Free Wasteland Rules: Die Fighting (The World After Book 4) by J.G. Martin Page A

was dressed like everyone
else with their standard uniform and body armor, including the duster. But she
wore a gold badge indicating she was at least a captain.
       “Captain Jacobs.” The Ranger said with a drawl as
she stuck out her hand.
       “Derek Storm.” He replied politely.
       “Thanks for saving my men.” She told him earnestly.
“I heard you were quite the hero charging right into the enemy.”
       “Any of your men would have done the same. I just
wish I could have saved all of them.” He told her, humbled for some reason.
       “That’s not how they tell it.” She said with a
laugh as she jerked a thumb at a group of Rangers being tended by medics.
       All of the Rangers that had survived the ambush,
and there were only ten left from the original twenty one, were all wounded in
some way. One saw him looking and gave him a big smile and a thumbs up. The
other saw that and followed suit. He nodded back and gave them a quick salute.
       “They would follow you into the gates of hell.” The
captain told him respectfully.
       “I would be honored to have them fight by my side
any time.” He replied very seriously. “Some of the bravest men I have ever
fought with. One of your men sacrificed himself to hold off the assault. He
kept firing the machine gun on his technical until it blew up underneath him.
He deserves a medal at least.”
       “Every man who fought here will be getting the
recognition they deserve and the families of those who died will be taken care
of.” She told him. “Don’t worry about that.”
       “That’s good.” Derek agreed as he looked around.
“Any sign of the townspeople?”
       “Unfortunately, we found their bodies in the
Marshall’s Office when we retrieved the lieutenant’s body.” The captain
informed him sadly. “They had all been executed.”
       “That’s pretty cold hearted even for the
Reconquistadors.” Derek said, shaking his head.
       “It is, but they obviously didn’t want to take a
chance on anyone warning you about the trap.” She replied. “Why would the
Reconquistadors have such a hard on for you?”
       “I don’t know.” Derek replied in confusion. “Are
there any prisoners to interrogate?”
       “The Reconquistadors we captured couldn’t tell us
anything except that they were ordered to do it. But we did capture a man who
wasn’t a Reconquistador, who they claim was in charge.” She told him.
       “Really, who is he?” Derek asked in surprise.
       “He wouldn’t tell us and he has no ID, but he is
asking for you by name.” The captain said wryly.
       “Let’s go see who wants to kill me today…” Derek
muttered sardonically.
       The captain led the way to where they were holding
the prisoners. Along the way they passed by Rangers scavenging the burned out
vehicles for parts and weapons. The dead bodies of the gunmen had been piled up
on one side of the street and the prisoners were on the other. They sat on the
ground with their hands secured behind them. Angry looking Rangers kept guard
with their weapons pointed at the prisoners, ready to shoot if they moved.
Several had been bandaged and Derek was impressed that they still treated the prisoners
with respect even after the gunmen had killed over a dozen of their comrades
and murdered all of the townspeople.
       Rora joined them as the captain and Derek reached
the prisoners. She gave Derek a smile and a nod. His miraculous recoveries were
nothing new to her at this point. They walked past the downcast Reconquistadors
and approached a muscular man sitting next to a Ranger Technical being tended
to by a medic. Two Rangers stood guard over him and he was secured like the
others.
       The man was dressed in denim jeans and a bloody tan
shirt. A desert camouflage jacket, black Mexican-style cowboy hat with silver
adornments, and bulletproof vest lay discarded nearby. The minute Derek saw the
hat he knew who the man was. His