Within an hour, the three had safely made their way back to the Grav PC. No alarm seemed to have been raised.

Once at the vehicle, With Hanno's help they got the camo net stowed in a few minutes.

After a fifteen minute flight, they transited from the Port (SE corner of map) to the area of the HQ (NW corner).

Hanno again hit the craft in a wooded hollow between two small hills above the command post. Under the camo netting they were almost invisible except by ground observation.

Lorrain spent a few minutes in deep conversation with Dumaer.

"OK. I need to go to the command post. With what Dumaer's told me I think I can find what we need and be out in minutes. Who's coming with me?"

I fly starships, crawling around is not my what I am good at.  So guard duty again.

Ken stepped forward.  "I'll go with you Lorain.  Hopefully Thomas will come along with us as well."

"I don't mind - I can come if you like or stay here," said Linus, who was now wide awake after his nap.

"Where do you want me?" Ollie said, "You're the experts at this sort of business. I'll do what I'm told."

Ken thought about the situation for a while.  "It would be best to go in with the minimum of people.  We can take Thomas, Lorain and I.  It should be a quick in and out raid on the HQ for the papers we need.  Regardless, we need to get this taken care of before the guard we attack is found and the alarm raised."

In reply to Ken Jenkins (msg # 237):

Thomas, Lorain and Ken left the Grav PC to try and infiltrate Kalamanaru's HQ camp.

Their vehicle was hidden on the hillside above the valley, and they could see the camp below about 400m away.

Lorain stumbled a little as they made their way down the hillside.

"I'm not used to moving while using these night-vision goggles! You get no depth perception in 'em. As well, I didn't feel right using a gun. I do have stun-spay!"

In reply to Ken Jenkins (msg # 234):

"I'm in."

Ken considered the mission and turned to the others.  "Blake, Neva, you both should be ideal for this type of covert infiltration.  We can use someone that can hack into a computer or admin system to find the data we need.  Lorain knows a lot but having a pro or two along would be a good idea."  He thought further.  "Neva, you have some suppressed weapons right?  Can you spread them around the group so we all have silenced firepower?"

When Lorain stumbled Ken reached out and caught her arm.  "Careful there Lorain, we'll take it slowly so that no one gets hurt."  He glanced at her and nodded. "Just hang on to the stun spray Lorain.  We could have used it back there in the barracks to take out that guard."

Neva tried to hide her smile when Ken asked about her loaning out suppression firepower.  "I'll come with you guys but I can an extra gun or two that I could loan out."

Neva thought for a moment as she mentally ran through her list of equipment.  "Hmm.  From the last safe house I only have available right now the SMG, the sniper rifle, the auto pistol and the body pistol.  All have suppression.  Thomas?  You want the sniper rifle to set and cover?  I can always use the auto pistol."

Whatever is left ... and makes sure the safety is on.

Ken thought.  "Thanks Neva.  Definitely have Thomas use the sniper rifle.  He's our best shot.  If you want to keep the SMG Neva I'll take one of the pistols."

In reply to Ken Jenkins (msg # 244):

Neva had to agree that Thomas was their best shot.  She was so out of practice you'd think she hadn't fired a gun before.  Of course with this group she might be a crack shot by the time she returned.

"Thomas you get the sniper then.  As for the SMG, it depends Ken on what else you want me to do.  If I'just going to be guarding then yeah the SMG would be good.  More shots before load and all of that.  If you want me to try and something else like locks or whatever then the pistols are better since they are smaller and will give me more room to maneouver."

Ken nodded.  "That makes good sense Neva.  I'll probably be doing more fire support things so it would be best for you to keep a pistol and I'll take the SMG."

The small group (Ken, Thomas, Lorain, Neva and Blake) quietly made their way to the HQ while Hanno, Linus and Dumaer waited at the laager on the hillside above where the Grav APC was hidden.

The infiltrators made it safely to the perimeter of the HQ. It was on a little hill overlooking the digs along the riverbank. There was a 1-story building with two sheds on one side and a helipad on the other. Encircling the encampment was a chainlink fence topped with razor wire. There was a gate and road on the far side of the hill with a guardhouse. There was also a military communications van covered in anetnnae parked in the yard, along with a generator trailer chugging away. (Both are at the rear of the building, the direction you are approaching from, the generator is hooked up to the building and communications van.) A jeep was parked in front.

Dumaer had remembered where Kalamanaru's office was located and they knew they could use a rear door to reach it. Aside from the 2 gate guards there were another 2 signals personnel in the communications van and 2 more sentries in a guard room at the front of the building.

Are the guards busy looking or kicked back and relaxed ??  Blake moves to one side, providing rear and flank security watch.

Ken watches for a moment as well, scanning the area with his PRIS binoculars from whatever cover was available.  Keeping his voice low he spoke to the others.  "I say we approach from the rear, cut the wire and enter through the back door.  Our best bet is to keep things quiet and search the offices.  It's too risky trying to take out the guards although we need to be prepared to use the silenced weapons if necessary."

The guards in the gatehouse seem to be barely awake. Those in the communications van are likewise. One of them came out to have a cigarette and look at the stars, moving slowly and lethargically. Then climbed back inside the van.

In reply to Ken Jenkins (msg # 249):

"I got no problems with that.  What's closest to our objective?"

Neva just nodded at Ken's proposal.  She didn't need to talk.  She was already getting into her silent phase as some of her past partners used to call it.  If silence was called for she wouldn't have the finger point at her if it was broken.  Besides it was hard to bypass some traps if there was too much noise.

The HQ building was shaped like a Quonset hut. There were two rear vehicle doors visible from their position at the back of the fence.


This message was lightly edited by the GM at 23:22, Sun 07 June 2015.

In reply to GM (msg # 253):

Walker looked over the objectives.

"You too go in, I stay here and deal with problems out here? he asked, quietly.  "I'm less useful in confined spaces, and I can take the time to sort out these folks if things get dicey."

Neva nodded and motioned for Ken to go with her to investigate.  She had her gun out just in case she needed it but would put it away if she had to bypass any security measures.  Which approach you want to take Ken?  Left, right?  try to sneak to the side first and then listen?  You seem to be calling the shots on this mission."  She was perfectly fine with his calling the shots.  She trusted Walker to back them up and so far Ken hadn't done anything stupid.