AMBESSA
As a General for Noxus and thus having led campaigns against known enemies and cities, Ambessa Medarda *knew well* the difference between armies and bands pretending to be armies. An advantage she took to a degree on her campaigns in southwestern Ionia.
An army was actually well organized, disciplined, and well equipped. While her very warband didn't look like much by appearance, making her initial assessment seem hypocritical, she knew looks were deceptive, as they were as well trained for shock combat and siege as the Fury Company or the Trifarians were. They were the best at what they did, not restrained by standardization or specific roles, deployed to where they were best suited instead of having to adapt to the conditions they were deployed into. This diversification and allocation was one of the several reasons why the Noxian military had such a strong dominion over a quarter of the northern side of Valoran.
Sadly, the assortment of Piltovan shock 'troopers', if one could call them that, the general was looking at the courtyard on the back of the Enforcer Academy, did look more like a band. Aside from the shields and batons they were carrying, there wasn't much change in uniform and the helmets and masks they were wearing. No additional armor plates on their shoulders or knees, nor armored vests or a sturdier helmet. They did look like some sort of city guard militia playing soldiers, and the posture, apart from the barely capable physique, clearly showed it.
Indeed a band pretending to be an army. One Ambessa had to whip into shape, post-haste, and absolutely no kid gloves - she couldn't afford it, not with the likes of Urgot.
"Clearly many of you were accustomed to your firearms and handling squalor-grown rabble behind blockades.", Ambessa started. "But this is no longer the case. Times have changed, and so you soft-hearted idealists *have* to. What you learn here, today, will mean the difference between you sleeping on your beds... or on a wooden box."
Ambessa walked forward, inspecting the formation of the hundred shock trooper enforcers before her. "And the first thing to learn is that shock combat isn't 'just block with your shield and then knock the other guy down'.", she started. "Call it ironic a Noxian stating this, but there is a... science... behind it. And some of you will be the test case for it. Four of you, step forward into a line, lock your shields."
A group of four enforcers, all together, did take steps forward into the open, taking position side-by-side into a spot Ambessa pointed, locking their shields into a wall instructed as a foursome of her Noxian escorts moved in. Ambessa nodded for these escorts to drop their lances.
"Let's see you try and hold them.", Ambessa said, as she then nodded to the Noxians whom flexed for a second, before they then charged the line, roaring at full ramming speed, all as the line of enforcers braced for impact, though they crouched and at least one did hesitate and looked down.
Upon impact, the other enforcers could see the line of four of their comrades buckling, losing balance and collapsing backwards after the Noxians threw themselves against the shields, making the attempt at resisting a rather pathetic display. The Noxians, however, didn't charge further or proceeded to a beat down, backing away as the downed enforcers picked themselves back up on their feet.
Ambessa herself was unimpressed, and walked back to the major group. "As you've noticed, a multitude of wrongs.", she said. "Name some of them."
"They didn't hold tight.", one enforcer replied.
"They hid under the shields?", another enforcer asked.
"They weren't ready for impact.", a third enforcer followed.
Ambessa raised her hand, to signal 'enough'. "They didn't have their feet locked to the ground.", she answered, a second later. "They didn't have a firm stance, they hesitated as they saw the charge and, as pointed, weren't ready for the impact. Shock combat is about your will against your enemy's, and if yours buckles, you and your fellow men are dead! A body is only as strong as it's mind. So is the same with a formation.", she then turned to the original enforcer group. "Lock your shields again.", she then returned to the major group. "Four more of you, step forward and join behind them, lock your shields too."
The original four did lock their shields as the Noxians returned to their positions as the new four joined up behind them, while Ambessa nodded to two other Noxian escorts to drop the spears and join the chargers. "Those in the front, lock your feet, hold your shield tight, and don't look down, let alone cower. Those in the back, your shields will block the strength of the push. The ones ahead count on you."
Ambessa nodded again to the Noxians and they charged forward as the new enforcer formation did hold their ground, heads high, but the breath racing. As the Noxians did run and charge again, roaring with all they had, the enforcers at the back held their shields firm as they absorbed the backwards push of their colleagues ahead of them. The Noxian impact, however, was the inverse of the first time, as the Noxians, thanks to the strength lended by the enforcers behind, bounced backwards and fell to the ground, this time.
The holding enforcers this time did roar in triumph, a roar that did spread to the major group. However, the roars of triumph did stir up the felled Noxians, as these rapidly went back on their feet and pounced the blocking enforcers again, getting them off guard and ensuring they tripped and fell again. The triumph roar immediately died out to make way for one of silence and even enraged glances, several enforcers wanting to break formation to give these red-scarfed, black-armored wearing barbarians a good one.
Ambessa, whom watched all of this, simply nodded to the Noxians to pull off and rejoin their escorting comrades, picking up their spears again. "Back in line, 'enforcers'.", she ordered the enforcers, whom also did so, in spite of the groans and stares of shock and anger. The general herself then returned to face the main shock trooper group. "Let this be a lesson about letting your guard down. The enemy you'll engage surely won't. And they won't go only all ramming, either, and you surely won't be just blocking all day.", she then pointed at one of the enforcers. "You, forward."
The enforcer did step forward into a position pointed by Ambessa as she headed to pick up a shield and baton from a pile of such that remained after the enforcers got theirs. Ambessa then went ahead a distance from the lone shock trooper, facing him.
"Strike.", the Noxian General ordered.
While not charging, the enforcer did advance forward, shield in hand, taking a battle stance, hesitating for a couple of seconds. The enforcer did attempt a sudden move, raising his baton to bash her down, but Ambessa was faster and struck the baton in a lunge as if it were a blade, hitting the enforcer's diafragm, whom was stopped by the sudden shock and pain. Ambessa, however, used the momentum to bash her shield at the enforcer and then quickly gather her baton and perform a right swipe, hitting the enforcer's helmet and mask with such a violence the mask was ripped off and he fell to the ground. The rest of the shock trooper enforcers remained silent.
"Back in line.", Ambessa ordered, and the enforcer did so, leaving so much the mask as the injured pride, returning to the main group. She returned before them as well, noticing the faces and the somewhat broken, a bit nervous composure, no doubt fearing another one amongst them will be next. She stared at them for a couple of seconds, expecting that any of them would open their mouth, but they didn't.
She rolled her eyes. Typical. "His wrongs.", she shrugged.
"He took too long to strike.", an enforcer readily answered, a second later.
"He shouted, announced his attack.", another enforcer followed.
"He raised his baton too high.", a third enforcer answered.
Ambessa pointed the baton at that answering enforcer, and then lowered it, facing the others. "What that one did is what we call a heavy attack.", she said. "And now you've a hint of when someone is untrained, and that is when he tries opening with it. The baton isn't simply for beating down as much as the shield isn't simply for defending. A quick lunge, not even meant to hit or pierce, has it's use, and that is to break your enemy's guard. A lunge, a punch, a kick, a bash of your shield, a simple push, what matters is that you leave your opponent vulnerable and open for the couple of seconds needed to *then* strike him down. Shock combat requires body muscle, but uses only one all the time. And you of Piltover know it *too well*."
Ambessa stepped back a bit to face the formation.
"But it's not only strength or the right move.", she continued. "A wolf can bite hard and rip someone's throat, but the fox is still the faster. Too much strength, and you'll still be too slow to hit, too much faster and your blows will mean nothing. Thus, you must train your bodies as much as your minds. *This* will be your actual training.", she then turned to her escorts. "Step forward!", she ordered, as the Noxians did put down their halberds and headed to pick up shields and batons from the pile.
Ambessa turned to the enforcers. "Groups of twenty, each.", she started, gesturing at her escorts. "Pick one of them, spar for five minutes. Those whom make it past my best will be noted. Begin."
Ambessa walked off, dropping her shield and baton as the enforcers, did separate to twenty each, as those stepping in moved in on separate areas to start their 'spar' with the Noxian guardsman. Sounds of batons hitting shields, metal clashing on metal, started to sound by the courtyard and Ambessa kept a close look, inspecting the duels.
Within the academy building itself, Jayce and Camille stood by the commander's office's window, overlooking the entire training taking place, a small imperceptible smirk on the Warden-Marshall's face. Jayce, on his end, was only surprised that she'd still have the strength for it after she and her crew did spend hours on the workshop, making the shields and batons. Apparently he did indeed underestimate what was always told of Noxian strength, as well as the notions of clear teamwork she and her escorts had.
"She didn't start it bad...", Jayce started.
"Indeed, she hasn't.", Camille followed. "You have done well, Councillor."
"Doubt it.", Jayce replied. "I think the fact she learned of this Urgot and how seriously connected is this name to her home is likely what did the trick."
"Regardless if it was all the way or merely a single inch.", Camille replied, glancing at him. "A push is a push, mister Talis."
Jayce nodded, stepping a bit away from the window, within the rather classic commander's office, which even had an ornate desk and chairs, a bookshelf, a crest of the city of Piltover in the wall as well as frames with both commendations, graduation certificates and one dedicated with medals and awards. The floor itself had a color-rich tapestry as well - Shuriman designs, if Jayce remembered correctly.
The Councillor then turned around to face Camille. "I need to admit something, Warden-Marshall.", he started, to Camille's back as she kept on watching Ambessa's training of the enforcers below. "After the briefing, seeing those schematics for that Urgot... I really thought we had seen the worst from what Silco had. But now, it did make me rethink on my previous decision to grant the Undercity it's independence..."
"That was the product of combat shock, Councillor.", Camille replied, a second later. "Any of the others, in your place, certainly would've done the same or retreated to their homes. Aside from this, it was indeed an act of irresponsible haste, for all the variables considered."
"And to think I was afraid, but not for them, but for us, for what we could unleash.", Jayce said.
"Again, combat shock that spoke for you.", Camille stated, matter-of-factly. "As an Intelligencer that I am... or *was* before, it is intelligence to measure the strength you dispense. We wouldn't just unleash Hextech as callously as you or Councillor Medarda so irrationally feared. It would draw outside attention, even unnecessary intervention."
"I even got to the point of admitting the Council we failed the Undercity...", Jayce said, a second later.
"Now *that* we both can agree on.", Camille raised her index finger, and then turned around to face him. "Except for the different manner which we failed it. Where we once had a tight leash, we had loosened it for the past near-decade, allowing the current infection to thrive, infest and finally burst it's virulence now, all while we distracted ourselves with the wonder of Hextech, as well as being made numb by Heimerdinger's hollow rhetoric. On a personal note, even if for a... too personal a reason for a Councillor, you had indeed done the right thing casting him away, before. As you did well put it, this city needed a lot more than mere speeches."
"And now you brought him back.", Jayce nodded. "Weren't for what's going on right now, some would call that hilarious."
"The machine was damaged before we could arrange new spare parts.", Camille said. "What could I do, but make due? Regardless, we are diverging from the point, here. And the point is, independence is something to not be taken as callously. It is reliant on a too great number of factors, several of which aren't even dependent on Piltover, but rather on the fissurefolk themselves. Much alike the child whom *thinks* is ready to take on the world by him or herself but *actually* is not, except this is on a wide, geopolitical scale. Based on this, do you truly believe they are prepared for such a responsibility?"
Jayce waited for a couple of seconds as his eyes darted away, thinking on it. "If I said yes, I'd be lying to you.", he said. "But if I said no, I'd maybe be lying to myself."
"Then you'd best acquire more information, so you can make your opinion final and absolute.", Camille deadpanned. "But if you do decide at the course you intend to, we can revisit the whole matter at the next Council summit."
"Revisit?", Jayce asked, incredulous. "It was unanimous, they all raised their hands before the strike."
"But wasn't *formally* concluded.", Camille said. "Which would make the next summit practically the same summit that was disrupted. Hence, you still have time to think. Are they indeed ready to move on their own? Is independence what they really need, or just merely want, like any pouty child would?"
The Warden-Marshall walked towards Jayce and stood besides him, without touching him.
"For what parent ever leaves their spawn on such *savage* a world, with no preparation, whatsoever?", she asked, before she walked and left, leaving Jayce alone on his thoughts.
