This logfile is imported from aitelogs2 and may contain errors or wrong timestamps.
#RuinsOfRakhana – September 8, 2016
Day 2 (06:00). The night has passed uneventfully, and the weather has remained calm, the starlit sky clear for the duration, meaning the temperature in the early morning twilight is actually on the chilly side. Not as varied as an Earth desert, but enough of a cold to warrant a jacket if it weren't for the armors. Namira has been drifting in and out of conciousness once more, but hasn't seemed aware for more than a few seconds, and
she has remained immobile, going without food still. She's sleeping now, a step up from unconciousness at least, although whether the mercenaries could tell the difference is uncertain. The sand outside looks almost pale white in the strange lighting, the sun still hiding behind the horizon to the west.
Renala is sitting at Namira's side, which she has for about half an hour now. She is attempting to feed her watered down nutrient paste, a twentieth of a pack mixed with a similarly small a part of water from her own daily ration. This is the first time she has gotten involved in tending to her. "You have to keep fighting," she whispers, stroking her forehead. "You'll make it." Renala is in her armor undersuit.
Ehanis is currently fast asleep, and she has had trouble to fall asleep. She's been quiet, however, aside from the occasionaal twists and turns.
Nathan has geared up for another trek into the wastes, weapons at the ready. He is fed, watered and geared. He has remained mostly silent since last night.
Jason has gathered near their makeshift barricade, instructing the others to meet him there when they're done preparing and handling whatever they need to handle. He has not woken Ehanis, however, deciding to let her sleep in after their trek through the desert the previous day. He's dressed in his undersuit, though he's attaching his armor paneling. The dark bags under his eyes imply a sleepless night.
Nathan walks over to Jason, craning his neck. "Hey," he says simply, casting a look out of the doorway. "Another day in paradise, hmm?"
Korio joins Jason once he's geared up. Rifle folded up on his back, he greets the human with a bow of his head and silence.
Jessica has taken the most recent guard shift, insisting despite her injuries. She's seated atop a crate in the opening of the tunnel. As Nathan joins she glances towards him. "Mmm. Has been quiet."
Jason gives a weak nod, barely registering Nathan's words. "No rest for the wicked... We need to get back out there and find a way off this planet." He finishes attaching his chestplate and looks up at Nathan, eyeing up his armor. "You don't need to go back out, Ten. You were out all day yesterday, I can't ask you to go back out again. Get some rest."
Nathan nods to Jessica, before turning to Jason. His frown is hidden behind his visor, as per usual. "I'm going, Jase. I'm not going to idle about whilst there is work to be done." He chuckles darkly. "I'll rest when I'm dead. Or on a ship out of here. I'd prefer the latter...".
As Renala pours the small bit of watered down nutrient paste Namira shows no reaction. She's still breathing, and there are no coughs, so it must have gone down alright.
Renala stands up, a small smile forming on her features. "I'll be back in a moment," she whispers. She carries the paste tube with her as she exits and heads for Jason's position. "The girl is not faring any better," she sighs. "I have an idea, though. Permission to use a day's water ration and the rest of this tube?"
Jason gives a shake of his head to Nathan and opens his mouth to respond to him but decides to let it go for the moment as Renala approaches. He looks to the asari, taking a moment to rub at his eye with the palm of his hand before responding. "If you think it will help her, then you've got my permission to do whatever it takes." he says, "But I'm gonna need you geared up and ready to head out soon. I figure you know best what we
need to get a message back home, so there's no real point in digging through everything without you there to tell us what's worth taking."
Steve joins up with the others after Renala, but remains silent. Simply placing his hands on his hips as he awaits the orders for the day.
Nathan simply keeps an even stare at Jason. No matter what he man's argument would be, he's going. He's sure as hell not going to sit on his arse in this camp all day.
Renala raises an eyebrow at first, but nods. "Understood, I'll prepare the 'cocktail' and get geared up as soon as possible," she says. "I think you should sit this one out, Wolfe, because you don't look well today."
Jason gives a loud sigh, looking briefly aggitated by her suggestion, but there's no doubt she's right. His gaze moves back to Nathan, then to the floor. He bites his lip for a moment before nodding slightly, "Are you sure you're good to go back out today, Ten? That sun is no joke..."
Nathan steps forwards to place a hand on Jason's shoulder, firmly. "I'm going. At least I've slept. You need to rest. I can handle one more day," he assures him. "Trust me."
Jason grunts a frustrated response, falling silent for a few moments before finally giving a small nod. "Yeah, just-... Just keep in contact, alright? Check in every couple hours so we know you're still alive out there." he says, the guilt of sitting this one out clear as day on his face. "Take care of whatever you're doing, Renala. I'm sending Korio with you guys-..." he gestures towards the drell, "...and since you know what
Jessica gives a pained groan as she swings her legs off the side of the crate. "Both of you can rest. I will handle this one, yes?" she offers.
Jason rolls his eyes and points back out towards the desert. "Shut up and keep an eye out. You're not going anywhere."
Jessica frowns and brings her legs back up onto her crate-seat, muttering to herself under her breath.
Nathan nods and steps back, glancing to Jess. He then looks to Renala, nodding once to her too. "Boss lady then. Well, this should be fun."
Renala gives a quick and sloppy salute. "I won't disappoint you, boss," she says. "There shouldn't be any need for quick reflexes underground, if you want to do something while we're away." She turns around and makes her way over towards the supplies.
Korio acknowledges Jason's order with another nod. "I will fill my canteen before we leave, then." he says before marching off towards their water tank.
Jason returns Renala's salute with one equally sloppy and sarcastic. He looks to Steve and nods towards the door up the stairs, "We'll head back down. See if there's anything else you guys might've missed and try opening that door up."
Renala is by the water tank, squeezing the nutrient paste tube's content into a 1L water bottle that's filled most of the way up. It's a bottle Renala drank from during the trip, bearing the label of some fruit juice available in Freedom Falls.
Steve sighs but nods. "Great. Another day down in those cold dark tunnels... Sounds like a blast." he says as he turns on his heels and starts towards the tent.
Jason pauses his gearing up, looking over the armored panels he set out. "I'm serious, Ten." he says, "Keep in touch. And if something doesn't seem right, you just turn around and come back, alright? The last thing we need is more injuries..."
Nathan turns towards Jason, chuckling lightly. "Alright, alright... Geez, you sound like my mum," he says with a shake of his head. "But in all seriousness, yeah. Hourly reports?"
Renala moves over to the tent while shaking the capped bottle to distribute the goop evenly. Once inside, she looks around the tent to check if Ehanis or Namira are awake.
Jason nods, repeating the man's words, "Hourly reports. And steer clear of any deep pits." he says. After a brief moment, as if recalling something, he adds: "And bugs! Don't fuck with any bugs, Ten!"
Nathan shudders as the memory comes flooding back. "Seriously... don't remind me... ugh, never again. My eyes felt... ugh."
Steve pulls the tent flap open and ducks inside after Renala, taking a seat by the opening. "You be safe out there, Ren." he says. "And be careful with that drell. He seems like a nice enough sort, but when push comes to shove, these are his people here..." he warns, "...Wouldn't trust him to make any hard choices if I were you."
Renala nods and turns around to face him. "You be safe too, this place might be unstable," she says, lowering her voice. "And I'll do my best to assert my authority should it be necessary."
Steve gives a nod of his own. "You ain't gotta worry about me, Ren. Like I said, I ain't plannin' on dyin' out here. Just find what we need out there and get us the hell outta here."
Jason gives a slight snicker. "Wasn't exactly my best experience, either. Dragging you back and forth across a desert. But there won't really be someone out there today who can drag you around... So just leave the wildlife alone! Seriously."
Renala walks over to crouch down besides Namira, and uncaps the bottle. "That's the plan," she says, still keeping her voice low. "After what I have heard about the wildlife out there, I'd take advantage of a good reason to return early." She pours a little bit of the murky water into Namira's mouth.
Day 2 (11AM). Indoors: The attempts to feed the sleeping archeologist have been met with success, for the most part. Halfway through she woke up coughing, but didn't move or speak, and after she had taken in the rest of the food she fell asleep once more. Outdoors: After almost five hours of travel through the ruins of the city the excursion team finds themselves closing in on the closest of the still-standing skyscrapers. There
have been practically no signs of any activity at all during the rather uncomfortable trip, aside from a lone flying scavenger circling high above. Anything worth scavenging has been equally sparse. The weather has remained clear since morning, and the cool air has been quickly replaced by ever-increasing heat, brought in by strong winds from the desert to the northeast. The concrete rubble and wind-worn debris makes for slow
progress and unsteady ground, but they've been able to travel the last hour on an old street, cracked and covered in junk, but not buried like most. The towering ruin ahead is smoothed by centuries of wind, and all of the windows are long since just holes in the walls, but it's still standing. The entrance up ahead is blocked by the rusting remains of a crashed vehicle, but it should be easy enough to climb over. The street
Nathan slugs up over some debris, kicking at a piece irritably as he catches his foot on it. "Stupid planet and its stupid rubble and its stupid ruins and its stupid everything..." he grumbles, glancing around. "So...".
Korio removes the rifle from his back, unfolding it before stopping in place and bringing the scope up to his eye. "Perhaps we should take a moment, as we are nearing the 'stupid skyscraper'." he deadpans as he scans the ruins from a distance, looking from window to window.
Renala pats Nathan's shoulder. "Didn't you insist on coming with on this trip?" she asks with a chuckle. She turns towards Korio as she stops. "Yeah, that's not a bad idea." The asari has brought a backpack with her wire cutter, suit power cable and her two energy bars, mostly planning to use it in case they find anything to bring back. She enables her omni-tool to scan for nearby radio signals.
Nathan grumbles, kicking at the rubble yet again. "Don't remind me," he mutters to the asari as he glances up at the skyscraper. He zooms in with his HUD, doing the usual routine of scouting it out as he takes a knee.
There is no sign of any radio signals. As for the skyscraper, there is little that can be told from the outside. It is weathered and smooth, most features blasted away over the years, rendering the concrete looking almost like rock. The windows are all empty, at least on this side.
Korio lowers his rifle. "It appears to be clear from what I'm able to see. Although that, admittedly, is limited. Shall we continue?" he asks, casting a glance up at their scavenging companion. "It may also be wise to attempt to bring back any wildlife we're able to in order to keep our food reserves stocked. I would not suggest firing so close to our target, though. Perhaps if it is still circling around when we're done here..."
Renala shakes her head. "No radio traffic," she says followed by a shrug. "Not that it means much out here." She turns towards Korio. "If you think you can hit it and it's still there when we're done in here, then do it." She disables her omni-tool and starts walking towards the building's entrance.
Nathan chuckles. "I'm sure I could cook it up nice like," he mutters as he follows Renala, drawing his Predator and giving it a quick once over.
Korio nods and falls in line behind Renala, rifle in-hand. "It would be a nice boost to morale if we were able to bring a meal home." he says, "The truth is, we have no idea how long we may be here for. Being self reliant is important, and hunting may get us more aquainted with the local wildlife." he says as he follows.
Renala nods. "We don't know what's safe to eat and what isn't, though," she says. "Maybe we could send a team to the settlement to request advice on that."
Nathan snorts and glances to Renala. "Sure, like they'd help us out anymore at his point," he hisses as he gazes up at the sky, his visor dimming to accomadate to the glare.
Korio continues to follow behind Renala towards the entrance. "Yes, that could be valuable information." he agrees. When Nathan speaks up, he casts a glance towards the man. "I don't see any reason to believe they would ignore our request for assistance so long as it doesn't cause them any trouble." he says, "I... understand your frustration over our failure to barter for a vehicle, but I think it's important that we understand and
take into consideration the fact that these people are surviving in harsh conditions. We cannot offer them something they deem useless and expect them to shower us with gifts out of the goodness of their hearts. Let us not forget that they gave us food and water and asked for nothing in return."
Nathan frowns. "That's all well and good, but I want to fucking go home," he states simply. "I'm sorry if it's such an inconvenience for them to get some stranded folk a ride back to their ship so they can leave and never bother them again...". He picks up the pace somewhat, not in the mood to keep talking about that settlement. He simply keeps his gaze fixed on
Renala sighs. "We all do, I have two days left before the missed call counter starts ticking," she says. "But to them we're complete strangers asking them to make a full day's trip." She stops as she reaches the entrance.
Korio falls silent for a moment before responding. "They owe us nothing. It is unfair to expect them to displace themselves and put their own people in danger for us. Perhaps rather than blaming them for our situation, that energy would be better put to use in trying to come up with ways to provide for ourselves..." he says, picking up his pace as soon as he finishes his sentence.
Nathan huffs, but will relent on this occasion. "Yeah... you're right, I know... I'm just frustrated," he says in a form of an apology.
Korio takes a position beside Renala, awaiting further orders. He casts a sympathetic glance back towards Nathan. "I understand. We are all on edge. But we must not count ourselves as defeated so soon. We will survive this."
Renala gives a small smile behind her helmet. "It's not our first hopeless situation," she says. "And every time we've made it out alive, and we've got enough supplies to keep hoping for a couple more days."
Nathan hums a laugh and glances to Renala and Korio. "I haven't given up. I'm just having a good old fashioned bitch about things. Vent the frustrations and whatnot," he says. "Alright, boss-lady, what's the plan? Scour the place?"