Princess Rescue Inc

by Chris Hechtl

  “Ah,” the captain replied nodding in understanding.

  “I'm curious about conscripts and their supplies themselves. They can't have a lot of supplies. Do they have a supply line to Duluth I wonder?” Ryans mused, rubbing his chin as he sat back.

  “A possibility,” the general said, not committing an answer to that.

  “Can we, oh, say cut that off? Or at least harass the supply line?”

  “Why?” an officer asked. Ryans glanced at him. He was a new recruit, Tiberius, one of the young men Perry had put forward for officer material. He was filling the native equivalent of a junior infantry officer.

  “Some juniors should be seen and not heard,” the general growled.

  “He has to ask if he doesn't know sir. Better to ask a seemingly stupid question than to get caught out when your commander assumed you knew what they were referring to,” Ryans replied. “It's been known to happen in war. Take um... Gettysburg for an example.”

  The native officers blinked in confusion. Perry however snorted. “You would bring that up,” he mock growled.

  “Not my fault someone couldn't understand implied intent,” Ryans smiled.

  “He's talking about the commanding General Lee who passed on an order to a subordinate named Ewell but as a request not as an order. He assumed the man would understand 'if practicable' and press hard to achieve the objective and deny the defensive position to the Union. Instead the subordinate's men had been hard pressed already so the subordinate declined the request. It was one of the reason's the South lost that battle and the war.”

  The general grunted and then slowly nodded.

  “As to your question, Tiberius right?” Ryans asked the acne scarred young man. The young man nodded. Tiberius was on the fast track, apparently a good solid kid with a good head on his shoulders. Perry had him in the Silent Knight platoon. “By cutting off the enemy's supplies we would be in effect laying siege to them. They would die on the vine with little or no supplies. Or if we harassed them and hampered their supplies it would take twice as long to get the supplies to them... and they would have to find some way to protect them. Spreading their forces out or adding them to the convoy escort.”

  “Thus thinning out their centralized numbers and allowing us to maximize our own forces by leveraging them against smaller packets of the enemy. Defeat in detail,” Galloway said nodding. “We would blood our men in small skirmishes giving them much needed battle experience while hurting the enemy’s ability to wage war... and pissing their leaders off.”

  “One of the other possibilities is drawing the Duluth away from the siege. Right now they have numbers on their side. So we need to use cunning and terrain to leverage our own resources. One of the ideas is oh, drawing them to that mountain pass. There was a reason the wall was set up there as it was. It allowed only a small number of enemies to attack one point at one time.”

  “But unfortunately we're probably not going to be able to do that,” Perry sighed.

  “Is their King with them? Is he an able commander? How experienced is he?” Ryans asked. He was curious if the general would answer and what the answer would be.

  “Rumor,” the general said, giving the gaijin a look. “Rumor has it that King Richard is dead. His eldest son Art’ur is now King.”

  “So this Art’ur is trying to prove himself. He's probably a lead from the front sort to provide proof of his bravery. Bet he's not happy about how slow that siege is going,” Perry said thoughtfully. The general shot him a surprised look.

  “How did you...”

  Perry smiled as if his suspicion had been confirmed. “Know thine self as well as your enemy. The young are always restless, always jumping without looking and getting themselves killed for stupid things. Only those who watch and learn live on to try to pass on wisdom. Try, and sometimes fail unfortunately,” he said with a slight bitter twist to his lips.

  “True,” the general said with a nod. He sat back in his chair. “You do tend to surprise me,” he rumbled.

  “I'm actually not that much younger than you sir,” Perry said with a small smile.

  “Ah,” the general said thoughtfully.

  “So, this Art’ur is young and possibly rash. I wonder if he's quick to anger? And how badly does he react when enraged? Is that something we can use?” Ryans asked, looking at the General and then the room at large with a slightly feral gleam.”

  “It's an idea,” the general rumbled with a chuckle. “It is indeed.”

  <==={}------------>

  “My liege,” Uuôden said, coming into the tent.

  “What is it?” the King demanded, looking up. He was bored and needed the distraction, any distraction. “This had better be good.”

  “The latest spy reports my liege. They bring news of the wonder weapons,” the general said, handing him the scroll.

  The young King grunted and took the scroll and then unrolled it with both hands. His eyes scanned the document quickly. He frowned, the spies had yet to see the wonder weapons first hand but had second and third hand accounting’s of them. They seemed to be some sort of crossbow that shot small pebbles of lead. “A sling?”

  “I'm not certain my lord,” Uuôden said.

  Art’ur grunted in irritation at the general's lack of imagination. There was a bit more, reports of loud noises attributed to the gaijin wonder weapons.

  Art’ur read the scroll in his hands again and then frowned. “Noise makers,” he muttered. “Scaring branacks? Why?” he looked up to see Uuôden standing near the tent flap. “Do they think to stampede our beasts or make them faint on command?”

  “We do have a lot of them in our cavalry my liege,” Uuôden reminded him.

  The King pursed his lips. That was true. His father had sacrificed many of the older cavalry mounts during the past two winters to feed their people. He had been forced to draft branacks as a light cavalry. The unlamented Thorvald had used them to run down the refugees and secure the bridges before they could be destroyed... and before the refugees could warn the Imperium. “It makes no sense. Only a handful... could that be their plan?” the King mused. “Sow division amongst our ranks with these?”

  “From the reports we have they make a loud bang and spray dirt.”

  “Bah! A wonder weapon? That? Throwing dirt?” Art’ur demanded, kicking dirt. “A waste! I can't wait to make them see the errors of their new toys! Let them meet our steel with these noise makers and see who's standing!”

  <==={}------------>

  Ryans and Max had a discussion with a smith/artisan interested in bolts. In exchange for a ten year exclusive license and directions on manufacturing the smith would make all the screws, bolts, and nuts, washers, and other fasteners they would need at cost. They left with their copy of the signed contract, feeling a little giddy. Getting fasteners out there was important, and for all the projects Max and Ryans had in mind, down right vital. Still the contract negotiations were wearying.

  On the ride back Max just stared out the window. A black cloud hovered over him. Ryans glanced at him and then back to the street. It was slow, there were people everywhere now so the hummer crept along at a snail's pace.

  “I could have walked faster than this,” Max growled.

  “Probably,” Ryans replied.

  “Definitely,” Max growled, setting his jaw. Ryans glanced at him. He took a guess at what was bothering the machinist.

  “This guy is really a smart cookie. Fasteners are a big thing, they're in everything. They've used nails, pegs, and cotter pins but this is a big thing.”

  “Right,” Max grunted.

  “If he plays his cards right and has some good investors who take the long view he'll be a billionaire,” Ryans said. Max grunted again and then turned to him.

  “Think so huh?”

  “Hey Max, what's eating you?” Ryans asked.

  “That we're just giving this shit away,” Max said in disgust.

  “And?”

  “And we're not getti
ng anything in return. Oh sure, all the fasteners we need at cost. You know damn well he'll pad that.”

  “Of course, what contractor hasn't?” Max snorted, giving him a sidelong look. Ryans shrugged. “As far us benefiting, we're going to skim off what we want. It may not be milspec or grade A but at least it's free,” Ryans said with a grin. “And we've got plenty of other things to pass along.”

  “Huh.”

  “Think you might open up a machine shop? Or become the next Ford?”

  “Shit,” Max said, throwing himself back in the seat and rubbing his brow. “You're not serious boss!”

  “Hey, you build it, work out the manufacturing steps and we'll damn well find the financing. After we get this war won.”

  “Damn. Quite an incentive,” Max muttered.

  “Well, I could have said Boeing...”

  “You're killing me here boss,” Max laughed. “Waaaay too far out of our league here.”

  “You'd be surprised. I think with the right investment and time we'll see. If we're here, I'm not keen about sticking around.”

  “True,” Max said. “Though it is tempting.”

  Ryans waited a moment and when they got around the corner and were on track for the keep he smiled. “Hey Max,” he said.

  “Now what,” Max sighed.

  “Just so you know, the guy's only got rights to metal fasteners. Not plastic,” Ryans said and turned to grin at him slightly. Max turned, caught the grin and then snorted. After a moment he chuckled.

  <==={}------------>

  The next morning Doc was not amused to find her spare clothing was missing. She went to work in the clothes she had been wearing the day before. She assumed that someone had borrowed them or took them to be washed at first as she ate breakfast. But when she checked her medical supplies she was instantly pissed when she found many things missing there as well. She went to the guard and then to Ryans. Ryans heard her news, was disturbed and immediately went to the store room. On the way he picked up Scooter and radioed Perry and Galloway. They had been storing most of the things they needed day to day in a store room in the castle, and the remainder and most of the vehicles in a warehouse in town. The guard standing outside the store room door instantly flushed when he noted them approaching.

  They entered and found the cases and many other things missing. Seriously pissed he rounded on the guard. “This isn't something someone could stick in their pocket and walk off with jack ass so don't give me a song and dance. No one is supposed to enter this room unless he's a Terran a gaijin.” He pointed to each of the Terrans in the group. Another soldier came, he had the first detained. “Call the captain of the guard,” Ryans snarled as he snatched the man's pike away. Scooter relieved him of his sword and dagger. The man was sweating now. “I want those items found. Take this dumb ass apart if you have to,” he snarled. He gave the withering guard a cold look. The man's eyes were wide with fear. He tried to bolt but Doc neatly tripped him as he passed.

  The captain came and was angry as well. “It's one thing to pilfer food or clothing, but some of this we need or else the King and this Imperium will fall,” Doc glared at Maximus but he ignored the glare, staring at the guard.

  “Find it captain, I want the thief or thieves caught,” Ryans snarled.

  The Queen passed by and stopped. They explained the situation. The Queen turned on the hapless guard. “Treason,” she said firmly. “For you and your family. All will be put to death,” she said coldly, looking down her nose at him. The guards and the prisoner blanched at this. The accused wilted to his knees and then babbled it was harmless. He gave them the names of the people he sold things to, but said he wasn't involved with taking the medical or clothes.

  Perry came and posted one of his men at the storeroom. He quietly told Doc and Ryans they needed to consolidate the storage to make it easier to guard. They agreed grimly. Ryans pulled out his tablet and checked it.

  “Got something?” Perry asked.

  “Tracking device on the case. You'd think someone would have seen them take it. The damn thing is huge!” Ryans snarled.

  “Nice of you to have that,” Perry nodded then sighed. “This'll be fun,” Perry muttered.

  <==={}------------>

  They took a group of guards and tracked the case into the city. They circled the building where the signal was strongest, certain it was in. When the doors were secured they then entered. The family inside tried to bluster until the guard captain icily informed them taking the materials was considered treason, then they began to sweat.

  They ended up tracking the materials to a closet and a storage place under the floor. Ryans wasn't happy about the time and materials wasted and glared as he recovered the case. “You have no idea, no idea how lucky you are that this is in one piece,” he snarled after checking the contents.

  When they rounded on the family the patriarch tried to bluster, dry washing his hands but his daughter came in. Her chin quivered when she told them it was her. Ryans recognized her as one of the maids. “You're one of the middle floor scullery maids aren't you?” he asked sharply. She stood at attention, chin high but she was pale and her eyes glittered with unshed tears. He nodded as she was arrested and hauled off. It took them about twenty minutes to clear out the material. The soldiers weren't happy about the search and took out their ire on the inanimate objects in the room. The patriarch huddled with his family, flinching and looking away from the stern glares and snarls of the intruders. Finally, having found none of the rest of the missing material they left.

  <==={}------------>

  Later that afternoon they managed to get back on schedule. Doc took in midwives and healers as new students in addition to the city healers. She immediately instituted daily inventory checks to be signed off by two people.

  The guards posted a new law after lunch, anyone wearing the Terrans clothing or using their gear outside of the castle would be detained for questioning. A herald went around town, reading the proclamation at every intersection of the city. Most of the missing items that were sold or given away were found in the gutters over the next day or so, much to the victim’s ire.

  Emroy refugees poured in from the surrounding countryside. The trickle that had followed the gaijin in turned into a steady stream and then a torrent. The soldiers took the pick of the litter for the new army. Max the machinist and the newly minted industrial minister took the rest and put them to work in the cottage and growing industrial districts.

  The refugees told stories of the Duluth raiders, how they were going from village to village stripping them of everything. Any that resisted were put to death and the village burned. If they surrendered they weren't much better off. The men and some of the good looking girls and women were shipped off and never seen again. The boys under ten that did not hide or flee ahead of time were put to the sword. Women who were not raped were left behind with the oldsters and the young girls. Having nothing left to eat and fearing a return visit they of course left.

  This threw a huge burden on the castle stores and foods supplied by neighboring farms. They got new tools out to the nearest farms first, even drafting refugees and their animals to help plow the farms. Doc also took the opportunity to set up free medical clinics to check and treat the families and train her new students. The Queen sent some who had learned the techniques to neighboring lords to improve their farm yields.

  There was mixed good news in the intelligence the refugees gave them. Grimly Lieutenant Galloway had a list made of witnesses and descriptions of raiders who committed acts of violence. Statements were documented and they even video recorded some of the most heinous. When Maximus asked why Galloway turned on him. “For the war crime trials, I plan on cutting off their dicks and shoving them down their throats, each and every last one of them. And nailing their gonads to their foreheads as a warning to others,” he snarled.

  Maximus's eyes went wide. He blinked in shock and surprise.

  “We're aware these things happen captain,” R
yans said, turning to the captain. He had been looking over a map, trying to see where the raiders would go next. He'd love to send in a team to meet them but knew the intel was old and out of date. “We have a... particular rage for this sort of thing. Those that commit these crimes are subhuman and should be severely punished,” he said. “Some of us have mothers, daughters, sisters, and wives. We would not wish this on them or another man's, now or ever. I hope you can understand that,” he said.

  Maximus looked at him and then to Galloway and Perry. Both nodded grimly. Finally he turned to Pendragon. The general harrumphed and then nodded slowly.

  “Then let it be so,” the captain said.

  Doc and Max instituted a water plant, filtering the water from the river. They would need the clean water to keep the population healthy.... including their own population. Like most medieval societies, the population got most of it's clean potable drinking water from beer. They hadn't made the connection that boiling the water cleaned it. Max set the record straight, and even found investors interested in a pumping station. It wasn't a priority project, but having fresh, clean, running water to homes was something of interest to the people.

  Sue ruthlessly culled back garbage dumping, having them overhaul the trash and sewage system to protect the populous from disease and vermin. Men were hired to pick up the trash once a week and then bring the cart loads to the local dump. She uprooted people camping along the river and relocated them away from their water supply to protect it from contamination.

  She had the guards teach them to dig latrine trenches and instituted mandatory cleaning and checkups. There were mandatory inspections as well. Her healers went through the refugee camps treating the sick and injured, to gain much needed confidence and hands on experience.

  <==={}------------>

  “Are we even making a dent?” Charlie asked at their next gaijin only meeting the following morning. “What are we even doing, do we know? And will this help, or make things worse in the grand scheme of things?” she asked running a frustrated hand through her hair. Dividing her time between Wanda, Sue, and her own projects was driving her to distraction.