It Doesn't Make Sense
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Devin, Jane
Date Posted: 22nd October 2009
Characters: N'vanik, K'hetah
Description: K'hetah shares some ideas for a change in drill schedules with the Weyrleader.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 5, day 18 of Turn 5
"Good afternoon, Weyrleader," the Wingleader said with a sigh of releif as he got out of the heat and brightness of the baking afternoon Weyrbowl at Dolphin Cove Weyr and into the cool of the other bronzerider's office.
N'vanik looked up from his hidework. "K'hetah. What brings you here?"
"I want to make some changes to the way the Wing does drills - and our daily schedule." The Cyclone Wingleader shrugged. "Sounded like the sorts of things that the Weyrleader needed to know about, or approve."
"Sure." N'vanik nodded and gestured to the chair across from him. "Have a seat."
K'hetah placed his papers on the edge of the Weyrleader's desk and settled into a chair opposite. "Regular drills are a good thing - and being able to fight Thread any time of the day is also a rather useful skill - but exhausting riders with repetitive drills each and every day regardless of the weather seems counter-productive. A result of our early days facing Thread, I suppose, when each 'Fall we learned something new that had to be disseminated and learned before the next 'Fall."
The Weyrleader lifted an eyebrow. "So you think we should rest in the shade on the hottest days, or stay inside when it's raining?"
"Not quite that extreme, but essentially, yes. We do need to be able to perform in adverse conditions, so there's a need to practice, but to practice day after day doesn't prove the point, it just makes dragons and riders overworked."
"And you have a solution?" K'hetah very likely did. He was one of the most organized people N'vanik had ever met, and he'd come to a grudging appreciation of the Wingleader's style.
"I have a few," the other man admitted with a smile. "The most obvious is your suggestion of getting in out of the heat or the rain. Common sense. We would schedule most drills for early morning or in the evening. If the rain is torrential and we're up to date with our drills in those conditions, we'll call drills off and do something indoors." He rifled through his papers and passed one over to the Weyrleader. It summed up that part of the new roster. "And for the sweeps and support duties we'd shuffle people out of their trios so they're working with others. Naturally we _must_ have at least one full Wing drill scheduled between 'Falls so that we can address anything that's of concern, but many of the other drills can be smaller groups - and if we're, for instance, concentrating on greenriders, let's let the others stand down for the day."
N'vanik nodded as he looked over the roster. "I'm willing to let you try it out on your Wing, see how it works." He tapped a finger against his desk. "I like the idea of not drilling every day. It's tedious. I hadn't thought about changing the schedule ..." He snorted. "Shards, for a while there I was just trying to figure out what I was supposed to be doing."
"You must be doing something right," K'hetah pointed out. "We're mostly still alive to tell the tale." Now that he had a feel for the other bronzerider opinion on his suggestions he relaxed a little. Despite working together they had little interaction beyond what was essential - N'vanik seemingly busy with his social life, and K'hetah keeping very much to himself. "My idea is - the idea behind all this - is that when we started -" they were both senior enough as dragonriders to remember the first falls of the Pass, "- we did need constant repetition but that we're over the frantic learning and practising skills stage. We've got to stop looking day-to-day and start thinking about the next forty-five Turns. We need to pace ourselves now the first panic is over."
"We need a balance," N'vanik agreed. He thought for a moment. "Tell you what, I'll give it some thought and talk to the other Wingleaders, and I'll get back to you in a few days."
"I'd appreciate that." K'hetah got to his feet. "Shall I leave all these -" he indicated the papers he had brought with him, "- with you?"
"Sure. If you don't mind. Thanks for bringing this up, K'hetah."
"You're welcome," the Cyclone Wingleaders said, sketching a salute. "Thanks for listening."
Last updated on the November 3rd 2009