Blake walks around it, looking at its condition. Rusted away to uselessness ?? Or maybe salvageable ?? He also looks for remnants of what it may have been harvesting - for lack of better wording. He may have a couple of empty pouches that could be used for samples.

Ken walked with the others alert to potential foes for the most part.  He still marvelled at the construction and longevity of the world-ship as it reared itself around them.  When they sighted the machine he tensed for a moment and then approached with the others.  "It seems to have survived fairly well, at least parts of it.  What do you make of the silvery metal?" he asked to the technical folks in general even as he poked at it.

From its position and how it had partially sunken into the loam the machine looked like it was there for centuries, if not longer. There was no way to tell what it would have harvested other than some kind of field crop. But that could be anything from grains to vegetables. The exposed metal was silvery on top, bluish-silver near the bottom of the machine. No one recognised it at all. The parts that had been added some time in the past and were now almost gone were merely bits of weathered wood and rusted-away iron. Those might have been some kind of control cabin added on after.

"We'd better show this to the archaeologists," said Linus.

"It looks like an original piece of agricultural machinery has been repaired, modified or added to by someone, ah, less technological over time. Their additions have been less durable than the original."

"It might also prove to be a good marker, for someone trying to find us from the air.  Still, it demonstrates  a slow decline rather than a sudden fall into barbarianism." Billy comments in response to Linus's observations.

"I wonder what that bluish metal at the bottom is?"

Ken nodded.  "A slow devolution of technology and understanding would make sense given what we've seen."

It seemed the ancient machine would give up no more of its secrets.

A message came over comms that the belts were halfway there. It would take an hour to get them to the surface, then minutes to RV.

The lake blocked further progress along the barrier wall. Their choices were to go through the lake, go around it, go back, or wait.

"I could go back and fetch the belts, I guess..." offered Linus.

In reply to Linus Spruance (msg # 32):

"Single travel here I dont think is the best idea, if we want to speed it up then at least 2 of us should go."

"Maybe all of us, then fly back with the grav belts, the natives might make an appearance in numbers."

Blake seconds Angus' idea. Lets not split up unless we have to. We obviously can't go any further right now. We should probably bypass that hatch as well. I think less traffic in that area right now is the way to go.

"Forward base said that Hanno would ferry them up to us, when he had finished the job he was on.  However, this lake and vehicle would make a a good place to reat while we wait for him.  The lake will be easy to spot for someone above the forest, and this abandoned vehicle, shoule be easy to locale when he gets here. I doubt there wi  be another one like it.!

"In that case, maybe it's lunchtime," said Linus.

"What food have we got with us? Let's see what I can whip up..."

Angus nods approval at the idea of someone bringing them the grav belts. As far as rations, he had none.

Blake finds a covered position as guard duty while everyone eats.

In reply to Blake Renfield (msg # 39):

Angus will nibble on the MRE provided, they were satisfying for the hunger even if they weren't the tastiest thing to eat. He kept alert for any movement in the bush and trees.

They waited a while longer.

Word came that Hanno was ferrying the grav belts himself by using one and carrying the rest in a backpack.

Soon after they saw a speck way up in the sky.

In reply to GM (msg # 41):

"Hello, ground party. This is Hanno. What is your location, over?"

Watching the speck in the sky Billy responds to the radio message.  "Billy to Hanno.  We are by the lake close to the wall.  There is a disused vehicle of some type close to the shore.  We are by that. Over."

Then he climbs up unto the top of the vehicle.  "Anyone got anything bright, perhaps orange, that we can use for a marker?"
This message was last edited by the player at 10:33, Wed 12 Aug 2020.

In reply to Billy (msg # 43):

"Roger, I see the lake. By the corner of two walls? I think I see something like a vehicle. Coming in now."

It seemed he saw them or at least saw the lake. He began losing altitude slowly, descending towards the lake.

"Roger that."

Standing atop the vehicle, Billy waves his arms above his head in slow sweeps, until he is sure that Hanno has seen him.

Ken stood guard with the others, snacking as he paced about.  When Hanno appeared in the distance he joined Billy on the decrepit machine.  He waved as well.  "Bring it on in Hanno."

Great job Hanno. See anything on the way over ?? What's happening on your end these days ??

Angus waited quietly, he didn't know Hanno yet.

The Scout changed course and flew towards them.

Within a few minutes he'd landed at the lakeside. First he unloaded the grav belts he was carrying.

"Ok, there you go!"

He moved over to examine the partially-overgrown machine.

"Say, what's this machine or device that's sitting there? It looks like it's been there a long time!"