Anomalous Trip (Part II)

[slicsinatra]

“Well first, I was just wondering what this room is for and if this is a briefing of some sorts? And second if one of you isn’t busy is there any way one of you could show me around the area? Let me know where everything is and what to be wary of? My team is resting and my C.O is injured so I’m the ranking officer and want to make sure I know as much as I can about this area.”

[Dragnoxz]

Unknown Officer (Female): Master Sargent Terrence. Give him a tour of the town.” She looks at you while talking to him. “Give him a tour of whatever he wants.”

MSgt. Terrence: “Yes ma’am.” He walks over to you. “Have you downloaded the areal photo of the town ?”

[slicsinatra]

“Not yet let me do it now. Let’s walk and talk.” I go into my files and download the aerial photo for reference.

[Dragnoxz]

MSgt. Terrence: “Uh-“ he waiting for you to tell you where you want to go first. The image was already in tour files. You are in the building with the blue dot.

[slicsinatra]

“First can you show me if we have a mess hall?” I walk out with him. “If you’re interested do you want to get lunch? You all looked busy in there and I want you to know I’m a mustang officer, don’t worry about the formalities. I need a realist to explain some s*** to me about this place.”

[Dragnoxz]

MSgt. Terrence: “Alrighty then. Follow me.” He has you follow out the double doors you entered, and go immediately to the right, in that wooden door. There’s a large metal bin that has water hanging up that’s about the size of two cabinets. It has two pipes that are like a sort of drain that goes down and splits. One goes down and then up and hooks back down like a cane, and looks like a faucet. There is a wood burning stove to the left of that which one of the pipes goes into and then back out. “That’s a wood burning stove, the water pipe coils around in it and comes out hot. There is the cold water faucet. It’s crude, but it’s the only one like it in town. They built it.” You begin to notice the fittings are crude and put together with some sort of resin. “This is a kitchen.” He points to the cabinets, drawers and a linen closet. “It has everything a modern kitchen of the 1800’s would have. It doesn’t have ice though. They are at medieval level technologically. But we’ve found evidence of 1600-1800 style technology, such as muskets and cannons and concrete. We haven’t found metal mechanics or gas powered machines yet. Behind the stairs is a latrine. Fluid down the commode, solids into the dirt bucket below the seat. Cover with dirt. Bucket goes outside in the compost wagon. The local kids will wheel it off to the fields for fertilizer. Urine turns to ammonia and they use it for things.” He clears his throat. “I’m Master Sargent Terrence. Engineer specialist.” He holds out his hand as if to shake.

[slicsinatra]

I give him a firm hand shake. “First Lieutenant Callus Caston. SPOND. Might not be here much longer…but I may be back soon. That Nalyus woman. What is her deal? Sorry to be forward but I haven’t gotten any good information yet.”

[Dragnoxz]

TSgt. Terrence: “The Nal’yus are the protectors. She’s the last protector of this land. They are basically dragons. Nal’yus basically translates to protector, or something like that. One was killed by Dixie when the dark dragon used him as a shield. He asked her to.” He walks back out of the room. “Well. This is the kitchen. Shall we move on ?”

[slicsinatra]

“Sure. I’m following you, what other places should I know about in town?”

[Dragnoxz]

TSgt. Terrence: “Well, let’s check out the bunks.” He walks to the stairwell back up the hall. The stone steps feel like slate below your feet. There are cobble stone walls and wooden ceiling. At the top of the steps it’s a wooden floor and there are windows with wooden hinged shudders that look like they function for defense against windows. “We have thirteen cots. Officers have four on the top floor. It’s that way so they can yell at us on their way down the stairs in an emergency.” He shows you the bunk set up. “We are the defense of the town. Is engineers set up defenses and trenches, while security maintains security in those positions. Let’s move on.” He walks back out the from the front and out into the square. “This is the square. The temple is in the middle, perfect for defense. Tower can see everything, even the tree line all around the town and across the river.” He points at the many vendors and shows along the square. “This is a small commerce center for textiles, spices and herbs. There’s a forge by the towns guard barracks, and an archery training course. The course is within the inner compound, of which the nobility reside. In the last battle the entire town was besieged there before being evacuated across the river.” He walks to the road.

You notice two kids, an adult male and two adult females sitting on the corner. They appear to be sick, coughing and sneezing. They are dirty and looks very lethargic and uncomfortable. They are next to a make shift outhouse. They have a strange white paste on their arms, which they don’t appear to be liking at all. They look miserable.

[slicsinatra]

“When my team finishes our mission. Who do I talk to about being sent back here? I know the Major I just worked with but do you know who makes that decision. Throughout my SPOND travels that Nalyus woman wouldn’t leave my dreams and told me to come. I already met her once but didn’t get much info from the wolves.”

[Dragnoxz]

TSgt. Terrence: “Thats above my rank. You’ll have to talk to them. Moving on.” He walks along the road. “There’s some residential places above the small shops below. There’a an area of residential places on a few of the streets over that way.” He points to the west and north. “Some of those places have shops below too, like bakeries. There are some schools over that way, by their version of a hospital is.” He points toward the north. “I should have rough you to the tower for this, sorry.” He continues. “Let’s go back to the tower.” He takes you back to the tower. At the tower he shows you with a laser pointer what buildings are what. He points to the south east where there are crops and docks along the water, and points at the building in the inner compound showing you where the nobility stays. “Any questions ?”

[slicsinatra]

“I think I’m good. I appreciate you Master Sergeant. I do have one question. I know it’s frowned upon, but who do I talk to for a cigarette. I know rules and regulations all that, but hell old habits die hard. I want to relax then go see my team after.”

[Dragnoxz]

TSgt. Terrence: “Haha, smokes, haha.” He looks at the big black guy on the Mk-19, who’s puffing on one in the other room.

Sgt. Bo: “How many you want ?”

[slicsinatra]

“I’ll just bum one. Thanks Sarge.” I approach him.