Work Text:
Rex leans his back against the durasteel wall, arms folded as he watches the new recruits being put through their paces in the training room. They've recently picked up a new batch from Kamino, plus the two Cody and him fought over keeping from Rishi Station. He smiles to himself, Cody had no chance in keeping them. Rex had deployed his best vod’ika tooka-eyes on his ori'vod and watched him crumble in defeat with immense joy.
The 501st typically gets the vode that aren't in whole batches. Those who lost parts of their batches during training, whether due to training accidents, injuries, or decommissionings. The rest of the GAR like their new recruits in whole squads, to ensure team cohesion and skill as they were trained to be. Medics tend to be the only exception and often have their batches spread across battalions. This makes the 501st surprisingly different in comparison to other battalions as to how it behaves and suits Rex’s own circumstances.
Lieutenant Jesse is running today's session of simulations, and Rex chuckles to himself as he watches Jesse sulk. His Scout excels at his leadership position, but will absolutely dig his heels in and grumble about it the entire time. He hates responsibility and that's part of the reason why he's so good at it. Plus Rex likes to wind up his second whenever he gets the chance. It's even better when Jesse knows it.
Jesse throws him a dark look from where he's standing watching the vode discussing their strategies for the next simulation. Rex nods in return, the barest smile on his face. Jesse's scowl deepens for a moment in response and then he focuses back on his new recruits - where one group has started bickering.
Attie looks about three seconds away from punting the vode in his group out the airlock, his eyes skyward in exasperation.
“Look. These are the tactics that are tried and tested in the 501st.”
Nax agrees, backing his vod up. The rest of the shinies also seem to agree, so Rex can't understand why this group has been bickering.
“But it could be better if we tried his suggestion,” one shiny retorts, gesturing at the vod standing at his shoulder as he does so.
Except these two aren't looking quite so shiny as their counterparts, the whiteness of their armour slightly dulled and scuffed but not yet painted 501st blue. Their backs are to Rex but he knows who these two are.
“Alright, fine. Just this once,” Attie acquiesces with a slight huff, jamming his helmet back on.
The outspoken vod knocks his shoulder with his vod and they both pop on their own helmets. The squad takes up the ready position, Attie at the lead, Nax being the tail-end Charlie. The simulator light turns green and away they go, Rex watching on curiously. The changes to the usual tactics are subtle but surprisingly effective.
When they complete the simulation, Rex notes that they've completed all of the objectives at a record speed with no loss or injury to the squad. Attie and Nax look at the results then at each other, whipping off their helmets and shock evident in their body language. Jesse, noticing that the squad is finished, wanders over, and does a double-take at the results on the screen.
The two scuffed vode quietly give each other a little shoulder bump in triumph as the rest of the squad chatter happily amongst themselves.
The rest of the training session continues in much the same manner. All squads do a fantastic job with the simulations Rex notes with pride, with Jesse and his interspersed veterans ironing out 501st tactics as the session progresses.
However, Attie’s squad are consistently on top, the tweaks becoming more distinct from the rest of the squads as the session continues. Each time the strategy stage occurs, Rex notices with a smile that the squad turn almost immediately to the slightly scuffed vod with a blue handprint on his chest, proudly supported by the other scuffed vod with a small eel on his helmet at his side.