fandomhigh | Leadership and Outdoorsmanship, The Preserve, Thursday Morning

In the same clearing as last week, Honor stood at a folding camp table, leant over a map. To her right, a small, portable GPS device could be seen; to her left, two different compasses – one military issue, the other a simple device built into a short ruler, designed for orienteering. Several minicomps were lined up along the front edge of the table, enough for each student in the workshop.

On the other side of the clearing, the two large carafes have been set up again – coffee and hot chocolate – though some water in a closed, insulated pitcher has been added as well. It seemed that Mac decided the mornings were too warm for coffee alone.

Nimitz was stalking around the outskirts of the clearing. With his head lowered and eyes alert toward the trees, it was pretty clear he had staked out his playmates for the day.

Honor tossed a glance his way, then looked up as students began to arrive. "Good
morning," she said. A taut smile crossed her lips, not quite reaching her eyes. "I hope each of you had a relaxing weekend...in the air conditioning.

"Today, we’re going to go over the basics of map reading, using a compass, and orienteering. If each one of you would grab a minicomp, you’ll find that there are uploaded documents and programs to help you with this section of the workshop. I’ve also been able to install a GPS program – global positioning system program – to assist you as well. The minicomps are for you to keep until the end of the workshop; I ask that you return them in the same condition they were issued."

She waited a few moments until each student had taken a minicomp, then watched as they attempted to power them up and pull up the various programs. "They work on the same principle as the Palm Pilots or the Pocket PCs, though they’re a little more powerful. You can use your fingers on the touch screen, but if accuracy is an issue, I’d recommend the stylus."

The taut smile returned as she waited another few moments for the students to complete their exploration of the new toys. Finally, with time ticking away, she drew attention back to herself. "If you’ll find the directory of maps, you should find one marked ‘Alexandria_topographic’ with yesterday’s date. Please pull that map up..."

Honor spent the remaining class time reviewing how to read a topographic map; an overview of how to read a basic compass and a lensatic (military) compass; and basic orienteering skills and symbols. Interactive quizzes over the symbols and the map skills were included on the minicomps.

Those students tinkering further with the minicomps might also find access to the internet, and links to mapping websites and a local orienteering club for further reference.

"And with that," she said, finally, "I think I’ve overloaded you quite enough. You’ll be receiving instructions later in the week regarding next week’s location.

"Dismissed."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"You sure it's the Meerkats and not just general weirdness?" Dean asked. "Like dancing bunnies and whatever?"

"Not certain, no," Peter said as the gnome gave up trying to poke Dean and draped himself across Peter's shoulders. "But since they only appeared in our cabin so far, it seems a good bet, doesn't it?"

"Point," Dean admitted. "Could just be that there was stuff in the other cabins that drove them off though. Still..." he smiled slightly, "If it is the girls, gotta hand it to 'em."

Peter grinned as well. "Oh, they're worthy opponents. Between this and the hair colouring? I'm most impressed."

"You should be. They're so kicking your ass at pranking. And I'm not just saying that becuase I'm dating one of them."

"Yes, but they're using magic. We're sticking with the good old-fashioned know-how. It's all a matter of who gets the last laugh anyhow now," Peter said, not too defensively at all. "I sparred with Dawn yesterday. She's not bad with a sword."

"Yeah? Doesn't surprise me, with some of what she's told me."

Peter nodded. "She asked me if I'd teach her more swordwork. You don't mind, do you?"

"Why would I mind?" Dean asked, truly not understanding.

Peter shrugged. "I couldn't imagine you would, but I thought I'd check?"

"I don't mind -- not my place to. She can do whatever she wants. And you're better with a sword than I am anyway. I wouldn't want her to pick up any of my bad habits."

"This? Is definitely true." Peter said with a teasing grin. "You just need to remember your opponent has a pointy and sharp weapon too, I think."

"Yeah. Somehow I don't seem to be able to get that part," Dean said with a wry grin.

"Probably not as big of a deal with guns," Peter said. "Speaking of which, would you teach me how to shoot one time? I told Parker I'd learn if she'd deign to pick up a sword."

"Sure, dude," Dean said easily. "We can go to the range this weekend if you want."

"How about early next week?" Peter replied. "Saturday's apparently a martial arts day for me ~~and my mun's brother is graduating high school on Sunday~~."

"That's doable," Dean agreed. "Monday?"

"Monday would be brilliant," Peter replied. "So how do you suppose these bloody things work?" he asked as he looked back at the minicomp.

Leadership and Outdoorsmanship, The Preserve, Thursday Morning

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