The morning sun cast long shadows across the central plaza as Maria stood before the assembled community, her expression grim. Nearly 200 residents had gathered in response to her call, their faces showing curiosity mixed with concern.
The previous evening's discussion with the team had led to this moment. Lily's evidence of coordinated sabotage had made action inevitable—lives were at risk, and the community deserved answers.
"Thank you all for coming," Maria began, her voice carrying clearly across the plaza. "We're here because of the various incidents that have been occurring around our settlement."
Richard and Damien stood near the plaza's centre, flanked by Victor and Ethan. Both men wore expressions of confused indignation, though Richard's eyes held a wariness that suggested he understood the gravity of the situation.
"Over the past weeks, we've experienced a pattern of problems," Maria continued. "Tools going missing, work assignments being confused, materials ending up in wrong locations. Yesterday, these problems escalated to dangerous levels—the bison enclosure was deliberately opened, and a shelter collapsed due to sabotage."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd as people connected recent frustrations to deliberate actions.
"Lily has been observing suspicious behaviour, and yesterday she witnessed the culprits planning their sabotage."
Lily stepped forward, her usual energy subdued by a sense of seriousness. "Yesterday morning, I saw Richard and Damien meet in private near the storage areas. They gestured towards specific locations—the livestock area and the old shelter construction site. Then they separated and positioned themselves near those exact areas."
"That's ridiculous," Richard interrupted loudly. "That was a casual conversation, that doesn't prove anything."
"I saw you near the bison enclosure shortly before the gates were found open," Lily continued steadily. "I watched Damien examine the shelter that collapsed hours before it fell. The timing is too close to be coincidental given what I saw earlier in the day."
Damien stepped forward exuding an aura of self importance. "This is absurd. You're accusing us based on being in public areas of the settlement?"
"I'm accusing you based on suspicious behaviour, followed by incidents occurring at the exact locations you'd indicated and then gone to," Lily replied firmly.
The crowd's murmurs grew louder, with several voices calling out in support of Lily's observations. People began sharing their own observations, noting that Richard was never far from trouble.
"Even if that were true," Richard said, raising his voice to address the crowd directly, "you need to ask yourselves why such problems might occur. This settlement has grown chaotic under the current leadership."
"So you admit to the sabotage?" Maria asked sharply.
"I'm saying that when leadership fails, people notice. When systems don't work efficiently, problems arise naturally." Richard's tone carried the conviction of someone who believed his own justifications. "Perhaps instead of looking for scapegoats, you should examine whether your methods are actually effective."
"Effective?" Eric stepped forward from the crowd, his usually cheerful demeanour replaced by anger. "You nearly got people killed with that shelter collapse!"
"That's not proven," Damien protested. "And even if accidents occurred during necessary... adjustments to failing systems, the responsibility lies with those who created the poor conditions in the first place."
The crowd's reaction was swift and negative. Voices rose in outrage as people processed what sounded very much like an admission wrapped in justification.
"You're admitting you sabotaged our work!" Thomas called out.
"We're admitting that changes were necessary," Richard replied, his voice growing stronger as he attempted to rally support. "Some of you remember when this settlement had proper leadership. When people knew their roles and responsibilities were clear."
"When you controlled everything, you mean," someone shouted from the crowd.
"When things worked!" Richard shot back. "Look around you. Confusion, wasted effort, resources misallocated because everyone thinks their opinion matters equally."
The attempt to gain supporters fell completely flat. Faces throughout the crowd showed anger rather than agreement, old grievances against Richard's authoritarian rule resurfacing with renewed intensity.
"You put people's lives at risk because you couldn't accept that we chose a different way," Maria said, her voice cutting through the noise. "That's not leadership—that's selfishness."
Captain Thessa had been standing quietly at the edge of the gathering, her expression troubled as she watched the proceedings. Maria turned towards her with obvious purpose.
"Captain Thessa, Damien is one of your people. The River Pact agreed that your people would follow our community standards. How do you want to handle his involvement in this sabotage?"
Thessa's face tightened with the same uncomfortable expression she'd shown Victor days earlier. "I can't get involved with Damien's situation. As I told Victor, it's too troublesome for me to handle."
"Even when he's endangered people's lives?" Maria pressed.
"I understand your position, but I can't help you with this particular matter." Thessa refused to speak further on the matter.
The crowd's reaction to Thessa's refusal was mixed—some noticing that she must be in a difficult position, others frustrated by what seemed like abandonment of responsibility.
"Then we'll handle it ourselves," Maria decided, turning back to face Richard and Damien. "The evidence is clear, the danger to our community is real, and your own words have essentially confirmed—"
"Excuse me," a clear voice called out from the settlement's edge. "We don't mean to interrupt, but we're looking for someone to speak with."
All heads turned towards the source of the interruption. Three figures stood near the plaza's entrance, their travel-worn clothing and upright postures immediately marking them as outsiders.
They moved with the disciplined bearing of military training, their eyes quickly assessing the gathered crowd and obvious tension.
The lead figure, a woman with short-cropped hair and confident bearing, stepped forward with her hands visible and empty. "I'm Rhea of the Iron Vanguard. These are my companions, Miles and Tony. We're scouts for our main group."
At the mention of Iron Vanguard, several members of the core team exchanged sharp glances of recognition. Sam's expression tightened, Walter's grip on his cane shifted, and Victor's posture became more alert. They'd heard that name before—mentioned as one of the stronger factions in the region.
"Iron Vanguard," Sam repeated, with recognition in his eyes.
"That's right," Rhea replied, noting the reaction. "We're scouting the area for our leader, we're looking to establish a new base of operations."
Maria sensed the tension from the others. "This seems like a conversation better suited to a more private setting," she said. "Victor, Ethan, please escort Richard and Damien to separate holding areas. We'll continue their matter later."
Victor nodded, already moving to guide Richard away from the plaza. "Come on," he said firmly, giving Richard no opportunity to object.
Ethan did the same with Damien, both men being led away before they could hear more of the conversation.
Maria gestured towards the almost finished administrative building. "We can speak more freely there."
The crowd began to disperse, understanding that the main proceedings were on pause for now, though many lingered to discuss what they'd witnessed.
---
In the privacy of their new location, the atmosphere grew more tense as the team faced the 3 Iron Vanguard scouts.
"We weren't expecting to encounter the Iron Vanguard in this area," Walter said, settling into his chair with his cane resting against his knee.
Rhea's friendly expression became slightly more professional. "Our previous stronghold became... untenable. We've been traveling for a while, our requirements are quite strict."
"What kind of operations does the Iron Vanguard handle?" Lily asked in an attempt to keep the conversation rolling.
"Security services, primarily," Rhea replied. "Escort duties, settlement defense, clearing dangerous areas."
"Can we ask how large your group is?" Victor asked, rejoining them after securing Richard.
"Large enough to require advance notice when we move through inhabited areas," Miles answered. "Our leader prefers to establish contact rather than create misunderstandings by appearing unannounced."
"That's wise," Maria replied. "Saves everyone some headaches."
"The settlement seems well-organised," Rhea observed, glancing around the building. "How long have you been established here?"
"Several months," Sam replied. "We've worked hard to build what you see."
"It shows," Miles commented. "The construction quality is impressive. Do you have many skilled craftsmen?"
"We make do with the talents we have," Walter said vaguely, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"And the leadership structure?" Tony asked. "Single authority or council-based decisions?"
The question made several team members exchange glances. "We work collaboratively," Maria answered.
The scouts' questions began casually, but the core team quickly recognised the intelligence-gathering nature of their inquiries.
"Valentra seems quite prosperous," Rhea observed, noting the ongoing construction and general activity visible through the windows. "Do a lot of people call this place home?"
"We're a growing community," Maria replied carefully. "Large enough to be self-sufficient, small enough to maintain close relationships."
"The fortifications look solid," Tony added, his eyes locking onto the palisade walls and watchtower. "Have you faced significant threats that required such defenses?"
"The usual dangerous creatures," Victor said. "We've learned to be prepared."
The exchange continued for several minutes, each side probing politely while revealing as little as possible. The scouts asked about population, defensive capabilities, resource abundance, and leadership structure—exactly the kind of information that would be valuable for either legitimate diplomatic contact or less benevolent purposes.
"When can we expect your main group to pass by?" Walter asked.
"A few days, depending on travel conditions and our reconnaissance findings," Rhea replied. "Our leader wanted comprehensive information before committing our people to any particular route or area."
"I'm not sure if you mentioned the name of your leader, can you remind me?" Sam smiled.
"Captain Marcus Hale," Rhea answered.
The mention of the surname sent another wave of recognition through the core team, though this time it was tinged with unease rather than familiarity.
Marcus Hale Maria thought to herself, her mind immediately connecting it to Richard Hale.
"What made your previous stronghold untenable?" Sam asked, trying to gather more information.
The three scouts exchanged glances, and Rhea's friendly expression became slightly more guarded. "Circumstances changed, we couldn't stay there any longer."
The vague answer raised more questions than it answered, and the team's wariness increased accordingly.
"We appreciate you taking the time to speak with us," Maria said. "Perhaps we should arrange a meeting with Captain Hale when they arrive."
"That would be good," Rhea agreed. "Thank you for your hospitality."
As the scouts prepared to depart, the settlement's leadership was left with two unresolved situations—the interrupted trial of Richard and Damien, and the approaching arrival of a mercenary group led by someone who shared Richard's surname.
If not handled properly the ongoing situations could spiral into a chaotic mess that would spell the end of Valentra as they know it.