|RETURN|

Speaking their language once again, Caracal tried to get his meaning across to the children.

"/Dying. Save. No./"

With his last words, it sent a shock through the children, and they bolted past him towards where Naga was.

Watching them stumble through the bushes to reach them, Caracal approached a pit that was dug by the others.

Looking into the pit, what met his eyes were burnt bodies. Offering a small prayer, he motioned to Merlin, who has just returned with the others; and Drake to cover the pit and bodies.

"This is the most we can do for these guys." Caracal spoke. "Condor, what is our next instruction from central?"

"We are to abandon primary and secondary objectives," Condor replied through the radio. "Our new objective is to take all the survivors here and return to the exfil poin-"

As Condor was speaking, a clear, short beep sounded out from all team members.

[MISSION UPDATE: EXFIL POINT UPDATED]

"Well that tells us everything." Checking his wrist mounted computer, Caracal started planning out their next move.

"Everyone should've gotten a mission update from central, We have a new exfil point and a eta from the exfil team." As he spoke into the radio, Caracal mapped out a route and sending the data to everyone. "We are now bringing everyone back to base, that includes the wounded."

"Naga, you got permission to use whatever we have to save those old folk, got it?" Caracal told her. "Stabilize them and make sure they can endure the return trip. Better equipment and supplies will arrive from the Kestral."

"Damn they sent the Kestral? Guess we gotta step it up another notch." Drake muttered under his breath.

Ignoring him, Caracal directed Merlin to take the others to go pick up their hoverbikes and bring them over so they could leave sooner.

------------

C.S.S Zephyr

Watching the massive, heavy support vessel Kestral launch into the air, Vardan turned his attention to a report displayed on his terminal.

Deep in thought, reading over the name of the report, Vardan leans back into his chair.

"Sooner or later, the current alert level needs to be lowered. Us soldiers are fine with staying alert for long periods of time, but the noncombatants need to rest." Muttering to himself, Vardan starts brainstorming on their future actions. "Once the forward recon team returns, I will dismiss the current alert level and have things return to normal as best they can."

"Now then, lets get back on track." Lightly slapping his cheeks; Vardan opens up the report, named 'Deep Water Ore Deposit'. "Seems Chauncey and the others have finally discovered something that can help us replenish our resource stash."

-"Known ore deposits have been identified, large amounts of iron, gold, and coal deposits have been confirmed, several smaller deposits of rare metals have been confirmed as well. In addition to these discoveries, we have identified several deposits of unknown composition.

-"These unknown compositions have appeared in extremely large amounts, one deposit is larger than the iron and gold deposits combined. Requesting further permission to gather the unknown ore for further testing: |DENIED|

-"Brief analysis of all deposits indicate a combined estimated 10 cubic kilometers. Enough material to allow full Total War Time operations for 3 years. Request from all heads of departments to establish offshore base at this location: |AWAITING ADMIRAL APPROVAL: PENDING|"-

After reading through the reports and going over the details, Vardan calls upon Chauncey and all of the heads of departments to schedule a meeting.

"Chauncey, it seems you and the rest of the departments are having a good time yes?" Vardan had a wry smile as he listened to the rowdy conversations leaking through the background of the call.

"I mean can you blame them? Everything back on Earth had been fully explored, there was nothing left unchecked on the planet." Chauncey spoke as he tried to get all the scientists behind him to quiet down. "Here? Its a brand new world Admiral, the explorative heart and inquisitive minds of all these people have been reignited!"

"That's a good thing, but do keep in mind, everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, must be done in moderation." Vardan warned. "I fully support whatever you lab-coats are cooking up back there, but there is no rush. Yet..."

As Vardan was speaking, the chatter coming through from the other side soon stopped.

"Alright, enough of the serious depressing talk." Vardan clapped his hands, changing the subject. "How soon can you start mining?"

"The mining devices have all been built, we just need a stationary base to store, charge, and operate them." Chauncey reported. "As soon as the base's power plant is installed, we can immediately start the process."

"Hmm. How much of our current supply does this base need?" Vardan asked while going through the weekly reports. "This is just from my curiosity. Our current military operations is mainly defensive patrols. As such, there's not a large need for our current resources."

"About 15% of our current supply Admiral." Chauncey replied after consulting the other department heads.

"Hmm, not as much as I remember. Very well!" Vardan clapped his hands and signed off the report. "You have my full approval. But do be warned. No touching the unknown materials untill we have fully established ourselves, understood?"

"""YES ADMIRAL"""

A chorus reply returned, from Chauncey and the other department heads.

------------

"This is Kestral to RecCon 1. Approaching exfil point, eta 5 mike's"

"RecCon 1, Kestral. Confirmed, precious cargo stabilized and secure. Standing by at exfil point." Caracal replied, with an audible relief in his voice. "Man, is it good to hear from you. We've been attacked by a couple predatory animals of unknown identification. Could you ask central what they want us to do with them?"

"Pack them up and bring them along, the lab-coats are gonna have a field day with them."

"Wilco, packing them up. We have audible of you, popping flare."

"Flare confirmed. Landing."

As the massive craft touched down, it's four rotor blades blasted down onto the ground, kicking up massive dust clouds and leveling the vegetation. The sheer force buffeting the RecCon team and it's bewildered new additions.

As the ramp lowered, a team of medics came out with stretchers and med bags, tending to the wounded.

"Welcome and thank you for flying Air Kestral, hope you have a nice trip!" The pilot announced via loudspeaker. "But this joy rides gonna get cut short. Air radar has picked up several bogies coming in from the Northwest, we got 7 minutes before contact."

"You heard him! Everyone double time! Help the wounded into the craft!" Caracal turned and yelled at his team before approaching the elderly man and picking him up.

"Headcount! Condor, Merlin, both of you do a headco-"

""Everyones accounted for!!"" Both of them cut him off.

"Very well, Kestral, everyone's accounted for and all the vehicles are in! Get us out of here!" Caracal rushed the pilot.

"Roger." Atlas responded. "Central, Central, Kestral has picked up RecCon 1 and precious cargo, repeat, we have picked up RecCon 1 and precious cargo. Pickup operation successful. We are RTB, ETA 75 mikes. Over and out."