Tarvek did a last weapon's check as prepared for a 'mission' with the humans of this dimension's earth, playing as escort. Testing out how trusthworthy they were…as well as having a way to secretly study the workings of the 'Stargate' as they called the portal ring device. For them he was serving as 'escort' while waiting delivery of parts and materials in the coming week to this world; one where he'd deliberately setup a visible (and also hidden) alert system should they decide to try 'sneak' here while he was absence. That might discourage the whole betrayal thing, or the simply trying scout out his position without his knowledge. Just a visible sign that he'd know they'd be here while he was gone.

"I am ready Major, whenever you are" he confirmed for the four 'Tau'ri' as these humans styled themselves, towering over them in his repaired armour, a small aerial drone already deployed that hovered with a faint buzz beside him "I am eager to see these ruins you spoke of"

'I'm not really, but the study of ruins interest me little. Merely in the ring, and in what other secrets can be brought forth to aid me home' he thought within his mind, standing at ease, armoured arms folded across his chest for now. The heavy repeater was in its sheath on the back of his power armour, along with the ammo-packs, chainsword, and the installed jetpack and extra fusion power cell for systems. Tarvek knew he was taking a risk in leaving behind the camp, the crates, and other items…but after long consideration taking them with him were just as big, or bigger, a risk. They'd cripple his combat ability, and he had the bare essentials in the emergency supplies 'box of holding' atop the jetpack on his back.

Better to be combat capable while able to planes-walk than carrying around hordes of gear that meant he was slow, exposed, and generally unable to fight properly. A gamble to be sure, but every decision was such now that he was alone and cut off from resupply. He could not study the ring without going through it, and to avoid them knowing that was his desire meant he had to give them a reason why he wished to travel as a guard. And had traded some tech with them in exchange for parts, future tense, as they had to arrive still. They were very focused on gaining technology and allies against their enemies after all; it made them willing to negotiate, but also dangerous to the orc's suspicious mind.

"Yes, we are, just here to pick you up" the leader of the four human team, Major Mansfield, answered politely, holding his weapon hanging down, held up by straps on his shoulder. Ready to use, but not trying to show he was doing so, then nodding at the female of the team "Laurel, you have the address. Knock on that door so our friend here can have a peek through the keyhole"

"Affirmative Major" the one spoken to had answered, though Tarvek noted her rank insignia was similar to the team leader's, watching on the HUD as she input the coordinates into the control device. It was a curious thing to Tarvek, as the ring device seemed to have an energy field around it that could be manipulated by mages or psionists he suspected. The 'DHD' as they kept referring to it was…probably a backup system, or perhaps a later addition to the device?

More importantly he had his Compass under the armour, against his chest, and he felt the pulse of those energies in his 'mind' and 'soul' as the thing gave forth a loud whooshing sound. Like water in a vacuum, watching as the not-water erupted out of the ring device…

'What a curiously dangerous activation sequence exactly like the last time' he could only speculate as the not-water was incredibly destructive, and was yet another odd design feature to a teleportation system. One that required you to stand back from the device to avoid the initial energy discharge as it formed a connection between this ring-portal and another elsewhere across the void of stars. Even without stepping in yet Tarvek could feel the oddness yet again, just more aware of it, recording it with his suit's sensors as well as with the tools of his trade. Then again with the simple drone as he sent that through, as the 'bridge' wasn't instantaneous point-to-point teleportation despite seeming to be so. It was too much for him to grasp unfortunately, even as he stepped through after confirming there was a ruined city on the other side with his drone and two of the humans stepped in and out themselves.

From a bright sunny morning to a late evening gloomy, from a swaying forest to a shattered city…

"Welcome to P4X-636, ah, Tarvek" the female, Laurel, said, trying to make conversation, and likely gain knowledge through 'small-talk' he expected "Recognise any of it from your travels?"

"No, that I do not, not with this mere glance, but I expect not from the ruins" he said back after a moment, visibly looking around, all while his drone started to hover up into the air. No 'tau'ri' jumped up from hiding trying to ambush him, and the four members of 'SG-17' were merely watching the ruins, looking curious more than any other emotion "This destruction seems old"

"Oh?"

Tarvek merely motioned at the ruins around them to the human team, and the Major who'd asked him the one-word question "There are no fires, and no signs of recent. Plus the grow back in spots"

'But very little' he didn't follow up with, still studying the feelings of the Compass as the ring-portal closed behind them. It was distracting, but the damage looked…old, yet the grow back and decay was…odd to say the least 'A radiation weapon perhaps? Maggs loved those'

Tarvek had fought a skirmish during his first year in the military path to the pathfinder programme with the Kromagg Imperium, in yet another of the endless skirmishes with those monsters. They'd fallen from the heights of the Second and Third Kromagg-League Wars, but their weapons had only gotten deadlier from his grandfather's time despite that…and this looked like something in his memories. What it was…wasn't coming to him straight away, but it was a strange mixture of destruction and non-destruction of what must have been a large population centre. Buildings were far too intact in this immediate area, and the drone got up in the air revealing the wider few miles wasn't just hiding a vast crater or something. The city was intact, albeit damaged in sections that he could see around him.

'No rads though?' he looked around, curious now, have unlimbered his weapon before stepping through, but lowering it now, holding it one handed as he pulled out a sensor spike 'And no rebuild…was the destruction wide-scale, and the damage just crashed vehicles on land and air?'

"Concerned? Or something to be concerned about?"

It was the female this time, as she was also a Major, and the ranks confused somewhat, but she seemed to have a better read on his body language in the suit than any of the others "No, just something nags at my mind. Whatever destroyed here is likely long gone, but the destruction is strange. These ruins fell apart I think, and not actively destroyed outside of things hitting them. Though that is just a glance"

"You seem to take in a lot at a glance"

Tarvek would have shrugged, but nodded, trying to seem wiser than he was "I am trained for such things"

"A soldier's eye big guy?" the younger soldier, Lieutenant Elliott who seemed new to the other four continued, fishing for 'backstory' as training would call it "Or just a gut feeling?"

"Perhaps both" and that was almost true Tarvek could admit. Something was…unnerving him for some reason, something feeling just…off. Though it was his training as a young shaman that was bothering him as they moved through the wreckage, towards a large, tracked, drone a distance away. He'd always been sensitive to the winds of magic, or the spirit ways, and this world was dead. Violently so. It was a necropolis, and he could only hope it was empty of the undead "Or perhaps it is the nature of being a guard to be watchful. I feel you are very under-equipped for such journeys as this. Just because the air is clean and lands dead looking, does not mean an easy mission lies ahead"

"Well, we've guns and grenades, and…" Major Mansfield interjected with a wry smile, but a nod that might be agreement with Tarvek despite his words "I'm told, hmm, that it's bad for diplomacy to turn up armed for bear"

"That does depend on who one talks too, the size of the, ah, bear" Tarvek held back a wince at his mistake there. That was an old earth colloquialism he'd just responded to, not helpfully with his other slips with them "My people would argue different"

"Ah, but not all of us are as…giant, to be that intimidating"

…they were making small-talk with him Tarvek mused. Not a bad strategy, and he engaged in it to take his mind off the whole dead city situation. They also were treating this as an exploration rather than being properly aware of the dangers of such things it felt to him. It was a role similar to a pathfinder's, albeit restricted to a single dimension, and there were hazards out there that weapons were not enough for. He would have preferred they had brought more supplies, and things like bio-hazard gear of some sort. It really would not do for them to be injured on his watch.

'Best not judge. Don't make them a threat to you, you idiot by giving them advice?' he reminded himself as they engaged in small-talk about their opinions and of the mission in general. Trust building and such…

{Alert! Alert! Alert!} his HUD started flashing, then his armour began to flare, runic inscriptions igniting across its surface {Aetheric Manifestation Level-3 Detected!}

Training kicked in, his tapping a sensor shift, the world going into shadows and gloom interposed on the ruins, shapes moving. No, one shape. A wraith perhaps, no far too strong a reaction?

His weapon rose up, SG-17 startled at his suits verbal warning, weapons up and looking about even as he spoke over them "Weapons up, back to the gate. We have non-corporeals!"

"What are…"

…and then a hammer of pressure descended. Something vast, terrifying, a hundred whispering voices, and shadowing figures all around as his suit began to scream warnings. His own mind burned, reciting prayers now, as something…no somethings…attention was turned towards him. Them. The four humans staggering, standing still as his suit shuddering, runes almost aflame it would look to outside observers as the whispers and shadows closed in on the wraith. Then on HIM. Like gravity on him, a pressure as his shield emitters shrieked alongside the alert (WARNING! DEIFIC MANIFESTION IN PROGRESS! WARNING-OMEGA! ALERT! ALERT! ALERT!}

'Oh Shrouded Lord above, I call, oh heavens above…' he prayed, but his body was moving, drawing out a desperate response as training might dictate, and instinct guided to an item. There where to store mini-nukes as he pull forth the simple sphere within, and then threw it to the ground "HOLY WORD!"

Spoke yet did not speak as the pure essence ignited around him, around the four humans being possessed, and then the world was a shrieking, squealing, sound of whispering-shock and confusion as golden light exploded out around them in a corona. It woke the humans, whatever was trying to seize them, body and soul, recoiling in pain. Tarvek didn't hesitate, simply grabbing and shoving with his towering form to get them to move, then to run as the world shook like an earthquake in response to divine anger "TO THE GATE! TO THE GATE NOW! RUN! RUN! IT IS OUR ONLY CHANCE!"

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