Sierra Bravo

—
After Darting left, Harriet sealed the front doors and went to find Birch. She explained about the Residents' Association, and he responded by kicking a hole in the wall. Then, chastened, he apologised.
"You saw what she's like," he said. "She's obviously gone into Foster, spun some tale about protecting the city, maybe even offered her a cut of the proceeds."
Harriet nodded. She could see how a private security force would appeal to the Association. Then she had another thought, and her blood ran cold. "Dave, she could be planning the same for Dismolle!"
They both contemplated that situation for a moment or two. The Dismolle Peace Force office would be closed for good, Bernie sent off for scrap, and Darting's thugs would rule the city.
"She's got to be stopped," said Birch urgently.
"How? If she's really in with Foster and her cronies, we'd be the ones breaking the law."
"Go after those guys of hers. The ones who assaulted Lefty. The ones Alice witnessed threatening the store owner. They're legitimate targets."
"Arrest them, get them to spill the goods on the rest?" Harriet looked uncertain. "Darting said she'd dealt with them. She could have shifted them off-planet."
"No chance. She wouldn't waste good people. They'll be lying low somewhere until we're gone."
"So how will we find them?"
"We're not called detectives for nothing," said Birch, with a smile.
"I'm a trainee and you're a sergeant," Harriet pointed out. "In case you've forgotten, we're not detectives at all."
"Well, we'll just have to fake it."
And with that, they returned to the others.
— ♦ —
It was late at night, and Harriet was still trying to sleep. McCluskey and Banville had stayed until just after midnight, leaving behind a generous stash of food and supplies. Nearby, Harriet could hear Birch and Alice breathing gently in their sleep, and she frowned as she thought of them going up against Darting's armed thugs.
Whatever the woman claimed, Harriet knew this wasn't going to end with the meeting. The Peace Force and Darting's people were locked into a head-on collision, and Harriet's thoughts turned to the coming battle. They needed weapons and body armour. They needed a whole lot more intelligence on the enemy. More, they needed allies. She remembered Mrs Timms had offered to help, and she realised it wasn't such a daft idea. Properly armed, the retired Peace Force captain would be very useful indeed.
Then she thought of Birch's friends, McCluskey and Banville. They'd hung around all evening, reluctant to leave, and if it weren't for the lack of beds she was sure they'd have stayed. What if she could recruit five, maybe ten retired Peace Force officers just like them?
She shook her head. The idea was insane. Instead of driving off the gang of criminals, the retired officers were more likely to end up in hospital. It had been nice to have them around, giving the station an echo of its glory days, but cooking a few sausages wasn't quite the same as fending off an attack on the building.
Then again, Birch was a retired officer, and she knew he was capable.
But what about the brass at Peace Force HQ? If they heard about her plan to use pensioners in what might amount to open warfare, they'd have a fit.
Then again, if the brass cared that much, they wouldn't have abandoned the planet all those years ago.
Harriet's mind kept going round in circles, for and against, until, with an effort, she stopped herself. She resolved to speak to Birch in the morning, and take his advice. If he thought his old comrades could help, so be it.

Chapter 10
Harriet woke with a start. Someone was shaking her, and when she opened her eyes she saw Alice looking down at her.
"What time is it?" demanded Harriet, blinking away the sleep.
"Never mind that. They've been here!"
"Who has?"
Alice didn't answer. She just dragged Harriet out of bed and bustled her to the reception area. Halfway across, Harriet stopped. There was a curious red glow, and when she looked at the glass doors she saw they'd been splashed with red. "Is that …" she began.
"Just paint," said Alice. She led the way outside, and Harriet saw the walls had been vandalised. Daubed across the front of the station, in dripping red lettering, was a warning: Leave now or die.
"At least they can spell," remarked Harriet. Despite her outward calm, she was disturbed by the sign. Their enemy was so confident, they were making very public threats. So much for the gang laying low and gauging the Peace Force's strength.
Suddenly Alice gripped her arm, making her jump. "Arnie!" she shouted, and ran into the building.
Harriet glanced up and down the street, but it was deserted. Then she looked up at the apartment buildings, and she realised they offered the enemy a great vantage point for spying … or sniping. Deep in thought, she followed Alice inside, sealing the front doors. She went to find Birch, who was busy making breakfast in the canteen.
"Two eggs or three?" he asked.
"Just coffee. I'm not hungry yet."
"Eat while you have the chance," advised Birch. "Trust me, I've done this before."
Harriet poured a mug of coffee and sat on the bench. "Dave, what do you think about getting some of your old contacts to help us out? Not just supplies, I mean help with the operation."
"They'd jump at the chance," said Birch.
"I figured. But … they might get hurt. Or killed."
"That's not the issue." Birch flipped a couple of eggs in the pan. "They were a hard bunch, back in the day, and they might have trouble taking orders from a trainee. Not that you're inexperienced, but —"
"I can live with that. I just want to see this gang rounded up, and we're outnumbered."
"The Peace Force isn't a democracy, Harriet." Birch studied her. "You must have a proper chain of command."
"Are you saying I should put one of them in charge?"
"No." Birch turned the gas off. "Look, it's common to have a young officer ordering experienced troops around. The