Welcome to Gaia! ::

Nothing discovered: nothing learned.

"Have a nice trip!"

The AI's last words echo in the air as the leader's communicator crackles, then dies. The airbus overhead turns and zips away with a faintly lasting whirr, disappearing quickly over the mass of trees now that its cargo is deposited. The group is left standing at the base of a tall metal beacon; it stretches upward into the air, reaching over the trees to transmit data back to the central Labs. All around, alien trees twist and stretch toward the sky, their curling branches and frond-like leaves soaking in the planet's pure sunlight.

It is a small clearing, big enough to hold the crew and the beacon, but the wildlife is already encroaching upon it eagerly. Vines can be seen trying to creep over the pole's base, and the rough-hacked path leading back to the Labs is already overgrown. It is easy for the explorers to see why airlifting to these outward spots was a better idea than trying to hack through the woods.

The communicator crackles to life again, and CaTDOS's voice splits the air, his words stringing together in a sing-song manner.

"Alright, adventurers~ It's time to begin~ Everyone, remember to keep your data transmitters active at all time~ It will constantly analyze and stream information back to us, so make sure you don't lose it, no matter what~" A face flickers onto the communicator's screen, a very distinct, pixelated '+ w+' expression. "Take a moment to introduce yourselves, but then please begin~ You are to enter the jungle away from the previously cut path~ Your goal is to find anything of interest that you can, particularly new species~ Please remember, be very careful~ Who knows what's lurking out there~? CaTDOS out~!"

Carolina Small, that was her name plastered on a big red shirt. Typical for her every day life after all. This place was not typical for her every day life, at least this t-shirt wasn't. It didn't fit her style at all! not to mention it didn't blend in well with the environment and red looked awe full on her. She watched the strange being in front of her cautiously as he introduced himself and took her turn to reply. Making sure to keep her eyes focused in front of her, better to stay on task that was her job.

"Carolina Small, Sir."

Even before the communicator had finished delivering its chipper message, Drew had already started flitting around like some overgrown butterfly, staring and poking at the encroaching vines along the edge of the clearing. He did, however, pause in his casual study of the local flora to nod affably at Silas and the other humans as they each introduced themselves.

"I'm Drew. Drew Berg," the man replied with a grin, gleeful as a kid in a toystore. Even the possibility of danger that the communicator's little speech couldn't dampen his spirits now, not when there was the prospect of putting his curiosity to good use. "Say, this is quite the exciting opportunity. Any idea what we might expect out there, leader?"

"I'm sure we'll have an exhilarating time; whether it proves to be pleasurable or simply adrenaline-induced will be a discussion for post-expedition I believe."

Ethel adjusted her glasses, giving a dismissive glance to the fancy italian bum-- uh, man. (he did have a rather fine bum.) She observed the other members - Shauna that girl was; she'd get some nasty grass-rash on her legs with those shorts. Drew Berg was the hummingbird .... rash ... excitable enthused male bouncing around. Carolina Small - that was a name to create a Napoleon complex if she'd ever heard one, and finally the 'tekimi'.

She'd left him till last. There was so much to look at; to wonder over - and to find the correct descriptive word for.

No sooner did the last member finish his thought than a rustling noise interrupted the otherwise silent area, faint at first but growing by the minute. It wasn't a pleasant sort of sound. It was a sound that should have made the hair on the back of everyone's necks stand on end.

It was then that the large animal burst into the pleasant little clearing, the whiskers flailing madly as they attempted to discern what the strange noises coming from the area were.

The tan creature seemed angry, at least, its six legs stomping at the ground, eyes glaring madly from person to person. This was clearly its territory, and the group was clearly invading its space.

Hide or attack, this creature isn't going to just go away!

Dangerous Active Phase: Roll 1d10
Goal is: high roll.

Scaring; Causing nervousness or fear; driving someone/thing away. Second meaning synonymous with many othe- oh. Right.

Somehow despite her brain going off on a wordy tangent she'd already picked up a rock, following the example of their leader, and swinging both arms (it was a heavy rock), she let the thing fly with a loud yell. Maybe noise would disturb it also?