Chapter Seven

“In combat, even simple things can be hard.”

Síkság Province

-Grid Reference Point 823015-

“Wake up ma'am. Wake up.” Sgt Sita Chambial's insistent voice kept calling Tamari. But it was the smell of Sita's black as oil bitter Chaa which pulled her through a muddy tunnel of sleep deprivation.

“Wake up ma'am. The colonel needs to speak to you.”

“Who's colonel?” Tamari mumbled a sleepy reply confused.

“Our Colonel ma'am.”

Absently Senior Lt Tamari Kapoor noted levels of urgency and apprehension in her aides voice. Rubbing a gummy pair of sleep encrusted eyes, she could just make out Sita holding out her personal metal canteen cup. Groaning Tamari reached for her cup while struggling to sit upright in her cot. “Shit. It's way before o'dark thirty.”

“OK. I am up Sita. What time is it?”

“Ma'am you have been asleep for about two and half hours.”

“Goddess in the void. I think there is a conspiracy in keeping me awake.”

Tamari grabbed a cigarette out of her uniform breast pocket and lit it, taking a deep drag on it, she felt the clove oil numb the back of her throat. Which was perfect. Because she had to choke down Sita's Chaa. The caffeine and nicotine pulled her out of feeling like the almost dead to something resembling the almost alive.

“Ma'am, you can drink and smoke while you are moving. The colonel is waiting for you on the net over at the Field Mice communication truck.”

“Why didn't she message me through my slate?”

“I don't know ma'am. But I think her calling you on the radio is why she wants to talk to you.”

Tamari Kapoor handed her cup of black tea to her aide. Reached down and up ended her boots checking for arachnids and scorpions before sliding them on. Too many troops in Kazan had never developed this practice and had the missing toes to prove it was a prudent thing to do. Standing up she zipped close the front closure on her tactical overalls all engineers wore. Winding her hair into a coil she quickly tucked its length up under her helmet and reached for the combat vest.

“Ma'am...”

“I got it Sita. I know. I am moving, can't you see my legs are moving?” She said knowing full well she was staring now at a slowly sinking crescent moon, which thanks to the perpetual dust storms of Kazan, looked like it was coated in dried blood.

She fastened her body armour close and a cold chill ran up her spine. “Well Sgt. Let us see what the good colonel has to say.-Shitty damn way to start the day, if you ask me.” Tamari groused to herself.

On the way over to the Communication Truck, she noticed the 3rd platoon was very quietly and efficiently stowing their gear, and breaking down their camp. “I see Gunny Chavram's hand in this.”

As she walked, she tapped her tactical slate. Her Sat-Comm signal was bouncing all over the place.

She touched Sita on her arm while raising her eyebrow. Sita just shrugged her shoulders and opened up the back door of the truck. “Dunno ma'am. Been acting weird since around midnight. I don't know if we are being jammed or if we have lost our Satellite. Or both.”

Lt Tamari Kapoor flicked her cigarette out into the steppe. She squared her shoulders, as she just knew whatever the colonel had to say, it wasn't good. She stepped up and into the truck which was bathed in a soft yellow light. It instantly destroyed her night vision, but with radio and detection gear in pieces, and open access panels, using red battle lanterns meant all of their electronics color coded circuits would be washed out.

Gunny Sgt Chavram sat quietly in the corner nursing a cup of Chaa, while Warrant Officer Hebbar lurked. Yes lurked is a good word, over the top of one of her techs. Neither one would look her in the face. “Well I hear the old lady needs to talk to me. What do I need to do?”

One of the techs got out of her seat and handed her a set of earphones with a microphone attached. None of the occupants of the truck would look her in the face. Tamari took off her helmet and then put on the offered headset, pushed the transmit button on the desk in front of her, “Mungus Six Bravo over.”

A burst of static filled her ears, and then she heard, “Mungus Six Bravo this is Mungus Actual.”

Then counter to all radio traffic protocol, her colonel spoke in the clear. “Lt Tamari, about an hour and half, Capt Kandam and almost all of 1st platoon, was wiped out by an ORM ambush. It’s a bit early to give you more specifics but we are sure they are gone. I need you to take command over the 2nd and 3rd platoon. So I am hereby promoting you to Captain, effective immediately. Your orders are as follows: As soon as possible considering your field conditions and the action of the enemy you are to rendezvous with 2nd platoon as soon as possible. “

A cold greasy hand of fear clutched Tamari's heart. “Damn and blast!”

There was a static filled pause which stretched for several segs before her colonel spoke again, “Tamari we had a month since we discovered their infiltration routes. And I know your company made the best of it you could, but 1st platoon was sitting apparently on top of a major assembly area, and they were attacked and overrun by at least a battalion sized element. We only know this because your former commander had the good sense to keep a drone up and circling her bivouacked area. It kept sending us telemetry feeds until the ORM shot it down with a surface to air missile. The ORM are up and in the field in record size elements. Jengdai pass in the south has been blocked by massive landslides, so our rail resupply ability is gone. Most of the villages in the western provinces are under attack or have been raided. Thirty minutes ago, Ajar Artillery Command was fighting in their own gun positions, fending off sappers. The base has been breached in several locations, and our telecommunications center received not one but three separate suicide sapper attacks. So I need you to get your command together, meet up with the 2nd platoon at your earliest. Take all steps to ensure the survival of your command and then return to base. We have community action teams, and civil aide workers scattered all over the nine levels of hell out there so keep an eye out for them as well and try to bring any lost sheep you come across back into the fold.-Over.”

“Mungus Actual, confirmed. Rendezvous with 2nd, consolidate my command, and...? -Over?”

“Let us burn that bridge when we get to it. Get your people together, find a good defensive location, which I believe to be with the 2nd's platoon. laager up, and make a defensive position at their location. If it looks to be nothing, then bring them all home. I give you full leeway to do as you like. If at all possible return to Maratha Base at your earliest convenience.-Out.”

“Affirmative.” Not realizing her mike was she uttered “Shit!”

A discreet chuckle could be heard over the radio. Yep it is a shit show for sure. But I have all the faith in the world in you. The MI detachment has been informed by their commander for the duration of the emergency they are under your command. Best of...”

Tamari Kapoor could hear an increasing level of small arms fire in the background as her colonel spoke to her. There was a loud series of explosions and the static channel went dead in her head.

Taking her headset off she spun around and looked to the tech manning the equipment. “Get them back on line!”

“Sorry ma'am. It's not us. They stopped transmitting.” She replied with grief written large across her features.

It was at this moment, the realities of command settled down on Tamari's shoulders. Looking at the faces staring at her, she could tell the woman of her command was scared, feeling isolated and a long way from home without a lot of help or support.

She then remembered what her mother said to her just before she left for the Kshatriya Academy,“When you don't know what to do, doing nothing is worse than doing anything at all. You can always change your plans. But dithering will kill your women faster than an enemy's bullet.”

Tamari saw the look of concern and decided it was time to give the Tech Sgt something to do instead of just worrying. “Don't worry about it. Do your best to reestablish contact with Maratha Base. In fact one of the standing orders for you and the other techs, Make contact with our base by all means necessary without compromising our tactical situation. Alert me or CWO Hebbar when you do.”

Lt Tamari Kapoor, now Captain Kapoor, looked up, and saw Chief Warrant Officer Hebbar and Gunny Sgt Chavram waiting patiently, both looking a little greasy around the gills, as her father used to say when someone had, had a rude and unexpected shock.

“Gunny I noticed you had the girls up and moving. Good idea. I want 50% on their vehicles and manning their guns.” Turning to CWO Hebbar, “Chief I know you have ten powered Shikaris along for security. I want three things from you right now. Get the longest legged Gidh Vulture drone up, at the highest altitude you can get. I want eyes as far out as we can get. Secondly, I want you to get your Shikari into observation/listening posts, in an arc covering the eastern section. Third and last, I need to go talk to the village Hetman in a few moments. I want you to accompany me. They know you and trust you.”

CWO Hebbar just grunted acknowledgment, looked at her techs and began quietly giving instructions.

Turning back to Gunny Sgt Chavram as Tamari exited the MI Communication truck, “Gunny, get those slackers over in maintenance, and roust those two idiots out of their comfortable racks in the supply and fuel trucks. First light I want every single vehicle in this unit serviced, topped off with fuel and ammunition.” Glancing down at her slate, which was still giving off weird twitches, she could still read her chronograph. “We have three short hours before we move out. I want our asses in the saddle by then and ready to roll. Get em working Gunny.”

“Ma'am, yes ma'am!” Gunny Chavram spun off into the darkness stomping through 3rd platoon like a pregnant mother cow, with a bad attitude.

Captain Tamari looked once more into the western skies and saw the bloody moon hanging low in the sky. She shuddered from anxiety and delayed fatigue poisons coursing through her blood stream. Tamari's mother's words came unbidden to her mind as she waited for CWO Hebbar to finish giving orders to the technicians, “Never ever give up. Ever. Only the dead have the right to give up. As long as you draw a breath, you don't have my permission to die or give up.”

“Damn straight I ain't giving up!”

CWO Hebbar walked up and asked, “What was that ma'am?”

“Nothing Chief. Just talking to myself. Let's go.”

The majority of Yeti villages all followed the same basic plan. Wherever the village Kua't was to be found, on the eastern side of the well, the largest house in the village was to be found. The rest of the village would be spread out in a grid square with large open lanes between homes. All of the homes regardless of orientation would have their doors facing the well. It was a design element left over from their time as slaves of the Ourtai.

There was an expectant hush over the village. It was as if the very air itself held its breath waiting for the blow to come. Dark shadows lay on the ground like vast pools of printer’s ink. Even the village dogs, normally a nosy and noisy garrulous lot full of piss and vinegar, were silent. If they were watching the two officers pass through their village they did so from hiding.

CWO Hebbar made a slight coughing noise, “Ma'am if you don't mind me asking, why are we making this visit?”

“Chief if I am not mistaken, with the ORM up and in the field, every village in Kazan who has helped us dig out their infiltration routes is now in danger. Especially if I have to pull our troops out of here. You know as sure as the Goddess Aranyani danced the forest and animals into life, the ORM are going to come raiding into this village and kill everyone who ever helped us.”

“Yes ma'am. Just checking.”

By this time the duo had made it to the front gate of the large Hetman's home. “Let em know we are here Chief.”

Chief Warrant Officer Hebbar took the handle of her Katar dagger and pounded on the metal faced door with her pommel. The noise of her knocking sounded like the drum of doom echoing through the village.

Soon metal grating on metal could be heard through the gates, as the lock bar was heaved out of the way. There standing in a soft pool of light, was a young boy, holding aloft a light ball, on a staff.

“Rouse your mother and father. I need to speak to them in the big hall.” CWO Hebbar said, to the scared boy.

Presently the duo was escorted into the large square room with the low dais which was covered in pillows and hand woven carpets made from locally harvested silk, wool and cotton. Tamari had always admired the weaving skills of the Yeti people. “My mother would love to have these skills at Deodar hall.” She thought to herself.

Hetman Balazs and his wife Maja came into the room shortly thereafter, each bearing a tray of baked goods and steaming hot Chaa.

Tamari looked over to CWO Hebbar with an inquiring glance. “Takallouf situation ma'am. The Yeti follow strict rules of conduct when speaking to each other for the first time. I know you have been busy with the Kua't system and haven't had time to speak to them, so this might be new to you. But they always offer food and tea and the shelter of their home. It also means if we accept we in return offer no violence to them or anyone under their roof tree.”

Captain Tamari Kapoor nodded her head as the two Yeti approached.

Then Chief Hebbar hissed, “Shit ma'am I forgot. Take off your helmet so they can see your face and eyes!”

The young boy who had escorted them into the hall, made a gesture with his hands that they should come to the dais and take a seat. Tamari and Hebbar both approached, took their tactical helmets off, made a slight bow, in the direction of Hetman Balazs. It was at this ungodly hour of the morning, in the polite confines of a community hall with the Hetman, did Tamari finally allow herself to look closely at the people who called themselves the Yeti. They were different. As she looked closely while the wife went about what looked like a formal ritual of making tea.

“Ma'am I will handle the translation.” Hebbar whispered into Tamari's ear.

The Hetman, or village chief Balazs, bowed towards them and said, “ Kérjük nyugodjatok. Üdvözlendő a házamba.”

Hebbar said, “Please take your rest. Be welcomed into our home.”

Glancing at the pair before her with concern and fear writ large upon their faces, Tamari Kapoor could See for the first time, Yeti were subtly different from her own species. It was a strange moment. She noticed their larger bone structure, big eyes, and their skulls which were usually covered in a headscarf or turban of some sort had a prominent ridge over their brow. Not to mention their hands were really large, and the realization came almost instantaneously that she had never seen a cup with a handle in the six different villages she had visited in the past several months.

Gathering her scattered thoughts Tamari grimaced “cleaning a shitty stable always begins with the first shovel and only ends with the last.” “Thus I have some bad news to deliver. We are saddened to report, the Ourtai and their rebellious members of the ORM have launched what looks like a large-scale military offensive. Right this very moment women from the Hegemony are dying with coordinated attacks happening all over Western Kazan. I am now in command of the troops you see here and elsewhere. Our very own home base is under attack. We are weak and scattered in the field, and I am ordered to pull out of this location to consolidate or bring together my troops, so we will not be killed off one by one. Which means we have to leave this village very soon.”

As one the couple cried out and said “No!”

Tamari blinked and replied, “You speak our language?”

Hetman Balazs nodded his head. “We have a formal way of dealing with strangers we have had to learn by hard example after centuries of living with the Ourtai as their slaves. But yes. We understand and have learned your language from a long time ago during the war of freedom. We...”

Maja, Hetman's wife, placed her hand on her husband's forearm, silencing him for a moment. “We are the Yeti. I watched you just now, and you noticed us for the first time. We are different from you. We call ourselves the Pessad or First humans, and you and your people are the Pessud. Or the second people. We are built differently than you are.”

Lifting up her hair on the back of her neck Maja continued, “See? Our skulls are different. It is longer in the back. It is where our songs, and histories are stored. Where the memories of all who have gone before live. At the age of ten years, our memories come to us. Some do not survive the process. But you tell us the masters are up and killing. For you this is an abstract. For us it is a memory and an experience we can relive over and over. We can never forget what they have done to us. Our “Manu” won't let us forget.”

“What do you mean by your memories?” Tamari asked with an almost aggressive tone in her voice.

“Commander, our memories are passed down from father to son. Mother to daughter. We are born with the memories, lessons, songs, and wisdom of all who have gone before us. It is also why there are not more of us. We live for a really long time.”

Rubbing her husband's back, with her right arm, “My husband's grandfather just recently passed away due to a hunting accident. He was one hundred and twenty five years old and was in the prime of his life. He fought in the ranks against the Ourtai in the first war of independence. We know what they will do to us. Us that have given you aid in defeating their purpose. All of the men will be killed. All of the women including the young ones will be raped. And any survivors of their raping will be used as slaves and breeding stock. It is how they have ruled us for centuries! Do not abandon us to their “Rule of the Claw.”

Captain Tamari Kapoor, heir to the Clan Kapoor could see in the eyes of the two Yeti people in front of her, how they were absolutely rigid with shock and fear gripping their hearts and minds. It was an almost palpable sensation hanging in the air.

Looking towards Chief Warrant Officer Hebbar with a raised eyebrow as if in a question, Chief Hebbar just nodded her head, “ I'm afraid it has always been the same exact story ma'am, with every village I have traveled or worked in.”

Tamari felt a cord snap in her mind. She came to a decision and with its acceptance peace settled on her shoulders and released the tension which had been building up in the back of her neck. “Hetman Balazs, Mistress Maja, do you have any salt in your home?”

CWO Hebbar began cursing very quietly at her side, with a hissed “Do you know what you are doing?”

“I do Chief. You and I both know it is the right thing to do.”

Mistress Maja ran out of the room, as fast as her short legs could carry her. Captain Tamari Kapoor reached down on the low table set with honeyed oat cakes, grabbed one and broke it into two pieces.

When Mistress Maja returned with the salt dish placed on the low table, Tamari addressed both Yeti kneeling on the rug before her. “Do you both speak for the Yeti of this village? Men and women?”

They both nodded their heads.

“And do your vows bind them as well as yourself. I need to hear you answer.”

They looked at each other and said, “It does. Our word is our bond. Our actions, our guarantee.”

“Open your palms then, and take this symbolic offering of bread from my table.” Tamari then placed one half of the oat cake in their left hand. “This is salt. It is the flavor of life, and the preserver of life. Favored above all by my Gods and Goddesses. I give this to you, so you shall know life, love and protection.” Into each right hand she poured a small amount of salt into their upturned right palms.

“And this is my bond, making your people mine, and my people yours. We are united by blood, by oaths and may all the Gods and Goddesses in the Universe bear witness.”

Tamari then pulled her officer's Katar dagger from the Tiger tooth sheath she had carried on her since she had hunted the killer in the hills above Deodar Hall, and with one quick movement she sliced her palm open. Then making a fist she squeezed blood over the open palms of the Yeti kneeling before her.

“We are now one. We belong to each other and you shall no longer be called simply the Yeti. You are now and forever more, until the mountains fall and the sea covers the face of earth Yeti-Kapoor. My people! Jai Yai Kapoor!”

By this time, tears were pouring down Hetman Balazs and Maja's faces.

Taking a linen napkin from the low table, Tamari Kapoor wrapped her hand and then leaned in close to her newest clan members and with a voice covered in tungsten carbide steel asked, “How soon can you be ready to leave? Because I am departing soon, and I will not leave my family behind.”

Wiping away her tears, Maja-Kapoor tapped the side of her head. “Mistress, we have all of our memories. We know what to do in an emergency. We can move fast when we need to.”

Looking long and hard at the couple before her, Tamari growled out, “See that you do. Bring enough food for a week. Only enough clothes for the same, and any weapons you have hidden in closets.”

They both began nodding their heads. Seeing them smiling with the relief only those saved from the very brink have, Tamari gave one command. “Move!”

****

On their way back to the platoon assembly area, Chief Warrant Officer Hebbar looked at Captain Tamari and asked, “What the hell was that all about?”

Tamari stopped and in the pale pink light of a false dawn pulled out and lit a clove oil cigarette, she replied after holding in a lung full of sweet numbing nicotine, “Don't give me that crap Chief. You and I both know what that was all about. I figured it might be a fine point of law, but by making them members of my clan, it will make them citizens of the Hegemony. And the Hegemony doesn't leave its citizens to be raped, murdered or tortured, and definitely will not put up with any of them being made into sex slaves.”

“True.”

Tamari began chuckling. “If I manage to survive this, my mother is going to be really surprised when I introduce her to the newest members of the family. 'Cause I think she wants me to get married to Rajendar Sing, whose family owns a large dairy herd and has a lot of babies. I don't think she is going to expect this.”

Laughing to herself, CWO Hebbar said, “No. No, I don't think she will. Still make a hell of a dinner party when you do show up with forty plus new family members.”

Both officers began walking back to the platoon assembly area, and Tamari replied, “Did you see the beautiful rugs they make? Holy buckets I think my mother would love to have those kinds of weavers working for the clan.”

“Oh yes and did you just see those tiny peonies they worked into the borders. Gorgeous work...”

Walking up to her AFV Can of Peaches, Tamari called over Sgt Sita Chambial, her all around aide, gunner and sometimes mobile radio operator. “Sita find Gunny Chavram and have her meet me here. We have a party of forty plus individuals joining us on the ass busting, heart breaking Longu Longu road march we are getting ready to depart on.”

“Yes ma'am. Oh! I made you breakfast and a cup of my prize winning Chaa, for you as well.” she replied, handing Tamari a cup of black steaming liquid with a plate of rice, mystery meat and pepper sauce hot enough to strip paint with.

Tamari groaned inwardly. It was of some speculation within the company and not a few bets being placed, Sita's Chaa was nothing more than the strainings of radiator fluid through her old worn out socks, with a dash of cordite to make the blood vessels in one's eyes pop. And her love of hot pepper oil was legendary within the Battalion. “I swear her guts are made of cast iron and manganese.”

Tamari managed a weak “Thank you.”

“Eat up ma'am. We can't have the commander becoming weak from hunger.” Sita said with her patented evil grin.

*****

Forty minutes later, saw Tamari in deep conversation with Gunny Chavram, Chief Warrant Officer Hebbar, Lt Sagwle and Senior Sgt Paravati, the leaders of 3rd Platoon. When one of the women present gave a low whistle with a nod of her head to indicate a direction behind Tamari.

“What in the nine levels of hell is this coming our way?” One of the women asked.

Another replied, “Looks like a caravan of Bismali rug merchants on their way to the market fair. And would you look at that Goondah who is leading the pack!”

The Yeti villagers, true to their Hetman and his wife Maja's word, had assembled all of the villagers into two ancient chain driven grain trucks, the cabs of both sat roughly a meter off the ground. Each vehicle was liberally covered in fanciful painted swirls, rugs and even strings of eye watering fringe from above the glass windshields. They were being led by a scarred, leather faced old man riding a 50cc motorcycle, followed shortly by five younger men on the same. The men riding the motorcycles were all armed to the teeth with ancient lever action Bijalee 12.5mm rifles, long knives, and wicked looking hatchets with curved back spikes.

“That right there is a man who would make you wet your chuddies if you met him in a dark alley.” Lt. Sagwle said loud enough the other women standing around the map sheet could hear her. Her remark elicited a chuckle from all present.

Parking his motorcycle the ancient scarred face man, who upon closer inspection looked like he was missing the tip of his nose as well, marched up to the gathering of women, finding Tamari Kapoor standing off to one side and in an old fashion manner stomped his feet throwing his right arm up with his palm facing outward rendered a perfect salute, and said in a parade ground voice, “Master Sergeant Karak Yeti Scouts! Reporting for duty ma'am with a party of five!”

Even though Hegemony forces don't render a salute in the field. (Snipers look for such things.) Tamari's knee jerk reaction, caused her to instantly recognize his salute and reply with one of her own.

“At ease Master Sergeant!” Tamari growled. “What do we have here Top?” She asked, looking at the old man with the scars running across his face in a horizontal band of three.

“Ma'am, I am the chief scout and hunter for this village. Since we have sworn service to the house of Kapoor and to you personally, you also get my services and the scouts under my command.”

“Well you certainly look like you have had some time in harness there Master Sgt.”

“Yes ma'am I did forty years with the National Army and later with the Militia, until they decided to go strictly with a volunteer army.”

“Present your men then!”

The old man made a waving motion with his left hand raised above his head then dropped it in a swift chopping motion ending with him holding it out horizontally and parallel to the ground. Five young Yeti scouts quickly assembled in a line, with their ancient rifles held at present arms position in front of them.

Looking at the old man in front of her, Tamari said, “Post!” And the old scar faced Yeti fell in behind her as she trooped or walked the line of scouts. Stopping in front of the third one down the line, Tamari gave the command, “Inspect...Arms!”

The nervous Yeti scout, dropped his right hand, worked the lever action and opened the breach of the old rifle open and then extended his arms holding the rifle out to Captain Tamari Kapoor to inspect.

“Clean as if it just came from the arsenal in Benal.” Holding the rifle up she peered into the breach noting there wasn't a round waiting or one stuck in the chamber, held it up to the light slightly above her head. “You could eat out of the inside of this thing, The rifle lands look in good shape. Better condition than some new weapons I have inspected before.” Keeping a neutral look on her face Tamari closed the breach and then thrust the rifle back to the young Yeti standing at attention, who in turn returned to standing at present arms position.

Returning to a position in front of the small formation of scouts, Tamari Kapoor, heir to the clan of Kapoor, and commanding officer of the 2nd company of combat engineers of the 221st engineering battalion, barked out, “At ease!”

Five scouts, and their Master Sergeant assumed a relaxed position where their legs were spread shoulder width apart, with their left arm tucked into the small of their backs, and their right arm holding their rifle slightly forward at an angle.

“Yeti Scouts! You have been inspected and not found wanting. As of this moment, you will no longer refer to yourself as the Yeti Scouts. Rather from this day forward until the mountains fall and the seas cover the land, you shall be known as the 1st Kapoor Scouts! Jai Yai Kapoor!”

The men stiffened with pride. Tamari could see a new and dedicated purpose take hold of her newly acquired troops. They belonged to something larger now. She could see it filtering down on their shoulders making them stand a little straighter, grip their weapons a little tighter, causing their eyes to shine with hope and anticipation.

“Goddess in the void I dislike giving speeches. Tamari paused for a moment, and then called the group to attention and spoke. “Today we face the unknown. We have enemies in the field arrayed against us, and our people. They will stop at nothing to kill and or enslave those who we hold dear. It is my intention and my desire, you my Kapoor Scouts, to act as our eyes and ears. Our technology is under attack as well as my military. We need you to use your knowledge of the land before us, to help us guide our people to safety. Can you do this? Can you?”

To a man they shouted back, “Ma'am yes Ma'am!”

Saluting Master Sergeant Karak, Tamari spoke, “Master Sgt Karak, take charge of your troops, prepare them for a scouting mission. Then come meet me and my officers for details.”

“Ma'am!” And once again the old man performed a rigidly perfect salute.

Doing an about face, Captain Tamari Kapoor turned around and found her entire command not working on their vehicles or out in the field at a listening post, standing at attention, watching her and her new scouts. “Jai Yai Kapoor! Jai Yai Kapoor!” Her soldiers shouted.

For the first time in her life, Tamari Kapoor blushed bright red from her throat all the way to the roots of her shiny black hair. Ducking her head to keep it from showing she walked, she stomped her way back to where her senior NCOs and Officers stood around the map display they were using to plot their next move.

“What are you all looking at! We need to get back to work. We are burning daylight!” She barked out gruffly to those in attendance.

****

After introductions had been made, the business of the day became clear once the command group began looking at their tactical situation. The large map of the region had very few identifying landmarks to navigate by except where Highway One running east to west, met the crossroads of the Hurgan road which ran north to south. At this road junction sat Fal-Duffer, where a Yeti village and a temporary truck stop for supplies heading to different parts of Kazan were co-located.

“Permission to speak ma'am.”

“Go ahead Gunny.”

“Ma'am if this was a sand table exercise I would say they have us isolated in a corner here. The easiest route would be to drive out onto Hurgan road, head north till we got to Fal-Duffer, and pull in. But seeing as I am a gambling woman, I would hazard that they have that road booby-trapped and strewn with every kind of IMM in their inventory. If you look at where the road makes horse shoes here, and here. (Gunnery Sergeant Chavram pointed to two locations on the map.) They could set up fairly well coordinated ambush sites. And if the first position missed us, they would be close enough to catch us at the second site. They could stop us cold on the road and then chop us up into bite sized pieces. There are seasonal ponds or drainage spots at both locations. We couldn't get easily off the road and half of our vehicles wouldn't be able to maneuver.”

Holding up her hand to still talk, Tamari replied, “As I see it, we only have one option. We head north by north-west. We slide through this section of the grasslands, till they empty out on the western side of Fal-Duffer. Then come from the west side, hit the road junction and pull into the village from that direction. If we go north-east, I think we will be running into our enemies just that much sooner.”

All the other NCOs listening raptly war gamed the situation in their minds, and began nodding their heads shortly thereafter. The straight line distance from their village to Fall-Duffer wasn't but fifteen kilometers. Overland it was going on twice that amount with a large segment of grasslands between the two villages.

Master Sergeant Karak spoke up, “If I may? It looks like heading north-west would be a good idea. But it doesn't appear on any maps but to the west of this region here, where you think we should convoy through is a wetlands. It is shallow and dry most of the year. But now it is wet. It is not a pond or anything like that. It's just a general seeping discharge for the Kua't system. It helps stop pressure from developing in the system.” Taking his broad thick finger Karak traced a route almost due north from his village. “The grass is thicker here. But the ground is firm. It is far enough from Hurgan road, our enemies would not find it easy to get to us. And even though it’s difficult the ground is firm enough our grain trucks can follow your vehicles. It shall also bring us closer to Fall-Duffer. We won't be exposed on the road for as long. There is even a back ramp they have built to take the tractors and grain into and out of the fields at the base of the bluff.”

Fall-Duffer was one of the few Yeti villages which sat astride an easily identified landmark sitting on a low ridge where desert meets the ever expansive grasslands.

“We can guide you through the worst of it. It is trackless except for small game trails. But with your machines, you will leave a trail even a blind man can follow, which means mistress if we can but hurry, we might be able to sneak away to your other platoon, and not get caught.”

A few more minutes were spent working out the details along with the placement of the civilian vehicles. By the time everything and everyone was loaded up, it was almost three hours past dawn.

“No plan ever survives the first arrow flying from the bow.” The academy book on tactics mission statement came unbidden to Tamari's mind as she surveyed the organized chaos around her, as her combat engineers, MI detachment and now civilian population tried to figure out how to work with each other.

Shaking her head, Tamari offered up a silent prayer, “Durga Goddess, please protect those who I have sworn to protect. Please aid me in my efforts to not kill my enemies as much as help me save my people.”