ME: This chapter will be a break from going over Gale's sins. Both sides in Panem are gearing up for war now, and it will show. A/N: This will take place from Enobaria's perspective in the past.
First Lieutenant Enobaria Domitius and her platoon now had a mission; instruct the Warrior Academy of District Two Cadets via a very special lesson.
Dressed in their new combat uniforms-which, according to Major Flavius, were exclusive to the Capitol Garrison and Praetorian Guard, both of which (but the Guard in particular given it's purpose of protecting the President) had priority over the District Garrisons-the troops marched to their APCs.
Enobaria now had her second-in-command Laura Fisher for a roommate, and since being assigned to each other the two had quickly become friends.
Laura was from District Four (which could be discerned via her worn-down accent and surname); more specifically, she was the Mayor's daughter. Her older brother was a Victor who was now married to his childhood sweetheart. She was, naturally, a talented swimmer. Growing up in a Career District she had trained to be a competent swordswoman and was an ace with crossbows, the latter of which had prepared her for firearms usage (only District Two citizens were allowed to have firearms, and even then they only had bolt-action hunting rifles). She had always wanted to be a Peacekeeper, and had joined the day she finished school.
Gripping her helmet, Enobaria walked into the auditorium with Laura on her tail.
"Morning, Cadets," she announced. "I am First Lieutenant Enobaria Domitius. This is my Assistant Platoon Commander Second Lieutenant Laura Fisher. We are Peacekeepers, the defenders of security, order and prosperity in Panem. Today we will be giving you a demonstration on what is used to, no pun intended, keep the peace."
She gestured to Laura, who picked up a pistol. "This handgun is the standard sidearm of the Peacekeepers. Firing a five-point-seven-by-twenty-eight cartridge, it is recommended for officers and NCOs as well as those in noncombat positions such as pilots and engineers, among others. It only weighs one-point-six pounds loaded-it may as well be a paperweight."
Enobaria then grabbed a different firearm. "This is the personal defense weapon/submachine gun, which uses the same cartridge the pistol does. It has three settings; safe, semi-auto and full-auto. It has a fifty-round magazine loaded horizontally-which, admittedly, is somewhat difficult to learn to do. It is more than adequate for riot control, but up against serious rebels official policy is to use a third solution."
Laura held up an assault rifle and spoke. "What you're looking at, boys and girls, is a five-point-fifty-six-by-forty-five millimeter weapon. This is an assault rifle, a weapon of peacemaking rather than peacekeeping considering the fact that this rifle is designed with the intent of taking down armored rebels. This weapon is a descendant of the design that drove District Thirteen's troops back to their wretched hive before it was annihilated."
"Final ranged weapon we're discussing," said Enobaria, grabbing a SAW/LMG. "This is a squad automatic weapon or light machine gun, a five-point-fifty-six like the assault rifle. What this ten-pound firearm gives the Peacekeepers is every squad a source of automatic firepower. It won't knock down trees but it'll definitely cut down rebels." She then laughed at the idea of Mockingjay rebels being cut down as though they were plants, while some laughed with her, either willingly or out of pressure.
"Now for close quarters." She withdrew her sword from the scabbard on her left. "This is the Gladius, the primary weapon of the legionaries, the foot soldiers of a pre-Panem civilization known as the Romans. These weight at most two-point-two pounds and are less than three feet in length. Historians continue to debate why these weapons are so light, but given their practicality and ease of production I say it's because it's a weapon of war that worked and still works."
Laura took over by grabbing a baton. "This bludgeon here is a rapid containment baton. You can either expand it for combat or collapse it for carry. Very good at keeping uppity men in their place, ladies."
Some of the female Cadets laughed, while their male colleagues covered their groins in horror.
Enobaria indicated a knife. "This is pretty self-explanatory." Grabbing a stun baton, she activated it and test fired it into the air. "Three to five seconds of this will daze and temporarily paralyze your target."
"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your attention. If any of you need a job post-graduation, the rebels seem to be intent on forcing Panem to expand her armed forces. That is all."
ME: This is just a temporary break from Gale getting browbeaten. More of that will come soon enough. A/N: The pistol is the FN 5.7 (or it's equivalent), the PDW is the FN P90, the rifle is the FN F2000 and the LMG/SAW is the Stoner LMG.