Pulse of the Imperium

[For the Muadh Expedition.]



The jungle smelled fresh in the morning, quite inviting in fact, with the nightly showers now rising back up in buoying mists that made the foliage look more verdant. Every contrasting colour, whether on the feathers of parrots, or on the flowers or fruit, glistened. After the night's noises it also offered a momentary reprieve from its rackets, now more of an occasionally crackling murmur.

It made a certain kind of sense.

Two of the people being sent to look for the hopefully-nice locals were Valuable. They had Local Knowledge. They had Connections. They had People Who Would Be Upset If They Died.

So, naturally, best to send along someone about whom absolutely none of that was true, but who did essentially get shot at for a living.

Made perfect sense.

Laila was a bit peeved that she wasn't going after the smuggler/murderer types, especially since if things went well, she wouldn't be doing much at all on this excursion.

But then she recalled how often things had gone well in her life and checked the fit of her armor one more time, and made sure the despised carbine hadn't managed to consume all of its ammo in the night.

Efren quietly and carefully prepared his pack for the morning. It was apparent to people who knew him that he was a bit more reserved today than his usual self… but no one here really knew him.

He was a soldier. People would probably pass it off as professionalism… and he was fine with that. But the prospect of going and finding the same groups of people that his mother had hailed from, and the events of the previous evening rattled through his mind.

Once prepared, he arrived at the spot from which they were to depart and waited for the whole squad to be ready to depart.

He gave Laila a nod in greeting.

Hadrian had found a way to make his pack work with the new weight added. He rallied up with the others giving Laila a smile, and Efren a nod. "Mister Lanville, we haven't really had a chance to talk." He extended his hand. "Hadrian."

It's safe to say he'd assumed professionalism.

"Efren." He replies with a firm handshake.

"I hear you have some experience in the region?"

"I do yeah," he returned the handshake, "Limited of course, but I know what to expect when it comes to the jungle. Or as much as a person can know. And here's hoping I can put my skillset as a craftsman to good use as well. Give our team something to barter and trade with."

He stretches out his shoulder.

"I guess this is old hat to you huh?"

"Very little is old to the kid who hasn't seen 20 years worth of seasons." He said with a soft smile.

"But this is the type of thing I've been trained to do. Time to put that training to good use."

Laila returned Efren's nod, then let him and Hadrian have their chinwag.

About all she had to offer in peaceful endeavors was a strong back, and she really, really hoped that she was going to be spending the day as a useless extra.

But again.

She checked her personal shield, tabbing it on, then off, just to make sure it was still functioning. If the local electrical bullshit had cooked it, it was weight she could ditch.

Kiran, packed and ready to go, stepped toward the group. "Morning, everyone."

"Hi. Dunno that we've actually met. I mean, beyond the general bullshit, anyway. Laila Bridger."

She offered the person she privately thought of as "the weird dancer" her hand.

Efren Lanville wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 31, 2024 5:39 pm

snip

"Could have fooled me kid." He nodded. "Until you quit faking it, you've already made it. Believe you've got it together and the rest will fall in line."

He'll look around at the gathered.

"Is this everyone or are we expecting more guys?"

Apparently there was everyone. However, the question remained what was their approach. The closest to a lead they had was the seeming sap extraction spot Bernard had found the previous evening.

As designated dumb muscle, Laila had no proposed course of action.

Privately, she was pretty sure if the Muadh wanted anything to do with them, they would have approached by now.

Kiran might have an idea or two where those people might have settled if they were anything like the Muadh elswhere. Or rather, what conditions they would have chosen for such a settlement.

[Easy Lore against Challenge Die]

With everyone gathered Efren began detailing their plan forward.

"We'll head into the jungle first traveling to the carvings that the second thopter team found yesterday. After that we'll rely on Kiran's knowledge of the local people to track down their closest settlement."

He nodded over to the young aylonit.

"Our intent is discovery and diplomacy. We should refrain from any hostilities unless forced upon us. I'll take point. Ms. Bridger, please bring up the rear." He said with a nod in her direction.

"Stay close. The jungle has many different dangers... all of which are more dangerous if handled alone."

Hadrian fell in and followed Efren's lead. He'd be third in the column in front of Laila. Always keeping an eye out. "It was back this way." He indicated the direction.

Thanks to Bernard's advance planning, marks left the previous day navigated them to the very spot without much delay, unless they wanted a closer look at the ants first.

Hadrian has no such inclination. Though he is surprised to see them still here.

"Don't those things typically keep moving from area to area?"

"I think they live here. Maybe you could ask them?"

In the rear, Laila was constantly pivoting to check behind them.

The ants were certainly busy with something underneath their carpet, just like the evening before. Even from the distance they could be observed to have large, rotund abdomens.