"Gear has been loaded onto the shuttle. Where do you want to be placed?

In addition to the personal equipment each member of the team was taking, Meir had included a number of other items split roughly equally between the two quad bikes.

Quad One (Meir & Thornhammer)
2  Aluminium storage box, 30 litre cap
1  Climbing Gear
5  Gecko Adhesive
7  Meal Pack
1  Monowire Spool
1  Morph Axe
1  Mini-Toolkit - Mechanic
1  Pressure Tent (Two-man)
1  Radio Communicator - Medium
50 Rope, yard - 3/16"
12 Water, gallons
2  Water bladder, 6 gal.

Quad 2 (Tanya & Tonkin)
2  Aluminium storage box, 30 litre cap
2  Climbing Gear
1  Crash Kit
5  Gecko Adhesive
1  Group Basics
14 Meal Pack
1  Portable Mechanic Tool Kit
50 Rope, yard - 3/16"
1  Shovel, all-metal
12 Water, gallons
2  Water bladder, 6 gal.

"As close as you can without risking detection," he'd directed Illiam.
All five of them had pored over the available maps to find a suitable ravine to drop into which would initially hide them from casual observation yet still allow a relatively easy ride out of it. It would probably take them a few hours to fine tune their loads and get used to the way the bikes moved in the low gravity, and he wanted to make sure they could do that without too much danger from the Labs.
Once they were happy with their setup, they'd head off on their approach and find somewhere fairly close to the target area to establish a concealed camp. After a rest and reporting in, they'd probably continue on foot, perhaps leaving a pair behind with the quads, or perhaps all moving out - it all depended on the situation at the time.

In reply to Meir Galinski (msg # 2):

You identify a ravine about 5 miles from the target ravine that will allow Illiam to approach along the ravine. Only enemies in or near the ravine will be able to see you approach.

As you get near, William rounds a bend and sees a scout Tank! The security detail opens up with the beam turret and it explodes as he speeds over the top of it.

"Not good. They'll know we're here now. Illium, take us about ninety degrees around the target and another dozen kilometres further out."
"Tonkin, Tanya, help me with the maps to find an alternate drop point."

In reply to Meir Galinski (msg # 4):

"Sure, but it happened so fast there was no radio signal. They may not have gotten a message off, and the more we fly, the greater the risk of finding more..."

"Even if they didn't, they're sure to have to report in soon, and if they don't somebody will come looking to find out why."
"I'd rather not have any sign on the ground indicating our presence. With luck they'll think it's spill over from the existing battles."

In reply to Meir Galinski (msg # 6):

"Yeah, good chance of that. There is a lot of action around. We can keep going up this ravine, but to change ravines will mean becoming more visible."

Having been on the ground now for a while, Meir led his small group close to the target area on the quads. After a while they found a suitable hide and concealed their vehicles under an overhang. Observation from ground level was screened by the existing plant-life plus a little "transplanting" of branches cut from the surrounding area. Running out the monowire antenna, he sent the single code word indicating they'd arrived at their forward operating base and were about to head off on foot.

Some time later Meir and Tonkin observed two bored sentries - nobody liked guard duty, especially when the nearest action was many miles away. Sneaking closer to just under a hundred and fifty yards, the pair lined up their weapons and took their shots...

Tonkin trailed Meir and followed his directions, setting up to take a shot at the second sentry with his laser rifle.

In reply to Private Tonkin (msg # 9):

The two guards both drop, and you move in quickly to ensure both are dead. One was in the process of dying, but Tonkin pulled his blade and completed the process.

The area is sparse and rocky, with little vegetation, but the guards patrol route affords them good visibility of the ravine. However, you would have to get closer to be sure there is or is not a base nearby. Tracks indicate not all patrols are on foot.

"Lets hide the bodies, strip anything useful off them, and get in closer."

In reply to Meir Galinski (msg # 11):

They are armoured very similarly to the Labrysian agents that were on Dastavka and armed with plasma guns and 4 plasma mines, probably anti personnel mines. Equipment is otherwise unremarkable, and the single radio is a simple affair.

"Lets take the mines, radio and the power packs for their weapons. You should be able to modify them for your lasers?"
The mines should be fairly straight forward for soldiers like Tonkin and Thornhammer to use, the radio a useful way of listening in to the Labs communications - at least until they changed frequencies, and you could never have enough power for weapons or survival gear.
"Make sure everything else is well hidden."

In reply to Meir Galinski (msg # 13):

The mines take a little working out, but Tanya and Thornhammer are able to work out the Labrysian markings thanks to the recent work with the Labrysian agents.

The plasma guns are hidden and the power cells talents, though you would need a mechanic(power cells) roll, or something similar, with equipment modifiers, to use the power cells.

The Labrysian radios work, and you can hear communication... in Labrysian. Unfortunately, no one can understand it...

What next?

Meir knew there was a reason Hancock should have come...
He thought briefly about relaying the signals through to the ship, but realised immediately that was likely to give away their own position. Perhaps on the next check in they'd let them know what they had.
"As soon as you're ready, we'll move in closer and see what we can spot."
Although their visors didn't have any magnification, Meir was carrying his ancient binoculars which would give them quite a boost in their observation ability.
"Sentries aren't found where there's nothing to guard. There's got to be something here somewhere."

In reply to Meir Galinski (msg # 15):

Perception roll please....

That will be a pass by 2, plus -10 range from the binoculars, and the hyperspectral visor benefits (3 I believe).

In reply to Meir Galinski (msg # 17):

You were assuming there was something to see. Fortunately you passed...you hear a low rumble from along the ravine...coming from the direction of where the track goes around a bend out of sight about 100 yards away.

It was perhaps a good thing hunters never actually walked on tracks when they could avoid it.
"Conceal yourselves and prepare your heavier weapons. Sounds like a tank."

In reply to Meir Galinski (msg # 19):

A light scout tank comes rumbling into sight, it's plasma cannon menacingly pointing ahead as itakes its way along the track. It approaches your position without any sign it has seen you, though it travels relatively slowly.

Meir shifted his aim to follow the vehicle, looking for a weak spot to exploit should there be an indication they've been spotted. He suspected the crew expected to see the sentries. Chances were they'd be stopping shortly for a scout on foot.
"Hold", he indicated with a raised palm, not trusting the communicator in his suit, nor that he could keep his voice low enough to avoid detection, nor loud enough to be heard by those with him.

In reply to Meir Galinski (msg # 21):

The scout tank continues past slowly. They stop about 100 yards away from you, past your position, and the turret swivels, at first away from you, but continuing around to begin coming in your direction.
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:26, Sun 28 May 2017.

Not knowing the capabilities of whatever sensors the thing carried, Meir chose to err on the side of caution and lowered himself down as far into the dirt and rocks as he could, and trusted the others to do the same. Bushes and shrubs might not be much impediment to advanced detection equipment, but he didn't think anything could see through stone.
Only his weapon remained up, maintaining a visual and aim on the target through the HUD link.