In the Deep Dark Hills of Eastern Temba

[heypartner]

WHO: Cobb Vanth & Mining Expedition Team
WHERE: The Mines
WHAT: Mine exploration
WHEN: First Week of Event.
WARNINGS: Cursing. Blood/Injury.



Mining Expedition - for Mining Team

It had been a long time since Cobb had worn the armor he bought on Coruscant. He stood outside the entrance of the mines in the polished slightly gold colored durasteel with no cape. Last thing he wanted was for that to get caught on something while underground. The armor would protect from minor cave ins and small falling rocks but a part of him wanted to take it off. If the ceiling came down, Cobb would honestly preferred to be crushed immediately instead of survive.

A few had happened while he worked underground and he'd been lucky not to get caught in them. He had seen what happened to slaves who had been and those images haunted him as he looked at the entrance to the darkness beyond.

As the little team started to gather together Cobb pushed those thoughts from his mind. He needed to focus to keep all these people safe underground.

"Here's the general plan," he said when they had all arrived. "Drake's probe, Mini, and this guy here will go first. The probe should be able to tell us the air quality which should be your number one concern. Anyone who breathes starts to feel light headed, you walk out immediately. No pretending everything is fine. We're here to map this place and see what needs fixin', not start digging around."

Anyone who toughed it out and then passed out would put them all at risk. Cobb's tone was very stern and grim. This was not a time to fuck around like this was a walk around talk. Luckily, this group didn't seem like the type to do that.

"Second thing to look for is the ceiling. You see it bowing down anywhere that's a good sign of a collapse. Should be even all along the way." That was how it was back home, at least. "And it might get tight in there depending on how the Agrii build their mines. No one goes off alone. You always have a buddy. Any questions before we head in?"

The mine's entrance was big enough but Cobb felt once they got inside and got under they might be in for a tight squeeze.

---

Cave In - for thesepreciousthings

It was surprisingly easy to get comfortable underground again. Cobb was all too willing to explore around with Starling when she asked. Apparently, she came from mining people too. She felt more useful helping out in the mines than exploring the new city.

"I can't tell much of what they were doing down here," Cobb said as they walked down a side tunnel, intending to map it. They had a pretty decent map taking shape with marked spots for the strange place they found and the holes to the surface. "They didn't leave any mining equipment behind so who knows what they got from here? Haven't seen crystals or coal or oil. Not even salt. Just the stone walls."

He was a little bothered by that. This was an extensive mine and clearly served a purpose at one point. There was no real clue what the purpose was however. Not to Cobb's eyes, at least. They had some hope once they understood the panel and all that, it would become clear.

Cobb was about to say more when he noticed something in the glint of his flashlight. A piece of metal hanging down from the ceiling. He had half a second to realize it was a roof bolt meant to hold the roof of the mine in place when a stone slipped.

"Starling!" He grabbed her just as more stones start to slip and the roof broke apart. Cobb dragged her out of the way but they were caught in the fall. Not the worst of it. Cobb pressed her against the wall as what felt like the whole of the earth came down around them. It was his worst fear come to life and it hurt as the stones bounced off his shoulders, his back, and his head while he tried to keep her from the worst of it.

When the rumbling stopped and the air went still Cobb blinked in the darkness. His flashlight was somewhere but they were in complete blackness now with the mine closed in around them. Well. Damn it all.

---

Comments

Expedition - Well Reeve's clearly got a question

[plate_builder]

Oh he had so many questions as they prepared to go in. Not that Reeve was going to ask them all right now, as many of them weren't relevant in this moment. Only one thing he had to ask really needed asked in this moment.

"Do you think it's possible for me to get two buddies? Most of my attention is going to be on making the map, I could easily accidentally leave one behind while I follow the sound of someone else's footsteps," he admits. When he got into working he often found himself, well, lost in it. And the work mattered.

[ms_unknown]

Nat raises an eyebrow at him. "Maybe you just need one who'll actually pay attention to you and not let you run off"

[plate_builder]

"And what is to prevent them from running off without me?" Reeve countered immediately.

BUt he offered her a smile to say it was not meant to sting. It was indeed a real question.

[ms_unknown]

She shrugs, smirking. "Then you've got a shitty buddy. At that point it's a matter of standards."

[plate_builder]

"Standards? Perhaps. I like to think people around me have high standards, but to expect high performance and fidelity is to set one up for possible disappointment of both parties."

It is unkind to set someone to standards they cannot achieve when more achievable ones are better.

[ms_unknown]

"I at least like to know what any people around me are capable of. Not knowing someone's skill level is a good way to get people killed."

Speaking from experience...

[plate_builder]

Fair enough. Reeve considers for a moment.

"I suppose in that sense I should let you know what I can do. I can channel magical energy, so here at this time I can call ice or electricity."

[ms_unknown]

"You must be fun at parties." She smirks, but that's useful to know. It would be rude no to respond in kind, though. "I'm trained in all manners of combat and information gathering."

[plate_builder]

"I suppose here I might be. Back home plenty of people can work with Materia," Reeve admitted with a light chuckle. He knew he wasn't really THAT interesting. But when she said she was combat trained, he nodded.

Not that he was able to tell of course. He just didn't argue with peple just because they might not 'look't he part, or because they were women.

If he had, Tifa might knock his head off.

"Well, I'm glad that we've got you on this potentially dangerous information gathering mission then."

[ms_unknown]

She smiles at that, tilting her head. "Those are my favorite kind."

Of course, she doesn't expect things to be that dangerous... But one never knows.

[plate_builder]

Favorite kind. He chuckles at that. Quite an interesting woman indeed.

"You have an energy to you that is very refreshing. I just hope it does not draw the sort of trouble you might hope for."

[ms_unknown]

You have no idea.

She chuckles, "Thanks. I suppose we'll just have to see what sort of trouble I can find here." She pauses, shrugging "Or what finds me."

[plate_builder]

What finds her, huh? That didn’t sound like a very good goal.

“I think we should work to not find trouble, whether for us or someone else.”

ugh I missed this one

[tyrants_son]

"A map would be useful," Felwinter agrees. "Wouldn't it be easier to have someone keep an eye on you as we go?"

"Alternatively we could tie a rope around your waist," his Ghost suggests as she hovers beside him. She meets Felwinter's look with a shrug of her silvery shell. "What? It'd work!"

[plate_builder]

"I feel it would be best to have someone keep an eye on me. But who then will keep an eye on them when my eyes are on the paper?"

At least Reeve was willing to admit that he was a man who easily got distracted. But the rope comment earned a cheerful and hearty laugh to the Ghost.

"Oh, I would agree. It might well work. I'm trying to suggest that Mini have the same treatment, given he is small and could easily fall in a way he can't get out of."

[tyrants_son]

"Mini. That's...your cat, right?" the Ghost asked. Even then she was pretty sure that it wasn't simply a cat. Well, aside from the obvious reasons.

"You make it seem like someone must watch your every step. Even with two each will still need to mind where they are going," Felwinter pointed out. "The company of myself and Felspring will suffice if you need a guard. I will make sure you do not wander anywhere you should not, and she will inform us if there is any trouble to be aware of."

[plate_builder]

"That is a complicated question, but you are correct," Reeve answered the ghost. Then he turned his attention to Felwinter.

"Were you not to go toward the front of our little expedition? I don't know if it is wise to have the man making the map near the front. Not that I am rejecting a kind offer, I just thought the division would make this awkward. But yes, I might need people to watch my steps. My attention will be almost wholly on my papers if we wish to make any time at all."

[tyrants_son]

A fair point, as to which Felwinter conceded with a nod. "In that case, we'll be able to give you warning either way, should there be any treacherous ground or unstable tunnels, as we will take point." He wasn't sure how long their venture would take, and the Agrii hadn't really provided much details beyond that there was something strange going on within the mines.

"If we're all to travel together then it might be best for you to remain towards the middle of our group. I doubt that anyone here would leave anyone behind."

[plate_builder]

A warning would be very wise. In fact, the middle of the group hadn't even been something he'd thought of. He'd thought to be toward the back so he doesn't mess anyone else's progression up.

"I thank you of that. As a note, when Mini travels with you, if you notice anything of particular note, just say it to him. He will relay it to me. I'll be mostly drawing what he sees."

[tyrants_son]

"There is no need to thank me. As one of those being in front, it is our responsibility to give the rest of you a head's up." That was what he was tasked with, so Felwinter was going to uphold his duty to the best of his ability. He did nod as he took note of what Reeve mentioned regarding Mini. "Interesting. Do you share some sort of bond?"

[plate_builder]

"Yes, he is, in a way, a part of me," Reeve answered. "His own person, but we are joined at the soul tiself."

Which is why Reeve will need to make sure their group doesn't trail too far beyond Mini. Not that MIni would let Felwinter and the lead get too far without letting them know if there is a risk of causing damage to the bond between them.

[tyrants_son]

"Hm. I see. In a way that sounds like the case as it is for me and Felspring," Felwinter mused. That would make for Mini being a very unusual Ghost, not that he nor Felspring were aware of the bizarre Ghost shell trends that Guardians in Ikora and Cayde's age tended to go through.

[plate_builder]

Mini and Reeve shared a look, and a silent conversation between them.

Ah dunnae think ah'm very like one a them.

Actually, I don't find the comparison that troublesome. But we can leave out how you were given life and some of our weaknesses or their strengths for now. Does it really serve anyone?

Reeve was treated to the feline-creature huffing in annoyance in his mind and then he smiled at Felwinter.

"It is good to know that someone else has a bit of the experiences I have. Do the two of you have a psychic link, or is all of your communication aloud?"

[tyrants_son]

The silence that followed earned a tilt of the warlord's head. Was it something he'd said. He glanced at his Ghost when Reeve spoke up again.

"...in a way," he said carefully. "But she can communicate with me directly."

[plate_builder]

"Aye, we can do that as well," Mini agreed with a little shrug.

"It's just that we've spent most of our time here without Mini having the ability to speak. So we're used to internalizing sometimes," Reeve admitted. "Though i can't imagine how he chose his accent."