[James Calmara]

1152
Stargate
M-4587

Having steped through the gate on the shoulder of Doctor Pratt, first trip away from home base meant Calmara was going to take all precautions. Ensuring the one civilian on the team was properly covered and protected was one of them. Not that he doubted his compitance, or had anything against his presence. Experience had taught him it took some a few to get used to what to watch for.

Stepping away from the platform the gate stood on he draged the rifle butt into his shoulder, force of habit, and swept his eyes across the horizon, settling on Gabe for a moment. He had no concerns about the Aussie Corporal, the several years he'd spent on an SG team would have taught him enough and then some, having a trained sniper at your back had its benefits at times.

The landscape looked just as desolate as it had from the MALP, but the rolling seemed more defined up close. "We got the roling hills, the vista seems sadly lacking. Looks like were in for a bit of a trek, if were gonna find anyone. Im thinking top that rise and keep an eye out for a trail." He pointed in the general direction of where the MALP sat immobile its function performed.  

As he started up one side a smell caused the engineer wrinkle his nose, he broke away to the left but gradually as they walked until they topped the rise. The view from the top of the rise was not much better. The ground didnt even feel or look like sand, just dead, dry, dirt, the sky was hazy and heavy, but not cloudy.  the twin suns stood proudly in the middle of the sky. There was however a glint of blue/green away to the north west of where they stood. He sniffed again and spun around on the spot. "I keep getting a whiff or something. Almost like incense or something like that. Corp, whats the wind doing?" He said as a preempt to any questions that would be sure to come his way about his behaviour.

Tag Robert "Bobby" Oxford Jr; Henry Pratt; Gabriel Stoneham

[Robert "Bobby" Oxford Jr]

1152
Stargate
M-4587

He might as well be home from the looks of the planet, yet he knew better as the DHD was in his line of view. Taking in his surroundings slowly as possible, he decided he was still very much in own person after the travel and turning into particles before being put back together again on this end. He didn't like the idea of this crappy gate travel at all. But it had been him would convinced Matt to take the damn project and see what happens. Might as well eat his own shoe later for this.

Hearing James, Bobby had to agree about the landscape. It was bare if not nude off all the trees or lacked with life sign of any kind. Adjusting his shade he looked where he was stepping. Tumbling on his first mission on this project was not what he needed. There was smile on his thin lips as Travis's yellow brick road came to mind as his XO mentioned trails, "There should be one around right?" he asked as he checked for his P-90.

Looking at the three, "Don't expect me to say anything profound here," he began, "other than, let's not get ourselves killed. Get back in one piece." He was certain they would at least return with few bruises and cuts - back to base.

Seeing the wrinkled face, Bobby inhaled rose-ish type of scent, "Likely to be incense," he agreed, "can't anything else that would smell this...exquisite, now would it?" He looked at Pratt for information.

Tag: James Calmara, Henry Pratt, Gabriel Stoneham

[James Calmara]

1152
Stargate
M-4578

"From over there, I would say." Calmara pointed at a hump  not far the their left. "Incense could mean religious,  which means pointing guns would be a bad thing." The air force sergeant cautioned as he started to move of in that direction. Treading carefuly on the way down the rise, he walked casualy but ready for anyone or anything he might encounter even if it was nothing.  

The shrine they came upon was deserted, a row of candles, the back most ones still giving off a slight hint of smoke, the only indication of activity. The motif they surounded was both grotesque and haunting, desiged to put fear into the people who visted here. He groaned inwardly, yet another peoples were being oppressed something that he hated, pity as well for those who had to follow with no choice or hope.  

"Back ones are still warm. I reckon they're slow burning candles, based on size five maybe six hours at most. Which means there's likely a town or settlement or at least a camp with in a days walk." Calmara commented as he steped up to the shrine and dropped to a crouch as he waved his hand over the candles, prodding a few, to check temperature.   "This figure or anything on the have anything related to mythology, specifically Indian myths?" The engineer asked as he glanced back at Dr Pratt, trusting he would be able to shed some light.  

Tag Henry Pratt; Gabriel Stoneham; Robert "Bobby" Oxford Jr

[Robert "Bobby" Oxford Jr]

1152
Stargate
M-4578

He looked around after arriving as James spoke. He had an inking that guns in temple would god a bad thing. Noting few pairs of what looked to be flip flops, he looked at his team, "Or footwear," he added then pointed to the pairs left behind. Looking up he saw the motif as well, since he wasn't familiar with the Hindu mythology, he wasn't sure what the design represented.

"And that pattern is a bad sign cos....?" he trailed his question off. Still his eyes travelled to the lump if mountain as he noticed their surrounding. Something he was getting an inking was off here...or rather didn't make sense.

"I might be the least experienced member of this team," he spoke, or a total rookie, "If there is settlement, shouldn't there be activity surrounding the area? If not the gate. I dunno, but something doesn't make sense here."

Tag: James Calmara, Henry Pratt, Gabriel Stoneham

[Vanessa Whitmore]

1153
Stargate
M-4578

Okay so first they drag her out of delta, slap her ass in a base team at Veda then send her out here with tweedle dee and tweedle dumb yey. Well not really but men were ... what was the word. Yeah she had a word for it somewhere. The only thing that didn't make sense was no one filling her on anything. As usual the navy officer was going to have to wing it. It wasn't out of her nature to do such a thing, for heaven's sake she drank alien alcohol and swapped togas with people on her team in the past. ah well YOLO!!! Speaking of the devil of Yolo... She was pretty sure she was on life number nine at this point. Yeah she was pretty certain that CHENN had not been a nightmare in her past, though honestly if someone had asked her once she might have been talking about squirrels taking over its mind. She was pretty certain that had been just a nightmare. Though honestly after getting her tight ass into an air vent to mess around with it and landing on people... it was pretty clear the woman went looking for her accidents to happen. Long before all of that had been the gummy bear nightmare but no one knew about that one. Actually she was only slightly certain that had been a nightmare. Well she was still alive regardless of the many attempts in and out of her dreams to be killed. So she was fairly certain there was more than one life.

Don't get anyone wrong Vanessa was listening to the conversation the men were having but NO one had briefed her as to what was going on and why she had been suddenly yanked outta one program and into another. That was normal too ... her skills were not exactly far spread and easy to find but it made her wonder what technological pit these maniacs had gotten themselves into again. She prayed it was not another CHENN or she was gonna be finding some squirrels of her own. She hadn't said much to either of them so well... she was more or less waiting for orders at this point. The woman was good at taking orders but she was also one to have someones back in a tight spot even defying them to save someone if she had to. If it meant her team mate or her it was going to be her team mate making it out. However, push come to shove she wasn't as far taunted to defy orders straight out for shock value, but people made bad judgement calls. At least she didnt have to hang around that Amberson woman anymore of Kirkwood, those two were enough to drive any and everyone insane. Right they had some random job to do now lets do it.

Tag: Whoever was in this post before because I was just told to post here..

[James Calmara]

1154
Stargate
M-4578

"Yeah we should probably start packing alternative footwear. Now that would be an interesting supply request." Calmara agreed jokingly as he switched his attention to the footprints for a moment.  

Still couched over the shrine the engineer looked back at Oxford. The man seemed to be picking up things quite quickly. "As a rule yes. The exception is if someone has laied claim to this planet an rules through fear. Then the stargate is treated as an object of fear to be appeased. But they rarely hang around. We maybe treated with suspicion and fear at first." Calmara informed the group, hating to sound ominous, but it was better a warning was given just in case.

He stood up and took a step away from the shrine dusting himself off as he did and looking around. His eyes settled on Chief Angler for a moment. Good a little more experience for the team, before he looked and pointed in the gap between two rises that curves away from them slightly. "Looks like the majority of the tracks go off in that direction. Probably best way to go from here."  

TAG Robert "Bobby" Oxford Jr; Henry Pratt; Gabriel Stoneham; Vanessa Whitmore

[Robert "Bobby" Oxford Jr]

1154
Stargate
M-4578

Bobby snorted at the joke, while he got it the meaning, he had to give James the credit for it too, "Very funny," he told his XO with a roll of his eyes, and noted Dr Pratt was busy with some translations that were on the wall. Leaving the man to it without asking much, he knew from experience that talking to Pratt or anyone from the man's line of work was asking to beheaded. Clarie - his cousin-in-law - would tear into him like there was no tomorrow. Then there were tools and books then his head for a target. No thank you.

The line was something he would expect out of Travis, eyes James then dismiss the thought as quickly as it came. Wasn't possible he gave a mental shake of his head.

Looking at Angler, as James spoke, then at his team, "Once Doctor Pratt is done, we can check out where they lead? Or Angler and myself could amble up the the hill and see what's on the other side?" His calculations might be wrong, but it shouldn't take them more than 10 minutes to reach the top of the hill.

Tag: Henry Pratt, James Calmara, Gabriel Stoneham, Vanessa Whitmore

[James Calmara]

1154
Stargate
M-4578

Calmara looked over at his CO, then at Dr Pratt, then at the dune in front of them. "I reckon were about done here. But it would be worth you and Angler going up. At the very least it'll give us a vantage point. Which is never a bad thing. I'll hang back and follow the curve at the base. Meet you guys on the other side." The engineer suggested freely, his opinion had been sought so he gave it.

Stood facing the little effigy in the center of the shrine for a moment. The engineer let his mind wander back, this belief system was completely different to anything he had encountered in the Delian, but he was no stranger to oppressive overlords. Those memories, particularly the tactical lessons learned were what he sought to bring to mind.   When he was sure they were ready to go again, grinned and nodded in the direction that they would be travelling. "Gate take lead, trail looks easy enough to follow, Doc in the middle just to be safe than sorry. I'll take six. Boss has gone over so we'll meet them, literaly on the other side." He directed with a grin and fell I step as they moved off. Picking a path between the mounds, Oxford had to be right, there must be habitation nearby probably around the only water source for miles.  

Tag. Robert "Bobby" Oxford Jr; Henry Pratt; Gabriel Stoneham; @angler.

[Henry Pratt]

1154
Stargate
M-4578

Henry was, as always, lurked out the event horizon of the Stargate. He took a few stumbled steps, managing to catch himself from falling off the stone pedestal the Stargate sat upon. The archaeologist took a few long, deep breathes, trying to keep down his lunch. He was yet to get used to travelling through this strange alien device which had instantly transported him to a far off alien world.

At the request of his team mates Henry approached the nearby shrine. Candles, some of which were still smouldering, were arranged around a golden statuette. The archaeologist examined the figure for a moment before drawing out a tattered notebook from his backpack. “I believe its Tarakasur.” Henry flicked through the book, coming the page he was after. “Yes, Tarakasur, he was a cunning and powerful Hindu deity. He was a member of a group of supernatural beings who battled the Hindu goods for control of the heavens.” The scent of the burning candles was spiced, reminding Henry of what little time he’d spent working in India.

Stepping back from the shrine, Doctor Pratt looked around at the barren and scorched land that surrounded them. There was nothing but cleared land for as far as the eye could see, right out to the foothills in the horizon. “This land looked like it was cleared for industry,” Henry announced as he crouched down to examine the soil. He was no geologist or botanist, but the small woodchips that littered the ground for a clear give away. “It looks like a forest stood here, one that was cleared recently.”

A sudden sign of industrialisation like this could mean a lot of things, not many of them good.

The team gathered back together and moved out toward the village Chief Calmara had spotted in the distance. The Doctor took his place in the centre of the formation, his eyes peeled for any more clues that might explain what had happened here. So far he’d managed to keep down his lunch, meaning this missions was already going better than all his previous trips through the Stargate.

< Tag Robert "Bobby" Oxford Jr, James Calmara, Gabriel Stoneham and Vanessa Whitmore >

[Robert "Bobby" Oxford Jr]

1154
Stargate
M-4578

Vantage, eh, he though with a slight amusement, well then by all means his XO would get what had was asking for or more if the sense for trouble followed. Which hopefully wouldn't be too bad. Adjusting his weapon again since he wasn't used to it being attached to his body very often. Crooking his head had gazed at Angler, bobbed his head to the woman to follow. The scorched land and the after smell of burning an fire that still hung in the air made him uneasy as they walked the path the was made either by overuse or paved by tools. It reminded him of a simple dusty road -without the dust- in the country side.

1204
Hilltop
M-4578

The view on the other side wasn't much better then the one they just witnessed as they had come from the gate path. Yet if wasn't any worse from the other side at all. Pulling his canteen, Bobby took a sip, while he panted for breath. It had been while since he did the hard miles. It wasn't that he was unfit, heck he hit gym few times a week, but he had forgotten just how much the outdoor workout taxed the body. Bringing his radio to life, "The other side doesn't look any better either," he spoke, "at least meet the same fate as our welcoming view ....few years or century earlier." At least it wasn't as scorched. There could be some sign of recovery as they moved out further.

Tucking his canteen he noted movement, taking out his binoculars he took a peek in the said direction, "Life sign of rather people sign that this area is occupied to a degree of sort," studying it a bit more he noted that the figures were habited in some sort armour or similar. Wether they spoke English was another matter. Then again their cat boy did.

Tag: James Calmara, Henry Pratt, Gabriel Stoneham, Vanessa Whitmore

((Feel fee to move this ahead however deemed fit))

[Gabriel Stoneham]

1204

Hilltop

M-4578

Gabriel had been one of the first through the gate and had scouted the perimeter while the others came through. Even after checking in with James, the man didn't let his guard down. His weapon was ready with safety off and his eyes scan constantly. There was something off about this place, something he could not yet describe. A feeling that something bad was about to happen. Gabe shook the thoughts from his head, his old Drill Instructor called it over thinking and he was not paid to over think. This made Gabe feel a little better but the feeling still remained in the back of the head. Of course the discovery of passage and the clearing of the land recently didn't help the situation in his head. "Does anyone else have that 'I have a bad feeling about this' running though their heads ?" he asked as he doubled checked every weapon he carried.



Tag James Calmara, Robert "Bobby" Oxford Jr, Henry Pratt, Vanessa Whitmore 

[James Calmara]

1204
Hillside
M-4578


The Air Force tech glared in the direction indicated by both the team lead over the radio and Gabe who was up front of the little column. "Yeah me. Keep your eyes open." He pulled out a pair of binoculars from his vest, pointing them in the direction indicated and splitting hus attention between them and looking where he was walking. This could very well be the first, first contact of the expedition, we first off world contact anyways. He kept up the steady pace, all the while thinking and trying to recall past actions. In the end he went decided a direct approach might be best.

"Sir if I may, changing direction and heading straight for them might be the best option. But take advantage of natural cover as we do. If we drop down and hide and try and circle or slip up to them it might be construed as an aggressive action, they may assume we intend to gain a foothold in there teratory, and the situation could escalate quickly. We'll head up the hill, care to meet us halfway." Calmara commented as he walked indicating to Gabe to start up the hill they were currently skirting.

The hill in question had quite a gentle slop to begin with that steepens as they approach Oxford and Angler. Pausing and lifting his bino's to his face again, he grimaced and frowned slightly as he saw the change in formation. [/b]"From the looks of things they know we're here. There formation has changed and they're moving in our direction." [/b] He commented as the grouping of persons had changed from a small group/column to a line stretching across the brow of a hill in front of them, it was also clear now they were we armed, Calmara passed his binoculars over to Dr. Pratt. [/b]"Take a look Doc, what sort of culture are well looking at? Any connection to the shrine near the gate?" He asked still looking across at the group on the hill, who were still in formation for a moment.  

Then they broke into a charge!  

Tag

[Robert "Bobby" Oxford Jr]

1204
Hilltop
M-4578

He was considering James's as the rest of his team moved to join Angler and him at the peak of the hill. He had been debating with something similar to that. While he knew military and it's in and out, he wasn't certain to how much of it worked out here in an open field like this. Since the Coast Guards weren't exactly military and hadn't been for a while. And Bobby wasn't by any means a ground pounder guy. While he did some ambling work, he was mostly rooted to flying choppers for rescuing.

Still looking through the binoculars, he noted the change in formation as Calmara spoke; cursing in German then in French. He was certain that bouncing between the three languages would become more common for him. Not that speaking the other two languages wasn't common for him, just it be more frequent. And in process driving his team bonkers.

He listened as Partt, imparted his wisdom on what he knew about the culture of the place and whatnot. Seeing them break into charge, and cursed a little more, "I did not leave Earth for this," he muttered to himself. "Oh this is gonna be ugly." So it was slowly dawning on him that he was really in another galaxy and on another planet, altogether.

Facing his team, "Okay kids we gotta go." He looked towards the gate area and decided against it for now, if they knew they were here, the chances were that the was secured as well. "And NOW!"

Tag: James Calmara, Henry Pratt, Gabriel Stoneham, Vanessa Whitmore

[James Calmara]

1204
Hilltop
M-4578

Taking the order from Bobby, Calmara took off at a run with a quip Don't need that order twice. Careful to keep a steady pace he fell to the rear of the group of five. Weapon upraised they headed away from the gate first off, a smart move no sense rushing into yet more trouble, he swept his gaze across the landscape, looked around for natural cover. "Boss drop down the backside of this hill, we get below the brow, we increase our cover and decrease there chance of tracking us accurately." He called forward, dragging his tactical experience to the fore, now thankful more than ever Travis had given him so much leeway on operations.

Dropping down gradually so they were practically out of sight, the slight downside was they lose sight of the enemy. But this fact stacked in there favor, the hostile forces, by the looks of things they were regular forces trained and drilled in a specific way, and expected their opponents to act in a predictable way. Stargate forces are by there nature irregular forces, trained and practiced in being adatable, willing and able to gauge a situation and modify a battle plan accordingly.

Calmara had leant to take his technical background and use it in tactical setting,  for instance he had worked out the rough size and angles of the hills, used that to estimate the distance between the two forces, this also enabled him to gauge the optimum route they would take and how long it would take them to cover that distance. Boss watch your two o'clock. Hostiles likely to have line of sight as we pass through that depression. We should get some fire and flash down. He called forward as a warning, removing the safety from the underslung grenade launcher, pulling a grenade from the webbing down his vests sides, checking it's ammo type ensuring a stun greande and loading it on the run.  

Tag Robert "Bobby" Oxford Jr; Vanessa Whitmore; Henry Pratt; Gabriel Stoneham
Sent from my GT-N7100 using proboards

[Henry Pratt]

1204
Hilltop
M-4578

After leaving the shrine, SV-1 had made their way up and over a nearby foothill to get a better idea of the lay of the land. Their new vantage point had granted them a view much like what they’d already seen; forests and vegetation clearly over years as a result of industrialisation. They did glean some new information though; from the hilltop they were able to spot a group of what were most likely native inhabitants.

Chief Calmara handed his binoculars to Henry, and asked for his opinion. Peering through the magnifying lenses, Doctor Pratt examined the approaching individuals. “They’re all male, perhaps a hunting party,” he narrated as he scanned back and forth across the group. “Very simple and practical clothing made from animal hides, a few pieces of religious iconography on their jewellery.” For all intensive purposes they were no different looking to isolated ancient tribes back on Earth who didn’t maintain contact with the modern world.

“I think its safe to say they built and maintain the shrine back but the Stargate, but I don’t think they were the ones who cleared all these trees.” The people looked tribal and primitive, generations from any sort of large scale industrial movement. “The location of the shrine near the Stargate could mean that whoever cuts down the trees is seen as holy, maybe even worshipped. Its possible that…”

Henry’s oration was cut short by Captain Oxford, who suggested that the approaching tribe did not have friendly intentions for SV-1, and ordered the team to retreat.

Together, Pratt and the team hurried down the back of the hill and toward the Stargate. Chief Calmara directed their movements, employing his military skills to keep them entering weapons range of the tribesman. All Henry could focus on was putting one foot in front of the other, trying to cover the distance between here and the Stargate is as little time as possible without ending up face-first on the ground.

< Tag Robert "Bobby" Oxford Jr, James Calmara, Gabriel Stoneham and Vanessa Whitmore >