[center][b][h2]Vael 'Virisusai and Shih[/h2][/b][/center]

[hr]

Vael, on his part, agreed with Aviza’s decision. While it was more exposed, nothing they had observed so far suggested that the phantom patrols would range that far from the structure. Moving closer would only worsen the risk of detection. As for actually reaching the mesa, it was not an entirely easy climb, but it was nothing the team could not handle. There was no path leading to the top, but there was a steep, but traversable, hill that led most of the way up. They would only need to climb the very last section up to the flat up of the mesa. For Vael, he tossed his sentinel beam up ahead of him so he could get a firm grip on the rocks for the final climb. 

Vael did not need an order to follow Aviza’s lead. He kept himself low to avoid silhouetting too much against the sky, laying prone to observe the structure in the distance. His HUD did allow him to zoom in on objects in the distance, though it could not compete with the many specialized sensors built into Aviza’s armor. It was those that Shih was making the greatest use of to scan the area.

Even without such sensors, Vael could still see the activity around the structure, and it was, unfortunately, not encouraging. It was not just Jiralhanae occupying the structure, but he could see Humans as well. Far more of them than Jiralhanae, in fact. Most of the Brutes Vael could see seemed to be moving closed crates to and from the interior of the structure. This was the insurrectionist base, and the Jiralhanae they were dealing with were holding directly above it. Together, the two factions would present far more forces than Aegis team ever expected to face at once. The structure itself was a fairly large compound, with multiple buildings and other obstacles that would slow any approach to the central tower. He did not see any way for them to reach the center before Jiralhanae reinforcements could overwhelm them. Not alone, at least. 

[color=orange]”The Jiralhanae are holding too close to the rebels. They will be able to assist them should we attack. I believe we will need reinforcements to deal with them. Perhaps then we can surround the central tower and prevent their leader’s escape.”[/color] Vael suggested.

Shih soon chimed in over the team’s radios. [color=lime]”I’m afraid it might not be even that simple. Now that we’re close enough, I’m getting better readings on the structure. I’m detecting evidence of an underground tunnel system beneath the central tower, leading away from the compound and into Sarcophagus’ superstructure. I can only begin to guess at the purpose of the tunnels, but the point is that the rebels may have an underground escape route planned in the event of an attack. If we want to stop them here, we’ll have to get into that tower [i]quickly[/i].”[/color]

As she was giving her explanation, the AI highlighted the relevant sections of the compound on their respective HUDs, though she soon also highlighted the Brute cruisers above them. [color=lime]“Luckily, I don’t think the Brute ships are going to give us much trouble. Based on everything I can get on sensors, their ships are in pretty poor shape. I’m not even picking up shields on anything but the corvette. I guess the Brutes haven’t had access to proper maintenance these last few years. If we call in the battle group, they should mop the floor with them.”[/color]