The first civilian lost

You were in your command center the next day. Forces had been dueling back and forth with losses on both sides when you received a message from the UCA. It was a simple text delivered via the approved line of communication.

Sabrina Lois civilian captured standard status

You let out a sigh, as you'd told the council you couldn't protect stupid. You had no idea what this Sabrina had been thinking leaving the perimeter but you had no authority to stop her unless she was an enemy spy. More likely than not she had just gone into the woods to pick some of the local flora or fauna for her significant other who your records show she was in the colony with and gotten picked up by a patrol your men had missed. The UCA would have told you in that message if she was being treated as an undeclared combatant so she obviously hadn't been doing anything suspicious. You would have to inform her wife of where she was so that she didn't get worried, you sent Lieutenant Dakota to go break the news and got back to your duties. About half an hour later you got a call.

"Uhh ma'am, sorry to bother you but Jane, the spouse, has asked to speak with you." The Lieutenant informed you. You sighed, you had sent someone else specifically to avoid this conversation but you could hardly say no. Things were quiet at the moment fortunately so you left Balia in charge while you stepped to the side.

"I'm patched in Lieutenant." You said, switching your camera view to Dakota's. She was sitting on a couch while someone else was in a nearby armchair, obviously Jane. She was a black haired woman with red eyes, obviously either a genetic mod or just a cosmetic operation. You watched as Dakota's arm moved to indicate to her that you were now listening and would be speaking through her helmet.

"Thank you for speaking with me General. I wanted to know how soon you'll be able to rescue my wife?" The question was inevitable. For some reason, it was always the spouse of the first one grabbed who asked it. You had been trying to get funding for a study done on the personality traits that led to it but had so far had no luck. Sure sometimes others asked the same question but the first one always did. If there wasn't a spouse then a councilwoman would ask the question. It never failed.

"Well ma'am, first let me assure you that she will be perfectly fine. You'll be free to send her messages as long as they're run by our censors first to make sure they don't contain sensitive information. I've fought against the UCA many times and I've never heard of them to mistreat a civilian." That wasn't entirely true but she didn't need to know that. The incident had been the result of two crazy women one a sadist and the other a masochist. You still weren't sure who had initiated it but it had ended three careers in the UCA military and resulted in two prison sentences. "She'll be well treated and remain untouched unless she gives her permission."

"Are you accusing my wife of being unfaithful! You-"

"No ma'am!" You sharply interjected, cutting her off. "I'm simply letting you know she'll be safe. Now. As for rescuing her, we will do everything in our power to get her out. Its possible that she will stay there until the end of this conflict. I can assure you that this battle probably won't last longer than two weeks. Even if worst comes to worst and we lose she will be returned to you unharmed. What happens after that would depend on your colonist contract." She looked like she was going to object but you had keyed up a noise that sounded like an alarm and activated it. She didn't have to know that if it was real it wouldn't have blared through Dakota's helmet. "I'm sorry ma'am but I have to go. We'll do what we can for your wife." You switched off. Leaving the poor Lieutenant to deal with the aftermath. You'd make it up to her later.