Anonymouse wrote:--CTC, A Rational Response--
There seems indeed to be brush more or less to the edge of the settlement! Plastic brush, of course, shifting slightly in the breeze. As far as the town itself, there are only a few figures moving around right now--A rather buxom young woman of average height with bleach blonde hair and a tight sundress--pink--that goes down to her mid-thigh. The man is fairly tall with a smile that's dazzling even through the binoculars, and short-cut brown hair. He's holding a bag of groceries.
As for the town itself--though the people seem normal...or, normal enough, it too appears to be artificial--plastic cars, plastic buildings, plastic streetlights. The closest buildings appear to be a few private homes, though presumably there's a grocery store nearby.
The squad of soldiers pauses as they near the community, hiding amongst some of the plastic brush. One can almost hear the silence as they stare at the scene, the plastic buildings, plastic vegetation, plastic streetlights and cars...
"... What the?" Private Leverett stammers, the slowest to realize what this portends.
"Damn," his sergeant mutters, catching on much quicker.
"Well... this changes things a bit," the doctor murmurs.
"Perhaps not as much as it could," Sergeant Meinhard says. "At least it seems unlikely that they'll react with hostility towards us, as a tribal village or hidden supervillain's lair might have. On the other hand, finding a sufficient technology resource to get back home will be more difficult."
"Well, there is still that enigmatic energy source," the doctor points out. "There's still good odds that it is being generated from an artificial source."
The sergeant nods. "All right, we might as well meet up with some of the locals. Everyone make certain your CRAVEN units are active and functioning properly. ED, make scans of the surrounding area for any airborne pathogens or transformative agents. The kid and me are pretty safe with our armor, but the doctor is rather exposed, so her safety is paramount."
The private glances at the sergeant quizzically, but nods and swallows nervously as he switches on his CRAVEN unit. There's a faint hum and shimmer of energy as reality warps around the four squad members, anchoring them in a reality in which most magic and transformative effects can't exist.
"All right, let's move out, team. Take point, Leverett, but I and the doctor will handle any talking."
The four members of the CTC move out from their concealment, walking into the community, and approaching the woman!
