The Temporal Knights by Richard D. Parker

of Humvees behind the locals? I’d like to keep them here and find out exactly who they are and what they are about.”
    The Colonel shook his head. “Chances are they’d hear the vehicles and that would probably spook them and their horses. It would be best to lure them into the perimeter.”
    “Captain,” Peebles said again into the mic, “can your men flank them as they ride in closer?”
    “I think so. Could be tough with the dogs...though the wind’s in our favor, coming from directly behind the horsemen.”
    “Let’s give it a try, and shoot only if absolutely necessary. I want them in camp unharmed. Use flame to herd them back this way if they bolt.”
    “Yes Sir,” Hersey said and immediately set about deploying his men for the flanking maneuver.
    “We were not prepared well enough for this,” Peebles commented without recriminations and held up a hand to Lemay’s apology. “As a unit, our men are more prepared to use maximum force...this could get out of hand and become dangerous. I’d like to get some snipers up in the rocks east of camp just in case, but warn them of the situation. I don’t want to start any bad blood with the locals. We need these people, and we need them on our side. Force will have to be used in time I’m sure, but I want to know how much force and who we are using it against, if possible.”
    Lemay nodded and headed out to prepare the camp. Both Thane and Rice stayed with the General.
    “Get Gardner on alert,” Peebles said to Matt. “I want him in a Bot and waiting. He may have to spot for some hummer crews if we spook the locals. I don’t want them getting away and wrongly reporting our intentions...and have Sergeant Moore prepare four hummer crews.”
    Matt saluted and headed out while the General and Dr. Rice continued to monitor the situation. Captain Hersey had twelve men under his direct command at the moment, with five of them circling carefully around the locals in order to get behind them. General Peebles continuously switched the large computer monitor from one man to another in order to get the best view of the situation. He finally settled on Private Starling.
    “Private Starling,” he said suddenly into the man’s helmet. The voice did not startle the private, who was very use to such things.
    “Sir?” he whispered though the locals were still nearly half a klick away.
    “Magnify twenty times,” the General ordered, and the private complied filling the virtual display with the local riders. Private Starling then panned around covering every rider for several long seconds, knowing exactly what the General wanted.
    The riders looked to be a rough group, muscular, bearded, most with long hair, a few carried short lances, or bows, and there were swords visibly sheathed at their sides. Only one of the riders wore any noticeable armor, and that was just a single chest piece.
    “That will be your leader,” Rice said hoping he was correct. “Armor’s expensive, and only the wealthiest could afford it in these times.”
    Colonel Lemay entered the tent and joined them, trying to take in everything. He was surprised to find that his heart was pounding like a virgin stripping to his skivvies, something that had not happened to him in quite a few years. Suddenly, the sound of dogs yelping and barking erupted through the speakers and Private Starling immediately brought his view back to normal. He did this properly without orders, since magnification made it nearly impossible to fight for all but the most elite soldiers in their group, and even for them it was not practiced or recommended.
    Major Thane returned to the tent just in time to see the dogs spot and advance on Private Brooks, who was positioned directly in their path, simply waiting. The dogs were still nearly a quarter of a mile away, but were now running swiftly and the horsemen spurred on after them. Brooks remained calm, unaware that Peebles had switched to monitor through his helmet. There would