[U] Garlic Jr visits Raditzu Village

[Tobias]

Garlic listened to the clatter of weapons and boots outside his tent with grim satisfaction. He had just issued a command that sent his men scrambling. The question was: did he do the right thing?

Issue number one was sitting in front of him. A crudely sketched map of ?Raditzu Village?. The bastards thought they could remain neutral. The goddamned idiots. They were forcing his hand, making him do things he might regret. He had sent a messenger in reply. Not a ranking officer, just a simple messenger, with an Army three steps behind him. He would be joining the party shortly, but he had one more thing to do. It was another message, but one to be sent father out, to a ?soldier? in the employ of General Hiro. That ?soldier? would be his trump card if things turned ugly in the village.

Your services may be needed

That was all that was required in that message. Of course the one he sent down to the village was a little bit longer and hopefully far less cryptic.

I?m sorry to hear that. Unfortunately your logic is flawed. You say that you want nothing to do with my army or any army? Do you honestly think you will be left alone, even if we walk away? What happens when the Dante faction shows up? They are the representatives of a planet that has sold itself to war and murder. Will they leave you alone? What happens when The Outcasts arrive? They are a rabble of beast and vermin, an assortment of monsters. I doubt they will be as gracious as we. And Syntech? They are corporate pigs. Morality and compassion has long since been abandoned for pure gain. You are nothing but capital to them.

We can offer you a future. Join us peacefully and you will be protected instead of enslaved others. The benefits are numerous, the harm none. See to reason. I will be down to hear your answer shortly. Choose wisely.

Ah, but would they? Pride can do funny things to minds, as Garlic knew best. GJ gathered up his papers and strolled out of the tent. One of the two soldiers at his exit snapped to attention like a puppet with its strings pulled taut.

?Sir, your escort is ready, sir!? Garlic nodded but kept walking. The soldiers were forced to move with him.

?You got enthusiasm,? he told the one. ?I like enthusiasm. You get to carry me.? He paid no attention to the shocked expression on the man?s face as he leapt onto his shoulders.

?What?s your name, Private?? His reply was stuttered; obviously the boy was set off balance mentally by his forward CO.

?Demi, sir. Private John Demi.?

?Aright Demi, lets see what we need to do to get these backwater fools to listen, eh??