Last chapter was short. Here's the next one to make up for it. This one's got action in it! I've got a couple more chapters done and I'm still not finished, but I'm getting there. Samdagger.
Chapter 13
Two hours later, Rabia and Larkin went ahead to check on the progress and to find a good place they could protect her from. Ingrid and Viran were by her side and Miller was taking a sentry duty on one of the buildings still standing. The top floor was missing, but it was still a four storey lookout post. He'd had to break in and climb the stairs, but he found a good place to stand his watch. He could see the entire beach from his position. The view behind him was obscured by trees and the tops of other buildings, but Bellamy's people had pulled some sentry duties to the rear as well as a few Floukru.
"Welcome," Luna said, guiding Tanwen and her guards to a place chosen by both Luna and Rabia.
"Mochof," Tanwen said as she sat. Several people brought wooden platters over with cooked food on them.
"We've never had seafood before," Tanwen confessed. "We've had river fish occasionally when we could catch them, though."
"At Polis?" Luna asked.
"No, at our camp. I liked to spearfish. It took a while to figure out the refraction of the water with the image you see being in different places, but once I compensated for it, I could catch a few fish. We didn't eat many as the bones were small and could be missed and gutting them was messy and slippery."
"It often is. Some of my people cut themselves accidentally when learning. They think of it as a right of passage sometimes. A scar they got as they learned a new trade."
"Yeah, got a few of them myself, on my body!" Tanwen said.
"My mother used to say that you couldn't go through life without accumulating them," Luna said.
"So true," Tanwen said. "So, tell me about the food before me."
"We brought three types of fish today. Blufish, Kin Makrels and seatrout. All three are good eating. On our way back home, we hope to catch some blufins. They are good eating but can be a bit dry if you don't have a sauce to go with them. These three are good eating on their own." Tanwen looked at the piles of white, cooked flesh. Luna saw her hesitation so she took a piece and ate it. Rabia also took a piece and ate it.
"It is very good, ai Kwin," She said. Tanwen nodded and took one of the nearest ones. She took a small bite and then a much larger one. It was very tasty! She ate the entire piece and then reached for one of the other fish.
"What did I just eat?"
"That was the blufish. The one you have is makrel." Tanwen tried it, but it didn't have the same taste nor texture and she wasn't sure she liked it. She scrunched up her nose but swallowed the bite she'd taken.
"No, not that one," Tanwen said, looking for a place to put it. Larkin took it and ate it.
"I like it," she said. Tanwen shrugged and took the third fish.
"This one's the seatrout, right?"
"Yes, it has a different taste and texture again." Tanwen took a small nibble. It was alright, but she preferred the blufish. A smaller, empty platter was offered to Tanwen and she took it.
"Take what you'd like to eat, Ai kwin. Bimini is bringing some seaweed for you to try."
"Seaweed? Sea plants?"
"Sha. We have a varied diet at sea, ai kwin," Luna said. "Instead of fruits and vegetables from the land, we harvest them from the sea. The fish and other animals are our meat." Tanwen nodded as she nibbled on the fish. Another platter was brought and it was exchanged for the fish platter.
"These are from various points along the shoreline, ai kwin. Not all are to everyone's tastes. Test each one to see if there are any you like." Tanwen did that and out of the eight varieties, she took portions from two of them.
"Mochof, Luna," Tanwen said.
"Pro," Luna replied with a smile. Another smaller platter was brought.
"Ahh, these are crabs and lobsters, caught not that far away," Luna said, recognising the shells.
"Try the dark meat first. A lot of my people only like the white meat but there are enough people who like the dark meat that it doesn't go to waste." Tanwen nodded and took a small bit and screwed up her face.
"Ugh, no!" Luna grinned.
"Try this." Tanwen took the spoon with the white meat on and hesitantly put it in her mouth. Her eyes flew open.
"Oh, wow! That's good!"
"Like it?" Luna asked, even though she knew the answer. Tanwen nodded vigorously as she shoved more of the crab into her mouth. "Tomorrow, we'll show you how hard you have to work to get this meat." Tanwen stopped eating.
"How hard?" she asked. Luna smirked but said nothing.
xxx-xxx-xxx-xxx-xxx
For two days Luna and her people taught Tanwen and the Halian people how they did things. Six of them - including Tanwen - were shown how to make small handnets. All six made their own with the help of the Floukru. Once all of them had passed inspection, they were taken to one of the piers and taught how to fish using them. They were taught the correct way to hold the nets prior to throwing them out into the water and the correct way to yank on the line to enclose whatever was within reach and then haul it up, all without falling in the water. They didn't catch much, but each of them caught at least two fish each.
They were taught other things as well and Tanwen joined in with it all. She learned how to hunt for crabs and lobsters on rocky beaches at low tide and they all learned how not to hold them when they all got a nasty nip from the claws! Tanwen was having fun!
On the morning of the third day, Jasper was on lookout over the sea with a pair of binoculars. Tanwen and Luna were having a meal with Raven, Bellamy and Shay, one of Luna's people.
"Oh," Raven said, her fork halfway to her mouth and her eyes getting wide.
"What?" Tanwen asked.
"I just figured it out," Raven said.
"Figured what out?" Bellamy asked.
"Surf and turf." Tanwen nodded.
"What's surf and turf?" Bellamy asked.
"It's what some restaurants put on their menus. I just figured out what it meant. Surf is anything from the sea and turf is anything from the land." Luna frowned.
"Explain," she asked Raven. Raven looked up and into her eyes and was lost for a couple of seconds.
"Err…We're eating fish, that's surf and I've got some rabbit as well, that's turf."
"What is turf?"
"Oh, in the old days it meant land."
"And grass," Tanwen said. "It was used by football teams a lot when referring to the grass playing fields. There was also some artificial grass called astroTURF."
"What exactly is turf?" Bellamy asked.
"It just means a piece of sod. Grass and the soil underneath it." Bellamy nodded.
"It has a nice rhyme to it," Shay said.
"It does, that's why restaurants - eating places - put it on their menus." Bellamy opened his mouth but before he could speak, Jasper was running down the hill shouting his name urgently.
"BELLAMY!" he yelled. All of them were up from the table and running to him.
"What?" Bellamy asked.
"Another boat!" Jasper gasped. "This one has a different symbol on it. It's got a big red skull!" Tanwen turned to Luna.
"Any idea who they are?"
"No, ai kwin. We've never encountered them before."
"Pelana, go back with Jasper and take a look. Luna, anyone who can identify ships and other stuff you can send to look as well?"
"Shay." Tanwen nodded.
"Jasper, show Shay how to use your binoculars. Pelana already knows how. Let them look. Pelana, best guess on how many people and where it's gonna land. Shay, how long until it does land. Jasper, check for weapons on board it."
"Sha, kwin!" all three said before running back.
"Luna, we may need to show force. Not fighting them, but showing them we have boats too. They don't need to know you only have these ships."
"Seven. Derrick's crew and ship are still at the rig."
"They don't need to know that though. Until I say otherwise, you're nomadic traders, trading up and down the east coast from Canada down to the keys and some of the Caribbean islands too. The rest of your ships are either up along the New York route or down along the Florida route. New York is part of the dead zone but they don't need to know that either, and Florida is Yujleda land. Not one word of where you really live is to be mentioned by anyone. If necessary, I'll say your home port is up in Canada. Maybe Prince Edward Island." Luna nodded, though she had no idea where that was. She bowed to Tanwen and left to tell her people.
"Bellamy, we may need a show of force with weapons. As Queen of the Trikru, and with this being Trikru land, I hereby ask you to raid this town for weapons. Check for binoculars and telescopes as well. Raven, go with them and find me maps of the area. I want to know if there are any military bases in the area!"
"Sha, kwin!" they both said and took off.
"Miller, stay with me. Bellamy will bring you a weapon back." Miller nodded. Rabia assigned Viran and Larkin to Tanwen as well. Ingrid and Domnik were looking for places they could use to snipe from if necessary. With the Floukru being pacifist by nature, it was down to Halian and her people. Rabia was the point of contact as well as Tanwen.
"Rabia, how many villages within ten miles of here?"
"One, ai kwin and it is further down the coast."
"Send a Floukru messenger to them to warn of possible invasion - and to ask them, on my behalf, to be ready to fight here if necessary."
"Sha, Ai kwin!" Rabia said and hurried off to ask Luna.
xxx-xxx-xxx-xxx-xxx
Raven came back not long after she set off. She'd passed a Naval Reserve Training Centre and had broken in with Del and a couple of others. Del went for the weapons while Raven searched for maps. Several minutes later, she'd found some. She ran back to Tanwen with them.
"Ai kwin! Found maps and Del and I broke into a Reserve Navy training place not far from here. Del went looking for the weapons." Tanwen took the maps and began looking for places they could fight from.
"Not a lot of cover other than broken down buildings along the coast," Tanwen said. Shay came running back.
"Ai kwin!" she called to get their attention.
"Sha?"
"Pelana says she counts at least fifty people and it's headed around the head. It'll land on the other side of this piece of land."
"Show me on this map where you think it'll land." Shay looked at it as Tanwen pointed out where they were.
"Here, ai kwin. We think it'll be around here and in about four candlemarks."
"Mochof, Shay. Did Jasper say anything?"
"He said rifles and handguns and some swords."
"Good. Anything about any bigger weapons like cannons?"
"No, ai kwin, he said nothing about them."
"Then you can go back to Luna with my thanks." Shay bowed and left.
"Miller, get up there and see if there's any nasty surprises you can spot and then return immediately. We have a welcoming party to organise!"
"Sha, kwin," he said with a little bow before running off.
"Raven, anything you can find to help us, go find it. Shortwave radios, anything. Go!" Raven nodded and ran off.
"What now, ai kwin?" Larkin asked.
"Now we plan how to make sure these people do not invade our lands! I would like Luna's ships to come around behind them once they've passed this headland. If we can show we have more ships and people than them, it may make them think again about their plans. We need to know who they are, where they're from and why they are here. I just hope it's not another European invasion force thinking they are entitied to our lands once more!"
"It has happened before?" asked Viran.
"Sha, a few centuries ago. People from Europe sailed here after it was discovered. They called it the new world and claimed it as their own even though people already lived here. They had primitive guns and the native peoples only had spears and bows and clubs and such. The invaders decided it was their land and they slaughtered the native population by the thousands, committing genocide so they could take their land and they justified it by saying they were savages and the invaders were civilized! Sound familiar?"
"Mount Weather!" Larkin hissed. Tanwen nodded.
"And the Arkers too when they first came down. They were all for killing off your people just to take some land."
"How did you stop it?" Tanwen smirked.
"I married the Commander. It automatically made them Trikru too and they had to abide by the Commander's rules of not fighting against your own people! It also helped that the Commander had already met Clarke and approved of her, so when she was elected as the leader of Halian, she immediately threw out the Ark rules and implemented the Trikru ones. It was a shock to the Arkers, but with time, they've come to realise that people are just people. The Trikru are no different from the Arkers in wanting to live and struggling with life on the ground. Of course, once they heard of what Mount Weather was doing, some of them wrote those kids off as already as good as dead, but the others had missing children among them. With me and Clarke and Raven organising stuff and me and Bellamy, along with Pelana and Ingrid and some other Trikru warriors infiltrating the mountain and freeing our people - both Arker and clan, they had to stop seeing children too young to understand the world around them. We proved ourselves that day."
"Yes, you did!" Ingrid said, approaching them.
"What did you find?"
"There are a few places around the headland where your people can snipe from, but most of the fighting will be done on beaches, ai kwin." Tanwen nodded.
"Then let's begin planning. We can fill the others in as they return." Her bodyguards nodded and she got down to pointing out various places she wanted covered with watchers to see where exactly the ship was going to land. Next, she wanted to know how many would come ashore. She reckoned at least some of them would be left on the ship. She'd task Luna with taking the ship if she could. She could add it to her own fleet if necessary.
"I want Bellamy in charge of the weapons. As the clans don't use them, the Hallian warriors will. Myself and Miller included. We learned before we became Trikru and it's what we know from the Ark. I will still be wearing my swords, but if they only use guns, my gun would be better."
"Bellamy's back with some weapons, ai kiwn," Ingrid said, looking over to the people she saw approaching. Tanwen looked behind her and saw several weapons including an old fashioned machine gun.
"Where the hell did you get that?!" Tanwen asked, pointing to the ancient weapon. Bellamy grinned.
"There's an Army place back there with a display of still working WW2 weapons! We checked and it still works. We have three canisters of ammo belts for it!"
"Good, any other stuff?"
"We took several modern rifles, handguns and we have a box of twelve grenades."
"Good! We have a tentative plan. We just need Luna's consent for some of it otherwise we'll have to do most of the heavy lifting on this one." Bellamy passed the weapons to Brenda and listened as Tanwen outlined her plan.
"I want Luna to come around the headland after their ship has passed it. They won't be able to sneak up on them - unless they're really stupid and I don't think anyone who can cross the oceans could be that stupid!" Bellamy nodded.
"They appear to be heading for here," Tanwen said, pointing to the supposed landing site. I want you up here with that machine gun. You'll need at least two others. One to feed the belt through and a spotter with some binoculars or a telescope. Miller will be here with a rifle, ready to snipe if needed. I want at least two more people who can snipe up in the trees or behind the bushes. It depends on what we have there. I want everyone hidden until they've made landfall. If they only leave a skeleton crew, Luna's people can take the ship. We deal with those who land."
"Understood."
"This time, Bellamy, don't shoot unless I give the signal! Got that?!" Bellamy blushed but nodded. "Good, I want Jasper as one of the snipers as well and I'll be telling him the same thing. They have to make the first move, Bellamy. They have to show their intent on killing us before we retaliate."
"Alright, When are we moving?"
"Soon. I want Luna's permission for some of her people to stay onshore as messengers if Raven can't find some radios or something we can use. We'll have to use some kind of signal so you know when to fire and when to stop and a hold signal so you don't shoot at the wrong time." Bellamy nodded again.
"Raven's coming back and she's struggling to carry something," Ingrid said. Bellamy took off to help her. They came back and Raven was grinning.
"What did you find?"
"A solar generator which we can use as a power source, and a mini radio transmitter! There's a load of headsets we can utilise at the naval base. I need more people to get some more. We'd need at least three generators, this one transmitter and as many headsets as we can find and use."
"I'll go and I'll take Del, Jack and Simon."
"Go," Tanwen said and they all left to get the rest.
"I need to talk to Luna. Let's go." She led them to the water's edge where Luna was organising everything to be taken back to their ships.
"Heda Luna!" Tanwen called.
"Sha, ai kwin?"
"I know you don't want to fight, but I would like to show that incoming ship that we have ships too. I want you to take your ships around the headland once it's passed it. A show of force from behind may make them change their minds. If they land most of their people, we'll deal with them. If you could take that ship without injury or fighting, please do so. You can add it to your own fleet if it's fit for purpose. I'm not going to pressure you into fighting. I know your people are sick of it, but I do need to show them that we are willing to fight back. Six ships coming up behind them should scare the crap out of them!" Luna frowned and then sighed,
"Sha, Ai kwin. We will stop the invaders if they try to take the ship away."
"Mochof, Heda," Tanwen said. "I could also use some of your people as messengers only. If Raven can't find enough radio headsets, we will need signallers to send messages to my people spread out around the area."
"I will assign some people, but only if Raven cannot find enough tek."
"Understood. I will keep your people out of the fighting as much as I can."
"Mochof, ai kwin!" Luna said with evident relief. Tanwen smiled and walked back up the beach to the old car park where the tables had been laid.
Raven and Bellamy came back grinning.
"We have enough for everyone who needs one," Raven said.
"Good, we need to head over there now and find hiding places." They nodded and Bellamy's group helped Raven carry the tek and then they would stay and help her with it before going to their assigned places and waiting.
They went to the other side of the headland and in the distance out to sea, they could see the ship approaching.
"Alright! Ingrid, point out the snipers positions, please." After that it was moving people and equipment to various areas. There were enough trees and bushes along the shore to hide in and behind. Jack took a headset up to Jasper and sent him back to Tanwen and Miller as well. Bellamy with Simon and Del set up the machine gun within a thick gathering of bushes. Simon, as the spotter, had a headset and would relay info to Bellamy.
Miller was on a point farthest forward and he would be the one giving info to Tanwen about numbers and weapons of those coming ashore. Jack would be up on the headland watching over everything and relaying it to Tanwen. Rabia had found a good place for Tanwen to stay hidden until she absolutely needed to show herself. Viran would stay by her side while Domnik and Larkin would be to either side of her position with bows. Rabia had already given Tanwen her swords and they were strapped to her back, ready for use if necessary. Soon enough, everyone was in position and hidden. Luna was shown how a headset worked and she was wearing one so she knew when to move and where the ship was. She was uncomfortable with it, but Raven had pointed out that with a radio transmitter on her rig and another on a ship, they should be able to communicare while out at sea. Luna was intrigued and asked Raven to explain it some more once this invading ship was dealt with.
Movement from behind them had Rabia melting into the trees looking for them and came back with six warriors from the nearest village. Tanwen explained what was happening and had them move back until fighting broke out. Only when it did were they to reveal themselves. The lead warrior nodded and moved off to their newly assigned position.
xxx-xxx-xxx-xxx-xxx
Three hours later, they watched as the ship stopped and several small skiffs were lowered and people climbed down ropes to them.
"I count 36," Jack said from his position.
"Got it," Tanwen said into her headset.
"I count…12 left on board. Could be some below decks, though."
"Understood. Keep watch. Luna should be coming around the headland any minute."
"Yeah, she's about to round it now."
"Keep watch on that ship, Jack. First sign they are moving off, tell Luna."
"Got it. Jack out."
"Let's see what they are going to do once they see Luna's ships," Tanwen said into the headset to everyone. No answer was needed.
Tanwen watched as she saw Luna's ships come around the headland and take up position around the rear of the ship. A single gunshot was heard.
"Hold your fire!" Tanwen said. The men on the skiffs turned around to look at the ship and saw several others that weren't theirs. Two skiffs turned around to head back to the ship while the other four carried on.
"Luna, twelve on board that we can see, Take the ship before the others get back."
"Sha, Ai Kwin," she said before Tanwen heard her issuing orders. She closed the line.
"Now what?" Pelana asked.
"We wait for them to land before we show ourselves. Then most of us will step out and wait to see what they do. Bellamy's team will stay hidden but I want the Halians to show we have guns too."
They watched as Luna's people took to the water as well in small boats and snuck up on the ship. Most of the people were watching the land with only a couple of people watching the stern. There were too many of Luna's people climbing up the sides of the ships to fend off and soon they had been captured. Just as her people were sneaking up on those still on board, the others made landfall.
"Wait until they've left the boats before we show ourselves. I want them to think they're alone. It'll give Luna a little more time to take over the ship."
"Got it."
"Understood."
"Sha Kwin." She got from all positions.
"Jack, you're point man for anything else that happens."
"Understood, ai kwin." They waited until they'd gotten out of the small boats and pulled them up the sand. They had walked a little way from the boats and Tanwen could clearly hear them talking in a mangled English.
"Now!" she whispered. Those who were assigned to move forward to be seen, did. Guns were leveled at the intruders.
Guns on both sides were raised.
"Stop!" Tanwen shouted. She moved further down the beach until she was only ten feet from the nearest one.
"Who is in charge here?" she asked. One man stepped forward.
"What's it to you, bitch!"
"These are my lands, Dickhead!" She replied. His face changed and he bared his dirty teeth to her and went to pull a sword from its scabbard, but several rifles on her side raised and pointed at him.
"What do you want?" Tanwen asked.
"We need more land and we remembered this place was heavily bombed so it was ripe for picking."
"You got it wrong, Captain. Yes, it was heavily bombed, but no, it is not uninhabited. We live here and have since the war. These are our lands and you are invaders!" She found it ironic that the tables had now turned as she was once seen as an invader.
"Urope is overpopulated," he said.
"Not our fault," Tanwen said.
"We need to find land to live in."
"Again, not our fault. This land is not yours nor is it going to be. We will defend it."
"We have eight ships loaded with settlers approaching. You cannot stop us."
"That's what you think. My lands spread out over more than half of the old USA. My people are legion and one word from me and they will descend on this place and anyone who invades. Do not think that because Europe invaded here centuries ago, that we are going to let it happen again. We may now be the native peoples, but we too have guns and we know how to use them."
"Not enough. We raided all of the places in Urope for weapons and we have many."
"How many ships do you have because you'd need a lot to transport a force big enough to make a difference."
"I just told you we have eight ships bringing settlers."
"And I have six ships behind yours right now. You really think they are the only ones we have? They are nomadic traders, trading up and down the east coast. This group works around New York and up to Boston and down to Virginia Beach. Another group sails from there to the Florida Keys. Another trades with the Caribbean islands and yet another three patrol for pirates. Plus we have another eight ships in reserve with usually three ships in drydock at any one time. We have plenty of ships available and more than a hundred thousand warriors living within a hundred miles of the coast. Now, can you match that?" The Captain was astonished by the amount of people and ships they had.
"We have the ship and 15 people as prisoners," Luna said over her headpiece.
"Understood," Tanwen said. She turned to the Captain.
"We've just taken your ship. That's another one to add to our collection."
"That's MY ship!" the Captain said.
"Not anymore. It's ours now."
"Kill them!" The Captain yelled. Tanwen's swords were out and she held both to his neck like a pair of scissors.
"Go ahead!" she said to the other sailors. "You move, he dies!" Several of them backed off but a few looked like they still wanted to fight.
"Hold!" the Captain yelled. His sailors stopped.
"What do you want?" he asked.
"I want every piece of information you have about your people's abilities, weapons, ships and plans. If you do that, you get to live. If you don't or I think you're holding back info, you die."
"I dont want to die," he said.
"Neither do we but you seem intent on taking what isn't yours!" The Captain wilted. "Pelana, take his weapons. Miller! Take them into custody. Tie them up and disarm them!"
"Sha, Kwin!" A voice from a tree called out and Miller climbed down the tree. Several more came out of the woods to help him.
Once they had everyone disarmed and tied up, Tanwen had Viran bring the Captain to her in the tent she had set up. It was a second one of the Commander's but instead of red, Tanwen's colours were predominantly green.
"Sit," she ordered the man. He sat awkwardly with his hands tied behind him.
Simon was there with a writing pad, ready to take down the pertinent points.
"Let's start with your name," Tanwen said. The Captain looked around to Rabia, Viran and Larkin, Tanwen's biggest bodyguards.
"Captain William Clifton."
"Well then Captain. I'm Queen Tanwen kom Trikru, Queen of the Kongeda."
"Which one is your name?"
"Tanwen, but you call me Queen Tanwen at all times. My bodyguards are not above killing you for disrespecting my title. I will call you Captain. Is that okay with you?"
"Yes," he said. A headslap from Viran had him rocking.
"Ai kwin. You say "Yes, ai kwin!"
"Patience Viran. He is not one of my people. He calls me Queen Tanwen."
"Yes, Queen Tanwen," the Captain said.
"Much better!" Tanwen said.
"Now you will tell us everything you know of their plans, their weapons, their numbers and who the leaders are. Start with Urope. I assume from that statement you made that they are no longer separate countries?"
"No, Queen Tanwen. It has become one large country. It stops by the old Russan border. They are not part of Urope nor are the islands of Britan and Irland. They have joined with Norge, Swed and Finand along with icelan."
"Italy?"
"Itlee and the medranan islands are part of Urope." Tanwen nodded.
"What about Greece and the countries north and east of it like Moldova or Croatia?"
"I do not know those names. That area was called Balkan before they joined us about ten years after the war."
And all the others are part of it?"
"Yes…Queen Tanwen."
"Which part do you come from?"
"I was born in Amsdam but I moved to Roma when I was a boy. I wanted to sail but my parents wouldn't allow it."
"But isn't Amsterdam… I mean Amsdam a port city?"
"Yes, it was but during the war, it was bombed. The port is still there but most commerce goes through Rottdam instead."
"Alright. Who leads there? It's a huge continent so who is in overall charge?"
"President Saxondale."
"Male or female?"
"Male of course!" he said.
"By that I take it you don't allow your women to places of authority?"
"Hardly! They know nothing and are too weak to fight or do anything useful!"
"So they are kept as virtual slaves? Only good enought to have sex with and marry to keep the family name alive?" Clifton nodded.
"That's not what happens here. We value the person, not the gender. The person who is in overall charge can be male or female. This time, it's a female. Orders are obeyed by both genders no matter who issues it. I am the Queen of the entire Kongeda. That means there are a number of clans who are in the Kongeda and they all answer to a female leader." Clifton was silent as he worked his way through what it meant for his people.
"Do you have slaves over there?" Tanwen asked. He nodded.
"Where do you get them from?"
"Usually Russa, but sometimes they go raiding for them from Afica."
"Well the northern part of Africa does share the med with southern Europe," Tanwen said out loud, but mostly to herself. Clifton nodded.
"What are your leader's intentions with this land?"
"To claim it for himself."
"Himself or for Urope?" Clifton was silent for a while.
"Probably himself. I think if he can take this land, he'd come over and leave Urope to someone else. He's not well liked over there."
"But you follow him anyway?"
"He has the army under his thumb. They go around arresting people who even speak out against him."
"I know the feeling!" Tanwen said. Clifton looked confused. "I wasn't born to royalty, Captain, I married it. Before that I was a child prisoner, condemned to death by my leader because he could. We were sent to these lands to prove we could live here. We did, but we fought with the locals," Tanwen pointed to the others in the tent. "And we were losing, but something else happened and we joined forces to stop it. Another group was taking both our people and killing them for their blood. In the end, I fell in love with their Commander and the Commander fell in love with me. We got married. It made my people, the Commander's people and me their Queen."
"So they do what you tell them?"
"As long as it doesn't go against the Commander's orders nor against the Commander either." Tanwen was doing her best to keep the fact that the Commander was female out of it. If they kept their women as virtual sex slaves, she doubted they'd accept a lesbian couple being in charge. Tanwen had already mentioned a female leader but had not named her as the Commander.
"So what now?" Clifton asked.
"Now you tell me where those eight ships are heading, specifically. I already know they are heading here, but where?"
"Here, to this spot. It was agreed upon before we even set sail," Clifton told her.
"And how long until they get here?"
"They were supposed to set sail a month after we did, Queen Tanwen."
"Just settlers or soldiers as well?"
"There is a company of soldiers as well to maintain order and kill any savages they come across who fight them."
"And I'm guessing they intend to round up more of them for slave labour?" Clifton nodded.
"We do not condone slavery, Captain. In fact when we come across slavers raiding our lands for them, we kill them and free the slaves."
"No slavery? How do you get things done?"
"We do it ourselves. We have people who like farming, hunting, tree logging, mining, blacksmiths, weapons makers, soldiers, sailors, religious personnel and a whole load more people."
"No slavery?"
"No, Hard work makes us proud of what we have achieved. How can you be proud if someone else does it for you?"
"It is the way we are raised," Clifton said, trying to shrug.
"Then we will defend our lands and we will be freeing any slaves you are bringing with you and that includes any women who do not want to live among you."
"You're letting us live?"
"For now. You will not be living here, though. We will find an island you can live on and we will be taking any boats and ships off it first! There will be a ship nearby - probably one of yours - who will intercept any ships or boats you try to leave the island with. Don't forget, we also have guns and orders to shoot the ship or boat will be issued. A boat full of holes is no good."
"Which Island?"
"One that will have food and freshwater on it. Other than that, it's up to you to find a place to live and farm and survive. We are not doing it for you. Anyone caught trying to escape will suffer a terrible death. The clans are big on death by a thousand cuts. No-one has survived more than three hundred. Slowly bleeding to death as they are cut to ribbons is not a quick way to die, Captain. Remember that if you think you have a right to our lands!" He gulped. These people could be just as barbaric as his own!
"When?"
"Once Heda Luna tells me which one to put you on. She still has the most knowledge of them."
"I thought you said she did the New York sailings?"
"She does, but as the overall leader of them, she knows what all the other leaders do as well. She will have maps of the islands."
"So she is in charge of several ships?"
"Yes, in the old world she would be called an Admiral, the Admiral in charge of all ships, not just a navy." Clifton nodded, it was the same in Urope.
"How many female leaders do you have?"
"Enough to know they are obeyed and that a female leader is seen as normal." Clifton sighed.
"Do we have a say in what happens to us?"
"No. You are invaders intent on setting up a settlement on lands you do not own. How would you act if it was the other way around?" He sighed again and nodded in resignation.
"I want everything you know, Captain and in a few weeks, you'll be transported to one of the Caribbean islands."
"What about my family back home?"
"What about our families?" She countered. "Would you give a crap about them other than to take them into slavery or hold them hostage to get us to do what you want?"
"I understand, Queen Tanwen. I'm never seeing home again, am I?"
"No, sorry, but we cannot allow anyone returning to tell what they know other than the single ship I'm allowing to return with a message that our lands are off limits to all invaders!"
"It probably won't stop them, Queen Tanwen."
"Maybe not, but with the eight ships we will capture, we have another group we can use to go to your country and raid it for people and things."
"You would take my people into slavery?"
"No, like I said, we fight against slavery wherever we find it. Taking your people may be the only way to get your people to back off. We will find places for them to live on other islands." He nodded.
"Probably a good idea that I don't go home. He could make an example of me."
"Would he do that to anyone returning with a message?"
"If it's not one of his people, then maybe, but if it is one of his people, they wouldn't hand over any stay away messages. They'd probably tell him he needs a bigger force to put down the savages."
"I really wish people would stop calling my people savages. One group did that and now they are all dead. Being seen as inferior does not make us inferior. An arrow is a silent hunting weapon and a gun isn't. Who's the savage when one gets lots of food and the other doesn't because his gun scared the animals away?"
"I will tell you what I know, Queen Tanwen."
"Good. One of my people will be here as well." She turned to Simon. "Go get Captain Blake." Simon raised an eyebrow but nodded and left.
A few minutes later, he was back with Bellamy. Bellamy stood to attention and saluted.
"Ai Kwin?" he asked.
"Captain Blake, this is Captain Clifton. He was sent to start setting up a place for the eight ships loaded with settlers and a company of soldiers. He will tell you everything he knows about the plans of his people and what's supposed to happen. He has told me some of it. Get the rest out of him. Do not harm him! Do not threaten him! He has given up the information freely and he already knows he's never going home again."
"Sha, Ai Kwin!" he said, moving to the side and pulling a stool over to the Captain. Tanwen rose.
"Simon, stay and take down everything he reveals, please."
"Sha, ai kwin," he said with a bow.
"Viran, stay and make sure Captain Clifton behaves."
"Sha, ai kwin." Tanwen nodded and left with her other bodyguards. They moved out of earshot of any of the captured sailors.
"We have a month to assemble a big enough force to capture everyone. I can't afford to let even one of them escape just yet. I need those people off the ships first. I can send one back with a crew of two shift changes. We have a lot to do and not much time to do it. The Commander is dealing with the Azgeda so I can't really bother her with this. I want riders sent out to the other clans for warriors to meet us wherever they intend to land. Clifton said it would be here, but someone else can change those orders. We need watchers out from now until they arrive and all up and down the coast. I want them found before they land and have enough time to gather a sufficient force to subdue them!"
"Sha ai kwin!" Rabia said.
"I'm gonna need a few people from Halian as well. Bellamy just got promoted to Captain. I want General Indra and Octavia here to help plan as well as Luna. Too much to do and not enough time!" She sighed.
"Can you send Raven to me please? I'll be in my tent. Ingrid and Pelana will stand guard over me. Have Miller set up a sentry point on the headland. He knows how." Rabia bowed and moved off to do her queen's bidding. Pelana led her to her tent and both stood outside on duty while Tanwen went in.
A few moments later, Ingrid called out that Raven was there.
"Send her in."
"You called?"
"Yes, what do you need to get a relay from here to Halian?" Raven thought for a few moments.
"A lot of luck! We'd need relay towers or a humongously tall radio transmitter." She stopped thinking.
"I might be able to boost Mount Weather's transmitter," she said trailing off.
"Without going in?"
"Maybe." Raven was thinking hard.
"Mouth Weather needs to stay closed until the Commander gives her permission to reopen it, Raven. I don't have the authority for that."
"But you do have the authority to call in warriors from other clans! Luna told me just what you are allowed to do and it's almost as much as the Commander."
"But I'm not the Commander, Raven. This is her decision."
"Then we need to look for old radio stations and fallen radio transmitters."
"We have a month, Raven. There is another expeditionary force on their way with eight ships full of settlers and soldiers." Raven's eyebrows shot up.
"Then I need your permission to leave now. I'll take Deek, Scott, Michael, Brenda and Jenny. We will look along the way back for anything we can use. Do you need it up before they arrive?"
"No but I want it up in case I need to call on reinforcements if it all goes tits up!"
"From Halian?"
"From anywhere!"
"What do you need to capture them all at once?"
"Enough firepower to sink the ships if they refuse to leave them and definitely enough people to use those weapons. I can use the delinquents for that, but the adults of Halian may rebel."
"They are improving and Clarke's got her mother on a short leash."
"Which is why we can't strip Halian of the delinquents. Clarke needs to stay there and she needs a security force with her."
"What about the kids from the Pentagon?"
"There were only twelve, Raven and half of those were kids or babies."
"Dan and James would be willing to come here to defend their new lives and I can guarantee with Murphy as Clarke's security officer, we could take Monty, Monroe and a few others. Deek can lead them back."
"I'll give him permission to look for old world places to get guns and ammo from. Send him to me when you leave, please."
"I will. Anything else before I go find him?"
"No, just make sure we can still use the radios here."
"Already done. I've shown Jack what to do if they break down or if they don't give enough power."
"Good."
"Then I'll go find Deek." Raven bowed and left the tent telling Ingrid that Tanwen had requested Del's presence and she was going to find him.
Deek arrived and entered when Tanwen bade him to.
"Ai kwin?" he said.
"Raven's taking you and some others and looking for radio transmitters along the route back to Halian. Bring back some people with you and go find any military places you can find and raid them for larger weapons. I'm talking about machine guns, sniper rifles, grenade launchers if you can. I want enough firepower to put the fear of God into them! Only Halian's people are allowed to use them though."
"Why big weapons, ai Kwin?"
"I want to scupper those ships if they refuse to leave them. I will not allow them to return to their lands until I'm sure they will behave and deliver the message I'll be sending.
"Which is?"
"These lands are not theirs and never will be! We will defend our lands, just like they'd defend their own."
"Would you destroy the ships?"
"If necessary, Deek. What I want is those ships intact and Luna to train some clan people to use them. We can use them to start repelling any other force they send against us. I do not want the clans to know I'm gathering these weapons. Once the fighting is over, I want them to disappear. They are only to be used against seaward invaders. We need somewhere to put them that the clans cannot find."
"It would have to be an underground bunker no-one knows about," Deek said after some thought.
"Who's your best searcher?"
"Probably Finn." Tanwen grimaced.
"Will he behave?"
"He should. With Clarke giving him the cold shoulder romantically, he's at a loose end."
"Will he keep his mouth shut though?"
"I don't know."
"Then maybe I should just ask him to find bunkers around here and not tell him why. After that, I can send him back home." Deek nodded.
"That would probably be best, ai kwin. Maybe if you send Colette with him, it'll do her good and it will give Finn someone else to focus on instead of himself and his own importance in the village!" Deek said.
"He still thinks he can influence Clarke?"
"And policy!" Deek said.
"Maybe I should send him to another village to understand the ways of the ground are different to the ways of the Ark and that the Chief of a village rules alone and is not influenced by anyone!" Deek grunted.
"Should send him to Tondc! Anya would eat him alive!"
"Isn't Indra the Chief there?"
"Yes, but it is Anya's home village. She lives there and is still one of the Commander's generals."
"When you go back with Raven, she will send him here. I'll send a letter to Tondc and after that, we plan for this new invasion force. Come back with those weapons, Deek. Even if it's just more rifles and ammo, though I'd prefer bigger weapons."
"Understood, ai kwin," he said bowing.