In reply to Hanno Sakawa (msg # 280):

Arriving safely back at the vehicle, Lorain plugged in her portable computer and began scanning the data.

"Let's get somewhere safe. But we can't leave Qarant just yet. There's something here, I think, something Kalamanaru is looking for."

Ken nodded as Lorain spoke.  "She's right.  That bastard is here for something.  We need to beat him to it." He turned to Lorain.  "Can you decipher whatever it is he's looking for Lorain?  We may have a few hours before all of this is discovered."

In reply to Ken Jenkins (msg # 282):

Strapped in, Lorrain was already studying the tablet that Dumaer had found and Kalamanaru had stolen.

"Hanno, take us a kilometre east. No, wait, west. We can hide there for a short time and I can try and study this."

In reply to Prof. Lorain Messandi (msg # 283):

The freed scout was also strapping in.

"I really thank you for saving me, I do. But I'd like to get off this planet as soon as possible! Messing further with a man like Kalamanru is likely to get you hurt or killed. I got no wish to meet him or his goons Gildinkur and Pylory. Plus, I got a girl to get back to... if she waited for me. Don't know why she would, if she thinks I'm dead."

Margyl was the name of his girlfriend back on Alzenei. And the names of Gildinkur and Pylory definitely rang some bells. Gildinkur had been tasked by Kalamanaru to kidnap Lorain on Alzenei, While Bren Pylory was Kalamamaru's right hand man and was in charge of security back on Mirayn.

In reply to Prof. Lorain Messandi (msg # 283):

"Everyone strap in! Standby for liftoff. Lorain, I think five klicks are a better idea. Maybe ten!"

"Did you find what you were after?" asked Linus.

Back in the broom closet again ...  Don't know how those army boys live like this for days without end ...

Neva strapped in and wondered if they EVER find what they were out for.  She looked over at Blake quietly said "Too easy in one place usually means harder in the next."

I like your logic Neva. Blake tightens the restraints.  He glances over at Dumaer, So how did a scout like you end up here ??  Prospecting for relics ??

Just to be sure, Hanno flew them more like ten km west just to be sure! They travelled at nape-of-earth, a combat technique where an aircraft hugged the contours of the terrain to avoid being seen or picked up on radar.

This kind of "spam in a can" travel was a little different for Blake. Typically, Scouts used grav bikes or special G-Carriers that were more comfortable and had better sensors.

While they were in transit, Dumaer answered Blake. "In a manner of speaking. I got that plate thing along with the other pience from a the ruins there about a year and a half ago, along with other artefacts. That was when I was under contract to survey this system in advance of setting up archaeological digs here.

"The breastplate pieces were the best preserved of the lot. I sold one to settle a considerable bar tab over on Nomael. I kept the other part. The other junk I sold to Kalamanaru about a year ago as I knew he was on the looking on the black market for possible Sky Raider pieces. When I got back to Alzenei I tried to sell him my remaining piece and he sent his goons to take it, and kidnap me. And here I am.

"By the way, Kalamanaru was very pissed that Gildinkur's crew wasn't able to get either Lorain or the other piece of the breastplate. I think he heard it via Hegemony diplomatic courier that Jumped in-system yesterday."

Any other Hegemony news to pass along ??  Sooner or later they will drift into the usual scout topics, ship-board stills, filter changing schedules, basic, flight characteristics of IISS ships and eventually, ... the navy ...  A subject near and dear to all scouts.

In reply to Blake Renfield (msg # 292):

Walker strapped in and rubbed his face.

"Good job, guys."

Lorain was unable to answer Linus until they were hidden a ways away and she could study the materials. She booted up her portable workstation and loaded Kalamanaru's information.

"I think we found it, yes. We got the missing piece from Dumaer's breastplate set. Plus survey maps and other documents. Too bad we didn't destroy what was there so they can't make further use of it but all that would have done would have been to raise the alarm and it's likely Kalamanaru keeps backup records.

"Looking at this breastplate and using Lokhav's notes think I can give a preliminary translation:

"...stopped at last beside the waters... ...the banks of the river and
ended their (journey?). There in the depths of the (Temple?) of the Firstcomers...
the ships of the Long Journey... awaits their return to... ...and the ancient
treasures of..."

"There it ends. Honestly, I don't know what to make of it. Can anyone make out what this is supposed to mean? Here is the translation inscription from the other breastplate piece supplied by Professor Laskan."

"...(word not certain)... and here between the banks of.... (river?)
Came the Far Wanderers... in their flight - War of the (lost ones?).
Landed they the (Ship?) of the (journey?). On the isle stands their temple;
There where first the voyagers from the (Great Void?) stepped upon the
new land. And from the (chaos?) they came, the first-comers, the way-
farers, seeking refuge from the struggle in the (Skies?)"

Hmmm, sounds like the water and rivers have changed their course over the millennia.  What would temples be made of locally ??  Stone ??  Which implies a quarry and nearby flat land to build on ...  Dumaer, you've been here the longest ??  Now where did that map go ...

In reply to Blake Renfield (msg # 295):

Clearly just wanting to get out of there Dumaer grudgingly replied, "I have not long enough to see how the waterways have changed over the last few thousand years. But yeah, Kalamanaru did order air recce with ground-penetrating radar and thermal. Which is what you'd do if you were looking for an old water channel."

"Here is the map," Lorain said as she pulled up the file on her comp. The 3D holo display flickered to life.

"Hmmm," mutters Ollie, "I may just be simple merchantman, but I think I can see the old river on the map."

Ollie draws a claw along the eastern side of the ruins. "Here you can see the river ran with the city built along its banks. It ran in the blanks between the ruins."

"And there might be the island they were talking about!" says Ollie letting the tip of his claw rest upon the dome.

"I could be wrong. I am but a simple merchantman."

Ollie, you may have missed your calling in life ...

Ken laughed and clapped Ollie on the back.  "You're right!"  He traced the clear area on the map.  That is exactly the path of the river.  And that dome there is on an island.  Let's go ahead and head there now."

If we park on the far side of the dome, we might escape a lot of their scanning gear.  Only a matter of time before some one else figures it out though.

Ken nods in agreement.  "Good idea Blake.  There might even be a bit of depression in the old river bed that would hide us even further."

In reply to Oliver Oliphant Oksasaellllozae (msg # 298):

"Wow, Ollie! I really think you have something there!"

She examined the map, becoming more excited as she thought over what the Vargr said. "Yes... it all fits. An island in a river that is no longer there. That dome is as good a place to start as any. Well done!

"OK, let's head for that dome. Ken, what is the best approach? Have Hanno stay with the G-carrier up top while we explore the substructure? I don't know, this kind of covert exploration is not my forte!"

Ken thought things through.  "We definitely want Hanno to stay with the G carrier.  If bad guys approach he can warn us and bug out.  That will let us evade and rendezvous with him.  Otherwise we're stuck here if the carrier is captured while we are below.  The rest of us should head into the ruins."  He looked to the others.  "Anyone else have any suggestions?  There are other ways to do this."

In reply to Ken Jenkins (msg # 304):

The freed scout sighed.

"I certainly want to stay with the G-Carrier. Not much of a choice, really?"