>>5250387You image the map with your optical array, overlay the markings on your own topological map of the surrounding region, and project the resulting image using your external holo-projector. A simplified representation of the surrounding region appears, spinning gently in the warm air. You highlight Liscia's markings.
<This is highly unusual.>
As the two commanders gawk at the projected image, you highlight the town and show the results of a basic clustering analysis. Even normalized for population density, there were clearly more disappearances inside the town than outside of it. Most of the outlaying farmings communities - the areas that you would expect to be most attractive to an Aledari raiding party - seem almost untouched. It could be some kind of reporting bias but the sheer regularity of the pattern...
<Has anyone inside the town mentioned this?>
"Aye", replies Alberico, taking his eyes off the hologram for a moment. "The first thing we did once we arrived at Pinemoor was question the households where there had been disappearances reported. Fat lot of help that was. Around half of them were still occupied - so probably a clerical error," he said, glancing over to Liscia quickly. "We asked neighbors about the other half. Most of them told us that the people we were looking for had disappeared after traveling out of town. That was why we decided to patrol the forest here."
Liscia followed up. "Some of the Merc...Alberico's men looked through the houses too. They found nothing of note. No blood, no signs of fighting." She shrugged. "It made perfect sense given that most of them disappeared outside of the city. On that note, we should consider letting the head of the town know that we killed some of the abductors. At least we'll have a few dead aliens to show for our loses."
<I would strongly advise against doing that, Baronness Liscia.>
"Why?"
<I do not believe that the Aeldari are the only party responsible for the disappearances. Can you report to some kind of provincial government? Do you have any offworld contact at all?>
