[I][center][h1][color=f26522]Corporal Andy Tabbet[/color][/h1][/center][/I]


	[color=f7941d]“Roger that sir, see you on in V-1.”[/color] Snapping her clipboard down Andy jogged off calling her operators to accompany her. Behind them the team seemed to be getting to know each other a little better, as a few loud mouths began speaking in turn, or maybe out of turn. Either way Andy had a job to do, and she didn’t have time to waste listening to everyone ironing out the kinks in the chain of command. Delivering the signed papers to the quartermaster Andy Tabbet and her fellow operators parted ways, each one climbing into the driver’s seat of the four transports. Andy cleared the space between the suspension rig and the treehouse opening up all the doors to the QRTV allowing her passengers to board. Slipping on her helmet and mask the intrepid Corporal gave Commander Cross a respectful nod as he took the seat next to her. A press of a button later the QRTV’s engine roared into life rumbling and growling like some great hungry beast. Adrenaline rushed through Andy, and she grinned wildly, flipping a few switches on the command board.

	[color=f7941d]“Copy Commander, engines are live. Proceeding drop on your command.” [/color]Waiting for Commander Cross’ say so Andy pressed a button on the dash, holding it down until a little light flashed on. [color=f7941d]“Ahem, attention crew of KV-73 V-1 this is your Corporal speaking.” [/color]She called, her voice amplified three times over so that even the man seated in the very back could hear her over the thunderous engine. [color=f7941d]“I’ll be your operator over the course of this trip. Please be advised I am a professional driver and I have only rolled seven QRTVs in my career. Now if you look out to your starboard side, which you can’t because it’s an up-armored bulkhead and isn’t transparent, you would see the technicians about to release the chains holding us in the air. Once the final safety lever is released we shall proceed to drop one hundred meters, say over three hundred feet in twenty seconds give or take a second. Don’t worry, most of the time that up-armored hull you can’t see through will remain intact. The suspension will catch the vehicle and we’ll bounce. Most of the time. It will still be rather shocking, and might cause mild nausea to the weak-of-stomach. So I advise you hold on, and strap into your seat belt. We should be released any second now…. Maybe…. Almost…. Ah ther-“

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	Andy unconsciously sucked in her breath as the chains were released and the entire metal rigging dropped from the sky, plummeting downward at a barely controlled speed. The Quick Response vehicle was just that, and the engineers who designed it weren’t interested in slow, safer descents. Still, no matter how many times Andy rode the drop she still hated the sensation of weightlessness that caused her stomach to lurch. Honestly most of the occupants of Vehicle-one probably rode the drop more than she had, and hold their lunch better as well. Being veterans of the wilds and everything.

	Sure enough in roughly twenty seconds the vehicle came to a very sudden stop taking all the force on the chains and suspension, and more importantly the giant springs suspended way up high in the tree tops. The occupants barely felt anything besides a strange swishing sensation and the weirdest sort of bounce. For a few moments Andy let the chains swing, allowing the wildest movements subside before hitting the release switch and flooring the gas. The metal rigging opened up swinging away as the wheels spun free, connecting with the ground a heartbeat later. This time everyone felt to collision and anyone who wasn’t buckled in was thrown from their seat no matter how tightly they were holding on. A moment later the chains swung back clanging off the sides of the QRTV as it chugged forward bouncing over roots and fallen logs that cluttered the forest floor. Behind them the three other QRTVs suffered through similar scenarios before falling into formation behind V-1.

	[color=f7941d]“Welcome to the ground.” [/color]Andy wheezed, sounding a bit queasy but otherwise cheerful. [color=f7941d]“Next stop, the wilds.”[/color]