Commander Ava Munro - Long Gone
Ava Munro
((The Edge of The Jungle - Callis I))
((15.5 hours since crash))
There was a drop of several metres next to a slope of dirt. Ava went on to her bottom and allowed herself to slide down the slope onto the plateau below.
Silveira: You heard the Commander, go carefully and I'll close the line.
She took the opportunity to observe her new surroundings. It appeared to her that the incline of this hillside that led down to the jungles carpet below, was a series of formations that lowered themselves in sections - almost as if it had been carved from the rocks and the hill itself.
The ground was compacted dirt, a few shrubs and more yellow gravel - more splintered here possibly due to repeated storms.
Imril slid down first, more gracefully than she had managed.
Imril: Everybody make sure you didn’t pick up any yellow gravel on the way down. No one wants a lightning bolt where the sun doesn’t shine.
Ava immediately observed her uniform; it was dirty, torn and probably more ripe than she cared to put much thought into.
Jaran came next and slid to a stop near them. Before turning to look back up at Silveira.
Jaran: Your turn, Lieutenant. I'm clear.
She noticed the humming first, nothing more than low static, and when she looked to the direction of the noise a dark cloud had formed. It weaved and bobbed above the treeline.
Then it swooped downwards towards them …
Munro: Noooo…
It wasn't a cloud.
Silveira: What the…
Imril: We need to add bug repellant to the shopping list.
Ava instinctively pulled her pack tighter. Her body tensed and she readied herself. Eyes scanned all available routes.
Jaran: Oh. Bug repellant. I get it.
She noticed Jaran remove the blanket to cover themselves and the injured creature. She cursed under her breath for not doing the same.
Munro: Get Ready!
Silveira: Swarm!
Silveira dropped the fire wood and raised his club. She only had her spear which would be useless against a cloud of insects.
Silveira: EVERYBODY RUN…
Munro: Follow me!
Ava didn't hesitate, she went into a sprint immediately as the swarm fell on them. She had to duck to avoid a low hanging branch and her foot connected with a rock, which made her stumble slightly.
Several insects swarmed around her as she began to pick up pace. The noise was deafening. She felt the buzzing in her head, a sound that she would hear in her nightmares.
Munro: Aaarrggghh!
Silveira: Response
As she felt painful stings on her flesh she spun wildly trying to free herself from the attack. Her sense of coordination failed her and she stumbled down another slope and rolled across the ground. Which did help her evade the swarm.
She heard a crash and then a scream of sorts … "Ooof!... Akk!... Aiiiieeeee!" that trailed away at the end. Then another crash.
The swarm had gathered around a specific point. She wasn't able to clearly see what it was that had drawn their focus.
Munro: Starfleet!
It was the agreed signal and the first thing that came to her mind.
Silveira: Response
When she heard the tactical officers voice she felt a surge of relief and then she noticed that he was alone.
They had lost Imril and Jaran.
She looked to the area that the swarm had converged on.
Jaran: ::shouting up where they had come from:: Commander Munro! Lieutenant Silveira!
It was barely audible through the buzzing of the swarm. She could see the aggressive insects move and sway in the direction Jaran's voice had come from.
Munro: They seem to be distracted for now. Are you okay?
Ava rubbed at the stings or bites that she had received.
Silveira: Response
It was only then that she noticed something peculiar that seemed to protrude from the undergrowth. A long metallic rod.
Munro: What is that? :: she walked towards it :: It's connected to something. Help me with this?
She pulled at the undergrowth, one eye on the swarm. She could only hope that wherever Jaran and Imril had fallen they were safe from the swarm.
Silveira: Response
As they pulled more of the undergrowth she realised that this rusted relic was some kind of primitive technology.
Munro: I think this is some kind of old radio tower?
Ava's eyes scanned the hillside again, her eyes began to notice the patterns… the contours that had formed. The hidden secrets of a long gone civilization.
Munro: I think there used to be a road :: smiles :: There might be a way in to Imril and Jaran - I think they've fallen through what was left of the roof. Maybe the building has some kind of repellant from the insects.
Silveira: Response
Tags/TBC
First Officer
USS Artemis-A
A240004LL2