Turn 4: Down in the Valley

[Dirk Pitt]

"You have weapons free. If anything comes at us unannounced, take it out." Dirk said in a low voice. Then flipping his thermal down he watched the area ahead of them.
<Tag Mac>

[Quicksilver]

For his own part, Mark was too focused in his computer work to immediately notice Dirk's ultimatum or the silence that followed it. He was still trying work the remaining turrets into the defense network he'd created. When the comment and silence finally broke through his concentration he paused in his work for a moment, setting it aside in favor of accessing the turrets he did have under his control and pulling up their integrated motion trackers, looking to see if they'd stopped because they were out of ammunition, or because there were no longer any valid targets.

<Security Systems>

[EVSA]

Bell kept pace with Sal, disappointed, yet relieved to head back to the platoon's main body. "Have we ever had eyes on any warm bodies since we got here?" He asked the older marine. "Or as it just been sentry guns and land mines so far?"

-Roll awareness

[Dakka]

Mac carefully scanned the forest with his scope's thermal sensor from his position behind cover of the tree he was using. He pivoted on the balls of his feet to scan behind and above his squad's position to their rear. All the action had them using tunnel vision to what was on their front and on a hunch he chose to check their six o clock for hostiles.

(roll perception and awarness)

[Pale Rider]

Watching carefully the Eights see no movement. As the seconds turn into minutes. The sounds of birds begin to return.

[Dakka]

Mac sees nothing but flitting birds and regular wildlife behind them and up in the trees. He doesn't lower his sniper rifle and switches his scope's sensor to EM to highlight artificial power sources against the forest. Again turning in a slow circle to sweep his scope over the area aroind his position.

(Roll perception and awareness)

"We're sitting ducks here boss! What are our orders?" Mac called over Squad 3's channel.

[Tag Dirk]

[Dirk Pitt]

Dirk thought about the situation for a moment before he decided what they needed to do. The words of Erwin Rommel came to mind. In the absence of orders, find something and attack it. That was what he intended to do.

"Quinn, we're out in the open here. I'm going to take third and advance. Try to see if we can flank the bastards." Dirk said in a low voice.
<Tag Quinn>

"OK third, follow me and keep your eyes open. If we contact the hostiles I want to be the one on the attack this time."
<Tag Third squad>

Moving forward slowly, dirk scanned the forest for any sign of movement or attack.

[maxvale76]

Samantha was growing frustrated....and angry. All of this seemed like some kind of 'pyscho-warfare' nonsense. She called out over the comms; "This is Hall. Has anybody seen or heard or got any kind of evidence that ANYONE besides us is actually out here in these woods with us? I'm wondering if it's not just a bunch of mines and remote guns and speakers that somebody is threatening us over a radio or something. Sarge, El-tee....what's the plan?"


<Tag Platoon>

[Dirk Pitt]

"Sam, this is Pit. Third is on the move left. Get your people on the move and continue to the right. If they're there well catch them between us and cut them apart. If not we'll link up and recon forward. Quinn is taking care of Morse, so I'm guessing that his squad and hold position. Move out and lets get end this. With any luck the close air support I requested is on the way." Dirk said into the comm as he moved forward slowly, scanning the forest as he went.
<Tag Sam>

Roll awareness.

[maxvale76]

"Roger that Sarge"; Sam replied to Dirk and then turned to her own people. "Alright, you heard the man; we're gonna move in on the right flank and if there's anybody out there, we'll catch 'em between us and Dirk's squad. Boothe, hurry to our position and stay low. Once you get here we'll move in a diamond formation with Roberts at the point with his smartgun; I'll be on the right, Sal you're on the left and Marc, you've got the drag. Keep that motion detector up and running and sing out if ANYTHING besides us shows up on it. Questions?"


If there are none; they'll start to move as soon as Boothe arrives.

<Tag Dirk>
<Tag 1st Squad>

[Whisky]

Colson heard the chatter over comms while he attended to Morse, he glanced around... where was the new guy? With Quinn and himself trying to keep Morse in one piece they needed what cover they could get while the others advanced.

"Eyeball! OI WILLIAMS! If you are not braindead stop just standing there and give us some help. Maybe see if you can't set up that sentry I dragged out here, we might need it to cover our asses."

<Tag Williams

"Bell? Where are you, you wanker!?"

<Tag Bell

Colson went back to tending to Morse, only paying half a mind to if his squad responded.

<Continue medical aid
<OCC: What's Morse's condition atm?

[EVSA]

With lack of anything left that he could do, and dead tired of dicking around back and forth only to get shot at. Bell set up in a covering position 20 feet ahead of Morse's position.

Setting up more sentry guns seemed premature, and Bell figured he might as well wait for someone in the chain of command before he added another to all those the platoon already controlled. No matter what the foul mouthed brit medic said.

[Quicksilver]

"Ma'am." Mark responded, still habitually using honorifics for everyone, despite being told he didn't need to, or even shouldn't. Some habits a hard to break. Without looking up at the group, Mark shoved the portable computer back in his backpack and slung the entire thing onto his back again with a tired grunt. The damn thing always seemed heavier the second time. Taking a second of settle the straps, Mark pulled out the motion tracker and started messing with the nobs, checking their surroundings as they started to move forward.

<Motion Tracker>

[Corporal Hicks]

"Roger that Sarge"; Sam replied to Dirk and then turned to her own people. "Alright, you heard the man; we're gonna move in on the right flank and if there's anybody out there, we'll catch 'em between us and Dirk's squad. Boothe, hurry to our position and stay low. Once you get here we'll move in a diamond formation with Roberts at the point with his smartgun; I'll be on the right, Sal you're on the left and Marc, you've got the drag. Keep that motion detector up and running and sing out if ANYTHING besides us shows up on it. Questions?"

"Copy that," Roberts said shortly. He took a swig from his canteen. He readied his smartgun and made sure there was still plenty of ammo in the clip. When they moved out he would keep an eye out for anything unusual.

(Roll: Awareness)

[MarcusOTerra]

Sal threw a look over his shoulder as Bell (apparently) sped off to rejoin his group. "Alright, see ya." Sal muttered. "Don't say bye, or nothing." He closed the distance with his squad and found some cover near Sam.

"I swear to Christ, Didn't I say something about mines and traps?" He had his mic off. "I could have sworn I did. Either their coming in with something to bomb our asses or their packing up and leaving."

<Tag Sam and Squad>

He leaned against a tree and used the opportunity to scan their rear. "Running my ass around, I can't believe I forgot Quinn's a practically a damn MD." It was in a briefing, somewhere, one of the papers he was handed with his orders. He just damn forgot.

<Roll awareness>