Alfhild decided to give the crew fifteen minutes.<br/><br/>Like most of her people, Alfhild wasn't heartless, but  still tough and straight-forward. She didn't want to compromise for the slower or more unwilling crew members, yet they would always be there. As long as they didn't drag the entire crew back, she was willing to spare them the kindness.<br/><br/>Walking briskly to the training room so as to catch the rush, Alfhild began to think about her training plan. As much as she loathed the idea, they would have to ease back into it. Every room save a few had technology that scanned those who entered and matched it to a database of the ship's inhabitants; a safety measure, but also a useful way of tracking those who actually kept to the physical regiment specified by the captain and her second-in-command to keep them prepared and sharp. Engineers, gunners, even Kole was meant to be battle-ready. It seemed that only half the crew had been going in every day. A sad number.<br/><br/>The training room door slid open for Alfhild, and she stepped over the threshold. Ragna was resting against the wall, nursing newly created bruises. She had been training more harshly than perhaps necessary. It was likely her personal idea of punishment for the diplomatic mix-up on Coren. Alfhild decided to let her be, and began clearing the open training room of equipment, leaving it bare except for the floor mats. she then went to one of the compartments that was flush with the wall and clicked it open, filling her arms with the round energy-shields within. The shields were highly portable and mid-weight, being a round disc with a band on the back to go around the hand. When activated, a large, blue, circular force-field emitted from the disc. It had a slight magnetic-like property, repelling things attempting to touch it. Alfhild placed these along the walls at intervals as people began to enter, along with a laser-edge sword.<br/><br/>It pleased Alfhild to see all of her crew's faces in one place. Of course, they had been at the galley plenty of times together, but in the leadership capacity, of her looking at them and each person standing at attention sent excited shivers down her spine. She noticed Kole rubbing his stomach sadly. Alfhild raised one thick eyebrow and relayed a quick message through sign language.<span style="font-style: italic">Enemies do not wait, not even for your cooking.</span><br/><br/>Thinking on sign language, Alfhild's eyes scanned the faces in front of her for Isa. She didn't see her. Did she not get the message? The captain remembered the first time they met fondly. She had been a scrappy stowaway, with the fierceness of someone healthy and well. She strongly refused modified training programs, and insisted on being treated like any other member of the crew, something Alfhild admired. Then, Alfhild saw Isa slink in, accompanied by the medic, Fiske. If she was accompanied by him...Alfhild decided not to pry, instead simply nodding to the pair. No stand-in robots for today.<br/><br/>"I think it's more what<span style="font-style: italic">you've</span>gotten yourself into, my medic," Alfhild guffawed, punching her fist into her palm and turning her focus towards the whole group. "Some of you haven't been doing your daily training in this-time of peace, and I think it's time we get back to being battle ready, whether it's required or not. To those of you who actually have been sticking to the regiment, I applaud you." The mixture of groans and cheers at the prospect of group training fueled Alfhild as she began walking to the wall. She picked up a shield and activated it deftly before walking back to the centre of the room.<br/><br/>"This," she said, pointing to the circular object, "is a shield." Her joking attitude put some of the more concerned members at ease. She thrust the shield forward. "We're returning to the basics,<span style="font-style: italic">vinr</span>. You all remember child drills?" Nostalgia filled the faces of the crew. Child drills was the name of the training regiment for to-be-warriors on The Village, and involved many simple techniques, such as understanding shield-wielding, sword-fighting, and hand-to-hand combat. "Well, I want you to grab a shield, and a partner. Face each other, and when you are ready, activate your shields and charge. The first to yield their ground, take a step out of their grid block, or fall, is the loser. If you've been training, this should be no problem for you. Go!" Alfhild took a step back, letting the crew choose partners and find places on the grid-designed floor. The noise in the room became loud with excitement and complaints.<span style="font-style: italic">Soft bastards,</span>Alfhild thought, her mind turning to the engine and Ber. If someone approached her, she would participate in the exercise. Otherwise, she would simply be a supervisor.