"Howdy. Thank ya."

Hawkins accessed the box by the simple expedient of plugging a cable from his wrist into it. The upload to his onboard systems didn't take long at all and he unplugged the cable and retracted it.

Passing through the majority of the camp without slowing down Theresa makes her first stop the big Mountain Giant where she greets him very casually, clearly a friend if not an old friend.  Gesturing at the camp as a whole, but the elk in particular she speaks to him directly in a very focused manner but loudly enough for anyone nearby to easily overhear, clearly whispering would be useless.  ”Nice place you found us here Whoam, looks like they found you a nice snack for the evening.  Now before you get too excited you need to be careful with all the puppies, they are the fragile kind and you don't want to break them again do you?”

In reply to Sunyi's cannibal comment Jen offers a grin.

Cannibals are easier to deal with than vegetarians.  You can shoot a cannibal with no one minding much. She laughed a little at Hawkins' song.

Like others Jen made sure her kit was unloaded and stored, making a note of the guards around the place and that it seemed quite secure she made the decision to leave the rifle in it's holster on the side of the hovercycle.

On reaching the encampment with the others and taking it in she pointed at the spit roasting elk.  Looks like that answers my question. A rather pleased tone to her voice.

As the older man presented the equipment and the data downloads Jen took up a coms headset and examined it for a moment before spilling in the ear bud and attaching the rest of the rig to her armour.  Then reached to the the device that had the information on it, fingers brushing almost tenderly over the surface her gaze zoned out for a second and then she nodded and gave a smile.

What a sweet little think, so very helpful.

To those that could sense the use of mental powers, that was a definite display, maybe done to demonstrate to people.  Indeed Jen looked at the others gathered.

Part of why I am on this trip is to speak with computers, and machines.  And know some of the stories that objects have to tell.  When I speak to a machine I know how to fix it as well, so if anything is broken come ask.  I can do a bit of fixing on people too, but best working along side a proper healer or doctor.

It seams Jen was more comfortable talking about her abilities and reason for being in the expedition now they were away from the CS.

Tourists?!  Really?!  Nutball's voice is incredulous over this revelation.  All of the potential dangers around this place, and these idiots are sightseeing.  He shakes his head.
Until he sees the giant.  Wow!  Does he have an axe and big blue ox called Babe?  I bet he COULD chop down a tree in one swing.
E stands away from the fire as he joins the others at the table, taking up the box to inspect its contents.  More maps, reports, and photographs.  He drops the stuff back in the box, and sniffs the air.  I want some of that good-smellin' stuff.

 It's probably no surprise to anyone that Killian's hackles go up around the Federation Mage... The individual has a death sentence on them anywhere near Coalition territory after all... But if the other Dog Boys present (and they get a look-over of their own) aren't causing trouble then he's not about to, and so he takes himself over to the briefing table where it takes only a moment for him to fill a few of the empty slots on his webbing with L-clips before starting to pour over the maps - he (of course) ignores the radio logs and other written documentation for painfully obvious reasons - while asking politely of the Man with the Box "Can we get copies of these, sir?"

"Yes. As many as you need." He seems to stop and think for a second and then replies, "Killian. It must have been hard living life as K1-LL1-AN. I am glad to have you along."

Whoam sat drinking a microkeg. At nearly twelve feet tall he was taller than most of the people on base while sitting down. He was bare chested wore the hide of some unidentifiable tawny furred creature. Her wore a belt of various skulls mostly animal skulls and a necklace of claws and teeth. He was quietly jovial waving to people who had been friendly to him greeting them by name. He is quite happy to greet Theresa "THERESA! YOU HERE. THERE PUPPIES!? SAW ONE SMART DOG IN BOX, THERE MORE? WHAT THEIR NAMES? CAN I PET THEM? THEY LIKE BEER?" He paused seeming a bit distracted. "PEOPLE WORRIED. THIS LOST TRIBE, WE MAKE THE KIDS SAFE. ALL THESE PEOPLE. WELLER WORRIED, CAUTIOUS?

After a short time a man comes out of a tent with a guitar and begins picking a lively tune. In moments several people working to set the tables and put out dishes of locally grown vegetables to go with the roast elk begin singing along with the tune. While this is going on several people wheel out dollies with kegs of chilled beer.

As mugs are set out on a table near the kegs a woman begins tapping away on a small drum and another begins playing a saxophone. In moments more people begin singing. The feel, despite its away-at-camp setting, is one of business as usual. Just another dinner in the camp. More people begin filtering in with small boxes and crates from the aircraft as trucks loaded to the point of flattening their wheels a bit roll up. With orders people begin unloading and unpacking the equipment from the aircraft.

"To the incoming expeditionary team. Please assemble at the center of camp." A woman announced over a public address system. "To the incoming expeditionary team. Please assemble at the center of camp. Director Bishop will be addressing the expeditionary team at dinner. All other personnel please see to assigned duties. The imminent departure of the expeditionary team still has priority."

 "Not really sir. Think about the alternative. Dead by fifteen, less in the wild. No family. No hands. No language. Definitely no frozen peanut butter treats. People tend to concentrate on the negatives I have to deal with, but from my point of view, I won the lottery*." Killian answers in his very best talking-to-officers voice, which manages to be polite, respectful, distant and informative without actually giving anything away (because officers shouldn't be troubled with things they might need to do something about - after all, if they could do things they wouldn't be officers, they'd be sergeants).

 "In any event, thank you sir. I'll take the maps and the star chart references. I haven't got a PLI#, but I can muddle through.", then starting at the announcement and offering The Man with the Box a salute, "If you'll excuse me, sir?"

 ---

* Bonus points to those who spot the reference.
 # Personal Language Interpreter  - the invented-on-the-spot TLA for the computer 80-odd percent of CS grunts use to 'read'.

Just about ready to respond to the big mountain of a man Theresa is interrupted by the PA system and builds that directly into her reply as if she had planned it all along.  ”That is us, come along and I will point them out to you on the way.  And yes we will need to be helping the tribe do some stuff.  This is Killian, the one you have seen already, that is Jennifer, and the one with all four feet on the ground is called Princess.”

Following her own advice Theresa heads for the presumed center of camp, likely somewhere near the fire pit, as she passes close to it she reaches out and grabs a chunk of meat off the cooking corpse, stuffing the thing directly into her mouth as if that wasn't at least a little odd.

When the music starts, the smiley-face armored warrior can feel the beat and the music enter him, and he begins to dance:

https://images.app.goo.gl/m7LFWMFC5Yv4QwjA7
21:25, Today: Nutball rolled 34 using 1d100.  Dance @ 45%.

However, when the announcement comes that they are to meet with the base commander for dinner, he stops and slumps his shoulders in disappointment.  And we were  just getting into our groove.  Maybe after dinner, guys, he says to nobody.
He looks to the others of the expedition.  Let's go get our grub on.  And hear whatever else they think we need to know.  And he begins walking towards the indicated location.

In reply to Killian (msg # 24):

"I'll take a Dog Boy over a dog any day. They're much better shots."

Done with the intel Hawkins tagged along with Killian and Jennifer to the appointed location.

An older woman in a lab coat walked out into the middle of the tables as everyone gathered. She was older with a dark complexion that seemed to shinny in the fire light. She was carrying a new set of photographs.

"Hello, it so great to see you." She began. "I am Doctor Langford. I am the actual camp commandant. I know you were supposed to talk to one of the directors, but I need to address you all. There has been something of an event. This area is usually known for its ley line activity. Especially near the medicine wheel where you are supposed begin your investigation of the area."

She took a beer from a tray and swallowed a gulp before continuing.

"As you will see on the latest topographic overlays there is an anomaly that has just occurred." She started talking again. She seemed genuinely enthusiastic. "We have no idea what is happening there. We have experienced a technical issue, well, it's almost like the anomaly is interfering with our electronics. It has thrown our Federation trained mages into a tizzy as well."

She signaled for a monitor to be activated showing the picture.

"The areas ley lines are gone. We believe the anomaly has drawn their power in. Most likely opening a localized rift." She began, pointing to the picture on the monitor. "We believe this why it has been so hard to locate. That whatever is causing the temporal displacement is not, ah, how say it, stable is good word. The town is still caught up by the rifting process. Moving it around the region."

She pointed at the diamond shaped marker.

"This is where the anomaly is. I need you to go there. tonight." She turned and cast her gaze about the group. "Get there and capture footage, pictures, sound bites, sensor readings, drawings, first impressions, anything and everything. I need information. Do that, for me, tonight. And I will through in a twenty-five hundred credit bonus of each of your checks this month."

Slipping some extra e-clips into pouches, Jen decides to take advantage of the generosity as they clips can be expensive to get hold of.  As music and then food starts to turn up she relaxes, about to move in on some food when the PA system calls them to a briefing. She noticed being pointed out to the giant and gave a hesitant wave in return.  Looking up to flash a smile at Hawkins as they move to the center of the camp.  A glance at Killian, having heard the exchange between and the man, it seemed like maybe he used to be with the CS.  Her feelings were a little mixed about that, though more inclined to allow him some lea way in the trust department.

Finding a table edge to half perch on she listens intently to the new mission, things are always changing, especially around nexus points.  Watching the images that come up on the screen and hearing the information from the doctor Jen nods along.

So mount up and straight at it?  Is it ok to grab some food to have on the way, that beast there is smelling all kinds of good.

"By all means, get properly prepared." Doctor Langford said. "I have re-tasked one of out smaller aircraft to take you to within a mile of the anomaly. It will be here in approximately forty minutes. Can you be ready to go then?"

Sunyi smiled. "That's cool, I like to get right to work anyway."

He made sure he also had sufficient clips for the rifle and pistol he carried. He seldom used them, but all the same they were nice to have around.

He walked up to the commandant.

"Uh, Doctor? Hey. I'm the resident egghead here. What have you got for me, in terms of equipment? Anything in particular you need me to use?"

"Like I said. Thumbs." Killian answers as the group files over to the briefing and spends some time listening to the report, his ears lowering steadily through the course of it until they're more or less plastered flat to his skull, his body language in general showing his foreboding at the situation - because the flip side of the sensitivity to supernatural forces that make Dog Boys so useful is... Well, a sensitivity to supernatural forces.

 And wandering into the middle of a massive Ley Live disruption is more or less guaranteed to be a short trip to migraine central.

 Still, that's not exactly something he's not done before, and so with a general attitude of 'shut up and soldier' he (ironically) speaks up "EM distortion could make electronic recording devices unreliable Ma'am. Do you have any mechanical/chemical cameras or the like we can use?"
This message was last edited by the player at 08:08, Sat 24 Apr 2021.

Rather than waste the now precious time chatting Theresa heads directly to the cafeteria, where she very nearly inhales a meal made almost entirely of deserts and other typically flavorful items then heads to the supply shop to check out their selection of trail snacks, although she spares a little attention to some of the other travel aid things they don't seem to be able to keep her focus for long enough to buy anything potentially useful.

On the way back out and off to the airstrip she checks on Whoam to make sure he is packed and going along. ”It looks like you will get to meet some of the dogs on the move, just don't try to carry them around again, they like to walk on their own.”

Nutball collects three piled-high plates of food and three bottles of beer, making sure to sit somewhere he has an open seat on either side of him.  Taking off his helmet and revealing the head-covering Greek Comedy mask he wears, he leans over each plate and takes a long, drawn out sniff.
Rosemary, oregano, paprika, thyme, cinnamon, nutmeg, sage, cayenne, ginger, so many seasonings used.  It is too bad you guys can't enjoy this.  That's okay.  I'll be sure to eat it all in your steads.
Pulling his mask up to reveal the pinkish, bumpy, burn-scar tissue from the tip of his nose to his chin and neck, Nutball begins to devour the first plate, and washing it down with the first bottle if beer.  Yuck.  Beer still tastes like horse-piss.
At some point during his eating of the second plate, he looks up and pauses as he wipes his mouth and chin with an available napkin.  So night-time reconnoiter of a strange and mystical leyline nexus anomaly, with no information on qhat might be there, and waht might be causing it?  And bonus money to boot?  Sounds like fun.  We're in.

If anyone decides to look at his aura, ket me know.  See Invisible shows the Crazy as being all by himself.

Mei follows along, staying within proximity of at least one of the individuals she knows who speak at least a little Japanese. Not that she says anything. Prefering, instead, to follow behind. Trying, but largely failing, to mask her utter confusion at the place they've arrived at. It seemed like a village but... There was no obvious sign of anything that was like what a village did. No fields, no farmers, no signs of anyone doing anything even remotely useful.

At least there was something alcoholic, even if it was some sort of cheap, peasant ale.

The briefing about the bonus was not much more helpful than the first one. At least this time they would be going closer to their actual goal. But another aircraft? Mei could only frown in response before she left to gather her armor. She wouldn't let them go without her, no matter how little she liked the idea.

"We absolutely can be."

Dropping within a mile meant he wouldn't need the bike. The unknown situation meant he was taking everything else.

He moved to get Mei's attention before she walked away and spoke to her quietly in his professor perfect Japanese.

[Japanese]"Would it help you if I translated all of our instructions? I can transmit the translation directly to you."

"I actually have a device I could lend you that would do it for you but it is slower than my own systems. A five to ten second delay."

"I am happy to provide either solution. I would prefer not to have a valuable ally hindered by a language barrier."[Japanese]

Pyro had grabbed some food, she'd been hungry and it was free which made it all the better. Not that she was hurting for funds, but a free meal was a good thing. Splashing the meat with some hot sauce she tended to carry with her, it seemed like food couldn't be spicy enough for her so she carried her favorite hot sauce with her.

She gathered with the others as she finished up eating while she listened to the woman speak and nodded her silent consent that she could be ready to go in an hour. That would be no problem and left her enough time to get into her armor as well. Donning it, she made sure she had her weapons secured to her, though she didn't carry that many as she relied on her powers more. Once done, she was ready to go and waited in the assembly area for the others.

Whoam follows Theresa like a slightly confused toddler. He grabs some food for himself  again on the way through the cafeteria and tries to quietly slip extra into one of his sacks. While Whoam wasn't one to steal rations, he acted like someone who had lived through famines and thus was always cautious about when and what his next meal might be. He also finished and replaced his beer. The man could drink an elephant under the table but seemed to favor dark heavy beers over the stronger stuff. Again it seemed to be about calories and hunger rather than any particular love of alcohol. Whoam didn't seem to be able to get drunk for the most part.

"HI JENNI, HI KILLIAN." He greeted each in passing at what apparently passed for a whisper. He listened to the briefing in quiet reflection, making it hard to tell how much he'd understood. "I RIDE CARGO AGAIN?" He sounded a bit frustrated by this while he wasn't so big a plane bigger than a crop duster would have trouble lifting him, he was big enough planes simply weren't meant to accommodate him. On the other hand he was pretty indestructible and had ridden as cargo before. He didn't like it but was willing to put up with it apparently.

He stared at Nutball confused apparently by not being able to see his 'companions'. (He'll attempt see-invisible because it seems relevant if anyone cares or should notice this). He furrowed his brows. "THERESA? WHO IS MAN TALKING TO?" He asked in his version of a whisper. While waiting for an answer he attempted to surreptitiously hand Jennifer what could be described as a strip of elk meat from his sack. It was about the size of a generous chicken tender didn't look soiled per se but did just get pulled from a giant's sack. He pretended that he wasn't doing it but was fairly obvious

That will be plenty of time for me.

The hail from the giant took Jen off guard for a moment, but she rallied and offered a smile.

Umm...Hello. There was a slight tendency for her to draw out word sounds in a slight purr.

As the briefing was over she was about to step away to start preparations when the elk meat strip was 'palmed' off to her.  Jen was again slightly startled but the gesture was not lost on her and with a wide grin up at Whoam and in a small stage whisper said.

Thank you.

Moving away to collect rifle and the pack with survival gear and tools Jen started immediately to tear into the offered food, the meat was exactly what those teeth had been designed for and she wolfed the morsel down.

Having gathered equipment she took a pass by the dinner table as well to secure more of a meal, which consisted of only meat in her case.  Soon Jen was at the landing area, waiting to be directed to their craft.

Nutball looks up at the giant.   My friends call me Nutball.  But, you can call me Nutball, he says to Whoam.  I'm speaking with my long time friends, he indicates the seat to his right, Frank, and, he indicates the seat to his right, Al.
They died several years ago, but they decided to stick around.