Sarge Krawczak closed the channel and looked at the others.
- Connection worked flawlessly just now - he notified the other three - Shouldn't we still get signal interference as it was back inside the cave? Is it because we are at higher altitude?
- If it was about the distance and not the area disruptions, then that would be possible - John replied - However, even if we got outside just now, others staying in the cave would still be affected by the interference. We could potentially manage to send a message one way, but either we or they would be unable to reply.
- So, what happened then? - Keira asked - Since sarge could communicate with others right now, something must have changed, right?
- Definitely, but we need to run tests to notice what's exactly the case - Marlow was as curious, if not even more, as the others and wanted to find out the cause - We've been inside, and triggered something, so there's a high chance we made this change without knowing. It could be that we either disabled a device that was interfering, or enabled something that usually keeps the energy intact. Honestly, I cannot say without understanding how this structure functions.
- Well, I guess it's most important that we managed to get out of there safely - said Krawczak - Too bad we couldn't help Jackie...
Until now, they did not have a moment to actually think about it, they had to focus on surviving, saving their own lives. Only after getting outside, and feeling somehow safe, this dreadful fact finally kicked in - they lost one of their colleagues. Knowing that many already died from the start of this project did not mean no one felt anything anymore.
They sat down, either on the rocks or directly on the ground, everyone exhausted due to everything that happened recently - now they checked, it turned out that it took them about four hours to pass through underground facility.
- Do any of you know if Jackie had some close friends in the crew? - John asked once he thought everyone calmed down - Anyone whom we should inform?
Others shrugged.
- Maybe someone in the camp? - Keira suggested - I mean, we only met him up there, and we didn't have a chance to talk before, so I don't know much about him. Or wait, maybe Alina?
- Now that I think about it, they did talk quite a bit throughout the road.
Moment of silence followed after these words.
- That really sucks - sarge seemed to be affected by colleague's death the most - We've been through a lot since we managed to land here, but after that we didn't have any casualties. I felt we started doing well here, and now this...
Marlow gave him a pat on the shoulder.
- We cannot foresee everything. No one knew this was going to happen. If that was the case, I would have someone staying with Jackie so he didn't wander around.
- We couldn't even get the body back...
It took them a longer moment to recover for both physical and mental exhaustion.
Once everyone confirmed, they started going down the slope as the spot where they ended after going outside turned out to be out of the reach of the vehicles at their disposal, therefore the need to reach an area a brawler could access.
- So, how far is it? - Keira asked while leaving the temporary hideout.
- About one kilometer in straight line - Krawczak replied - Though, if we are to include the vertical distance and obstacles, possibly even twice as much.
- Let us hope the route is easier here than underground.
- We have a better visibility in open areas, but we are an easier target too.
- Yeah, that's really reassuring...
- Well, he could always mention all these dangerous animals which can hide anywhere - Marlow jumped in the conversation those two were having.
- Please, stop teasing me. We should rather focus on getting out of here safely, don't you think?
- Of course, but it doesn't mean we should just sulk and worry. Doing that won't get us anywhere, Keira. We need to move on.
Five minutes later they reached the edge of the slope from which an easy walk was no longer possible - there was a huge precipice below, opening into a beautiful view on the plateau and farther into several notable regions.
- Wow, that's breath-taking - Keira was looking at the landscape with eyes wide open - Columbia Plateau can't compare, it's not even close!
- Yeah, too bad we are not for views here - said John, whom this sight also impressed - We may have a chance to visit this place on a different occasion. For now, we need to go down there.
He pointed into the direction where they were supposed to go, and miss Evergate went closer to the edge to look down - a split second later, she took a quick step back.
- I hope you are joking - she looked at him, her eyes still wide open, but this time showing her being afraid - Isn't there any other way? - Keira moved her eyes from one to the other.
Sarge Krawczak sighed.
- I also wish it was the case, but everywhere around we only have nearly vertical slopes around. The other side is softer, though the problem is we would have to climb for around hundred meters, and then go down to get to that spot. It would take us much more time, and I'm not sure it would really be easier.
Miss Evergate gulped, and approached the precipice again - as she got there, her legs were still shaky.
- I think I will need a moment to prepare mentally - she told others.
- You will have a longer while - Marlow assured her - We need at least couple of minutes to set the lines safely.
Keira sat on a stone ground, looking into the distance - she was both appreciating the view, and being afraid of climbing down the steep slope. Everyone in the crew had to go through a training prior leaving Earth, and that included a variety of physical activities, involving climbing - Keira remembered that, and did really well, but the distance they had to pass was nowhere close to what she was seeing now. Since scope was completely different, miss Evergate had to build up her courage to proceed further with others.
Remaining three all were going through regular military drills over the years, so they were much more used to a variety of conditions. However, none of them had a chance to face this kind of circumstances in the field, therefore - even though they were acting confident, each had either concerns or was feeling a kind of fear, just not saying it openly.
Either way, flying units were not at their disposal, at least for the group in which they ended, and their F-suits' fall thrusters were not strong enough to allow safe drop from such a height. This meant they had no other option than to climb down to join their colleagues.
While Keira was focused on mental preparation, John worked with other two militarymen to set the line holders and grips for safe descent. The system they were using was automatic and relied on a number of blocks connected to a winch. Each F-suit had its own climbing set, but instead of setting up four separate ones, they decided to rely on one, having each person climb down individually - it was a safety allowing others to help in case of trouble, and having the most experienced person check the route prior to the rest of the group.
Choice for the first person to go was obvious - sarge Krawczak was a seasoned soldier, who participated in a high number of missions throughout his life, and had a lot of experience related to climbing and mountaineering in general. No one had to suggest that as he was the very person who volunteered to secure the route.
- Should anything happen, let us know, keep the connection open - John told him, when sarge was preparing for climbing down.
- No worries, we checked the stuff three times - Krawczak replied - It's not the first time I'm doing this.
He sure was confident. According to what he told them, mountaineering was his hobby, something he was doing during his days off. John trusted him, hence he agreed to sarge going first.
Sarge started descending, going on a fast pace. They had around three hundred meters to the spot they identified as a safe area from which continuing on foot is possible, and Krawczak was halfway through in a matter of few minutes. However, things just could not go smoothly on this planet - being close to the finish line, he had to dodge a hit from something that dropped from the sky.
- What in the hell...!? - sarge barely managed to avoid the hit - Did you see it?
- Don't look around, Andy! - the other soldier shouted to sarge, pulling out the gun and aiming - Climb down faster!
In his current position, Krawczak could not properly see what was exactly going on, contrary to the people being up above - others were able to clearly see a reptile-like flying creature that was circling in the air, readying for the attack.
The second soldier started shooting, and the creature got hit a couple of times, but projectiles did not affect it the way they would want to. Instead of fleeing or getting killed, this beast turned its attention towards the person who attacked it.
- Get down! - John shouted to him.
Soldier dodged, though not enough to avoid getting hit, and the hit from this flying lizard, that reminded them of mythical dragons, was strong enough to tear one's limb. The man fell on the ground, screaming in pain. Keira wanted to help him.
- Keira, stay where you are! - John instructed her, running to the wounded soldier instead - Stay hidden!
After ordering miss Evergate to not move into the open, Marlow started pulling the wounded man into safety.
- John, it's coming back! - Keira warned him.
It was a short moment decision. John looked around and saw the creature making a turn, then he calculated how far he had to go back - there was no chance to make in time. Luckily, he recalled the talk he had with colonel McRae after awakening, following his noticing of cyber limbs being a result of the fight he went through - his left arm was military grade, so basically a weapon.
Instead of pulling back, Marlow fixed his artificial leg on the ground, turning on the anchor and put the left hand out front, activating firing mode. He did not try using that before, he preferred not to until the moment there was no other choice, and this was one of such situations. Though, this kind of approach meant he had no idea how to properly operate it.
In front of this eyes the shape of the whole arm changed, shaping into something similar to a rifle. His PEC automatically launched aiming mode, enabling him to shoot in a split second. Major did not wait and started shooting, but was unaware of the recoil - this weapon sure kicked back, and he was close to falling despite the anchor being on. However, it hit the creature much more - when John regained the balance, he quickly noticed a lump of meat lying on the ground.
Now that they were no longer in danger, he swapped the cybers' mode to standard limbs, though continued to look at his left arm with eyes wide open.
- What the hell is this thing? - he muttered to himself.
Keira, who approached him just now, was giving his arm a similar look.
- They brought here some interesting equipment, I see - she commented, but immediately turned her head to the wounded soldier - That doesn't look good.
The man's hand got cut, and he was bleeding terribly.
- He will live, but going down will be a problem - said John after he picked up the limb from the ground and put into a safe container - We need to stop the bleeding in the first place.
It was something quite easy with standard F-suit equipment, so it took them a couple of seconds. Usually, it should have turned on automatically, but the circuit connecting the sensors was cut alongside the hand - Marlow managed to easily fix this.
- Thank you, major - soldier said, his face pale due to blood loss.
- No need to, I'm happy you are alive - John replied, helping his colleague sit - Here, eat this - he passed him recovery nutrient - Sarge, how's it looking down there? - he called Krawczak.
- I've managed to climb down - sarge answered with a slight delay, breathing a bit heavy - I heard an explosion, is everyone alright?
- Corporal got wounded - Marlow informed him - His life is not in danger, but he will have trouble climbing down with one hand.
Sarge said some unprintable words.
- Don't worry - John told him - I will help him go down. You will climb down before me, Keira.
Miss Evergate nodded. It seemed that encounter with the flying lizard made her reconsider staying up here.