The Shepherd’s Path, Part 16: The New Paradigm
Nothing stays secret forever. Despite attempts at secrecy, the Shepherds’ activities became more and more well known. Eventually credible survivors from encounters appeared, evidence of travel and sightings of aircraft occurred, and it became obvious that some military force was operating beyond the authority of any nation on the planet. Some despaired at this new threat while others resented the attackers, and still others saw a potential advantage.
The first attempts to combat the forces of Sanctuary involved attempted ambushes and near suicidal tactics. While this did lead to some success, including the first actual defeat of Sanctuary forces, the attacks by the Shepherds continued. No nation was spared their wrath. To prevent these assaults, many military forces hid underground or in well supplied bunkers. Wireless communications systems were mothballed to prevent interception, and hardline comm networks were established. The following centuries settled into a new normal based around this power dynamic. The wars of the nations of New Jerusalem continued, although not with the same ferocity and intensity as they did in the past.
For the Shepherds’ part, their missions changed. Reacting to direct assaults eventually started to shift to preemptive attacks against assembly points. Instead of responding to active threats, coordinated campaigns were initiated to cripple war-making potential. If anybody found pre-Collapse caches or weaponry, the Shepherds would secure the site to ensure it did not fall into the wrong hands.
Lance Corporal Carter Rease shifted impatiently in his pilot’s seat for what seemed like the millionth time. His mind went to the image of his transport craft, alongside two others like it, racing just above the treetops. He didn’t actually know they were over a forest at that exact moment, but ever since his first training drop that was always how he had pictured it. Rease knew that other soldiers thought of their families at times like this, but he had never felt a need to think about anything but the job. They were doing the work of the Lord, and that was more than enough for him. He quickly checked his pocket watch, it was nearly time.
“T-minus two minutes to drop” came the pilot’s mechanical sounding voice over the radio. The drop light in the transport’s cargo hold started flashing red.
“Time to rock and roll, folks, '' his team leader said. “The Gerestian Combined Autonomy has found itself something they shouldn’t have. If they manage to secure the target site, they’ll gain access to airborne chemical weapons for their war against the Andrus Hegemony. We are not going to let that happen. As per the briefing, I’ll take Gorner and Hasekawa to secure the gate. Rease, you have Conors and Kayondo to hit the main assembly area. Yusa, Hauk, and Peralta are on overwatch. Everyone makes sure no samples or material makes it out of the facility. First one to confirm a kill gets a cold one on me when we get back. Good luck.”
A chorus of assents met the team leader’s words. A few seconds after it died down, the rear ramp of the transport began to open, and the drop light turned amber. Fourth from the back, with Conors and Kayondo behind him, Rease readied his machine for combat. The Lord’s work would never end, and that suited him just fine.
