The view from the helicopter didn't reveal any structures, just afternoon sun blanketing the heavily forested hills in a warm wash of orange light. One edge of the forest was marked by a series of lower hills, the trees thinner there with a small river gleaming in the light.
Ahead, a small column of gray smoke drifted lazily upwards from the forest floor. Both passengers craned their heads to see what lay below, but apart from the occasional flash of reflected sunlight reflected from a vehicle roof, the trees kept their secrets covered.
"We'll be landing in two minutes," the pilot announced over the headphones. "I've been informed your ground transport will be standing by for you."
Without a glance at his superior, the GDP captain nodded. "Roger that.. Thank you for the smooth flight."
The pilot in the front seat waved a hand in acknowledgment and then returned to concentrating on his upcoming landing.
Dan Slater checked that his superior had heard the pilot's instruction and then checked that his seat belt was secure. Automatically he looked down at his uniform to check that it was clean and perfect as it could possibly be. He saw a small white thread marring his black trousers and picked it off. As the helicopter settled onto the ground, Dan picked up his uniform cap where it had been placed carefully on the floor in front of him. By the time he'd unbuckled his belt, the door had been opened for him and he stepped out of the helicopter and ran to where the off-roader was waiting. Claydove followed closely behind him. Once he reached the vehicle, Dan watched as a larger transport helicopter settled in to land behind their helicopter.
Dan started when a hand settled on his shoulder. He glanced around and saw his superior patiently waiting for him. Dan indicated the transport helicopter and said, "Reminds me of the Army."
Claydove nodded and then looked at the drifting column of smoke in the near distance. "Well, we are in a kind of war." Dan glanced at the smoke and nodded. Claydove indicated the now open door. "We're wasting time."
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After a bumpy ten-minute ride from the landing area to the forest, the off- roader approached the source of the smoke. Dan grimaced as he recognised the strong aromas that the smoke carried; burnt wood, metal and organic material. To cover his distaste, Dan commented, "Its lucky how the fire didn’t spread to the forest."
"At least the ground commander had the sense to contain the fire," commented Claydove dryly. "It helps with the paperwork afterwards, the fewer governmental agencies involved the better."
Dan nodded. He knew what their purpose was here, to help in the clean up and cover up.
Claydove noted as the off-roader slowed to a stop. "Ah we're here. Remind me, Dan, who was it that DC sent up here to start things up for us?"
"Bryant, Captain Bryant." Dan glanced out of the window, someone had been efficient and a complex of tents had already been set up.
"Do you know him?"
Dan briefly smiled. "Yes, he was in my year at the Academy. We got promoted at the same time. He's a good man."
"Loyal?"
"Of course, totally."
Claydove sniffed. "Good, I can sense this is going to be complicated enough to sort out without having to worry about whether someone is going to go to the press or not."
Dan nodded. The situation that the local Commander had placed the GDP in was bad enough without having to worry about leaks to the press. Bryant would already have a grip on the situa…. His thoughts stopped as he watched two GDP patrolmen carry something out from the tent that was marked with a red cross. He watched as the two men placed their burden at the end of a long line of similar bags and closed his eyes as he saw just how small the bag was. Dan concentrated on banishing thoughts of his small family.
Claydove grunted, "We're here to do a job, Slater. If you're not up to it…"
"No, sir, I can do it."
Claydove didn’t say anything in reply and got out of the vehicle. Dan followed him and once he was out of the car, put on his uniform cap. He looked around at the wrecked, still smoldering buildings.
Claydove's voice sounded in his ear. "We got five rogues back and I doubt that this part of the railroad will be troublesome again. Whatever our losses, whatever it takes to clear this up, then its worth it, Dan."
Dan's gaze strayed to the smaller line of bodybags that lay someway apart from the line he'd first seen. There were four bags there. He looked again at the long line of bags, maybe twenty or more, more than half of which were smaller than the rest. "Yes, sir, of course."
"Ah, there's Bryant, I believe."
Dan didn't follow his superior at first. His gaze was riveted on the bodybags. It was worth it, wasn't it?
"Slater!"
"Coming, sir!" Dan picked his way carefully through the mud that had been churned by the many vehicles that had passed, shutting his ears to the wail from a nearby tent that cut through to his core.
"My baby! You killed my baby!"
It was worth it, it had to be, this was what he believed was right; there was no alternative. This was his job, his career. Guides had to be protected from themselves and the community had to be protected from do-gooders who didn’t know anything about what they were meddling with. Yes, it was worth it, the costs were worth it.