It was time already. Tongana and a squad of CSF infantrywomen were going out into the jungle to pay back the bandits for the bloodshed in Bonde Wakulima. Sami's messages had given them a vague idea of where the bandit camps were located, and scanners had told them a little more. Now, if Tongana and the CSF could pinpoint the bandits' location, they could call in the attack helicopter and wipe them out. Bonde Wakulima had sent Tongana purely to ensure that the operation was carried out professionally, with no looting and no rape. No one trusted these CSF outsiders, nor should they have.
Tongana had never felt so alone among other fighting women. Her simple assault rifle and well-worn suit of armor paled against the CSF's grenade launchers, sniper rifles and electroshock coils.
As they slipped on their night-vision goggles and marched across no-man's-land into the jungle, a cargo plane throbbed past overhead, bringing a new load of supplies into town. Tongana stopped breathing, ears sharp for an explosion. But none came. Finally, Bonde Wakulima had received a shipment with no losses.
Under the canopy, the soldiers marched across a thin strip of rock that led through marsh, then skirted around a muddy clearing. "We should be hearing something by now," said the CSF leader, after a few minutes. "Sabers aren't subtle."
"Sami told us they sing every time before they eat," said Tongana.
"Then we should hear something soon. It's about dinnertime."
"Not necessarily. They're bandits, so dinnertime is whenever the alpha gets hungry. It could be now, or it could have been two hours ago."
"Heads up!" said a South American soldier. "I hear something." She stepped up to the front of the squad, cocked her head to the side, then pointed left and said, "This way."
The squad followed her on a cautious, halting path northwest, downhill and finally up to the edge of a valley. Through the patchy curtain of fronds, Tongana saw a sprawl of tents planted along a steep, muddy hillside that looked like it had been cleared by slash-and-burn. A few trees still stood, holding up enough leaves to conceal the camp from the air, but not from Tongana's infrared-assisted eyes.
On the other side, bits of silver and black peeked out from beneath the tree covering, and little tendrils of smoke scattered in the air. Tongana zoomed in her night-vision goggles and saw human figures running beneath the leaves.
"We have them," said the squad leader. "Base, do you hear me? We see the enemy camp. It's eleven-point-four degrees north-northwest, two-point-three-- no, two-point-four-two kilometers." To Tongana, she added, "The attack chopper's coming. Let's watch."
Minutes passed, and the bustle under the canopy seemed to grow faster. A few women grabbed things, trees shook as girls climbed down from their branches, and Tongana could even see some tents being dismantled.
"They've been spooked," said Tongana. "I think they know we're coming."
"Chopper," said the CSF leader, "they're getting skittish. Hurry!"
Rotor blades came tearing in from the south, but they were already too late. The Sabers were scattering, carrying off toddlers, rolls of cloth and bits of machinery. Tongana could see a close-knit crowd of men going straight north while armed guards struggled to keep pace with them.
By the time the helicopter arrived, its rotor noise crushing the air, its downdraft blowing leaves aside, there was no one to kill. The aircraft fired a few halfhearted bursts into the remaining tents, tearing them down and throwing mud onto everything. Tongana only shook her head.
"They knew we were coming!" snapped the leader. "How did they know?"
"Two options, ma'am," said the soldier next to her. "Either we screwed up and they saw us, or we screwed up and got infiltrated by a mole."
"Heads up!" said Tongana. She pointed at a tall, thin Saber running straight towards them with no weapons visible. "Incoming Saber. I don't think she sees us."
"Stop her," said the leader. "Take her alive."
Two of the leading CSF women put away their guns and crawled forward. Like tigresses, they leapt on the Saber. She gave a horrid scream, and Tongana was certain the girl had been stabbed, but she fought back, and the three women wrestled in the grass and mud until finally the Saber was pinned, terrified but alive.
"That'll have to do," said the leader. "Tongana, it looks like our expedition is finished. Return to base."
"I'm not leaving you until we're back in town," said Tongana. "My job is to oversee you and report your conduct."
The leader's eyebrows sheared low over her sharp eyes. Bitterly, she said, "We're heading back."
Combat boots crushed the underbrush as the group tromped back to town. The prisoner, who struggled in the arms of the two burliest soldiers, stared at her captors with wide, shifting eyes, clearly baffled that she was still alive. Periodically, Tongana checked over her shoulder for enemy heat signatures. A few bright silhouettes made her jump, but they were only animals.
Soon, the jungle gave way into the ashen wasteland, then they entered safely into the cover of familiar cassava fields.
In the shadow of the CSF command chopper, which had been parked across from the government office to be their new war room, the mayor was waiting for them with judgmental eyes.
"We've given them a scare," said the leader sourly. "We found their base camp, but they spotted us. They were ready to move on a few minute's notice. If we ever want to catch them with the chopper, we'll have to come faster than that."
The mayor pointed a finger past her, to the CSF squad. "I was not informed you were taking prisoners."
Tongana looked and saw the unfortunate saber trembling with fear, a wolf separated from her pack. "That wasn't part of the plan," Tongana said. "She came our way, and we brought her down alive."
The mayor's face tightened. "I see. Tongana, thank you, but you're dismissed for now."
Her head heavy, Tongana trudged away, unable to decide if she wanted a meal or some company first. Ahead, a male CSF soldier stood in a corner, passing something to a younger man. Tongana's nerves sparked, and she crept closer.
To her relief, the younger man was Handel. Standing close beside him was a small teenage girl with a fear-filled face, wearing clothes that were a size too loose for her.
"I just wanted to say," said Handel, "it's an honor. Meeting you... knowing there are other men out there, doing this... it's a big inspiration to me."
The man smirked. "Just don't sell the autograph, and you're welcome."
Handel excused himself, his face giddy for the first time Tongana had seen. When he made eye contact with her, he hardened his face, but the act wasn't perfect. Hints of smile still peaked through.
"Handel," said Tongana, "It's been a while." She leaned in close. "Something has happened that I know you'll want to hear about. May I speak with you in private?"
Handel's eyes flashed with suspicion. "Sure." He turned. "Hengsha, go have a drink in that cafe there. I'll go get you soon, I promise."
With a mumbled assent, Hengsha stepped away.
"I think Hengsha may be in danger," said Tongana. "Because the CSF just took a prisoner."
Handel perked. "What happened out there?"
"We've just chased the Sabers out of their camp, and one of them panicked and ran toward us. Two of the CSF's jumped her, and our commander tried to get me to come back here before the others did."
"Did you?"
"No. I think they wanted to interrogate that girl. If I'm right, then they might think Hengsha has information they want, and they may come for her too."
Handel brought up his gun and pressed it to his chest. "Let 'em try. I've been watching our backs since she started living with me. But him?" He pointed at the CSF man as he wandered away. "We can trust him."
Tongana decided not to argue. "Fine. But stayvigilant."
