a square formed by walls of tents. As they approached they recognised Captain Ivanovich of SG-2, and another Captain they did not recognise, but one with the black shoulder patch of the technical corps.
"Sirs," Ilya greeted them, "is the Colonel inside?"
"He is." Captain Ivanovich confirmed, "but wait a moment, Konovalov has something to ask you."
Ilya turned to the other Captain. "Yes sir?"
"I work with the Command outside the base, and have been compiling a list of measures to improve matters. We have considered several measures to better prepare the men as they travel through the Gate, one of these is information packets, particularly regarding ancient cultures." Explained Konovalov.
"If I may Comrade-Captain," began Dimitri, "Comrade-Doctor Diakonoff has mentioned several times that the people we meet often have very different cultures that what he expects, he explained about these Romans, for example."
"Indeed." Nodded Konovalov, "He has gone into some detail regarding this. However, there have still been several unfortunate instances of cultural misunderstanding due to ignorance on our part. Like your own experiences on AP-54."
Dimitri grimaced, that had been deeply uncomfortable mission.
"What about security sir?" asked Ilya, "There's been a lot of talkā¦"
Konovalov smiled. "We will simply say to the people we employ for this project that we wish to educate schoolchildren regarding the cultures of previous civilisations. Marx himself made such analyses."
Dimitri almost shrugged, before he realised he shouldn't be so disrespectful to officers. "Then that would be very useful sir, even if to give us a basic understanding of who we're dealing with, who their gods are, and so on."
