Tarvek ran, easily pacing the humans despite running in full power armour while pulling out a scroll and crystal from his emergency pack. There was simply what felt like an impossible distance between them and the ring-portal, even as the world shuddered and shook around them. Whatever being this was, or perhaps entities plural, were reacting by being driven back by the pulse of the Holy Word spell, but that would fade before they reached the teleportation device. His suit was still shouting warnings, but the overwhelming pressure had vanished, as if the presences had recoiled, and were recoiling from him as he moved as there was pressure everywhere…but it eased off where they ran forward.

He only needed a few minutes, so he prayed it was the lingering effects of the spell as he brought forth the next one, to shield minds and souls from taint and corruption. Perhaps further driving off the being(s) enough to make their escape safely. Tarvek knew he was no mage, but he was skilled enough to use scrolls and tools of the trade; it was his role for such dangerous tasks as this, as well as support medicus. Let alone having trained as a shaman as a child, so he thanked his God for those things as he desperately called forth the stored power in the scroll and crystal. High level abjuration magic. A spell that ignited over him and the four humans in a sphere of silver-blue lines, symbols, and whispering song that brought forth Fortress of the Mind and Soul as their instructors called it. Tarvek never had need to use it till now…

But now was crazy, and he was shouting at the humans he realised as they paused in entering 'codes' into the ring-device, and he didn't care they were fleeing to their world. They had to go. They had to go now.

They could see what was around them now, as the strange entity and pressure recoiled again, but was also visible and audible in the material plane as whatever it was raged around them like a storm. Ghosts of the city that was dead walked, woken perhaps, even enough for the humans to notice. Seeing the storm that was, yet was not, occurring around them. Frightened. Something was scared, recoiling from them as the ring-device began to ignite, and some code had to be sent to open a defence…

'Dammit, just when you want them to be sloppy' Tarvek growled, one had gripping at his armoured chest, under which is Compass was flaring and pulsing as he prayed and drew strength from it. Or if he needed to run by that means, bad as it might be. But the shimmering barrier of white and blue and silver rose up and around them, visible amidst the sudden influx of higher planes energy as whatever it was…retreated from it bizarrely, a strange feeling of panic trrying to creep through. But the barrier shone, a mere reflection of the secondary effects of the spell as the main spell shielded his mind and soul, and the four humans, from scrying and possession attempts. Burning precious resources to do so. But the ring-portal was safe, Tarvek's shields flaring as he grabbed the last two humans and running through after the first two entered. No time to wait…

"HOLD YOUR FIRE!"

…and there was a small force of assault rifle armed humans on the other side as the whooshing and rippling strangeness of the ring travel came and went, his armoured feet stepping unto a metal walkway. Where, at the bottom of that walkway, were all those armed humans pointing guns at them while a voice on loudspeaker called for them not to shoot him at least. A natural reaction as he was towering over them, though their fellow 'tau'ri' stood between them and him, and he dropped the two he'd grabbed as he took a step forward as the male voice continued to call out "CLOSE THE IRIS!"

Tarvek ignored that, dropping his heavy repeater for a moment, one armoured hand on his chest, over where his Compass was, falling to one knee as he turned, other hand raised to the ring-device. A metal…no, a series of metal plates shifted out of the edges of the ring, shifting inwards to form a covering-gate. It was a good design, a good idea, but no runes were upon, nor no energy barrier. Desperately Tarvel reached out to the little aerial drone he'd almost forgotten about, accessing its systems and drawing it in a suicide attack at the dial device for the ring-portal. Used it as a missile in case those…things…decided to follow them through in the way of wraiths even as he prayed, focused on his basic level spells of protection as well. Let the suit guide in the strike on the dialler even as he focused on defending the ring-exit with a barrier, using the metal shield as a focus.

On his HUD the drone descended, getting closer and closer to the dialler. Going to static, followed by the portal ending, nothing coming through…

Tarvek starred a moment, breathing hard inside his suit, then allowing his arms to fall to the metal of the sloped walkway. Momentarily the armed humans. Their light weapons wouldn't even dent his armour he made a guess at, and…oh, gods, what in the Lord's name had that been?

Huh…a bald human had emerged with others, demanding answers…

"…don't know General, there was…ugh…somethings, and…"

Tarvek breathed hard, starring at the ground, barely noticing his speakers were on as Major whatever was telling General whatshisname nothing important. Oh…they were saying things to him. Likely about what happened…

He…

He…

"I need a moment" was all he could say, trying to calm the beating of his war-drum beat of heartbeat, eyes constantly flicking the HUD and watching for any sign that something had followed "Just…a moment!"

Nothing. All readings were nominal for what he'd seen so far on this plane. Apart from the giant deathtrap he'd just been sent into of course!

'Yes….hazard pay. Let's talk about that!' Tarvek told himself, focusing on that, forcing him to stand back up, albeit very slowly and carefully. Doing so suddenly might get scared and trigger-happy humans shooting after all "I will say this. As a first missions go, for our deal, this counts high in attempts to get me killed General"

The man was brave was certainly, starring Tarvek down despite Tarvek now standing in power armour like a titan amongst them all, as he looked up with the simple demand of "What in god's name just happened?"

"You sent your team to a planet with an Omega-level Extra-Dimensional Manifestation" Tarvek forced himself to say calmly "I will supply you with all my combat footage. Whatever destroyed that world is still there. It momentarily possessed your team"

"Is…that…" it was the female, Laurel, who had seemed the more learned of the four he'd been with, that spoke looking confused where she stood as weapons in the platoon of armed soldiers nearby were lowered "I feel fine, guys?"

The other three nodded, and Tarvek cut them off, training asserting itself as he made a cutting gesture with his right hand, for emphasis to the General person. Pathfinders after such…no armour…an actual possession, however brief…

"You are….they are not fine" he stated simply "I am in a full protection combat suit, and my ward-systems were being overwhelmed. You…you were possessed. Even if for mere seconds. Protocol dictates…"

Tarvek forced himself to stop, to calm, as they were at least listening. Albeit soldiers were watching their returned colleagues warily, and a silent alert for medical support was sent he noticed "Not yours. I apologise for my presumption. But, I recommend monitoring for a reasonable period for medical, mental, and spiritual influences that are external to yourselves. You, they, have encountered an entity, or entities even, as my systems couldn't tell because of the sheer level of the manifestation. I…request a formal meeting. I will handover the data now. I must discuss quarantine and monitoring needs. Please"

The General was frowning, studying him in his armour, then with concern for his team "How serious?"

"They could be absolutely fine as they say" Tarvek answered bluntly "Or in the coming weeks they may suddenly be attempting blood orgies after murdering puppies in the name of summoning their new dark gods. I cannot say. I am just a soldier, not a full medicus or trained mind-healer"

Yes, he was part-trained, but this was far above his level, and Tarvek would not dare claim such with something as dangerous as this. Were they marked? Should he just run from this dimension?

Such levels of a deity arriving was just…too unpredictable in what the results were to simply act like a fool, or without thinking. Here, in a bunker room filled with soldiers who knew nothing…and likely best to know nothing…it was best to think before acting. That and giving these humans, who clearly no hells-damned idea what they were dealing with, some bloody well idea of the dangers of this sort of situation…

--