Sierra Bravo

still dim, Harriet assumed he'd had no luck.
"It's not the meter box," he said, confirming her suspicions. "The supply's been cut."
They all took a seat, and Harriet looked at Alice. "Right, you first. What happened?"
"I checked the shops out. One guy lied, told me nobody had been in, then changed his story when I told him we'd caught the crooks and were giving people their money back. He's the one that said they were coming back next week. Then I went into a furniture store, and the owner went ballistic. Started yelling at me to leave, said the people were due any second to pick up their cash." Alice shrugged. "Before I could leave, they drew up outside. I ducked out the way just as they came in, and I would have let them go, except they spotted me."
"So you started firing?"
"No! I told them they were under arrest. The guy ran for it, the woman looked like she was obeying, then chucked a jug at me. By the time I recovered they were gone. I ran outside, and fired at their van as they drove off."
"You might have hit someone," said Harriet quietly.
"I was trying to."
"I mean other people. Pedestrians."
"There wasn't anyone else. And I stopped firing as soon as they were out of range."
"You did well," said Harriet, with a nod.
"They won't take this lying down," warned Birch. "They'll want to crush us, and quickly. First they'll find us, then they'll spy on us to gauge our strength. If they find out there's only three of us, we're done."
Harriet eyed the others in concern. They'd come to Chirless to round up a couple of thugs, but things were escalating fast. "I'd better call Bernie and ask for reinforcements."
"Like that ever works," muttered Alice.
Birch leaned forward. "We don't have to beat them, we just have to make Chirless unattractive enough that they move on."
"They might move on to Dismolle. Or to some other planet where we can't get at them." Harriet shook her head. "No, we're going to arrest them all."
"I admire your confidence," said Birch, but he looked doubtful.
Harriet took out her commset and called their home station. Bernie answered immediately.
"Trainee Harriet. Have you rounded up the perpetrators already?"
"Not exactly, no. Look, we might be facing a bigger group than we expected. Can you get some reinforcements in?"
"No."
"You could pretend to think about it first."
"Pretend? How would that help?"
"Never mind." Harriet tried another tack. "Can you access the Chirless Residents' Association?"
"Yes, I have their number here."
"That's not what I meant by access. We need some data and they won't give it to us."
"What do you need?"
"Contact details. Names and addresses of all ex-Peace Force officers." Harriet's commset beeped. "Wait a minute, I think I have a message."
"Of course you have a message," said Bernie calmly. "That is the list of names and addresses you requested."
"Already?"
"I'm sorry, should I have taken longer? Pretended, perhaps?"
"Er, no. Thanks Bernie."
"Was there anything else?"
"Power," hissed Alice, gesturing at the dim lights.
"Bernie, can you get the electricity back on at the Chirless Peace Force station?"
There was a flicker, and the office was bathed in light.
"Hey, thanks!" said Harriet.
"You're welcome," replied the robot. "Also, I have some very positive news."
"You managed to get some reinforcements?"
"No, I'm happy to tell you the Peace Force will not have to pay for the power. I have attached the charges to the Chirless Residents' Association account."
Harriet rolled her eyes. Only Bernie would consider that great news. "Thanks, Bernie. Harriet out." She turned to the others. "Well, we're on our own, but I did get the list of officers." She passed her commset to Birch. "Can you go through them and pick out any who might help us? We just need to borrow some blankets, maybe a portable bed or two. See what you can scrounge up."
"Sure thing."
"What about me?" said Alice.
"We're going to tidy up a bit, and then I'll get some food in."
"Maybe we should fly home for the night," said Alice. "I know Bernie won't like it, but we could come back in the morning, and—"
"This might take longer than a day or two." Harriet gestured around the office. "It's not great, but we'll manage."
— ♦ —
It was later that evening, and Birch was struggling with a portable camping stove, while Alice and Harriet were putting together a set of light-weight beds.
"These don't look strong enough," said Alice, as she inspected the thin tubing.
Harriet shrugged. "They wouldn't sell them if they didn't work."
"Seriously? What universe did you teleport in from?"
"Well, it's all they had in stock, so we'll just have to manage."
Birch had tried calling his contacts, but hadn't managed to get hold of anyone. He was hoarse from leaving messages, and in the end Harriet had gone out and bought a few basic items to see them through the night. She'd used her own money, what little she had, and 'basic' was a pretty accurate description.
There was a bang and a string of curses. Harriet looked over, and saw Birch trying to douse the flames which had engulfed his sleeve. He managed to put them out, and he stood there, smoking gently and looking extremely irritated. "This isn't a camping stove," he muttered. "It's a portable flame thrower."
"And these aren't beds," said Alice, sucking on a bleeding finger. "They're primitive torture devices."
Harriet eyed the pair of them. It wasn't exactly the good-natured camaraderie she'd been hoping for, and she was seriously considering flying back to Dismolle. Then she heard a banging from the reception area, and she raised a hand for silence.
They all heard the banging again, and Harriet crossed to the doorway separating the reception area from the office. She stood with her back to the wall, then slowly peered around the corner. She'd half-expected a gang of thugs, but instead it was an elderly couple surrounded by boxes and crates of gear. The couple were peering through the tinted glass doors, and as the woman spotted Harriet, she waved.
They didn't look like armed thugs,