<strong>"Human trafficking is a growing concern in the region, Warrior Cotton,"</strong>Lieutenant Fox replied.<strong>"I would have to refer you to an expert on the subject, but there is talk of various means of compulsion to keep anyone caught in the thrall of such villains subservient.  We just need to focus on our goal right now: the Cibus.  These ails of society cannot be be to rights if society collapses, and without energy it will."</strong>Fox, considering the matter settled, turned his attention to other matters.<br/><br/>It was far from a denial, and it did not address Mizuki's most pressing concerns with the logic of the system.  Perhaps that's simply because no such system existed and Fox's default assumption was to believe it might until proven otherwise.  Or perhaps he hoped to keep her mind on the mission above all other concerns.<br/><br/>Either way, there was nothing for it out here but to trundle along another eighty clicks to C-Town.  The rain started to pick up, plinking heavily over the convoy and mech.  The whole terrain seemed to turn a bit more verdant, ditches transforming into ravines, various wildlife coming out to drink or rollick, hopping fish migrating across the temporary waterways.  For all the desolation mankind had wrought, life continued.<br/><br/><hr/><br/>Three hours<div class="floatright">(https://images8.alphacoders.com/417/417155.jpg)</div>later, the convoy was rolling into Concrete City.  The eponymous walls surrounding the industrial core of the city kept the "valuables" all locked up tight.  Manufactories, power plants, and the aeroport.  But beyond, shantytowns reigned.  People clustered as close to safety as they could seeking whatever scraps they could gain.  C-Town was not exactly the height of luxury, but it had strong walls--complete with a garrison--and work to be had.  This was owing to the vast manufacturing complexes as well as the high attrition rate due to accidents and fatalities.  There was little in the way of compensation, so the wounded and widows lined the streets begging, turning tricks, or offering whatever handicrafts or scrap they could for a bit of food or scrip.<br/><br/><strong>"Warrior Cotton, we're approaching the hand-off; look alive."</strong>Lieutenant Fox's eyes were peeled.  While danger seemed far behind them, people had made more daring assaults on Cibus shipments than right beneath the walls of C-Town, and after the earlier engagement Fox was ready for anything.  The gates slide open and four squads came out to meet them.  The trucks were waved in swiftly, the shipment safely delivered.<br/><br/>Lieutenant Fox popped his head out of the APC to have a quick exchange with the city's defenders.  A man with a hover-cart soon emerged, and the contents of its crates were loaded into the back of the APC.<br/><br/><strong>"Warrior Cotton, we're going to get you a field replacement for that arm then RTB.  We're parking it inside the walls, then everyone's got two hours leave while we refuel, repair, and get full medical attention.  Everyone be back and ready to go before 1900 hours."<br/></strong><br/><br/>The C-Town hangar was a bit more expansive than the one back home, and there were several mechs in there.  Once Cotton was inside the hangar doors would slide shut behind her.  Several crews did maintenance on whatever vehicle had been brought in.  She recognized the markings of a few different mercenary groups; many roads led to C-Town.  Whether escorting in or out, there was money to be made in proximity to so much industry.<br/><br/>The acrid scent of overtaxed motors and burning rubber assailed her upon exiting her Chalcedon X.  The crews were dirty with grease and sweating to meet deadlines.  This was a busy place, and likely not one with a whole lot of job security.<br/><br/>C-Town's internal streets were nice enough.  There were lots of cars, glass-covered buildings, and pet conveniences on most of the corners near the gates.  Further in the factories hummed towards the center of the walled area, and deep at the core the Cibus Reactor.  It supplied energy to the whole town, and its glowing tower seemed something like a mushroom cloud at the center of it all--a cruel irony.  Within the walls most people were well behaved and dressed, though they kept their heads down.  Guards in heavy body armour wielding assault rifles patrolled in fire-teams occasionally, but the security personnel did not seem to hassle the populace much.  Most just pretended the other did not exist and kept walking.  No one was in the mood to give themselves a problem.<br/><br/>The soldiers from the convoy were hanging around in a group outside the convoy deciding where to go.  One spotted Bunny emerging and waved.<br/><br/><strong>"Hey!"</strong>the<div class="floatleft">(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/69/d6/4f/69d64fbb0808832d64df3bce1ad702e3.jpg)</div>soldier said with a wave.<strong>"Bunny!  Where you headed?  We owe you a drink, you really saved our asses back there!"</strong>A general approving murmur rose amongst the men.  Most were a little worn but not seriously wounded, those who had been sufficiently damaged rode to a nearby hospital on one of the jeeps.  A few bandages or bloodsplatters here or there coloured them in stark contrast to the military green of their uniforms and cheery smiles on their faces.  They'd come through quite a skirmish, but they were happy about the coming through part.<br/><br/><strong>"Yeah," </strong>another soldier said,<strong>"you minced 'em right as they were lighting us up--I nearly lost my head to an RPG!"</strong><br/><br/><strong>"Good you got them before they could reload that rocketpod.</strong>"<br/><br/><strong>"Yeah, you did great,"</strong>the caller reiterated.<strong>"I'm Dan by the way.  Don't think we've met, er, introduced ourselves anyway."</strong>Bunny knew most of the faces on the base, but there were too many to be on a first name basis with everyone--especially random ground pounders she'd rarely-to-never operated with before.<br/><br/><strong>"Dan the Lady's Man,"</strong>a female colleague added with a whistle.  There was a general laugh and he blushed.<br/><br/><strong>"That is what they call me."</strong>Even more laughter followed.