Administrative

Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world. - Joel A. Barker

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Information.

Perhaps the greatest thing in existence. While school was not something most would consider 'interesting', I did. Atleast this school. All my life, history had been my favorite subject.

Why did I find it so interesting? My only answer comes from a seminar about the battle of Hastings. When a lecturer pointed out that many of the attendee's "grandparents" had probably fought on one side or another. In every nation and in every situation, someone's grandparents were involved. We all come from history. Our forebears experienced it. Why do I love history? Human nature has never changed. We love, we dream, we hope, we fear. And we gossip, manipulate, scheme and kill. It's just now on a bigger scale.

And now that I was living in history? Now that I was learning what the Westorosi and Essosi had all forgotten and lost? I reveled in it. My jaw clenched down as I forced myself not to shout in euphoric pleasure, lest I interrupt my...'friend's' sleep.

I looked to my side. 'Tai' I happened to remember his name. A kid I met the first day I got here two years ago. Yep! Its been two years since I enrolled here.

Everyday was spent with performing my absolute best. In my old world, some fanfiction MC's would froth at the mouth in anger at me purposely standing out and gaining some focus upon myself.

I didn't care- no, in fact, I wanted it.

'Soon I will have to prove myself in the heat of battle.' I thought to myself. Only two more years and I'd graduate.

"What are you doing?" My roommate sleepily asked. "When are you going to sleep?"

I looked out my window. The sky was pitch dark. "When I feel sleepy."

"….w-well ok." He said a little startled. "How strange." He mumbled as he slumped back into slumber.

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The training of us was relatively structured. Basic training happened the first four weeks of school. We learnt the meaning and importance of dicipline, hard work, personal limits, etc. Also learning basic military drills and skills expected from everyone; such as handling a weapon and basic physical aptitude.

The next part of training was Advanced Training. Taking place over the year, this was the second phase and the more job oriented one. Here a soldier is trained to preform his role within his unit. For example: handling (more ancient) explosives, sailing or horseback riding. All of this with schools training and strengthening what was tought in basic training.

Then came Group training, taking place the rest of the year along with advanced training. The strength of a military is precision and coordination. This phase of training allows the military to build its vast manpower into a well oiled machine. Using all they lernt, soldiers now cooperate within larger structures and join forces with logistics and aid units to create one army that can function as a whole.

But…I found this system lacking. Nobody here had any REAL love for their empire. No loyalty, no compassion, only fear. Once again Im reminded of what's happening in the world. A soldier with no loyalty and love for what they're fighting for will not be an effective soldier.

I knew what I was going to fight for…not my comrades, not my 'love' for my country, not my 'compassion' for innocents, not my goodness. I wasn't a saint, and I wasn't going to act like one. No doubt I will kill millions of innocents in the future, men, women and children alike. And although I might not enjoy, I would do it all the same. Just watch me.

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I had finished my studying of chemistry that was available to the world at this time. And while I was not a chemist or even interested in it at all, it seemed pretty advanced for this world. Hell, I don't even know how the law of physics worked here. Not that I knew how the laws of physics worked in my old world now that I think about it.

I shook myself out of daydreaming as I….went straight back into it. How I would fix, if I was in power, the all around mood and loyalty of the people. How I would structure a army and wage war. 'Will I follow some sort of law of war? Should I? I could bend them to my benefit when it called for it. How could I train an army?' Thoughts of ancients warriors came to my mind.

Spartans, Roman Legionnaires, Huns, Mongols, Vikings, Native Americans, Gauls, Carthage, Macedonians, Trojans, Persians, Egyptians, Akkadians, Hittites, Celts and much more flashed through my mind. Then…a particularly seducing option came to mind.

Samurai. 'Why didn't I think of this sooner?' While Samurai weren't as 'honorable' as most would think, depending on the period, they still commanded ALOT of respect. Their 'honor' would promise innate loyalty and love amongst the civilians if they see their warriors as virtuous, brave, courageous and intelligent, why wouldn't they worship them?

My mind slipped to Ninja. Obviously I would need men to take up less than 'honorable' tasks. Ninja would do absolutely fine as I could hire the faceless men to train them, and over time, absorb their entire faction into my own.

Ohhhhh…I couldn't wait

(Sorry for this weird introspection chapter.)