Chapter 55 #2
"Today, we'll cover the fundamental principles of aerial combat doctrine," Kestrel said, changing to a projection that showcased a formation of dragons soaring between mountain peaks. "The Dragon Force employs five primary tactical approaches, each suited to specific scenarios and objectives."
She began detailing each approach: the Thunder Strike, a swift, overwhelming frontal assault; the Dragnet, an encirclement maneuver; the Shadow Glide, a stealth approach using terrain for cover; the Sunburst, a diversionary tactic using a dragon's flame to blind enemies; and the Tempest Scatter, a defensive dispersion pattern.
Each description was accompanied by a detailed projection showing the formation in action.
"The key to effective aerial tactics is understanding the unique capabilities of dragons.
They can hover for extended periods of time, change direction in an instant, and execute acrobatic maneuvers that can potentially leave their riders dizzy and disoriented or even unconscious.
" Kestrel swept her gaze over the cadets' faces.
"You will learn all about those maneuvers and how to avoid them unless there is no other choice.
Sometimes it's better to pass out and let your dragon bring you to safety than to worry about losing control.
You just need to remember to be strapped in properly, which is an entire class on its own. "
I thought about the way we had been flown to the Citadel and the straps that hadn't been adequate at all. Perhaps things were different when strapping in for battle.
"Dragons have limitations," Commander Kestrel said. "Despite their remarkable endurance, extended high-altitude operations can strain both dragon and rider. Additionally, while dragfire is devastating, it depletes quite rapidly and requires recovery time to regenerate."
This was new information to me. I'd always thought that dragon fire was as natural to dragons as breathing and, therefore, limitless as long as they were alive and well.
Apparently that was a misconception, and it was shared by most of Eluria's military strategists. I took note of this vulnerability.
"Now, let's discuss integration tactics.
" Kestrel shifted to a projection of a battlefield with both ground and air units.
"Even though dragons are solitary creatures and hunt alone, dragon riders almost never operate in isolation.
The smallest unit is a Flight, which includes five dragons and their riders.
Occasionally, a Flight will lose a rider and will only have four until a replacement can be trained.
Typically, you will be supporting ground forces, coordinating with other wings, or executing specific strategic objectives within a larger operation. "
She began outlining various integration scenarios, emphasizing the importance of communication, timing, and positional awareness.
The complexity of the operations she described impressed me.
They were far more sophisticated than anything I'd studied at Vedona, and I was sure that it went over the heads of most cadets attending the class.
I understood the tactic of giving them an overview first and then diving into the details, but she was overwhelming her students.
Commander Kestrel highlighted a mountain valley where ground troops were engaged with an enemy force. "Who can tell me what would be the optimal response from a squadron of five flights in this scenario?"
Several hands went up, and Commander Kestrel pointed to a cadet from the second pilgrimage group.
"Shadow Glide approach from the eastern ridge," the cadet suggested, "followed by a coordinated dragfire strike on the enemy's rear position."
"And why eastern rather than western?" Kestrel pressed.
The cadet hesitated, looking uncertain.
"Because the morning sun would be at our backs," I said without thinking.
"Go on." The instructor left me no choice but to continue.
"The sun will blind the enemy while giving us clear visibility." I ignored Codric's head shaking. "Additionally, the eastern ridge offers better cover for the initial approach, reducing the chance of early detection."
One of Kestrel's eyebrows lifted. "That's correct, Cadet...?"
"Alar Tekum, Commander."
"That was very good, Cadet Tekum. Have you had military training before?"
I hesitated, aware that I needed to be careful about revealing too much of my background, but I also felt obliged to respect these people's adherence to the Precepts of Truth. "I had basic training, Commander."
"Where did you receive this training?" she asked. "It's unusual for Elurians to have military education, and especially in aerial tactics."
"We obviously didn't study aerial tactics.
" I felt a cold sweat break out on my back.
This was dangerous territory. "Codric and I spent a few months attending the Vedona Academy, which is something young men of our class are encouraged to do.
I was intrigued by strategy and spent a lot of time in the library reading up on old battles.
" I offered her what I hoped was a charming smile.
"I have to admit that most of it was romanticized fiction, but the authors did a good job weaving real strategies into the narrative. "
My only lie was that fiction, romanticized or not, hadn't been most of the reading I'd done, just some of it.
The commander looked intrigued. "I would love to read some of those fictional accounts. If you provide me with a list of titles, I can request that the books be sent to me."
I only remembered one such novel, but I could scribble a few more plausible titles and warn her that my memory wasn't the best and I might have remembered wrong. I hated adding more lies to the list of those I'd already told, but it wasn't like I had a choice.
"Of course, Commander." I dipped my head. "It would be my pleasure."
Commander Kestrel nodded. "The Vedona Elite Academy has a reputation for excellence.
Your perspective may be valuable in our discussions even though your training was focused on ground operations.
" She turned back to address the class. "Diverse backgrounds can bring fresh insights into tactical planning. "
I released a breath, relieved that she had let it go for now.
"Let's continue with another scenario," Kestrel said, changing the image to show a new battlefield layout.
"A Shedun raiding party has been spotted approaching an Elucian village through this narrow valley.
You command a flight of five dragons, including your own.
How do you deploy them for maximum effectiveness? "
Again, hands went up around the room. This time, Kestrel called on Kailin.
"I would position one dragon at the valley entrance and one at the exit," she suggested.
"The other three would fly directly above the valley.
When the raiding party reaches the midpoint, the dragons at each end would unleash dragfire to create walls of flame, trapping the Shedun.
The overhead dragons would then target the trapped forces directly. "
Kestrel nodded approvingly. "That's a solid approach, Cadet Strom. The classic 'dragon's jaw' maneuver. However, there's a significant risk: if the Shedun are equipped with long-range projectile weapons, your dragons at the valley ends could be vulnerable during their approach."
"Then I would modify the approach," Kailin countered, surprising me with her confidence. "Have the dragons maintain altitude until the last possible moment, then execute a steep dive for the dragfire strike, using momentum to carry them back to a safe altitude immediately after."
A smile tugged at Kestrel's lips. "Very good. Adaptation is essential in tactical planning. No plan survives first contact with the enemy unchanged."
I was so proud of Kailin.
She might lack formal training, but she had a natural instinct for tactical considerations. It was a reminder not to underestimate her—or any of these Elucian cadets, for that matter. They had grown up in a harsh and hostile environment that fostered strategic thinking.
The lesson continued with Kestrel presenting increasingly complex scenarios, calling on various cadets to propose solutions, then dissecting the strengths and weaknesses of each approach.
I participated when called upon, careful to demonstrate knowledge consistent with basic training and some extracurricular reading, which wasn't difficult since everything about aerial battles was as new to me as it was to the other cadets.
Kailin seemed fully engaged in the lesson, occasionally whispering observations to Shovia or writing in her notebook. Whatever she had discussed with Commander Ravel, it didn't appear to be distracting her from her studies.
As the class neared its conclusion, Commander Kestrel presented us with a final scenario: a full-scale Shedun assault on an Elucian mountain fortress, with multiple attack vectors and diverse enemy forces.
"This is a complex operation that would typically involve all four wings of the Dragon Force," she explained. "We'll use it as an ongoing case study throughout your training, adding layers of complexity as you develop your tactical understanding."
She designated team leaders for small group discussions, instructing us to begin preliminary analysis of the scenario for our next session. To my surprise, she named me as one of the team leaders.
"Given your background, I'm interested to see your approach to this challenge," she said.
I nodded. "I hope my input will be helpful."
"I'm sure it will be."
As Commander Kestrel dismissed the class, cadets began clustering around their team leaders for brief introductions before departing. My team included three cadets from the first two pilgrimages and Morek from ours.
It worried me that Codric wasn't in my group. My cousin didn't always know when to keep his mouth shut.
Kailin had been assigned to a team led by a serious-looking cadet from one of the first pilgrimages. She caught me looking and gave a small wave, which I returned before turning my attention to my own group.
"Let's meet tomorrow during the midday break to begin working on our strategy," I suggested. "That will give everyone time to review the scenario details individually first."
As I watched Kailin heading for the door with Shovia, Codric walked over to me. "Lunch couldn't have come soon enough. I'm starving."
I rolled my eyes. "What else is new?"
"You having a lady friend?" He elbowed me. "Come on. We should hurry up and catch up to them so we can all sit together."
"Good idea." I followed him out of the classroom, not commenting on the lady friend remark.
In Eluria, calling a woman you were seeing a lady friend was considered one step before declaring an engagement, and given how deeply I cared about Kailin, Codric hadn't been wrong to call her that.
But the complicated truth was that a relationship between us would be built on a foundation of secrets and half-truths, which was hardly the basis for a meaningful and long-lasting partnership.