[h2][color=lightgreen][u]Jake Cross                                             [/u][/color][/h2]

Jake watched the rest of his team as they all grabbed their sections of food and dug in. Though now with their stomachs being settled he took his own portion and joined the team at the fire. It was good, a little charred from being held over an open flame with no buffer or equalizer, but that didn't mean it wasn't a welcome change. Though while eating he had a moment to think about what his team was doing. Leaving to go wash in a river, breaking off to head away from the ship alone. While the perimeter was safe he wanted to keep his team alive and there is always the chance that they missed something. Yet Isis came back safe and much cleaner with no discernible wounds and then Spook did the same both seemingly cleaner and not attacked by anything in the stream so his paranoia was thankfully for not.

Following the completion of dinner it was time to retire while things were calm. The entire team checking over their gear and turning into their various tents as the falling sun turned the horizon red with fading light. Jake went to his tent, seeing his gear laid out before him next to his bed on an equipment case that he brought to house his change of clothes, personal effects, and other key items he'd need to be a civil Human being out in this Wild World. Keeping his pistol by the head of his cot he started to undress, stripping down to under clothes before slipping under the environmental blanket that he was issued.

Through the night, the eerie eve of the Wild World seeped all around the team, filling the peaceful and beautiful landscape into a clear skied wonder. The city of Anselmo had the habit of fogging up the skies so unless you ventured to the edge of the wall you rarely had a night without a single cloud to hide the twinkling stars. This night was one of hidden wonders, illuminating the dark sky with countless sterling stars.

Through the night no ill event happened as the various shifts were taken by the members of KV-73, leaving them to wake up with the rising sun. Jake drew up and put back on his clothes, drawing his gear and putting everything else back into his equipment box for easy return to the ship. Leaving the tent he looked around to see most of the team out and about getting ready for the upcoming mission. The three Duvari loaded into the cargo bay of the Sky Hawk were being brought out and prepped for the trip. A hearty stock that appeared to be ready for some action. Though being stored on a ship for a full day could do that to any Duvari.

Jake stepped up to address the team after making sure his gear was ready, [color=lightgreen]"Alright team, without the ability to fly to the sight we need to hit our ground game. Isis. You and Bastet seem to be ready to explore so you're on point with Nathan who will have one of the Duvari to himself. I need you both to head up the path and scout out the site of the light. If you find danger report back to us and we'll move in as a complete team. Spook. You and Matthew will take another and ride with me. We're on reaction team and forward operation support. That leaves you Rig, you're riding with me. So that's the run team, mount up and bring everything you got. No telling what we'll find out there. Rig, before we go, shut down the Sky Hawk and throw up the camo-netting. We're leaving her behind for now."[/color]

With his speech done he set about heading to the Sky Hawk to assist Rig in prepping the Sky Hawk for standby. Then following that he mounted up on his choice of Duvari, a strong and bold male with a brown top coat and a tan underbelly. He seemed like a scrappy one which meant Jake would get along with him great.



[h3][color=tan]Anselmo Date 2353-08-15
            Location: The Wild World, The Pillar of Light[/color][/h3]

The road to the Pillar of Light was a straight one without any real obstacles, passing through rolling plains and thin forests that held plenty of monsters, many dangerous, but some beautiful and wondrous like the Flying Dragons that glide through the air on gentle feathered wings that seemed to glitter and glow in the shining sun. Their lithe bodies snaking through the air as they saw the team travel in the same direction as their flock was. Turning and changing their course to meet the team, snaking and flying side by side as the powerful Duvari charged through the thinning forests. Their gentle chirps adding to the thunderous percussion of the Duvari's foot falls.

As they crested the edge of the forest the Flying Dragons broke off, returning to their nature environment and leaving the team to cross a rolling plain. Their objective was just ahead and before long Jake signaled for the team to slow to a stop, moving to the lip of the cliff of a hill, giving them a great lookout position over what seemed to be a giant crater. From the cliff it appeared that the crater was easily a mile wide, whatever made it had to have been immensely powerful. Though what made things worse was that on the left side from the crater appeared to be a massive Wild Man village, bordering on a city.

[color=lightgreen]"It should be happening soon."[/color] Jake said, looking at his watch and picking up his rifle to use the scope as a set of binoculars. Unfortunately, from the angle he couldn't see the center of the crater so whatever was down there was out of his view. Though as he was looking the Earth started to shake, a deep and powerful rumble that didn't feel like an earthquake. Then a few moments later a deep whooshing sound was made as a strong gust of wind sucked into the crater before a surge of energy burst from the crater's center into the air. The light at this range was so bright that Jake let out a curse, closing his eyes and looking away as the light died down into it's usual pillar form. He had to admit, it was a thing of wonder up close and clearly not natural. [color=lightgreen]"Isis. Nathan. Head down and find us a path to that crater. The right flank looks devoid of Wild Men so try their first. Stay in constant communication. When you clear us a route message it and we'll be right behind you."[/color] Jake said, looking back through the scope of his rifle to observe the Wild Man city, looking to find any sign of why they'd set up something so big next to the Pillar. The distressing part was that he didn't see any movement. The city looked dead. [color=lightgreen]"Be careful you two. Something here is really wrong. The city is empty from my vantage point."[/color] He radioed over to Isis and Nathan.