| Logs |
2006 December 12
| Hunter |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
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| Realms: Hunter Logs |
Part Twenty-Seven: Hammarzeit
Solbiort angles the Chimera down in a long, swooping roll towards the valley, lining up the Pilum Longinus in the ship's sights. Grinning, she growls, "Knock down stone dick on bandits, mei-mei -- zat should put fear of goddess in zem!"
The twenty brigands, as they near the entrance to the ravine, are distinctly and visibly grumpy -- to put it nicely. There's quite a bit of animated conversations between them, and some raised voices. All in all they look rather irritated. Elgyn remains absolutely still in his hidey nook by the ravine. He wants to sight down and start picking off these scum as he hears them approach... but he waits. He rather liked Solbiort's turn of phrase about the hammer of God. He can't wait to see these bandits smashed.
Molly fires off the railgun at medium range. One of the shots goes wide, but the other smacks right into the base of Pilum Longinus. The stone spire topples over in seemingly slow motion, crashing into the ravine with trip hammer force and letting up a massive cloud of rock dust and gravel.
The brigands on horseback all shut up right quick at the sound of the railgun fire as it passes overhead, and the horses get extremely skittish (to say the least) when the spire collapses into the ravine. The brigands are in a bit of confusion for the moment, unsure as to proceed ahead, or break and run and leave the ones at the camp to whatever Fate has in store for them. Solbiort grins, opening up with the laser as the ship roars towards them. If that doesn't scatter the horses away from the camp, nothing will! With the roar of the railgun round overhead and the collapse of the Pilum, the bandits in the ravine bolt.
By the ravine, Elgyn waits, his finger on the trigger... he waits even as the first of the fleeing bandits passes the kill zone... and as soon as a significant number catch up, he stabs the button on his detonator. In the sudden hailstorm of metal that follows, underneath the crashing roar of the ersatz claymores, there's the sound of humans and horses screaming. The air in the kill zone is filled with dust from the shale and gravel and also the too-frequent clouds of red mist. It's hard to tell just how many of the brigands went down and how many are still alive. But four horses in the back throw their riders without having gotten shot, and two riders bringing up the rear rein in and start riding hell-bent the other direction.
Elgyn's eagle eyes can pick out Raj from his spot, and can see he's focusing one the ones heading back towards camp, so the Ulundian shoulders his shotgun and trains on the dust clouds, waiting for an opportunity to pick off a moving figure. As the bandits begin to scatter, Raj begins shooting. Every few seconds there is another sharp report as he fires at the brigands attempting to flee. As one or two clear the dust of the explosions, he begins to concentrate fire on them.
Solbiort turns the Chimera in a graceful arc as she overflies the first half of the ravine, angling to fly up the second half of the ravine. She yells cheerfully, "Pick zem off as you see zem, mei-mei!" and zaps the laser at fallen riders at the back, letting the horses flee. The laser from the Chimera lashes out, leaving a thunderclap and a trail of superheated ionized air in it's wake. The quarter-meter-wide beam cuts a swath through the fallen brigands; a weapon designed to melt through hull armor at close range at microsecond beam linger times does not leave much unscathed in its wake. Solbiort raises an eyebrow at the devastation, her tone faintly surprised, "Vell now! Zat vas effective..." She looks up the ravine, adding, "Vonder how our boys are doing. Hope zey are hokay..."
The shots ring out, and the two fleeing riders fall from their horses to the ground. The horses themselves continue to flee down the ravine. And after a few moments, the only sound left is the wounded as the dust settles from the claymore kill-zone. Solbiort floats the ship up and around to settle in the air, the engines roaring and the guns aimed into the camp. The camp has some scurrying figures, though the dust from the Pilum toppling makes it hard to see clearly. They seem to be running to one building along the edge of the encampment. She comms Raj and Elgyn, "Hey, kids. How goes?"
Raj says, "They walked right into it. You see anyone else moving out there? I can't believe someone with Devon's rep would have broken like they did. I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop..." The 'irregulars,' the militia from the villages, are making their way slowly down the ravine into the kill zone, weapons at the ready. Elgyn takes a moment to check how mobile or not the wounded in the gully are. After he's satisfied that they're not going anywhere, he relocates, trying to get a bead on any guards from the camp.
Solbiort growls amusedly, "Ya, am thinking either he has escaped already, or ve find him in camp. Am goink to give call to camp now for surrender, hokay?" She flips on the outside comm, speaking clearly, "Attention, the brigand camp. Attention, ching. If you valk out of camp vizout veapons, you may surrender und be taken into custody. Anyvon who continues fighting vill be killed." She adds on the private comm, "You boys got zat? Don't vant our side shooting unarmed who are surrendering, ya?"
The irregulars are finally amongst the fallen brigands in the ravine. A bit more than half seem to be outright dead. Of the remaining seven or eight, most are barely conscious. One is screaming something about not having any legs. One is crawling as if trying to get away from the militiamen. A scowling Ste. Franciscan shoots that one. Meanwhile, after several moments, there remains no answer from the brigand camp. Solbiort sighs, rolling her eyes, muttering under her breath, "Idiots. Hate having to do slow cleanups." She adds on the private comm, "You vant Nigel yet, boys?"
"Doesn't look like that's going to be a problem, Cap," Elgyn mutters quietly into his comm. "Should Raj and I advance?" He adds, "Depends on whether or not you want to bother patching up the bandits in the gully, Captain." The tone in his voice seems to imply they're not worth it.
Solbiort shakes her head, "Neh, don't advance yet -- cover villagers. They'll need goot cover until all bandits are taken into custody. Raj, you are rank on ground -- vonce you are organized zere, let me know, ching.
Raj says, "Elgyn, let's stay where we are and let the townies settle things down there. We've got a good vantage from here. I still don't like the fact we don't know where Devon and his 'best boys' are."
Elgyn grunts. "Copy that."
Nigel hits the comm where he is, answering Raj slightly late because of having to put away some medical supplies that shook loose, "No, don't put more people in danger. If they're still alive when we've got everyone cleared to safety, then we can see about pickin' 'em up." Solbiort nods at that and lets the ship hang in the air, waiting for either those in the camp to decide to act, or for news that the villagers have all the wounded bandits in custody and they're ready for Nigel.
About a quarter of an hour passes. The Buddhists and Jains attend to the wounded bandits, or at least make them comfortable in their last few minutes. However, half the wounded die in fairly short order due to their injuries -- the brigands who might survive to be taken back to town number only five. The Ste. Franciscans take up an overwatch position, guarding any of the surviving brigands -- and also guarding against any reinforcements.
Meanwhile, as best as Solbiort and Elgyn can see there's been no activity in the camp. As he waits and watches, Elgyn finds his mind nagged by the idea that the folk in camp might try to hide behind their prisoners. What will they do if that happens? He knows his own people would rather die than be used as human shields. But these are not Ulundi. They're children who have already suffered more than should be humanly expected. Solbiort comms privately to Raj and Elgyn, "Hey, your boys able to find out vhat brigands searching for?"
Elgyn blinks. "No, we haven't. Should one of us go down there and interrogate the wounded?"
Solbiort says, "Raj is rank on ground, Elgyn. Ask him."
Raj says, "It seems to me the locals have the survivors under control. Elgyn, why don't you stay here and make sure we don't get surprised and I'll go see if there's anyone down there with anything to say."
Elgyn nods. "Will do."
Raj says, "Captain, why don't you take the ship over to the camp and find out what's going on over there? It's not like it'd take you more than a moment to get back here."
Solbiort says, "Raj, already am over camp viz guns trained on it. Few folks run to von building in particular, but othervise nozzing."
Raj makes his way down the hillside, to confer with the nominal leadership of the "irregulars." As he approaches the prisoners, he'll ask, "Any of these folks in a state to talk?"
The Ste. Franciscan 'captain' shakes his head. "Mebbe thot one o'er there," he says, pointing to a woman who looked to have been scarred before this whole thing went down. "She's th' only nearly conscious one."
Raj marches over to the scarred woman, and stares down at her. Considering the explosions, shrapnel, and weapons-grade optical barrage, she seems to be in pretty good shape overall. He says bluntly, "Where the fuck is Devon? Ma shong! He's left you to die out here. Tell me where he is, and you'll live to see prison."
The woman seems to be too out of it to put up much verbal resistance. "In the camp," she groans. "He's in the camp...."
Scowling, Raj says, "He stayed behind? The coward. Why?"
"Said we were going to start packing up, moving soon... didn't say where. Stayed behind to supervise packing...."
Raj's brows knit for a moment and he says, "He sent you out as bait, and to lighten his load. Less shares if you don't come back. You've been had, missy. What were you searching for in the town?"
She groans a little, wavering into unconsciousness. "Jus' a supply raid... s'posed to be, anyway. Food an' water packs."
Raj stands, looking at the sorry state of the survivors, and comms the ship. "You might want to get Nigel down here. The locals have done what they can, but we'll need to get what's left on the ship." He moves away from the group and continues, "They say Devon's not here. He stayed behind to 'supervise packing' so they could move soon. No forwarding address. I think he was shedding everybody but his core cadre, and we've just done his dirty work for him. He may not be there at all now."
Solbiort growls, "Roger that." She floats the ship up and back, bringing Chimera slowly to rest on the edge of the ravine, guns still aimed into the camp. She comms privately to the others, "Am goink to bring Nigel in mule to survivors. Mei-mei, shoot anything that comes out of camp if hands are not empty und over head. Elgyn, vant high cover for Nigel in mule. Raj, you need anyzing else from ship?" Molly nods, setting the railgun as per Solbiort's orders.
Raj says, "Don't need anything here but a cold drink and a shower. Elgyn?"
Elgyn gives one last look towards the camp, then repositions -- time for cranky curmudgeon detail. "I'm good."
Solbiort chuckles at Raj's comm message, then comms the other towns to let them know what's up so far, and asks someone from the nearest township to send help to Beth L'Chaim. She checks that Molly's got both ship's guns slaved to her terminal, then strides down to cargo, starting up the mule. "Got everyzing you need before ve go, di-di Nigel?"
Nigel nods and straps down the last things needed for triage on the mule, "Yeah, ready as I'm likely to be."
Solbiort nods to Nigel, "Strap in, di-di. Vill be rough ride over edge of ravine." Nigel not only straps in, but pulls on a stocking cap and pulls it tight down over his eyes. Soli shoots out of the ship quickly, not wanting to be a target at all, and speeds the mule swiftly from cover to cover until they're completely protected from the camp. She's chuckling as she flies, but doesn't tease the poor doc. She'll ease off and land gently, but most importantly she wants to be sure her passenger makes it safely and un-shot-at.
Elgyn watches with his sharp gaze, even as he wonders what is going on in that camp. It would be tactically unsound to kill off their prisoners. He ironically hopes that Devon is as mil-spec as the deputy said, and is not busy culling them while they wait.
The hover-mule makes it without incident to the location of the ambush. The militia is still a little unsure as to what to do with the remains of the brigands, but the five still-living ones have at least been tended to and mostly stabilized. Nigel raises the cap from just one eye as he feels the mule coming to a stop, peering around to make sure the captain isn't just pausing before some heart-stopping maneuver before he takes the cap completely off. Solbiort grins cheerfully at Nigel, slapping him gently on the shoulder, "Zere! Landed safe und sound, di-di!" Then she strides over to the woman Raj is standing over, and crouches next to her, "Hey, you. Vhat your group searching for in village? Vhy ransacking it?"
By now the woman is really out of it, and her answers are barely audible. "Taking... food... water... villagers... fought... spears and... knives... poor damn fools... spears... and knives...." Nigel is silently and with a sort of jerky precision, getting his supplies ready.
Solbiort nods grimly, rising, "Didn't occur to you not to fight zem, am sure." She resists the urge to kick the woman, instead snapping, "Only thing left is camp. Raj, set up guard here of villagers for Nigel, zen get rest of zem ready to take camp." Raj nods and goes to talk with the "irregulars" leadership, and shortly the villagers have established something resembling a perimeter. Solbiort adds to Raj, "Comm me vhen ready. Am goink to sow discord." She comms Molly, "Hey, mei-mei. You can patch me t'rough ship's comm?"
After a moment, Molly patches Solbiort into the ship's com-system. Solbiort grins, then addresses the camp, "Attention, brigand camp. Ve vant Devon. You send him out, ve not harm rest of you. Got 10 minutes."
When Raj has a moment of Solbiort's time away from the irregulars, he asks, "If there are only a handful of prisoners, why not put them on the ship? We won't need to leave anyone behind and won't leave anyone vulnerable. If the camp doesn't cave to our call for surrender or is deserted, we're going to have to assault it, and we'll need every hand."
Solbiort turns back to Raj, "Hokay." She listens, thinks, then nods, "Is goot plan. Make it happen, ya?" Elgyn grimaces. It might be a nice thing to hope that the other bandits might turn on him... but they have no idea how well fortified the brigands are in there. Taking down the crew Devon sent out was too easy. They still have the big guns in there, and they have prisoners. It's not entirely clear yet whose hand would beat whose, when the hole cards are still in doubt.
For several minutes there is no activity in the camp. Then from the far building come several gunshots... then silence again. Nobody comes out, with a surrender flag or otherwise. Solbiort smiles slowly, listening as she watches the mule being loaded up, "Few less for us to fight now." She'll calmly fly the mule back and forth with prisoners until everyone's safely aboard, then seal the ship up tight. Once everyone's aboard she calls a conclave of the leaders of each group, and her crew. She leaves Molly on the bridge and Nigel working with the villagers and the wounded (unless he wishes to come participate), then folds her arms and rumbles quietly to the group she's gathered, "Hokay. Ve vant to kill zem all or starve zem out? Don't think ve vant to do frontal attack."
Elgyn folds his arms. "Is there any way we can set buildings afire with the laser without punching through? What are the buildings made of down there? If we can smoke them out..."
Solbiort says, "No. Is laser designed to punch through ship's armor. Vill absolutely destroy buildings. Especially tents und ozzer lightly built vons."
The Ste. Franciscan captain, Banard, grunts and folds his arms. "If 'e didnae ha' any o' our wee ones," he lilts, " I'd be content in zottin' th' place. As it is, I canna think of anythin' otter than assaultin' 'em." Solbiort nods to the Ste. Franciscan, then looks at the other villagers for their input.
Elgyn brightens. "Well, wait. Didn't some of the villagers bring firebombs? If we throw that into the thatched roofing..."
Raj says, "I see several possible approaches here. First, we could wait them out. We've got high-cover with the ship and the mule, so they're not going to simply walk out. We might be able to make them sweat and get them to break by shooting up the terrain a bit, but if they've got supplies they could be holed up in there for weeks. I don't think we or the irregulars are up for that. Second, we could try to take the camp by force of arms. We've got enough people to do that, but it could get messy if Devon or any of his more capable folk are still there. I'd also expect they'd have ambushes as a last resort. The simplest answer is to simply rain fire down from the ship until there is no resistance at all. Safest, but would be tough on any 'bystanders.'"
Solbiort nods grimly, "Concise, Raj."
Raj shrugs, "It's a gift." Solbiort snorts amusedly, then looks at the other villagers. All of the villagers look discomfited with the idea of their children, or the children of their neighbors, being chalked up as 'bystanders.' In fact they seem downright uncomfortable with that concept and the way it was presented. Solbiort waits for them to suggest some alternative.
The alternative instead comes from Molly: "Cap'n... we've got some activity down in the camp. The door to the building is opening, and- oh, Renci de Shangdi. A young boy is coming out the door. It looks like he's got... Cap, I've seen this before, it's a bomb-vest. I think y'all better get up here."
Solbiort grabs Kaushal and bolts up the stairs to the bridge, sliding into her seat and barking, "Identify him, Kaushal -- brigand or no?" Elgyn feels his heart rise into his throat as he's hot on Solbiort's heels. Solbiort comms to Raj, "Raj, bomb vest detonate from distance or no, und how?"
On the bridge, Molly has one of the cameras focused on the boy. He's wearing plain and rough homespun tunic and breeches, nothing on his feet -- and an ugly-looking mil-spec vest that seems lightly packed with some tubes of explosive. He looks damn scared. Kaushal goes pale when he sees the boy, and shakes his head. "No, I... he's no brigand. I don't recognize him but I think he's a boy from Ste. Francis."
Solbiort gives Kaushal a puzzled glance, "Vhy they not tell us they also have hostages taken?" then sighs and gives a small shake of her head, muttering, "Civvies," as she turns back to watch the screen and wait on Raj's reply.
Nigel hits his comm, "I dunno if it's possible 'cause I don't know a thing about weapons, but if it's remote detonated, could we jam the detonation signal?" There's a sound of desperation almost.
Solbiort comms back amusedly, "Think ve already haf, di-di. Is vhy I am askink now if might be remote detonated or no."
Raj looks at the image of the frightened young boy on the screen, then shakes his head, "Impossible to tell from this. Could be remote, wired, anything. Sorry, Captain. I can't tell."
Solbiort says, "Hokay, tell me vhat different types do, Raj." The boy stops abruptly, as if ordered to stop from within the building, about three meters outside the doorway. Solbiort watches thoughtfully while she waits for a response.
Raj begins to describe various triggering mechanisms for these types of explosives, and in the end says, "...but if the jammer is working, I'm supposing they know that by now and the vest is rigged some other way. The simplest would be a wire. I don't see any easy way around this one."
Elgyn grimaces. "They might be trying to radio us and can't because we jammed them... but I don't think we want to risk unjamming if that vest is radio detonated.
A moment or two later a man steps from the building, trotting out and starting to make his way to the general direction of where the Chimera is perched. He has black-and-gray hair slicked back, a small square beard upon his chin, and a steely glint to his eyes that's not quite matched by the faint smirk. He is dressed is a black duster and matching boots, dove-gray breeches and a white shirt. Kaushal grunts and nods, "And that would be Devon."
Solbiort murmurs, "Kill him, Raj." She gets up and heads downstairs.
Kaushal's eyes widen. "Wait, captain! What if the boy is his 'insurance' against getting killed?"
Solbiort yells over her shoulder, "Mei-mei, if anyvon else come out, give varning shot into ground!" To Kaushal she growls, "Of course he is. But ve nefer haf better chance to kill Devon. I vill talk to him, und vhen he can, Raj vill shoot. Elgyn, keep bridge clear of non-crew!"
Raj nods, and goes to move into position. Elgyn purses his lips and nods. "Kaushal, if you would?" he gently nudges the Jain. Kaushal looks visibly unnerved, and makes no effort to resist being ushered out of the bridge.
Solbiort is in the cargo bay when the others catch up to her. She's standing on a crate so everyone can see her easily, murmuring quietly just to Nigel, "Di-di, got important qvestion for you -- you can make qvick knock out drug in dart? If ya, need two or three. If neh, need to know right avay."
Nigel considers for several moments -- considers it carefully -- then replies, "Depends on how quick you want the rutter out, and if you care how hard it is to wake 'em up again."
Solbiort grins, although it doesn't reach her eyes, "For Devon, not caring. For booby-trapped boy, am vanting him out as if throat cut, und to vake up vhen you are ready for him."
Nigel looks at Solbiort for a moment, then grimaces. "Gonna depend on the mass of the boy. Too much for his body-mass, might not be able to wake him up."
Solbiort nods, "Is vhy I am asking you, di-di. Can you or no?"
Nigel says, "I think I can, Captain. Gonna have to if you're gonna be stickin' the boy with it."
Solbiort calls out to the others while Nigel's thinking, "Raj, am going to vant you as sniper -- get ready, ching. Mei-mei, keep shipguns aimed on camp. Fire varning shot only if anyvone else try to leave. Also lock down passenger section. Elgyn, vill vant you vith krisara to go hunt down any remaining guards. Kaushal, vant you here vith other villagers." She turns and nods to Nigel, "Goot, di-di. Can be shot from rifle, or must be hand delivered?"
Nigel shakes his head. "Hand. We don't have the gear to deliver stuff like this ranged."
Solbiort nods, "Hokay, then make small fake blood pack for me also, ching." Elgyn, who was quietly listening, nods at Solbiort's directive. There is a small smile on his face in spite of the solemnity of the situation... this is why he is proud to have her as captain. She knows how to snatch victory from a bad situation.
Kaushal asks, "Captain... what is your intention, please?"
Solbiort slaps Nigel lightly on the shoulder, then straightens as he turns and trots off, holding up a hand for a moment to Kaushal, as she comms Molly, "Mei-mei, Elgyn is going out now, since takes a vhile to sneak around. Vonce he is out, vant tight ship until Raj und I leave, und vonce ve haf left, you are not to allow anyvon in or out except us." She pauses, thinking, then adds firmly, "You are also not to shoot camp vonce I am out there, unless I specifically command it, or I go down. But if this happens, you are to obliterate camp. Is clear, mei-mei?" She whispers in an aside to Elgyn, "Go, pretty. Vant no von from Devon's camp on hillsides able to snipe us."
Elgyn frowns at Solbiort's talk, but obediently heads to one of the auxiliary outer hatches: the main door in Cargo would be too obvious. Once he's there he comms Molly that he's going out, so she knows when her panel lights up. Once outside, he seals the hatch back up and crouches low as he moves to cover, approaching the outer perimeter on the camp, his eyes alert for the slightest sign as he makes sure to keep out of line of sight of Devon.
On the Chimera, there is a pause over the intercom. "Even... even with the kid there, Cap'n?"
Solbiort says clearly, "If I go down, Molly, make camp go avay. You understand? Is direct order. Because if I am killed, ship is next, und vill be your duty to keep ship safe."
Molly's voice comes over the intercom again. "Understood, Captain." She isn't happy, but she's not disobeying.
Solbiort nods, satisfied. She doesn't like it either... but this is her equivalent to a booby-trapped boy, and she understands Devon won't respect anything less. She turns to the villagers and Kaushal, pointing as she speaks, raising her voice slightly, "You, you, and you -- leaders of each village. Need answer, und need it now, ching. Vhat is most important to you: get kids back safe, or Devon dead?"
Kaushal glances at the Orange Catholic captain and the Buddhist from Avestha, a middle-aged man with weathered looks. They look at each other briefly, and the Ste. Franciscan drawls, "All due respect, Cap'n, but gettin' th' wee ones back is more important than scraggin' Devon's arse. 'Course, if we could help do both, we would...."
Solbiort nods, "Goot enough. Thought vould be answer, but needed to know for sure. Sheh-sheh." She turns to Raj, "Got sniper rifle ready? You vill be my backup, ching. Need you to keep Devon in sights, vith similar instructions as vith Molly -- if I order so or go down, kill Devon. Can shoot vhatever you vant later, but Devon is first goal if everything go to kao. Also, Nigel is vorking on drug darts -- von for me, von for you. If I can get close enough to boy, vill dart him und try to disconnect any vire. If you can get close enough to Devon, dart him also, ya? Vill need to be hand held -- don't have veaponry for rifle delivery of darts."
Raj nods, then says, "I don't know what Nigel has up his sleeve, but I'll try. I don't expect I'm going to be anywhere near Devon, but I expect a bullet will work just as well." Solbiort nods a touch grimly in agreement... then settles to do a quick review of her weaponry while she waits on Nigel.
Outside, Elgyn doesn't like this terrain -- it's too rocky and angled compared to Ulundi, and despite the depression the camp is in and what used to be Pilum Longinus, the slopes are gentle; there's not a lot of rises to hide behind. But he manages to remain fairly stealthy as he circles the depression, looking for snipers before they spot him. In fact, Elgyn's caution is warranted. Moving almost as stealthily -- but not enough to be missed by Elgyn -- is someone who is definitely not one of the militia folk. He's got a 15mm autolock anti-material rifle, and appears to be trying to get into position to snipe at the bow doors.
Elgyn goes completely still when he sees the man, till he's sure the other one has not seen him. With precise slowness, he removes his long blade from his thigh sheath as he starts to move towards the sniper. He doesn't know how long he has before Solbiort comes out, so his eyes flicker between his target and the ground he steps on. If he has to move quicker than he'd like to insure Solbiort's safety, he's going to be sure of the terrain.
The man is being very stealthy, almost more than Elgyn is; it's not likely Molly can spot him from the ship. He does not, however, notice Elgyn creeping up, though he looks like he's attempting to be alert and watchful. He begins to set up the AMR; it looks like a model that could potentially do some damage to the ship. Elgyn is quiet, and so very calm. This is what he does best. He puts Solbiort, the boy, even the hated Devon from his mind. Gliding over the rocks, he stalks his prey, circling slightly behind as he holds his krisara like an extension of his own arm as he prepares to strike.
Elgyn wonders, a second before, if the sniper can sense him when he lifts his head from his work. But by then it is too late. His fine blade slides smoothly into the man's flesh just above the collar and down at an angle, so just the tip pokes through on the other end, just above his vest. It's not an instant kill, but the placement and impact is enough that the man sags a couple heartbeats later, falling off his blade. To Elgyn's immediate perception, there are no other snipers in this area of the rim around the depression. Elgyn wipes his krisara off on the man's clothes as he checks his flanks, and then gives the man's neck a twist, finishing the job. That done, he crouches down to where the rifle sits, deciding to make use of the industrial scope to continue searching for assailants.
Meanwhile, Nigel emerges from the Chimera's infirmary, handing Solbiort two hand-darts -- really glorified automatic injectors -- and a packet of synthetic blood. Solbiort grins at Nigel, her eyes lighting up, "Di-di, you are best of all! Give Devon von to Raj, und ve go!" Nigel gives the dart with the higher dosage to Raj. Solbiort calls to Raj, "Ready, hjorrnipt?"
Raj palms his injector and it disappears into his kit. He asks Nigel, "How much of this has to get into him? How long till it takes effect? How long does it last?"
Nigel replies succinctly, "All of it, under five seconds, and about half an hour."
Raj nods, surprised, "Better than I'd hoped. Nice work." He turns to Solbiort and says, "Ready."
Solbiort murmurs to Raj at the airlock, "Am goink to head for boy, try to disconnect vire. You keep eye on Devon -- do not allow him to stop me." Then she steps out of the ship with Raj, making sure Molly locks it tight behind them. Molly's already patched Solbiort's comm through to the ship's outside comms. As Solbiort strides confidently towards the brigand camp, she laughs aloud, cheerfully (and loudly!) announcing over the comms, "Fantastic plan! You boys are all free to go now -- got Devon out in open, as directed. Kwai chur hun-rien duh di fahng!" [go far away very fast] She doesn't hesitate for a second, nor does her confident expression waver -- she strides swiftly towards the booby-trapped boy, her gaze searching for a wire leading away from him.
Outside, Elgyn pans the scope in Devon's direction after several seconds of checking possible ideal shooting spots, checking to see what the bag of go-se is up to. He doesn't see any other snipers immediately, but that might be just the angle he's at. Elgyn gets up when he hears -- and sees -- Solbiort exiting. If there are any other snipers present, he's not at a good angle to find them with the rifle. He moves off, circling around quickly as he's running out of time.
Devon starts to say something when Solbiort completely walks past him. He frowns, turning and pointing. "You take one more step towards the boy and I will have him killed, Chang Fei."
Solbiort doesn't even look at Devon, her confident voice carrying clearly through the ship's comms, "Raj, take prisoner in hand. You boys in camp! Vhat you vaiting for? Go now, or die vith these fools!" The dart and tiny blood pack is tucked into Solbiort's left hand, and while the boy is momentarily obstructing the line of sight between her and the other brigands, she draws her knife with her right hand, slaps her left down on the boy's unprotected neck (hitting him with the dart), then slashes the knife swiftly in front of the boy at about throat level, deliberately nicking the blood pack.
A second later, Solbiort wipes her knife clean on the limp boy's armored vest -- slashing the detonation wire she's spotted free of the vest as she does so -- then with her left hand she tosses him down before her. Standing arrogantly tall, she sheathes her knife and snaps at the camp, "Move out, boys -- now."
Devon's jaw has simply dropped. From within the prefab there is utter silence but for a softly emphatic, "Ta me da, did you see that?" What happens next sounds like furniture being thrown virtually across the room, apparently to blockade the door. Arguing commences even during this. Gunshots ring out. Mayhem ensues.
Solbiort sighs, hands on her hips, and shakes her head once. "Nee mun doh shr sagwa. [Idiots, all of you] You vant to die? Or do you vant to take horses, food, veapons, und vater -- und leave? Think about it." She turns, clicking off the comm, and adds, "Take Devon to ship. If he resist, kill him." She picks up the limp kid's body, slings it over her shoulder, and heads for the ship.
Devon finally finds his voice. "Well, now," he says slowly. "A good trick, that. Hell, damn good job all around." He smirks a bit and holds up his hands. "No need for more violence; I'm surrenderin'."
Raj barks, "You heard her! Move!" and steps to the side, so Devon has a clear path back to the ship, keeping a steady hand on the gun pointed at his charge.
Solbiort growls at Devon, "Damn shame, you hwoon dahn." She makes sure she doesn't get in Raj's line of fire at any point as she heads for the ship. Devon chuckles a bit, but makes no other comment as he is 'ushered' back to the ship by Raj.
Elgyn watches things play out from the top of the slope. Satisfied that there are no more lurking fellows, he moves more quickly back to where he left the rifle, and watches the building where the rest of the bandits are holed up.
Solbiort will move to the cover of the ship, out of sight of the brigands, then peel the armored vest off the kid. That gets tossed down the ravine, well away from the ship. Then she turns to the approaching Raj and Devon, "Knock him out, Raj." Her hand is resting on her pistol, should Devon try anything. She rather hopes he will. She'd like to see him dead.
As they near the hatch Raj calls out, "Far enough. Stop!"
Devon stops when told to. "I'm assumin' you don't want to be hearin' a counter-offer, Chang Fei. Nah, 'course not, that'd sully your rep."
Solbiort glances disinterestedly at the brigand leader, "Do not think you haf anything I vant, child-violator."
Raj says, "Hands on the hull. Feet back and apart. You know the drill. Please feel free to give me the smallest excuse to shoot you here and save you the trip back." Solbiort gets a slightly wistful look at Raj's commentary, thinking, [Please, please, try something, you bastard!] She shifts to cover and still stay out of Raj's way.
Devon says slowly to Raj, "Far be it from me to make things easier by dyin'." He 'assumes the position' as ordered. "You might be wrong about that, Chang Fei. How does am unclaimed Browncoat war chest strike you? 'Course it's your choice. If not us, someone'll get it."
Solbiort still sounds disinterested, "If it vere easy to get, you vould haf already. Try again." Raj keeps Devon covered, while Solbiort slowly and carefully searches him.
"If 'twas easy, I'd not be out 'ere. Trick is findin' where it is. But once you got that, well..."
Up on the slope, Elgyn reaches the rifle, but stays up there. Solbiort gave him no directive to come down at any given point, and she may still have use for him up here. So he stays at the perch, keeping an eye on both Devon and the building with the bandits, hands on the rifle. It's not his weapon of choice, but he can use it, in a pinch.
Solbiort finds half a dozen or so weapons: a suoshi autolock, an autorevolver holdout, a trench knife, a scatter-handgun, and a couple more small blades. At some point she simply starts pulling clothes off the man to be sure she's not missed anything. Raj says, "That it, Devon? We find you were hiding anything else, we won't even leave you your hat to wear in your cell."
Devon rolls his eyes, but makes no comment about the searching. "Yes, that's all t'ere is." Raj offers Solbiort a heavy pair of manacles and waits while she secures him. Devon continues to submit to the treatment with aplomb. "If yer not interested, s'yer loss, 'cept I should've known it'd not be t' yer taste."
Solbiort nods and manacles Devon, then growls at him, "Keep talking. Vant reason to hurt you." She sighs, then raises Molly on the comm to open the small cargo bay door. The unconscious boy is handed in to Nigel, and then Soli growls under her breath about not having enough crew. A moment later she shakes her head, then adds, "Hokay. Raj, ve go lock him up, then come back und try to talk these schtupit boys out of camp."
Raj nods, "You go first, and make sure there's nobody between us and the cabin. I'd hate for some townie to flip out at this late stage."
As Solbiort is speaking, Elgyn notices a scant three men scrambling out of the back of the prefab, looking unutterably pensive and carrying a few bags and weapons, making like mad for the horses. Elgyn nods as he sees that, and activates his comm, sending Solbiort a single beep to get her attention. No need to have Devon listening in.
Solbiort nods, tossing Devon's clothing and equipment into a pile by the door, then swiftly leading the way to one of the passenger cabins. The mood in the cargo hold gets ugly when Devon is brought in, the temperature simultaneously dropping to absolute zero (from the Avesthans and Jains) to rising to the melting point of neutronium (from the Ste. Franciscans). Solbiort keeps people back mostly by glaring at them, and gets the brigand leader swiftly to a room. At the beep she steps aside so Raj can lock the room, and brings the comm to her ear, murmuring softly, "Ya?"
"Got three bandits trying to sneak out the back, and one big damn gun. You want me to ventilate their skulls or what?" Elgyn murmurs calmly, turning the rifle to track.
Solbiort thinks a bit, then murmurs, "Neh. Follow at range, pretty. If they've harmed any of the villager kids, ve kill zem. Othervise truly they are free to go."
"They're going for the horses, Captain. I'm good, but not going to be able to follow a horse at full gallop at any speed. My guess is they're going to try and make a break for it." Elgyn comms back.
Solbiort says, "Hokay, ve hurry. Vant mule to follow zem?" She adds to Raj, "Must run. Ready?" Raj checks his gear quickly, then nods. Solbiort dashes out of the ship with Raj, then strides swiftly and confidently towards the camp.
Elgyn muses on the comm to Solbiort. "I'm better on horseback, but then again, may not need to keep hot on their heels. I can track any horse alive, what with them not being able to climb rocks. I'm relocating back to the ship, with your leave. If we need to find them again, we will."
Solbiort agrees with Elgyn, then calls to the camp, "Hokay, time to open door!" She pulls on a glove to smash a window as she waits for an answer. After tapping open a corner of the window's glass, she then yanks the blind through to clear out the rest of the glass. Inside, the main room is a wreck. Furniture has been thrown against the front door, apparently to prevent the insane woman who cuts kids' throats from coming in. There are also more than a few bullet-holes in the walls... and three bodies on the deck. Solbiort studies them, relieved to notice they're obviously bandits -- not the kids. She sees two more doors leading off from the main room, so she calls to Raj, "Going in, Raj." She vaults carefully through the window, then calls into the room, "Kids? Vhere you at?"
Solbiort checks the bodies in passing, making sure they're actually dead. The bandits look to be quite dead; the gunshot wounds seem pretty final. There is silence for a moment, then one of the doors clicks and creaks open slowly. After a moment a small face peeks around the door, looking warily at Solbiort. She smiles, "Nihao. Vhich village you are from? All your companions are vell? Haf families in ship vaiting for you all." The kid looks at Solbiort silently for a few more moments, then disappears back into the room, leaving the door to swing open.
Solbiort steps forward carefully to look into the room... then she pauses a moment, then turns and clears the furniture from the door, so she's got a path of retreat if necessary -- and so Raj can come in if he wishes. Only then does she returns to see how the village kids are doing. Raj moves to the cover of the doorway, keeping watch.
Inside there are about a score of children ranging from 12 to 17 apparently, though some look older about the face and eyes. They're all warily and eerily quiet as they look at Solbiort. All are dressed in a variety of styles. Most are obviously Jain, Orange Catholic, or Buddhist in dress. The ones whose clothing remnants she doesn't recognize are probably Bnei Menashe and Nizari Islam. The room is small and a little crowded with the twenty children. But they appear to be safe and unharmed and in relatively good shape.
Solbiort sighs in relief, then comms the ship, "They're all here. Elgyn, let bandits go. Mei-mei, let villagers out to come get kids. Nigel, stand by... got about 20 kids incoming, und some of zem look..." She falls silent, then simply says, "You'll see." Elgyn doesn't want to. The bandits still have blood on their hand... still raped those kids. But it's his Captain's call.
After the militia are released from the ship there is more than one tearful but joyful reunion with the children; indeed, all the militia take great pains to be thankful for the safe rescue of the children. It's about half an hour later than a skiff with the sheriff's star on it comes angling around what used to be Pilum Longinus. Landing, it disgorges Deputy Lisbet and two other deputies. Solbiort nods politely to the deputies, "Nihao. Got Devon und few injured bandits. Traded him for ozzer remaining three bandits. Also got kids back safe." There's an element of pride in her voice at that -- she's very pleased with her crew and how things went! "Vill drop families off at villages, but think you might vant injured bandits und Devon?"
Lizbet nods dispassionately as she looks around the camp. "A fair trade," she says. "Those three will be little more than a nuisance. Yah, we'll want the injured and Devon, thanks. The magistrate wants a word with him, to put it lightly. I 'magine we'll be seein' Devon swing from the gallows 'fore long."
Solbiort nods, "Hokay. Vant us to bring zem to town, or you got vay to carry injured?"
Elgyn grunts, having returned to Solbiort's side in the interim. "Hanging's to good for him," he mutters, then muses, "Unless his neck doesn't break. That might be more satisfying, to watch him strangle to death."
Solbiort rumbles, "Hush," to Elgyn, then waits for an answer from the Deputy.
"We're still short-handed, so if you could take them back that'd be even better." Deputy Lizbet nods to Elgyn, adding, "Always hate it when that happens, actually. Rather be it over and done with, then get on with m'life. Don't want t' stick 'round a gallows longer'n I have to." She sticks her hand out to Solbiort. "Our thanks, Cap'n. We honestly didn't think you could do this, but you did. We an' the villages owe you again."
Solbiort smiles, shaking the deputy's hand, "Are glad to help, deputy. Hard part now is for you und zem, making sure villages haf better contact so this not happen again, ya? Vant lift back to town?"
Lizbet nods, "We'll be tryin'. Hopefully the magistrate'll give us more stars for deputies an' th' resources to get that steady, but even without we'll do it. Neh, but thankee, Cap'n. Me an' the girls have to secure th' site."
Solbiort nods, then asks the deputies the news about Beth L'Chaim while the villagers are all gently herded aboard ship. Lizbet's expression doesn't change, but her voice does. "They got hit pretty hard. The bandits took out all the comms not long after showing up and ransacked the village. More'n a few of the Bnei Mneshi were shot -- we got a buncha sawbones from the docks to come out and help, so we don't know the bad numbers yet.
Solbiort nods, "Vell... von more thing Devon can answer for. Ve go soon."
The ship is preparing to take off to deliver the militiamen and the kids to their respective villages. Devon and the handful of bandit survivors from the ambush have also been loaded aboard as the deputies go over the camp for information and evidence. Solbiort is still talking to Deputy Lizbet as folks are being moved around; she considers a bit, then folds her arms and leans a bit towards the deputy, her voice taking a slightly confidential note, "Might vant to varn you... likely to hear vild stories from bandits about how ve capture Devon. Crazy things like guns on ship, or slashing throat of hostage." She straightens, her voice almost prim, "Can't imagine vhere they get crazy ideas like zat, of course." A slow, sly smile curls up the edges of her lips as she glances sideways at the deputy.
Lizbet arches a brow. "Can't imagine a'tall," she says slowly. She glances up curiously at the Chimera, then back to Solbiort. "He's a Mantis class, hey? Ehn... don't answer that. I served on one in the War, s'only reason I might imagine that. Right, then. Stories of guns on him are wild exaggeration. I'd be curious about this slashing throat of hostage thing, though... how might the bandits have gotten it into their scrawny li'l heads that they saw such a t'ing?"
Solbiort chuckles quietly, "Vell, because they thought they did." She grins and explains the ruse, ending with, "Und ze boy is in viz his folks now. Our doc Nigel check him over goot already." She points down the ravine a bit, "Vest off zat vay. Careful; still loaded."
Lizbet actually seems to smile a bit at the ruse, and nods. "Good, I'm glad he's okay. An' it sounds like it threw the brigands for a hell of a loop."
Solbiort says, "Ya, think so. Three remaining vons sure seem to buy into it." She chuckles quietly again, then adds musingly, "Haf von suggestion, by the vay... Devon seem to be trying to buy freedom viz vild story of unclaimed Browncoat treasure. Might vant to be sure no von... impressionable left guarding him, ya?"
Lizbet purses her lips and nods. "Thanks, Cap'n. I'll do that -- make sure we vet the people guarding him."
Solbiort nods slowly, arms still folded, and simply watches people moving around for a bit. Finally she growls quietly, "Not sure how he imagine enough money buy off vhat he do to these folks... but don't vant him to be proven right by some poor kid."
Lizbet nods, "Neither do I. And stories about a Browncoat war chest are jus' plain silly, anyway. If we- ahem. If th' Browncoats'd had enough to put into a significant war chest, they'd'a used it, not holed it up. I'll make sure he manages to not make anyone a stupid offer, Cap'n. Thanks for the heads-up."
Solbiort grins down at Lizbet, then nods, "Exactly. Vell... zat vas all I vanted to let you know. Should haf Devon to town by some time tonight, if villagers all move along. Von't be hurrying zem unless you vant Devon soonest? Figure they deserve all the time they need, after all."
Lizbet nods again. "No rush on Devon. Jus' keep us advised by 'wave as to where you are."
Solbiort nods, "Vill do." She nods as one of her crew waves to indicate everyone's aboard, then shakes the deputy's hand, "Goot to visit again, deputy. Sheh-sheh for taking care of zis, und best vishes on making sure zis nefer happen again here."
Lizbet shakes Solbiort's hand firmly. "Thankee, Cap'n. We'll do our best to keep this sort of t'ing nipped in the bud."
Solbiort grins, pleased, then waves to the other deputies. After that she bounds on board, dogging the hatch shut, and paces slowly through cargo, smiling and shaking hands or hugging or bowing to the folks there who want to talk to her or touch her or thank her. More than a few of the villagers want to do that. The Ste. Franciscans are quite lively about it, and the Avesthans more muted, but they are all in their own way open with their thanks. Solbiort grins, quite happy to have been able to help, and matches her enthusiasm to that of whomever she's with.
Eventually she gets to the bridge, thanking Molly for the engine warm-up, and slides into the pilot's seat. She cheerfully announces, "Hokay! Nihao, kids, time to all go home safe now! Eferyvon haf seat, relax, be calm und ve be zere soon!" She lifts the ship gently, not wanting to jostle anyone inordinately, and sets the ship to arc in a graceful parabola towards the closest town. She continues to talk as she does so, "Am fery happy to report nobody hurt in zis mission, but must varn you hardest part lies ahead: to vork togezzer enough zat zis nefer happen again. Also, Beth L'Chaim fery hard hit, so any sheh-sheh und assistance you can gif zem I am thinking vill be much appreciated, ya?"
Elgyn leans on the bridge's hatch frame as Solbiort pulls the ship skyward. "Got a present for you back in the cabin. Every captain needs her own armor-piercing rifle," he murmurs, his lips curling up.
Solbiort laughs, ruffling Elgyn's hair, "Ah, lofely boy -- so nice to know you care!" Her voice is teasing. Then she tilts her head as she gets a private comm message from one of her crew in the cargo bay, passing on a request from the militia on board. She listens, then nods, comming to the entire ship, "Sure, ve can stop at Beth L'Chaim as vell, so volunteers can help. Ve go zere after ve drop off kids, ya?" She makes sure everyone's comfortable and safe for the quick trip to the closest village, then privately comms Liao, to let him know things went well and his information was crucial in making sure none of the villagers (militia or children) died.
Liao is thankful for the praise, though subdued. "Thankee, Cap'n, but th' real praise should go to the villagers... an' their kids. I got one out, but only after a year. They went through hell. If anythin', I've got somethin' I didn't have before -- freedom from somethin' hangin' over me. Now I can start to... you know... try to make amends. An' a big part of that might be prison, but better prison than bein' a part of what was goin' on, you know?"
Solbiort nods, "Ya, this I agree. Goot luck, boy... und sheh-sheh." She clicks off the comm, then takes a deep breath, letting it out with a gusty sigh... then she privately comms another of the cabins, "Nihao, Devon. Had qvestion for you, if you villing to talk?"
Devon is perhaps predictably slow to reply, but reply he does. "Sure, Captain. Ain't goin' nowhere anytime soon! What can I do for you? Been thinkin' about my offer?"
Solbiort says, "Neh. Been vondering... vhy you do things you do to those kids?"
His answer is slow in coming again. "Really, Captain. If you have to ask, does it really matter what answer I give?"
Solbiort says, "Ya. Vouldn't ask if I understood."
"Well. All righty. For starters, they were hostages, keepin' the villagers from doing... well, exactly what you did. Except with less gusto. Guess that's why you're the Zhang Fei, heh. After we'd gotten 'em settled, well, keepin' a camp is hard work, and it was a lot of mouths to feed. Only seemed right that they pull their weight, doin' housekeepin' and cookin' an' the like. After that, well... they weren't goin' to be gettin' out of line."
Solbiort's voice is quietly incredulous, "So you rape zem... to keep zem from getting out of line? Tell me... you haf lot of problem viz zat from terrified children, against your boys?"
"Hell no. Certainly not after we started with 'em. 'Sides, imagine some of the more shy and homely of my gang were glad for th' company."
Solbiort is silent for a long moment, taking slow, deep breaths. Finally she quietly asks, "It ever occur to you to vonder how children felt, Devon?"
Devon's voice is faintly mocking, "Oh dear me, no, I'd never considered that! Why, how horrible a man I am! I shall confess of my sins forthwith and do the stations! Spare me, Zhang Fei. 'S been years since I cared what a fluffy god or a fluffy people or their fluffy children 'felt.' You want to talk to me, talk to me about solid plat, cashy cred... or better yet who I have to kill for to get the next meal for me an' my folk."
Solbiort nods, "Hokay. Sheh-sheh, Devon. Vas all I vanted to know."
"Anytime, Zhang Fei."
Solbiort clicks off the comm, feeling vaguely dirty... then firmly reminds herself she's taking this disgusting individual to prison. That's a positive. She's silent for a while, just flying the Chimera through the sky... there's a simplicity, a pureness to doing so which transcends the sometimes vicious politics of the dirt grubbers, she feels. Finally she takes a long, slow breath, deliberately relaxing herself, and curiously asks Molly, "Hey, mei-mei... vhat Zhang Fei means?"
Molly looks up from her console. "Mmm? Zhang Fei? He was some character from Earth-That-Was myth, 'way before the Exodus, maybe about two thousand years. If I remember right he had a heck of a reputation as a fighter, able to fight and face down a thousand men, and fought to restore the Han empire. The Buddhists revere him as the oath-brother to their God of War, Guan Yu. He also had a reputation as being drunk, vain, reckless, and impulsive. Why do you ask?"
Solbiort laughs! then grins amusedly, "Pot calling kettle black, sounds like. Devon has been callink me zat instead of Chang Fei."
Molly blinks, then snorts. "Kind of a backhanded compliment, it seems. Or just trying to undercut the reputation of 'Chang Fei.'"
Solbiort shrugs amusedly, "Nefer vanted reputation, und nefer could get anyvon to listen to me explain how t'ings truly vent... so am not goink to vorry about zis eizzer. If bandits vant to belief me dancherous, they vill... nozzing I can do about it." She relaxes, turning her attention to guiding the Chimera in smoothly bringing the lost children home.
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