Arriving at the next depot Micky was glad that for once things had not gotten ahead of him. The traitors were still in the lead and would be. Micky had far too much and they far too little. They would arrive at the legate’s rendezvous point long before he did. The fact that the legate was also retreating was not lost on Micky. However, this time the lead of his own messenger was much ahead of theirs. So while they would physically be able to arrive first, they would not get the first say.

Micky could only imagine what that would be like. He knew very well, the first person was always hit twice in an argument. First they had to deny what was said, then they had to make their own case. You could never say your piece and be done with it. You always had to say why your piece was better than theirs. This however, did not preclude the other parishioners' arguments as the lead however. Both would be weighed and valued ‘equally’. Micky just had to weigh and value on what the legate would consider equal. And that was pretty simple, he cheated. He sent a letter to the centurion council. While they weren’t his allies, they were neutral ground and looking for a scapegoat. What better one than the people actually at fault?

Well, probably a lot of people were at fault. What better scapegoat than a semi valid one? Anyway, they would probably not be heard out fully until he got there. Then they would have to beat back all the people that were looking to blame them. Finally, they would be looking for a way to reduce the blame on any of them. By the end of it, it would be a wonder if the farce of a war effort wasn’t entirely placed onto their shoulders. Hopefully none of it would be placed on his. At least, by the time he got their all the blame would be placed on other peoples shoulders. Best way to avoid blame was to not be their when it was assigned. However, you were usually voluntold for tasks when it was put to a vote. And if you stated that you didn’t vote, well you weren’t opposed to it when they put it to a vote, ha!

The ride back would be a long one, much longer now that he had wreck another depot. This time all the boulders and tree trunks were moved to the right side! Or as the enemy would put it, the wrong one!

*Thunk, thunk!*

Well, most of the trees and boulders. Luckily big giant trees and boulders were easy to dodge if you knew where to look. And everyone still in range was definitely still looking.

Bright side, they were now fully ahead of the enemy centurion army. It was a battle of attrition and rations, one that Micky was sure to win. It was also a very classic strategy. The only problem was that all the supplies were slowing him down. Luckily he thought that far ahead. Well, let’s not get ahead of ourselves here. He simply sent a messenger ahead (Not a pun this time...) to send down a repeating command. They were to fall back. They would keep enough supplies down the line for his little growing army to maintain and feed itself and that was it. Everything else must go, like a going out of business sale.

Well, in most ways, Micky’s little depot was. The line was broken, they were now in an almost full retreat, and the fact that he was making it look damn near orderly meant that his was all the more than the upper half of the rest of the army.

Now, if only he could get his money’s worth. He had been running the large part of the supplies of this section through his own depots. He had more supplies of various disputable natures then he knew what to do with. Which brought the good question of what to do with it all. That was also a more comforting question than whatever else he could come up with. Like what the enemy would do with him if they were to get a hold of him. Or whether or not he was going to be court martialed. Or whether or not Jim and Karry were getting along too well. The last one wasn’t even something he cared about, it was something that people around him were asking and he couldn’t get out of his head. Well nothing like a long endless road trip to make you hate the people you are with…

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Arriving back to the rendezvous point with the legate's ragtag army wasn’t that hard or eventful. In addition the enemy was well and away from there. It would take time for them to catch up, and the stragglers were flowing in every day. Micky still hoped that there were going to be more, much more. Hope is free after all…

Micky found his way to an open space and quickly got his crew set up and ready. They pitched tents and made crude barricades. It wasn’t like they didn’t have all the spare lumber they could ever use… Well that wasn’t true, lumber was just one of those resources that you could never have enough of. Rocks though, rocks were hard to find early game, but you always had way too many later on. It’s like, if there were so many rocks, why is it only now do I have them and not just a little bit ago when I actually needed them. No, instead I had to send for them and gather them all up. And now, nothing needs them and they're all useless. But that was just the tech tree.

While he was setting up his campgrounds a group gathered as the welcome committee. Of course, that depends on a person's definition of welcome as these were armed soldiers marching with weapons at the ready but not actively pointed in his direction. There was a full formation of soldiers here to ‘welcome’ him.

Micky was somewhat expecting this so he greeted them.

“Hello is there anything that I can do for you fine fellows?” Micky greeted.

“We are looking for Micky Anderson.” Stated the first guard.

“Who now?” Asked Micky. He wasn’t aware of another Micky Anderson, but you never knew.

“We are looking for a soldier by the name of Micky Anderson. This centuri bears his flag. We assume that he is around here somewhere.” Asked the soldier.

Well damn, no such luck. “Do you mean our centurion?” Asked Micky.

“Yes, his full title would be senior centurion Micky Anderson, have you seen him?” Asked the guard. He seemed to be getting even more pompous then showing up in full regalia with weapons drawn and a full outfit of soldiers. But there was no reason for this soldier to clock the ungrateful whelp, yet. Once he pumped the man for all the information he was worth however, that was a different story.

Micky looked at his lacking guards. And by lacking, he meant nonexistent. Everyone was busy with setting up camp, that included himself. Though they were close by. “Well you’re looking at him. Senior centurion Micky Anderson, at your service. What can I do you for?” Asked Micky. He really shouldn’t have asked that.

Why? Simply because that earned him a clock right to the face. And as his bleary vision faded in and out of focus he heard but did not quite understand “Micky Anderson, you are under arrest for treason, and desertion of duty. You will be coming with us to stand trial.”

What he did not hear was half the camp pulling out their own weapons. The legate was just incompetent enough that weapons were always needed at all times. He also couldn’t wave off what was clearly a bad idea. He at least heard Prin making a battle charge across the field. She wasn’t going to let them take him away without a fight. Especially while he was unconscious and with these suspicious soldiers doing it.

Micky had just enough faculties behind him to wave her off. They knew this was a possibility and she was supposed to be in charge of the camp while he and several others were incapacitated for verious reasons… Unfortunately this only earned him another clock to the face which knocked him completely out this time. What will be, will be.