Making Camp ((Matthews/Caine))

[C.T. Caine 0]

((This log is set directly between "Under Surveillance" and "Junior."))

 

Caine jogged from one tent to the next around the small complex where the Agincourt crew was setting up camp for the relief operations on Avaros; the adrenaline of a crisis situation was in her blood, channeled by focus and keeping her moving among the security, medical, and marine teams roiling like an unsettled sea. The whole place had the feel of a powder-keg; though the ground for now held firm and the rumbles of the earthquakes were still far in the distance, she knew the minds of all those in the camp -- and probably plenty in the sky too -- were on the possibility that everything around them could, at any moment, completely puff up in smoke. Caine felt the tension but ignored it, her grey eyes unblinkingly receiving reports as she moved from man to man. The practicalities of the situation demanded that she remain intent on what could be done; the camp was being made as stable as possible against the possibility of the shocks moving to their area. Beyond that, it was useless to worry, so Caine didn't.

 

She spotted Marine Captain Matthews completing a briefing to his company and turned to jog towards him, ending up behind him just as he turned around.

 

"Whoa, Caine!" He stepped back a little before continuing, "We're just about to head out. Do you need anything?"

 

Caine shook her head, glancing past Matthews towards the marines arranged in file behind him. "Camp's getting set up as we speak; my boys are working with the medicos and we should be all set to receive incoming fairly soon, and the building is getting arranged as a command and communications center. We're in as good shape as we're like to be, I think."

 

"Ok, good. Alpha platoon's going to help you. I assigned a couple of field medics to them so they'll be able to give you a hand as soon as you get the first injuried. Do you have a plan for those who don't make it? We can't leave the bodies in the open." This was something Owen didn't exactly like to think about, but it had to be taken care of anyway. Decomposing bodies would just be an additional source for diseases. It was not merely a matter of respecting the dead but also one of protecting the living.

 

"A couple of the tents are, I believe, being set up for...morgue duty," Caine said with a faint expression of distaste which she quickly controlled. "With luck we won't need more than that." Luck very rarely had anything to do with this sort of affair but it was a nice thought anyway. She nodded at the private standing next to Matthews, who, set off as he was, was probably the leader of the platoon Matthews had cited as remaining behind. "The extra hands will no doubt be useful though."

 

Owen ignored Guenther for the moment. The private had his orders and he was probably just waiting for further instructions from Caine. "I wish we had way more people. We have to cover a huge area and I fear we'll be too late for some."

 

Caine let one eyebrow drift upwards and her expression flattened slightly. "I don't think there was ever really much question of that," she said bluntly. "But what we've got will do a great deal of good. Just be careful out there; make sure your boys keep their wits about them."

 

"Don't worry. Unfortunately we have enough experience with things like this. Well, not the quakes but...well you know." He trailed off, knowing he didn't have to finish the sentence for Caine to understand. It was just slightly unsettling how similar this whole thing was to what had happened on Earth. "Let's just hope the earthquakes will stop soon. That would make our job a whole lot easier...and safer."

 

Caine did understand, and the eyebrow twitched a micron higher before abruptly dropping. "I agree; perhaps the blueshirts will have something for us by the time things start getting really crazy." She had no idea whether that was likely; on some ships the science teams were top of the line, on others they were merely a supplement to fill out the empty bunks after the fighting side of things was brought in. She knew nothing of Agincourt's team except that there had been suggestions that the planet was giving birth to some sort of...god...or something...Caine was rather hazy on the details and frankly didn't care. She just hoped they came up with something more conclusive, and soon.

 

"I wouldn't mind if things didn't get crazy at all. I'd definitely prefer it that way," Owen replied. "We could do with good news for once."

 

Caine flashed him a tight grin. "We're marines and security, Matthews. We exist to deal with bad news." She glanced at the marines still arranged ready for departure. "I'll go report on readiness to the Commander, unless there's anything else?"

 

Buddha shook his head and smiled. "You're right. We'd lose our jobs if there weren't bad news. One thing before I head out. I hear there are looters around downtown. Watch out in case they make it out here." With that he turned around and walked towards the rest of his platoon waiting for him.