Ken approached Thomas.  "We're going to leave signs of our camps no matter what.  I'm not sure if it's worth trying to camouflage the camps as anyone following us could track us right to the camp anyway."

In reply to Ken Jenkins (msg # 45):

"Me either, but if we don't do something, we're giving it away.  Should make an attempt."

In reply to Thomas Walker (msg # 46):

Neva looked over at the two men.  "They will expect it.  It doesn't have to be the best cover up job but they will expect us to try and cover it up.  If we don't, then it will raise more curiosity and speculation and perhaps even animosity.  I say to try but not take too much time on it."

Ken nods to Thomas and Neva. "Well, I intend to talk to Juan about it first.  Would you two like to come with me?"

In reply to Ken Jenkins (msg # 48):

"Yeah, that's a good idea."

In reply to Ken Jenkins (msg # 48):

Neva gave a half smile to Ken.  "What is it that they say?  The more the merrier?  Sure, I'll come with you.  Lead the way."

With the others Ken heads off to find Kelso and speak to him about improving their camp discipline to help throw off any pursuit.  "I'd like to get Kelso aboard before talking to Loraine."

In reply to Ken Jenkins (msg # 51):

Listening to them during a rest stop, Kelso seemed unreceptive as he smoked a cigar. He grumbled, "I don't see the point. If they know we're going up the Nahahnir, they won't need to know where we bloody camped. If anyone is following us.

"Camp cleanup is already pretty good, even if we're not trying to cover up presence. Anyone looking for our tracks has their work cut out for them. Way I see it, it's Lorain's show, she wants it, I'll do it."

It looked like he considered the discussion over. Kelso didn't seem to really care and maybe thought it was an imposition, but he wouldn't go out of his way to frustrate this idea, either.
This message was last updated by the player at 04:11, Fri 13 July 2012.

Ken nods to Juan a bit ruefully.  "Maybe it's the Marine Recon blood in me but I hate leaving a trail.  We can at least enforce some camp discipline if nothing else.  If you have no objections then we'll talk to Lorain and the other passengers.  Can you make sure the staff are working to keep things hidden as best we can?"

In reply to Ken Jenkins (msg # 53):

Kelso snorted, either in derision or amusement. "Camp discipline? Keeping things hidden? Look, mate, this ain't a military unit. We are travelling fast, there's only one river here.

"We already clean up camp, it's part of the expedition protocol. It could be better, sure. Still, we don't have military experience.

"What we unfortunately do have are three hovercraft moored out in the river. You want us to bring those ashore and to hide them? Plus the tents? Now, we don't have any camouflage netting, so that means cutting down foliage. Lots of foliage. Plus, anyone with a thermal camera can detect us because, as mentioned, we don't have camo netting. Even after we leave we'd have to reduce our persistent thermal footprint."

"Look, I don't see the point. You convince Ms. Messandi? Good on you, I won't stomp my feet and refuse."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:53, Fri 13 July 2012.

"Well, the main thing is to be wary and keep everyone on their toes.  A bit more care in setting and policing the camp will keep us all focused.  I'd hate to be ambushed by the Miryans or anyone following us.  We found a man who had been on Lorain's father's expedition and he was beaten up and killed the other day.  I think that there are people watching us to see what Lorain can find."

In reply to Ken Jenkins (msg # 55):

"Fine, point taken about possible opposition. Don't see how policing up camp helps for ambush, guess you're volunteering to be on point and not in the last fucking hovercraft. So we done here?"

He went to throw down his cigar, but thought better and snuffed it out, putting it in his pocket.

Ken smiles a bit as Kelso holds on to the cigar but doesn't make a point of it.  "Well, I've found that tail end charlie can be as dangerous as lead but yea, I'll take the Scout GEV."  He looked at Thomas; "I think we're done.  I'll go talk to Lorain."

In reply to Ken Jenkins (msg # 57):

Lorain looked up from where she was working at a terminal. It was a holographic display of a fresco from some Mirayn ruin along the coast to the south of Val Preszar. She was examining the various construction methods revealed by advanced sensor imaging techniques.

"Hi, Ken. What's up? I'm glad we're moving quickly, although I have a feeling that we're missing the secondary and tertiary sites that led my father to Adylatra we have a real leg up knowing that crucial way-point."

The camp got settled in for the night. Dinner was served, then cleared away. Perimeter defenses set up, a watch set.

Ken peered over at the holo; "No point in tarrying if we have the information to go right to the key areas."  He frowned.  "I'm glad we are moving fast but I'm a bit worried about being followed after what happened to the old man we were talking to back in town.  I'd like to make sure everyone in the group does a better job of disturbing things as little as possible and picking up any trash that might give any clues to a pursuer."

Linus listened intently.

"Better for the environment, too," he commented. "Being as wilderness expeditions are a nice little earner for the planetary economy, we want to keep it nice and undamaged."

Lorain sat back and sipped tea from a camp mug. Interested, Talia looked up from where she was working as well, classifying samples of Mirayn flora.

"I see. The attack on Mr. Lindon was very distressing! Yes, by all means do what you can, I think it's a good idea. Let Mr. Kelso know."

Sir Kensing was playing cards with the other hovercraft pilots for Mirayn francs, and losing. He was drinking good scotch from a flask while smoking a thin cigar.

Ken smiled at Linus' comment.  "There is that too.  Keep things clean."

"Ok Lorain, we'll do what we can.  I already talked to Mr. Kelso about it.  He pointed out that we already leave quite a trail but isn't opposed to at least a little bit of camp discipline. I'll talk to everyone in the morning about it."

1107 365-1108-001

The next couple days travel up the lowland jungle river passed without sign of pursuit.

Perhaps because Ken was making a point to clean up the campsite, and be on point. As they weren't going into the jungle itself (less chance of leaving a trail) there was less chance of "close encounters" with the local wildlife. As well, there was no need to forage for food, water was processed on-site and they brought their fuel with them.

They passed through a few Mirayn villages. These inhabitants seemed friendly and wanted to trade food for offworld trinkets and material. Those that didn't want to hid in the jungle until they passed by. None made a move to attack.

The head-man of one village that talked to them through Stanley recalled the Messandi expedition a couple years back, but the details matched what they already knew.

On the third day they could see mountains now, in the distance. These mountains marked their destination: Adylatra, on near shore of the great lake that was the beginning of the Great Swamp.

The fourth day of travel, Holiday wasn't a day off. Lorain did decide to call it an early day so that some celebration could occur. The first site was too close to where one of the local predator animals had made a kill. It ignored them, but then a massive (4000 kg+) 6-legged beast loped out of the jungle and claimed the kill as it's own. The hunter hissed and spat but grudgingly gave way. The "hijacker" (as Talia identified it) looked like it might want to have a go at the hovercraft bobbing just off shore.

Having heard that Miryans were particularly fond of partying for Holiday, Linus had come prepared and set up a 'bar' in the new campsite, from behind which he was happy to serve all comers to drinks and snacks.

In reply to GM (msg # 64):

Walker carefully watched the big scavenger from the cargo hovercraft, rifle in hand and sighted in.  His finger was outside the trigger guard, however, until it walked off.

"Not going to kill that big beauty unless it goes for us.  Take that head and mount it on the wall."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:44, Fri 20 July 2012.

In reply to Thomas Walker (msg # 66):

Neva smiled at Thomas' words.  "As long as you keep it on your side of the cargo until you get back!  And drain it properly.  Don't need all that blood attracting more.  Hmmm.  Wonder how it would have tasted."

In reply to Neva Alexovna Morozova (msg # 67):

"Scavengers taste bad, as a rule.  Like the big cats, they taste like waste products."

In reply to Thomas Walker (msg # 68):

Sensibly, they found another place to camp. Not as optimal, but no 4200kg scavenger-hijackers were in the area, an acceptable trade-off.