Chapter Twenty-Six.

Everyone facing the captain turned to look and saw the party they had sent to the city, returning with an extra rider.

Walt swore “I’m gonna kill her.”

Alvarado asked “Why?”

Walt growled “I told her to stay on the damn wall.”

“They are safe. The 31st is under orders not to shoot unless someone is shooting at them.”

“I’m gonna kill her 'cause I told her to keep her ass in the city, an' she didn’t do what I told her to.”

Captain Alvarado asked, “Who is that woman?”

“My daughter.”

“Ahh. Well, if she is anything like my daughter, I can have her shot when she arrives here and starts making excuses about disobeying her father.”

Walt stared at the captain. Boca reached out and backhanded her company commander’s arm hard enough to cause him to wince, then she said to Walt, “Señor, the captain’s sense of humor is broken. That rubbish is what passes as a ‘joke’ for him.”

Old Billy started laughing. When he finally stopped, he said, “Captain, the sheriff 'aint known for his sense of humor. It’s a great trait in a lawman, but as a human being it makes it really hard to be around him.”

“Billy, shut the hell up.”

Alvarado shook his head, “Sheriff, I apologize. A thoughtless comment like that made when your town is surrounded by military forces is not as funny as the same comment made while drinking wine and smoking cannabis after dinner with friends and family.”

Boca snorted, “No shit.”

The captain glared at the scout. “Sheriff, I will not have your daughter shot, but my scout may have to start designating her duties to her subordinates and making dispositions of her personal effects.”

“Hah, that’s an empty threat. Don’t make me salute you. “

The captain made a very big deal of looking horrified, and the table erupted in laughter.

“You wouldn’t dare?”

Boca laughed then shook her head no, “Nah. You’re a pretty good commander, I would hate to lose you. Training new commanders is a pain in the arse.”

Walt and Billy looked on silently.

The captain explained. “A scout does not salute an officer. What scouts do is watch the battlefield looking for people who get saluted and then they shoot that officer in the head.”

The Sergeant Major snorted. “You and Zapata have the same sense of humor. And most people don’t understand it or like it. Now that I think about it, most of you commanders have the same sense of humor.”

“It’s a coping mechanism. Now, can we please focus on the new envoy from the city?”

The riders approached, then dismounted. Leftenant Davis walked up with the sheriff’s daughter in tow and addressed the captain. “Sir, we have been given access to the maps maintained by the city, they are of very good quality. I have radioed ahead, and we will begin to distribute them to the platoons and the scouts. I recommend the first copies be given to the Third Platoon screening element on the east side of the river. Given what Chief Sanchez said about the aftermath of the night the captain left the city, it’s my opinion that captain Zapata and master sergeant De La Cruz crossed the river and are making up time, rather than making a false trail and trying to throw off any pursuit from the city.”

“Leftenant, would it benefit us if the rest of the company were to follow their lead?”

“No señor, I recommend re-supplying the Third Platoon screening unit and order rapid movement on their part. The smaller unit will move more quickly. The bulk of the company will be better utilized on the western side of the river and will encounter less opposition since the Brotherhood forces seem to have killed anyone that might object to our moving through their lands. Please remember the hassle Third platoon had moving through Los Gatos. In my opinion the Third platoon element has the best chance of making contact with the captain.”

“Proceed, leftenant.”

“Captain, the deputy sheriff in command recommended sending deputies in advance along with the scouts in order to quell any panic we might cause when a force our size moves through their territory.”

“Send them immediately, one second platoon fire team with every scout team. When the teams get to the border of Redford’s influence the fire teams are to wait in place to rejoin the formations, and the scouts are to complete their primary mission heading north along the river. The company will leave this position and head north in three hours.”

“Sí. Of course, ‘The Captain’ knows that even though he wishes things happen immediately, shit takes time to work out, even with a well trained and motivated staff.”

“’The Captain’ is well aware of how the real world works Leftenant, so get this shit sorted immediately.”

Davis shook his head and said “Shit.” Then he headed off and started talking to himself.

Kate spoke. “Captain Alvarado, the senior deputy has recommended sending deputies with the scouts, but there are only ten of us. The Padilla’s have said there are many of our people from this side of the river that are willing to go out with the scouts and calm people down. I think this is a good plan.”

Walt glared at her. And then for good measure, he glared at everyone around him. “That’s a pretty good plan.”

Kate smirked. “It’s amazing how the people you have trained to come up with good plans can come up with good plans, Sheriff.”

“Captain Alvarado, do you think you could reconsider shooting my daughter for me?”

“I am always open to shooting people that need it, sheriff.”

Kate gave the sheriff a glare worthy of Sheriff Walt Renaldo, “That’s not funny, papa.”

“I wasn’t trying to be funny.”

“Good, ‘cause everybody knows you have a crappy sense of humor.”

Kate looked back at the captain, “Peter said that there are over a dozen of our people from this side of the river who are willing to head out with your scouts to warn our people on the western side of the river. We deputies are well-known on the east side, so that is where we will be heading when they finish getting saddled up and ready.”

Walt scowled at his deputy. “We?”, he asked pointedly.

“You left Brandt in charge and this is the plan he came up with. You want me to head back to the city and tell'em he's gotta look for a new job?”

Walt looked at the captain and asked, “How'd you win over my neighbors so quickly? Don’t get me wrong, they're good people. Always ready to help someone in need, but this is kinda unusual.”

Captain Alvarado simply said, “Bribery.” Walt raised an eyebrow.

“We have many remounts. Trained horses, with saddles and tack. We gave them horses.”

“The same kinda horse Zapata had?”

“The same. They are called Dutch WarBloods.”

“I can see why they are so happy to help.”

“Sheriff, gifts and goodwill are better than bullets when you meet new people. Especially if they are going to be your neighbors.”

He said, “That reminds me.” Looking around, he raised his voice and asked “Where is my RTO?”

One of the soldiers popped up and said “Sir?”

“There you are Scott, please send traffic to Sierra Papa Eight Six. My compliments and tell him we need twelve remounts and saddles delivered to the Sheriff for ‘Hearts and minds’, full kit.“

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

“Sierra Papa Eight Six, twelve remounts, hearts and minds, full kit, for the Sheriff’s office. Roger that.” He walked a short distance away and started talking to himself.

Walt raised both eyebrows this time. “Bribery?”

“Sheriff, the Eighth Supply company has over three hundred WarBloods with saddles and gear just to replace losses that might happen either due to enemy action or accidents. Those are just for the assault company. Every dragoon already has one remount with him or her during rapid movement. That does not include the horses they are assigned just for moving supplies and their reserves. We can afford to give the citizens of Redford two dozen in order to garner good will and support.”

The RTO named Scot waved to get the captains attention, then using some kind of sign language made a series of strange movements with his hands. Captain Alvarado nodded, then turned to the sheriff, “I am going to be in a meeting with my senior personnel about the new plan. Boca, Moose, with me. Master sergeant Titus, would you please stay with these people and answer anything you are able to,while keeping OPSEC in mind?”

“Sí señor!”

Kate looked around, then focused on the table. She pointed at the sole remaining brownie. “What’s that?”

***

Walt watched his daughter with disapproval. Even if you didn’t know him, you could tell he was annoyed. In the sheriff’s opinion, sheriff’s deputies shouldn’t gush. Unfortunately, Kate Renaldo didn’t give a damn about proper behavior. This was chocolate. Her eyes had rolled into the back in her head. When she opened them again she told her father, “We should do whatever these people want.”

Walt glared at her, his signature move.

Closing her eyes again and leaning her head back, she said “Papa, these people are gonna change everything. Accept it. Do you really think you can stop them from doing what they want?”

“Whose side are you on?”

“Papa, these people have chocolate”

“Master sergeant Titus, would you please shoot my daughter?”

“Unless she points her weapon at me and tries to kill me or the captain, the Army says I can’t shoot her. I’m sorry señor.”

Behind Titus, two of the soldiers with the black rifles and black bayonets attached to them looked at each other, shrugged and quietly implied that they would indeed shoot Kate as well as everyone siting at the table. Old Billy and Walt both noticed the glance shared between the two soldiers.

The one on the right said, “Sheriff; you, your deputy and Chief Sanchez are all armed individuals of a possibly hostile city. As you know, the captain is a senior officer in the Army of the Republic and we are tasked with protecting him. Legally, we can kill anyone we think a threat. According to our laws, there would be no legal trouble for us if we killed you.”

The one on the left coughed and said, “What he means is if we killed you in the line of duty and had witnesses sayin’ you tried to kill us or the captain. Otherwise, we would be in deep shit. Because that would make us murderers.”

The one who spoke first blushed slightly, “Uhm, yeah. That’s what I meant.”

Titus held up his left hand and without turning his head he said, “You two were assigned to the protective detail because you are large, scary looking and are accurate shooters. Not because you are smart, good looking or well spoken. So please be silent.”

The two very good-looking body-guards grinned. The one on the left winked at Kate.

The two older lawmen had watched the entire byplay in silence.

Kate was the first to speak. “Chocolate?”

“Sí señorita. Please be aware, we really don’t want to kill you, that would be bad for business,”

Walt snorted, “Damn straight. Also, her mother would be really pissed off.”

“Like I said señor, it would be bad for business.”

One of the protective-detail turned and yelled out “Lopez!” at someone in the formation.

An annoyed “WHAT?” came out of the crowd.

“Need more brownies for the ambassadors!”

“Meirda! You just want more brownies!”

Titus yelled over his shoulder, “Sebastian! Brownies! NOW!”

“Adams, estúpido! Why the fuck didn’t you just say it was for the master sergeant?!”

Walt was not smiling. Old Billy was trying very hard not to smile. Kate was making no attempt at all to mask her smile. The two body-guards behind the master sergeant were making no sounds, but their shoulders were shaking. Titus had closed his eyes and was pinching the bridge of his nose.

Walt waited until the master sergeant had opened his eyes and the sheriff said conversationally, “It’s kinda nice knowin' there's the same kinda people everywhere you go.”

Kate spoke up. “We call our shithead ‘Ben.”

Old Billy started laughing again.

Walt grunted, “You're pretty jolly today, Billy.”

“Walt, when I saw what was comin' up the south road I was pretty sure I was gonna die today.”

“Yeah, me too.”

Kate shook her head, looking at the both of them. “Papa, you wasn’t there in the stable when those two ‘escaped’, but Brandt was. Him an' I both tole you everything he said in our interviews with you. I never asked Brandt, but I know he tole you the same thing I did. That man was dangerous, but he was also civilized. He said he could order the entire city put to the sword and burnt to the ground with no trouble from his masters, but he wern’t at war with the city.”

She shook her head. “If that’s what the junior officers are like, his masters had to be honourable.”

Noticing the grins of everyone around her, she shook her head and asked, “What?”

Walt was uncharacteristically smiling. The soldiers were all looking at the sky, the city walls, or anywhere that wasn’t the deputy’s eyes.

Old Billy was the first one to speak. “That man was a world class liar.”

“What! What do you mean?!”

She stared at her father as he actually laughed out loud instead of his usual low chuckle.

Walt said, “That man was'nt some lowly squad leader in charge of twenty-five men. He is a captain in command of a Heavy Assault Company, the same rank as captain Alvarado.”

Master sergeant Titus smiled, “Technically, they are commanders of an Assault Group. And actually, captain Alvarado was promoted to captain and given command one whole day before captain Zapata was. Alvarado outranks him by a day. The schedule for the appointments was made out alphabetically.” He chuckled.

Kate stared. “And the part about him not having no authority ‘cause his company was stationed in Old Mexico?”

“The Fifty-Fifth Heavy Assault, the Fifty-Sixth Heavy Assault and the Sixty-Second Supply Company are under his command and were transferred to the control of the Third Army, according to schedule. Three days ago.”

One of soldiers behind Titus coughed, “OPSEC.”

“Shut it Adams. In less than a week the entire territory will know The Army is here.”

Kate wrinkled her nose then asked, “He lied about be'in a scout?”

Master sergeant Titus shrugged. “Captain Zapata is one of the few commissioned officers in the army to hold the position of Scout/Sniper/Forward Artillery Observer, and he has held that rating for over twenty years. And out of the entire scout force in the army, he is one of the few men who passed the training.”

Kate shook her head, “He said he was married?”

“Actually, he has two wives.”

That got wide open eyes from the three lawmen. Three simultaneous exclamations of;

“Really?”

“How would that work?”

“Who in their right mind?”

Titus laughed. “You seem very surprised. It’s not common, but then again it isn’t uncommon. It’s more prevalent in the army, but we have seen it in almost every area we have made inroads.”

All three lawmen just kind of stammered for a second. They fell silent.

Kate looked at the sheriff, then at Titus and said, “So what you’re say'in, señor, is he din’t lie about a single damned thing but misled all of us.”

“Sí, señorita.”

“That would make him deceitful, not a liar.”

Walt groaned. Old Billy smiled and said, “Kinda reminds me of you when you was younger.

Deputy Renaldo.”

Walt said, “Don’t encourage her Billy.”

Kate Renaldo had a smile on her face, “I've said my entire life that you gotta get creative when your papa is the damn sheriff.”

***

The Chief of the City Watch looked at master sergeant Titus and asked a question that was very much on his mind. “Master sergeant Titus, I don’t suppose you'd mind tellin’ me how many heavy assault groups are in Nuevo Mexico?”

Titus looked over and saw the questions in three pairs of eyes. “I was wondering how long it would take for someone to ask that question.”

He held up his left hand next to his ear and made a pinching motion with his fingers against his thumb. Both soldiers behind him immediately snapped their mouths shut. “What the two meat shields behind me were about to say was ‘OPSEC’. This is a shorthand way to say ‘Operational Security.’ This means restricting information in order to deny it to the enemy so they can not use it against you. This is actually a very important concept.” He paused for thought.

“You have been given some information which could in turn be given to our enemy. There are certain parts of your government and population that have behaved in a very strange way. Especially when dealing with Captain Zapata. The threats he received while merely asking questions about the party we are pursuing.”

“There are questions about your city council. Specifically, the treatment the Brotherhood received, and their access to your council. The amount of provisions and aid they procured with a low amount of trade goods. Their knowledge of the boundaries claimed by your city. I have been briefed about the behaviour of your mayor’s goon squad. And about their appearance so soon after the arrival of the Brotherhood raiding party. The fact that no one in your small city knew who they were. And most of all, their behaviour when Leftenant Davis entered the area where they were being held. Their panic when the leftenant recorded their images.”

Kate somewhat halfheartedly raised her hand and waved at the master sergeant.

“You have a question, deputy?”

“Meat shields?”

“In addition to their qualifications as outstanding shooters and skill as aggressive war-fighters, Adams and Barger have accepted the fact that part of their job is to place their rather large bodies in between bullets and the captain.”

The two men nodded.

“That’s why we give them brownies.”

Kate gave both men a speculative look. “Oh. Okay.”

“Now that we have cleared that up, as representatives of your city government we are authorized to give you certain information. The number and composition of our forces is not one of those things that I can tell you. I’m sorry.”

Walt spoke up, “Billy, they don’t got fifty-five assault companies, or sixty-two supply companies. They give’em at random numbers so's they can hide how many they have while still telling us about 'em.”

Titus nodded. “Very good señor.”

“I think I mentioned that I have a large collection of military history books.”

Kate interrupted, “Zapata said that the Rio Grandé is called a ‘Main Supply Route’, does that mean that you have ways of moving supplies up and downriver, or just down?”

“Both.”

“Do you use paddle boats? With giant steam engines?”

“No. The boats use electricity.”

“In papa’s old books they talk about flying things called aeroplanes and heliocopters.”

“Ah, yes. We don’t have any of those.”

“Automobiles?”

“Not really.”

“Tanks?”

“No”

“Trains?”

“Yes, but only from the southern tip of Panama to Fort Hancock, which is almost at the border of Nuevo Mexico. And also parts of the Texas coast.

“Giant steam engine trains? I’ve seen pictures of those!”

“No, they use electricity.”

“Steam shovels?”

“Sheriff, help me out here.”

Walt was shaking his head. “Deputy, stop pesterin' the man.”

Titus smiled and told Kate, “We are leaving a contingent here, well, at a place downriver. I’m sure Lt. Wiegert will be more than happy to answer your questions.”

Kate was about to ask another question when she noticed a soldier approaching with what looked like a small pile of brownies on a platter. She could ask questions later, she decided.