[Henry Pratt]

1400
Two days prior to Episode Five
5km/3 miles north of Outpost

With a swing of his machete, Doctor Pratt severed a low hanging branch that had been impeding his progress through the thick forest which covered most of the planet. The sound of metal slicing through branches interrupted the usual sounds of animal life in the forest, as dozens of other personnel from the base likewise cut their way through the forest.

Deep in this jungle, someone was missing. Four people to be exact: members of SV-4. The team had been conducting a short-range recon of the area surrounding the outpost when communication had been lost. Flyovers with a UAV had turned up no clue. As such, the Admiral has dispatched personnel to track down the missing team, though this was proving a lot more challenging that expected.

“The last check-in from SV-4 is just ahead,” Henry announced as he slashed away at the thick forest before him, taking a moment to consult his compass and map. “Hopefully we can find some tracks or a trail after that.” The team had been missing for just over 22 hours now, and Henry was glad that he wasn’t the one who had been stuck out here overnight. There was something distinctly off-putting about the forest around the base.

OOC: Something to keep the base personnel busy until Episode Six begins.

< Tag Matthew Oxford, Grant Fulcur, Vanessa Whitmore, James Calmara, @sadie, Declan Murphy, Gavin Barker, Lily Tuck, Blake Warren, @ckitchens, Makes-Eternal-Everlasting, Aear Charter & Chiquita Charter >

[Blake Warren]

1401
Two days prior to Episode Five
5km/3 miles north of Outpost

Teamed up in the civilian group with Henry, Blake was primarily relying on what Steve had taught him, combined with a smidge from the Paiute. "Most likely we will. Nobody leaves a clearer track than a man with a full combat load."

He jumped just a little at the high-pitched scream of some wild beast, but after the fright passed muttered, "High cry, small animal."

<<Henry Pratt, @ckitchens, Aear Charter>>

[Deleted]

1401
Two days prior to Episode Five
5km/3 miles north of Outpost

Fiona followed behind Henry and Blake, next to Aear. She was on alert, mostly because she was a little worried about the forest. She hated being away from her console-she was most comfortable behind her machine. Where she was safe, mostly, but also where she didn't have to interact.

She almost lost it when she heard the *SCREECH* of some wild beast, and Blake's reply.

High cry, small animal. She nodded in agreement, even though he couldn't see her, and then looked at Aear. She knew enough by now that he could read her thoughts. While she generally tried to keep her mind boring-alas, it usually WAS-she was in a mood today. She worried about Koren-well, the whole team, but mostly him-and she knew that Aear knew that. Hopefully, he wouldn't say anything dorky about it, though.

She raised her tablet to find a signature, and replied to Dr. Pratt.

Aye. Seems a trail about twenty clicks Northeast, mayhaps..It's hard to tell specifically, a lot of interference from the trees. They seemed to buzz with energy, and while Fee knew and respected the laws of physics-that every thing had energy-it was still spooky.

Tag:@blake, Henry Pratt, Aear Charter, @all.

[Aear Charter]

1401
Two days prior to Episode Five (Isn't it supposed to say six? Or am I being dense?)
5km/3 miles north of Outpost

Aear followed Henry and Blake stolling next to Fee, snapping branches that dared to get in his way rather violently. Fee's alertness and mood did nothing to help the young Meowtian. Whilst she was worried about Koren he was worried about Kana. The only reason he played this silly game of chase in the jungle was because they had no leads.

Aear's ears reacted first to the screech with him almost firing off a round and impaling the creature.
High cry, small animal.
Che, not all of us need a battle cry... he muttered to himself rather than anyone in particular.

Aear didn't hear Fee's mention of the trail before them. A branch had just dared to slap him in one of his ears. [Arc Saber] Chimed Cyleo as Aear swung out at the tree firing off a spinning magic blade tearing through the tree and several behind it bringing them crashing down around them.

Tag: Blake Warren, Henry Pratt, @ckitchens, @everyonelse

[Henry Pratt]

1402
Two days prior to Episode Five
5km/3 miles north of Outpost

OOC: To clarify, Episode Six picks up from the moment Episode Five ends, hence this has to take place before events of both episodes.

The group of base personnel cut through a final clump of thick branches and fanned out into a large clearing, the site of SV-4’s last radio contact. Two other search teams - SV-1 and SV-2 - were already standing in the clearing, having obviously followed other clues to arrive at the same location. That was a good sign. So far, the group Henry was part of had been using SV-4’s radio log to track their movements, with the military teams using their own tried and tested techniques.

The big question was, where to from here?

“This is where the radio trail runs cold,” Henry explained to those present. “If we could find some tracks or determine which direction they most likely departed in we could narrow down the search area.” The forest north of the Outpost was especially thick, and it was not hard to imagine how a team could have gotten turned around and disorientated out here.

Hopefully the team’s disappearance it was a case of misdirection, and not something more sinister.

< Tag Matthew Oxford, Grant Fulcur, Vanessa Whitmore, James Calmara, @sadie, Declan Murphy, Gavin Barker, Lily Tuck, Blake Warren, @ckitchens, Makes-Eternal-Everlasting, Aear Charter, Chiquita Charter, Robert "Bobby" Oxford Jr, Lequana Ka'ti of Partho, Liam Kelly, @roger, Blueberry Yagami, @cassie2, Koren Telion, Billie Jean Witwer, Kana Charter & @adaofhearts >

[Blake Warren]

1402
Two days prior to Episode Five
5km/3 miles north of Outpost

Blake looked around the area, their last radio location, as Fiona mentioned interference. "Well, where tech fails, you use old-fashioned tracking."

He gave a quick glance at Aear as the Meowtian used his powers to clear some forest. "Convenient for traveling, but hopefully we haven't wiped any track they left."

He circled around the spot, looking for the deep footprints associated with several men close together, soft forest like this should show a clear track, assuming SV-4 had kept walking from their last radio call. Any alternative that didn't involve them walking on their own power from here was worse.

<<tag Aear Charter, @ckitchens, Henry Pratt>>

[Robert "Bobby" Oxford Jr]

1402
Two days prior to Episode Five
5km/3 miles north of Outpost

Standing not far from the group, Bobby asserted the area. As the only search and rescue member he pour over the data before getting out the outpost that was also acting as the FOB. The energy signal had faded completely from another mile out. With a quick word to Major Gaines and Admiral Oxford, Bobby could only supply advice on the best possible way to get this mini operation under way. Without the satellite data, he had to make the best judgement call on this. And hopefully it did not go south. Even with data he wanted results might be more or less the same.

Now that he was standing not far from the group, "Witwer," he motion for the young Navy Officer, the blond curls in her hair were too much of Shirley Temple for him, "You and group to the west, 5 miles max. Don't find anything, everyone is to return immediately. Find anything give us a heads up." Then with a nod he dismissed her, "Telion, can you please lead a group to the east? Same orders as Witwer apply."

Walking over to the Civvie's group, he heard their NASA rep and Doctor Warren, "Old fashioned way, could be interesting." It might by some of their exploring teams some time to look before hades appeared on their necks, as his eyes scanned the direction of Northeast, "And I thought Earth was bad with traffic," his voice was laced with sarcasm. Bending to his knees, he tried to make out the outline of the trail if he could find it. When the type of soil the planet had, it would be hard.

Finding something suspect-able, he let his fingers brush over it, "Well, let's not under estimate the thing we are dealing with." Whatever they were dealing with. He was hoping to find SV-4 intact and breathing. Other options were not suitable.


< Tag Grant Fulcur, Vanessa Whitmore, James Calmara, @sadie, Declan Murphy, Lily Tuck, Blake Warren, @ckitchens, Makes-Eternal-Everlasting, Aear Charter, Chiquita Charter, Lequana Ka'ti of Partho, Liam Kelly, @roger, Blueberry Yagami, @cassie2, Koren Telion, Kana Charter @adaofhearts >

[Liam Kelly]

1402
Two days prior to Episode Five
5km/3 miles north of Outpost


Liam and Shadow were close to Capt. Oxford as he said that.  The sarcasm in his voice was not lost on Liam as he stood there.  At the same time, while Liam noticed Capt. Oxford running his fingers over what he had found, Shadow walked up and sniffed at it, then looked on down ahead from where they were standing.  Liam looked at the dog and noticed the way he was standing.  Liam called Shadow back to him as he stood there, thought he had the feeling Shadow picked up something important.


TAG: <all>