[ Archeologist camp, Walder / September 20, 0078 07:04 ]
"What part of 'immediately' did you not understand?" Teana scowled in frustration.
She was talking with Doctor Kerax, a middle-aged dark-haired woman. Other sleepy, murmuring scientists assembled around them.
"We got the Admiral's message, but we didn't realize it was this urgent… The Admiral didn't tell us more. What exactly is it we are running from, Major?"
"It's the Cradle, Doctor. It has found this place."
The murmuring abruptly ceased.
"Oh. God," Dr. Kerax whispered.
"Now, Doctor, can you please get packing? Take only essential things and get yourself dressed for a long walk. Gather everyone here in five minutes."
Within moments, the camp became a chaotic swarm of semi-efficient activity. Teana, Subaru, and Lt. Pallas' marines sat in the eye of it.
"Major Lanster," Admiral Harlaown's face appeared on a projection screen. "We are detecting the signs of a dimensional warping. I'm afraid you are out of time."
"Understood, Captain."
"How far along is the evacuation?"
Teana looked around. First scientists came running back towards her.
"Making a good time. Everyone will be ready for evac in T minus three minutes."
"Good luck, Major, we are waiting for you up here."
"Thank you, Sir."
The group was now almost complete. Grim men and women with baggy red eyes clutched whatever pieces of equipment and material they could grab. She felt sorry for them.
The last stragglers were apprehended from their tents.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Teana raised her voice. "Is everyone here? Please gather as close to me as you can. I will signal Claudia to teleport us all out of here, so I don't want anyone left behind."
"Where is Professor Schwanstein?" a voice came from the back.
"Professor Schwanstein, are you here?" Teana called forward.
Nobody answered.
"He must have not returned from the temple yet," Dr. Kerax looked at her uncertainly.
"His assistants are missing, too," the same panicked voice from the back reported.
Teana's fists clenched themselves in anger. Slowly, she forced herself to remain calm.
"Major, we have three men missing…"
Dr. Kerax looked only at her. Soon, so did everyone else. It was the pressure she could live without.
"Pallas, you take the squad and call in the teleport. Lt. Nakajima and I will extract the professor."
"Major, are you sure the Captain…"
"I give the orders here, Lieutenant. You have that down?"
"Yes, Ma'am."
The Admiral's deadpan face appeared on a projection screen.
"Ground team, we have a problem."
"What a surprise, so do we."
Protocol no longer bothered Teana.
"The Cradle just warped in and began a high-speed atmospheric dive. It will be above you in a few minutes."
"I didn't know spaceships could do that."
"Neither did I. And I'm with the Navy."
"Requesting immediate teleport on my location, Admiral."
"Negative, the Cradle is jamming the signal," the Admiral smiled grimly. "That is the problem I meant, Major."
Teana raised her face towards the skies, red with sunset. She could barely distinguish a small star that wasn't there before. But it was growing brighter.
"Listen up, everyone. The camp has been compromised, so you'll have to walk to the secondary evac point. Lt. Pallas and the marines will go with you. Lt. Nakajima and I will go after the professor. Dr. Kerax, do you have a map?"
"In my tent," the archeologist showed the direction.
"Right. Now move!"
The main group broke into a jittery jog. Teana exhaled very slowly.
"You didn't even ask for authorization, Major."
Teana almost snarled back, but Admiral Harlaown looked delighted. It confused her.
"I'm sorry, Captain," she mumbled, suddenly flustered.
"Don't be. It wasn't the ideal choice but I would have done the same thing. You remind me of my own youth."
"Thank you, Sir."
"You better get moving. And one last thing, Lanster-kun…"
"Yes?"
"Don't engage the Gadgets."