Local Fauna?

8.3.5 SW
Evening
East Wombwood > Mobile Research Camp

Vail continued to study the holographic map from a distance, squinting as she focused certain images into view. Overhearing what was said she added, "I don't have a good feeling about all this, people."

“Uh… yeah… I’m with you on that. Admin posted an emergency lock-down message for the colony.” Grace started, slowly and tentatively as she continued to read the transmission. “We are supposed to hold in place until they lift the lock-down or give us further instruction.”

“What happened?” asked Devereaux with a concerned expression.

“…unforeseen events… involving local fauna?” Grace continued.

"Local fauna..." Vail thought, she started to think what could have caused such a problem. Most of the creatures on Sutter's World could be easily dealt with, some were slightly more dangerous in packs. Swarms? Then she had an idea. "A swarm of storm flies could push the colony in a tough situation. Especially if it was a slightly pissed swarm. But if that were the case, why wouldn't they just mention the storm flies? Why just say local fauna?" Vail walked around in circles as she spoke, her brain ticking like a overpowered clock.

“Hey, what does that mean, ‘local fauna’?” asked Barden.

“I think you were right on the money, Montana. Some kinda predator?” said Grace.

“Sounds like it.” replied the survivalist.

“Maybe we should head back… non?” suggested Devereaux.

Noting the timestamp on the message, Grace was a little concerned that the communique from Admin had not been updated for almost 45 minutes so she sent her own message.

TO: COLONIAL ADMINISTRATION

Is there any more information you can provide on the cause for the lockdown? We are still working out in Wombwood and our mapping equipment has discovered an unregistered spacecraft in the area. Should we be concerned?

Please advise.

<<< Grace Carrero - CP MOBILE RESEARCH TEAM >>>

There was no immediate response. Grace tapped her fingernails impatiently as she waited for feedback.

As the team tended to their various tasks, a steady ramp of raindrops began pattering the trailer roof.

Vail’s tracker pipped and from the green screen she could see a series of smaller dots scattering in several directions while one larger one pipped in the space between.

"What the?" Vail leaned closer in, studying the tracker further. "The tracker's back in operation, we're picking something up!" she announced to the rest of them. There was something unusual about what it was picking up, it likely meant that the smaller lifeforms were fleeing from the larger life-form. The larger life-form that was getting ever closer to them.

At the moment, the movement was at extreme range, just at the edge of the tiny monitor but it seemed to be on the approach to the research team’s position. The survivalist, Montana stopped what he was doing with the mapping and came over to looked at the motion detector.

“That’s… northwest?” He nodded, sucking in his lips as he thought. “Coming from the direction of that ship. No doubt.”

"Do you think it could be something bad? A life-form foreign to the colony?" Vail asked, the question almost felt rhetorical.

Montana abruptly turned and began walking back over to his station.

“…that would be my guess, Ms Xeno-biologist.” he said with a playful smirk.

Looking concerned, Grace spoke up. “Well, can you send that last pup over to check it out?”

“Already on it.”

Losing interest in the change of topic from land formations to ships and animals, Barden headed over to make his coffee the way he liked it.