Forward Operating Base Foxtrot marks the northern limit of Yuma's control. I stand on the banks of the Colorado River while my river barge is loaded and talk to Lieutenant-Colonel Joaquin "Jack" Fiddler.
See the idea isn't so much to trade, seein' as we don't have much that they want. Maybe in a few years, when we have a chance to diversify. What we really want to do is establish diplomatic channels, maybe see about working out a treaty over the ruins of Lake Havasu City.
[Those are valuable?]
Boy are they! Let alone the raw materials that are still waiting to be mined, the rebar and concrete and stone and tiles, the pipes and wires - well, a lot of it's been damaged by rain, wind, and fire, but there's a good chunk of it still worth something. And then there's everything that the scavengers haven't picked over, some real valuables in those ruins.
Leaving aside the stuff we can sell on the open market, there's guns, tools, stuff we can use ourselves.
We'd also really like to see if that dam's still in working order, get a good source of water, even if the land isn't so good for growing.
[Are there many scavengers?]
Well, yes and no. Lots of them out of Bullhead City, but they're more salvage teams, working private contracts to bring stuff back. Then you have the squatters. See Havasu City collapsed rather messily, the mayor couldn't organize quickly enough and food riots spiraled out of control. Still a lot of sun-bleached bones lying around, too...
Anyway, some people from our side, or people from their side, wound up in the ruins between us, whether they were criminals making a run for it, or those who just didn't want to follow the rules and thought they'd set up stakes somewhere else. Well, we'll be dealing with them soon enough, if this treaty goes through.
You've also got a few hardass survivors from when the community collapsed, the salvage teams say there's a lot of infighting over slices of good real estate. Heh.
[Is it dangerous?]
Not like Phoenix further east, or even the raider-controlled territories between here and there. Though if you're not careful, it can be as fatal as any other combat environment. Well, you'll be passing through on a river barge, won't even take you a day, so as long as your guards stay sharp you should make it in one piece.
[How does the leadership feel about Bullhead City?]
Ah, the Free City of Bullhead. They fancy themselves the frontier town born again, and maybe they are. You'll be able to ask them all about their setup when you get there, but all you need to know is that the top brass think they're anarchic sons-of-bitches, but until they become a problem we won't make them a problem. And so long as they cooperate on salvage and keeping the raiders at bay, they're less than a problem.
[They don't consider Bullhead City a rebellious government?]
If you can call it that.
He snorts.
No, Yuma considers itself a successor state to the state of Arizona, but we're not like the legitimists who think they're the only real government - and even they do business with us on the side. There are a few in the brass who might be itching to bring them back into the fold, but we have far, far bigger fish to fry. Raiders, and the big corpse city, Phoenix.
[So the raiders are still a danger?]
I wouldn't say a danger. They come to Lake Havasu every now and then for water and to pick through the ruins, but only the weaker ones - the big prize is Phoenix, you can get anything there, they say, if you look hard enough. Oh, and of course they have back-and-forth raids, on Bullhead's outskirts, the small farming villages and outposts, and on our forward bases, but we give 'em as good as we get with retaliatory, er, expeditions.
A short siren blares from the bases' watchtower, and for a second LTC Fiddler freezes. Then, he glances at the tower, relaxes, and gives me a smile.
Well, I'll be damned, today's your lucky day. Looks like some raiders doing a scouting run. Wanna see?
We climb the tower, and take turns peering through a pair of binoculars at a distant column of dust. Flashes of metal and bright paint can be seen through the haze. Below us, the garrison takes up defensive positions as a precaution. LTC Fiddler mutters under his breath as he takes a long look.
No, doesn't look like Sand Devils, or the Children of the Phoenix. Too few of 'em. Might be the Sun Brotherhood, I'm seeing lots of flame decals.
He hands the binoculars back to me.
Every raider band has their own style. They paint and decorate their war rigs differently, makes it easy for us to identify them.
They'll slink off into the desert, it's just the game of cat-and-mouse we play. We can't send out foot patrols because they'll jump us, and motorized patrols are getting more expensive. Maybe they'll launch a raid in the next few days, maybe they'll decide it isn't worth it.
Until then, we watch and wait.
The scouting party turns and grows smaller at it vanishes into the distance. Across the sand, rocks, and broken scrub comes the blaring of rock music.
***
AN: And there's Yuma, the army with a country. Again, if you have any questions about this chapter's featured nation, feel free to ask them now.
If not, then I'll see you in the next chapter: Bullhead Free City
