galvarelli/anti-refugee-protests-2.txt

The summons to arms caught Kral by surprise, but he leapt out of his room and found himself in the midst of a dozen other yaks doing the same thing.

―Kral, here! he heard Hermann call.

―Yes, sir.

Kral pushed past and joined Lieutenant Hermann.

―Captain said to bring you as well.

They passed over to the next hallway.

―Oy! Ward, Trevor. This way! Hermann called again.

The other sergeants followed, and Hermann led the three of them to Adrienne's office.

―All of you, at ease.
	We've got some orders here, and not much time to think about them.
	There's a riot brewing over at the Barns, and we are escorting the President there, then we're there as crowd control and peacekeeping.

―What about the Garrison? Hermann asked.

―They're just letting it play out, you know Darius.
	Couldn't give a shit about doing his job if a-
	Well, if he had to give a shit about doing his job.
	That's not all though.
	President is asking us to do this out of uniform.

―As in, what? Kral asked.
	So people don't think the guards guarding the President as he walks in are the President's Guard?

Captain Adrienne looked grimly at him.

―Exactly, Sergeant.
	This way we look a bit more like Garrison reserves coming in to support them.
	As I said, we're joining the President on his way there, and they're readying a tram in minutes.
	Trevor, your men and I are going to go with the President.
	As a Guard, so your guys in uniform.
	Got it?

He nodded.

―Ma'am, is this, um, legal? Sergeant Ward chipped in.

―Honestly, not sure.
	But we have orders from the President, in writing, so that really starts to look like his problem.
	And when it comes down to it, stopping violence is our job.
	If you want to hang back though, Sergeant, I can ask your squad how they'd feel about going without you?

Ward shook his head.

―Good, get your squads in gear.
	Apart from the uniform bits of gear.
	Dismissed.

The four of them left, and Kral explained the situation to his squad.
Luckily, they took it well enough.

There were two trams being readied on the platform.
Kral and his squad followed Hermann onto the first tram, with Ward close behind.
Kral kept his eye out the window, and saw President Calvin, followed by Darius and Vaughan, heading to the second tram.

Their tram started moving immediately.

―Want to talk strategy? Kral asked Hermann, who was looking at a map of the area.

―Yeah, they're up a few blocks into the Barns near the gate to Northhaven.
	I'm thinking funnel them south and west, through the gate if need be?

―Not a great idea, that puts them too close to Havenstreasure.

―So?

―It looks closed off on maps, but we won't actually be able to cordon that off.
	When you're actually there it's confusing alleys and odd fences, and even if protestors try to disperse they'll end up turned around.
	Impossible to close off.

―What's your suggestion?

―We can push them north.
	Four blocks up, then with a squad there by the market it'll let them leave out the next gate.
	Further away, but the market's got wide streets.

―Right, makes sense.
	Should have asked you earlier.
	I know you know the area well.

Kral shook is head.

―No problem.

―Right, everyone, listen up. Hermann announced to the tram.
	Here's where we're getting off the tram, he said, pointing at the map.
	We'll assemble here, then arrive at the protests in formation.
	Got it?

There was a murmur of assent.

―At least for now, first priority is separating the Hierarchy folks from the counterprotest.
	Come in, wedge formation.
	Ward, your squad will be on arrests if need be.
	Try to stay mobile.
	We'll look to get the Meadowlarkers to disperse north, and if we want an echelon to push them to the gate, that'll be your squad most likely.

―Sounds good, sir, Ward answered. 

The tram had passed Mindemoya a few minutes ago, and was making its way swiftly into the Barns.
Kral held his spear ready.
President Calvin only rarely actually came to the Barns, so the Guard never really had to work there.
Kral felt odd about it.
Seeing armed guards near his home gnawed at him, even if he was one of them.

The tram arrived.
Hermann threw the door open.

―Go, go.
	Form up, and we're going to move.

The Guard was well practiced, and they formed their squads sharply.
Once the tram was empty, the driver took it off the main tramway into a parking bay, and the Guard began to move in turn.

―President's coming in close, Kari murmured to Kral.

He glanced back.
She was right, their tram was visible as well, although not immediately behind.

―You alright, Sarge? she asked.

He nodded.

―Yeah, I will be.

―Good.

They reached the protest itself, approaching the line between the protest and counterprotest from the side.

There weren't as many Meadowlarkers as Kral had feared, but they still outnumbered the guards.
Many were holding improvised weapons, sticks or torches.
Chants of awful slurs against farm animals echoed down the streets.
Kral felt his blood boiling, and Kari gave him a stare.

―Steady on, Kral.

The counterprotest was small, only a handful of cattle, a pair each of donkeys and pigs.
A sheep as well, just to highlight the hypocrisy of the Hierarchy.
No point in honouring the Elder Species in one breath if you were denying them a place to live in the other.
His parents weren't there, which was a small mercy.

Kral looked for the Garrison.
There were a few scattered around, on the other side of the street, across from the crowd.
They weren't organised in any way.

They stopped, close to the protests.
Hermann tapped his loudhailer, and began to address the crowd.

―Commander Darius has ordered this protest to disperse.
	This assembly is now unlawful, and if you remain, you will be arrested.
	I repeat, the City Garrison is ordering you to disperse.
	This assembly is now unlawful.

―