Ok went back and checked, it was stated in strip 10, "she's hitting targets of opportunity"

which is why they were gathering up the rescue force at all.

And it was in 24 that Stanley says "she ended turn in the trees, and I pulled together a flight of near-by dwagons. Man I'm good"

So they had specific orders to go get her. Answered my own question I guess.

Sorry for derailing the thread.