[center][h2]Xena Rock Field[/h2]
[sub]The Wrecked ATV[/sub][/center]

	Brian huffed in agreement as Onweer patted his back, passing on an amalgamation of worried thoughts in a tightly-coiled blizzard. The man's anxiety came across clear, though there was no intent to harm or otherwise abandon his team, nor did he express any knowledge about Luke's intention, or Yvette's for that matter. As the two made their way back into the ATV, Yvette was hunched over in one of the front seats, with  still unconscious in the cockpit behind here. She seemed to be mulling something over. Yvette abruptly turned her head toward's Onweer's arm brushing hers. She was on edge. "Plan..." She whispered to herself. From Onweer's probing, she'd be able to discern a collection of harried thoughts bouncing back and fourth erratically in Yvette's mind. 

	[i]What was the CMAS's intention with survey group Alpha? Had Sydney Duvell caught wind of her betrayal. Even worse, Luke's earlier slip-up and the following inquiries, followed by his abrupt retreat... Surely her remaining officers were suspicious of it all. Who even remained now? Brian, Onweer, Cecil, Kenny, Karida, a couple other CMAS mages... Damn it! They were stranded in the middle of no-man's-land, and the parameters for their retreat back to Arcadia had not been met. Even if they had, would they be welcomed? The size of this Survey group was now becoming less and less reasonable. First the 24-man Diver raid, and then a giant serpent.. Did the CMAS know about this? And where had Luke run off to? They couldn't possibly be-[/i] "Our plan has not changed, Miss daybreak. We are still at least 7 soldiers strong, and have no reason to return to Arcadia prematurely. Our objectives would not allow it," Yvette explained, exasperated. "We'll regroup, and Kenny shall make the necessary preparations needed to get the ATV moving again..."

[center][h2]Diver's Paradise[/h2]
[sub]North western Pillar[/sub][/center]

	The Divers lined up behind cover surrounding the north western support column took note of Par's idea, and immediately unleashed a combination of elemental magic, and suppressing fire. Two rifle-men within the CMAS corps stepped forward and lowered their weapons immediately, and rose their hands together. The oncoming projectiles crashed against a translucent barrier that the gun-men provided, stirring up a magnificent display of blueish gray smoke as they were shielded by the CMAS's efforts. Par's mana grenade rolled under this barrier, but one of the fire mages took notice of it just before it exploded, and released his energy prematurely. It wasn't enough to completely suppress the explosion, allowing it to send him, and his adjacent allies flying behind their ranks, either in pieces, or unconscious with severe injuries.

[center][sub]North eastern Pillar[/sub][/center]

	"Fire mages, ready?" A second man of apparent ranking called out from within the group of CMAS mages heading towards the north eastern column. "Take it down!" Promptly, as the man shouted with every last bit of air in his lungs, the line of 20 mages launched their spells towards a focal point near the center of the pillar. The combined power of their magic birthed a raging inferno with explosive power that threatened the integrity of the pillar.

	"Alvios, what do we do!?" A diver called out from behind cover to Luke's right hand.

[center][h2]Arcadia[/h2]
[sub]Survey Initiative HQ[/sub][/center]

	"...Understood?" Joshua said sternly, addressing Survey Group 1 with the utmost respect. Looking over the new survey group, he smiled and nodded respectfully before saluting. "You are Arcadia's first step towards a better tomorrow!" Joshua was rather convincing despite his personal distaste for what the CMAS had done with Survey group Alpha, it was almost sickening to behold. But with Sydney standing not ten paces away from him, he had no choice but to muster up as much charisma as possible when addressing these soldiers, lest he be sentenced to an unfortunate fate. If they could replace Sulfrax with such ease, it could be inferred that Joshua had very little job security as well.

	Survey group 1 was twenty strong, and included the likes of Haley Corisan, Jonathan Yumi, and the steel monstrosity known simply as 'buttercup' within their ranks. Even previously popular Divers within the Paradise like [i]Quicksilver Zay[/i] and [i]The Man simply known as Dan[/i] were among their ranks, giving them far more presence than Yvette's squadron could have ever hoped to retain. Every last one of the Junkers here were powerful individuals, capable of unique magic, or advanced understandings of their specialties. Sydney was pleased with the result while he mulled over the details that Joshua had just disclosed to them not a minute earlier. They were to head south, opposite to where Yvette's crew had ended up, with the same objectives, as to avoid the groups attaining any unnecessary information.

	"You will be dispatched this evening with a squadron of 3 Z-ATV's, operated by Dan, Harold Heiznar, and Hilary Heiznar. Please be sure to arrive at the southern gate in proper attire in a punctual manner," Joshua explained, eyeing buttercup worriedly. How would that thing even fit into a CMAS uniform? Who knew.