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  Pirate Campsite Near St Clair

  Hours later, the Pirates made it back to their camp. This group had gone to ground hoping to avoid being caught by local security forces. Most fugitives understood the best way to stay unnoticed was to resist doing anything stupid. The Pirates couldn't afford to draw attention to themselves. It never occurred to the men who abducted Cindy that someone might make a fuss if a child disappeared. When the men spied the girl, they grasped the opportunity for fun. They’d entered the settlement scavenging for food, or anything else that might prove valuable. A girl didn’t fall into the relevant category unless they planned to eat her, which at least a few of them might do if they became hungry enough.

  Country Surrounding St. Clair

  Meanwhile, the tracking team followed the trail to a rugged region of broken terrain. The Marines called a halt to the chase and requested backup. They expected the Pirates to have sentries. The Marines intended to attract the sentry’s attention with a large Militia contingent acting as beaters. Under that scenario, the Militia's job was to allow the Pirates to see them heading in the wrong direction, and offer backup when required. The Marines discarded the strategy when they found indications Cindy still lived as she passed. The searching troops held concerns for her safety so decided to rescue her first.

  After the reinforcements arrived, the Marines divided into fire-teams and disappeared into the countryside. The Militia set up a skirmish line and waited for the people at the front to call them forward after they saved the girl. Marine operators intended to ghost into the Pirate camp, rescue the girl and kill the Pirates. First, they must find the encampment and Cindy, then plan the rescue. They had several options to achieve this. Whether the Marines exercised the easier choices depended on the Pirate’s discipline.

  They couldn't continue using conventional tracking methods against the Pirates. Somebody would guard the path to the campsite. Stark called Headquarters requesting space-based Scans of the region. FNS Theseus still waited for docking clearance when the tasking came. While Colin didn't know it, Henry considered this as an excellent opportunity to keep Theseus’ Captain occupied for a few hours until his security contingent was ready. Besides, the required Scans were for a region behind Colin’s home. Theseus moved to a low altitude, fast orbit and Scanned the area of interest. Analysts gave the AI a list of things to look for and human eyes studied the displays.

  Meanwhile, the Marines moved out, trying to position themselves, so they were ready to react when they’d identified which direction their quarry followed. To retrieve Cindy alive, if she still lived, the Marines wanted to spirit her away before the Pirates knew of the threat. Otherwise, they'd kill the girl and disperse. By dispersing, the invaders would become so much harder to catch. Killing the Pirates came afterward.

  FNS Theseus made several passes over the region, each pass narrowing the Pirate encampment’s probable location. The AI didn't find the campsite itself, but she found subtle indications where rough tracks converged toward a central location. On the ground, Marine operators moved into position while waiting for the encampment's location. They stayed well away from the apparent Pirate tracks during their approach.

  A while later, a Marine fire team found a sentry guarding the track the fugitives used on their way to the campsite. The operators scouted around the sentry, finding three others positioned nearby to offer mutual support. Each Marine crept up and killed a sentry, leaving a clear path into the locale for follow-up forces. After neutralizing the guards, they carried the bodies two hundred metres away before burying them under plant matter and soil. When Stark received the report, a grim smile formed on his face, now it was time to finish this.

  After killing the sentries, the Marines paralleled the track toward the encampment. Along the way, they stayed concealed, not wanting anyone to discover them until they mounted an assault. A few hundred metres further, the operators heard somebody coming and hid. A party of four Pirates passed by heading toward the location where the Marines killed the four sentries. The hidden Marines notified the follow-up teams to drop these replacements. That meant eight fewer Pirates to shoot when they hit the camp later that night.

  As they drew closer, they smelled the campsite before they spied it. These people didn't seem to understand basic hygiene practices because the smell led the Marines closer till they overheard occasional snatches of conversation.

  Pirate Encampment Near St. Clair

  Cindy lay curled on the ground trying to stay silent as she cried to herself. If she made any sound, it often earned her a slap or punch. Half the Pirates in this group were human. They abducted the girl because of their desire for a woman. A few of her captors raped her not long after they made it back to camp. If she protested, they hit her, so Cindy soon learned not to make any sound even though she was in pain, cold, thirsty and hungry. Nobody offered her food or drink, nobody cared.

  The Marine operators moved around the perimeter trying to locate the girl and quantify how many Pirates were present. Midnight approached fast, but the remaining Marines expected to take an hour before they reached their positions. The searchers continued looking until they found the girl lay curled up near a tree, sobbing to herself. By then, Cindy had lost too much blood and felt light-headed. She expected to die before rescue but hadn’t given up yet.

  She had too many Pirates around her for the small Marine fire team to spirit her to safety when they found her. Instead, the team waited until everyone else reached their positions before attempting a rescue. Now and then, the girl emitted a quiet sob. When it happened, she often earned a kick from a passing Pirate. The waiting Marines had almost reached a point where they would intervene and damn the consequences when they received a signal, everyone was ready. The entire platoon had taken the time to spread out and undertake the gruesome work of dispatching the sentries patrolling the camp perimeter. After they cleared enough space, Sergeant Dawson, the rescue team leader, ghosted into the encampment and lay beside the girl. He clamped his hand over her mouth to stop her crying out. She froze, not daring to move, expecting them to rape her again when he whispered in her ear.

  "Hello Cindy, I’m Sergeant Dawson, Cambridge Marines. Stay calm, we're here to take you home. Now, are you able to walk?"

  Cindy experienced a wave of relief washing over her as shook her head, there was no way she could walk. The young girl was hungry, dehydrated and in pain. When she shook her head, Dawson stayed silent for a moment.

  "Okay, Cindy. I'll carry you away from here. It isn't a problem. Do you think you can be strong while I move you? Can you stay quiet while we make our escape?"

  Cindy nodded because Dawson hadn't removed his hand yet. Dawson went still until a few seconds later, two Pirates strolled past, ignoring the captive on the ground. The girl lay petrified, expecting to die at any moment, but they didn't notice the man lying behind her and walked past without looking. After the Pirates had gone, Dawson moved. He picked the girl up as if she were a feather. As gentle as her savior was, Cindy struggled to stay silent when Dawson lifted her. He retreated into the surrounding scrub and kept going for two kilometres before stopping. Dawson and his fire team wouldn't kill any more Pirates that night. They would protect Cindy until somebody evacuated her. On the downside, they couldn't do much first aid because they couldn't use any light to examine her injuries. After they stopped, Dawson called one of his team to check Cindy’s injuries. A man ogling her bruised and battered body alarmed Cindy at first, but when the Marine approached, she saw a woman.

  The woman said, "Hi Cindy, my name is Cameron. I need to look at you, but we can’t use any light. I need to do most of it by touch and rely on you telling me if I do anything to cause you pain, or if you are light-headed. You’ve experienced a traumatic event, will you let me help you?"

  "Okay Cameron, my; my head is spinning, and my body hurts everywhere. I’m sorry to cause you so much trouble."

  Cameron smiled and replied, "Protecting Cambridge’s people is our job, Cin
dy. You haven’t caused us any trouble."

  In the distance, weapons fire erupted from the Pirate encampment. The available Marines weren't numerous enough to kill all the Pirates, but the wanted to try. Besides, the Militia wasn’t far away. Before launching their attack, they arrayed themselves on the same side of the encampment as Dawson’s team. The dispositions should drive surviving Pirates away. Still, the Marines stayed alert in case any escapees came toward them. Cameron noted the girls breathing becoming shallow and decided she needed immediate air evacuation. They didn't have plasma or blood with them to replace what Cindy had lost.

  The Drop-Shuttle with a medical team on board arrived fifteen minutes later to help the rescued girl. A medical examination showed she was fortunate to be alive. If Cindy hadn't received medical help within another hour, she might have died. Meanwhile, the local Militia descended on the locale in force to clean out the remaining Pirates. The Troopers searched the region after the fighting ended, finding seventy-two bodies in the campsite and surrounds. Three bodies didn't belong to Pirates. Forensics identified them as local people who the Pirates abducted and killed. It appeared the Pirates butchered at least one carcass for food.

  When the Militia arrived, half the Marines melted into the surrounding bush looking for signs of the Alliance Spec-Ops people as they traveled toward Colin's house. The rest either left on the Shuttle or hiked back to St Clair. Stark needed them to give close protection for Commander Gordon the next day.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  PEOPLE POWER

  Cambridge Shuttle Station

  Lieutenant Kevin Stark was a busy man, time was running out before Commander Gordon arrived on the planet. Kevin needed everything in place before Captain Gordon came. The effort to rescue the young girl from the Pirates became a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it gave him an opportunity to covertly insert half his platoon into the country near the Commander’s home. The Marines searched for any Pirates who survived the girl’s rescue.

  Still, Kevin had plenty to organize. He called Corporal Cameron Davis into the office he’d commandeered. The Lieutenant was grooming Cameron for a leadership role because she showed enormous potential. Kevin hoped to help her become a Commissioned Officer.

  When she entered, Stark regarded her for a moment before saying, “Cameron, I need you to help me ready the troops for Commander Gordon’s arrival. The practice will help your leadership ambitions.”

  Cameron understood the Lieutenant wasn’t asking. She considered it a test so Stark could see her reactions under pressure. Cameron could only give one valid reply.

  “What is it you want me to do, Sir?”

  “Corporal, we need a quick but thorough sweep of the Shuttle Station. We’re looking for anything suspicious. If somebody doesn’t look like they belong, or if you’re uncomfortable, take them into custody while we sort it out. Liaise with Sergeant Dawson to get it done. The troops may not take your orders yet. The troops will take orders from Dawson.”

  “Yes, Sir, understood. I’ll do it right away.”

  Cameron saluted Stark, turned, and hurried from the office. As soon as she was out of sight, Stark allowed himself to smile. Corporal Davis was still young and earnest. She had the makings of an excellent leader if she didn’t die or something else didn’t ruin her before she was ready.

  Cameron went looking for Dawson. She accepted the Lieutenants interest in her career, the Sergeant told her about it weeks ago. Cameron was both excited and frightened of the path her life had taken since joining the Cambridge Marines. She found the Sergeant supervising his fire team as they scanned the field from their vantage point in the control tower.

  Cameron walked over to Dawson and said, “Sergeant, the Lieutenant wants us to run a quick but thorough patrol of the Shuttle Station. He said to look for suspicious activity. If we find anything, we must detain them until the police sort out their bona-fides. Captain Gordon is inbound.”

  “Okay Corporal spread the word, I’ll be with you as soon as this lot leave.”

  Cameron nodded and left to task the other Marines.

  Harmon

  Crews continued moving Shuttles the Pirates left behind to make room for routine operations. FNS Theseus’ Shuttle settled to the tarmac and taxied to the military hardstand to park. After it stopped, the hatch opened, and Colin stepped out. Lieutenant Stark stepped up to greet the Commander before leading him to a more secure location. After talking for a few minutes, Gordon and Stark left the Shuttle Station and traveled to Sonsberg Hospital. Colin needed to check on Dave Bach and reassure him Julia was okay. Dave still drifted in and out of consciousness with the pain meds, so Colin cut the hospital visit short. Along with his security, Colin boarded an armored Drop-Shuttle and flew to his house where they retrieved Julia and her companions from the safe room. Colin found himself more upset than he expected by the wanton vandalism someone inflicted on his home during the invasion. Gordon realized he’d developed a genuine love for the place. Still, the most important thing was finding Julia and her companions alive and well. While Colin was away, the girl had become a minor celebrity in her own right. Her story and the way she sheltered the neighbors took on legendary status around St. Clair.

  After escaping the attack with a High-Velocity Missile (HVM) and returning to Harmon, Colin took Julia and Keg’s brother and sisters to the hospital. The dropped the others who sheltered in Colin’s home at one of the temporary shelters for rest. The authorities took several more days before they permitted anybody to return to St. Clair.

  Over the following weeks, Troopers rounded up and interned most of the Pirates left on Cambridge. The Pirate troops would stay interned until somebody decided their future.

  St. Clair

  Several days after the rescue, Keg’s siblings and Julia returned to St. Clair. Julia walked into the only home she’d had here in Cambridge and almost cried after seeing the destruction and filth the Pirates left. She could handle the dirt, as distasteful as it was, but the broken furniture and damaged fittings were something else. Julia didn’t have the money to pay people to carry out the repairs or the skills to do them herself. Her only choice was to clean up as best she could. Colin might have money to pay for repairs. Julia sighed and began the long task of cleaning the house to make it livable.

  While Julia cleaned her bedroom, she heard a knock at the front door, and a familiar voice shouted, “Hello, is anyone home?”

  “Here Lisa, I’m in my bedroom.”

  A few seconds later Lisa walked into the room.

  “This is disgusting Julia. What are you doing?”

  “I need somewhere to stay, and I’m trying to clean the place up for Colin. He loves this house, but those bastards did so much damage here. I don’t know how I’ll fix it, I don’t have the money or skills needed for these repairs.”

  “Mr. Gordon saved Cambridge. Mom told me the Pirates had thrashed our System Defense until Commander Gordon arrived with two Freighters full of ammunition and took control. Mom says we owe him. Without Captain Gordon, Cambridge may have fallen to the Pirates. Julia, give me a little time, and I’ll return to help you. Stay with us until this place is habitable again, mom won’t mind, once she knows what you’re facing, she’ll insist. Stay here, I’ll be back soon. Okay?”

  Julia nodded as her friend left. Lisa went straight home to talk to her mother about the problems facing her friend. When the population returned to St. Clair, word spread through the community crediting Julia for saving seven people she’d never met. The people she sheltered, stayed tight-lipped about her deeds, or even where they’d been, but they sang her praises. Even Keg’s siblings told no one, including their mother where they’d hidden. St. Clair was a small, tight-knit neighborhood that prided itself on looking after its own, so Julia's efforts saw her accepted into the community after her return. Since the Pirate attack, St. Clair regarded Colin as one of their own too. Word spread around the village about the damage Colin’s house sustained, and people moved to help.


  At home, Julia continued working, unaware of events in the town. She continued to drag broken furniture outside salvaging as much as possible. Julia sorted the house contents into three piles. One for practical things like furniture and fittings she could clean and return to their places. The second contained broken stuff she hoped might be salvageable. The final collection was for items Julia didn’t have the skills to categorize.

  Although she couldn’t fix anything, she tried to do everything possible to make things better for her friend and mentor. Julia wanted to help Colin when he had the time to put his home back together.

  Harmon (Government House)

  President Edward Constantin sat in his office looking over the damage lists. Cambridge was lucky, although they suffered extensive damage and looting, the Pirates didn’t have enough time or personnel on the ground to wipe Cambridge’s settlements out. A few media reports even suggested the Alliance planned to usurp the Government after they arrived so destroying the infrastructure would've been counterproductive. Teri, Edward's wife, walked into the office and placed a hand on his shoulder.

  Edward placed a hand on hers and asked, “How are you holding up sweetheart?”

  “I’m fine, thank you, Edward. I want to ask about that young man who rescued us, isn’t his name Dave Bach? Have you heard how he is? The man sustained severe wounds during the fight. I hope they’re looking after him.”