Story - Camp Life [Part 13]

[Author's 1st Note: I've got the image ready for part 14, and it can be perceived as really emotional, so I'll need to be careful when writing up the story text. You'll understand better once you get to the end of this part of the story. Author's 2nd Note: Just a reminder that the term "Fed" is short for Federal Union or Federal Unionist] As our five heroes look to the sky, the source of the sound is now apparent. Flying low in the sky, just a few meters above the forest's height, is a small convoy of helicopters, with one helicopter leading the remaining three in a V-Formation. The helicopters seem to leave as quickly as they arrived. Mirei looks to the helicopters and ask the following question aloud. "W-what was that? Was that the militia?" Akinori adds. "We haven't been at the campsite long, but we've never seen those kinds of helicopters in the sky, so low and so many at one time..." Both Mirei and Akinori look to Morris and Addams, who look unnerved by what they saw. "You saw what I saw, right Addams?" "...yeah..." Mirei turns to the both of them. "Well, are you going to tell the rest of us?!" Addams and Morris look to one another. "It has to be the militia, Addams. They were flying both Russo-Confederate *AND* Federal Union helicopters." "Yeah, They had a Russo MI-24 attack/support helicopter leading three Fed Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk support helicopters, flying in a V-Formation..." Akinori and Mirei look confused. Akinori inquires further. "Could you explain that again, this time using more common language?" Addams and Morris look towards the other three. Morris speaks up. "It looks like whoever owns those helicopters is moving a lot of people...and it looks like they were moving in the direction of the campsite..." "Those helicopters, given the capacity of the four of them, they could be moving close to 52 possible troops, not including each of the helicopters' crews..." Akinori speaks, asking Addams and Morris a question. "Well, it could just be a coincidence, right?" Addams and Morris look to one another briefly, then to the rest of the group. Morris responds. "That's a possibility, sure...but them flying in the direction of camp bothers me. Also, the only thing that could incriminate us is what's in our SUV, but those supplies are covered and the vehicle is locked so-" Addams quickly interrupts Morris and shouts. "Oh my god, Morris! WE NEVER TOOK THE LICENCE PLATES OFF THE SUV AFTER WE GOT HERE!" Both Morris and Addams have a look of horror on their faces. The others are unsure of what the importance of licence plates would have. Morris speak up. "If someone within Outlaw Country has the ability to read data off of those licence plates, it would probably be the militia's intelligence division. A quick search on our plates would come back with two possible results: 1) The plates are registered to the Federal Union government or 2) the request comes back "DNI," which will cause us WAAAAAY more problems for us." Both Akinori and Mireri are confused, so Addams elaborates. "DNI is a Fed term for 'Do Not Investigate.' It's a three word code for local and regional police so that they don't meddle with Federally registered vehicles. It's a sort of 'Don't bother us or else' sort of posturing Federal officials like to do, and they have no problems with making local/regional officials' lives a living hell for daring to do their jobs." Mei-Lin looks confused while Mirei and Akinori now share Addams's and Morris's concern. Mirei speaks up. "So, if you think the militia sending those helicopters is an adequate response to your SUV and what's inside it...what should we do now?" Everyone stands in silence, unsure of what to say or what to do next...