As the sun came up across the rocky highlands that fringed the desert the city of Seitch began to stir. It had been "locked down" by the Kaitaine Defence Force for the last three weeks, however the Truthsayers here had mostly grown up in the dusty city, and as they liked to tell any other Truthsayer "We are a desert creature", this intimate knowledge of the sandstone city, its narrow winding allies and the desert beyond its small retaining walls meant they were far from locked in. Every night two or three Truthsayers sneaked out to make contact with their allies in other cells or to collect water and food. On a few occasions they'd even sneaked into the KDF camps and slit a few throats, the warm blood of young conscripts turning the women's beloved Crystknife red until they wiped it on their victimes sleeves. As the warmth of the desert sun began to heat the areas used by the Truthsayers those who had been permitted to sleep rose from their slumber.
"Corporal McHarte" Joanna McNeill, commander of the Truthsayers for the whole of Kaitaine walked into the basement that had been their make shift barracks for the last week. "You're to grab your gear head over to Charlie Sector, relieve Sergeant McArthur" the young girl strecthed and grabbed her boot, she tapped them making sure no creepy crawlies awaited her before plunging a foot in. She laced them up and then headed for the door where her rifle and pack were waiting hanging on a hook. "Let me know if you see anything, word is the KDF were jumping around a bit last night."
"Yes Ma'am" Ruth McHarte disappeared through the door and walked up the stone steps as she fastened her webbings waist band, as she emerged into the street outside tiny dust tornados could already be seen. She checked the street each way, it was as expected empty and began her walk over to the roof that served as Charlie Sectors snipers nest, none of them had fired from there in days, but the roof garden on one of the blocks of homes made perfect cover, and gave some slight shade, it also gave a perfect view of the KDF a few miles beyond the walls.
"Hey, where we going" a small voice called from behind her and she turned to see 12 year old Imogen O'Lone scurrying along zipping up a tactical waistcoat far too big for her.
"I'm going to my job, you need to get back to HQ and stay out of trouble" Ruth pointed back the way they'd come. Imogen was the youngest person in Seitch since the KDF had evacuated most people weeks ago, many more had wanted to stay but Joanna had insisted they leave, Seitch didn't need many people to hold it and the Seitch Cell of the Truthsayers were the most committed and best trained, there was no point throwing them away needlessly when they could slip into Kaitaine society and bide their time. Imogen however was an orphan, and as such had been raised by a Bene Gesserit Missionara Protectiva foster mother, that hadn't stopped the girl sneaking away and staying in the city when people pulled out. Now she was, at least in her mind, a Truthsayer, she ran errands for the officers, mainly fetching and carrying water, taking people food while on guard and occasionally carrying extra ammo.
"I'm coming with you, its sooo boring at HQ" Imogen insisted and even when Ruth pushed her away she kept walking after her, it was then Ruth saw it sticking out of the vest pocket.
"Where did you get this?" Ruth took the pistol. "She checked it, the safety was off and the piece looked like it hadn't been cleaned in days, a thick layer of dust on it." The older girl shook her head, a Truthsayer, a real one that is, would have been in deep trouble with McNeill for even thinking of a gun like this one.
"I found it in a cellar the Colonel had me look in for food supplies, I thought I might need it. Can I have it back" Ruth put the safety on, removed the magazine and then handed it back.
"Tonight I'm going to show you how to clean it, and then.....and only if the Colonel says yes, I'll give you this back" she held the magazine up before placing it in one of her pouches. "Now piss off" she pointed and this time Imogen did as she was told. Ruth smiled to herself as she carried on walking towards her post, when she reached one of the old market squares she stopped, the square gave people beyond the wall who were elevated an area of open ground, one of the few you could see outside the city. They'd heard talk of a sniper working in the KDF targetting this square, but so far no one had seen any evidence of that, but that didn't mean you got careless. Ruth glanced round the corner using her mirror and satisfied nothing major lurked she spotted her next piece of cover in the ally about fifteen meters opposite, she took a deep breath and sprinted. She'd done this many times and like everyone else nothing, today though just as she scurried into the safety of the narrow alley a "crack" rang out, she felt the whizz of the bullet as it passed close to her right arm. Now in the safety of the alley she pressed her back to the wall and took a few deep breaths. Taking her radio out she called it in before making her way into the block of appartments two streets down. From there she climbed the fifteen floors that took her to the roof garden and slid into the shade of a bush alongside Tasha McArthur, considered the units best shot. "Anything?" she asked as she took hold of the spotters scope.
"Nope, they moved some armour around a few hours ago, but I think it was just to make sure they still work or something, drove them about half a mile North, turned round came back." she shrugged as she gathered her water bottle and gear together. "Heard the sniper crack" she kept her focus on her gear as she spoke. "I reckon he'll be there somewhere" there was a rocky outcrop about a mile and a half beyond the wall, it gave shade and a perfect elevation for the square. "Keep your eyes peeled. However check with the Colonel before taking a shot ok?"
"Yes Sergeant" Ruth was now settling in behind the scope and scanning the desert, here and there small rocks were visible sticking clear of the sand, she checked each on, there on them were little marks indicating in Bene Gesserit glyphs a distance, they'd been there months in preparation for this. Ruth familiarised herself once more with their spots and settled in for her shift.
"I'm going back the longer way, don't fancy getting shot" Tasha carefully stepped over Ruth and headed out the garden. "There's some boiled sweets in the tin next to the radio. Help yourself, Imogen found them yesterday." The tiny wannabe Truthsayer idolised Tasha, she wanted to be a sniper like her and so any choice finds in the houses were brought to the Sergeant, who always did her best to share.
"Thanks" Tasha kept her eyes on the desert before her as she heard Tasha make her way into the block and down the steps. It would be a six hour shift until she was relieved, she may get some company in that time but for the most part it would be her, the rifle, binoculars and coming up with silly nicknames for the KDF troops she was monitoring. "Come on Patch, where are you today" she said to herself scanning the troops for the aging Corporal with three bizarre bald patches in his otherwise jet black hair.
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