[snip]

“Captain, it appearrss the tunnel continuess on the other sside.” She said as she then peered down into the chasm, carefully. Fortunately, being a able to use all four limbs with claws, she was able to anchor herself to do so without sliding down the incline.

“The chassm looks about 12 ft down, we sshould be able to eassily sscale down it and make ourr way up the otherr sside.” She said as she carefully edged back.”Okay, Doctorr. How do we sset up the equipment to do sso?”

Hunter stayed back letting M’Mera check , he figured even if she fell the probability would be she’ll turn her body in mid air and land safely on all four limbs .

‘’How wide would you estimate it is?’’ the doctor asked.

“I’m not sure it matters how wide it is,” said Glen, “but rather if there is anything down inside it? ‘Seems to me, that this pile of rocks wasn’t built to keep people out, because this chasm would have done that on its own. So, I’m thinking that it was built to keep something else ‘in’?”

‘’Could be ‘’ Hunter replied ‘’ I suggest first two of us go down just in case there is something , if it’s clear the rest of our team will follow ‘’ .

“I would suggest, I be one of the two.”M’Mera said as she sheathed her weapon in preparation to head down with Hunter.

’’ Well I suppose I’ll be the one to go down with you ‘’ Hunter replied ‘’ I know you held me from falling down but we cannot be tight together get the ropes off ‘’ he barked knowing if they would have been ambushed while still tight together it would have been a dire situation . He then pulled out a sturdy and robust rope tightening it securely to one of the bigger rocks and with a determined look he turned too M’Mera ‘’Shall I go down first and you follow? ‘’

The doctor adjusted his helmet switching on the light and checked his pocket for the torch knowing it was really dark down there , turning to the security he simple made eye contact with them as there were no need for words.........for both Eros and Sharp knew what was expected of them.

Sharp understood and gave a quick nod he then positioned himself near the edge where he would be able to shine his light down, not knowing what the COS and Hunter would find.

M’Mera nodded as she attached her carabiner to the rope before looking back at Hunter to indicate she was ready. She would watch Hunter go down and not follow until he was close to the bottom. She would also be keeping an eye out for trouble.

Captain Glen shuffled along the chasm edge to find a space between those already lined up there. He was agreeable to letting Hunter and M’Mera go first. With all their head torches shining down into the chasm it didn’t appear to be quite as dangerous as it had just moments ago, when they had all almost been pulled into it. The reason for blocking the tunnel with rubble still bothered Glen.

Hunter went down in no time at all ,he would have enjoyed this expedition if it was not for the fact that they did not know what awaited them .
Once his feet touched the ground the doctor gave a quick glance around,he then opened his carabiner so M’Mera could pull up the rope .

M’Mera pulled it up deftly and clipping herself in, shimmied down the rope deftly. Once down she nodded at Hunter, “Help the otherrss down and I’ll keep watch.” She said as she moved farther away from the side of the crevice to where she could see toward both ends and see up the other side.

Hunter moved near M’Mera ‘’ Lt why get everyone down ? Don’t you think it would be wise that someone stay up there and keep an eye on what may come from the other side ? If we are all trapped down here hate to say it we’ll be food for fodder ‘’ the doctor whispered in a hush tone.

If M’Mera had had eyebrows she would have raised them. “We know no one elsse iss in the tunnelss behind uss and I’m not going to leave anyone behind. We sstay togetherr.”

The Captain began climbing down next. He could see M’Mera and Hunters in an animated discussion below him, but couldn’t hear what they were saying. But if he could have, he would have wondered how M’Mera could be so sure no one was in the tunnels behind them when they had no working equipment to monitor life-signs. As for what lay ahead of them in the tunnels over the chasm, well clearly something did, otherwise there was little point in this expedition at all.

Hunter looked up and signaled with his hand for Glen to descend ‘’Lt I was referring to the other side and not the one we came through ‘’ at that point the doctor had the urge to hit his head against the wall .

Apparently it was useless telling everyone to speak in a hushed voice or refrain from talking altogether and use hand gesture instead.

When Glen reached the bottom, he asked, “Is there a problem?”.

Hunter shook his head ‘’At least not for now ‘’ he replied his voice barely audible .

“Well, I have a problem,” Glen replied. “I don’t like it down here. It feels like a death pit. It unnerves me. It’s been put here to make someone fall in, just as we almost fell in, or else there’s something alive down here. And we are sitting ducks if anyone attacks us from either side. The quicker we get back up the other side the better.”

’’ I totally agree Captain that is the very reason I suggested not all of us get down here ‘’ as an after thought he whispered ‘’I think M’Mera has a death wish , the interference blocking the system I believe was done on purpose ‘’ the doctor looked up ‘’Shall we tell the security to stay where they are ?’‘.

Hunter Dr.

“Let’s at least get someone to climb up the otherside before everyone climbs down this side,” Glen said. “Climbing down wasn’t that difficult and we could leave the rope in place to get back out, while we use another on the other side. With someone on top, they’d have the advantage of height if we were ambushed. I also wish we’d brought more poweful lighting. I didn’t expect to find caves the size of chasms where you can’t see to the far end.”

• Glen, CO

“My apologizess Doctorr, I missunderstood what you werre ssuggessting. Captain, I believe I am the besst one to go up the otherr sside and prrotect the team frrom above ass well ass watch forr company.”

Lt. M’Mera COS

“Very good, Lieutenant,” replied the Captain to M’Mera. “You climb up and watch out for company. Hunter, you can assist the others to climb down and then follow the COS up. I will keep us covered from here, and Sharp is last down and our rearguard, to protect us until we all up on the other side.”

• Glen, CO