Aug 12 109 PA - Rasputin's third dino hunt

From Chronicles

It is a nice morning in August, the sun has just crested over the hills to east. Rasputin is waiting in his armor, but helmet off bristling with his weapons. Well, not bristling but he has several on. The rented old hover truck is purring away and all loaded for the trip. There are several bags filled with gear and a few boxes even. The front of the hover truck is a large four person cab, the back where the gear is stored is mostly a large empty flatbed trailer. Rasputin waits for the others to arrive, so they can all get going.

Pavel comes trotting in from the west. Trotting his giant frame on his giant horse today. He's wearing all of his chain mail, though the plate pieces and helmet are off, with the weapon belt tossed over one shoulder. He greets Rasputin with a hearty laugh, followed by words in his native tongue. << A fine morning to hunt dinosaurs! Do you mind if I leave Zoyenka tied up here? One of the boys from Little Russia is supposed to come by later to take her home. >>

Alex comes in at a decent velocity for a flying machine. Slowing in in decent to come to a stop hovering above the large hovertruck. Momentarily he takes a moment to survey the sturdy workhorse of a vehicle and ensure nothing is undully in need of repair before the long trip begins.

The vehicle, while old, is in sound repair and seems to be well maintained. It has almost no paint left, but all of the repairs have been well done.

Rasputin looks over to Pavel and nods, "Da, da. Good idea. Toss your gear in back, and I'll strap it down." The sound of the jets and distrubance in the dusty forces Rasputin too cover his eyes and look up as Alex comes flyin into sight, "Greetinks!" He waves, "Do you think you can fit in the back of the bed for now? Or are you wantink to fly besides?"

Pavel waves to Alex as he drapes Zoyenka's reins over a nearby post. << I'll be back in a few days, be nice to Anya, >> he advises before hefting his gear again and moving to board the truck. "Good see Ahlex!" He yells over the noise of the jets to the piloting compartment. << We need to stop at the gates to pick up my gun! They didn't want me bringing it inside. >>

Alex nods to Rasputin and Pavel as it completes its examination of the vehicle. "While I can assure you thi vehicle is in good condition and could carry me I think I'd rather fly of my own power just the same. Allows me to scout for you and let you know of things before hand." The machine offers.

Rasputin nods, "Da, OK." He looks to Pavel, "Dhen lets get goink dhen, anyone needink to make a stop before we leave?" He looks to Pavel, "Other dhan Pavel?"

Pavel stays quiet for now, just settling his things.

Alex is the only one other than Pavel and comes ready to go, no assembly required. So the robot nods to Rasputin, already starting to lead the way towards the city gates at a good vehicular pace.

As the group of hunters rolls out onto the road and begins their journey into the wilderness, a small bit of apprehension fix the cab. What will the group encounter, will it be man, beast or monster? How long will they be out? And of course, how much money will they make! The apprehension slowly turns into boredom as the trip starts to drag along. The first day, and much into the second day nothing happens of note. Just driving at quick speed along the mostly worn trail. Ever heading east towards the Appalachian Mountains, and the beginnings of Dinosaur Swamp.

Pavel spends a lot of the time whistling and singing off key, trying to get Alex to join in with a few crucial words here and there, but otherwise just makes sure that his equipment is all in working order. He really spends time hovering over the rail gun, as if perhaps he's quite adequately confident in the things of his own make, but perhaps not the rail gun purchased from a man who was going to mount it on a robot. A small brush has come out, swishing in and out of the firing chamber.

Alex could repeat the song perfectly in key if the robot ever heard it as such. That seems very unlikely in this trip and the robot is keenly aware of such so does not add to the torture of melody. Instead it spends the trip in orbit of the truck nearly 2000 feet away but always visible to give the other travelors a better picture of the land.

Rasputin begins to get more chatty as several hours have gone by so far. He is speeding along about 75 mph, trying to get into no-man's land quickly. "Da, so dis good no Kingsdale patrols, no Whykin patrols. Dis good day. We should be lookink for place to camp," He pulls out a large folder of maps and notes. He looks at the map and his notes. Kind of swerving a little bit as he drives, "Dis good, da. Another, ten or thirty minutes till we get to first camp spot." He looks at the maps nand his notes. "Da, close now, mink sure." He goes back to his driving, "When we stop, and make camp, I'll give you both your up front fee. I slipped mind before." He clicks the radio he has on the seat, "Alex, do you be seeink large clearink a head, should be on..." He looks down to the map, "Right side of road."

Pavel's cleaning duties have definitely ended by now, with the mechanisms all covered over with a gentle cloth to keep any new material out. Stuck in the back as he is, he doesn't take the chance of trying to stand up at this speed and possibly get whanged in the face by a low branch or other such unfortunate turn of events. Still, he does keep an eye out to both sides and behind them from where he sits, making sure that nothing sneaks up on them. At least he's able to listen to his little communicator, though he has nothing to add to the conversation.

Alex was behind thre truck when the request ot find a rest stop came. so finding it is not quite immediate as the robot has to reorient to do a sweep of the road ahead of the truck. Or two, it is gone longer than one would expect if the area is close. But the robot does return to confirm the dwarf's suspicion. "About forty five minutes ahead for you, no sweat."

Rasputin blinks and tugs his beard, dhen looks at his map. He mutters to himself, and picks up the radio again, "Da, da. Goodink. We will stop dhere for da evenink," He looks back to Pavel and in Russian he says, "Good start to first day. No hassle from CS patrols. Now safely in Federation of Magic lands." He thinks about that for a moment then shakes his head. He keeps driving, and heading to the confirmed clearin.

Pavel asks over the radio in Russian, << Do you have a map to show where we are, when we stop? I can't use one to get around, but it's easy enough for someone to point out dots to me. >> If someone could see his face, it would be scrunching. << Though I did spend five years here, and the people of the Federation were not the best kind to be around, in my experience. We need to be careful. >> He then proceeds to do his best to express the same thought in American over the radio to Alex.

One the rest area is confirmed Alex decides to scout its surrounding area next. The robot has no worries of tiring as the others set camp for the night so it can take its time to do several sweeps of a 2000 foot perimeter. Looking for any potential prey up to 4000 feet away.

Rasputin finally makes it to the clearing he was expecting about 30 minutes ago. He mutters a bit, and pulls into the large clearing. He chips the radio, "You findink anythink out there?" He puts on his helmet after adjusting the in helmet radio, then waits for a reply. He gets down out of the hovertruck, and begins to make camp. With only 2 eaters, this will be much easier than he thought it would be. He uses the truck as the anchor point, and rolls out a nice tarp as a cover. Puts up a few light way chairs and tables, then starts to drag out the food. As he does this, he says, "Da, Fed's are great. But dhey won't kill us non-humans on site either."

"Nothing yet." Alex replied at first over the radio. "Still nothing" came another report 30 minutes later. All in all the machine took 3 hours to fully determine that this section of forest has no large animal life what so ever with intermitant reports therien. "Odd." The robot notes on return to the now fully set camp. "I wonder if the river is poluted from whykin or some other deterent keeping animals from the area."

Pavel hops out of the truck's bed, stretching grandly, front-back, side-to-side, arms-up, arms-down. << Ah! That's better. The air is nice. Where are we, Rasputin? >> He watches as Alex does its thing. He does as much as he can to assist with the setting of camp and making sure that the grounds really are as safe is they've been said to be. He's not so great at it, but it's the effort that counts. << Should I leave my things in the truck, or bring them down? One is better for defense, the other if we need to run. What do you think? >> The question is posed to the dwarf.

Rasputin points to a table, where there is a large leather bound folder, "Look in dhere, I am havink maps. You can take a look. Mink think we are in the spot I marked in red, but thinkink we are further along perhaps. And dher are two credit sticks. One is for you, the other Alex once he lands." He looks to the gear and weapons as he works, "Da, havink out what you feel comfortable, while mink has never been attacked dis early, one never knows da." He looks at his ice chest and ponders, "What do you feel like Pavel? Somethink heavy or light for dinner?" He pulls out a pan or two and then clicks his mic, "Dwell Alex, perhaps somethink is scaring away da game dis close to Whykin and Fed lands? We should find somethink tomorrow, or da next day. Much less patrols dhere." Rasputin goes about getting ready to make dinner.

Alex nods and aceepts the cred stick. "Or even overhunted" It concludes in agreement. "Yes I imagien vthe further we get from humanoid influence the better the findings will be." The larger of the two Russians takes some significant time to think on the matter of where to properly camp, and decides in the end to bring his things down beneath the covering. Most of his things would naturally hang off of him anyway, so it isn't a great stretch. Still, as he finds his personal spot in the camp, the first round of one of his standard ammunition belts is chambered. << Night in the Federation can be dangerous, >> he says by way of explanation. That done, he takes a peek at the maps, hoping to find some common reference points and something easy as a key that he might understand. His radio is keyed. "Vahs to be leezahrds heer? Or ohnly fohr rhehst todeh?" The cred stick remains where it was placed.

Rasputin nods and says, "Da, da. Alex, you are noot needink food, da? Just want to ask to be sure." He starts to make a large pot of spaghetti, with meatballs no less. He looks over at Pavel and frowns and says in Russian, "Pavel my friend, this is a pay gig. You take that credit stick. I will not cheat friend for their hard work. You take it now, or else I'll sneak it to Anya and tell her it was a gift." He smiles, as he puts the noodles into the boiling water pot. "And after you take that stick, why don't you dig a small hole about 3 feet deep, say..." He looks south, "100 feet from truck there." Rasputin adds, "There is a shovel in that green box on the truck."

Alex shakes its head to the mention of food. "Not unless you have a nuclear reactor reactor i could plug into. Nothing like a fresh dose of isotopes to make you glow all night long." It kids before shaking its head to Rasputin. "Actually, I am well equiped to dig holes so let me handle that for you and pavel can save his energy for what he is equiped for." The robot offers, already moving to make the requested hole.

Pavel laughs loudly into the darkening forest. << Rasputin, if you want to threaten me like that, you would have said that you'd give it to *my* Anya, to tell her it was a gift to me from *your* Anya. HA! >> Once more, an echoing, good natured laugh. That done, he has no problem grabbing a shovel out of the truck's tool chest. Certainly someone adept at digging tank traps and such can dig a small hole. Just so long as the shovel doesn't bend under his use. But, when Alex zooms off to do it, he calls a broken-American, "Szahnk joo, Ahlex!" The shovel? Tossed right back into the tool box, and he returns to the maps, not ready to get in Rasputin's way with the unusual food, and with no other instructions. << Maybe... this river is farther out than I thought. Hmm. >> His finger roams over the map, his mouth mumbling about various hills and streams that stuck out in his mind. << Here, I think. >> A big sausage finger taps a spot on the map. The credstick is finally taken, quietly and without ceremony.

Rasputin watches Pavel take the credit stick and nods, "Da, good." He then ponders the words about the map, "Perhaps da road has changed some, or da river?" He shrugs a bit, "We will see as we keep going east." He eyes Alex doing the quick hole digging, "Danks Pavel. I was goink to ask, do you requires a rest cycle of any sort? Or can you take night watch without risk or damage?"

Alex shakes its head, returning from the dug hole. "I do not require one no. I have dual power system, one is solar, the other nuclear. So I can operate at night without issue for the next 2 years if I care to. Hopefully by then i can afford an upgrade of some sort." The robot explains before giving pause. "Well without risk or damage assumes nothing finds us in the night. I cant promise that. But I can assure you that nothing will surprise us if I keep watch."

"Hav spehnt mahny naheets een veeldehrness, Ahlex. Need, cahn be rhehdy hyehlp een eenstahnt. Noht trohbeyl, eef Ahlex cahn geev ahlahrm, Pavel cahn hyehlp." He strides over to pot of food. << Smells great, Rasputin. It's kind of... lots of pleasant odor for hiding in the night though, isn't it? >>

Rasputin nods slowly, "Da, but we do need to keep our strength up don't we." He chuckles a bit and pours out two large plates. He takes them over to a table and sets then down. There is even fresh bread, and a nice wine. He smiles, "And mink only knows how to cook good, da. Can net cook bad." He looks to Alex and frowns, "Dit seems there is always someone who doesn't have the taste or ability to eat on my trips." He shrugs, "Then, if it is good for you, would you do evening watch while Pavel and mink sleep? Of course, we will both sleep better, but lightly knowing you are on guard duty." He smiles and looks to the plate, "Please Pavel, join me?"

Alex nods without hesitation. "Of course. One of the many benefits of hiring a robot for such an expedition." It beams, finally finding a possitive point ot its current state of being for the job at hand.

"Mahny szehnk, Ahlex," Pavel says before returning to Rasputin's side. The Russian duo of near-giant and dwarf being an amusing one for any Kingsdale paparazzi that may have followed them out for an amusing scoop. << Yes? What can I do for you? >> Whether he feels more comfortable in his native tongue, or if he wonders if there is some secret to be shared, the fact of the matter is that Pavel continues in Russian.

Rasputin chuckles, "No, just wanted you to be eatink your food." He tugs his beard, and smiles. Then he grinds some Parmesan cheese over the spaghetti. "We both need to betters at speakink American, da. Or else we might get peoples confused." He looks over to Pavel, "Alex, so you are callink yourself a robot. Are you net a borg? Really some sortink of non-livink brain?"

Alex shakes its head. "I am close to a borg I suppose but no I am not a cybernetic organism." It replies, hovering near by as the two eat. "No matter how advanced, the brain of a borg is human, organic matter that the machinery around it must sustain. I have no human brain, rather a very advanced computer that holds all the information my brain had before I became a robot."

Pavel tries to digest the information about organic brains and computers holding a consciousness. It's not something that he tries to think on too long. "Ahlehx spechceeahl, jess? Ahl peepohl deefehreynt, ahl hav need heer. Glahd Ahlehx ees vhaht Ahlehx ees. Mehke sehf fohr tvo." He waves to Rasputin and himself as he looks to fill his plate. Doing his best to be all-inclusive, he continues in American. "Vhehn do see leeszahrds? Sehd vas tvo dehs, jes? So, sleep tonaheet, trahvehl tomahroh?"

Rasputin nods slowly, "In da next day or two we will beink runnink into dino's. Dhey usually are dery easy to find. Dhey are very large after all." He chuckles a bit, "You are very interested in findink dhem, da? Havink you net seen one?" He thinks a bit, and looks at Alex, "Mink didn't ask, are your weapons energy or rail based? So you know, we are lookink to kill with da least amount of damage to da bodies. Dis way we will maximize our selling price." Rasputin adds back to Pavel, "Da, we travel for at least another two days."

Alex shakes its head to the dwarf again. "Neither actually. I dont have so much weapons as tools with one newly acquired exception." It explains turning to show its underside and assorted compliment. "I have 4 potential 'weapon' arms to strike with. 3 of which are cutting tools which is probably best to employ. The fourth is a plasma thrower that would be better used inderectly, to her and trap the beast as oppsed to attacking it. I also have a grapple hand and air blaster which may aid as further diversions."

Pavl has said what his weapons are, and they're fairly obvious anyway. Not a lot of mystery to the man. He listens to the two and starts to enjoy the excellent wilderness meal. "Hov mahny maheeles? Lohng, to faheend hoohnteeng grhounds?" Then, a light chuckle to the question. "Has ohnly seen vhaht see befohr veesz joo ahnd Bahrt. Poor Bahrt."

Rasputin blinks at the big fellow, and then tugs his beard, "Do you have net weapons of any real range?" He thinks about this and ponders, "Dwell that isn't too bad." He shrugs a bit, "Well, that will be interesting at least." He sighs a bit, "Perhaps another 300 miles? Or perhaps 400? Soon da road starts gettink much worse. And we have to slow down a bit."

"Vohrse? Vell, eef ohnly slov, noht dehgehroos? Am noht een hoohry. Byettehr to gyet to leezahrds sehf, szahn fast." Pavel looks to both Rasputin and Alex for a quick confirmation. "Jess?" Those simple things having been said, he goes back to his meal, hoping that there's a lot in the pot. He does take one moment to offer Alex, "Could mehke cloob fohr ahrm?"

"No, the plasma thrower can reach 500 feet." Alex replies shrugging lightly. "But what I lack in range I can make up for in speed. Over 550 feet per second I can cover so anything out of range can stay out very long." It explains before nodding to the distance remaining. "I could be there in about an hour."

Rasputin blinks a bit and then nods, "Da, da. Gettink dhere safely is good, so we can hunt da creatures on our terms." He then looks over to Alex, "Da, plasma thrower, dhat makes more sense now. You could takink dhem down, or distract." He ponders, "Dough it is lookink like we are havink three closer range folks." He chuckles, "Mink didn't thinkink about dhats." He takes a few moments to eat his food, then pauses, "Net, net. Mink not discountink your rail gun Pavel. Justtink dit makes so much nose and a mess of prey, da." He thinks and looks to Pavel, "Kindink like a plasma thrower." He goes back to eatink his food.

Pavel's plate is nearly clean, and he looks to be thinking about finding a good, mossy spot to call a mattress. "Mahny tahlk tonaheet. Has looked aht mahp, knov vhere ees. Knov lohng to leezahrds. Ahlex seh ahreeyah sehf heer fohr sleep." He walks and sits himself down just on the edge outside the tarp. "Pehrhaps good sleep nov, see vhaht taheepe leezahrds, szehn mehke good choice hov to faheete, vhehn knov ehnemhy?"

Alex nods. "Is a bit early to cook the meat for the customer. Should get it off the beast and back to town before we do that. So instead I can use the plasma thrower to trap our prey surround it with hurting fires so it cant escape the attacks from both of you. it offers before nodding to Pavel. "Another weapon cant hurt." Alex nods. "Is a bit early to cook the meat for the customer. Should get it off the beast and back to town before we do that. So instead I can use the plasma thrower to trap our prey surround it with hurting fires so it cant escape the attacks from both of you." It offers before nodding to Pavel. "Another weapon cant hurt."

Rasputin nods and as dinner winds down, the cleans up the plates and food he prepared. He is careful to put everything not used either in air tight containers or in that hole which was dug. He sets out his sleeping bag, "Da, so lets get some rest, so we can be up early. Night to you both, da." He strips out of his armor, under his armor is a black skin tight body suit of some sort. His pistols are near by his head, but he climbs into his sleeping bag.

As they two humans take to their rest Alex takes to slowly circling them. keeping a bit of a distance so its jets do not disturb their sleep. But that soon becomes rather tedious as the night proves very quite with nought but the smallest animals showing on its thermals or air pressure sensors. As such the robot takes up its idel time as it would back in the city, pondering design specifications and potential modifications.

Pavel may or may not snore through the night. Only Anya and Zoyenka know for sure, at least until now. Having used his coif as a rolled-up comfortable mesh pillow, he's up before sunrise, perky and ready to go. Not that breakfast wouldn't be nice. He's not the first one to speak, but he is the first one to yawn loudly and crack his big joints. With eyes searching for the giant floating robot, he takes stock of the clearing.

To get a good jump on the day, the camp is broken by 7:00 am. Of course, everyone has a warm belly of Rasputin's excellent cooking. It was a full breakfast too, fresh biscuits, ham, hash browns, eggs, jam, milk, orange juice and even pancakes with butter and maple suryup.

Rasputin finishes packing everything up, and looks to Pavel and ALex, "Da, so east we are goink. Pavel, why don't you do navigation to helpink us with map, da?" He looks to Alex, "You did good scouttink around, dough be careful not to go too high. Net wantink to show up on radars, da?" He looks to the hovertruck, and climbs up into it.

"Just high enough to avouid the thicker copses of trees." Alex confirms before it sets out to scout for the truck again. As before it never wanders out of visual contact in doing so.

Pavel takes the morning in silence, keeping most words to himself even after packing his things back on board the truck. This time, he fixes himself a spot of safety where he can see all around, and yet not fall off. The rope that he brought along had a use after all. << I'll try, Rasputin. But I've always traveled by... well, I just travel. Using maps to move, this is not really normal for me... but I'll see what I can do. >> A small compass unit is placed on top of the truck's cab, right next to the map. << Okay. East? >> As in, there aren't any creatures of any real size forest about. Not normal.'

The forest are is fairly quiet, but Rasputin didn't notice of course as he is was driving. Focusing as much as he can on the now much more annoying trail/road. He is working his way through, at fairly good pace still but not the rapid 75 mph like before.

Normally when alex zooms through the forest all sorts of creatures flee in its wake. Deer, wolves, bears, just to list the mundane sorts. Of course there are also often bigger creatures that would not flee, but all those are absent here which is very unusual. "I havent seen a thermal signature bigger than an overweight rabbit for a long time." The robot notes over the radio. "You sure there is a prolific hunting ground this way?"

Pavel does his best to agree with Alex over his short-range communicator. "Vhehn I vas mooveeng frohm plehce to plehce, jess, ahneemahls. Mahny smahl, boot ahlvehs deer, behr, bohr. Hav noht seen ahnyszeeng heer." He gives the cap a good hard thump - hard - and suggests, "Should toorn bahk. Go oszehr plehce. Szeenk Fehdehrehtion has dohn somszeeng bahd, heer. Ohr somszeeng ehls. Boot bahd, Rasputin."

This day too, is completely uneventful, but now the party is firmly into Dino Swamp. On that evening Rasputin finds a small open area on the road, he comes to a stop and parks. With that he begins to setup camp. He keeps it more tightlyy packed around the hovertruck this time. Of course, Rasputin makes an incredible meal for everyone. Steaks, potatoes, fresh salad, and a vinaigrette dressing. Even a light miso soup to wet the appetite before the meal. Then the night comes....

Rasputin hasn't said much to either of your comments thus far. About all he has said was akin to the old Papa Smurf 'Not much futher' comments. Now, over dinner he says, "Dwell, mink have do truck for another 5 days. If nothing else, I'll get more of dis area explored." He takes a bite of his stake, "But mink agree, dis is dery odd. Usually we are seeink at least something by this time." He shakes his head, his attitude a little upset, but not too bad yet.

Alex has no issue if the dwarf wishes to continue on his path. The robot has been paid a bit in advance after all. "Maybe we should consider broadening our search area. I mean as it is we're only covering a 2 mile swath of wilderness as we travel. in terms of land that is incredably small. We should try a ten to fifty mile sweep. Perhaps with meat baits and maiting calls." The robot offers.

Pavel hops off the back of the truck in full armor, complete with gas mask around his neck and thermal goggles riding high. Even his weapons, all but the rail gun are secured in place. He might yell at another time, but now he's trying to be as quiet as possible, marching toward Rasputin, seething. << Why have we continued? There is something strange about this place, and there has been something strange about this entire damn region for the whole day! >> A small box the size of a deck of cards is brought out, and the he presses a small button. << Don't you think that this deserves a little bit of discretion? >> The box is waved at Rasputin, then all around the new camp that was set up without so much a bit of imput or listening to the guides.

Rasputin nods slowly, "Da, I understandink your dislike of da Fed my friend Pavel." He sighs, "Another day we will be out of dhere territory, and in da real huntink grounds." He looks to Pavel, "Mink have stayed quiet becausink, sometimes we find nothink dis close, dhough I agree it is odd dhat there is nothink large either." He shrugs, "Eat your food." He chuckles, "Let me worry about if mink make any more monies, da? Give it another few days, da?" He points to the map table, he always sets up, "Look over da maps, tellink me how many more miles till we are on the east side of da Fed. We will go a further east, dhen camp dhere. And start hikink, find somethink OK?"

Alex cocks its head slightly at the interaction between the giant russian and the dwarf. "Getting frustrated wont bring them back. Is hunting not a matter of patience and cunning? Not that i'm claining this should be expected. Rather I think if we are the hunters we wish to be paid as, we must adapt to this unexpected situation and persevere."

<< I'm not worried about finding something to hunt, I'm worried about something hunting us! >> Pavel continues, walking the perimeter of the camp. << Finding money won't do you any good if no body gets back to the deli. >> As he calms himself, he does his best to explain the same thoughts to Alex in a language that he can understand - not that the accent goes away. After a few minutes over the table, he offers, << We have about fifty miles to go before we're outside of Federation lands. Of course, it's not an exact thing, they don't put up fences. You sure you're not holding something back? >> Again, as this is a touchy subject, he does his best to repeat it in American for the giant floating robot.

Rasputin shakes his head and in Russian, "No my friend. This is a little odd, but I haven't found any dino's this far away from the Apple Mountains. If it gets bad, we will jump in our truck and head back asap. OK?" He smiles and then clears his throat and looks to Alex and then to Pavel, "Dis is odd, buttink if we are only 50 or so miles inside, dhen tomorrow we can easily make it out tomorrow by noon." He chuckles, "So, lets make an early night of it, da? Tomorrow we will stop a few more times. And if we find a good spot, we can make a base camp." He tugs his beard, and then looks back to Alex, "I didn't ignore your idea about bait, I know it does work. But, it works usually too well out here." He grins, "And I would rather go after herbivores rather than the carnivores which are attracked by bait."

Alex ponders this a moment with a shrug. "Is there possible bait for herbivores? fragrant flowers or fruits?" The robot then asks in turn, just looking for solutions instead of problems. Though the possibly of being hunted is a valid one too which it later nods to consider. "If we are hunted, and cannot defeat or escape our foe. Is it not already too late?"

Having no shelter and no means to escape beyond the promise of a hover truck, Pavel takes no chances. <> He shrugs, << I'll sleep while we travel tomorrow, for what I'll need. Be sure to douse all of the lights - or I'll douse them. >> Rasputin gets an acknowledging head-bob on the bait issues, as does Alex. But, since there doesn't seem to be anything to do save to protect his own life directly, he secures everything that he would need to defend the camp, then locks his gas mask in place, ready to watch over everyone in contact with the robot. As soon as the light sources are out, the thermal goggles will come down. He's otherwise silent, something learned from years of traveling the wilderness moving from town to town in his blacksmithing duties.

Again, up by 7:00 am, and hot down the trail. Further into Dino Swamp than Rasputin was expecting to head on this trip. But, with Pavel's help, he keeps adjusting his maps and marking trees so it is easy to find your way out, and back in again later. Rasputin stops a few times, sometimes to check out the path to make sure the hover truck won't get stuck. Sometimes to look for tracks. He seems kind of grumpy, as thus far he hasn't found anything himself. The day goes by, traveling further and further into wilderness. Patches of swamp are there, but not common yet.

Rasputin stops and looks around, he seems annoyed that he can't find any tracks or signs of life. Of course, he asks you both, "Are either of you seeink anythink? Mink am net seeink anything at this point, dhough we have beeink travelink for about 3 hours. We should beink out of Fed territory now."

Alex resumes its scouting efforts as they get underway and finally spots enough wildlife to notice a trend. "They are all heading south." It reports to the dwarf, the firstb helpful information for days. "I imagine we are seeing the stragglers, we should be able to catch up to the rest soon enough." It adds in conjecture.

Pavel grunts from his spot on the truck, having lost their position on the map during the course of the day's travels. "Could be good, mehbee. Veek aht bahk. Noht faheet hahrd? Laheeke Ahlex seh, 'strahgehlehrs.' Veesz mahny peepohl, could go een frohnt, mehke trap. Cahtch mahny leezahrds. Boot vould ahsk... vhaht mehke beeg leezahrds scehred? >> He slaps the truck again. << Szeenk good fohr ve be cehrfool. Dohs noht seem good, eef szehr leezards. >>

Rasputin gets back in the truck again, "Da, lets keep goink, so which way?" He looks to Pavel for directions. And waits for him to evaluate the map and figure out his barings. He says into the radio, "Well, dis possible we are on the tail of an early migration? Of course, we could just follow da tracks, da?"

"I'd sooner follow the animals over the tracks." Alex notes, leavign its lack of tracking skill as a given. "A thermal signature is all I need." And to that end the robot starts leading the way south to find a big juicy one.

Pavel agrees. << Follow the animals. If we don't know what the tracks are, that could be bad. As for direction? That way? >> He might not be able to use a map very well, but pointing northeast is no problem. << You pick, Rasputin, you're the one driving. >>

Rasputin blinks and nods, "Da, dwell," He looks back and forth, "Crap. OK, lets follw da animals." He shakes his head, and starts again to move forward following Alex mostly. Of course the tree cover is getting denser now, with spots of marsh starting to show up. By the end of the third day, there aren't any solid signs of life, but what the heck. Rasputin finds, well, he finds a dry spot. But not much of a clearing, to parks there. He hopes out of the truck, of course there is still plenty of light. "How about we look around, I think camping here would work. We can be scoutink around tomorrows from here." He begins to look around, to make sure it isn't in a low spot.

Rasputinblinks and nods, "Da, dwell," He looks back and forth, "Crap. OK, lets follw da animals." He shakes his head, and starts again to move forward following Alex mostly. Of course the tree cover is getting denser now, with spots of marsh starting to show up. By the end of the third day, there aren't any solid signs of life, but what the heck. Rasputin finds, well, he finds a dry spot. But not much of a clearing, to parks there. He hopes out of the truck, of course there is still plenty of light. "How about we look around, I think camping here would work. We can be scoutink around tomorrows from here." He begins to look around, to make sure it isn't in a low spot.

Alex can make a clearing if anyone desires. It does have a chansaw hanging down underneath after all. So it could cut away some trees, maybe use them to bridge the swampy landmasses. All one has to do is ask. Otherwise the robot is scanning the area for signs of life

Pavel hops off of the truck, armed and armored as he's been throughout the day. << Tracks? >> If there's anything there, the blacksmith doesn't seem to notice them, or at least not anything useful. His bulk causes his booted feet to squish slighly in the ground, even 'solid' ground. << Are you sure we'll be safe? >> He asks the same of Alex over the radio.

Rasputin looks around some more himself, and doesn't find much of anything. "Da, da. If we can net find tracks, dhen there must be nettink here. Da?" He mutters to himself, and goes about making camp. "Pavel, why don't you look at da maps, figure out where we are located." He sets up the maps table first of course. Then goes about making dinner. "Perhaps tonight, we will..." He pauses looks around and mutters something about needing a better hobby.

"There are tracks here." Alex notes clearly, gesturing to the foot prints left in the soft mud by something very big. "Looks like the sort of thing that would have a lot of meat on it. Heading Southwestish."

Having not found success tracking, but Alex doing a good job of it, Pavel moves over to the map table. << Perhaps you can figure out why these dinosaurs are going where they're going. >> He pours over the map, using his compass and pointing it in various directions before cursing a few nasty words. <> His little communicator is clicked on. "Ahlex? Veel see beeg leezahrd, eef cohm to cahmp? Ohr need to be ahvehk toonaheet?"

Rasputin looks up to Alex's comments. He nods slowly, then frowns as Pavel says that he is lost. He sighs, "Da, da. Dis OK." He mutters some more to himself, "Lets eat, tonight you get some more rest Pavel. No good you beink tired da." He sets up the food for the both of them, then sits down to eat. Tonight's meal is a little lighter, a borscht soup with fresh wild grain rice and baklava for desert. And ice tea to drink.

"All the tracks are leaving, no tracks come this way. So its unlikely that it would come back." Alex notes with a shake of its head. "Regardless if it has a thermal signature I can see it at 2000 feet. And even if it doesnt i can feel it moving through the air within 60 feet. It is literally imposible to catch me by surprise." The robot explains confidently.

"Nehvehr good seh absoloot, Ahlex," Pavel offers as some life information that he's gained. The meal is certainly appreciated, though he can't help but wonder, << Maybe you could bring back more meat, if you hadn't brought a kitchen? >> That said, he makes ready to sleep at the firmest spot he can find. No sense in waking up to find that you've sunk into the ground.

Rasputin also gets ready for bed. He of course makes sure to pack up everything first. Then he does one last look around the camp, and slides into his bag for the night. In the morning he makes a bit of a breakfast and then begins to pack up. "Pavel ,why don't you take another look at da maps, da?" He looks at his own compass, and then at the maps for a moment. He tugs his beard and moves on to double check the truck, "Mink sayink one more day, South or southwest?" He shrugs.

"Southwest is were most of the tracks go." Alex notes as the two fleshy ones get ready for their needed rest. "Tomorrow I can start searching wide in earnest. Hopefully find either them or suitable bait."

"Eh," Pavel grunts. "Dos noht mehke mohr sense szaht yehstehrdeh. Nohr sooprahees, no? Sehm eenfohrmehtion." He does his best to help out with loading the truck again, tying himself loosely but safely with the directional equipment. <>

Rasputin mutters, "Da, we will follow da tracks if we can." He climbs into the hover truck, "Mountink up." He heads off, in what they all think is south-east... After a few hours, he stops, and jumps out to look around. "Lets spread out a little, and looking for any signs of anythink, da?"

"Um the tracks go this way guys?" Alex notes as Rasputin takes the truck pretty much perpendicular to the direction the seem to ought to take. Thios gives the robot pause, should it follow its employer's actions or wishes when they differ? It takes a moment to cionsider the conundrum and waits for further input.

As they continue throughout the day, Pavel continues to do his best at reading the maps. When they eventually halt once more, he stays up in the bed for a while before bringing down a huge fist on the top of the cab. Hope nobody notices the dent when it's returned. << I don't know why, but we're not anywhere that I thought we were. Not sure how far, exactly, but nothing is adding up correctly. But knowing where you are not is just as good a place to start as knowing where you are, >> he offers optimistically. "Ahlex, dohs see ahnyszeeng? Beeg leezahrd trahks?" He adds on, <>

Rasputin shakes his head as he hears from Pavel. He chimes into the radio finally,"Da, da Alex. Mink know." He shakes his head, "Dis is startink to make no sense." He looks around, "OK, lets spreadink out." Rasputin is starting to get really frustrated. Tracks going one way, nothing behind them really. No large animals. Rasputin finds a small bush of edible berries, "Da, dwell dis is somthink." He picks a few and tests them.

Alex still does not understand the methods of the organics. But the dwarf did say tio spread out so the mecha can induklge that objective and follow the tracks it found. Or try to anyway. coupled with its very fine tuned sensors it should have a good chance of finding something to the south west.

Pavel eventually hops off the truck and promptly sinks up to mid-calf in the mushy ground. << Hmm. It will be very hard to track anything here, I would think. At least for me. Hard to leave traces on the surface of water, unless it's ice. >> His opinion of the berries is shared, and he takes a few to enjoy, not that they go any distance to filling his belly. He keys his communicator again. "Mehbee should go bahk to ceety? Has been lohng taheeme ouvt heer, sehme taheem gyeht bahk. Not knov hov mooch food, ohr oszehr seengs. Noht maheend, ohnly seh fohr sohmszeeng szeenk abouvt."

Rasputin mounts back up into truck, a new box filled with fresh raspberries. He sighs, "OK, da, If we don't find anythink by end of tomorrow, dhen we will turn back. Just another few hours. We camp, dhen hike around new parkink spot for da day." He sighs and bangs his fist with a little frustration, "Dis time, dhich way Alex? Mink will follow you for rest of day."

Alex is still over to the southwest. looking for the creature whose tracks it promptly lost. "Over this way, follow the smoke to the burning bush." It notes before giving a tree a spurt of plasma to bring the others back on the track with atleast a chance of finding something. The mecha continues on its search as well.

Pavel stays up on top, having climbed out of the marsh in wet boots. His eyes aren't meant for tracking, and certainly not in this kind of terrain. At least it's not a full swamp with trees to get in the way. Somehow, he manages to keep track of where they're going, informing both of his companions as he does so. Since Alex and Rasputin are already busy with driving and flying, he simply notes the smoke on the map as best he can from the original point of 'I don't know where we are.'

Well, the first four days have almost done and gone. He seems to be very discouraged by the money he has laid out for this five day long Sunday drive out in the country side. There hasnt been any real signs of large game, not tracks. And well, nothing of any real note to even write home about. So far, with two days to go, this trip is a bust.

Rasputin swings to the south-west and heads for the small plum of smoke he sees on the horizon. He quickly adjusts course a few times, as the marsh is getting worse now. After another few hours of heading south-west, he gets Alex to help him find a spot for the night. He jumps down and begins to look around again, "Dis as good as any to be doink base camp tomorrows."

Ahead Alex lights up another tree, leading the trailing group to the sight of an apprent battle between beast. Little but tracks and blood remain, but the tracks are big enough, nearly a foot across. Eager with the hunt now the robot trys to follow the trail further and hopefully find predotor and prey still intact.

Pavel jumps off the truck and sinks even deeper into the soil this time, though without complaint. He's had to travel like this before, and worse. Blood and evidence of a brawl is something to be investigated, and he sloshes his way over to where his two companions are examining it. He suggests to Alex, "Szees noht pahrt of treheyl vas follov. Sohmszeeng deefehrehnt deed faheete heer. Treheyl? Ovehr?" He looks around, then shrugs, not knowing where the trail is, just that this isn't it. << There's some clean water over here, Rasputin. I'm sleeping on the truck tonight. >>

Rasputin looks around and he too decides to sleep on the truck. He calls to Alex, "What else id you find out dhere? Perhaps in da mornink, we can try to follow da trail?" He ends up making just a small meal tonight for both him and Pavel. "Alex, why don't you comink in and not hover tonight. Maybe, dis small food mink cookink will attract it back?" His voice is kind of gruff but not too bad.

Alex eyes the ground, not looking to like the effect it is having on Rasputin and Pavels boots. So when invited to land it intead finds a sturdy tree to rest in a shut its engines down for the evening.

<< If you want fire, I can give you that. A big fire, even. Or a very big fire, >> Pavel says to his Russian friend. Being a boisterous kind of guy, he's still clearly in good spirits. The tools to Laramy have already waited, they can wait a little longer. << Try to smile, at least we're not hemmed in by concrete walls, and nothing has tried to eat us or kill us for days in the wilderness. That's good luck! All are not cooks who carry long knives, >> he says sagely, waiting to see if fire is wanted or not.

Rasputin shakes his head, "Net, no fire for now." He looks at what Alex does, and nods, "Da, good." He packs every thing after Pavel and him eat. "Mink not sure what dis goink on, usually dis area has lots of stuff goink on. But now nothinks." He sighs, "Pavel would be lookink at da maps for we turn in, just to try and get our barink, da?"

Alex settles and the tree bears its weight with creaking discomfort. Some small branches crack at the intrusion but otherwise all becomes quiet for a bit.

<< We were going this way, I know that, but I lost us when we had to swerve around that big thicket, >> Pavel explains before fluffing his coif for use as a pillow for another night. "Sohry. Joosed to goh vhehr go. Noht go vhehr mahp seh goh."

Rasputin nods slowly,"Da, we can figures dis out in da mornink." he says, his voice trying to hide the growing frustration. He crawls into his own bag. He looks over to the tree of Alex, "Do, keepink watch da." He rolls over and tries to get some rest.

Not long after the men go to sleep Alex notices something on the edge of its perception. Some thermal reading, 8 to 10 feet long. Could it be a fabled dinosaur? All evidence to date hinted they were finally extinct but now that may all change. If Alex can avoid scaring it off. So the robot does not fire up with the discovery. Instead it fires its grapple arm and air baster at pavel and rasputin in a quiet effort to wake them.

Pavel's eyes immediately blink open at the shot of air, though he doens't otherwise stir. Good way to let things know where you are, when you're trying to pull your wagon of things quietly across the wilderness. << What is it? >> he asks, momentarily forgetting that the one who just woke him from glorious slumber that involved his attractive girlfriend cannot understand him.

Rasputin's breathing stops, he coughs a moment. Looks around with his eyes closed, then rolls over again. He seems oblivious to the effort to wake him at this moment.

"I see something." Alex whispers over the radio once he here one of the two is awake. About 2000 feet away, nealry 10 feet long." It explains, waiting patiently and most importantly, quietly. You paged Alex with 'It is moving slowly closer to the camp. keeping fairly low and with the large number of trees and water, sometimes you lose sight of it.'

The American language perks Pavel out of his Russian reverie. He rolls slowly onto his back, then into a seated position, moving gently to put his hands near the rail gun. One big hand comes down to clamp over Rasputin's mouth, and the dwarf receives a quick - but light - kick to the butt. "Veech dehrechtion, Ahlex?" He searches for his own thermal goggles, needing a moment to pull them on, wake the dwarf, talk and keep Rasputin silent all at once.

Rasputin rolls over again, and this time actually opens his eyes. He looks to Pavel, and says in Russian, "Why are you waking me up you big doff? It isn't morning yet." He of course seems to just be worried about sleeping, not about whatever might be coming this direction.

Pavel's thermal goggles come down right after his coif and solidh helmet go down. At such a range, his hammer is of no use, and even his unique bow is inadequate. But the absurdly large rail gun can fire far beyond that. But after looking around for a while - even getting to his feet - he radios, "Do noht see ahnyszeeng, Ahlex."

"It is over there, coming closer slowly." Alex replies, gesturing wouthwest again. But beyond the the robot is momentarily powerless. Atelast until the creture is close enough to get a steady visual that would allow the robot to move around it without losing it.

Something in the darkness moves, but no one hears the slight 'crack' of a branch beyond the normal sounds of the night....

Rasputin sits up this time, he quietly gets out of his sleeping bag, making almost no sound. He knows putting on his armor is useless so he just slides on his pistol belt. He looks up to Pavel, dhen to the 'Alex Tree' He waits, saying nothing.

Pavel waits quietly, watching as Rasputin apparently does nothing to defend himself. With his hammer across his back and the rail gun hefted in two hands, he mumbles as softly as he can to the dwarf, << Let me have a little bit of your energy. Only a little bit, it might help if this thing wants to kill us. >> His goggles can only distantly pick out the image of what Alex is seeing. He whispers, "Ohnly vahn, jess?"

Alex nods. "Only one." It confirms, still observing motionlessly ftrom the tree and waiting for the creature to get closer..

The unknown creature continues to move forward, it isn't moving slowly but not super fast either. Of course, only Alex can see this at all...

Rasputin looks at Pavel and frowns a bit. He says in Russian, "Energy? Magikal energy?" He reaches out his hand, and focusese and says in Russian still, "This is what I will use to defend myself, but you can take a little bit." He draws his NG-45 LG and waits. He keeps scanning the horizon but it is blood dark out there.

<< Yes, yes. Just a little bit. Thank you, >> he says, absorbing what he needs. His thermals are sufficient to see the thing now, even if it might be at the edge of the magnification. "Could trahee to shoot, eef vahnt, beefohr gyehts clohsehr?"

Alex was patiently waiting for the creature to get a bit closer. A bit closer and the robot could cut off its escape in just a few seconds. And now that appears to be the case as the robot powers up and zips off after the creature. No doubt it will be scared and run, but once Alex reaches 550 feet per second that wont be an issue..

The sudden whine of Alex's engines breaks the silence of the forest as he zips accross the tree line. The creatures is suddently cut off from an retreat straight back. It screeches a load roar of anger as it does the very odd thing of charging forward, though prehaps not as Alex is now behind him...

The creature is quick, not Alex quick but it is covering 161 feet every three to four seconds.

Rasputin watches Alex fly forward out of the tree, hears the screeching roar of the creature, and quickly begins to cast a quick spell before crouching down to take aim at the first thing he sees.

Alex shooting off toward the creature is more than enough to tell Pavel that it's time to act. Making sure that his barrel is next to Rasputin rather than behind him to prevent unfortunate accidents, he aims and pulls the trigger in anger for the first time in his life. A noisy, unmistakable burst of ammunition flies nearly instantaneously between himself and the thermal creature.

Alex got the beast charging toward camp, good. To that end the robot harries the creatures rear, lashing out with cutting arms twice to encourage it move closer to the other attackers.

The stream of rounds fly down range, cutting everything in its path down. Small pieces of tree, bush and even some hide fly everywhere. It chews into the creature as it howls in pain. The impact causes bits of 'hot' material to fly from the thermal blob, definately showing it was hit. Of course, where exactly is Alex, how much to the opposite side of the creature is he.... Was he in the line of fire?

More sprays of thermal fly as the creature flinches away from the slicing action of Alex's cutting arms. It howls and spurns faster towards the oncoming fire...

The creature is about eight and half feet long and three feet at the shoulder. It has a long sloped look to it, as it segmented scaly plates run from head to almost the tip of its quill covered tail. It has six powerful looking legs, under it and a nasty beak like maw which seems to be salivating as it sniffs the wind for a moment. The air is heavy with a thick musk which the creature is giving off, as it swishes its tail back and forth. Flipping up from the center of the creatures back are rows of nasty looking quills. It definitely senses something is wrong, but isn't sure what as of yet.

It is running straight forward, not in a straight line with the hovertruck but in its general direction. It is now 1300 ft away from the truck.

Rasputin still can't see anything, but he see's Pavel open fire with that damn ranged chainsaw of his and hears the beast yell from his loud burst, then hears it scream again from whatever attack Alex has inflicted upon it. He swears in Russian, "Pavel! Careful with that thing." He hasn't stopped looking for the creature, but just can't see in the darkness. He thinks about climbing into the rig to hit the flood lights, but just holds fast. "Alex, report, what do you see?"

<< Why careful? >> Pavel yells, wondering why he should be careful with the killing the beast. His thermals are becoming clearer as the magnificently fast beast comes toward them. Still out of range of everything else - and packing the big gun anyway - he simply pulls the trigger of the gatling rail gun twice more, the disintegrating chain making some beautiful confetti that might rain down on his dwarven friend.

The rail fire blasts the creature badly, even though one shot missed. It stumbles a bit, but its stubborn rage keeps it going forward....

"Is friendly fired covered in our benefits package?" Alex asks as it easily moves out of the way of the blast that missed its target. "And it is a big six legged spiny lizard fyi." It informs those in the firing line ahead before making two more slices at its arse end to keeping it running into the fire..

Chasing the six legged creature Alex's pick swings down to egg it on with a slash at the hindquarters once then again. Though Alex notices sothing odd after the second swing the pick seems to be lodged inside the creature's rear. This of course is not healthy for it, causing a dying scream of discomfortas the beast tumbles below Alex, forcing the impaled pick to tear fully through its underbelly as the robot's momentum carries it past the very messily dead creature.

The creature lays there dead, blood and ichor oozing from its now chewed up body..

Rasputin looks into the darkness and grabs the radio, "Did you get it Alex?" He looks over at Pavel then out into the darkness as it goes quiet.

Pavel raises the muzzle of his weapon a little bit. He's quiet, which is nice, considering the bellowing blasts of the rotary cannon. << It doesn't look like it's moving. But I've seen things play dead, I can't tell from here, just that the heat isn't moving. Maybe we could drive out to look? >> It's a decent suggestion. <>

"Unless it can survive without a gastrointestinal tract it is thoroughly dead now." Alex replies, slowly circling the dead creature. its arms are all at the ready in case the robot is wrong and the creature is just playing possum. And Alex has no sense to tell if it smells dead enough.

The creature just oozes, and is already starting to just slightly cool.

Rasputin gets up, holsters his weapon and gets into the cab. "Da, hold on, we will be right over with da truck." He starts up the hovertruck and carefully manuevers close to the beast. He lands, and jumps down into the ground. With some luck, this section is more dry than others. He tosses up a Globe of daylight and reviews the kill.

The body, now clearly in the bright light, has been chewed to pieces. The hide is ripped up, hinde quarters destroyed. About all that is in any condition are the legs, head and section of tail.

Beneath his helmet, Pavel isn't sure how to feel. Happy that he no longer needs to worry about this immediate threat. But, <> A quick key of his radio, "Good kyeel, Ahlex. Byetehr szahn shoot."

Alex shrugs as they others arive and light up the scene of grizzly desruction. "Maybe not. But a messy and smelly kill such as this will attract more beasts to butcher. This was but the first, if we are in no hurry, the first of many."

Rasputin bends down and looks at the beast. He shakes his head, "Da, dis true Alex." He draws in deep breath, "Dis is a, " he coughs as the smell of the musk from the creature waves out of the corpose. "Dis called a Switchback. We killed, " he coughs again, "Another before, one day mink would like a whole body." He kicks it, "Dhere is no good hide or meat left, but da parts can be useful." He is about to start working then decides to put on his armor first. After he is done, pulls out his portable laser torch and begins to go to town on removing as much of the legs, head, and tail as he can. "You two, keep watch while I break dis think down."

Pavel gives a silent shrug, then climbs on top of the cab, carring the big gun. He does his best to play sentry, hoping that the thermals are up to the task. << If it had been daytime and we'd known what it was, it might have not been shot up like that, >> he explains. <>

Alex nods and starts orbiting around the scene of the kill as rasputin goes to work. Its sensors all directed outside to catch any indication of further prey before it happens. "Maybe next time wait until the beast is close enough to hit with your hammer Pavel. I will herd it there, my blades dont do a lot of damage to stroinger creatures." the robot suggests as it does.

Rasputin swears a bit as he screws up a few pieces, "Bah!" Dhis is a bloody mess. He pulls back, and kicks the darn thing. He shakes his head, "Net can be saved." He sighs, a casts a spell, and in a blink of an eye is clean. He does it again and his gear is clean. He seems fairly upset, "Da, Alex, dis good idea. Drive next think towards us, so we can see it. Makink good hits on neck or head even." He doesn't say anything to Pavel, until he calms down. He pulls himself up into the rig, "So, we make choice. go back to orginal camp, and see what happens with dis blood mess beink here. Or move further away, and come back in mornink?"

"Vould hav dohn, boot ohnly knev szaht lahrge, fahst cretohr vas ahttack. Eef tolhd deefehrehnt, seh to veht, mehke meet, vould have vehtehd, jess," Pavel tries to explain. << I'm up to keep going, I'm awake now. I'll make meat for you, if we can find it. No more rail gun. >>

Alex shrugs as nothing is seen immediately interested in the wasted corpse. "I think we should hide close, shut down again and wait in visual range of this bait for more prey to come. That way we dont miss something really big taking the body elsewhere to enjoy."

Rasputin nods, "Da, soundink good." He doesn't say anything to Pavel for a few minutes. Then in Russian, "I'm sorry for being cross Pavel. I thought I explained about rail guns and meat. It is my fault. I should have made it more clear." He looks to the both of you. "Da, lets me swing back to where we were before, seemed like good spot for firm ground."

Pavel shakes his head, unconcerned about the posible chiding. <> That being said, he lays the big cannon gently on the truck's bed and gathers his standard weapons around him, including the massive, blacksmith-sized bow and the hammer which is taken up in his hands. Trying to include Alex, he keys the radio. "Vhat leezahrd prohbahbly look laheeke? Cahn heet hehd, jess? Spoht good, noht vohrry fohr meet?"

Alex nods and looks for another tree to rest in, not wishing to risk tasking the same tree with its 5 ton girth twice. Nothing more embrassaing than falling out of a tree after all. The next several hours go by quietly, very quietly. Though, the thermal optics of both Pavel and Alex show small creatures darting into the large dead hulk's corpse, then away, nothing much larger than cat or other small mammal or reptile. As the sun just starts to crack over the horizon, all is quiet.

Pavel is more than happen for the opportunity to remove the thermal goggles, even removing his helmet for a moment to wipe and rub where they had been biting in to his skin. Why don't goggles come in sizes, like pants? Either way, he is quite awake - these are common blacksmith's hours. Of course, not being the hunting type, he has begun to idly hum to himself without even realizing it. Eventually, he bangs on the cab. <> Perhaps it goes unsaid, 'see, keep moving.'

Alex can be patient in its second tree. The initial hours of not gaining any new prey isnt overly concerning. Given previous history no predators were likely in the immediate area. So it stands to reason it would takre longer for them to get wiff of this free meal.

Rasputin sighs as the time rolls by, "OK. Dets head out. If somethink was to come, it would have by now. Lets travel for another few hours to new spot. Further south, or south west or south-east. Mink care little. Dis first sign of life da? Must be more further south." He shrugs a bit, "Da?"

<< Yes, >> Pavel says happily. He keeps his eyes out, tying himself safely again so that he can see all around. His hammer is slong over his back on its custom chain, and the bow taken up. A distance weapon, but not something to destroy a dinosaur. Unless it's a small dinosaur.

Alex shrugs, dislodging itself from the second tree without further argument. "Its a gamble whatever we do. Throw the dice." it stades, keeping its cameras keen atleast.

Rasputin nods and looks to Pavel, "Keep dat rail gun handy friend. If dis dino, you can always set it aside. If something more man like, dhen you will be wantink to have it." He grins and looks up, "So, away we go." He heads south-east this time, "Lets go closer to da mountains. Perhaps get out of marsh. "Alex, why don't you scan a mile to the south of us, we will make a parrell line, da?" He heads out, as predicted the land isn't as marshy, it is worse. In exchange there are pools of water and lots of trees. OK, now it is almost a real swamp. After a bit, he squaks the mic, "Alex, try to find us a dry place to land, if you could."

<< Walking for me might be hard, if we need to fight anything here, >> Pavel says, putting the gun back up onto the cab, ready for anything. << Slogging through this water to fight things with a hammer? I'll be honest, I'm not looking forward to it. But, okay, no you've confused me. If it looks like a man, shred it with the rail gun. But if it's a giant dinosaur, wait to smack it with a hammer? >> He looks to Alex, wondering where it will go.

Alex nods and doesnt take long to find such a place. It even does better than that to find an actual road. "Might be more men things up ahead, this road leads east. What do you make of it guys?"

Rasputin also spots the road as he drives through the swamp. As it is dry, and firm land he heads there. He lands on it, and gets out. "Dwell, lets look around. Mink never seen dis road before, buttink mink never ame dis far into da swamp before." He looks around, then remembers to put on his helmet. He looks back to Pavel, "Da, what you think? Do you know where me mights be on da map?" He scans out a little bit and looks around. "Alex," he squaks on the radio, "Do you see anything else up there?"

Pavel has very little to say, not knowing much about wilderness hunting or this part of the continent.

Alex shakes its head. "Nope nothing else at all. trees, mud, and trees in mud." it answers, scouting diligently.

The trail here is much more well kept, and there are obvious signs of foot traffic and horse traffic. Even, perhaps some sort of wheeled vehicle? As you drive that way, the ground begins to slowly slope up out of the ever increasing muddy ground. The threes are larger here, growing in size from 12 to 14 inches in diameter, to well over 3 feet in diameter. There is obvious signs of man all around, but no actual sightings of man. The canopy of the forest is very dense here, it is possible there is another layer to the forest 40 to 50 feet up.

Rasputin looks up and down this road, which has been discovered, "Da, lets head east along dis road." He looks up to Alex and radio's, "Be careful, don't range too far east infront, we will travel along dis road, find place to be off of side. Dhen start hunting on food." He climbs back into the rig and waits for Pavel to be ready.

<< Looks like a good road, going East, >> Pavel confirms with a look at his compass and a rough comparison with the map. "Ahlex, see ahnyszeeng? Veel be good hunt soon, szeenk."

"Looks like there is a settlement ahead. Or smoke at least. Between 30 and 50 miles to the east." Alex reborts pausing to scan that direction more thoroughly. "I could zip ahead if you want and check it out."

Rasputin nods to himself as if Alex can see him nodding. He looks to Pavel, "Da," his mic replies, "fly ahead but be careful, try not to get too close, we are moving slowly, will take us perhaps hour to get dhat far. Don't want to disturb anyone." He keeps driving, keeping his speed much slower than normal. He looks back to Pavel, "Da, people are sometimes having ranged weapons, dino's net have range. So rail good against people. Especially people who are shooting range at us." He chuckles and keeps driving.

<< When do I know to shoot? As soon as we see people out here? >> Pavel has to ask, << Or wait to see if they shoot at us first? Maybe Alex can tell? >>

Alex is practicly gone once the ok is given and back not long after really. "I dont want to be shot at.." Is the mecha's departing comment before returning unscathed fifteen minutes later. "The forest is pretty dense so I couldnt see very much. But it is definitely a settlement of sorts with about 6 campfires." It reports on its return.

The road is getting wider, more worked. The trees still are huge, but this obvisouly is a used road. There is even a broken arrow in a tree. And a trailblazing mark on another tree.

Rasputin nods slowly as Pavel asks his questions. He answers in Russian, "I tend to wait for people to fire at me. While it isn't the safest, I wouldn't want to shoot someone on accident. But I think out here," He looks around the forest, "it will be clear who to shoot at and who not to shoot at." He waits for the quick return of Alex, "Da, da." He says on the radio, "Sounds good. Lets see if they are friendly," he pushes forward. "Alex, you look behind a little, and left and right. Don't wanttink to be flanked, da? Mink have no weapons on dis bucket." He says, then notices the mic button wasn't on. He rolls his eyes and repeats it so Alex can hear this time.

Pavel nods, unseen by anyone, and draws an arrow from his quiver. << Tranquilizer, >> he explains, though that might not be much of an explanation for people who can't see it. << Can shoot at people if they shoot first, but not need to kill them. Well, unless they're armored and angry. >> He switches to his best American again. "Nohrmahl fohr peepohl heer? Leezahrd plehce? Ohr strehnge?"

Alex nods and has no issue covering the flank. One wouldnt want an army of any sorts boxing the group in unexpectedly after all. So the robot keeps a wide swath clear of activity other than its own.

The road continues, and then bends to the right, and back to the left. After what seems like, oh about an hour total since the road was found it opens up into a clearing of sorts. Still lots of tree cover, almost un-natural. It lets in light, but you can't really see up, and things can see down. Of course, none of this really matters....

Before you is the stretch of odd looking wooden palisade. It has a large wooden gate house, which the now obvious road leads right into. The palisade is perhaps 30 feet tall, and has spikes on the tops of each of the foot wide poles which are lashed together. There are perhaps half a dozen figures onto of the palisade, the bottom half of the bodies concealed. Obviously there is a walk way up there of some sort.

A large, banded gate is down, and there are five figures standing on this side of it. Four of the five, all have bows knocked and ready to fire at a moments notice. The fifth is standing a short distance in front of them, in some sort of steel armor. He has a sword on his hip and a long jagged spear which he is holding like a staff. It is obvious they want you all to stop, and be questioned. Of course the question becomes, what the heck is anyone doing all this way out here?

Rasputin slams on the breaks of the hover truck, and rather than coming to a sudden stop, like a wheeled vehicle it glides to a hault as the thrusters are reversed. The village is perhaps 300 feet away, but this is a large 'clearing' The guards, definately Native American types all raise their bows a little bit more. The small group starts to approach. "Da, dwell..." Rasputin says, "Alex, why don't you join us, slowly. As non-threatening as you can. We found, a dwell, a villiage." He says, and looks to Pavel, "Dis could be good, or dis could be bad..."

Pavel lets Rasputin roll forward without comment, with Alex zipping around the skies. Being stuck beneath the canopy isn't great, but neither does it seem to give him much concern. When the area starts to open up, he keeps his bow ready, and the rest of the tranquilizers as well. << We're out near the hills, right here on the map. >> He pokes one unique spot definitively. << Did you expect to find anyone out here? Looks like they've been here for a while. >> He does his best to quietly explain the same in American over the radio to Alex.

You want the giant killer robot to join you in a non threatening manner? Ok, Alex can try at least. No weapons pointed at anyone atleast. And the speed is real slow. The robot also keeps low to the ground. well withing reach of retaliation.

The group of 5 guards walks forward. The one in the breast plate yells at the vehicle in some language that odds are no one understands. With the blank faces, he switches to American. "Who comes into Cherokee land. And are you coming in peace or to be burried!" His voice is loud and clear. Several heads are popping up in the palisade, definitely not just these five guards.

Rasputin looks at Pavel, and squaks on his mic, "I'm going to talk with them. This could be good, or bad. Maybe, we could hire a guide from them?" He says, and climbs down from the hover craft. He takes his helmet off, and keeps his hands at his sides.

<< If I shoot an arrow toward you, try not to breathe, it will put you to sleep for a few minutes, >> Pavel says over the radio, hoping that no one is around to translate Russian. The increasing numbers of unarmored Indians in their highly-flammable wooden palisade doesn't seem to concern him. Not that he lets down his guard.

"If its only the two options I take peace. Save you all the trouble of trying to burry a monstrcity like me." Alex replies with a shrug.

Before you is the stretch of odd looking wooden palisade. It has a large wooden gate house, which the now obvious road leads right into. The palisade is perhaps 30 feet tall, and has spikes on the tops of each of the foot wide poles which are lashed together. There are perhaps half a dozen figures onto of the palisade, the bottom half of the bodies concealed. Obviously there is a walk way up there of some sort. A large, banded gate is down.

Five guards who were standing in front of the gates have approached to within 150 feet of where the hover truck has stopped. Four of the five, all have bows knocked and and half raised, ready to fire at a moments notice. The fifth is standing a short distance in front of them, in some sort of steel armor. He has a sword on his hip and a long jagged spear which he is holding like a staff. They have just asked you all to explain your being here.

The hover truck has Pavel and Rasputin inside of it, behind the hover truck is Alex the flying weapons platform of doom.

Before you is the stretch of odd looking wooden palisade. It has a large wooden gate house, which the now obvious road leads right into. The palisade is perhaps 30 feet tall, and has spikes on the tops of each of the foot wide poles which are lashed together. There are perhaps half a dozen figures onto of the palisade, the bottom half of the bodies concealed. Obviously there is a walk way up there of some sort. A large, banded gate is down.

Five guards who were standing in front of the gates have approached to within 150 feet of where the hover truck has stopped. Four of the five, all have bows knocked and and half raised, ready to fire at a moments notice. The fifth is standing a short distance in front of them, in some sort of steel armor. He has a sword on his hip and a long jagged spear which he is holding like a staff. They have just asked you all to explain your being here.

The hover truck has Pavel inside of it, behind the hover truck is Alex the flying weapons platform of doom. Rasputin, being the "leader" has jumped down out of the hover truck and is approaching the guard his helmet off, hands at his side.

"If its only the two options I take peace. Save you all the trouble of trying to burry a monstrcity like me." Alex replies with a shrug.

Pavel just stays quiet, not wanting to get his accent in the way of things. Though his unusual bow - custom made for hand-to-hand combat as well - is knocked with a tranquilizer arrow, he keeps it loose and more importantly, down below the cab and out of sight.

Rasputin walks forward when he gets about 75 feet from the leader and the guards, the leader raises his hand and says, "Stop." He looks back behind himself and says something in the language of the tribe. The four guards spread out slightly, in a formation like movement. They are now fanned out, about 30 feet between each, forming a line about 120 feet long behind the leader. Then the leader walks forward. As Rasputin doesn't have his helmet on, he can't really broadcast the conversation. He hopes that Pavel and Alex will still be able to hear the conversation. He just waits for the leader to approach to talking distance. It is obvious Rasputin is a little nervous, he is trying not to tug his beard and keep his hands still.

Alex hovers motionlessly inches off the ground with a relaxed posture. Its times like this that the robot's clack of capability for expression can become a clear hinderance. No charming smile when you need one. Since no one is actually pointing a weapon at Rasputin, Pavel sets the bow invisibly behind the cab and slips off the back, doing his best to do that part in plain sight. His huge hammer is left behind, but the rest of the things in his weapon belt remain as he pauses to consider moving forward or not. He certainly can't hear what's going on.

The leader gets to about 15 feet away from Rasputin, he sniffs the air and wrinkles his noise. Apparently Rasputin smells, or something smells. The dark featured figure speaks, "What," his voice is loud strong, firm and accusing, "are you doing here? This is Cherokee land, you are trespassing here." He points to the hover truck and Alex, "You bring noise makers, scare animals and spirits." It echos over not only Rasputin, but can be clearly heard back to the hover truck, though Alex's engines and turbines muffle it a little bit.

Rasputin gets a little unsettled, "Da, da. Prastite," He starts in Russian. Then Rasputin stop, breaths a little, "Sorry, we did not know of your tribe beingk here." He slows again, "We are tracking," he struggles over the gee sound vs kay sound, but is trying very hard, "dinosaurs. We are net," he pauses again, "not trying to threaten your tribe. We are tryinng to find large grass eatink dinos." He takes a breath and sees how this goes.

Alex nods in agreement to what Rasputin says. "Normally I dont thing we would track this far out. But there has been very little wildlife before now. I think more than just our noise has scared it away." The robot observes.

Pavel starts to walk over to where the two leaders are chatting. Just a walk like he'd do on the street. His armor is silent, but the occasional clank of the weapons he carries is clear - as are they directly, though none are actually in his hands. He's been known to have a way with words and a smile.

The leader's ears perks up at Alex's words, and then his attention is sparked as Pavel starts to move forward. He raises his hand, "Stop. Stay where you stand." He is talking at Pavel, his eyes intent and dark. Everyone, except for Rasputin, notices that the four guards behind the leader don't move at all, but their is movement on the wall, and perhaps half a dozen bow wielding figures have taken aim on Pavel as he started walking. Their bow strings are not pulled all of the way back, but they are aimed at Pavel.

Rasputin blinks and takes a small step back. He looks to the four guards first, but they don't move. Not too bad he guesses. He slowly turns his head and looks behind him to see what is going on behind him. He says in Russian, "Pavel, careful old friend. I don't know what these guys are going to do." He turns back, he says in American, "He means nothink," he shakes his head, "He may want to talk with us, may he approach?"

Alex is tempted to point out that bows and arrows have little effect on modern armor plating. But Rasputin is wearing his helmet. A truly rookie blunder tha keeps the large robot motionless and silent again as things get more tense.

The big smith stops as in structed, crossing his arms across his chest, and making an obvious point of noting that he sees the bows half-nocked in his direction. However, Pavel otherwise maintains his silence.

The leader smiles as Pavel obeys and then looks back to Rasputin, "So, you are looking to hunt brother thunder lizard. You all look like game hunters. Seeking thrills and death." He sniffs, apparently still offended by Rasputin's scent. Or maybe it is Pavel? Or maybe the engines from Alex? "Are you wasting city people. Technology users. Destroyers of mother earth, and father sky." His voice has a definite sneer in it. Those half dozen warriors on the wall, are now a full dozen on the wall. They all have wicked grins on their faces. And even soft talking between those who are close.

Rasputin coughs softly, as he tries to relax. He shakes his head, 'Net, net." He stops again, "Noo," his voice is as calm as possible, "we are huntink dino..." He pauses, "brother thunder lizard for meat and hide andink bone andink all parts, da." He says softly, "May I show you? I can show you my work." He starts to look back and to call out to Pavel, but stops waiting for the leader to answer. He of course is oblivious to the threat.

The Cherokee main felt it polite enough to converse in his own language so Pavel feels it only fitting that he be able to as well, though it might leave Alex out of the loop. Using gentle gestures of his hands to help explain, << There are more and more men on the walls, Rasputin, and that man's armor is not metal. I don't know what it is, but it's not metal. They look like they're ready to hunt people just for fun. Can't we go around? >> He then pats his chest lightly, addressing the Indian leader as best he can. "Dohs look laheek mahny technolohgy? No. Ohnly fohr rhaheed. Lyeht go, vee pahs szrough, noht be prohblehm." Of course, he's wearing his helmet, but the face is partially open and smiles never hurt.

"Um Rasputin, I would suggest a modicum of self preservation. That is what these people are about after all. Preservation of resources and vitality. So we should show that we believe in the same. Not wasteful exploitation." Alex notes rather technicly.

The leader laughs, "The thunder lizards are our brothers, not yours." He pauses, "Well not until you show otherwise." He says and looks at the large Pavel and shakes his head, "I know not your language. What are you saying?" He looks to the shorter man, and then back to the hovering vehicle's words. He looks back to the short man, "Your flying boat is noisy, make it quiet its wind moving." The leader doesn't answer his question at all yet. He looks around, "You have proof? Fine, show me proof?"

Rasputin sighs softly and nods. He shouts back over his shoulder, "Alex, can you reach the blue box, and be handing it to Pavel?" Then he thinks a moment, and looks, "Then if you don't mind Alex, land da?" He looks to the leader and waits, "Da, da. While they bring, here is some of my work." He slowly, ever so slowly raises his hand, and pulls out the white bone dagger from his chest, "It is Raptor Talon dagger." He lays it on both of his hands, and hands it up to the leader, "Please, inspect. If you like, we trade perhaps?" There are differently colored boxes strapped down on the hover truck's bed. Green, blue, red, yellow, and black

Alex nods and moves to take up the blue box as requested and take it to Pavel before landing. The robot lowers its shovel arm, jackhammer, and vibropick to form a tripod to bear its waits so its jets can turn off.

Pavel waits for the box to be delievered, then picks it up off the ground. He once more tries to explain their presence as best he can to the Cherokee leader. First, with identical words. "Lyeht go, pleese, vee pahs szrough, noht be prohblehm." << Raspuin, what's in the box? >>

The four guards who, prior to this were standing fairly still now are a little agitated. They don't like Alex moving around and definitely don't like Pavel getting so close to their leader. Visibly they tense and they all pull slightly back on their bow strings. As if on queue the leader looks back and shakes his head. They relax just slightly. Then he takes the dagger from Rasputin, he eyes it closely and seems, well... impressed maybe? As Pavel lays the box down, the leader says, "My American is not good sometimes. What are you saying? You want us to let you go, on our territory?" He shakes his head and laughs, he still hasn't , "Lets see what is in the box little man who wants to be brother of thunder lizard," He says again, with a sneer in his tone.

Rasputin nods, and then opens the box. He pulls out a suit of leather armor. It is heavy, bulky, but well made and able to cover a full grown human male easily enough. He lays it on top of the box for inspection, and steps back. "My friend Pavel, speaks American, buttink like me net native language. He wants no trouble. Net," Rasputin stops again, slows down, "I want no trouble too. We only hunt for leather, bone, and meat. We have many people at home, many people who need food." He points to the armor, "Dis is my work with last hide we got. But this trip, we have been 5 days with no sign of large dinos. Only Switchback." Rasputin spits on the ground, "And it no good."

Landed Alex is quite immobile, not really being designed to move arond on the ground. So the bot stays put and watches the second round of negotiations.

Pavel continues to speak now, smiling friendly as best he can and keeping up with the conversation. "Jess, seh lyeht goh. Tyehl vhehr tehreetohry ees, vee goh szrough, noht mehke prohblehm. Johr lahnd steh cleen. Good fohr ahl." A finger is gently waved at the warriors. "Noht need faheet. Ahl go."

The steel plate wearing leader tucks the raptor blade into his belt, then takes up the leather armor. He looks it over as well. He nods slowly, "This work is not horrible. Is not nice and neat like masters, but not horrible like children." He actually flips two leather tongs and drops his chest plate to the ground. It doesn't make a 'ting' or 'clink' sound as it hits, it sounds, almost like wood hitting the ground. Heavy, dense wood. He puts on the chest piece of the suit of armor, and flexes in it. He nods and turns around to look at his 'guard'. He says something in his native language to them. Two of them, quiver their arrows, and walk over. They inspect the leather armor and nods, again their words flow. It is almost as if Rasputin, Pavel and Alex are forgotten for a few minutes.

Rasputin looks at Pavel and nods. He says in Russian, "Well, maybe we won't be come arrow food." He looks back to Alex and tries to mouth, "How many on wall?" As only NOW Rasputin seems worried about those in the village.

Alex looks at Rasputin and makes no reaction. The robot cant express its lack of comprehension to the question. Though one has to wonder, now that the leader has a nice new leather suit, what does he need us for?

<< Mid-thirties, >> Pavel answers Rasputin, leaving slush room on either side for people to come and go, or simply not be seen. << Twelve with bows of that same strange material, the rest with spears. Probably the same stuff as everything else is made out of. >> He grunts for a moment, looks at the situation and starts to slowly move closer to the dwarf and the chief - or whatever he's calling himself. Smiling as best he can, wanting to be everone's best drinking buddy, he says in his own broken American, "Plees, nov hav trhehd. Mehbe good, seet, tyehl stohrees ohf vyehr eech ees frohm. Rasputin good cook, mehke nev food. Vee shehr, sleep, mov ouvsaheed of johr tehreetohry een mohrneeng, eef noht go nov. Fohr fryehnds, jess? Noht need fohr ehnemhees."

The leader turns around half dressed in Rasputin's hide armor. The walks over and looks at both of Pavel and Rasputin, and pulls out the dagger, "This is good work." He hands it back to Rasputin, using both hands. He then pulls off the leather armor, and drops it on the box. The two other 'guards' walk forward and dress him in his breast plate, "That is OK." He looks to his guard, and motions with his hand for them to go back. He looks to Pavel, "You are noisy, but your words seem good." He looks to the large black vehicle in back, "Tell man to come out of flying noise maker, so we all talk in village. We talk about trade and hunting brother thunder lizard. We talk about possible tribe hunt."

The guards on the wall, all drop their arrows down and re-quiver their arrows. The four guards, walk back to the gate. Then the leader extends his hand and says, "We shake like white man, my name Chief White Puma. Me one of three chiefs here in Camp Thunder Spirit."

Rasputin sighs and tugs his beard finally. He sighs again, and extends his hand, "Mink Rasputin." He looks to Pavel, "This is Pavel." Then looks back to Alex, and says, "That is Alex..." he trails off and then looks back to the Chief, and to Pavel, and tugs his beard again, "Uh... Well, he can't get out of it. It is kind of him. He is part of that craft. Well, is the craft." He looks at back to Alex and to Pavel, "Do you understand?"

Alex shrugs. "I'll just wait by the truck and listen for signs of scalping." The robot suggests not really being suited to mingle with the locals. It couldnt smoke from the pipe either.

Pavel shakes the chief's hand, glad that his gauntlets are on so that he doesn't need to explain his cold skin. "Szhank joo, ees honohr," he says with a dip of his head. He may be suppressing the urge to properly greet the man by kissing him on both cheeks - but he does manage to hold back. Beyond that, diplomacy is once more handed off to Rasputin.

Chief White Puma shakes both Rasputin and Pavel's hand. Then looks a little wide eyed at the large black figure of Alex. He puffs up his chest a little bit and nods, "So he man made with metal and machine?" The Chief makes that assumption and shakes his head, "The Great Spirit weeps for you, but it is your choice." He turns and says with a loud voice, "Open!" The gates slowly open upwards, the metal bound beams sliding away into the left and right side of the small gate house.

Rasputin looks back to Alex and says somewhat apologetically, "Sorry Alex. Mink keep radio on, so you can hear da?" He says softly, again lipping the words but putting some sound to the them so Pavel can hear, "Keep eye on our backside, net sure dis good or net." He turns around, and picks up the blue box and puts it on his shoulder. Then follows the chief.

"Not really by choice but I appreciate the tears of the great spirit. I no longer have tears of my own." Alex replies with an accepting nod. "I will listen attentively, if things become unfavoralbe scream loudly in distress as a little girl would." It then advises to Rasputin.

<< Rasputin, since my words are not clear to it, please tell Alex to call if anyone starts to look at the bow or the hammer. I know that it's unlikely they'd even be able to move it, but if they get too interested... either kick them off or call, and I will run for them. Thank you. >> Pavel asks a favor of his friend, then jokes, << Didn't think that you'd be cooking for a fort tonight, did you? >> Beyond that, its his eyes that are alert, looking to see how the fort was constructed, how many men and women might be armed and ready to fight, even simply how big the place is. Good things to know when walking into the heart of people who were interested in killing you a few minutes ago.

The inside of the camp is fairly stereotypical. This second of the swamp has either been built up, or naturally is a good size island and is perhaps 10 feet above the water line. It is now obvious that the fence is actually two fences. One palisade was setup, then a second, and then between the two was filled with soil until it created a 6 foot wide wall between the two lines of dug wooden poles.

So the entire camp has a hard packed ground. There are around dozen different clay and straw earth huts here. Each of a slightly different shape and design. In the center of the camp, is a large camp area which currently has a large leather tarp spread out to cover the entire camp fire area. It is perhaps 30 ft by 30 ft, and the tarp seems to be a single piece of hide from some very large beast. There are several of the large threes which are naturally growing inside of the fence, these have small look out crows nests in them. It gives the village even more forewarning of anyone who is wandering into their region of the swamp.

The Chief leads you to the large camp fire area and has you sit on the carved logs which make up a series of benches. "Please, sit here. I will gather other chiefs, we will discuss what trade and hunting you may do in our land." He says this as more of an order, than request. The four guards stay here as he walks away to a one of the larger huts.

Rasputin after flipping on his helmet radio, he relays the information request by Pavel as they walk. He finally answers Pavel as he takes a seat. "Da, dis lookink dhat way, dhough mink will need my spices and such from da truck. But lets net get a head of our selves." He looks around the inside of the village, "Da, you think dis wood is net wood? It seems like somethink harder, da?" The gray 'wood' is everywhere in side of here.

Alex can take care of the hammer. Maybe the mecha can even pick it up and rest it on its shoulder protectively. A giant robot with a giant hammer. What could be more dangerous?

<< It's not metal, >> he declares solidly, and simply leaves it at that with no room for argument. For a moment it may appear that Pavel will remain happily standing, but in the interest of keeping the Cherokee tribe smiling, he nods, grins and takes a seat on one of the wooden benches. <>

The tribe seems to have slowed down as the new guests have arrived. Most of them are shunning the two sitting on the log near the central village fire. A few children sneak peeks at Pavel and Rasputin, but no others come to speak with them.

Rasputin nods slowly, "Yeah, it looks like metal to mink, but you know more about dit." He looks at his helmet, "Can you tell anythink about dis stuff Alex?" He looks to Pavel, "Did you see how think that 'gate' dwas? They have a double thick dwall, da. Dis wasn't built over night..." He tugs his beard and looks at Pavel, then to the rest of the village, "Mink hopink mink didn't get us over our heads?" He looks Pavel up and down, "Net, over your head, mink dis short."

"CS records showed that mnay native tribes possess elemental types of magic. Perhaps it is magicked wood?" Alex offers with a distant shrug, getting a feel for the hammer with a few practice swings. "Pavel this hammer is really something. Where did you get it?"

"A gohd gehv eet to me," Pavel answers into his radio. << It's strange, something has allowed them to live here in the middle of what you thought was dinosaur territory. And not be bothered that the dinosaurs or brother lizards have left. I don't like it in here, but it was better than having them skewer you with arrows. Besides, I have everything else. >> He shakes his waist just enough to make his weapons jingle. << Can you swing a sword? >>

The cheif still has not returned.

Rasputin says softly, "Da, da. Dhough, if they have as Alex says, elemental magik. Dhey could do a great deal of this with ease. And defend it." He tugs his beard, "Elemental magik is powerful, and I've heard rumors about what dhese Native Americans can do." He shrugs a bit, "Lets see, maybe your charm will win dhem over," he trails off then says, "Handy with a knife but net a sword."

"That would explain the impeccable crafts manship." Alex confirms becoming contented with the hammer in its care. "How are things going in side? Find any surprises?"

"Soorpraheesed szhaht cheef ees gohn. Seet veesz fohr mehn, gahrds," Pavel says clearly and over the radio. He then waves a big mitt at the four guards. "Allo! Cahn tahlk? Seet, trehd stohry? Vee ahr noht goeeng to roon. Vhehr vould go?" He looks at the enclosing walls, pointing out a fair bit of logic.

The guards look at Pavel, and scratch their heads. Then look at each other and shrug. One of them is going to say something, when he catches a group of four individuals walking this way. One is White Puma, he is now wearing a ceremonial head dress of, well white puma. It is a large white, albino cat skull with a flowing leather covering down the back. The one next to him on the right is wearing an identical one, but she has a black one. On his left is a huge man, almost 7 feet tall with a necklace of talon's, a knife made of a talon and a spear. Following slowly be hind is an older man, with clay colored skin and walking with a perfectly round staff, made of what appears to be clay as well. They all stop, and allow the older man to sit first. Then they sit next to him. They are all perhaps, 10 feet away sitting near Rasputin and Pavel, but not next to them.

White Puma introduces the others, "This is my sister Chief Black Puma, Chief Raptor Claw, and our elder Stone Brother. I have explained to them why you are hear, they wish to hear from you with your own words."

Rasputin looks wide eyes at the party of four, and worries. He says slowly, "Dhank you. Most kind, da." He says, the two new Chiefs and elder look as he studders a little bit, "Please permit mink to use magiks so, mink friend and mink can speak more clearly, da?" He says with some hope in his voice. They all look at him, the guards tense a little bit, but then the elder nods. Rasputin casts a soft spell, and a flow of magic waifs over him, then again as it waifs over Pavel. Rasputin's voice much more clear now, "Thank you Chiefs and Elder of Camp Thunder Spirit. I am honored to be allowed within these walls."

Alex is patientlty waiting as the chatter goes quiet. Assumedly the meeting has truly begun now. So all the robot need hope is that it can distinguish screams of revelry from screams of agony. And that one does not overpoweer the other..

Pavel smiles, having felt this magic before. "I am Pavel Seriozhenka Valerii Nikolayevich Lavochkin, from Krasny Kut in Warlord Romanov's domain. I work outside of Kingsdale where I spend my days making tools for the 'common folks.'" He adds air quotes, hoping that they're cross-cultural. "It's good to meet you, I've never met anyone like you before. Actually? That's not true. I am making friends with a Cherokee woman from out this direction, but I don't think that she is part of your tribe. I'm only here to help my friend find the meat of the dinosaur to bring back to the city, where it gets distributed." He nods toward the area, commenting, "She has a bow and other things made out of this strange material of yours. Not wood, not metal."

The panel before Rasputin and Pavel, they see Rasputin speak, and listen to Pavel. None of them say anything yet, most of their faces are masks of non-emotion. Save for White Puma, who frowns a little as Pavel speaks.

Rasputin blinks as Pavel takes off down the verbal road, maybe he should cast that spell on him more often. Then he sees the lack of response, and thinks against it. He waits a moment, and tugs his beard, "My name is Rasputin Khlysts, I'm a cook and owner of small meat market. As my friend says, we are on a hunting trip to fell dinos to feed many people in the city of Kingsdale. I have come into this land before, and had much success. But I am deeply sorry, that I have come into your territory. I have never come so far, well, east or south. But we have found no real game, no real anything till last night." He points to the chest, "And I make things from the leather, as well as claws," he touches the dagger, "And sell the meat. I even give much more than I could use to refugees from the conflicts to the far north." He pauses to see if they ask him to go on.

Alex awkwardly crab walks a patrol around the truck, hammer in hand. Could be good practice if something were to happen to its jets one day.

Pavel smiles, trying to be as diplomatic as he was at the gates. "I am proud to say that I work with what the Earth gives me. I know that our world is to be respected and revered, and hope that those who made me as such trust me to protect her. Might we trade our stories with you, the four chiefs? There's no need for enemies, and had there been more evidence that you lived here - there would have been no trouble. Or you could have asked us to turn around. But now that we can sit down together, there's no reason to do so with suspicion."

The chiefs frown a little bit, and the elder grins. The old man, elder, says, "Please excuse, I'm an elder not a chief. I advise the chiefs." He grins, his expression has a bit of a quirk to it.

Chief White Puma looks to Rasputin then to Pavel. He looks to Pavel, "You make things from the earth you say? How do you do that?" For the moment, the talk of trade and other conversation dropped.

Rasputin lets the conversation meander where it wants to meander, perhaps this is how they do buisness.

Not the giant mining robot waiting outside. Not yet anyway.. Though the fact Alex is very well equiped to plunder mother earth may be incriminating enough..

"The Earth gives me coals, sort of like what is right here in this fire pit. It makes fire, and the delicate metals that were given to me are heated. I use tools to shape them, and... make axes, shovels, saws, nails, horseshoes... yes, occasionally weapons." Pavel gives a brief explanation of his profession, leaving out the critical part the hopes can go without saying. The elder receives a deep bow of his head. "I'm sorry, I didn't know. Your culture is new to me."

The elder nods and smiles to Pavel, "Apology accepted."

White Puma says, "So you are a smith, who makes things of metal? Interesting," He looks at the other two chiefs and waits for either of them to say something. Neither of them does yet.

Rasputin stays quiet for another few moments. He looks to Pavel, and lets him keep talking. Maybe they like his larger frame than his smaller frame. Who knows.

Alex continues its slow march, listening silently as things proceed.

Pavel finds himself the center of attention, with nothing to say. "Yes, I make things of metal. I find this material of yours very interesting. It looks like metal from a distance, but I can see that it's not. I assume that it somehow functions as well as metal, though it's clearly some type of wood?" There, on a polite verbal offensive, looking for some back-and-forth. "The woman I know, I have seen her bow of this material, and would wonder how it is formed."

The two other chiefs look at White Puma, and the looks back. The Elder speaks for them, "It is called Steelwood. It comes from a large stand of trees on the east side of the mountains." As he smiles, the age of his tan skin wrinkles with lines and marks. There is even a scare above his left eye that wrinkles. "It is not steel, it is wood of course, but stronger than most steel. Hard to work with, but rewarding when done." He looks you up and down, and quirks a brow, "No gun?"

Rasputin stays quiet, perhaps Pavel will get their interest and allow the rest of the negotiations to go better. Maybe warm them up a little.

Pavel keeps up his pleasant conversation with the elder, starting with a smile and shrug. "No guns. I have a bow, and I have what I need to fight in person." He sighs, "Though I did need to learn to use one gun. A very large one, which is out in the truck. It is only for emergencies. This place is not like what I know. Still, it has only been used once, in a time of great need. May I see some of this 'steelwood?' Here is a knife that I've made. It's silver, if you know it." The smaller of his two elegant knife blades is unlocked and removed, offered hilt-first toward the man. Someone's going to have to come get it, or tell him to put it away.

"Steelwood?" Alex repeats to itself with mild interest. Recalling CS reports of a similar material further north up the coast.

The chiefs seem a little taken a back by the words of the elder. The elder reaches out, and motions to one of the guards to take the knife so he can look at it. The guard takes the knife, and presents it to the Elder. He looks over the dagger and thinks about it. "It is a lovely piece of work, silver yes. I can feel it." He hands it to the chiefs to review, "Do you make many like this?" He pulls out his own dagger, and hands it to the guard, "Please, review this."

Rasputin stays quiet, this is going well. Don't screw it up. Maybe bringing Pavel was a good idea afterall.

"If I were you, I would forget the brother dinosaur and inquire about the priveledge to harvet those threes. Metal that grows out of the ground? What could be better? Maybe we could even get plant experts to make it grow better.." Alex suggest from afar.

"No, I don't commonly make these. there is little need for silver daggers, and i do not make weapons to sell and spread around. only when they are needed, and then only by those who truly seek to do good," pavel explains, though there is hint of regret sneaking in at the end of his statement. "still, when i make things they are of great quality, if you'd allow me to express some pride." the elder's dagger is accepted with fascination. the smith from russia turns it over in his hands, running his big fingers across it in a strange motion that clearly indicates that despite the size of the fingers, nothing small goes withhout note. "wood and metal both? either you have strange trees that grow like armor, or you have a blacksmith who wields magical powers. or perhaps something even more interesting? thank you for letting me look at this," he says, holding the blade out to be returned to the elder.'.

He shakes his head at the elder. "No, I don't commonly make these. There is little need for silver daggers, and I do not make weapons to sell and spread around. Only when they are needed, and then only by those who truly seek to do good," Pavel explains, though there is hint of regret sneaking in at the end of his statement. "Still, when I make things they are of great quality, if you'd allow me to express some pride." The elder's dagger is accepted with fascination. The smith from Russia turns it over in his hands, running his big fingers across it in a strange motion that clearly indicates that despite the size of the fingers, nothing small goes withhout note. "Wood and metal both? Either you have strange trees that grow like armor, or you have a blacksmith who wields magical powers. Or perhaps something even more interesting? Thank you for letting me look at this," he says, holding the blade out to be returned to the elder.

The radio chime in from Alex makes the chiefs and elder all start, then they see the helmet hanging on Rasputin's belt. And the radio on Pavel's belt. White Puma says quickly, "Is that the metal man hear your vehicle?"

Rasputin nods, "Yes, it seemed rude to cut him out completely. He has come far with us all."

The elder nods but frowns a little. "Metal man, hello. The earth cries for your loss," He then then he looks to Pavel, "You have great skill," He has the silver dagger returned to Pavel and takes back the Steelwood one. "It is a long process to make a dagger such as that, and the woods are miles from here. Trade in such goods might not be very, well, profitable."

The female chief up asks Pavel, "You make weapons, but must trust those you give to them? How do you test those to make sure they are worthy?"

Rasputin wants to say more, but just holds his tongue for now. He tugs his beard, and wants to steer the conversation, but patience may prove out.

"Hello honored ancestors. I am consoled by the earth's tears still." Alex replies, showing it can be tactful, if it wishes to be. "I wonder, the trees you mention, their distance would be a burden indeed. What if we could bring them closer?"

Pavel bows his head and speaks to the female chief. Or perhaps chieftess. "I do the best I can, and have learned from a mistake. I observe those who I can. I get to know people. I listen to the population. Sometimes, it's just feeling that I get from someone, if they're not worthy, or too dangerous. I have a few people that I trust, and now when someone asks something of me that might even be *turned* into a weapon, if I don't make it directly, I require that at least two of the people whom I have grown to trust be able to speak for that person." He shakes his head. "If that doesn't happen, then even my personal feelings are ignored. They go to true people of the light, as the saying goes. I try to find people to read their minds, but I have found that a good way to determine if a person is worthy is simply to tell them that they can't have it - anyone who complains over my decision, or suggestion of investigation is denied. I would guess your own smiths operate similarly? Or is your tribe more harmonious than our city?" Eventually, he gets around to nodding at the elder, "I didn't expect to open trade like this. I merely wanted to show that we have a commonality, even if it may be strange."

The elder nods slowly, "Yes, that makes sense. We don't make weapons usually, don't have a forge our selves. We trade for them." He looks to the chief and nods slowly, "We make other things, for our warriors as they earn them. Things which are gifts from the spirits and the gods." He looks to the elders, and then stands up, "But I am old, and need rest." He slowly stands up and wanders away. The chiefs all look to their selves and then the one with the Raptor necklace on says, "You, you have a dagger which White Puma has said I should see." He extends his hand and waits for the guard to give him the dagger. The guard takes it from Rasputin, and gives it to Chief Raptor Claw. He begins to look it over.

Rasputin stays quiet, as this other reviews his work.

Alex goes quiet again as the conversation moves away from steel trees. But worry not, a robot never forgets.

Pavel is also rather quiet now, not wanting to chase down the elder or make a scene. What does he know from raptor bone?

Chief Raptor Claw looks over this dagger and frowns, he examines it very carefully, "How did you make this? This seems..." He looks puzzled, and hands it to Chief Black Puma. She takes the dagger and examines it, "Yes, this is very good quality. I would not use it to hunt but game, but it would be very handy."

Rasputin smiles, "It is a knack of mine. I made that as a hobby. The leather armor I have in the box, is something I'm trying to do more off though." He tries to add, "That is why we are out here, looking for dino's to hunt. I use everything from one." He looks to Pavel and then back to the Chiefs.

Alex listens patiently still.

Pavel watches as the dagger is traded around, then gives a friendly chuckle while holding his palms up. "Even to me, Rasputin has his mysteries of how he forms his work. All of us are born with our gifts, and the spirits and the gods bestow more as they see fit in their wisdom." There is a low but general murmur of agreement among the chiefs. "If you would, I would love to look at your walls before we depart, be it now or tomorrow morning. Construction, building things for the greater good of people is, well... you could say a passion of mine, and ours. Even Alex, our metal friend outside the walls. All three of us build and provide, we're not warriors." He gives the big guy a wide and toothy grin, gesturing gently in his direction. "It is not often that I run across a man who is larger than myself." Again, the chiefs seem happy with the words, almost animated even. Chief White Puma eventually stands after Pavel has said his peace, seeming to be ready to say something.

White Puma has looked over the chiefs, "So, what do you both think?" He looks at Black Puma and Raptor Claw. The other two fold their arms, Chief Raptor Claw says, "You can do as you wish, but we are not happy with this. They fly in metal machines, they are not one with the spirits."

The female Chief, Black Puma, tosses the dagger into the ground next to Rasputin, "But they have skill with craft, and skill with metal."

Raptor Claw closes, as he stands up, "But, they can not sleep in camp. They must camp in the clearing." With that he walks away, Chief Black Puma nods to Chief White Puma and says to Rasputin, "If you make a dagger that can cut dino hide, I would very much like to see that." With that, she leaves as well.

Rasputin looks to Chief White Puma, "So, we camp outside, but can hunt here? What about a guide? We could trade for it?"

Chief White Puma looks at Pavel and grins, "Trade me both of those daggers, and I'll find you a trained guide. But he must have 1000 of your credits a day for helping you." He looks to you both and waits for an answer.

Rasputin nods and hands him the dagger, and looks to Pavel.

Alex listens patiently still.

Pavel looks down at Rasputin, then up to Chief White Puma, shaking his head apologetically. "I am sorry, and I mean no insult, but this blade could be made a very dangerous weapon for those who might want to do harm." He pats the larger of the two knives. "I explained to Chief Black Puma that I do not give these things to people that I don't know, and explained how people would gain, in my eyes, the trust to give such a thing. Your own blades of this 'steelwood' may be just as strong, or even stronger than mine. But if they were used for violence against innocents, they would be of your hand. If mine were handed to do the same, it would have come from mine." He bows his head low and hangs it for a few seconds before looking the man in the eye. "I mean no dishonor, you have already heard that I do this."

Chief White Puma laughs as he picks up the Raptor claw dagger, "You did say that yes. How about we trade, your silver blade for my Steelwood blade?" As Paval thinks he says, "Rasputin, the guide will be there in the morning, at dawn. As you said you are after meat more than anything, he will lead you to where we have been tracking a heard of tri-tops." He looks back to Pavel.

Rasputin just stays quiet for now, at first he won't try to convince Pavel, then says, "Pavel, it seems that this is a sign of trust of the trade. I don't understand your thoughts, but perhaps the Chief just wants it for the excellent quality, not as a true weapon?"

Pavel frowns sadly once more. "I'm sorry, chief White Puma. I appreciate your offer of trade, but that's not what I had in mind. Knowledge, stories... I could even give you some of my arrows. Or all of them. But I cannot relinquish this large blade. Just from holding yours, I think that mine is, well, more powerful than what you already have." He tries a smile, "Besides, if I were to fold and give in against my convictions, what kind of a soul would I be?" The smaller knife that had already been shown is unlocked once more and extended hilt-first. "But this, it would be an honor if you were to accept it." He gives Rasputin an apologetic look and wave of his shoulders.

Chief White Puma blinks and laughs, "That small dagger is more powerful than mine, it didn't seem it. Must be powerful magic indeed." He looks at the small dagger with more respect.

Rasputin stays quiet.

Pavel finally laughs, "I'm sorry, I'm not used to talking diplomacy with strange cultures. Forgive me, I have misunderstood. Please, take the small dagger. It is only a small dagger, though I hope it beautiful and balanced. It is an honor." He looks very relieved now that the confusion has been cleared.

White Puma nods, "Now if you both would follow me out of the village. You will be safe in the clearing. As you said, we haven't seen many large creatures recently. Something drove them all south, we aren't sure what yet." He leads you out, and lets you be....

Rasputin follows and Pavel follows him. They all leave the village and wait for the hunt tomorrow.

The evening goes by uneventfully, and the morning comes all too soon. Chief White Puma comes out of the games shortly after dawn. He is accomplished by the same four guards, and a new figure. This new figure is wearing a suit of modern looking armor, has a pistol on his hip and and bow and quiver in a quiver over his back. He is a thin lanky individual, nothing really sticks out about him. The only thing which does seem out of place, is the fact he is wearing modern looking armor. It isn't EBA, as he has no helmet on, nor anywhere to connect one.

Chief White Puma says, "Morning to you." He turns and looks to the new figure, "This is Swift Water, he will be your guide to where brother thunder lizard is grazing these days. He will expect payment for 3 days work now, if it takes longer, he will expect the balance when he is done."

Swift Water says nothing, but nods to Chief White Puma and then to Pavel, Rasputin and the large Alex.

And with that Chief White Puma, prepares to walk back into the village.

Rasputin looks to the small informal meeting and tugs his beard. He is about to say something to the Chief, then looks at Pavel and Alex. He clears his throat and says, "Chief White Puma, one moments please." He tugs his beard, and then slowly moves his hands to cast a spell so he won't be misunderstood, "May we come back to this village in the future, to trade? Would that be OK?"

Ever vigilant Alex turns its head towards the group that emerges from the village. There is no indication the robot had any rest during the night and less reason to think it needed any. Its reactions now in the early morning certainly show no sign of fatigue. Even though it was playing with Pavel's hammer until he came back to retrieve it..

Pavel's hammer is indeed slung over Pavel's shoulder at this point. One of his hands fishes back inside one of his small pouches on the truck, bringing out the cred stick that Rasputin had given him earlier. He waves to get Swift Water's attention, calling, "Heer. Fohr peh, Sveeft Vahtehr knov noht vohry. Cohvehrs mohr dehs, eef need mohr dehs. Ees good hav gyaheed, szehnk joo fohr cohm."

The stick is tossed in the man's direction.

The Chief stops and looks at Rasputin as he makes his request, he ignores the unintelligible Pavel, "Swift Water will report on your hunt," his words hang on the word with some distaste, "depending on the outcome, you can return." He looks to Pavel and Alex, "Is there anything else?"

Rasputin nods slowly and looks at White Puma, then at Swift Water. He tugs his beard, and looks up to Pavel and tugs again.

Rasputin looks at Pavel, and in Russian scolds, "Stop it. That is your money now pick it up. You really need to get over not being paid." His tone is like he is talking to a child who is being foolish, very foolish. He looks a bit displeased by Pavel's actions.

Alex's grapple hand shoots out to retrieve the misplaced stick of money. "I'll take it if he doesnt want it." The robot chirps appreciatively, the hand already realing back in the prize...

<< I'm only paying the man ahead of time, Rasputin, in the interest of continuing to foster trust and goodwill. It just so happens that my stick is readily available and if it happens to be lost, can be replaced. >> Pavel steps gently past the dwarf to do is best to ensure that the man recieves the payment, then shoots Alex a look. << Rasputin, before we look like fools who are inept and fighting among ourselves, just give the man his payment. It's good pay for a guide, and hopefully make him want to work with us rather than being told to work with us. >>

Chief White Puma shakes his head and just walks away, with a smirk on his face. The four guards follow him. They leave the guide behind of course. The guide looks at the three of them and then back at the Chief as he leaves. Then back he shakes his head, "So, are you all ready to leave?" He now says, "And I don't take cash, by the way." He looks back to the Chief, and then to you three, "I want something I can use here. Creds don't do me much good." He smiles, "So what do you have worth about three thousand?"

Rasputin looks at the 'guide' and blinks, he stammers a bit and tugs his beard, "I'm not sure, 3000 credits," He looks at Pavel kind of abashed in Russian, "Sorry, just didn't expect you to go throwning stuff at these people." He doesn't say anything to Alex just yet. He tugs his beard and thinks.

Alex holds onto the illgotten cred chip for the moment, not stashing it yet incase Pavel decides to do more than give him a well deserved look. Though at the question of material value the mecha can only shake its head, possessing nothing of that value that isnt permanently attached

Pavel finds himself playing banker anyway, both reaching out to Alex for the stick, and speaking to Rasputin in his own tongue. << Perhaps we could simply follow the tracks. I have nothing so inexpensive that I would be able to trade, I came to hunt dinosaurs, not barter with the locals. But if it's absolutley necessary, tell him that he can have my thermal goggles when we are *done* with this outing. That would cover far and beyond what he's asking, if he has the patience to wait. >>

The Guide just waits for his a response.

Alex nods slightly as Pavel reclaims his cred stick, with holding a glib comment. It nods to Rasputin's suggestion of an eclip. They have nergy weapons here at least right?

Pavel just walks back to find a nice spot to lean against the truck. One way or another, he's going somewhere. It's up in the air as if it's going to be with a guide, as he offers nothing else in his possession, leaving Rasputin to the meal that he's made for himself.

The guide perks up his ears at this suggestion. He pulls out his pistol, those that know Wilks will notice it is a Wilk's 237 "Backup" heavy pulse laser pistol. He drops the e-clip out of it, and says, "Sure, give me one, and we are square for several days at least." He extends his hand, apparently waiting for it to test it.

Rasputin nods and pulls one of his spares from his belt, and hands it over, "It should have a full charge, all ready to go." He checks his own reserves, and notices his that his 4 is now 3, and that includes one in the pistol. He frowns a bit but shrugs, "So, which way Swift Water?"

As it seems to be time to sret out Alex can finally take off again. All night resting on its legs, one could almost imagine them creaking to be free of the 5 ton burden. Pavel packs up and climbs onto the back of the truck, quietly waiting to go. He does call out, << Rasputin! Ask him why the steelwood armor isn't good enough for him. Also ask him why if this is a barter system, the specific value of a necessary three-thousand credits was laid out. >>

Swift Water takes the E-Clip, puts it into his pistol to make sure it is full. He nods, and puts it into his holster. He then looks directly at Pavel, as he taps his ear slightly. He answers in American, "Because while Chief White Puma isn't a hard nosed traditional, he doesn't leave the village save to go to other villages. Where as I go between villages and city, and need trade goods half the time. I could always give this back to your little friend here, and say off with the lot of you? Or we can get going?" His voice is fairly dead pan and serious, his face blank allowing Pavel to make the choice.

Rasputin is turning to load up, then stops his his tracks and looks back over his shoulder. Then up to Pavel and grimises....

Alex doesnt smirk, so it cant express the tomfoolery happening below. It can shrug though, which it does in hopes everyone can move on and put that behind so that they make make this trip profitable..

Pavel shrugs, not looking concerned. << What? >> he directs toward Rasputin. <> he says politely, turning to the man, << Should understand that we were surprised by your simple existence, and certainly not ready with anything to trade. I'm sure that we'd all like to be on our way to the dinosaurs now. >> That said, he lays his hands on the top of the cab, and waits to see which way they'll go.

Swift Water grins and nods, "OK. We head south-east from here," He pulls out a small compass from his pouch, takes a bearing and then nods, "OK," He climbs into the cab and says, loudly, "We will have to stop about a half mile from the valley and walk in, so we don't distrub the dino's, OK?" He actually puts on a seat belt, and says, "That way." He points and waits for Rasputin to respond.

Rasputin nods and says, "OK with me, Pavel, Alex?" Then he thinks, "Alex, you can cover half a mile quick, yes?" Then as if by magic the spell wears off, "Dis OK, we call you up front? When we are gettink to valley, so you can be comink in?"

Knowing that somehow he can converse in Russian and only leave Alex out of the conversation, Pavel asks their guide, << What kind of dinosaurs are we going to find? Big predators, or herbivores? I need to know, to know what to carry with me. >> Then as an afterthought, << Is this a common ground, or have they been driven here? It looked like something might have driven them here. >> Otherwise, he does his best to note landmarks so that they can all return to the city if Swift Water ends up beneath a multi-ton dinosaur.

Great, more waiting. "Who would have guesed such massive creatures would be so sensitive.." Alex says before nodding its acceptance to how things will be.

The hovercraft lift, and start heading in the direction that Swift Water pointed.

After a few minutes of travel, Swift Water replies, still in American, "I was out here a few days ago, it is a group of herbivores. Tri-Tops. Big nasty buggers if they get spooked. They can stampeed and do all sorts of nasty damage." He says, and notices the maps on the bench. He looks them over and puts a small mark on one of the maps. Then puts another map on another map. He then sets the maps down, and says nothing. "Big guy, Alex was it?" He shouts out the door over the starting engines, "The whine from your rotors and from this things rotors just pisses them off. Any jet does it. If we had a wheeled or tred vehicle, it wouldn't be an issue." He looks back and seems to almost not be paying attention to where you are all going.

Rasputin nods and just makes a mental note as to where those marks were on the maps, he wonders what the hell they were but doesn't say anything.

Alex shrugs, not appearing to understand how that would be an issue.. "So cutting at them with a laser blade, chainsaw, or vibro pick wont piss them off?" It asks in return, its posture confused. "Last I checked we were going to hunt them, not make friends."

<< Ah, those are the same ones I hunted with you before, right? >> Pavel asks, clearly toward Rasputin. << We had stun grenades and sticky magic that time. Now I only have a large cannon and good blades and hammers. Strong, but their heads are probably stronger. And they're big. I don't want to be crushed, >> he adds.

Swift Water says, "No, we will use you to drive a few off so we can take them. Or to keep them running in a circle as we pick off a few. Don't worry Alex, my flying friend, you can do a good job for us."

Rasputin just listens and starts to worry this could be just another wild goose chase as the hours go by. Then, after about three hours of weeding through the swamp, Swift Water says, "Stop on that patch there, it should be solid."

Rasputin lands, and after another 10 minutes of hiking through the muck the guide brings you to small ridge. It looks down over a wide deep clearing, well a very lightly treed clearing field of lush grass almost five feet high. As you look down from the small bluff, you can see a heard of enormous three-horned quadrupeds. There are 16 of the creatures, three-quarters being adults and 4 of which are smaller juveniles and babies. These large creatures are herded together, as the slowly mill around the clearing ripping up the lush grass, gorging their selves on the tasty dino salad.

Alex nods to Swiftrunner, seeing no issue with that plan. "Do you have anything against me using a flame thrower to that end." It asks for further clairification. Later when they come upon the herd it nods to Rasputin. "Well now, will those turn a profit?"

Pavel is silent along the way, with no one haveing offered any helpful tips on what he might do to help and yet not get stomped at the same time. What he does know is enough for, << Don't get between the young ones and the older ones. If they're like bears from back home, they'll get very, very upset. >>

Swift Water hums to himself for a moment, "So, there aren't as many here as there were before, but I think this will do us nicely." He finally addresses the fire question, "Using a flamer might be risky, don't want to catch too much on fire. But it could definately be used sparingly, if that is OK?" He looks to the three of you, "So what is your plan?"

Rasputin is kind of surprised by the size and number of dino's before him. He thinks a few minutes, "Da, so can we beink tryink to take one, or two at first. Dhen, if we can tryink to get more, if we can butchers dhem fast enough, da?" He thinks a bit, "What do you two think?" He looks to Pavel and Alex.

Alex shrugs again, not looking the tactical genius. "I was kinda thinking I'd light ones head on fire and go from there.. Good idea? Bad Idea?" The robot asks, seeming quite open to input on the subject. Pavel has spent time in silence considering the hunt and where he might best fit in with this, and briefly informs the others by hefting the rail gun for clear use. << I will shoot for their hind legs, I can see them big and obvious. No legs, they won't go anywhere. I just don't think that I'm fast enough to deliberately walk into a herd of twelve adults hoping ot beat them into submision. >> He seems to have no opinion on the hot head idea. Almost. << Well, it would spook one, and make it run. Maybe scare all of them. But then, this might too. >> The rail gun is given a good shake.

Swift River thinks about it a bit and just listens to these amatures, but he is a guide not a hunter today.

Rasputin tugs his beard, "Da, dwell, mink think we want to take down anythink we harm da." He thinks, "Alex, if you can drive one to Pavel and mink self, we could tryink to down it as it charges us da?" He whirls his hand in a circle, "Perhaps fly above dhem, and move dhem in circle. Round and round, dhen flame at ones head, spook it away from herd, dhen drive it off towards us?" He looks down into the field, "Near dhis end of valley." He looks to Pavel and Alex for their thoughts.

Swift Water hums to himself for a moment, "So, there aren't as many here as there were before, but I think this will do us nicely." He finally addresses the fire question, "Using a flamer might be risky, don't want to catch too much on fire. But it could definately be used sparingly, if that is OK?" He looks to the three of you, "So what is your plan?"

Rasputin is kind of surprised by the size and number of dino's before him. He thinks a few minutes, "Da, so can we beink tryink to take one, or two at first. Dhen, if we can tryink to get more, if we can butchers dhem fast enough, da?" He thinks a bit, "What do you two think?" He looks to Pavel and Alex.

Alex shrugs again, not looking the tactical genius. "I was kinda thinking I'd light ones head on fire and go from there.. Good idea? Bad Idea?" The robot asks, seeming quite open to input on the subject. Pavel has spent time in silence considering the hunt and where he might best fit in with this, and briefly informs the others by hefting the rail gun for clear use. << I will shoot for their hind legs, I can see them big and obvious. No legs, they won't go anywhere. I just don't think that I'm fast enough to deliberately walk into a herd of twelve adults hoping ot beat them into submision. >> He seems to have no opinion on the hot head idea. Almost. << Well, it would spook one, and make it run. Maybe scare all of them. But then, this might too. >> The rail gun is given a good shake.

Swift River thinks about it a bit and just listens to these amatures, but he is a guide not a hunter today.

Rasputin tugs his beard, "Da, dwell, mink think we want to take down anythink we harm da." He thinks, "Alex, if you can drive one to Pavel and mink self, we could tryink to down it as it charges us da?" He whirls his hand in a circle, "Perhaps fly above dhem, and move dhem in circle. Round and round, dhen flame at ones head, spook it away from herd, dhen drive it off towards us?" He looks down into the field, "Near dhis end of valley." He looks to Pavel and Alex for their thoughts.

"Works for me." Alex agrees with a nod, already rising to see about carrying out the plan, but not zipping off until Pavel says ready.

Pavel only observes, << Last time we had stun grenades and magic. This time I have a rail gun. What are you going to do, Rasputin? So far, you just said to drive it toward you, and that doesn't sound healthy. But I will aim for their hind legs. Don't touch the babies, unless you can scare off all of the adults. >

Swift River just stands there and says nothing, he just leans against a tree. His job is done as far as he is concerned.

Rasputin tugs his beard, "Dwell, mink going to us magik to be invisible." He thinks a bit, "Mink use a few spells to tryink distract it." He thinks a bit, "Da, perhaps if you Alex could shot da hind leg on one? Tryink cripple dit, net da head." He looks to Pavel, you go for a fore leg?" He nods, "Da, mink could wait and put shield on you too Pavel?" He looks at Alex, "Net thinkink di work for you Alex, sorries." He pats his pistol, "And mink can use dis."

Alex shrugs. "Well it would be rather blind with its whole head on fire. Thats pretty cippled no?" The robot notes before xipping off to find a nice big bull to antagonize. Doing this is will get the herd circling a few times as suggested before.

Pavel tells Rasputin, << No, you said you need your magic. I'd take armor, but only if you can truly spare it. My chain and plate might look fragile, but it's not. >> The last words are spoken with some pride. <> He hops down, rail gun over one shoulder, bow and huge hammer across the other, weapon belt jingling. << You still haven't said what you'll be doing, other than being invisible. Perhaps I can see your heat? Come see me when one gets close. >> He flips his thermal gear in place, then looks anxious to finally get going. << Swift Water, I'll trade the googles, if you want to help. >>

Swift Water actually sits down, pulls out a ghili suit, wraps himself in it like blanket and takes a nap.

Rasputin snaps his helmet onto his head, and starts to trot down to the side of the valley where him and Pavel be waiting. As he does he says into the radio, "Da, dhough mink can sell da skull for more dhan the hind legs." He says as he breaths, "Pavel, come on!" Rasputin, for a short guy isn't slow, but not super fast either.

Alex circles the herd a bit getting them riled up as requested before it singles out three very likely targets. One at a time though so the robot focusses on the lead. "Legs it is." It confirms for Rasputin and Pavel before jetting to shots of flaming paslam out at its target. One for each hind leg.

Pavel grunts, having been the one ready to move, only being urged to follow. He's not super fast, but he's definitely not slow, and does a good job keeping pace with the dwarf. At one point, he stops and starts to take a momentary sight-in on the one that Alex attacked. << I'm shooting for its hind leg. >>

As the black firey death that is Alex screams off the cliff and straifs the ground, the heard gets very excited. At first they are agitated by the noise. Then the flames fly down between them and set parts of the grass on fire. This sends the heard in all directions... Seven of the brutts are heading towards where Pavel and Rasputin are setting up...

They are all adults except for one child... The rest of the herd is running in all other directions, mostly in groups of three or four. Two of the large bulls are also in this group.

The two bulls (Dino_4 & Dino_3) lead this small pack of nasty three horned dino's as they are charging down on Pavel and Rasputin. Fortunately, they are still 1500 feet away from where Rasputin and Pavel are located. (They for the most part are moving at about 200 ft per action.). The baby (Dino_3) is keeping up with the two bulls at this point. (Dino_5, Dino_1, Dino_2 and Dino_6) The other 4 are following tightly behind the lead 3. There isn't much but open terrain between the dino stamped and the two fearless 'hunters' But, at least there is some distance.

The smith says a very foul word in Russian, and raises his rail gun without taking the shot. << Try to turn them back before they kill us. >> His right hand darts out, index finger pointing to a spot on the ground, and he yells in clear Russian, << Fire! >> Flames instantly engulf a piece of the grasland. His wrist twists a little, finger in the same direction as he yells, << Larger! >> The flames ignite, doubling in size and beginning to burn out to the sides. He takes off running sideways. << Fire to turn them back! >>

The smith says a very foul word in Russian, and raises his rail gun without taking the shot. << Try to turn them back before they kill us. >> His right hand darts out, index finger pointing to a spot on the ground, and he yells in clear Russian, << Fire! >> Flames instantly engulf a piece of the grasland. << Fire to turn them back! >>

The fire starts, even though it isn't large several of the Dino's eyes go wide with panic, as there is now fire infront of them. Dino_5 and Dino_1 keep barreling down towards, through the fire but several of the others (on their action) seem to want to run another direction all together...

"Actually I'm kinda hoping they keep running at you through the flames, saves me having to atcually hit all those legs.." Alex notes before it swings about the strafe infront of the charge by about 200 feet. Lighting the grass below for a twenty foot swath. "Dont worry, I'll pick you both up before you get trampled." The robot assures, though as most of the heard scaters from Pavel's distant fire the mecha sighs.

Rasputin draws his shotgun from his back, and says into his Radio, "OK, dis will be interestink." He pauses to cast a spell then notices, what Pavel is doing, "Pavel, where are you going man?" He shouts into his mic a bit loud."

Dino_2 just charges forward, seeminly ignoring both walls of fire in front of it. Though, at this point it only sees the nasty damage causing one of course. The one right behind it, rears back and veers to he left, heading away from the wall of nasty damage causing fire. (Dino_6 has left the building.)

Pavel slows, as his flames were far more effective than he had anticipated. But perhaps not quite enough. << They're big, angry, running, I don't have a good shot anyway, >> he yells, picking up his run again. At a useful distance to spark another potential wall, his arm makes the same jutting motion, << Fire! >> followed by a sharp twist of the wrist, point and the cry, << Larger! >>

The lead charging bull (Dino_4) charges through the fire, ignoring the fire as it barrels forward (distance now 1280 ft to Rasputin & Pavel (generally for Pavel)). It is rearing its head back and forth like a massive rino, and is out for bloody vengence now... Why? We don't know, it is a big dumb animal that people are trying to kill... The other bull, wants nothing to do with this, and turns right heading away from the wall of fire (Dino_3) runs for its life from the attacking bee! The small baby (Dino_7) follows the other large bull, fleeing away from the horrible fire. It bleets like a small injured creature as it grazes the fire, spurring it even faster...

Pavel skids to a halt when Rasputin calls out to him, and he straightens up for a moment, surprised at how successful his little fire was at turning big bad lizards around. Of course, the bull can't be ignored or outrun. Rather than waste time answering Rasputin, he takes the rail gun and once more sets up a good shot, this time on the bull's hind leg. It takes a moment, but anything else would have just been spraying bullets. The rounds tear into its leg, taking out good large chunks that just have to hurt, or so he thinks to himself. << Rasputin? Do something! >>

The two pair of Dino's (5 & 1) are still coming on strong, as they pass through the fire they barely eveny notice the flame licking their skin. They continue to charge forward...

The last line was perhaps a bit thin so Alex tries to do better as it bancks tight to turn around and draw another flamming line in the sand two hundred feet infront of the dinos. Having gained some time it pauses at the end to shoot the lead bulls leg up as well, dousing the same leg pavel hit with a stream of plasma.

The dino bringing up the rear charges through the first wall of fire and keeps following the other four nasty horned monsters.

Rasputin actually does something kind of crazy. First he begins to walk forward with his shotgun in hand. Then he says into the mic, "Da, net lookink in mink direction. Pavel, keep moving away from mink." He first casts a spell, which all of a suddent makes three more copies of himself. THEN those COPIES GO GROSS! Another spell is cast and Rasputin turns into a mass of skeletal fragments, swirling pockets of puss, maggots rolling out of his body, and flies swarming around him. He uses the loud speaker to yell, "Be afraid dino's! Be very afraid!" None of them can see him yet, but soon...

The large bull (Dino_4) charges through the next wall of fire, pissed as all hell now. His eyes lock onto the 4 disgustingly gross figures, he does this and with a trill scream of rage charges directly at the group. (1060 yards from Pavel/Rasputin).

Other than the girl with the bear, Rasputin is the only mage that Pavel knows on any personal basis that he trusts any father than he could throw them. Metaphorically speaking, as that could be a relatively significant distance. If Rasputin says not to look, he doesn't look. Did he ever hear the myth of Orpheus emergeing from Hades? No, probably not, but the thought's still there. Once more, he attempts a shot at the raging-and-wounded bull's hind leg - tricky, keeping eyes out of Rasputin's direction, but doable. The burst really nails the creature this time. One might ask themselves how brave it's going to be as a tripod Tri-Top in the coming moments.

It is now time for Dino_5 and Dino_1 to exit stage right and left respectively. They charge through the new wall of flame, but upon seeing the rotting flesh that would be four small Rasputin's they freak the fuck out. They run into each other, then away, then back through the damn walls of flame to freedome from the horrific sight that is Rasputin.

Alex can see the bulls leg is nearly done now as it draws yet another line of fire for them all the charge through. Like before it turns to fire at the bulls leg again in the end. The smell of burning meat is proabably quick rank now but Alex cant smell. Unfortunatley the mecha misses, but the leg is burning..

Dino_2 keeps charge through the wall, only to find yet another wall further along, but he cares little. He did catch a glimps of the horrific four figures and he too wants a piece of that thing. Maybe to just scewer as a sign to all that opposed the mighty Tri-Top...

Rasputin knowing nothing he can do will reach these things at that far distance, he cancels the horror spell, and drops a nice little shield around himself. This should be funny, he says into his mic, "OK. Pavel, come this way, stop shooting. Let them charge me. I can take a good hit, mabye two. They will focus on me now, you can cripple them if we are lucky."

So fifteen seconds later Alex has learned two things. It cant hit the borad side of a dino with its plasma thrower, and the lines a flame really do next to nothing to them. So the robot switches back to the good old dependable chainsaw, aiming to cut off whats left of the bull leg and making two successful slices.

Rasputin jumps up and down, taunting the dinos, he yells in Russian "You huge piles of money and profit! I know you want me, I'm a taste little hairy treat!" He taunts them, "Come and get it!"

Pavel is a bit frustrated by the go there, don't go there attitude of the lead hunter. But, he does what he can, running back toward Rasputin without firing, as instructed.

The mad cow... I mean mad Bull Dino_4 charges forward, picking up more ground and speed as Alex cuts into its leg. It covers another 220 ft, bringing it now to 840 ft away from the dancing little Leprechaun of a man. Though, it sees four of them yelling at it.

The raging Dino_2 behind Dino_4 keeps on charging forward as well...

Alex slices dices and makes compact sedans. these things are much bigger than any compack but Alex can still pull a leg off just as quick, and does. Following with two additional cuts on a new leg on the last charging tri tops.

Rasputin blinks as the first leg of the big crumbles under it. He cheers and keeps on screaming as the other doesn't seem to care about it's failing friend. Rasputin yells, "Da good! Now, how do we put it down?" He laughs, "Mink not sure?" Rasputin, still can't do much, but... He lines up 60 feet infront of him, and says, "Dere is now an invisible bubble 60 feet dat way," He points between him and the charging dino's, "MInd it!"

Pavel lines up, and since Rasputin seems to be having a good time - and knowing where the wall of invisible force is - he lines up on the smaller dinosaur, once more targeting a hind leg, this time the one that Alex chose as a target. Even as he pulls the trigger, the tells Rasputin, <> The rail gun burps, and chews off a good chunk of the other creature's fourth means of motion.

The charging mad Bull Dino_4 has fallen, and it is having a horrible time getting up. Most of its left hind leg is gone, and the large mass was moving so fast. It went pot over tea kettle and augered into the ground with massive earth shaking quake. It has begun to yell loudly in pain, everything in the area, with the fire and screams is now fleeing.

Save for Dino_2, it is pissed and it really, REALLY wants that wee little man. It has closed now to 620 ft, still a good distance back from where it wants to be... Will it make it...

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Another dino and another leg, its easy to see Alex can cut through a leg far quicker than it can burn through one. Its almost a devastating as Pavel's railgun even.

Rasputin wants to help so much, but things are just still so far away for his little weapons. He is tempted to break his shield, but ... "Sure! Here mink come!" He drops the first shield and runs forward, to about 55 ft so he doesn't run into his other one...

Pavel glances at Rasputin, perhaps wondering if this is how all hunts are handled, but not stoping to dwell on it. No, the big bull is down and going to be meat, everybody else is running - unfortunately - and there's already one very wounded leg. Not a tough decision on what to shoot at. Not difficult to hit, either, but this time the rounds only zing past it. Painful perhaps, but not devastating. At least, as far as he can see from his position.

The large beast Dino_4 bellows loudly, in pain. It is trying to stand over and over, but crashing to the ground.

The last dino, Dino_2, contineus to charge forward, 300 ft even now, it is terrifying as it is charging straight at the nasty at the small little men making faces at it. Now as the little man charges it keeps on going.

The last dino, Dino_2, contineus to charge forward, 300 ft even now, it is terrifying as it is charging straight at the nasty at the small little men making faces at it. Now as the little man charges it, it spurs on faster.

Alex is like a ten foot wide food processor, spinning and chopping. Who can be surprised that a leg flies off in the process? The robot doesnt seem so. It probably has a good thick coat of bloodspray on it now, will need a good oil bath to clean its gears.

Rasputin watches the large beast go down. He reaches into his magical bag of tricks, and pulls out... Nothing. Fuck, he cancels the sphere, and then walks forward... Shotgun leveled, "Da, look! Dere bellys, seemink weak, but net knowink how much damage if we shoot dhere." He looks at the others as he walks closer, shotgun ready, "Da, what you think?"

With the animals down and bloodied, Pavel answers Rasputin with a quick, <> The rail gun is dropped unceremoniously, and he starts to make a wide loop around the bull, hoping to come in from its back where it can't see and thus be unaware of his potentially lethal presence. He unlocks the copper blade from his belt and when he grabs the hilt, it bursts into glorious flame. Now all he has to do is slip it between the head's large horned frill, and the soft body to find the neck. He attacks, and it lands. Not terribly bad, but a strike.

The beast rears back, and tries to gore you with its horns. It rears back to try and stab you, only to fall away not able to take the weight.

Rasputin gets up to you and says, "Here, just in case." And touches you, a field of magical armor flows over you.

Pavel bats away a horned attack with the flaming sword, and makes another swipe that connects with the animal's flesh. << It's meaty! >>

It's just a bonus when Rasputin comes running up to tap his shoulder and impart a few minutes worth of invisible body shield. Rasputin then takes his own aim, with a magical spell, targetting as carefully as he can...

Rasputin casts a spell, from his hand a vicious looking shard of bone white material flies forth and smacks the creature in the back of the neck...

Rasputin winds up again, and the same lance of bone white flies forth. The javelin sticks out, as the creature goes limp...

The shard of bone certainly came as a surprise, perhaps that's why Pavel's blade swings in a beautiful arc - majestic even - but doesn't cause much more trauma. Still something is better than nothing.

The scene is one of smoke, flame, and two large pools of blood. With the tactics used, the meat, hide, and other parts of these massive beasts will sell for a great deal... Well, they all hope at least. The flames are burning away, but with that hot intensity that won't last long. And sure enough, after a short time they fade away. The rest of the hard, is over in the far end of the valley licking their wounds and morning over the loss of its fallen commrads. Well, not really, they are dumb beasts they don't understand death... Right?

Pavel looks over his handiwork with a smile, kissing the sword, despite the fact that it means his face is engulfed in flame for a few seconds. << Not bad, huh? Made it myself! Saved you a lot of meat, not cutting open the belly like you were going to do. >> He stops, and looks between the bull and the smaller animal while he locks the sword back into his belt. << If we're not in a hurry, I can pull the smaller one up to the truck, but I'll need help with the bigger one. Maybe you can help. >> The smith's long, thick legs carry him over to the armored dwarf, and his left index finger juts out. He shouts, << Stronger! >>

Rasputin looks to Pavel, "Oh, da. Or, mink can run back and get truck, and fly here? Unless you knowink how to fly?" He looks up the hill to where the guide was, of course the guide is gone. Well, in the ghili suit almost impossible to spot at this distance. "I mustink gut dhem here, net transport back likink dis. Dhey rot from inside, da." He fles his muscles a bit, "Dhough, dis is nice spell." He chuckles, "You know how to teach it?" Rasputin shakes his head, "Another conversaion for another time."

Alex zooms around all happy like a giddy school girl.

The spell having been transferred, Pavel hurries over to the bull, waving Rasputin with him. << I'll pull, you push, >> he orders in Russian. << We can get it to the truck and away from the herd, a lot safer to cut it up there. >> That said, he grabs the thing by its front horn, throws it over his shoulder, and starts to pull. Between the two of them and a little time, it should slip toward the truck. << Don't let me forget the gun. >>

Rasputin takes the spell, flexes his muscles and chuckles, "Da, good idea." He lifts up the back side, and starts to trot along with you. Leaving Alex to guard the body of the larger Bull. "So, dis good da. We finally find dino, and mabye be able to come back again? Da?" He is happy once more, "And mink spell works!"

<< Which spell? >> Pavel has to ask as they move the animal toward the truck. << Don't know about coming back here again. It's a good spot, but I'm not fond of the Cherokee there. They pulled weapons on us, unprovoked. Maybe we could come back, but find a different route? Let me try to make it on the map when we get up there... maybe peek at our guide's map. >> He starts to whistle as they keep going, though he does look back every now and then to check on the distant herd.

Rasputin walks with you, feeling 'strong like bull' "Net, net. Dhey are good people mink thinks. Dhey are in middle of no where, and two hover craft show up on door step. What would you doink, diff dhat happened?" He thinks a bit, "Dhough, dhey also net likink peoples with tech, dhough dhat net help." He shrugs, "Ifink dhey give premission, perhaps mink able to get trade for da steelwood? Or perhapsink, other thinks." He chuckles, "Or net. Did you see dhere Swift Water guide go?"

Pavel grunts. <> He adds, << Yes, I know he might be listening and understanding what I'm saying. >> As they approach the truck, he takes no chances, running back to tag Rasputin with the same command of a blacksmith's magical strength. <>

Rasputin shakes his head, "Net, dis job was only to guide. Net wantink to get guide killed on accident dhile in others land. Bad form," He shrugs, "Pavel, you need to be more forgivink. Dis isn't your land, net your ways. We guests, in loose sense of word." He helps you heft the large thing up on the truck, and then hops in side. "Dis," He blinks as he notices that Swift River is already sitting in the truck.

He says, "You know, I could have driven down for you, if you had given me keys." He grins a bit, and looks at the kill, "Not bad. I thought you all were a gonner when those seven charged."

Rasputin just blinks at the Native American...

When Swift Water speaks, Pavel stares at Rasputin with a hard, expressive look of, 'See?' But he doesn't say anything on that subject. << I'm very friendly and forgiving, until people threaten me for no reason. I don't draw hammers on strangers who enter my meadow. >> He turns and looks down to the bull. << One more to go, I suppose we could drive to get it, now that we're up here. You drive, I'll walk and collect the gun on the way. >>

Rasputin shakes his head, "Ride on back, quicker, mink swing by for gun you jump down." He flies down, in Russian he says, "Swift River, why did your people act so hostile to us? When we showed up?" He looks where he is driving, and doesn't look at him.

Swift River says in American, "We have been attacked several times by skull wearing soliders. And by other tribes. And by blind women and tentical monsters." He sighs and shakes his head, "That is what my people call them, you know them as CS Soliders and Splugorth. We are very cautious, better for us to kill innocent, than foe kill us." He looks to Pavel, "It is a hard lesson to learn when bother's blood is on your hands."

Pavel's eyes markedly and conspicuously narrow on the philosophy of first-strikes. << Killing innocents first sounds like what evil people do to others. Better to die protecting than survive by murdering. This is why I don't give my weapons to people that I don't know. But I do know a woman who is a warrior, and who is blind. She is a very nice person. >> As the truck passes by, he jumps off and grabs the gun, walking the rest of the day to where the bull's carcass lays.

Rasputin nods slowly, isn't sure Pavel has seen what he has seen. Sometimes innocents, are harberingers of death. He shrugs a bit, it is OK, Pavel may not have seen the stuff he has. Rasputin comes to a stop, lands, and gets down. He looks around and says, "Pavel, mink think if I gut and clean here, mink will leave aweful here, dhen nasties come here, net follow us." He says that, and then begins to clean out the big one. "When mink done, we switch little one down, big one up. Net wantink aweful on truck. Won't get deposit back." He laughs as he draw and quarters these large beasts. This time, he skins them with skill hands and deft percision...

Swift River doesn't say anything more and just watches. He looks at the heards and surrounding. Then as Rasputin gets closer to being done, "You know, if you leave that mess here, I think a Raptor or Rex may show up. We won't be here much longer, right?"

Pavel stays out of the way, and doesn't speak any further to their supposed peaceful guide. A joke here and there about his swords being faster, sure. He does take one moment of small pride, asking, <>

Rasputin chuckles and nods, "Da, da. Dhey cut good, and clean." He actually takes less than an hour to cut, and strip the two dino's. He is moving quickly, and is usuing Alex and you as helpers. He keeps cutting down huge strips. He shows you how to pack them, so all three of you are doing work. The skin needs taning, sure, but it is at least free. He has, oddly, staked up the legs, head, and tails in their own piles. He hasn't cut skin from them either. They are fairly whole and in tact. He places all of it on the truck with help.

Swift River doesn't say anything else either, but has climbed on top of the truck to keep watch. He seems more and more worried the longer it takes to clean the mess.

Despite being in the wilderness of a dinosaur swamp, Pavel is less concerned. Maybe it's all those years of pulling a wagon through brush from village to village. <> He does his best to keep his things from getting messy. Particularly the rail gun, which has moving parts.

Rasputin nods slowly, "Da, da. Alex, lets head out, quickly." He looks to Swift River, "Takink you back to village?"

Swift River nods, "Yes, please. It is that way," he points another direction than you all came, "It is faster to go that way." He chuckles, "And I've marked a trail on your map for you. To take you back to a main road, which will lead you out of da swamp to the north-west." He lifts up the map, and shows Rasputin, but anyone in back could see too. There is a thin red line on the map, marking this valley, the village and a 'trail' out to the north-west back to Fed land and the main road. "I will tell my tribe that while, you are not great hunters. You are not bad either." He looks over to Pavel and grins, "And, you don't kill children, which is very good." He looks at the meat, "And if you make a donation to the tribe of some meat, say 1000 lbs, I'll recommend that they let you hunt here whenever you want." He looks to Rasputin, "Deal?"

Pavel doesn't comment on anything, from the comparison of hunting skills to the non-slaughtering of young children. He does ask, << Perhaps you could simply show us on the map where your territory is, and none of us would have to bother with deals, good words and seeing what happens next time. There have to be other places where dinosaurs congregate. >> The last is obviously directed at Raspuin. Poor Alex, not understanding Russian.

Rasputin shrugs a bit, "Pavel, we will takink later about dit. Mink will give meat. Dis enough of dit, relationships take time da?" He looks in the rear view mirror at Pavel, so he doesn't stop looking his way.

Swift River, does exactly as asked though, he marks in a light blue circle the land claimed by the tribe. It isn't very large, but the valley is in it. He looks to Pavel and smiles, then just turns back around and closes his eyes to rest, "Keep goin this direction, you wll be there soon."

The smith has little more to say on any subject right now. Except for keeping his eyes open as their guide once more falls asleep in the line of duty.

Rasputin slides the vehicle into the tribal village parking lot, or at least the clearing before it. He jumps down, drops off 1000 lbs for Swift River, shakes his hand, and heads back into the truck and out. "OK, so fast as we can out of here, da?" He jacks it up, and heads sown the trail towards home. As he isn't looking for anything to hunt, the return trip is much quicker....

Or will it be...

Pavel does his best to keep everyone on track. << How much did it cost to rent this noisy thing, anyway? >>

Rasputin mutters, "10,000 credits for 7 days. Mink may have to pay penalty for beink late."

<< Have one of your cooks trained to drive, it'll be cheaper next time! >> Pavel laughs away as they skim over swamp and marsh. He keeps his eyes out for Alex, though not worried about a sentient robot in the wild lands. << Could have been worse, the Federation might have noticed us. >>

Rasputin chuckles and keeps on flying into the night, he doesn't want to get caught out here with all of this meat.

Pavel falls silent, bored now and perhaps finally a bit tired. His thermal goggles are offered, in case the driving dwarf desires them. << It'll be nice to see Anya. >>

Rasputin nods slowly, as they roll into KD territory, and shortly there after KD land. Rasputin uses you to help him load everything into his large meat locker, which is completely full by the time you are all done. Tails, Feet, Skulls, skin... rasputin will have days of work a head of him.

Pavel bends down and perhaps partially lifts Rasputin to kiss both his cheeks. << Thank you, my friend. Now I'm going home. I'll see you later, and thank your staff for taking Zoyenka home. I hope she's been getting some fruit. >> He ponders that for a moment, then leaves Yakov's for points... well known.

Aug 12 109 PA - Rasputin's third dino hunt

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