Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ but it would be a lot cooler if I did...

AN: Our adventures continue. I'm glad to be actively working on this again. It feels good to continue this one. I had ambitious goals for this tale. However we'll see how things shake out in the end. Feel free to leave a comment or email me on this you like or don't.

Kakarot whistled to himself in the afternoon sun. He was in the trench line like everyone else as far as he could see. He knew they did not go one forever. The army was surrounding the city. So it sent on for miles and curved around the city.

Turles's mercenary company had been assigned the area in front of the main road in the city. It was pretty scenic. At least they were closed to shore. Kakarot felt sorry for those on the back half of the city with nothing but woods and hills to look at all day. Plus supplies trickled pretty easily into camp with the road being so close.

Kakarot leaned on his shovel a bit. His part of the trench happened to be right beside the road. It was an impressive structure. It was the old imperial highway that was built during the time of the Tiberian Empire. Even after thousands of years, it still held up. The modern builders wish they could make something half as well.

He looked over at the serene view at the coast. It was a pretty day. The sun was shining brightly, the deep blue waters of the oceans crashed along the sandy shore. Luckily the coast was nice and sandy and not rocky. Digging through rock would have been tricky.

As it so happened, the soil he was digging through was nice, soft and black. Each time he put his shovel in the ground it moved quite easily. It was simply a matter of technique. He looked over to see Vegeta and Adrestia struggling. As fit as they may be, digging can easily wear you out if you've never done it. He doubted either one ever did this sort of manual labor.

A nice and cool salty breeze washed over them. Kakarot closed his eyes to enjoy the sweet scent. He had grown to love the coast in his time here. He started to whistle a nice work song as he went back at it.

Vegeta threw down his shovel in frustration and grumbled, "Damn it! I don't know why we are doing this."

"Surely a learned man such as yourself has heard of the term digging in? What did you think it meant?" Jenounes asked him with a smile.

"I…well…" Vegeta struggled to find his words. "I've never actually dug before."

"Me either," Adrestia admitted as she wiped the sweat off her brow.

"It doesn't surprise me that you have never dug. It's not generally work nobles do" Jenounes pointed out. "You have the money to hire someone to do it for you."
"Serve in an army long enough though, and you'll end up doing all sorts of jobs you've never done," Biorr mentioned casually.

Vegeta paled a little at that. His hands were calloused enough from sword practice that the work didn't bother him. However his muscles began to cry out. His throat was parched. He little his wine skin to his lips and took a deep drink of water. It felt good, nice and cool.

"Cheer up Vegeta, at least we're not on latrine duty," Jenounes mentioned.

"Thank god for that," Adrestia agreed with the man.

She had a hard enough time doing her own business without the others watching. She really didn't want to think about cleaning up after these men or any others like that. The things they eat and the smells that come out of them. She would be sure that neither she nor Iustitia was ever placed on those duties.

A smiled crossed her face as she thought of Vegeta doing more chores. For some reason that made her happy. The prince doing common housework. The court would be in a riot if they knew. Too bad there wasn't a scribe or some other court official here to witness it. No one would believe her back home.

"What so funny?" Vegeta asked her a little confused.

"Oh nothing, something odd just came to mind is all," Adrestia assured him.

Vegeta looked at her square in the eyes. A smile tugged at her lips as she struggled to keep a straight face. She was definitely up to something. Damn the minx was trouble sometimes. Still he was always glad she was there with them.

"Come one guys, just a few more feet and we're done," Kakarot pointed out as he lifted his shovel up and down.

Vegeta gave him a death and relented, "Fine."

"We should sing a song," Kakarot mentioned to no one in particular.

Vegeta rolled his eyes and muttered, "Why?"

"Because it's fun," Kakarot mentioned.

"I do like singing," Adrestia agreed with a toothy grin.

Vegeta thought about it. Adrestia was famous for singing. Her whole family was practically famous for it. Her mother in particular was quite a famous singer and dancer. Some traits were passed along to her daughters along the way.

Kakarot on the other hand, well singing wasn't one of his talents. He supposed the boy could carry a tune as well as anyone else. It irritated him to hear the man sing for some reason. So it was a problem.

"No singing," Vegeta concluded after his pause.

"You're no fun," Adrestia teased him and stuck out her tongue like a child.

The prince was annoyed and chose not to respond. He knew the others were watching him closely though. He needed to save face somehow. However giving to her teasing always seemed to backfire on him, Adrestia was as crafty as his mother sometimes.

"Just get back to work," He told her.

0-0-0

Turles joined the Vegeta Squad for drinks tonight. He liked to make rounds to all his squads one at a time. It was just something he picked as a mercenary all his life. A captain needed to be seen by the men. If he didn't show himself too often the men might get the idea that he thought that he was too good for them. The reality was a mercenary captain, while technically an officer, was treated no better than them in the eyes of household troops everywhere.

All those high and mighty men who worked directly for a lord might never had seen an actual battle in their lives. All they might have had to do was fend off a few bandits, or capture the off thief or two. Yet this men still thought they were better than battle hardened professional mercenaries. To Turles his men were worth more on the field of battle than the high and mighty household guards. At they had seen actual was for what it was.

Turles looked around the table at all the members of the squad assembled. They were all laughed and cajoled each other. The women were singing amongst themselves. Vegeta and Kakarot traded stories and drinks with Jenounes and Biorr. They had become closer than Turles could have ever hoped.

The Vegeta Squad was quickly becoming one of his favorites. Not just because of his two champions he sent in either. For the most part they did quick and efficient work. Their fighting skills were better than he could have hoped for. Considering most rich brats barely know how to fight at all.

Turles caught a glimpse of Adrestia's enchanting smile. Then there was her. Her cheerful song filled the air with a melodious voice. He was drawn to her. Something about her just excited him on a primal level. It was pretty obvious why Vegeta kept her around, though they didn't seem to be a couple.

He had to remind himself of her age. She must have been maybe eighteen. She was just a girl really. However in she was in the prime of your youth. Perhaps there was something to nobles and their insistence on bloodlines. This woman before him was proof that of that. He bet she had a beautiful mother. Marry enough beautiful women into your family and eventually you get Adrestia. He was still a bit jealous that she spent so much time Vegeta and not him.

Vegeta turned to him and asked, "Ever think of making a banner?"

Turles raised a brow and wondered, "What for?"

"All proper units have banners," Vegeta informed him.

"We are hardly a proper military unit," Turles reminded him with a wink.

This made Jenounes and Biorr smile. They knew what he meant. They had far more freedom than those foot marching troops. Turles didn't really want to take that away from them. Any man was free to come and go in between missions. Most chose to stay and live the nomadic lifestyle.

"You could be, unless you want to continue being paid like expendable bandits," Vegeta suggested in all seriousness.

Turles was curious now. He knew that Vegeta had put his squad through morning drills. He had seen them before from regular units in armies. Other mercenary companies occasionally had banners too. At its current level, Turles didn't bother with such things. Though that didn't mean he wasn't curious. Maybe he should indulge Vegeta on this.

"What did you have in mind?" Turles asked him with a raised brow.

"It's your company you get to name them and choose their banner," Vegeta remarked. "Whatever you choose should say something about who you are and what you do."

"How about a fist?" Jenounes offered with a grin.

"A fist I like it, we kick the shit out of people," Turles agreed with a hint of malice.

"Wouldn't that be a boot?" Adrestia pointed out with sly grin.

"Right, well we beat the shit out of them then," Turles corrected.

"It's straight and to the point. I like it," Biorr commented in agreement.

"What about animals? Lots of banners have animals," Iustitia offered with a shy look.

Turles hadn't considered that. Many overly proud nobles claim to be the animals on their crest. Or embody the spirit of them at least. Still there was merit into getting men to act like beasts in combat. What kind of beast should he go with?

It had to be something that caused men's hearts to swell. It also needed to strike fear in enemies. It would also give him some glee to snub his nose at nobles. Then it came to him.

"We'll be lions," Turles proclaimed. "They are proud, strong, and hunt in groups to take down prey."

Jenounes and Biorr both grinned at the thought. So many nobles thought themselves lions. They had no idea who the true lions of the world were. The Turles Company would teach them. Real lions earned their way in the world through sword and steel.

"What are do you think of colors?" Kakarot mentioned curiously.

"We should have a red one I always liked red banners," Turles said as he drank.

"Well then the lion has to be different color that you can easily see on red," Adrestia suggested tactfully. "How about gold?"

"Nah, every minor whoreson who thinks he's great chooses a golden lion," Vegeta pointed out.

"I think silver," Turles chose heartily. "I always liked getting paid in silver."

Laughter erupted from the other two mercenary veterans. The lords and ladies seemed a bit puzzled but smiled along anyway. They knew that Turles had longer and deeper bonds with these men than they did. Surely they had private jokes as well.

"It's easily distinguishable on a red banner and can be made out from far away," Vegeta admitted as he raised his glass.

All the others joined in his toast. Though they might have been having a laugh at his expense, Turles sensed they were not. They were quite sincere. Perhaps this was a turning point for them all. He could forge a legend of his own.

Vegeta proclaimed with vigor, "To the Silver Lion Captain Turles!"

"To Turles!" They all repeated and drank together.

Thus was the birth of the Silver Lion Company. They were birthed from a night of drinking by a lordling squad. It's captain the bastard son of a nameless warrior. Yet on the battlefield there are no limits to how high they can rise.

0-0-0

Iustitia greeted the dawn with a ready smile. The gulls cried along the shore. The soft sand crushed beneath her feet. She gripped her practice sword tight as she approached the others.

They were already undergoing morning exercises. Something that she had not done for a while her shoulder was injured. At least not to the extent the others had. She felt like she was falling behind. Or at least that she'd never catch up to them. They were all so much better than her.

It had been months since the ship battle she had taken part in. She had missed the chance at fighting with the rest of them in the last pitched battle. It had greatly disappointed her. The rest of her squad achieved great success and were greatly celebrated.

She wished more than anything to be able to prove herself to them. She especially wanted the approval of Adrestia. The more time she spent with her, the more she felt like a sister to her. Not that she wanted to replace Nerine. However there was something about her she was drawn.

When she was little Iustitia's mother read her stories of the Great Mother and her beautiful warrior daughters who fought the demons of chaos. Each artist depicted them slightly differently; however they all shared similar traits. They were beautiful, fierce, and graceful. To Iustitia they all looked like Adrestia.

She didn't know how her sister felt around Lady Adrestia. However Iustitia would do anything to be just a little bit like her. She looked down at her growing body. She let out a sigh. She would likely favor her sister and mother's more slender body type. So the shapely curves were out for her. However if she practiced hard enough, perhaps she could gain just as much prowess in battle.

The others stopped training as soon as she came up on them. Each bore a different look of approval. Adrestia was the first to walk out to her. The morning sun reflected the light sheen on her skin making her appear to glow.

"Welcome my squire," Adrestia said to her. "Are you sure you are ready?"

"Of course my lady," was her reply.

Iustitia lifted the training blade and got into her stance. It was three times heavier than the normal combat weight. It was designed to build muscle and prepare the body for battle. At first she could barely lift one for more than a few minutes. However after pushing herself to the limits during her time with the squad, she was able to do that and so much more.

She raised blade high above her head to show she had no more pain. After she could make out their grins in her periphery she began her routine. It was part dance, part fighting kata, and all deadly. Her whole body spun in graceful arcs as she slashed invisible opponents and dodged mighty blows. She took one final strike as she thrust the blade forward and held her hand back for balance.

Applause greeted her as she looked at the squad. It filled her heart with joy. She had taken an important step. She was not where she wanted to be yet, but every little bit helps. She was practically giddy as the prince himself walked up to her. She nearly squealed when he looked at her in the eye.

"Not bad where did you learn that?" He asked her simply.

"It is a combination of the arts I learned from Lady Adrestia and my own family fighting style," Iustitia admitted with a slight blush.

"I can tell you almost looked like a combination of your sister and our own mighty Saiyaness here," He commented. "Keep it up. You'll forge your own path soon enough."

Vegeta left her to think about his words. The prince actually complimented her! She was unsure what that meant just yet. She could never completely forget who he was like the rest of them could. But his words meant a lot to her. Nerine I hope you are watching. I am trying my best to make you proud, she thought.

0-0-0

Vegeta walked towards the command tent at the center of the encampment. At least this is what passed for a command tent among these men. There were no banners or guards to denote where Turles slept. Just a slightly larger faded white tent that he knew held a table and a map.

He opened the flap to find Turles inside. He was eating his food with a map taking up the borders of the table. Ugh it distressed Vegeta how little discipline these men had some times. Despite their grit in battle, they would be so much more efficient if they got a little discipline from time to time.

He sighed and walked up to a slightly surprised Turles. He was bored. They had been here for months now. The army had done nothing. No battles, no climbing the walls, not even exchanged arrow fire. They were just waiting and he had to know why.

Biorr and Jenounes had tried to reassure him that this was all normal. But he was a man of action. They did nothing while their enemy simply waited behind their walls. They had plenty of men and equipment. Surely they didn't need more to claim victory.

"Why have you come here? I did not send for you," Turles informed him as he drank from his cup.

"Why do we do nothing?" Vegeta asked bluntly.

"Why?" Turles repeated with a hint of sneer. "Because my lord that is what a siege is."

"We have all that we need to take the city," Vegeta pointed out. "Why not use it?"

Turles sighed and stopped eating, "Because the assault you speak of is a waste of men and material, not to mention money."

"But this is war!" Vegeta insisted a little confused.

"Yes and in war, the one who has the most men, material and money left standing wins," Turles explained with a wave of his hand. "A siege means waiting out the enemy, starving him into submission. What you propose might be heroic, but it could cost a country both the war and its army in a single day. This is the best way to preserve your own power and weaken the enemy."

Vegeta remained silent. His own tutors often advised much the same. However being here at the front changed things. He longed for the day he could do battle with his squad again. That one glorious day on the field hadn't been nearly enough. He needed more.

He could however admit that what Turles said had made sense. Why risk everything on an all-out assault when they could just wait? With enough time the city would fall. Once their food stores run out anyway, and no one knew when that could be.

"Vegeta I know this is hard, but you are not a senior commander here. You are not a lord. You are just one of my squad leaders," Turles reminded him. "So back to your squad, train with them or whatever it is you all do together. And wait for further orders."

"Yes…Captain," Vegeta relented and turned to walk out.

"Oh and Vegeta," Turles called out behind him. "Try to find other distractions. I recommend wine and women. It's a good combination."