RP: SNV Gam'trosha [Chapter 3.3] Away Team - Cave Exploration

Escalation seemed to be the word properly used in their current situation. First came the creature scurrying off into a crack somewhere along an opposite wall, then the barely moving of dirt that led to most of object that held the locket to be revealed. The fact that it was a skull was less disturbing in hindsight, with the fact that hostiles had already been encountered as well as more than one aged corpse back in the main area of the cave made this development less of a surprise. Though with the random bouts of asking for something bad to happen, and insight about what could cause the death of the skeleton. Though that was going to be a story for another day, and a different team it would appear; one of scientists.

Though it did seem like a refreshing idea to get back to the Gam'trosha, though that probably meant more paperwork on his head, he could have missed a few forums during his time filling out all that paperwork. Alis'tar's ears twitched somewhat as he got lost in a bout of worry, and mild memory searching; cause coming back from a mission to filled out missed paperwork wasn't exactly something that seemed relaxing. though there was always the question on how communication seemed to be so screwy just because of this simple jeweled locket, that an the cave itself filled with hostiles and so many bones. The amount of questions almost equaled the amount of paperwork he spent hours filling out. A shiver traveled up Alis'tar's spine at that thought, and the desire to return to the Gam'trosha grew steadily from there. He paused in his line of thought, his mind turning to the thoughts no being able to communicate with the Gam now. It seemed well within the realm of possiblity, considering there hadn't been any signs of strange lights or such since he got here, and finding the locket might limit the feedback issue; all and all it seemed more likely now that things have seemingly calmed down.

Shar would find that, despite some interference, she did hav a signal from the tank - the signal was moderate but more than enough to work. This signal was further boosted by the fact that someone else had apparently tied it into the dropship that was presently orbitting the area above them, another signal - one related to their ship - was also present on her helmet but this signal was apparently getting 'stronger' with each passing second.

"Gam'trosha to away team, please respond over..." came a clear message over the squadron's commique.

Cave

Shar frowned. "Hey Lex," the black furred daur said to Def'leor. "I am getting a call from Gammy. Something is up."

"Gam'trosha, this is away team." Shar replied to the ship. She wondered if there was some kind of trouble. If so it would take some time to get back, unless they would leave the tank here and caught the shuttle. "We are located in the cave near ruins. Comms might get a bit staticy."

Cave

There was a brief pause in the transmission, as things fell silent for what seemed like many minutes, until a burst of static filled the commique followed by another message.

"~Please return to the ship, we have orders to leave system. Please finish up whatever it is you are doing, and randevous outside, Gam'trosha will orbitting your location and you'll return via dropship.~"

Cave

"Roger that Gam'trosha, away team out." Shar replied and stood up from the body. She turned her helmeted head to Def and sighed.

"Well Lex," she said and looked back to the exit. "Just got orders to return to the ship. We are supposed to hurry, Gam is being pulled out of the system. I guess recordings from our helmets will have to do, they are prolly sent some archeologists later I am sure. Anyway, we are to pull out and get on the dropship. Gam will be circling above us."

Cave

Def'leor was actually glad to hear that they were being recalled. This mission had taken so many unexpected turns and they were dealing with events that they original team wasn't equipped for. She turned to those with her.

"Okay, orders are orders. Everything we have bagged and tagged comes with us. Let's make our way out of these caves and get back to the ship." She them walked back over to where Shar was.

"We got the alien strapped to the Tank so that's already covered, I'm going to go back and held get the Tank on the dropship when it gets here." Kil'nda said as he began to leave for the tank. He activated the Tanks Comms once more once insidebthe Tank. "Gam'trosha, get a science team ready for our arrival we have the corpus of an alien hostile here as well" He reported. He began to flips switched that would make the tank more safe to travel in a drop ship once it arrived. All that was left now was to wait to be picked up.

Ross had watched the perimeter around the room from the entrance during the communications between the "Gam'trosha" and its ground team. He stepped out of Kil'nda's way, however he gestured towards Vik'tor to follow the rushing man, as his ranged expertise would be more useful above ground than below. He stayed behind to watch over the remaining members of the ground team. "I suppose myself and my constituent, as well as the other reinforcements will have to accompany you to your ship?" He asked, setting the helmet's visor to two-way. His face was impassive, indicating that he had no feelings over where he went next.

As the mention of exfiltration was brought up in conversation, Vik glanced over his shoulder after checking the entrance tunnel for any anomolies following the away team. The gesture made by Ross after Kil'nda got a head start took a while to register in the Laibe's head until realization tempted him to nod in repliance before his boots echoed from the cave walls. Perhaps it was eagerness or a sense of duty to take point and spot for danger on the surface in aide of the rest of his team, but it Vik'tor didn't realize how far ahead he'd gone from Kil'nda before he was a good collection of meters infront of him.

Only slowing to a pace to match Kil, the Laibe raised the Swordrifle up and pressed it into his left shoulder as if he was anticipating some bizarre creature to emerge in his line of sight. The Laibe's mind drifted towards the atrocious creatures on the planets surface, which made him wonder if being below the surface was such a bad idea. Regardless of the pessimistic thought, his pace remained as he braced to be the first back to the surface.

Def'leor started walking back they way the team had come. As she did she made a mental list of things to see about getting stocked for future use. This mission would have been much easier if they had been better equipped. But then their original mission was just recon. It did not intend fighting alien technology, or exploring ancient ruins. But she would make sure they had the tools next time, just in case.

~"Understand, I'll let the Shipmistress know."~

With that the line went silent; as the team would approuch the exit they'd hear the whine of the dropships engine above but also mixed into it were the sounds of something much more powerful - as the prowl of the Gam'trosha began to appear over the tops of the trees above them. Its running lights flickering every couple seconds followed by a squadron of five fighters flying below the ship and disappearing behind the mountain.

Another dropship disembarked from the ship's rear cargohold and made its way toward the ruins; the one that was anchored above them slowly descended toward the tank and landed with its rear-end facing the away team, there was a Laibe already in the back whose hands were on the rear gun turret and slowly scanning the tree line. There was an electronic humm as the dropships rear magnetic clamp latched onto the tank, causing it to jump ever so slightly as it became attached to the ship.

Outside

Shar stood on the tup of tanks turret, surprised that her position as a tank driver was suddenly taken by one of the new guys. She did not care too much though, taking of the tanker helmet and tossing it inside the tank and taking her own suit helmet back. To be frank, she was not much of a tanker after all. She preferred to use guns, blades or her own hands and feet to defend herself and her team. The dark furred daur held her rifle and watched the magnetic clamb descend to the tank. The woman grabbed it and helped it attach to the tank comfortly. She gave an okay sign to the rear gunner on the shuttle and climbed inside the tank's turret.

While Shar was helping make sure that the Tank was hooked up Kil'nda was making sure the Tanks's systems read right. and that it was ready for transport. He began to power down most the systems for safe transportation. They were heading home.. well his new home one could say, not a battle field no need for the tank to be active, for now it;s weapons would be on standby unless needed.

"Alright Dropship all weapons secured and the tank is in Standby, ready for transportation."

Outside

Def'leor stepped out and surveyed the scene. She was surprised to see the Gam'trosha floating above. The presence of dropships made her happy because she did not want the Gam'trosha to land anywhere near that rogue crystal. And with the dropships present they could get back to the ship easily.

She walked over to the drop ship and climbed up the ramp to get inside. She stood at the top of the ramp and watched the team. "Move it people, unless you are planning on becoming a colonist here." She called out to those who had not yet emerged.

Outside

Alis'tar followed behind the team, lost in his own thoughts about how this mission had gone. He had arrived late to the battle, already all hostiles encountered had been dispatched, at least from what he had seen. The cave explored to reveal the fact that it seemed to be just filled with bodies, and they found some sort of jeweled locket deeper inside of the cave; lodged in dirt and a skull. It all seemed strange, almost to strange to have happened specially with this having just been a recon mission. He'd have stood there trying to contemplate everything if he didn't hear the XO call out something about planning, and colonists. That got him back to the here and now, as he made his way onto the drop ship.

Ross took Def'leor's response, or lack of a direct response, as a "yes, come with us." His eyes narrowed as his visor darkened, following after the others, but remained on the alert, as there was always the chance that there was a remaining enemy hiding in the shadows. The nobleman sheathed his sword and brought his energy bow out. He took up position on the interior of the dropship to provide covering fire to anyone that needed it if hostiles fired on them from the rear while they were pulling out.

Dropship

Def'leor tossed her damaged communications unit onto the floor. "Piece of drisa." she muttered. She looked at the two newcombers, "Alis'tar and Ross, once we get on board the Gam'trosha we will get you squared away and officially on the crew roster. Meanwhile, thanks for joining the soiree."

While the rest of the team was securing the tank to the dropship or boarding it themselves, Vik had distanced himself from the rest to try and maintain a perimeter that wasn't going to be breached by some kind of berserker native life. The statements about getting on the dropship in a hurry did little to worry the Laibe until mention of Ross getting back to the Gam'trosha failed to escape him. As the landing zone itself seemed secure enough, Vik'tor climbed up into the dropship and found his seat next to Ross before he questioned Leor "So, does this kind of thing happen often?"

Dropship

"If by that you mean. We go out to do something relatively simple and it rapidly escalates into a life or death struggle. So far that seems to be situation normal for Gam'trosha." She said with a grin. "But it does keep things from getting dull. Nothing worse than a bunch of military trained people with too much free time on their hands."

Kil'nda sighed as he powered down the tank and then popped the hatch climbing out "Looks like everything is good to go." he said as he headed for the drop ship getting on board "Well That was one heck of a way to join a new crew." he said taking off his helmet. "I'm Limr'viad, Kil'nda." He said to the others making a more formal introduction to the new crew he was to serve with