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Corky gave her the map and some other bits. Left her, to head over to Sadowan, getting flack from Fre! Surprisingly, Ocasa was giving her a hard time aswell! He did the same with her, taking her aside to talk. She now returned to her team, with the map and other items. That night, few of them slept. Only the team leaders knew what the challenges were! Until morning light the next day they could not reveal anything!
They would, eventually fall asleep, to wake to impatient Kets, eager to get on with the challenge, whatever it might be! The docking area. Small zimp craft waiting to take each team to set merits around their objective. It was the first day of the challenge. Tactical and strategy are put to the test. They had to seize and hold a small, what we would call ‘Hut’. An ancient piece of history, left by the miners.
There were still about a dozen or so of them scattered around the old mining settlements. Some were in pieces, a few were still intact. One of these ‘fully intact’ huts, was situated, on a plateau alongside a ridge, that ran across the old mines. Trexl had been mined there for fuel, until as always, for what they were now producing, it became too expensive for the corporations to make any real profit. Thus they were abandoned for another site and another until there were no more places left of any consequence. After that, the miners either stayed, or left. Over 90% left. The remaining 10% built the 1st Akademy. That grew and grew, changed over the decades until now.
They, were shown the map. A clear precise indication of where the hut in question was situated. Two tracks leading to it, one that was narrow and worn but useable. The other overgrown, parts of it missing the debris below, impenetrable from that side. Rules as to what they could and were NOT, permitted to do. The objective was to seize and hold the hut. Each of the teams, would be dropped off at different places, around their objective.
Would have to make their way to it, seize it, hold onto it! They also had to make sure, their flag, as we would call it, would be posted and retained for the whole of the 12 hours after seizing their objective. Every member of the team had been given what to us would have looked like a coin. It was their personal 'Marker'. Opposing teams had to seize or capture theKet and take the marker off them. Once that had been surrendered, the Ket was no longer in the challenge.
There was some resentment that it was an old miners HUT! 'WHY' it was muttered, could it not have been, something a little more up to date? Yet it was the location of that hut and its complexities to overcome. Getting to it, holding onto it, that might give reason as to why, it WAS a challenge. The terrain had changed, whereas at one time, the approach to it might have been easy? Now? Some, might be in for a surprise!
They had five days. To get to the location UNDETECTED, Skirting around the other teams but at the very least, avoiding them! Secure and hold their position! ANY incursion that resulted in the seizure of the opposition's markers, would mean that team losing in numbers of Kets or LOSING altogether!
Sounds easy? The ridge was surrounded by forest and flatlands, marsh and ‘Realform’ creatures generated from the Control center, pre-programmed. If Kets strayed into certain areas, the things could be triggered in all sorts of forms. How the Kets reacted gained them merits or lost them merits. Harmless creatures for example targeted by the Kets, eliminated by them would lose them merits. Hostile creatures would if terminated earn the merits. ALSO there were certain creatures et that could be useful to the Kets IF they were captured or persuaded to help the Kets?
Some Kets were not enthused by these things popping up out of nowhere! The things were as Becci muttered. ‘More than likely going to be, a flippin nuisance.’ Screams from terrified Kets, could give away YOUR position! So gettin rid of them or dealing with them quietly and quickly, was a necessity! She was reminded of the benefits some could be to the team! She rolled her eyes slapped her arms by her side. Scowled. That to her was a highly unlikely scenario!
Narya had them all lined up as she walked the line, checking them, she smiled. “We’re looking good real good! “She paused looked at Seocia. “Seo where’s your coms unit?” Seocia dashed out of the line and fled, to return minutes later with it in her hand. Narya took it off her, then clipped it to the belt on her ‘Phekayu. (They had various items, they considered necessary, though they were strictly limited on what and how much they could take with them, for the first challenge.
Cistera was well organized. She had them prepared, but was still having trouble with Sisica. This time over the Phekayu, which she didn’t like wearing, along with Dramen who was following her stance! They couldn’t leave, to start the challenge, unless they were ALL wearing the correct outfits and equipped correctly! It was getting tedious! Suddenly Margise appeared, as Cistera pulled her to one side, she explained the problems! Margise thought for a moment looked at Sisica, still adamantly refusing to wear the suit. She smiled.
“I’ll be back” She darted off, to see Corky with the other teams, They glared at her. Was she snooping on them? She whispered to Corky, he turned, looked over at Van Ea, who was proudly showing off her skills, in where to put things in the various pockets and layers, of the ‘Phekayu’ He walked over, spoke to her. She grabbed Orini and headed out of the room.
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