Clea explained. “There are enough of us living on the planet who venture out into the wilderness for research or recreation to keep them at bay but that’s not to say we won’t encounter something. I’ll have my active scanner going the whole time.”
“Okay.” Hoffner turned to the men. “Listen up, people. We’re moving out. This place isn’t safe. We’ve got enemy soldiers, killer plants and God knows what else. Our objective, as you know, is rescue and recovery. Let’s stick together, be wary and stay alive. If any of you die out here, consider yourself on report. You got it?”
“Yes, sir.” They didn’t shout but still managed to include some enthusiasm in their voices. Hoffner nodded once. “Alright, Jenks and Walsh, you take point. The rest of you stagger back two by two. An’Tufal, you’re with me.”
Clea took up a position beside the captain, her head on a swivel. One of the most important tenants she remembered from her survival training involved situational awareness. You can’t rely solely on scans , the instructor said. Eyes and ears are just as important. You may not have your other senses in armor or environmental suits but use what you’ve got. It could save your life .
The shuttle set down in a small clearing amidst thick trees covered in vines and moss. The ground itself was soft from meters of crushed leaves and mold. As she gestured in the direction they needed to go, she looked at the sky then turned to the path she’d decided upon. Once they stepped into the jungle, the canopy would blot out the sun.
Each of them wore only light armor but even that provided enough environmental protection to offset the heat. Her computer showed that it was thirty-five degrees celsius with eighty-seven percent humidity. Losing their suits would make this an incredibly miserable trip and she already felt moisture clinging to her clothes and helmet.
Fortunately, their face screens were specially designed to not fog up or they’d be unable to see anything at all. As they stepped out of the sun, the dim glow of light shining through patches above made the scene eerie but it was far from silent. They heard cries of birds and other animals, all out of sight but surrounding them on every side.
“This place is cheery,” one of the marines said. She had no idea which one. “Kind of like a vid with the ape man guy.”
“Can it,” Hoffner said. “Focus or one of those things out there will eat your ass for lunch.”
Clea didn’t disagree. Any predators willing to get close to them would definitely enjoy one of them for a meal. She’d heard of such things but in a mostly civilized area such as the research facility, she couldn’t imagine they’d encounter much. Her bigger fear came from the carnivorous plants. Those were hard to identify and tended to kill quick.
“How long will it take to get to our destination?” Hoffner asked.
“At present speed, just over an hour,” Clea replied. “I’m estimating not much more or less as we’ll undoubtedly face delays and windfalls.”
“Jesus, I hoped to get a lot closer.”
“We’d tip off the enemy if we closed in too much. They’re in the general area after all.”
Hoffner nodded but didn’t seem happy. She understood. The humans proved to want tangible information before every mission. Their desire for solid intelligence made little sense to her though. They were often forced to improvise because what they thought they knew turned out to be false.
Her own people did the research then relied on skill and resourcefulness to tackle
“Okay.” Hoffner turned to the men. “Listen up, people. We’re moving out. This place isn’t safe. We’ve got enemy soldiers, killer plants and God knows what else. Our objective, as you know, is rescue and recovery. Let’s stick together, be wary and stay alive. If any of you die out here, consider yourself on report. You got it?”
“Yes, sir.” They didn’t shout but still managed to include some enthusiasm in their voices. Hoffner nodded once. “Alright, Jenks and Walsh, you take point. The rest of you stagger back two by two. An’Tufal, you’re with me.”
Clea took up a position beside the captain, her head on a swivel. One of the most important tenants she remembered from her survival training involved situational awareness. You can’t rely solely on scans , the instructor said. Eyes and ears are just as important. You may not have your other senses in armor or environmental suits but use what you’ve got. It could save your life .
The shuttle set down in a small clearing amidst thick trees covered in vines and moss. The ground itself was soft from meters of crushed leaves and mold. As she gestured in the direction they needed to go, she looked at the sky then turned to the path she’d decided upon. Once they stepped into the jungle, the canopy would blot out the sun.
Each of them wore only light armor but even that provided enough environmental protection to offset the heat. Her computer showed that it was thirty-five degrees celsius with eighty-seven percent humidity. Losing their suits would make this an incredibly miserable trip and she already felt moisture clinging to her clothes and helmet.
Fortunately, their face screens were specially designed to not fog up or they’d be unable to see anything at all. As they stepped out of the sun, the dim glow of light shining through patches above made the scene eerie but it was far from silent. They heard cries of birds and other animals, all out of sight but surrounding them on every side.
“This place is cheery,” one of the marines said. She had no idea which one. “Kind of like a vid with the ape man guy.”
“Can it,” Hoffner said. “Focus or one of those things out there will eat your ass for lunch.”
Clea didn’t disagree. Any predators willing to get close to them would definitely enjoy one of them for a meal. She’d heard of such things but in a mostly civilized area such as the research facility, she couldn’t imagine they’d encounter much. Her bigger fear came from the carnivorous plants. Those were hard to identify and tended to kill quick.
“How long will it take to get to our destination?” Hoffner asked.
“At present speed, just over an hour,” Clea replied. “I’m estimating not much more or less as we’ll undoubtedly face delays and windfalls.”
“Jesus, I hoped to get a lot closer.”
“We’d tip off the enemy if we closed in too much. They’re in the general area after all.”
Hoffner nodded but didn’t seem happy. She understood. The humans proved to want tangible information before every mission. Their desire for solid intelligence made little sense to her though. They were often forced to improvise because what they thought they knew turned out to be false.
Her own people did the research then relied on skill and resourcefulness to tackle
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