Duty Log

[GSgt Mike Hefner 0]

In half a second, GSgt Mike Hefner's alert status went from Watchit to Ohellno. Within two, he had both teams in a full defense perimeter while he got on the horn to Agincourt. T word. Harper needed to know.

 

The team had been patrolling in the Brukam section of Avaros City when they were called to a department store not far from their location. Seems some survivors had been located, and after the warehouse incident the patrols were taking no chances. Two teams worked together, one with sensor equipment and another loaded for bear. Grafton had taken in a sensor team, so when Mike and company arrived they had already logged the life signs and were waiting to extract.

 

Why the hell the survivors hadn't come out on their own just wasn't right. Unless they were trapped, and scans said they weren't. And no major injuries?

 

At least one got out, though. Looked like a looter, and given it was a department store, it probably was. He ran into the woods and up a hill through thick underbrush behind the building. They let him go in favor of finding those who were still in there. Check that path out later.

 

Some debris from after shock cave-ins made navigating the first level a little dicey, but the structure itself was sound with no signs of imminent collapse. Finding the quake survivors should have been easy, but a thorough search of the site turned up nothing until Agincourt OPS reported they were below ground. A pound here and tap there on the floors finally gave a hollow thwang that revealed a hidden trap door leading to a set of stairs that descended to a secondary basement. It raised a flag in Mike's mind, but after his standard rescue shout came enthusiastic response, so he inched down, weapon ready.

 

Seven rag-tag Avarians huddled in a one corner of what looked like a heavily fortified bunker. Containers of food stood categorically arranged on shelves along one wall. Water and other liquids lined the wall adjacent. The galley looked like someone had stopped cooking in a hurry. Burner on, knives and bowls left askew. The recycler, the john, and the sleeping area had a military look and feel.

 

The problem with the picture was that the people just didn't fit in. Something else was going on here besides hiding. "You're Fleet? We didn't think you'd make it," said a disheveled young man enthusiastically as the rest of the team descended the stairway. "We thought you were one of them! They told us they'd hurt us. They're terrorists. Local group."

 

Jees criminey. Looters were one thing; terrorists were a whole 'nother country, but it explained a lot. After a preliminary med check the team tagged the group for transport to central. Mike sprinted up the stairs to comm Agincourt.

 

"Colonel Harper, Ma'am. GSgt Hefner in Sector One Seven, patrol grid Alpha," Mike called through the comm, his voice clear and sharp. "Settlers report a local terrorist group causing problems in the area. I've sent them to medical and will report to ground command. Thought you should know, Ma'am. Suggest they may be responsible for the warehouse incident."

 

Harper didn't sound surprised. "Sounds like the answer to several of our questions about the situation down there. These terrorists – you think they're the ones who shot at our shuttle?"

 

"I did not witness the incident, Ma'am. Possibility exists."

 

Conversation over. Another aftershock hit. Mike spun to holler at his team and in doing so he noticed that the building seemed to take the shock easily. A report to CGC brought orders to stay put and hunker down. Seems they might be interested in the building. Maybe even the runner and the path. Grafton took more scans for Capt. Matthews. He'd want as much info as possible before sending them into the hills on recon.