Monty offered his friendliest smile as he strapped his arctic gear back in place and motioned for the door where his team remained in position. He felt a wave of relief wash over him as the incident wound down, and as he turned away, sure that his face was no longer in the line of vision of these two soldiers, he allowed his eyes to close and the tension to drain from his shoulders.

At the door, he paused, let the two acclimate themselves with the rest of the team while he watched the NCOs deal with a little maneuvering. Then, once he was sure introductions and such were handled he started into the orders.

"As much as I hate to say it, we've got to check out the main lab," Monty was addressing the two new soldiers as much as his team. "Near as I can figure, this here's the best spot to establish base camp. One way in, one way out, easy to cover. So, pull it together folks."

Lt. Kernan turned and pointed towards the far wall. "Camp'll be there. Sgt. Kane, establish a two man watch on the door. Doc, check out these boys and see if there isn't something you can do to help them recover from their exhaustion. No injuries, boys? OK, Doc here'll make sure we ain't missing nothing if you'll let her.

"Blake, let's chat."

That said, Monty stepped off to the side and waited for the Chief to approach. Once she arrives he speaks in a low tone and on a comm frequency that only the Rangers would be able to pick up (provided there's no chance of the two Army grunts hearing). "They've been experiencing some serious side-effects of exhaustion near as I can tell. Pretty dead set on some loco ideas, such as the Rangers being disbanded, etc. I ignored that part of things 'cause I didn't want to throw of that conversation any more than it already was. In any case, they spoke of some machine being activated in the main lab--near as I can figure that's only a hop, skip, and a jump from our current coordinates. That's where we're headin' once the watch is set and those two good ol' boys are settled in.

"Thing is; they said that strange sh*t started happening once their CO turned the machine on--a CO that's really a civ, but that's something else to wonder at--You got anything we should know in that computer brain of yours? Any idea what we might see, what we might encounter?"

As Kane sat quietly awaiting any hostile move, his M251 at the ready, he thought to himself that the troopers inside the large room with the Lt seemed out of whack somehow.
He had heard of and experienced quite a few crazy things but the more he listened the more he felt like they had stepped into the movie “Aliens”

Then the Lt seemed to reach a turning point with the barricaded troopers and within minutes all 3 were in the hallway together. With the possible hostilities for the moment at a truce Lt. Kernan turned and pointed towards the far wall. "As much as I hate to say it, we've got to check out the main lab. Near as I can figure, this here's the best spot to establish base camp. One way in, one way out, easy to cover. So, pull it together folks.
Camp'll be there. Sgt. Kane, establish a two man watch on the door. Doc, check out these boys and see if there isn't something you can do to help them recover from their exhaustion. No injuries, boys? OK, Doc here'll make sure we ain't missing nothing if you'll let her.”

(Before the Lt turns to talk to Blake)
“Sir again with all due respect but one way in, one way out like you said also means ONE way out. If we are attacked by a larger force there will be nowhere to withdraw too in case it becomes necessary.”

Kane waited before issuing the set up order to give the Lt a chance to maybe change his mind.....

Charlie nodded an introduction to the tired soldiers and gave her best “smiling at strangers” smile. Maybe in their world without Rangers, she wasn’t so odd. Or perhaps they weren’t “so by the book they ate it” as Kane and she wouldn’t have problems with them.

Kernan requested a huddle and the CWO stepped aside to be out of easy hearing range. She listened closely to the LT’s summary, but one corner of her mouth slid up into a playful smirk at the “computer brain” reference.

“Naw, boss, I’m all original factory issue parts, like you. Ordinary wetware, no implants…that I know about,” she concluded, eyes widening at the thought. “I knew sleeping was a mistake - who the heck knows what them spooks will do while you sleep? “
“In any case,” she continued, blinking back to the here and now,” those soldiers may be loco, but this ain’t near normal, boss. The yetis were bad enough, but that robo-death guard wasn’t made by any super-power I know of, and I’ve snuck into the secrets of most that count. I’d be a little loco if faced with that all by my lonesome.”

“Quantum physics is the study of extremely small particles, and the ordinary rules of physics just don’t apply at that scale. It’s all organized chaos, and that’s what we have here, but without the organization. Best get me to the lab and I’ll see what I see. Hacks are an art, you really can’t plan too much ahead.”

Lt. Kernan gave Kane a nod of approval at the regulation tactics, but he'd already considered that point. If necessary, those remaining behind could still exit through the observatory ceiling (OOC: Correct me if I'm wrong, Olan, but all observatories I've seen have easy access points to the ceiling deck, and the telescope for maintenance and adjustments. Should be an easy escape if pressured, but not an easy way in).

"Good thinking, Sarge," Kernan paid him the respect of keeping eye contact so he'd know he wasn't just being dismissed outright. "But we're leaving two men behind with theses soldiers, and I'd feel better about the situation were there less for them to cover should trouble hit. 'Sides, there's always that way out." The Lieutenant pointed towards the ceiling bay doors as he reached with the other hand to retrieve his weapons.

(OOC: On to Blake)

"Yeah," Monty peered over at the operation underway to get base camp organized. He really wanted that satellite uplink in order, but weird wasn't enough to report. The brass had already taken weird into consideration. That's what they were there to deal with. Only..."I was trying to avoid all this hypothetical sci-fi bull, but it's getting less and less likely that I will for much longer, isn't it.

"All right people!" Monty turned from the Chief and made his way to the door. "Move out!"

The Lt’s reply was quick and to the point with no hesitation and Kane had to give it to the ‘old man’ when he gave an order he was sure it was right and so far he had not made a bad call.

“Good thinking, Sarge But we're leaving two men behind with theses soldiers, and I'd feel better about the situation were there less for them to cover should trouble hit. ‘Sides, there's always that way out." The Lieutenant then pointed towards the ceiling bay doors as he reached with the other hand to retrieve his weapons, and moved off to talk to Blake.

D**n should of thought of that myself Turning to the rest of the squad he did as the Lt had ordered.

“Ok listen up, Hatherford, Hart, stay here and set up a temp bivoc, Hart your in charge.
Make sure that these two troopers get some food and water into them and monitor your coms incase we need you. I want one of you on the entrance door at all times, recog code is ‘broken arrow‘, all clear response is 'apache', danger response 'Comanche”

Turning back to the Lt, Kane gave him the high sign that the rest of the unit was ready to move on his command.

"All right people!" The Lt spoke as he turned from the Chief and once again moved to the door in the lead.
"Move out!"

As Kane once again was about to open his mouth as to the danger of the senior in command being in front he decided to hold his tongue. Clear it was that Kernan was a lead from the front commander and for Kane to try and stop him from doing so was a waste of breath. For now the Staff Sergeant would hold his tongue and follow through....

(OOC: OK I picked those two troopers as I have not seen a post from Vesper or Grugg in some time and thought it best to leave them behind so the active players were invovled in the search. Olan if you need my picks changed let me know and I will do so.)

Sgt Lee heard the orders given by the Lt even though he had not been addressed directly. He acknowledge with a nod to Sgt Kane and returned up the hallway to where he left Pearson and Hatherford.

“Listen up!” he spoke to the two men, “Hatherford, return to the observatory and set up a bivoc camp for the two soldiers and guard the area. Hart is in charge.” He waited for Hatherford to head back then turned to Pearson.

“Pearson.. Your with us,” Lee informed him as he waited at the intersection till the others joined them there.

Once the rest had come up, with a ‘follow me’ hand gesture to Pearson Lee would immediately start out down the passage headed south towards the Main Lab. He would check through each door before proceeding, as they made their way into the next passage.

Checking down the hall towards the Main Lab (between rooms #4 & 14) he would hug the walls ready to react instantly if the situation needed it. When (or if) they reach the Main Lab (#13) without incident, he will take up position just south of the door and signal Pearson to guard the South Hallway.

If the Lt walked up to open the door, Sgt Lee would look at Kane with a questioning look. If Kane didn’t say anything, then Lee would stop the Lt prior to him opening the door.

“Sir!” Lee addressed the Lt, “with all due respect. Let me enter first and check the room, once it is clear then the rest of you can enter.”

Lee too noticed the Lt’s disregard for his own safety. It was not solid tactics for the lead officer to enter an unsecured area. If the Lt declines his offer then Sgt Lee will stress his point again.

“Sir.. The area is unsecured and as officer in charge your place is not to put yourself in unnecessary danger.” Lee said sternly, “I think Sgt Kane will agree with me on this matter.” Lee looked at Kane for confirmation.

If the Lt gives in, then Lee will opened the door standing to the side and using cover will peer into the room. If he sees no danger then he will enter slowly checking corners, using his weapon light if necessary. If the entry is clear, then he will announce it when appropriate.

If the Lt orders him to stand aside, Lee will do so but his disappointment at the Lt’s lack of concern for the success of this mission will clearly show on his face.

Pearson heard the sound of footsteps coming down the hallway behind him. Taking his eyes off the room in front of him, Denes looked over his shoulder and saw Lee approaching.

“Listen up!” the sergeant said. “Hatherford, return to the observatory and set up a bivoc camp for the two soldiers and guard the area. Hart is in charge.”

Hatherford padded off while Lee turned his attention to Pearson. “Pearson, you’re with us.”

“Yes, sir!” Pearson replied crisply. The private rolled back his shoulders and checked over his weapon quickly as he waited for the rest of the team to gather. As he did this, he spoke to Lee, “Where we headin’, sarge?”

OOC: Tag Lee

As Lee replied, Denes nodded his head in understanding. “Gotcha, sarge!”

As the others arrived, the sergeant (Lee) gave Denes a hand gesture, indicating that the private should take point with him. The big man followed as he was commanded, and began heading toward the Main Lab with Lee, eyes sharp and ready for action.

OOC: Pearson will follow alongside of Lee as commanded.

Inga moves foreard to the two new comers. she nods quickly to both. Iam Cpl Johannsen, the medic. "The Lieutenant has asked me to check you over quickly so first tell me if you have any medical concerns. I am CPl Joannsen, what are you names." She adds a comforting smile, practicing good bedside manners.

Her questions are brief, designed mostly to let them tell her if anything is wrong with them that ssshe cann not see by quick observation, She does also take in not only name and rank if visable but also any identification patches, etc. "Any wounds or frostbite. How long without regular sleep. What is the date as best as you can figure. Any blurred vision? Who is the President of the United States?"

Inga Checks eyes nose throat and ears, with a well practiced quick effeciency. They walked here on their own legs and other than fatgue, lack of regulare sleep and perhaps rations they are fit enough. (Unless GM says differnently.)

Once she is done she recommends. "at, and get rest when it isn't your watch.

SHe can hear the Lietenant given orders on who is to stay and who is to move out. Since she ws not ordered to stay back she finishes up and tkes her plance with the rest that are moving out to the main lab. She is curious about what this "infernal" machine is that can not be turned off. SOmethow it is self powered, tough enough to resist demolition--curiouser and curriouser.

Examination finished,Sir.

As Kane gathered the troops up, sending Lee to retrieve the rest of the team, he receives the report from Corporal Joannsen concerning the two soldiers. He gives her a nod and then approaches the doorway.

“Lee, you’re on point. Pearson, will follow,” Monty would usually wait for Kane to set up the marching order, but since finding the two troopers, he was in a hurry to complete their mission and make it out alive. “I’ll be right after you with the Chief. Corporal Joannsen and Kane will bring up the rear. Move out!”

The order of the day was to investigate each room they passed, leaving nothing unknown in their wake. Of course, this meant passing the communications center, and Monty fully intended to find out what condition the equipment was in. A quick pass down the bloody hall and he was already determining a plan of entry, but first, they’d have to secure the restrooms and showers. That part should be simple.

Reaching the main hall, and making sure that it was empty, Monty directed Lee down the corridor between the restrooms and the communications center (#14 and #4), giving the signal to keep eyes and ears open. Lee and Pearson would check the intersecting hall while the rest of the team set up post at the doors. Once they verified it was clear (OOC: assuming we do) Kernan speaks softly into the radio.

“Pearson, cover that hall. Lee, sweep the restroom.” (OOC: I believe that makes YeOlde happy.) While the small sergeant went about his duty (no pun intended), Kernan offers support from the doorway, carbine ready, staring down the red dot. (OOC: Again, assuming an All Clear).

With Lee back in the hall, and the restroom door closed securely behind them, Lt. Kernan gave new orders.

“Kane, you and Joannsen take the communication center through the door across from the foyer. Lee, you and Pearson are going in here. Blake, you cover the foyer: Kane and Joannsen’s six, while I cover this angle. Move out, and be careful.”

The objective is obviously to establish ownership of the communications center. Kernan knows one thing for sure and that’s that communications went down for some reason. Be it the blue field, some yeti tearing the place apart, or some freak robot cannabilising the comm. station for parts, he wasn’t ruling anything out, and the main lab would have to wait until they secured this room. Approaching the lab doors, Kernan readied his M6A1 carbine.

This was why Charlie would never get much more of an honorary rank. Well, maybe the occasional cyber misdemeanor and her habit of alienating the chain of command were the real barriers to success, but when it came to managing people, Charlie preferred computers. Faced with a decision on personnel, she’d debate both sides endlessly.

Yes, the base soldiers were tired and more than a little twitchy. Yes, they were confused about some details, and being strangers, unknown values to add to the group equation. Getting shot by your own team member? Null that!
On the other hand, they WERE soldiers, not yeti or deathbots, so probably on the right side of things. They also knew the base better than the team would, and could save a lot of time.

Nuts, Charlie, the looey’s decided and you don’t argue well. It always becomes a fight, and then you get mad, and change stuff in their military record, then feel bad for days! Leave it alone, chicka!
Charlie spit out the fingernail bit she’d chewed off while thinking and set her pack down in the “base camp”. She pulled out the sleeping gear and other non-essentials and made sure that her laptop and ESOD were immediately at hand. Securing her pack and ammo clips, the CWO approached the two soldiers after Inga completed her assessment.

“At ease, dudes. I’ll be playing Bill Nye the Science Guy once we hit the lab, so I need any skinny you can give me. What was Giles up to, here?”

“Pearson, cover that hall. Lee, sweep the restroom.” (OOC: I believe that makes YeOlde happy.) While the small sergeant went about his duty (no pun intended), Kernan offers support from the doorway, carbine ready, staring down the red dot. (OOC: Again, assuming an All Clear).
Sgt. Lee nodded to the Lt and sweep the room using standard procedures, sweeping the room from the door first, moving in and getting out of the doorway quickly to the side, checking the corners and all potential hiding spots as he moved. (OOC: Well it makes Lee happy. ) If everything is clear (OOC: Also assuming it is) he returns to the hallway.

With Lee back in the hall, and the restroom door closed securely behind them, Lt. Kernan gave new orders.

“Kane, you and Joannsen take the communication center through the door across from the foyer. Lee, you and Pearson are going in here. Blake, you cover the foyer: Kane and Joannsen’s six, while I cover this angle. Move out, and be careful.”
Sgt. Lee motioned Pearson to stack up on the doorway behind him. Once everything was set, he nodded to the Lt and opened the doorway. Sweeping the room from the doorway checking it before entering.

(OOC: If all is clear)

He will enter quickly, again standard entry sweeping left knowing that Pearson should enter and automatically sweep right, checking the corners and any areas that might provide cover for hostiles. He would stay close to any cover he could find and watch out for Kane and Johansen whom he knew would be entering from his left.

Once the room was secure he would nod to Sgt Kane and let him give the all clear.

Inga settled her rifle at the ready and moved to back up Kane. The medic was on hiatus. The words from an old sci-fi series, “Cancel the emergency medical holograph program,” echoed in her mind, as she now took up her role as a Ranger.

Inga listened to the orders that the Lieutenant gave not only for her orders but also for the others so she knew what was going on and who was going where.

“All Right Sgt. Kane, I’m with you,” Inga says as her eyes sweep the area ready to move out when he indicates. Inga knew where which grenade was where on her person and where her extra clips were. She made a quick mental reminder to herself about each location-prepped for action.

(Once they move out)

Inga keeps about a pace behind Kane and to his left side to give herself the greatest field of vision on where she was going and to keep him covered. Also it would give to give him room to move to, if needed. She would move to the left or the right depending on what way he took once they got inside. Visually she checked out any areas where opposition could come from. She moved in stealth mode as possible and kept silent so she can hear any tell-tale wounds that might give them a heads up something was moving about. She was ready on high alert. There might be one of the robot things about still. Or whatever had ripped the outer door off into the installation.

This mission was going to provide some interesting stories to tell—if they were allowed to speak of what they had and might still encountered.

May 9th, 2025 - 0124
Observatory, Antarctic Research Facility 36, Antarctica

Lieutenant Kernan sets the new marching order and gave new instructions, and the team sets out to follow them. Carefully, the team sweeps the corridors, finding nothing.

"Pearson, cover that hall. Lee, sweep the restroom," ordered the officer. Complying, Lee and Pearson execute a standard sweep of the indicated room. Every shower and toilet stall is checked, revealing no occupants, living, dead, or otherwise. The restroom is slightly more humid than the rest of the base, but that is to be expected. It is otherwise completely unremarkable (unless you count the fact that there is only one restroom - not two. Then again, in Antarctica, one does not duplicate effrots unless necessary).

After receving the all clear, Kernan gives new orders. "Kane, you and Johannsen take the communication center through the door across from the foyer. Lee, you and Pearson are going in here. Blake, you cover the foyer: Kane and Joannsen’s six, while I cover this angle. Move out, and be careful."

The ranger team covers all entrance aspects to the communications room while Lee and Perason make their entrance. A quick sweep reveals no occupants in the room.

The communications room is relatively spacious, and is filled with various computer and electronics equipment. Several girlie pinups decorate the walls, and a few empty styrofoam coffe cups lie scattered around an overfull trashcan.

Equipment present in this room:

File server
Mail server
Various radio receivers
controls for the station's satellite dish
controls for the station's PA system
A few assorted cameras and projectors
A personal computing station
A satellite phone
A long range radio and television transceiver
A video camera
Assorted video disks


A quick inspection of the personal computing station reveals that no connection to the internet is available, apparently due to a hardware issue. Likewise, the satellite phone is unable to make any sort of connection.

The access codes provided to Blake prior to the mission are, as suspected, outdated. The security system in place on the file and mail servers is surprisingly sophisticated - to the point that some of the DoD guys would be suitably impressed. Blake's initial attempts to access the systems are completely rebuffed.

Inga keeps alert wyws sweeping the area she is to cover. Ranger teams were effective when everyone did their part 110 percent. and so she did just that. No talk, no chatter, no questions right now. Blake was the expert and this was her specialty. Treating the members of this team wer Inga's specialty. Each to their own..

While Blake was busy Inga's job right now was to make sure the area she was given ws secure and to remain alert for any intrusion. She in turn depended ont the other's doing their jobs. THe lieutenant to lead. Blake to handle the computer stull Kane to keep the sharp eye on everyone and make sure they are on their toes. That's the way it worked.

Monty remained at Blake’s side while she played around with the computers, hoping that the warrant officer would be able to gain access to the systems. He was sure they weren’t dealing with an EMP situation, as their electronics worked, and the computers were powered; it was just a security issue, and maybe Blake wasn’t up to the task.

“How long would it take you to hack this?” He asked as she punched through a couple more sequences that returned with password failure.

(OOC: Next bit if she gives a reasonable timeframe. If not, look further down for the other piece.)

Reasonable Timeframe: The Lieutenant gave a nod, “Let’s make it happen then. We could really use the security cameras, and I wouldn’t mind reading some of the recent e-mails to see if we can’t determine what’s happened here.”

Turning to the others he pointed at the doors in a likely unnecessary order. “Secure those. We’re taking over this post for a time. Staff Sergeant Kane, contact Corporal Hatherford and make sure everything is still kosher back at the observatory.”

Orders given, Kernan steps slightly away from Charlie in an effort not to make her feel like he was hovering before catching site of the videos once again. Pushing off from the tabletop he was leaning against, Monty walked over and began rifling through the titles, looking for anything of interest: security logs, test documentation, personal recordings, etc. If he finds some, he’ll use the equipment to view them.

Unreasonable Timeframe: It was disappointing, but he couldn’t hold it against her. Sometimes, things were just beyond the capabilities of the specialist; that’s what teams of specialists were for. Still, there were those videos to look at—it bothered Monty some that they were using cassettes when digital technology was so much more secure, and permanent, but if cassettes were all he had to work with, then that’s what he’d review.

“Let’s see what we have here,” he told Blake as he made his way over to the videos and began to peruse the titles, looking for anything of interest: security logs, test documentation, personal recordings, etc. If he finds some, he’ll use the equipment to view them.

He’d really wanted to have access to all of the facilities security systems; that would have made his job so much easier, but when has a Ranger operation been easy? Not to mention this was the most whacked out mission he’d been on to date: soldiers claiming the Ranger program had been disbanded, people using the names of civilians with officer rank, blue energy fields with no apparent effect, strange yeti creatures…

“Ain’t in Kansas anymore, Dorothy,” Monty muttered as he reviewed the titles, setting the useless cassettes in one pile, and possible interests in another. If some strange anomaly had occurred with the testing going on, as the soldiers they’d encountered in the observatory had claimed, Monty could only assume the worst his imagination could conjure, and that could lead to some very poor decisions. No, best stay with the basics of your training, Monty, he told himself grimly as he considered what jumping to conclusion could lead to. So far they’d been lucky enough to sustain minor injuries despite the strange occurrences. Getting all paranoid and junking protocol in favor of mysticism would most certainly lead to some deaths.

(OOC: assuming they find something in the cassettes worth watching, I’m going to end the post here.)