Hey all! Sorry for my lack of activity for pretty much a year at this point, I ended up having a lot going on in my life and wasn't able to be progressing this story. I also had a computer crash and I wasn't able to get word until about a month ago. However, I am still comittied to continuing the story of the 3rd and have no plans to change that. I have the next chapter in the works already as well so hopefully that should be up soon. Otherwise, enjoy and sorry for the wait!

CHAPTER 5: The Long Road

March 31st, 4 Months before the Undampening

Fort Keller, 28 Miles from Pewter City

After the first lap around the fort the pace had significantly fallen and several cadets were starting to lag behind. Noble slowed the pace to allow them to catch up to the rest of the group, but it was a losing battle. As the second lap carried on the laughter and joking that had been present the first lap began to fade away, leaving only the sound of panting and the rhythmic marching of boots on the hard soil.

Jenifer notices that Matt is slowly falling behind even at the slowed pace. She looks over at him a little concerned, "Matt, you still with us?"

"Me, oh yea!" he says panting heavily, "I could do this all night…"

"Well good." Jenifer says, "I would hate to see you get outrun by a pair of girls" she says motioning to her and Joy. Matt flashes a weak smile, "I wouldn't count on that one Keylan." As the second lap ends and the third begins many cadets are now in a similar state to Matt and their formation, once a neat set of four lines, is starting to look like a blob again. Halfway through the third lap the company is just a spread-out mess as cadets are falling yards behind one another. In the front Noble looks behind concerned, slowing her pace once more to try and give the Company a little bit of a reprieve. By the time the fourth lap begins their pace had been slowed to a crawl and even the most athletic cadets were beginning to slow down. Jenifer, Joy, and Matt had all begin to slowly move backwards in the group as Joy and Jenifer matched Matt's pace.

When they were halfway through the fourth lap Matt had dropped to the last person in the group, sweating profusely and panting heavily. "We need to slow down." Joy says, "Matt can't continue like this."

Looking at the heavyset guy Jenifer nods, "Matt, we are going to match your pace OK? We'll stay with you even if that means getting separated from the rest of the group."

Matt shakes his head, "No….you guys….go ahead…." He says between gasps, "I don't….want you…..getting in trouble….."

Joy shrugs, "As a medical cadet I have no choice but to assist any cadet I feel could need medical assistance" Joy looks over at Jenifer, "Besides, I may need a hand from a fellow Cadet."

Jenifer wearily grins, "Hear that big guy? We are here to stay."

"Who you….calling…big?" Matt says, "I may not…weight anything…. after this…."

As the trio begin to lag behind the rest of the Company begins to get farther and farther ahead of them, by the time the fifth lap starts they are out of sight. By this time, it was nearly 4 in the morning and not only was the physical exhaustion beginning to affect Jenifer, but the lack of sleep was causing her to slow down. As the three come around the corner near the fence again for the final lap Jenifer hears another pair of boots behind them and glances over her shoulder. An older man comes up from behind her in a grey running uniform and matches her pace. He looks at the trio and smiles, "Morning cadets."

Surprised Jenifer looks over, "Um….good morning sir." The man had no markings on his vest but his military haircut showed that he was in the army. "I don't believe we have met yet sir."

"Nope." The man says still jogging alongside them.

"Can I ask who you are sir?"

"Call me a friend for now." The man says, "Besides, I think you need to be worried more about your fellow cadet then me right now."

Looking back at Matt she knew he was right, Matt was barley moving now, it was more of a brisk slow walk then a run. She slows down again, "Matt, if we need to take a break just say it."

"No," He says grunting, "If I stop I won't be able to start again, besides this is the home stretch…. I'll make it."

"Could always just let him be." The man in the running outfit says, "After all you just met the guy, you don't owe him anything."

Jenifer looks back at the man before Joy or Matt can say anything, "No way! I may not owe him anything, but no one should be left behind on their own. How could you even suggest that? We're soldiers, we must look out for one another. Otherwise how can we look out for the people we are protecting?"

"Is that so?" The man says. He says nothing more as he picks up his pace and runs past them. Jenifer looks at Joy, "Who was that?"

Joy shrugs, "No idea."

The trio press onward and make the final lap around the base. As they come around the final turn and the parking lot comes into view they can see the rest of Echo Company standing in formation, though that's not what worries Jenifer. It was Sergeant Packer who was waiting for them in the front of the formation. She turns and looks at Joy nervously as they come back onto the pavement. As they slow and continue toward the formation Packer walks toward them and yells, "Cadets, HALT!"

Joy, Jenifer, and Matt and stop and stand rigidly at attention the best they could, Matt swaying back and forth just trying to stay upright. Packer walks over with a scowl, "Why the fuck are you not with your company Cadets?"

"It's my fault Sergeant." Matt says before either of the girls can interject, "I slowed them down and they wouldn't leave me behind."

"Is that so?" Packer says looking at Matt. He glances toward Jenifer, "Cadet Keylan, can you tell me why the hell you are running with Cadet Horace? Were you just too lazy to run with the rest of your Company?"

Holding back her anger she gritted her teeth ignoring the comment, "No Sargent, I simply refuse to leave someone behind who I have the ability to help."

"Oh help huh?" Packer says getting mere inches from her face, "And how the hell did you help him? All I see is three Cadets who are late, two of which who had no reason to be and the last who is not fit enough to be in this army."

Upon hearing that, Matt's shoulder sunk and he lowered his head. That was the last straw for Jenifer, "Respectfully, Sergeant, you have no idea what you are talking about."

In an instant all of the noise in the parking lot stopped as the cadets looked at Jenifer, many with their jaws dropped. Packer freezes in place and slowly looks at Jenifer enraged, "Excuse me Cadet. What the FUCK did you just say?"

"You have no idea what you are talking about Sergeant." Jenifer repeats, causing a few more cadets to drop their jaws. "Cadet Horace may be a bit out of shape, even a bit outside of regulations, but he finished sir. The rest of us may have did our run and completed it, but he poured every ounce of himself into this." She looks at the Sargent, meeting his icy gaze, "If this Cadet who put everything he had into this run is not considered a proper cadet within this army, then I don't think any of us deserve to wear this uniform."

The Sergeant said nothing, he only stared back at Jenifer with a gaze that would have petrified a Tyranitar. After a few moments of tense silence Packer leans forward, "Latrine duty for the next month, all three of you. Now get the fuck out of my sight before I decide to throw you out of my army." All three salute and run over to the formation, the whole group of cadets stare at them with disbelief. Packer walks over to the group, "Listen up, if this group loses more cadets on the next run there will be HELL to pay. Is that understood?"

"YES SERGEANT"

"Good, now get to your racks before I send you on another lap you fucking weedles." The cadets salute before running off to their tents, hurrying to escape the Sargent's menacing gaze. Once they are all gone Packer sighs, "This is what we get for offering women a place in the service…."

"More Lady trouble Pac?" A voice says behind him. Packer turns around to see the man in the grey running uniform. Packer shakes his head, "More then you know sir."

"What is your ex-wife coming up for a visit?" Major Frank Holder says grinning, "I saw that Keylan has more than a just a pretty face. Gave you a run for your money as a CO."

"Kid has guts that's for sure." Packer says, "But talking back to superiors is not something we can be flexible on."

"True." Frank says taking a sip from a water bottle, "But, you have to admit she has one hell of a spirit. Exactly the kind we need."

"Maybe with a little less lip," Packer nods, "But yes, if all the rest had the same guts and devotion as she does the 3rd would feel like the old days again."

Frank nods, "Who knows, it just might be soon enough." He looks toward the tents as the cadets from Echo Company begin piling into their beds. "By the way, did you tell them they are getting up at six for PT?"

Packer Smirks, "Nope."

"Its official: Packer is worse the Giratina." Keylan says as she nearly collapses taking a seat at a table in the base's cafeteria. Packer's surprise PT had not gone well for anyone, especially since they all had about an hour of sleep and no food since departing Pewter City. Echo company had come into the cafeteria covered in sweat and dirt with several cadets being ready to pass out on the spot. The sight of a hot meal had done a lot to raise spirits even if the food looked and tasted terrible. Across from Keylan Joy sighs, "I know Sarge is supposed to train us but there is a difference between training and killing."

Matt sits down next to Keylan and shakes his head, "I think it's the same thing to him." The three cadets all groan for a moment before digging in to their yellow-green eggs, half cooked ham, and sour milk. If the taste bothered any of them, they didn't show it as within a few minutes their plates were nearly emptied. Keylan's face falls on the table, "I guess the only good thing is that we have a formation after this."

"How is that good?" Matt asks finishing up the last of his ham.

"Better then running…..or push ups…..or squats…..or any movement of any kind." Keyland says picking her head back up. "I don't know if I could do another round of training today."

"Me and you both." Joy says, "I could sleep for a week at this point."

A bell in the cafeteria sounds and all the cadets stand up and start to pile out of the building toward the formation field. Joy lets out a little whimper, "Or I could just stand in a field for three hours…."

The trio of cadets drag themselves up from their seats and begin to make their way toward the field among the sea of cadets. The formation field was a large grassy area with a set of bleachers and an elevated podium on the side nearest to the base. It wasn't anything fancy, but it didn't need to be. Matt, Joy, and Keylan all made their way toward Echo Company which for the most part was already assembled and for the first time in a proper formation, though that might have been because Noble was at the front of the company directing cadets into their placed. When the three of them reached the formation Noble approached them with a scowl on her face, "What the hell is your problem!?" she says looking at Keylan.

"Me?" Keylan says shocked, "What did I do?"

Noble grinds her teeth, "Talking back to a superior officer that's what! Do you have any idea how much trouble you can get all of us in! Packer could have given a punishment to the whole company and not just you three!" Before Keylan can respond Noble cuts her off, "Get in formation but do not let this happen again, I am not going to let you screw this entire company." Dismayed Keyland heads into one of the columns furious. Joy looks over at her and opens her mouth to say something to try and calm Keyland down but a shrill whistle interrupts her as the field's speaker system turns on. The whole field goes silent and everyone stands at attention within their formations.

On the elevated platform that the podium was on six men walk out onto the stage, clad in military dress uniforms. Keylan watches each officer walk up one by one, each one had a chest full of medals and more brass on them than anyone else on base. Keylan's attention is diverted to one of the officers who had a major's emblem on his shoulders. "Wait…..I've seen him before" She thinks to herself, trying to figure out where she knew the older man. Before she can remember a man with three bright golden stars on each of his shoulders walks up to the podium. Even though nearly all the cadets had never seen him before they all knew the man before them was General Geir, the man who had resurrected this army and its current commander in chief.

Geir clears his throat and looks out at the cadets assembled Before him, "Men and Women of the 3rd Army Cadet Corp, I am you commanding officer General Nathanial Gier." He scans the crowd looking out at all those assembled in the field, "During the Great War the very name of the 3rd caused celebration from the people of the Union and respect from our enemies. The 3rd was an Army that was not just the wall of Kanto, but of the Union as a whole. Looking at all of you assembled here I can still see that is true today. Some of you have come from the idyllic waters of the Orange Island and the frostbitten mountains of Sinnoh, while some of you hail as close as Pewter City. This army represents the best of what the Union has to offer, but you are not the best. Not yet at least."

There are a few murmurs in the formation as Gier continues, "You may have notice by now that none of your uniforms have any insignias on them with the exception of your name, cadet rank, and assigned field of operations such as Infantry or Air Calvary." Geir extends his hand to the left of the podium, "Myself and all of the other officers and veterans here training you all have a similar uniform with one exception, on our left shoulder we all wear the emblem of this army, the 3rd Army Flag." Sure enough, all the officers had a patch on their left arm with the Aggron head in front of a silver mountain, meanwhile Keylan had nothing but the dull green grey of her uniform. "That is because being a member this army is not something that is given," Gier said continuing, "It is earned. The next few months will likely be some of the toughest you have ever experienced in your young lives, but I assure you that it is a joyride compared to what you could be facing."

"Legendary Pokemon have been appearing more and more during the last few years and leaving destruction in their wake. So far, no lives have been lost but that has been sheer luck and nothing more. Should we be called to respond to such a crisis, we shall do so with vigor. We cannot afford to have soldiers who are unwilling to fight and die for the citizens of this nation. If you can't keep up, you leave. If you can't take orders you leave. Most importantly, if you are not willing to put yourself in the line of fire for someone else, you leave." There is a moment of silence as the General allows his words to sink in. Mentally Keylan panics a little, "Wait does that mean I am going to get in trouble for talking back to Sarge! But I was defending Matt!"

Her train of though is interrupted as Geir continues, "This task is not for the feint of heart. I am expecting all of you to devote yourselves to this army and the preservation of the Union and its people. Many have told me that an army such as ours is not needed in a time of peace. With that being said Cadets I now give you my standing order:" Geir stands up straight on the podium and grins, "Lets prove the bastards wrong."

A chorus of "Yes Sir!" follows Geirs order. He nods, "Well then, I will leave you in the capable hands of Major Holder who will be the acting liaison between myself and the rest of the Army." With that Geir steps down from the Podium and the man who Keylan was staring at earlier steps up to the podium. He adjusts the microphone to his height before speaking, "Cadets I am your liaison officer, Major Holder. To make something clear I am not the person you come to for some bullshit between bunkmates or company quarrels. You come to me with either emergencies or something that has been determined to require my attention. Is that clear cadets?"

Once again, another chorus of 'Yes Sirs' fills the air as the Major continues, "Now, everyone present in this formation is part of the 109th Infantry Division and as such you will be trained in small arms, heavy weapons, light vehicle operations, and first aid. You will also be required to go through physical fitness training as some of you may already be aware." Holder said while gazing over at Echo Company. Keylan's mind suddenly pieced together who the man was, "OH SHIT! He's the guy who was running with us earlier!". Holder looked back on the rest of the formation, "The reason you were selected for service with the Infantry Division is due to your scores on both the physical and written test you took in your recruitment centers. You may not request a change in your division, this is a final decision made by the ranking staff of the army."

"The last bit of information I am going to give you is in regard to any Pokemon you have brought with you on base." This grabbed everyone's attention since almost everyone had brought a Pokemon with them either for companionship or military use. "Pokemon are to stay within their cadet's camp area at all times and are not to accompany their cadets to any training activities. The only exception to this rule is if your Pokemon is accompanying you for training of its own. Lastly, there is a zero tolerance for battles of any sort here. You are in the army, not training for the League." With that Holder raises a salute toward the Cadets, "This concludes today's briefing." The cadets return the salute and then drop them in an almost wave like fashion. "Report to your individual Company Drill Instructors at 1000 for your training routines! Dismissed!"

With that all of the cadets began to leave the Formation Field in a near stampede, a sight that nearly caused some of the older officers to have a stroke from all the disorder. Joy walks over to Keylan and sighs, "Out of the frying pan and into the fire huh?" Matt walks up next to Keylan, "Hey you ok Jen? You look kinda red."

"Hey Joy, what happens to the person who swan dove into that fire… because that may be me." Keyland says with her face turning a beat red now. "Because I am pretty sure I managed to ignore two senior officers in one day…"

Joy raises an eyebrow, "Two? I mean Packer yea I was there for but who? We have seen anyone else besides the other cadets and the one guy who was running-." Joy stops as the lightbulb goes on inside her head, "Oh my Arceus you blew off the Major."

"THAT GUY WAS THE MAJOR?!" Matt says with his jaw hanging open, "I'm going to be cleaning bathrooms till I die aren't I…."

"You! What about me!" Keylan says waving her arms franticly, "I'm not going to be able to take a step without half the base breathing down my neck! Ill be lucky if Sarge doesn't try and kill me in training never mind the major!"

While the three of them collectively had a breakdown from the podium Holder looked at the trio grinning. Behind him Geir walked over with a raised eyebrow, "Oh boy I know that look." He crosses his arms sighing, "What did you do this time?"

KANTO ARMED FORCES MAINFRAME

REQUEST PASSCODE: ********

PASSCODE ACCEPTED – OPENING DATABANK

FILES FOUND - 3RD ARMY EMBLEM

Most military units across the world have a unique patch or emblem that is associated with them and the 3rd is no different, however, the current emblem of the 3rd has not always been the icon that has been associated with the unit. Prior to the Great War the 3rd had a simple blue three with a silver outline as its emblem on a navy blue background. These colors did not signify anything at the time, but the silver and blue would be the colors that would be unique to the 3rd as no other military unit uses these color combinations within their emblems. This emblem would stand with the unit for nearly half of its life and would be eventually called the 'Grand Old Three'. The Grand Old Three would be emblazoned on the men of the 3rd on both the first and second Battles of Mount Silver where it would receive international recognition as the emblem of the Union's elite fighting force.

Following the end of the war, the Grand Old Three emblem was retired when the army was put into service as a reserve unit. Instead, a silver triangle with a blue background would serve as the post war emblem until the 3rd was deactivated three years later. The silver and blue were remnants of the Grand Old Three and the triangle was supposed to signify Silver Mountain. This emblem never saw the same claim to fame and had an unremarkable service record. The current emblem of the 3rd, referred to as the Steel Banner by the Army, is a combination of old victories and traditions with the new modern army. The silver and blue coloration has remained but has been split into three horizontal stripes with the top and bottom stripe being blue and the middle being silver. This is to signify veterans from three service branches, being the Army, Marines, and Air Force, serving within the newly assembled 3rd.

Overlaying the three stripes is a new emblem consisting of a silver mountain with a forward facing Aggron head. The Aggron is a Pokemon closely associated with the 3rd as General Geir's Aggron personally helped in the defense of Silver Mountain and is considered to be the 3rd Army's representative Pokemon. The mountain behind it is Silver Mountain, once again marking the Army's history with the battles on the mountain fortress. While many feel that the banner is overbearing for a peacetime force, those within the 3rd feel that it is a proper flag and emblem to march under and a reminder to all those who threaten the Union that the 3rd is back in action. Public support for the 3rd has only grown since the battle at Los Alamos Town and many towns who have citizens training to be in or are currently members of the army are raising the Steel Banner to show their support for the Steel Wall of the Union.