News

Field Journal Update #885

Whatever is happening is not good. Besides not being able to actually find out what is happening with our ship, our new friends make us all nervous. Sometimes, they laugh at things we say about the States/India/Japan—but at the wrong moments. Usually in relation to something about a site we will be glad to see. Most of yesterday and tonight they have a pacing quality to them. Watching us. With their guns. Us with ours. I tried offering them a clif bar or two. One spit it out and began to raise the ak-47 he wears like a bike messenger, when his friend (my new best friend) grabbed it and rebuked him. Tense.

Also there is a fairly constant drizzle of gunshots outside. here and there, but always happening. Loud boom from the back of the compound and everything shook, reports of an attempted breach. Yes compound, seems to be some sort of industrial yard, now stripped except for buildings, the wall, and our too watchful friends. At least the one is a real friend, sort of.

Professor seems unconcerned. There must be a plan. Plus, every time he goes into the one trailer he comes out seemingly refreshed. Must be his new baby in there. The whatever it was we mined out.

Company…

Field Journal Update #882

Our ship didn’t come in. Detained for “inspection”. Planes are also being denied access to the airport.

Word from our Southern Third is good, and they made their contact. No word from the Northern Third still.

Field Journal Update #880

After the last ambush was repelled, we thought we’d seen the worst of it. What a joke! Send in a bunch of trucks into most of the east coast and you might as well have a militia magnet on board. The closer we got the more shakedown artists we found, each a little more determined an d better armed with the last.

Two surprises: a deal was pre-cut with perhaps the least evil/most benevolent warlord round these parts at some point previous. Maybe we split our remaining team into three groups after the last attack. There were some of our locals (no names, for safetys sake and the because the cmuter might need repairs again. uplink troubles and like I’d said) riding off into the night. Bundled into silence.

Second surprise were the heavy armaments that appeared out of and on top of each wagon now. More like tanks with science inside. How long had we been carrying those? No matter. the TTSCC cares about much weight here as the UN.

Tank science party now safely (plus or minus a million) ensconced near the the shore. Looking forward to getting out. Professor also seems cheered at the thought of return to TTSCC to issue arrest warrants and generally kick the asses of all involved.

Field Journal Update #879

I’ve never been so happy to smell he filth of the city. Civilization.

Guns still at hand.

Field Journal Update #857

Happy Independence Day, for the Americans among us. Some drinks, some whoops, some gunshots for fun. Unfortunately most of the day is spent in planning where we’re heading. Probably west, giving the shitstorm that is east right now. Even cutting up through Egypt brings its own troubles, though I believe that would also mean doubling back at this point anyway.

Label news is grim. Professor is not one to cross now. Eyes everyone with suspicion. Good reason, since the label proper was overrun by con men and the false information we’ve been getting all along. This all may be false info as well. The caves, the tests, the skirmishes. What a waste that would be.

I believe that, at least, is true, given the activity around the satellite fax prior to divvying up our resources. One doesn’t usually need armed guards for faxes, let alone a phalanx of ten.

Heading out, camels added. A swap to happen at a half-way point undetermined—just mentioned. Web teams beginning the overhaul allegedly. Let’s begin.

Field Journal Update #856

We made it into town late. The town is a small community around this oasis. Word travels fast when you’ve got a long, heavily-burdened caravan showing up. Word must be the only thing that travels fast out here, inversely proportionate to its isolation. I should ask Laghdaf about that. He’s with TTSCC Atmospheric Sound Interference Research Unit 82, part of the team of scientists we have. All of whom are also armed. Can’t be too careful.

The town had turned out to see us. The Professor is nothing if not shrewd, sending gifts ahead to their leader. It was a good thing to do. So many happy faces awaited us. Clif bars for all!

Negotiations for the coast began immediately. Many of us began negotiations with a wash, our homebrew, and a game of cards. No gunshots heard. Rest.

Field Journal Update #855

Apparently the long way really means the long way. Not much talk on the trail as we try to make the closest town.

Field Journal Update #853

Waiting for arrangements. Urgency is urgent, but out here everything takes time. No place for the planes to land that we’d need to haul the gear out. There is a lot of gear. I’ll try and post a picture.

No trouble since the other night, really. Someone’s out there, because we can see them out of range. Watching. Doesnt help matters. Even with the clif bars.

The waits are nothing new. Like I said before, Malaysia, after that shit went down, we had to get out but had to WAIT on the slackasses back at the Hq—although now we really know why. “Fueling system errors” my sunburned ass.

We’ve been all over, not solely to the Sahara like now. Some of it was good, or better. But always caves, digging, rocks, testing. Whatever the elusive component to dope the silicone with to “increase the experience” (as Profesor repeasts) I think it  maight be imagined. Not fit for this official journal maybe but this is the chronicle. Edit it out if need be. I’m not the only one who says it just the one typing it.

Field Journal Update #851

Last night’s jump up made me kick the laptop into the support post. Startup’s weird. Let’s hope for it work.

Came out to find that we are most likely splitting teams. No more info than that now, just lots of phonecalls and angry voices. Work continues, but it’s distracted.

Support team looks worried. Clif bars for all should cure the blues.

Field Journal Update #850

Woekn up by more gunshots, closer. Grabbed my gun this time. Ran out to see Elmi backlit from the fire blast off a semi-automatic round into the night. Hell, this is crazy.

Regrouped later. Plan updates being redrawn. All scout and dig teams report ok. That’s good.

Bustin out fat swigs of our homebrew tonight before sleep.