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[h2]Research Party Alpha, Node Study Day 3[/h2]

Dummies[@DracoLunaris], Falon and Hunter[@Lmpkio][/center]

Harold sighed as he walked his rounds around the perimeter of the small research station for the thousandth, with Hank, another marine, and Jim, a marauder, making the rounds with him. Command still hadn't sent over the materials and units to build a proper outpost, partly because they'd just started constructing a Gorgon-Class battlecruiser, but mainly because they couldn't currently spare the man power until the new round of SCVs was built and their pilots ready to man 'em. Guards weren't an issue, since the Hyperion and it's escort had been carrying a several full battalions of troops in case of ground operations before whatever weird event had dropped them here.

And after a week of fighting, then subsequent falling back and finding the node after scrambling for their desert perch, he had landed what was likely the most boring job they could give right now. [color=Gray]"Guarding a bloody research outpost in the middle of a dead volcano. Totally the excitement I'd signed up for when I joined the Dominion military."[/color] His partners both groaned at his bit of external internal monologue and Hank put a hand on Harold's shoulder, pulling him to a stop so that they could talk face to face.

[color=SaddleBrown]"For Christ's sake man, give it a rest. None of us expected to end up on this weird ass place and none of us really want to be guarding eggheads while they run scans and seismic tests on another Node to see if it can do what the other one can. But someone's gotta do it and we're safer here than back at the base where someone's gonna eventually notice our battlecruisers and drop a nuke on our heads."[/color] Harold opened his mouth to respond, but didn't get a chance as he spotted the approach of humanoid figures.

He immediately falls into protocol. [color=Gray]"Heads up, unknowns incoming!"[/color] The entirety of the escort detail, containing around a dozen marines and marauders each, along with a Ghost for long range rifle support and a half dozen Hellbats for close combat support, moved to the admittedly poor defensive positions they'd set up, consisting of sandbags at various points around the lab equipment. Nobody moved while they waited for word from the Ghost, who'd see them much clearer than the rest. After a couple of tense minutes, his voice crackles to life on the coms.

[color=Black]"Look like some kind of combat robot, but they're definitely approaching in the least threatening way possible. Don't open fire until we're certain they're an enemy."[/color] After several more meters, one of the bots, who'd started to become more than vague shapes for the marines and marauders, waves and calls out in a cheerful, albeit robotic, voice.

[b][color=Orange]"Friendly: Greetings fellow sentient being. I wish to talk business"[/color][/b] Harold was tasked with a response over his loud speakers.

[color=Gray]"You are entering an operation zone of the Terran Dominion, under the watchful eye of Raynor's Raiders combat division. Halt where you are and identify yourselves or we will open fire."[/color] As the group awaited a response from the approaching bots, who would hopefully stop where they were, the Ghost's voice crackles in again.

[color=Black]"Got two more coming down the far side, these ones are definitely armored humans, though I've never seen the armor before. Wait until they're...christ, they're armed as well. Looks like they're more cautious about things, and definitely not with the group that just hailed us. Repeat the message when they're close enough, Sergeant Harold."[/color] The marine grumbled quietly about being the outpost's spokesperson, but didn't argue.

As soon as the two men were within range, about another five minute wait, he repeated his message. [color=Gray]"You are entering an operation zone of the Terran Dominion, under the watchful eye of Raynor's Raiders combat division. Halt where you are and identify yourselves or we will open fire."[/color] And now all they could do was wait as the two groups of other factions approached.