The Black Guard

by C. R. Daems

  "I’d send a group of twenty to thirty by night to within four hours of Haeju, either by horse or on foot to avoid notice. Then I’d create a diversion in the disputed valley to draw Shin and a sizable group there. If the incident began in the afternoon, the compound would be poorly defended by midnight. I’d attack killing as many soldiers as possible, taking hostages, and destroying the weapons building," Sergeant Nadel said.

  "Lseul Shin is most vulnerable when she visits her mother in the small town where she was born. It’s two hours closer to the disputed valley. The tribesmen are good shots so it would take only a few if they wanted to assassinate her; a larger group if they wanted to abduct her and the children." Lieutenant Solow said. "If Daiki is crazy, then assassination, otherwise abduction."

  "What about you, Captain?" Sergeant Catz asked, which elicited smiles and snorts.

  "I’d use trucks loaded with fifty or so troops. I’d take them into the neutral zone—the open land separating Shin, Daiki, and several other warlords’ lands from Rasun, the capital of North Song. I’d drive cross country to the road leading to Haeju and camp some four to six-hour drive away and wait for nightfall. Like most of you, I’d have planned an afternoon diversion in the valley. I’d leave in time to arrive at the compound around three a.m., kill anyone who possessed a weapon, take Shin’s family and the other two families hostage, and destroy the weapons building. I would think that sufficient for Daiki to get what he wanted in the valley."

  "You must have loved the training exercises." Solow laughed.

  "I did. Over the next few days, I want each of the teams to discuss the possible scenarios we’ve conjectured and possible counters. I will adjust our security accordingly. Crazy doesn’t mean stupid, nor does unpredictable mean unplanned. When Daiki strikes, and I believe he will, I want him surprised, not us.

  * * *

  I left the barracks and was heading towards Shin’s house when three men entered the gate, exchanging friendly shouts with the guard. Then they turned in the direction of Corporal Toch, who was standing near the gate, and had a huddled conversation. Two of the men then walked in the direction of the barracks while the third strutted across the yard towards Shin’s house. The two stopped and looked me up and down as I passed.

  "I’d like to try that gun she has strapped to her leg," the short, stocky man with an unruly beard said. The other, taller and thinner with a trimmed beard, laughed.

  "I’d like to try her out," he said loud enough to ensure I heard. I ignored them, as they hadn’t addressed me. By now, the young man had reached the door and was talking with Sergeant Ganz. He waved his arms around, and his voice rose to a shout as I neared.

  "Get out of my way, bitch. I live here." He grabbed Ganz by the wrist and pulled, a smile on his young face. Ganz didn’t resist. She let him pull her forward and used the momentum to drive her right elbow between his eyes. He staggered backward one step and fell unto his ass, his nose bleeding profusely. After his head cleared and he realized his nose was probably broken, he grabbed for the rifle hanging at his side, but stopped when he saw Ganz’s Mfw pointed at his face. Just then Shin came running out.

  "That’s Tahm, my son, you crazy bitch—" he said as he grabbed Ganz’s gun arm. She let Shin pull her arm, swiveling with the pressure and drove her Mfw into his stomach. As he doubled with the pain, she swept her right leg through his legs and drew her laser with her left hand. When Shin looked up from the ground, Ganz had stepped back and had her Mfw pointing at him and her laser at his son.

  "Did I neglect to mention you don’t touch a Black Guard and that drawing a gun on one will get you killed? We don’t like to kill our clients or their sons, but we will if attacked," I said when I reached them. "Sergeant Ganz?"

  "Sir, this young man approached me, wanting access to the house. Since I’ve never met him, I asked him to wait while I verified he was authorized. He became belligerent and attacked me. Then I was attacked from behind by an unknown assailant, who I now see is Warlord Shin." Ganz never smiled, although it must have taken considerable effort. She had known it was Shin who had been reaching for her.

  "You, your family, and your men may call us bitches or anything else if it makes you feel better. But unless you have a death wish, you will obey our orders and refrain from taking aggressive action against us."

  Shin glared at me as he rose. After hard looks at Ganz and me, he grabbed his son’s arm and stormed off in animated conversation. I hoped he was convincing the young man that "getting even" was a terrible idea.

  "That was well done, Ganz. Shooting clients or their sons for a first offense would be frowned on," I said, smiling. Shin’s daughter, Soon, was standing in the hallway smiling as I entered the house.

  "She’s very fast," she said, her brown eyes sparkling with excitement. "They think women are for their amusement. Are all the women as good as Sergeant Ganz?"

  "She and the others started their training before they were eight years old, and had to compete against hundreds of other girls and boys. Any of us will be happy to answer any questions you have so long as you don’t distract us from our duty." I continued into the kitchen where Iseul was preparing lunch with another young woman.

  "Is he hurt?" she asked, concern in her voice.

  "Only his pride." I hoped his father would squelch any idea of retaliation.

  "That’s important to men." She studied my face for a long time, looking for… the answer to some question. Her eyes misted. "Don’t kill him, please."

  "Hopefully, your husband has convinced your son that killing the guards protecting his family isn’t a good idea."

  * * *

  The following week settled into an uneasy peace where our inescapable presence was tolerated. There was always a Guard near the gate into the compound and one wandering the grounds or around the perimeter. In addition, I encouraged the off duty Guards to visit the town. The more familiar we were with our surroundings, the better equipped we would be in the event of an emergency and a need to flee the compound. Shin and the others felt it a fortress; I considered it a cage.

  It was an hour after midnight, and I was getting dressed when the emergency LED flashed on my Mfi.

  "Report," I said, noting it was from Sergeant Nadel, who was patrolling the grounds.

  "I have a person lying on top of the wall behind our barracks with a grenade launcher. He appears to be waiting for something."

  "Take no action unless he does. I’ll join you shortly." I clicked on the all-channels emergency override and waited as I received confirmation from each team member. "We have our ’blowup the weapons building’ scenario in progress. Sergeant Catz, your team is to keep the family in place. Sergeant Cerff, take your team over the wall by the far barrack. Send two men to circle the wall in each direction. Prepare to engage but wait to see what they plan. Sergeant Judt, have your team await orders." I slipped out the front door and around the building into the shadow of the wall.

  The sniper was lying only twenty steps in front of me, facing the weapons and senior officers’ quarters beyond. I released the catch on my whip and quietly slid closer. Nadel was crouched against our barrack wall, Mfw pointing at the man. She nodded. It was one of the scenarios we had envisioned. The shooter was waiting for some action to get everyone running around inside the compound before he launched a missile into the weapons building, hoping to cause maximum damage and loss of life.

  Sure enough, a few minutes later, a container sailed over the wall and landed on the roof of the senior officers’ building. It burst into flames. The guard at the gate finally noticed after screams came from the house. He set off an alarm horn and flood lights lit the compound. The shooter on the wall sat up and raised the launcher. My whip lashed out, curling around his arms and the launcher.

  "Now," I said into my Mfi as I jerked on my whip. One of the shooter’s arms and the launcher flew in my direction. I could faintly hear shooting behind the wall as I caught the launcher. The body crashed to the ground, and Nadel shot
him. A mercy killing because without the medical facilities on a Jax cruiser he’d slowly die.

  "All clear. Two dead." Appeared on my Mfi from Sergeant Haber.

  "All clear. One dead." From Sergeant Cerff. And a minute later. "Another one dead. Their driver."

  "Cerff, continue to monitor the outside wall. Judt, your team can stand down." I headed for Shin’s house, knowing he would have questions. Rants more likely, I mused. I had nearly reached his house when he and his son came running towards me from the direction of the senior officers’ house.

  "You and your people are worse than worthless. You could have gotten my family killed. I should have known better than to trust women," he screamed. His son’s face had a sneer and his hands were on the rife slung across his chest.

  "If your son raises that weapon, you will have reason to hate me because I will kill him." I held his eyes. He eventually turned to his son and shook his head. When he did, he son reluctantly let go of the rifle. "The fire bomb tossed on the roof of that building wasn’t dangerous. It was meant to get everyone running out of the houses into the yard. When that happened, the man on the wall behind our barrack planned to send a missile into your very inadequate weapons building. The explosion would have killed or disabled everyone inside these walls."

  "Which way did he go? Why didn’t you chase him?" Shin asked, looking nervously around.

  "He’s dead, along with the one who threw the fire bomb, their two friends, and their driver. I told my Guard to hold your family in place because that was the safest place for them."

  "Why didn’t you tell me?" he snarled.

  "You’re paying the Guard to protect your family, not you or your troops. I’m pleased no one was hurt, but I killed the attackers tonight because they threatened your family. If that is unacceptable or you still consider us worthless or don’t want to trust women, you may cancel our contract, and we will leave." I was rubbing it in, but if I didn’t, his son’s ego was going to get him killed.

  "Show me this man with the grenade launcher?" he said, still reluctant to admit defeat. I waved toward the barracks and followed beside him, not trusting his son to be behind me. We walked around the building and found the body and the launcher.

  "His arm’s been ripped off and the other one’s barely attached," Tahm’s voice rose with excitement. "And he’s been shot."

  "The price of challenging the Black Guard," I said. "We take our jobs seriously. We do not play games, give demonstrations, shoot to wound, or take prisoners." I followed Shin and his son as they went outside the compound to inspect the four dead men and their vehicle. They concluded they were Warlord Daiki’s men.

  * * *

  The next morning, I called a meeting of my senior people. "I believe the attack last night eliminates any doubt this is only a border dispute. Daiki has declared war on Shin," I said, and received nods of agreement.

  "What do you think they will try next?" Sergeant Cerff asked.

  "An all-out attack either in the valley or more likely…" I left it hanging, wanting to hear their opinions.

  "A diversion in the valley and a large scale attack here," Lieutenant Solow said.

  "Destroy the compound, kill anyone with a gun, and take hostages," Sergeant Catz said, echoing my previous scenario.

  Sergeant Judt put in, "Within a day or two at most."

  "Yes, that’s what I think." I was pleased with their appraisal of the situation. "If we get notice of an attack in the valley?"

  "Leave the compound with Shin’s family…" Solow said, but gave no further suggestion as to where, nor did anyone else.

  "I believe we will have at least four to eight hours’ notice. Four if Shin’s troops in the valley are overrun; eight if they were just attacked," I said and waited.

  "Four if the survivors are being chased by Daiki’s force and eight if it’s a diversion," Catz said.

  "Correct. I want your teams updated and prepared to leave with all our equipment within one hour of my order." I left the barracks and wandered out into the yard intending to visit Shin’s house. Outside, I noticed five men digging a pit six by eight meters, so I walked over to them. I recognized the stocky man with a full beard from the senior officer housing.

  "Lieutenant?" I asked, since I didn’t know his name.

  "Haru," he said, thoughtfully. "We’re building an underground shed to store the explosives. Last night’s attack shows how unsafe the weapons building is."

  "That’s good. I’m afraid the walls around the compound tend to create an illusion of safety that’s not true."

  "Many of us were angry with Warlord Shin for hiring the Black Guard and more so when we found their captain a woman as well as many of your Guards. We… I owe you an apology. You saved a lot of lives last night. Your… people are very deadly."

  "I’m glad we could help, Lieutenant." I gave a small bow and continued on to Shin’s house. Iseul was in the kitchen with Corporal Rong.

  "Sir," Rong said in acknowledgement to my presence.

  "Captain Sapir," Iseul said, bowing to me. "My husband is very grateful to you, although his pride might not let him acknowledge it in words. So, let me thank you and your team for saving our lives and apologize for being… unreasonable last night. We wanted to run like panicked cattle. I and my children will listen from now on."

  "Thank you, Iseul. The Black Guard are not infallible, but we will always have your best interest in mind. Whoever is with you or your children is in touch with every other member of the Guard, and we are coordinating our actions." I raised my arm to show her my Mfi. "I would appreciate it if you would put together a bag of things you might need if you had to leave your home for eight to twelve hours."

  "You think…"

  "We survive because we anticipate possible trouble and are prepared if it happens. If it doesn’t, it costs nothing."

  She slowly nodded. I was a little surprised when nothing happened the rest of the day and night. I hoped that didn’t mean I had guessed wrong and Daiki had a surprise for me.

  * * *

  After breakfast the next morning, I walked over to check on the progress on the new explosives shed they were building. To my surprise, they had finished the digging and had the floor and the walls halfway bricked.

  "You’ve made good progress, Lieutenant Haru," I said, looking down into the pit.

  "Captain Sapir." He gave a small bow. "Yes, it should be complete tomorrow, although I guess there is no rush now. I doubt they would try that again."

  "Assume the worst and hope for the best." I smiled. "Better to look the fool than be fooled."

  He stared at me for a short time before speaking, "You saw the potential weakness and prepared for it. Clever and fortunate for us. Any other observations?"

  I nodded. "If you hear of an attack on your troops in the valley, come see me after you have finished your duties." He stood mouth open but said nothing as I wandered away.

  It was mid-afternoon when a jeep-like vehicle raced into the compound. Two men jumped out and headed for Shin’s house and a few minutes later Haru and two other officers came running as Shin exited his house. They stood talking for a few minutes, then the officers ran off in different directions, and Shin came running over to me.

  "Daiki has attacked my detail in the valley. I’m taking half my troops to reinforce them. Haru said you expected this. How?" he asked.

  "It was logical after the other night. Daiki has declared war on you. It’s no longer a border dispute."

  He stared at me. Then shook his head like a dog out of water. "Watch after my family," his voice a whispered plea.

  "We will protect them with our lives, Warlord Shin."

  Over the next hour, men arrived, weapons were retrieved from the weapons building, cars and trucks assembled and loaded, and they raced off down the road leading to the valley. As they left, Haru and Iseul, followed by Sergeant Nadel, came walking over to me.

  "Lieutenant Haru, I suggest you may want to distribute the explosives among y
our men and desert the compound. I think you are going to have company in the early hours of the morning." I said. "Iseul, you and the children need to be ready to leave by sunset, and I’d appreciate any suggestions you might have on places to take you."

  "What are you anticipating, Captain?" Haru asked.

  "About forty or fifty in cars and trucks armed with heavy machine guns, around one or two in the morning. Probably drive into the compound and start shooting soldiers and looking for hostages like Shin’s family."

  "How can you know that?"

  "Better to look the fool than be one." I smiled. He nodded and ran off.

  Iseul nodded. "Come Sergeant Nadel, let’s go get the children ready to leave.

  * * *

  Lieutenant Haru returned an hour later with thirty men, and we spent the next hour discussing what I expected to happen.

  "What do you suggest?" Haru asked.

  "I would position half of your men in the houses surrounding the compound. Arm them with rifles and grenades. The rest hidden in the houses near the gate to the compound. If they come, I think they will ram the gate and drive most of their trucks inside. When they do, destroy with your grenade launchers any cars left outside and any car or truck attempting to leave. When the men in the surrounding houses hear the explosions, they can begin throwing their grenades over the wall. Between the men in front of the gate and the men stationed on the roofs of the houses around the walls, the compound will be a prison."

  I waited for questions. After much discussion, I agreed to stay with Sergeant Judt’s team with those responsible for the front gate, to handle the launchers, and to direct activities. Iseul and her children would stay at her sister’s house guarded by Lieutenant Solow and the other two teams. As a precaution, I had charges buried under the gate. The compound was deserted and everyone in place by ten that evening.