Tarvek stood, moving urgently, using his wrist-comp to activate systems as Janet also rose in concern "What's happening? Someone, these signals, have found us?"

"No, but they seek out the ring-portal, and through that…us" he said calmly, moving over to the systems proper, activating it and providing more processing power to display all the information collated from accessing the native security systems. The image of the local continent appeared, shifting to part of a planet map, as Tarvek demanded the systems tell him what the locals saw on tracking systems. Which was a lot, from planes in the skies, to various signals from satellites for media-services, but easily filterable "But something very concerning is happening"

It didn't take more than a minute to realise what should have been obvious "Whoever they are…they are hunting for us"

"Us in particular?"

He shook his head to Janet's words "Hmm, us as Tarvek and Janet? No, but those that made use of the stargate device…and they are sending warrior scouts to do just that"

Pings alerted him to various sensor bursts "I think they will find us"

Janet was already going for her pistol, locked away in a cabinet nearby "I thought you have…ways to prevent that? Like with Anubis and the gate?"

Tarvek could only shake his head as his, currently human, fingers moved over keys to input simple written commands with clear guidelines "To distant sources perhaps, but these seek us, and they may find if they seek us with such levels of power they must have for I to detect such scans from orbit"

Because there were multiple small objects descending through the atmosphere towards this city, and nowhere else…though such vessels likely came from somewhere, likely within the star system. What that meant was for the future, but right now Tarvek was growing certain that such a danger was now towards them, and the system access was sounding very hostile. Very unlike the Asgard of the last plane "We need to inventory every and leave this location. Grab your pack and we will attempt to quietly slip out once I complete storing non-native items"

"We're…" Janet looked…angry? Surprised? Frowny? "…just going to leave?"

Tarvek 'inventoried' a cabinet with stored items into his 'pathfinder compass', though leaving intact the assemblage of native computer equipment servicing as hacking device "Making distance reduces chances of being discovered and flee if needed. We do not wish such to know of dimensional travel. Ideally, they will investigate the ring-portal, then leave"

"You don't believe that" she argued back, but grabbing the prepared 'travel pack', looking at him as equipment vanished into the Compass extra-dimensional space "Do you?"

"Perhaps not, but…we need to leave here. It is not safe" he said back, as the various signals did not indicate such friendly intentions. Duty might force some degree of aiding the natives, but there was little a lone warrior and a medicus could do against a space-travelling species with advanced weaponry. Getting away from here would give time to think, even if such thoughts were upon what was to be the honourable course of action, as well under pathfinder protocols. Balancing duty and honour was always a trouble, for one must always honour their debts but also follow their duty to the League to avoid gifting away knowledge. For to be a citizen one must always honour their responsibilities before being entitled to rights granted by the Clan and League.

It took mere minutes to 'pack', leaving behind only locally acquired clothing and computer parts, walking out the rear exit to the accommodation where two native bicycles waited. Simply acquired and requiring no licences or other tracking, while being culturally acceptable for 'tourists' as they were. These models were rugged enough for the countryside, though would never hold Tarvek's weight if not for the polymorph that turned from orc to human. Within the remaining jury-rigged systems continued to monitor the local systems, transmitting to Tarvek's pip-boy wrist-comp as he insisted he and his companion cycle away, but not in a complete rush as this might attract attention at this hour.

It was slow darkening outside, with a clear sky above as they began to peddle along paths, though it was only a few minutes later that it was showing visible signs of activity matching his double-vision of orc in armoured suit with HUD and polymorphed human. Flaring streams of fire in the dark skies, indicating a rapid orbital insertion by the arriving forces that might be seeking them out. There was increasing audio traffic now, but Tarvek merely looked up at the flashing blazes as his systems did not indicate a very good thing about to happen, nor the streams of fire descending in arcs enough for human civilians standing around to loudly notice. He could acknowledge it was hard not to miss the dangerous things, though only he could sense the pulse of alien sensor energies blasting out.

"There are…." Janet mouthed as the stopped in a grove of trees in a park, eyes on the sky as Tarvek paused with her, gritting his teeth as looked at them again, HUD overlap flapping warnings. A plane was falling from the sky – a civilian one, as the descending craft were attacking anything in the air "That is…"

"They are hostile" he answered simply "Very hostile…I do not know what to do. We need to avoid detection first, then worry about offering any aid before leaving"

"Don't we…I need this…"

"Perhaps, that was the plan" he cut her off, urging to getting moving. They did need this dimension as an adequate bridging location, largely since he'd spent plenty of time and effort studying both and ensuring he could follow a link if he could get home "But nothing can be done if we are dead or captive. We need to keep moving"

Something exploded in the skies, likely another civilian aircraft, as it seemed there was something resembling combat space-aerial interceptors mixed with likely combat craft. Nothing very large at a glance, the streaks breaking up from a larger formation of flaming lines in the skies….

'Combat air patrol to protect scanning units' Tarvek growled to himself as they cycled, panic overtaking the native population that was aware of the situation. Especially at the investigation site of the ring-portal where frantic communications, and explosions in the distance within the city, indicated that alien combat troops were landing from truck-sized units. Those did not worry him for now. No, what was worrying were the other ones, the same size, that were visible in the skies above, emitting high-energy scans, seeking…

Something. Them most likely, or them through some energy signature Tarvek wasn't aware of. If he was a full trained mage or high-level cleric, or even a techno-savant, he could attempt to block such without knowing exactly what…

But he was none of those things, and instead he had to rely on his pathfinder gear and on making distance from those scans as best he, and Janet, could, as they frantically peddled their way outwards from the city…

'She wants to help, but…I think we shall be involved regardless of what is needed' he decided coldly after a few minutes, as the scans were pulsing out in a rapid pattern that indicated they'd catch them. Attempting to Planeswalk was viable, but would ruin utilising this dimension. There was also the unfortunate fact 'Have we brought this attack upon them? Clearly. Duty demands we provide some help…even if our hand is forced now'

'Defensible location…defensible…' was on his mind…

Till time ran out {Alert}

'Yes, I see them' he wanted to growl at his suit, pulling the bicycle to a halt, Janet doing the same as a cargo vehicle sized flew overhead, then slowed. It was a curved thing, organic looking as if a living thing, yet made of metals perhaps, with two underslung engines on either side if Tarvek had to guess what the oblong shapes were. Shields too, his HUD flashing energy signs as Tarvek paused amidst the street, hoping the thing would continue flying forward…

Yet it was not to be, as the vessel slowed, then paused, hovering in place…

"Be ready" he said simply to Janet, immediately dropping his disguise, throwing her her rifle-weapon, then pulling out is own heavy repeater "Get under cover"

He ignored the shouts, and screams, of fear from the handful of humans out in this 'suburban' living region as he recalled it was identified as during training. Instead his focus was on the vessel as it turned in mid-hover, seeking him out as one shape jump down from where it hovered above the rooftops, followed by several others in humanoid…armours his sensors estimated, as tentacles flailed about from them as they impacted the ground surprisingly lightly. Either possessing anti-grav systems he couldn't see, or they were lighter built than his own armour even if they were roughly only human sized or just above.

The tentacles rose as the nearest one spotted him, a presence 'sensing' him that identified the foe as a psion, much like the Kromaggs were…

Tink. Tink. Tink. Tink. Tink.

…and watched as long, thick, needle-like projectiles impacted off Tarvek's power armour's shields. Hitting them, stopping, and then falling uselessly to the ground. Holding his heavy repeater in his left hand Tarvek drew forth his chain-sword shishkebab…

VRRNNNNSSSHHHHHH

…and ignited the holy flames alongside the roar of the motors as the runic enchanted hard-diamond tipped blades began to scream their battle song. That paused the enemy a moment. A fatal mistake as Tarvek triggered Overdrive: Haste on his suit along with his jetpack. For them he was standing in there one moment, then a flying blur, fiery blade bisecting the nearest invader. The one that had just shoot at him, and the one testing their armour. Only to find it wanting as Tarvek's blade cut through it like a hot knife through butter, emitting a roaring, hateful, psionic blast towards the others.

Pulled the trigger on his heavy repeater, exploding one, then another, of those aliens that had landed before he directed fire at the shielded support craft…

{FOR THE WAR GOD!}

--