Operation Honey Trap vs The Emperor of the Apocalypse-Chapter 198: Killing One Innocent a Day

"I think she’s broken her wrist," Niko whispered to his sister, carrying the sleeping Indy to Loveday, who was already climbing into her swag.

Loveday climbed back out of her sleeping bag and fetched a lamp, holding it over the sleeping woman’s left arm.

"Hell. With that level of swelling and bruising, it’s almost certainly broken," whispered Loveday. "Did she do that when she fell from her horse?"

Niko nodded soberly. "She’s been in a lot of pain. She’s got terrible blisters on her thighs too."

Loveday nodded in sympathy, she knew about those. Most of the women were in the same sorry boat.

"Leave her here with me," she whispered to Niko. "I’ll treat her wrist and plaster the blisters for the next ride."

"I’m staying until she’s been treated. I’ll set up her swag and carry her there so she can sleep as much as possible. She’s beyond exhausted."

"You can be a good man when you want to be, brother," said Loveday approvingly.

"CQ, CQ, CQ... this is Victor Kilo Seven Alpha Papa Echo standing by," Alton had the ham radio operating, with Delphi crouched by his side.

He was calling Squeaking Point using his call sign, VK7APE. They had left the group and headed deeper into the bush for privacy.

After a few minutes wait, a reply crackled across the air.

"Victor Kilo Seven Alpha Papa Echo, this is Victor Kilo Seven Oscar X-ray... this is Victor Kilo Seven Oscar X-ray, over."

"Who’s call sign is that?" Alton asked Delphi. "That’s not Rutherglen, is it?"

"No," she whispered. "I think that’s Casey’s call sign."

"Ox? That would be right. Trust you to recognise his voice," he said sourly.

Delphi rolled her eyes at the jealous man, but the impact was lost in the dark.

"Victor Kilo Seven Oscar X-ray from Victor Kilo Seven Alpha Papa Echo, thanks for your call. Where is Victor Kilo Seven Papa Alpha?" said Alton.

VK7PA was Rutherglen’s ham radio call sign.

"He has left SP. I repeat, he has left SP."

"Squeaking Point," said Delphi helpfully.

"Roger that, Victor Kilo Seven Oscar X-ray," Alton replied to Casey.

"How far from SP are you?" Casey asked him.

"Two to three days ride," replied Alton.

"Do not come to SP. I repeat, do not come to SP."

Alarm bells went off in Delphi’s head. Had they been compromised? She unconsciously gripped Alton’s shoulder.

"Understood. We will not come through SP. Repeat; we will not come through SP."

"Where is Victor Kilo Seven Papa Alpha?" Alton asked, needing to know where Rutherglen was now.

"He has left SP. You won’t find him."

"He’s gone into hiding then," whispered Delphi to Alton. "Casey can’t tell us where over the air. They’ve been discovered!"

"How is your clan? Is everyone well?" Alton asked Casey.

"Negative. Not well. A sickness is killing one person every day."

Delphi jumped to her feet, pacing wildly to and fro.

"Sickness, sickness..." she muttered. "What does he mean? Ask him if the sickness is related to VK7SOB."

This was the call sign they had assigned to the Emperor.

"Was the sickness caused by Victor Kilo Seven Sierra Oscar Bravo?" Alton asked.

"Affirmative. Victor Kilo Seven Sierra Oscar Bravo knows who you’re travelling with. He wants Victor Kilo Seven Sierra Uniform November before he’ll share the cure."

VK7SUN was Delphi’s call sign. Casey was telling them that the Emperor would kill one villager a day until Delphi was returned to him.

"Fuck!" Alton cursed under his breath.

They’d been discovered. And the Emperor wasn’t going to accept that Rutherglen was MIA. He was trying to draw the tracker and Delphi out of hiding by murdering innocents.

That wouldn’t endear the despot to his People... but then again, when had he ever cared about that? thought Alton. Shit, shit, shit... nothing was beneath this madman. He should have considered this possibility...

"Don’t change your plans," said Casey. "Do not come to SP under any circumstances. You might catch the sickness."

"Understood. We won’t be coming by without the right medicine."

They would need to make their way back to the boat at Woolnorth, thought Alton, his brain rapidly changing gears. Rutherglen would surely be holed up there. It was the pre-arranged route for smuggling new recruits back to HQ on the Mainland for training. Hopefully he was already preparing an army to attack Squeaking Point.

"Good. Don’t change your plans under any circumstances," Casey reiterated. "The clan knew this sickness was a risk. We don’t want you catching it. It would dishonour the memories of those who have already passed from it."

Delphi knew exactly what he was saying. Don’t come here and throw your lives away trying to rescue us. Win the Rebellion instead...

Of course they must try to save the innocent people of Squeaking Point! She knew the Emperor well enough to know he would follow through on his promise. If he had said he would kill a member of the town every day until he had her in his clutches again, then that was exactly what he would do! 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

He wouldn’t even flinch and would just keep on with his executions until every last man, woman and child of the clan was dead.

She thought with horror of the innocent children... Vincent, little Jeannie, their lives barely begun. The fierce warriors, Casey, Sasha and the other young men and women all putting their lives on the line because they believed in her and Alton. They believed that they could win the war against that evil man.

"Roger that Victor Kilo Seven Oscar X-ray," Alton replied to Casey. "Hang in there. We’ll be working on a cure. We’ll have it to you as fast as we can."

"Don’t put the payload at risk. Don’t dishonour the fallen by winning the battle but losing the war."

Alton knew what the man was saying. Don’t give up the bigger cause of the Rebellion to save their town, which was now no doubt heavily guarded and waiting for them to attack.

The Emperor was nothing if not a canny strategist. He planned to "lure the tiger down the mountain," by hurting innocent bystanders, knowing they couldn’t stand by and do nothing in the face of it.

"Understood. Under no circumstances will we do that. We’re beyond grateful for your service and sacrifice."

"And we for yours," Casey replied. "News of what happened in the capital’s everywhere. There are lots of willing hands. More than any of us ever thought."

Alton was heartened to hear Casey’s code for the fact that recruits were flowing in thick and fast. The bombing and injury of the Emperor would be a huge boost to the Cause.

"Roger that," said Alton. "Some good news at least. Stay safe. 73 from Victor Kilo Seven Alpha Papa Echo. Over and out."

"Likewise. 73 from Victor Kilo Seven Oscar X-ray," Casey signed off.

Delphi blinked back her tears before they could fall.

There was no way they would be hiding in cowardice while the innocent townsfolk of Squeaking Point were slowly massacred.

If Alton had the slightest intention of agreeing to Casey’s request, he could think again...