Chapter 4: Now That the Buffalo’s Gone

Native Americans were screwed once again as their lands were torched. In addition to federal marshals, the Office of Targeted Extractions visited reservations and offered extractions, or if desired, rejuvenation so that older adults could fight if they wished. Kindertransport was offered for Native American children. None was a good deal compared to the losses, but as in the past the Native Americans negotiated hard.

Some good came from the negotiations. When the Lakota decided to complete and defend the Crazy Horse memorial on Thunderhead Mountain in the sacred Black Hills, Native Americans rushed to support them. Rejuvenated braves gathered in Spearfish Canyon to organize and decide how to keep the already westward traveling Sa’arm from turning south into the hills.

Richard and Smokey were designated liaisons after they’d helped deputy US Marshals and local law enforcement track down and burn the route of several groups of Sa’arm from a crashed ship. This time, the firebugs weren’t burning to deny food; it was discovered that the dickheads were laying Sa’arm eggs. Burning was necessary to ensure the fuckers’ eggs were destroyed, and luckily, the eggs were as flammable as their Sa’arm parents.

The cutoff Sa’arm units were ranging south of the Black Hills and into western Nebraska and opening up cars like sardine cans. Richard and Smokey managed to flag down a bus loaded with Lakota school kids before an approaching trio of Sa’arm scouts saw them. Chalk that up for the good guys!

Subsequently, the couple was detailed to escort the children to Thunderhead Mountain where regional tribal leaders were meeting at the Crazy Horse Tourist Center complex. As smoke jumpers turned firebugs, they expected to be met with at least some hostility. Instead, Richard and Smokey were warmly greeted and immediately co-opted into the planning sessions. They quickly recognized that these leaders were far from reactive and were well along in their planning.

Thinking they were over their heads, Smokey called Randy Pope and told him they needed someone or someones with more authority, especially as the discussion seemed likely to veer into extractions and Kindertransport. Pope immediately responded, “You heard Medford. You are the sniper and the spotter, and now the negotiators. Your word goes, and there will be no meddling Congress to abrogate your agreement – not with the Confederacy backing you.”

Confederacy backing?!

“I’ve already been talking with the Confederacy, somebody from what they call the Office of Targeted Extraction,” Pope elaborated. “A concubine of the department’s chief is Aztec, so I would expect Centurion Sam Matthews to arrive momentarily. I’ve worked with him. You and your tribal leaders can trust him – both his judgment and his integrity.”

Richard announced the imminent arrival of the Confederacy representative and was soon relieved when four individuals clad in gray uniforms paused at the door. They entered when waved in, and the man unholstered his pistol and handed it with his Kriss Vector carbine to two slender Asian women who positioned themselves by the entrance. Matthews strode to the table with a clearly Native American woman at his side.