It was all of fifteen minutes before the entire Moon hex had been scoured by its inhabitants. There was zero bio-metal, or "scrap", anywhere. It was clear that patrols would have to branch out to other hexes if they hoped to gain any bio-metal. It could certainly have been worse, as the Black Dogs were already decently equipped. They were a small squad within the NSDF, though, barely filling up the old Eagle's Nest One outpost. However combat proficient they were, their numbers were small. As the last corners of the hex were explored, [url=http://battlezone.wikia.com/wiki/Grizzly]Grizzly One[/url], piloting the only Tank currently in the outpost and the Black Dogs' Commander, sent out the order for all units to return to base. From high above the planet it would have looked like ants returning to their colony. Once everyone was there, a course of action was determined. Working with only ten offensive units (and only [url=http://battlezone.wikia.com/wiki/Razor]Razors[/url] at that), six would stay at base and patrol/defend while four + Grizzly One would scout the desert to the northeast. Turrets were redeployed at the base entrances as the Gun Towers were not yet online, and the Scavengers were told to stay at the base. Soon the task force left the safety of Eagle's Nest One and thrustered towards the desert.

At 25 meters per second the group reached the southwestern edge of the desert in minutes. Slowing to 10 m/s, the group scanned their pulsing radar systems for bio-metal, terrain, objects, or anything other than flat desert. It was not promising some white squares appeared, representing unknown stationary objects. Soon a small town came into view. The spectacle of five hovertanks floating into a desolate ghost town in a desert would be quite a sight normally, but in this patchwork world it wouldn't get a second look. As the task force examined the town, they discovered that, in the midst of everything abandoned, there was a refrigerator still emanating power. No source of electricity could be found, but the fact that the electricity was there caused a radio back to base.

*BEEP* "Eagle's Nest One, this is Grizzly One. We found a ghost town in the desert and it still has electricity somehow. There's also a water tower that still appears to be full of water, for what it's worth. Anything that can help us?" *BEEP*

*BEEP* "Grizzly One, this is General Collins. I don't think -- "

The General's voice cut off, but came on again moments later.

"I'm just been informed by the scientists here that it may be possible to use the electricity and water to fuel a bio-metal generator. We have a single Tug at the base that is en route now to retrieve the electricity source and water tower. Maintain position until they arrive. Collins out." *BEEP*

Grizzly one ordered his wingmen to establish a perimeter around the outpost. Soon, Razor Two got on the comm.

*BEEP* "We have bio-metal generators? Since when?" *BEEP*

Then Razor Four: "I heard that it was an experimental thing being developed for moons with low scrap supply before we got 'relocated'."

The speculation continued until the [url=http://battlezone.wikia.com/wiki/Tug]Tug[/url] soon arrived. It made short work of its task, uprooting the water tower and collecting the refrigator, both held in the clutches of the tug's hold, and heading back to base. Nobody questioned why the refrigerator was still generating its own power even when it arrived at Eagle's Nest One, and it and the water tower were dropped off to be examined by the scientists in the outpost. The base had been, predictably, uneventful since the search party had left, and now it was at its (current) full capacity. If a bio-metal generator was successfully built, it could blossom into its real full potential. For now though, the hovertank pilots retired to their Barracks...those who weren't on watch, anyway.