“After that?” Tamsyn asked.
“Head for our ranch, unless what we learn at Glastine changes the overall situation,” Jeff said. “Set up our own base, get in contact with the Sectors and plan the next set of moves. Questions?”
There were none and Tamsyn assumed the military team had already had their own tactical meeting to go over the battle plan for tomorrow morning. The temporary boost she’d gotten from the shower and dinner faded and soon she was nodding over the salad. She and Cody excused themselves and went upstairs to their assigned bedroom.
“You okay about not having one of us stay behind as a guard?” he asked once they were in the bedroom stripping down to their underwear. “I don’t like it but the Mayor has been a straight shooter so far. I trust him.”
“I’ve been on my own for a long time,” she said. “I can take care of myself. I’ll be armed and I’ll watch out for Melly and her brother.”
“The doc is tougher than you think,” Cody said. “She did a good job when we were in the capital city and on the move since then.”
* * *
The next morning…
Ryan and one of the mayor’s men who’d been a sniper in the military deployed ahead of the others, positioning themselves in hiding outside the edge of Ruger’s camp. Cody had recalled his agri drone and reloaded it with new explosives and was poised to sow chaos in the camp when given the word. His regular fleet of drones were busy feeding him intel as the column approached the target. So far the camp was quiet, most people asleep. The situation was going to change abruptly as soon as Jeff ordered the assault to begin.
The APC’s were in the vanguard of the Millersville forces, with an assortment of groundtrucks and AGcycles behind their point position, loaded with men and women armed to the teeth. The Mayor was in the lead truck. He’d gone all in on this attack in hopes of ridding his town of one threat once and for all.
Guards taken out, Ryan reported. Moving into new position as overwatch.
Now, Jeff said in Cody’s head and he immediately dropped his drone’s load of bombs on the agreed upon targets.
The APC’s thundered over the old dirt road leading to Ruger’s chosen campsite, megablasters spewing fire and the pulse rifles sending streams of lethal energy into the camp, targeting the vehicles parked in neat rows behind the tents and other shelters, as well as anyone who moved. From Cody’s hours of observation, they knew the prisoners were kept locked up in an old shed at night and the attackers avoided directing fire at that one building.
A raider running toward the jail crumpled and fell, probably targeted by the snipers.
Men were emerging from the various huts and tents, half dressed, firing wildly at the invading force. They were cut down where they stood. Others ran for the parked trucks, seeking escape. The Millersville forces encircled the area and a fierce battle raged.
Any sign of Ruger? Jeff asked.
Sending a drone in now. Cody directed one of his all but invisible drones to swoop into the large one room cottage Ruger had taken for his own, finding its path through an unsealed window. He’s cowering in his quarters. Has a woman with him who may be a prisoner. Now he’s on the move, out the back door and heading for the woods. Left her behind.
Jeff ordered APC1 to go in pursuit of the fleeing warlord and Cody drove the heavy vehicle directly through the camp, crushing anything in its path. They emerged from the devastation on the other side and Cody projected the holo of the fugitive, nearly to the tree line. The APC had stunners mounted on the sides as well as all the more deadly weapons and as soon as they were in range, Jeff fired a stunblast, taking Ruger to the ground, flailing helplessly.
Cody and Jeff burst out of the APC as soon as it came to a halt and took charge of the prisoner, binding his hands and feet and carrying him inside the vehicle. The soldiers wrestling him into a seat, fastening restraints to make sure he couldn’t attempt an escape once the stun blast wore off. Up close and cornered, Ruger was more pitiful than Cody expected, given the horrific acts he and his men had performed in Verder’s Ford and against Millersville. He was tall but otherwise nondescript, dirty, unshaven, eyes blazing with hatred as he slumped in the restraints.
“Not much to look at, is he?” Jeff said as he slid into the driver’s seat and turned the APC. “These would-be dictators rarely are once they’re dethroned.” He switched on the com and called the Mayor. “We have Ruger secured. A little banged up but otherwise neutralized. What do you want done with him?”
“He goes to town for justice,” Derek said, his voice harsh. “I need you to retain custody for now. My people are thirsty for their revenge and I want this handled properly. Your emotions aren’t as involved as mine.”
“No problem. He’s in restraints.”
The two APC’s did overwatch while Mayor Wyler and his forces took care of the last of the fighters, freed the emaciated, grateful captives and scavenged the camp for anything useful. Not surprisingly Ruger had impressive caches of food, medicines and other goods. Cody wondered if Jeff would lay claim to any of it as payment for their involvement. Doc could always use more supplies. There were several touching reunions as the hostages were freed. The Mayor commed the good news to Jeff that Mrs. Sampson’s husband was among the rescued and he’d been advised his wife and baby were safe. Trent left APC2 to help with emergency treatment for the ones who were wounded or sick while Zach stayed at the controls inside the vehicle, on guard duty.
The Millersville contingent was ruthless about executing any of the Ruger raiders who’d survived the initial attack and the Mayor ordered the bodies piled into a ditch and burned. All in all, it was several hours before the combined forces were ready to head to Millersville. Cody had left a few of his drones in the air over the town, focused on Melly and Tamsyn and was satisfied the women had been fine, as the Mayor had promised they would be. He trusted the mayor’s word but these were uncertain times.
It was a triumphal entrance into Millersville as the barricades were opened by men and women who’d remained behind to guard the town. The APC’s brought up the rear, moving slowly through the thronged streets toward the city’s admin building, which housed the jail. Mayor Wyler took personal charge of the prisoner and marched him off to a cell surrounded by a phalanx of grim-faced men with weapons at the ready. A crowd of citizens watched, calling insults and threats in Ruger’s direction but made no attempt to overwhelm the guards and take personal vengeance on the warlord. Cody had been braced for a riot to happen as emotions were so high in the town. Jeff had made clear to his team they would protect the mayor but weren’t going to wade into battle to rescue the captured warlord.
“His fate is in the hands of these people he wronged,” Jeff had said somberly. “Sure we helped neutralize his operation and capture him but beyond that it’s not our business. It’s for the civilians to handle amongst themselves now.”
* * *
At sunset Cody stood with Tamsyn, Jeff and the rest of their group on the roof of a two story building overlooking the town square, which was packed with the residents of Millersville and where a scaffold had been hastily erected. The gathering was silent as Ruger was marched from the admin building, down the stairs and to the scaffold, ringed by guards, with the Mayor in the lead.
Once the group reached the platform where the noose hung the mayor raised his hands and began to speak. “In civilized times, there would be a trial for you, Ruger Collins, with lawyers and witnesses and legal maneuvering, which would take years no doubt, plus appeals. These are not civilized times and you chose to step outside the boundaries of civilization even further, wreaking great harm and sadness on your fellow humans at a time when our entire species is under direct threat on this planet. For these crimes committed by you and those who followed you—murder, rape, torture, kidnapping, robbery and related charges—we, the people of Millersville, have sentenced you to die. Any last words?”
Ruger spat at his feet and shook his head, defiant to the last.
