"It, ah…" Tarvek turned his helmeted head towards Captain Hernandez, the 'senior' human officer of the team that had entered through the portal with him "Doesn't look very alien?"
"That was the plan. In seeking a realm akin to thine own" the armoured orc pointed out to the human clad in gasmask and general combat gear "Safety, as much as one can muster with these dangerous travels, is paramount"
More than they realised, even if they were taking precautions and treating Tarvek's warnings seriously, especially in regards to plague, both natural and unnatural. He and Janet were protected, somewhat however strongly it was only ever somewhat, with the injections he'd given. But the stock of such things he carried could not be spent on immunising a squad of soldiers, two 'fire teams' as it were, and were instead to ensure to his own needs first and foremost. The soldiers with him as such were as well clad to keep out any sort of local trouble, in 'combat hazmat' gear as they were to return to their world once a permanent portal had been established. They simply came to 'protect him' as he did so, and then to return back with, at most, a day's stay in this plane. Ideally.
They'd likely still get put into quarantine for many weeks upon their return and a replacement, more 'permanent' team, sent through….
The human nodded, head moving to keep watch on his eight soldiers, as well as on the forests "There has been no change in the brief interval before our arrival?"
"Negative" Tarvek answered honestly, his pip-boy wrist-comp displaying a map generated by the three drones now in the air, scanning and remapping the area, the orc gesturing with his other armoured hand down the slopes, out of visual sight "Our goal remains the same, scans show a cave sufficient to our needs within three miles. Wildlife could potentially be an issue, especially if this is a non-human world, or non-human inhabited region"
"Understood" the masked human officer nodded "And they'll act different, more aggressively, if they aren't used to us?"
"With the predators, the answer is most likely yes" Tarvek could only agree, as there were plenty of signs of abundant animal life amidst the forests. It was a common issue with worlds where animals were unused to such beings as humans, orcs, or any other such species that might induce fear in them, and therefore avoid them. Instead the risk was they would see them instead as prey, or simply a strange scent to be investigated rather than avoided or ignored. These humans were likely picked due to skills at such things, but every Pathfinder had to learn that beasts did not always respond as you expected from your home plane.
He paused, waving at the underbrush "We will have to cut our way through in several parts, so it is best if I take point, doing that cutting"
'And guiding the way' Tarvek left unsaid, getting an affirmative from the captain, Janet falling in behind Tarvek as he pulled out a bladed cutting weapon from his suit's backpack. While there feasible dangers to his power armoured self, the simply truth of the matter was; he had heavy armour, sensors, and drone feed while the others did not. If he couldn't deal with something, then the others certainly would not. So, taking responsibly, the orc pathfinder did as trained; taking the lead in this, cutting apart overgrown brush and branches, checking for things like snakes, fungus growths, and the like as he forcefully made a path with blade and armoured boots…
--
{Pathfinder Log: 09.03.165 PLF}
{Days Since Contact Lost: 122}
{Dimension: Unknown, provisionally calling it Bridging Base Camp Dimension 001 (BBD-01)}
Have established a base camp and linked portal in this plane, linking it to Designated Bridging Earth twentieth-century, tech-based (BE-20-T). The escorting fireteams have returned there after I established the portal link, and a camp proper, with defensive layer was established. Replaced by what's intended to be a more permanent team of soldiers and scientists. These humans and their equipment, though the portal itself is concealed with a cave the camp is much visible than I would prefer. Understandable on both parts, as they are setting up a comms-sniffer tower, and, while small, isn't easily hid.
Such things and the need to establish a secure wall. Beasts are vicious here, and seemingly beasts extinct upon their world yet live here. Including direwolves as observed. They are afraid of guns, for now, based on the sounds, but that is never reliable. Tents won't work as secure living, so materials are being brought through from BE-20-T, and that shall be covered by foliage and wood as best we can. We still cannot be sure that humanity here hasn't marked this region as a preserve, or that some more powerful species has arisen, or beasts lurk across the land.
Unlikely I believe, but it is always to be considered. Plans are simple; establish a secure, camouflaged, based camp here, ensure the scholars of the humans are trained in using the now established portal. Then I and my travelling companion will explore further up the valley, likely towards that distant lake, and establish the next bridging location. That should ensure safety of this site, with distance between it and any explorations for I to the next realm – though that, sadly, is weeks away. Establishing this location was exhausting enough, and the local ley-lines need to recover as well, or else it shall be obvious something has been done here. We must also see to training the humans establishing the base camp here, and ensuring established of a concealed base before one even attempts the next stage.
--
{Pathfinder Log: 14.03.165 PLF}
{Days Since Contact Lost: 127}
{Dimension: Bridging Base Camp Dimension 001 (BBD-01)}
Found a body today during a patrol. Or rather the remains of bodies…hmmm…
Well, backpacks and clothes that were here years ago. I would guess they came through a natural portal. Group of at least two, potentially three, which would fit some missing campers from three decades prior on the previous Earth. Their scholars are very excited by the find. The remnants of a camp with faded equipment and torn tents indicating that it was their world, even without scans confirming faint dimensional energies still. Not good for such, but it is as it is. It does give further evidence that this dimension is uninhabited as there are small radios present, long since broken, and but someone attempted to modify one it to transmit. That it failed means they either failed or there was none to hear such cries for aid.
No matter. Building a bunker into the cave and surrounds continues, with proper filtering systems established as water is always a concern. Hence why all should drink beer. Anyway, it is a good and bad discovery, all while progress continues on both training Janet, and the allied team – though their training is more how to learn of this place. Then studying my work upon the bridge-portal itself should the get more adventurous than I recommend they should be. Still, such would be their choice, and all that matters is that my oaths are honoured, and that they honour theirs. Well. They have honoured material supply so far, though it an ever-present concern that trouble might arise when the time comes to break away from them entire, with mine and Janet's return unknowable to them in time. For it may be weeks, months, years, or never at all!
Of course I do not wish to never come back, as then promises would have failed, but it is always a possibility to have contingencies for.
--
{Pathfinder Log: 23.03.165 PLF}
{Days Since Contact Lost: 136}
{Dimension: Bridging Base Camp Dimension 001 (BBD-01)}
Animal attack today on an exploratory patrol of four. None injured or killed. Big sabertoothed cat was slain though and brought back for dissection and various study by the now base scholars. Took longer to happen than expected. I and Janet were further up the valley when it occurred, and there is much wildlife, so it must have been an attack of opportunity rather than hunger. While cold, these lands are not yet in winter, and much growth and prey animals are around. Hmm.
Something to bear in mind when travelling farther from camp to establish a new bridging waystation.
Meat and plant life are edible, clearly, and are large safe by my studies. Unsurprising as it is an earth, with similar evolutionary outcomes, though warning the humans they lack the extra protections I have, and have given Janet, as sickness could easily come to them. I blame their industrialised and overly medicated society as a medicus will warn against back home. All while lacking both magic and machines. Unfortunate, but workable I believe with some study and adequate precautions when it comes to filtration and cooking methods.
My own mission to locate an adequate location for the waystation portal continues, as tracking energies sufficient to power it, while staying hidden, means travelling some leagues from this base. Mapping with the drones has aided in the task, but it does require travelling and then the work of building yet another habitation area as we have seen arise here. Smaller and simpler than the humans are building here one has to expect, though they are supplying materials and my wrist-comp's nano-manufacture should allow some essential parts for a long-term security on the site. Underground? Cave?
Not so sure as yet, and ensuring a comm-link, should we be on this plane, back to this camp….
Haaa….so many things to think on and to do.