[Tyrone Gaines]

0545
Approaching Stargate

Trying to suppress a yawn, Major Gaines led SV-2 back toward the gate as the sun began to rise on another alien planet.

Yesterday afternoon, the team had arrived on Pali to conduct the usual exploration and first contact mission that was the bread and butter of the SGC. Hiking out into the wilderness, the team had made contact with a civilisation whose technology and culture was similar to that of the American wild west. In order to win their trust, Tyrone had agreed for the team to accompany the locals on a hunting expedition to help catch wild game to feed the growing township.

Eight hours later the team had been dismissed with promises of a future alliance if the local leaders could reach an agreement on terms. It seemed, that just as back on Earth, there was all manner of political intrigue going on behind the scenes of the otherwise sleepy frontier town. The major suspected that it would be a drawn out process to form any sort of serious diplomatic bonds with the people of the planet, no doubt at a great cost to the expedition.

In the meantime, the team was heading back to the Stargate and the Vedas base for a much needed sleep.

“Good job back there everyone,” Tyrone offered between yawns. “Good to know that if the expedition is ever running short on meat we can track and take down a herd of deers.” Or at least deer-like creatures, which had stood taller than the average man with razor sharp antlers twice as long as what was found back on Earth. Still, with minimal help SV-2 had managed to bag half a dozen of the creatures and turn them over to the locals.

The sun continued to rise as the team drew nearer and nearer to the Stargate. “Just over the next ridge I believe,” Tryone explained to the team. He was very much looking forward to falling straight into his bed. At the moment, a slab on concrete would constitute a comfortable bed.

< Tag Aear Charter, Jacqueline "Jackie" Clemmens, Billie Jean Witwer & Sthenno Kshaeta >

[Billie Jean Witwer]

0545
Approaching Stargate

They had been walking for who knew how long. In her sleepy state, Bills hadn't kept a track of the time passed and how far the gate was. Had it been few hours later, when her brain was awake and alter, she did say in a heart beat. Rubbing her face she readjusted her cowboy hat that was a gift from locals. Coming back for a full outfit had gotten her awake a little more, but her yawns couldn't b stopped now that Gaines was passing them around as if they were going out of style.

Hunting had been not one of the highlights of this trip. Respecting the local traditions and whatnot came with traveling through the gate. Even the hunting part wasn't something she had wanted to do. Women had been perplexed over the outfits wore by the female members of SV-2. The Mayor had more or less had spoken to Gaines. Political crap bored her, she never really got why it was so intruding to others.

She hmmed at Tyrone's complements, "Ummm....deer." she repeated sleepy, "let's not remind me how awful they taste. I'm kinda thinking of turning a vegetarian sir." The meat had been hard to chew, and even tough to get it past her throat. She wasn't even sure how others had taken it to the this type of deer.

She frowned, they still had a while to go? Great, she grumbled mentally as her head was about to greet Sthenno's shoulder, jerking back, she looked ahead, as a huge yawn broke out. Seeing nothing she tried again, and had been certain that she had seen the gate from this far on the way to the town. Or perhaps they were a little far from the location she had first seen it. Fighting another yawn, she kept moving.

While all she wanted to do was dream of a bed.

Tag: Tyrone Gaines, Aear Charter, Jacqueline "Jackie" Clemmens, Sthenno Kshaeta and Vanessa Whitmore

[Tyrone Gaines]

0546
Approaching Stargate

Exhausted, the team continued their trek back toward the Stargate. Billie made a comment on the taste of the deer they had hunted to win the trust of the locals. The typically stoic Major couldn’t help but crack a smile. “If you ask me, it beats the slop they’re been serving back on base.”

The joke, however, was to hide the team leader’s concern. A few minutes ago, SV-2 had crested over a ridge that Gaines’ believed had overlooked the Stargate. At the time he assumed that he’d miscalculated their hike, hence his ‘Just over the next ridge’ comment. Having now approached and summited two subsequent ridge lines that he certainly didn’t remember the first time, Tyrone was starting to develop the belief that the team might be lost.

As a career pilot, Gaines was more comfortable looking at the ground from above. Trying not to draw attention, he unfolded his map and checked it again. Scanning around, he spotted two mountains on the horizon, and using them, roughly triangulated their position. He confirmed what he already suspect - the team was out of position. They’d need to double back to the Stargate.

“Alright team, I’ve got a learning and development opportunity for you all,” he said as he passed the map and compass to the team. “We’re not too far from the Gate, figure out the bearing and lead the way.” It was a pretty flimsy excuse, but he wasn’t ready to admit that he had led the team wrong.

< Tag Aear Charter, Jacqueline "Jackie" Clemmens, Billie Jean Witwer & Sthenno Kshaeta >

[Billie Jean Witwer]

0546
Approaching Stargate

Her sleepy brain kicked into another gear of awake or sleepiness, BIllie couldn't tell if her brain was shifting gears fast or was it her impression. However she did giggle at his words, "I'll take that slop any day over the deer. Unless Hernandez can tuned into something edible at best." while the man cooked like a dream at least for here and with all he had on him. Billie needed to be convinced about the taste of the deer, still, "Than again, without meaning to offend, sir. Men and their raw meaty bones, always win." She chuckled.

As they neared their location she could sense that something was off, as the ground pounder representing the Navy on SV-2, Billie moved to take a look at the map and prayed that her knowledge of what she remembered came to her. taking the compass and the map, she laid on the ground and placed small rocks on the edge. While he had he aerial, shots, Billie pulled out the tablet to pull out the land shot that MALP had send over. Flipping through some, she looked deep in thought. And had to agree that something wasn't right. The old wild west styled post from logs should have been in their view by now.

"Anyone see post stumps in last mile we covered or see any that is coming up?" Them pulled the image she was looking for, "This image was taken on the way to the town, so we need to cover bit more north east," she pointed to the a little left from where she was standing, "I think."  Someone might want to shoot her later once they were all awake for being wrong.

If she was wrong.

"Captain?" Billie turned to face Jackie, who till this point had not said a word.

Tag: Tyrone Gaines, Aear Charter, Jacqueline "Jackie" Clemmens, Sthenno Kshaeta and Vanessa Whitmore

((Can Billie make it the thrice in a row to make Tyrone crack a smile? ))

[Tyrone Gaines]

0551
Stargate Clearing

With Billie confirming their heading, the team once again got underway, backtracking toward the Stargate. How they had overshot it was anyone’s guess. The terrain around here wasn’t too challenging, just small clumps of woodland and shallow rolling hills, all separated by wide grassed clearings. It was possible that their lack of sleep from the overnight hunt was to blame. Whatever the cause, Tyrone was keen to get the team back on track for their scheduled return to Vedas Command. As was his nature, he was still trying to prove to the Admiral and himself that the former bomber pilot had what it took to lead an off-world team.

Coming over another small rise the team reached their final destination, or so they thought. Gaines cursed under his breath and consulted his map again. How the frak had they messed up their coordinates again? According to his map, compass and the aerial photos from the UAV flyover, he and SV-2 were standing on a small rise overlooking the Stargate.

Except, the Stargate was not to be seen.

Cursing again, he strode down the hall. As he approached the middle of the clearing, he noticed a patch of dead grass amid the otherwise lush vegetation. He slowed on approach, unsure what he was looking at. Sure enough, the closer he came, the more and more the dead grass appeared to be in the shape of a Stargate pedestal and a DHD.

“This, this cannot be happening,” he announced to the team as he knelt down. On first inspection there was nothing amiss with the dead grass, beyond the obvious lack of Stargate the team needed to get home.

“Thoughts?”

< Tag Aear Charter, Jacqueline "Jackie" Clemmens, Billie Jean Witwer & Sthenno Kshaeta >

[Billie Jean Witwer]

0551
Stargate Clearing

The change in direction had helped lift a little bit of the sleep fog all were under; at least it helped Billie. Following Tyrone's lead, the LT kept alert as she took in her surroundings. The idea of sniffing wallflower at this time felt silly. Maybe another visit -without having to eat the deer meat- would give her a chance to explore it. The wide space could if the right deal was struck could be useful as the training grounds. A proposal draft could been written then refined with help before being brought in front of Captain Oxford to consider. Sure their planet could possibly have a land on another continent, even that was yet to be explored. Who knew what type of plains they had. let alone have any.

Recognising the horizon, the bubbly officer wanted to squeal, however the action was not going to brood well for her image. They had made it. Her calculations hadn't been wrong in fact they had been right. She had passed the course, but hadn't aced in it during her time at the academy. So no one would want to shoot her in the foot. And working out here even more could help her sharpen her skill with direction. Her twin always said it that without a GPS, Bills would be lost. Sadly it was true, yet with the GPS, she still would be lost.

Rubbing sleep out of her eyes, Billie took a good look as they near the gate. But to her horror there was no gate or the DHD. Had she taken the team in the wrong direction? Or had her calculations been wrong. She was about to pull out the images when Gaines words stopped her in her track as she saw her commanding officer kneeling.

Surely she had wrong as she moved to take a closer look, and trailed the dead grass then faced Gaines, "Saying," she tried a little humor but she wasn't Colonel Oxford, "Aliens took it might be a cliche."

"It's way too heavy for the locals to take it," she moved about her surroundings again, "Wagons and horses won't able pull it." Let alone make an attempt. Dialing the gate manually took strength and the task itself wasn't easy.

"Better question would be why take it?" Was it possible that locals didn't want them to leave?

Tyrone Gaines, Aear Charter, Jacqueline "Jackie" Clemmens, Sthenno Kshaeta

[Kata Harris]

0545-0552
Stargate Clearing

Like her teammates, Captain Harris was looking forward to her bed and maybe some news about where the Shiva was. She was used to staying up for a long period of time but the little hunting expedition the locals sent them on was tiring. She actually enjoyed the hunting part of the mission; it reminded her of how her siblings would go after rabbits and squirrels during the summer, their mom never cooked them but the kids still had fun doing it. As she trudged on behind Major Gaines and Barbie she thought back to the meal they had the night before, deer was one of her favorite foods; so eating something that reminded her of it was a treat. 

Gaines said something about the Stargate being nearby and Kata smiled, the idea of home puting a new spring into her step, but they all stopped suddenly. The Gate was not there. After a moment of discussion and a reassetment of where they should be going the team started walking again, this time with Witwer guiding them. The team couldn't be lost, if anything they took a wrong turn somewhere, everyone was tired. Kata stayed quiet as they approached the actual location of the Stargate, standing on the rise with everyone else she looked down to where the large device should be. 

But it was gone. 

Following Gaines and Witwer down she looked around at the dead grass and then up to the area around where the gate should be, "Thoughts?” Gaines asked, Kata reached up and scratched her head, still looking around at Witwer gave her opinion on the matter. "It sure didn't get legs and suddenly walk away." Harris said walking to where the gate would have been, just to be sure she knelt down and touched the grass. "And it's not invisible." she added standing again, running through her head the various reasons why the gate could be gone, all came up blank.

Tag: Tyrone Gaines Billie Jean Witwer

[Tyrone Gaines]

0552
Stargate Clearing

Having located the original position of the Stargate, that had since disappeared, SV-2 began their investigations of the area. The two other officer assigned to the team, Billie and Kata, offered their assessments of the situation. “LT is right,” Gaines replied. “The Gate weighs a tonne, locals wouldn’t have stood a chance moving it.” Moving alongside Kata, Gaines also waved his hand where the Stargate should have been, confirming that it wasn’t cloaked. “And it’s not cloaked. Where’s the fun if it’s too easy?”

While crossing two possibilities off the list was a step in the right direction, it also brought the team back to square one.

Starting where the DHD should have been standing, Tyrone began to walk in circles around the clearing, making each circle bigger than the last. His eyes were trained on the ground in front of him, closely examining the lush grasses which dominated the rolling hills of the planet Pali. He was looking for tracks, preferably ones which would provide some insight on where the Stargate has disappeared.

“No tracks around here, which isn’t a good sign,” the major explained, finished his search. What this likely meant was that the Stargate had been flown or transported out of here, two technologies which the locals didn’t possess. It must have been an outside job.

“So,” he added. “We don’t have any leads, or any idea where the Stargate is or how it got there. Open to suggestions at the moment.”

< Tag Aear Charter, Jacqueline "Jackie" Clemmens, Billie Jean Witwer, Sthenno Kshaeta & Kata Harris >

[Kata Harris]

0552
Stargate Clearing

Kata pinched the bridge of her nose, she could feel a headache starting behind her eyes, Gaines circled around them, once he returned she frowned as he told them that their were no tracks. "I highly doubt it, but maybe someone in orbit took it?" it could be possible that could have happened, but why would someone do it? If they wanted the team to stay on the planet then why not stop them in the villiage? Harris tilted her head back and looked up and the sky; as the sun was rising the dark sky was quickly fading, she didn't expect to see anything, but hey, you never know.

She saw nothing, as she expected. "Maybe we should head back to the villiage, if anything we can rest a bit and figure out what we can do." she said looking to Gaines, "That's honestly my suggestion.." Harris hated giving a half arse answer, but when you didn't have anything else..what could ya do.

[Vanessa Whitmore]

0552
Stargate Clearing

Something didn't add up. Deer, no wait the whole vegetarian debate where she would have sided with Witner was a moot point now and ewww deer. She was going to say something when they came into the clearing but her mouth shut as soon as it opened without making a sound as she too noticed what they had seen. "It would take days to dismantle and move it, Aliens sounds cliche but honestly whats big enough to move it really guys?" she sounded sarcastic but it was kind of like saying the dog at the homework. No one was going to believe you even if the dog had paper trailing out of its mouth. "Normally I would say look for tire tracks but my guess, no one used a truck to move this and from the looks of this area it wasn't blown up by anything" she stated. Okay so her mouth was running before her thoughts got out of her brain.

Honestly, first there was a lost battle cruiser and now there was a lost stargate, she really hoped there wasn't anything else to lose yet something pretty much stationary got legs and wandered off. That just made anything possible. Things got stranger and stranger everyday, and the redhead was not likely to say much of anything else, she had spoken her mind and that was that. This was going to be a long day...

Tag: SV-2

[Billie Jean Witwer]

0552
Stargate Clearing

Swallowing back a laugh at Harris's words, Billie settled for a smile. Image was funny. She could clearly see a cartoonist drawing the legs on the gate and walking away. All in all it was hilarious. She covered her mouth as a yawn broke out and sleep was again seeping in. "No Ma'am," the blond officer tried keeping a blank face as she looked at Harris.

With Gaines agreeing over the local's not taking the gate, that still left them with more questions than answers. "Fun?" her head titled at her CO, "I don't think taking the gate itself is fun sir." She watched as Tyrone moved around the location of where the DHD was. If there no tracks she doubted that a clue would be left behind. Kata's point was a valid and something that they could look into. "If it's going to be in the orbit, how did get there? Jet bags from the Jetsons could only get you so far." She was referring to the iconic cartoon.

"Major, I agree with Harris," she called out as she raised her hand, "Locals might know. While I don't like the idea of going back there. It might pay to talk to them. Perhaps they could shed more light on the matter."

Turning to Angler, "No trucks sorry. It took a jumbo jet to carry the second gate that was found on Earth and bring it to Denver. Even a truck won't do. The tires of the poor thing might go flat." Maybe it was a Jedi might trick, couldn't rule that out.

"So, sir," she opened her mouth, "Shall we head back to town?" and to the deer, he enjoyed so much.

Tag: Tyrone Gaines, Aear Charter, Jacqueline "Jackie" Clemmens, Sthenno Kshaeta, Kata Harris and Vanessa Whitmore

[Tyrone Gaines]

0552
Stargate Clearing

Upon the suggestion that the Stargate might have been taken into orbit by aliens, Tyrone looked up, if only by reflex. He did recall a mission report where the Goa’uld had used their beaming technology to steal Stargates for Ba’al, but so far there thankfully hadn’t been any contact with the Goa’uld in this galaxy. While he hadn’t read anything about the Asuras possessing beaming technology, it was possible they did. Most other hyperdrive capable races had similar tech.

“Agreed, the village is our best bet,” he replied to Kata and Billie. “But I don’t like this. Could have been an insider job. We’ll have a snoop around and see what we can find before we announce ourselves.”

0613
Clearview Creek

Covertly, SV-2 had made their way from the Stargate back to the settlement of Clearview Creek just as the sun was coming up. Approaching from the north, they used the thick timber forrest adjacent to the town as cover for their approach. There were lumber camps nearby from which workers would go out to fell trees each day, but given the hour the work parties hadn’t commenced yet. For the moment, the team was alone.

Having established a secluded observation point, Gaines was scanning the village with his binoculars. So far there was nothing out of the ordinary, certainly no signs of the missing Stargate or the appearance of aliens or their spaceships. In fact, it looked like any other day in the sleepy town of Clearview Creek.

“We need to get closer,” the major explained to the team. “Remember Flind, the grocer we befriends? His house is just below us on the edge of the village. I say we pay him a visit.” With that the team grabbed their gear and descended from the forest toward the village, making sure to keep out of sight of the locals.

< Tag Aear Charter, Jacqueline "Jackie" Clemmens, Billie Jean Witwer, Sthenno Kshaeta, Kata Harris & Vanessa Whitmore>

[Kata Harris]

0613
Clearview Creek

The sun was now up, it served as a lovely reminder that SV-2 still had not slept. Kata lay on the ground, looking out towards the quiet village, her eyes scanning for anything different, but everything looked exactly like it had when they had first laid eyes on it. Simple peaceful village where the craziest thing the locals seemed to do was hunt deer like animals with razor sharp horns. Harris had been hoping they found something in the village, at least it would give them a lead of some sorts.

“Remember Flind, the grocer we befriends? His house is just below us on the edge of the village. I say we pay him a visit.”

Kata turned her head,looked at the Major and nodded then looked back to the village below them, she knew the exact house. Flind had been one of the first people the team had met upon entering the village and the man had been nothing but friendly. Everyone grabbed thier gear, Kata somehow ended up leading the group down the hill, keeping a lookout for any villagers and making sure to not get seen at the same time. As they got closer to the house Harris crouched behind a large bale of hay, she waited for the rest of the team to do so before speaking very quietly, "If it's alright with you I'll stay out here and keep an eye out," she looked at Gaines as she spoke, "I can radio if anything happens."  Kata added glancing out behind the hay bale to make sure everything was still clear. 

Tag: Tyrone Gaines Billie Jean Witwer Vanessa Whitmore 

[Tyrone Gaines]

0613
Overlooking Clearview Creek

Moving down the hill, the team approached Flind’s house. The friendly grocer had been their first contact in the township, and had been very enthusiastic to greet them. Tyrone believed most of that was due to the possibilities of off-world trade with the expedition - being a business man, Flind’s eyes had practically flash dollar signs when the team had explained who they were. Still, he had vouched for them before the town’s mayor, and played a key role in smoothing over relationships early on.

“Keep your head on a swivel Cap’n,” Tryone replied to Kata. Having not slept overnight represented a risk for the team. Sure, a lack of sleep was nothing new to serving military personnel, but it still wasn’t ideal mission conditions. Suppressing a yawn, Gaines quietly cracked open the door to Flind’s house and let the team inside.

The sudden arrival of the team was accompanied by a plate smashing on the ground, as a startled Flind dropped the breakfast he had been preparing. “Major Gaines,” he exclaimed. “It is customary on this planet to knock before entering a friends doorway.” Tyrone signalled for Flind to keep his voice down.

“Something came up,” he replied, keeping his voice down. “Someone took the Stargate, the portal we used to arrive here. Have you seen anything out of the ordinary lately?” Gaines was getting a very bad feeling about all this, and didn’t trust the shiftily profit-seeking Flind as far as he could throw him. Still, they needed answers.

< Tag Aear Charter, Jacqueline "Jackie" Clemmens, Billie Jean Witwer, Sthenno Kshaeta, Kata Harris & Vanessa Whitmore >

[Billie Jean Witwer]

0613
Overlooking Clearview Creek

She listened as Gaines laid out the game plan. Sounded fine to her ears, she could try talking to the local florist and she what she could find, then again it was better to stick with the team for now as who knew they might disappear as well. And the risk wasn't worth wasting more time on the planet. She might as well scratch the proposal her brain had been working on. She didn't see how these people could help if they held no such technology to beam out the gate.

Her brows rose when Gaines let him and the team inside the house without knocking. Such a stealth way of entering when the owner found the actions a little rude. She gave a careless shrug to the rest of the team and entered after Gaines. Hearing what her CO was saying she nodded, "No trace was left either," she added quietly as she sat on the arm rest, "which is interesting. Given your people don't have the level of technology to move it."

Adjusting her hat, she looked at Gaines, then at Flind, "If I recall correctly you weren't at the dinner," taking the bimbo angle, she batted her lashes, "at least I didn't see you there." She could only watch as the man shifted his gaze between the members of SV-2.

"Are you trying to imply something, Lieutenant?" He glared at her, "Might I remind you, young lady, you are a here on the planet and in my house."

Facing Gaines, she shrugged, "What did I imply?" she asked knowing fully well, "Nooo idea what he is on about." She wasn't innocent as her face told the story.

Tag: Tyrone Gaines, Jacqueline "Jackie" Clemmens, Sthenno Kshaeta and Vanessa Whitmore