Saladin was not himself today, thinking about the reports of the Empire sending in Faisal as-Senussi and his ship to wipe out the group he had attempted to negotiate with. Now the Empire was quickly setting up a new drilling operation, ordering Saladin to patrol the region in its defense. His squadmates were less impressed with the news and went about their duty as normal, scanning the region for anything suspicious.

"Sir, I've got a convoy of vehicles moving towards the new oil field," one of them reported.

"Probably just construction supplies and vehicles," Saladin said with a shrug.

"They're moving too quickly for trucks laden with supplies," the other pilot pressed. "We should investigate."

"Very well," Saladin concede. "Let's move in."

The three BuCues picked the pace, rushing towards the convoy with a vigor Saladin didn't feel. Within moments, they found the convoy chugging quickly through the desert. Few of the vehicles were of the same model, unusual for a military unit, and none of them were military vehicles, even more unusual for a military unit. It was quickly obvious they were terrorists or rebels, intent on causing damage to the new facility.

"Attention convoy, this is Saladin of the European Empire," Saladin warned. "Turn around at once or be destroyed."

"You've already destroyed our homes and families," a voice growled. "You can't do anything else to us."

Saladin winced, realizing they were survivors from the destroyed village. He scanned one of the lead vehicles more closely, tracking the transmission to it. It had a large, tripod-mounted gun bolted to the bed. Several of the other vehicles also showed signs of combat modification and many carried groups of armed men, women, and - disturbingly - children carrying weapons of varying age and sophistication. Saladin quickly moved his BuCue in their path, angling his twin railgun towards the convoy.

"Last chance," Saladin cajoled. "Turn around, find new homes. It's not impossible."

The armed insurgents responded with force, firing several tripod-mounted guns and ancient RPGs into its armor. Some pieces of armor flew off from the hits and several mechanisms were damaged by the gun fire, but Saladin held his ground, carving a line in the weathered road he stood over. The vehicles were undeterred, turning sharply around the newly-carved trench only to have BuCue feet slammed into their path. In the distance, the other two BuCues began to fire, sending railgun slugs and missiles slamming into the haphazardly-armed convoy. Those insurgents who could exited their vehicles, turning whatever weapons they still had towards Saladin's BuCue, but the officer was already on the move, putting distance between himself and his squadmates' targets. He reluctantly swiveled his guns and fired, sending more vehicles and bodies flying. A minute later, all the vehicles were destroyed, all the occupants lying dead in the sand.

"Threat neutralized," Saladin reported sadly. "Return to base."

Outcome: Saladin wins
Saladin: 6 Xp, Repairing 1