While the Major, Kyle and Jackie went inside this odd community, that left Travis, Ru'tan and Jason outside. There was no reason to hang around the stargate, though, except for an emergency exit.

In reply to StarMaster (msg # 1):

Fox dials home and makes the preliminary report then sets a light guard to keep every one on their toes, not that it really seems to need it

Jason grimaced a moment when the Major told Travis to dial home, since, he, Jason, had just asked about doing it, but then he shrugged. That was the military way of doing things.

"Well, Travis, are you going to send the MALP back?" he asked his teammate. The Major hadn't specified one way or the other, but that was SOP. Jason didn't see any reason for keeping it. If they had to make a hasty retreat, the MALP would just slow them down or have to be abandoned.

Of course, it did provide cover, but it strained Jason's mind to think from what, since the otter-folk did not seem to have any concerns about invaders or predators. On the other hand, their cliff dwelling behind the waterfall was a pretty secure place, especially as it only seemed to be accessible via water. Damned clever.

He tried to recall what he knew about otters, and discovered that he knew next to nothing. He vaguely knew what they looked like, of course, but he wasn't even sure he could have told the difference between an otter, a weasel, a ferret or other types of critters. He didn't know where they lived or what they even ate.

"We should stash the Major's bundle out of sight, and double up our carrying the weapons. It'll make for a quit exit if we need one."

<quote Jason Bjorn>
"Well, Travis, are you going to send the MALP back?" he asked his teammate. The Major hadn't specified one way or the other, but that was SOP. Jason didn't see any reason for keeping it. If they had to make a hasty retreat, the MALP would just slow them down or have to be abandoned.

Fox considers
"My feel is to keep it this time, if they have to make a hasty retreat then the loss of this item will make do difference". "Since we will not have time to dial home"

Ru'tan wanders up to where Fox and Bjorn speak about the clever machine the Tau'ri use to explore gates, looking around. "This place is quite peaceful. I wonder if it's like this all around or just here. Perhaps these beings do not allow confrontation in it's vicinity?" Ru'tan shrugs as he says this, knowing that it's all just guesswork.

"I would like to see more of this planet. Do you think we could?" he asks the two men beside him.

" Like wise Ru'tan." "But until the commander returns or gives new orders we hold as ordered. Not what I came to do but that is the way of it."
"Ru'tan may I ask you some questions please of your warrior cast"

It's a toss up whether Ru'tan's Jaffa senses are better than Travis's Apache skills, but both get an odd sense that something is happening... not in the cliff dwelling beneath the waterfall, but somewhere out in the forest.

The increasing silence is slowly working its way toward the stargate as the birds and the frogs and the insects stop making noise.