Ch. 6 Dark Heart of the Swamp

[Janxi]

Janxi made a show of yawning, exposing her massive canines, licked her nose twice, and stretched. She then rolled over and went back to sleep as cats took little pleasure from waking up. Her paws flexed and stretched, and she licked one, before giving a sigh.

[dakota]

Tori could see Shep was studying something on the ground while Jin turned to her and held a finger to his lips in a quiet motion. After a moment, the two men returned to the group. Shep picked up his helmet," We had a visitor last night. No one picked up on it, but definitely looks like a rat track, and fresh. It's a safe bet they know we're here."

[Janxi]

Shep's revelation woke Janxi from her slumber. She wasted no time and began brushing her teeth, leaving the massive teeth whiter than white.

She stretched again, cracking her back in a way that would leave humans paralyzed and walked up behind Shep. "Whadya got? Better have Tori check out the boat, cuz they mighta trapped it, too."

[Renekin Skywalker]

"Disappointing." Socrates said. "I had hoped they would be easier to detect. Did they leave anything behind?"

Perception: [dice=20][rand=128327878152120431355180714049396671134319218006543646978459123922]

[Tori]

"They done foxed up. Janx, can ya track 'em back to the hole they crawled outta?"

Tori went over to see what Jin had found. Janxi was right, they might have tampered with the boat. She looked around the area for any signs of trouble or if the team was being watched.

Detect Ambush [dice=100]needs 55
Detect Concealment [dice=100]needs 45
Trap and mine detection [dice=100]needs 45

Sense psychic and magic energy [dice=100]needs 40
Sense supernatural beings [dice=100]needs 58
Locate sound [dice=100] needs 84
Recognize prey by sound [dice=100] needs 76
Perception: [dice=20]
[rand=6735440952337105385185476045664838948535074215761417210981259307]

[dakota]

Jin pointed down to a single track in the mud. To the trackers, it looked to be a few hours old. " I think it's too late to go hunting for now. I think we better move on soon as we can." Shep suggested. He looked at Sam," Most likely on my watch. Sorry Cap, I blew it this time. Should have spotted it."


Tori found the boat same as they had hidden it.

[Renekin Skywalker]

Socrates made a thoughtful face. "They came, went, and yet we are all alive." He said. "If they had no intention to kill us, why did they not stay, I wonder."

He looked through his gear to make sure everything was still there.

Perception: [dice=20] *crosses fingers for something worth rolling* *and then finds out, after the fact that, with the last 3 posts, he might add up to a worthwhile roll*[rand=49430414541671852363479419230197878954551574972196059070805864193]

[Tori]

"Maybe they was countin' coup," Tori said. "It's like injuns. They know they can kill ya, let you know they can kill ya with a tap from a coup stick, but don't kill ya. It's an honor for them. Or maybe they didn't see us. Or they didn't have the manpower or firepower to take us down. Maybe they was just curious. Seein' we're Deadboys, they'll be back. They coulda set traps or bombs, too." She checked her possessions and the boat for signs of theft and sabotage and looked back to the team.

"Maybe we oughtta continue on foot. It'll help our situational awareness, and on foot's a lot quieter than Eve. 'Sides, we can't be too far from wherever we're goin... By land or by sea, we better git movin' cuz they'll be back for us."

Detect Ambush [dice=100]needs 55
Detect Concealment [dice=100]needs 45
Trap and mine detection [dice=100]needs 45

Sense psychic and magic energy [dice=100]needs 40
Sense supernatural beings [dice=100]needs 58
Locate sound [dice=100] needs 84
Recognize prey by sound [dice=100] needs 76
Perception: [dice=20]
[rand=3982300302856638409901127954412736158223614971664153826121123095857]

[Janxi]

Janxi continued studying the tracks, then looked up at Sam. "I wanna make sure we ain't confused about our mission. All Lone Star personnel got standing orders from Gen. Kaplov to eradicate all rats encountered. That means we do the whole village, from the elderly and infirm, to the new little pink ones. Male and female alike. I wanna make sure y'all don't have no problems with that and have some other plans fer us."

She put a nip in and rubbed her face with her massive paws, before licking them twice. She pulled on her utility cap and nodded to Tori. "Yeah, I reckon we can move a whole lot quieter on foot. Our prey seems to be travelin' on foot, meanin' we can catch up to 'em." The jaglion checked her rifle and gave Tori a nuzzle.

"Ooohrah, Shagcat!"

Tracking (for other targets) [dice=100]/60
Sense psychic and magic energy [dice=100]/ 40
Sense supernatural beings [dice=100]/58
Locate sound [dice=100] / 84
Recognize sound [dice=100] / 76
Perception [dice=20]
[rand=8993113824783352488207809779327972670790249611731526870068479584]

[dakota]

"And mebbe it was a scout doing a head count to make sure they bring enough help to trounce us." Shep muttered. " Let's get the hell out of dodge before it brings it's whole family to say hi. Besides, we've got a mission to finish. " He looked at Sam to decide.

Jin was watching the forest, his bow at the ready.

[Renekin Skywalker]

"I suggest the boat." Socrates said. "We will be a target of theirs regardless, so we may as well take advantage of it while it is there to be used. And, given their superior numbers, walking into any confrontation means coming up against superior numbers."

He was ready to go, either way, fairly quickly (assuming nothing went missing, anyways).

[Tori]

Tori nuzzled Janxi in return. "Hooya, Shagcat!"

"Well, at least yer true to form, Socrates. Any course of action we suggest, you ad-vize 'gainst." She shrugged. "S'all good. Ya know they ain't gonna see us 'til it's too late.

At that she began localizing her camouflage suit and then Janxi's. At least the 3D suits they were issued. She loved the chicken suits as it made each cat a very vague target.

She looked at her big partner as she camouflaged her. "My lamb and martyr. This will be over soon. You look so precious... You look so precious..." It was not a compliment, or even a statement. It was a mantra recited by SEALS when they were about to move in and "do the whole village." She was a shark, and moving towards a feeding frenzy.

Camouflage self: [dice=100] +10 needs 55
Camouflage Janxi [dice=100] +10 needs 55

Detect Ambush [dice=100]needs 55
Detect Concealment [dice=100]needs 45
Trap and mine detection [dice=100]needs 45

Sense psychic and magic energy [dice=100]needs 40
Sense supernatural beings [dice=100]needs 58
Locate sound [dice=100] needs 84
Recognize prey by sound [dice=100] needs 76
Perception: [dice=20][rand=2559967403873233432058653191332587874268819551390416581735150344712]

[Renekin Skywalker]

Respectfully waiting until Tori was don with Janxi, Socrates answered her.

"They don't need to see us. I'm sure they've heard both your marine chants, by now." Socrates said, calmly prepping his rifle. "And suggesting alternatives is not about being right. Only about being informed."

[Mierin]

Sam considers what the rest of the team has been talking about and, after a moment, shakes her head. “Our mission is to find Tim’s squad and bring them home safely and that’s what we’re going to do. If we’re attacked, we will defend ourselves, but we’re not going out of our way to destroy something that hasn’t harmed us.” Sam nods at Shep, and adds, “I agree that we need to get out of here ASAP as quickly as we can."

[Renekin Skywalker]

Turning to Jin, Socrates asks, "Jin, is foot or boat fastest for finding Tim?"