"Any idea of what they might have under there, sir?" Stab queried.

"You're the literal genius," Feltain replied. "You tell me." 

She was, and she had the paperwork to prove it. but...

"No clue sir. Could be technology, could be a weapon, vould be some sort of ritual device... I have no clue."

"So we sit tight until the bosses decide what they want us to do."

"Yes, sir."

The next several hours passed quietly. While their superiors discussed the plan, Alpha settled in to do the part of reconnaissence that drones could not replace - finding the right spot, and, fundementally, quietly counting vehicles. 

With only eight of them, taking any further action other than observation was suicidal odds, even with Gate exfil (since it would only take one wrong hit to disable Shadowflight and they would be trapped). 

Stab knew that their superiors wer debating the next course of action. At the moment, they still had no idea why the aliens were there, nor were they any closer to solving the myster of the star. The alien technology was novel, but in and of itself, that wasn't likely, Stab thought, to be reason to commit the significant force required to take it, especially as the Aotrs still had no clue as to how large the alien's power was. In any other circumstance, Alpha might have tried finding a terminal and trying to hack it for data... But the complete lack of the powered technology made that a non-starter. The only way they were likely to be able to get any kind of information was MAYBE from a prisoner, but that would be tipping their hand.

(Perhaps if one of the native creatures attacked, they might be able to snag one in the confusion.)

The option of simply asking was, of course, open, but Stab suspected like herself, doing so when the aliens had such massively overwhelming force seemed nearly as dangerous as picking a fight. Nothing about the aliens particularly suggested them being generally benevolent. If anything, given their super soldiers, curses and apparent paranoia, they seemed very much like they'd react rather poorly.

After an hour or two, [i]Crippling Glare[/i] reported in was closing in. The plan was now for [i]Crippleng Glare[/i] to enter the system in the gas giant's ring and go dark, using its stealth armour. If the aliens didn't spot it, good. It'd still be out of scanner range for an active scan, but it'd be close by. Then, they could later gate in closer, perhaps take a proper scan of the star and see what reaction the aliens had when the footing was closer to even.

They meanwhile, were instructed to shift position to watch the Yellow Position in particular, and it was the work of the better part of an hour before they had worked themselves into a suitable spot.

Presently, the light on her HUD indicated command changed to green, showing command was addressing them again.

"Alpha, we are sending a specialist reconnaissence element to your location via Gate. They will then proceed to investigate Yellow Position. [i]Crippling Glare[/i] will arrive in system in four-point-seven minutes. You are to remain on station, but be prepared to execute your exfil if the situation becomes hot."

"Acknowledged," Feltain responded.

[i]Via Gate?[/i] Stab mused. They'd already located a little bully just deep enough for a person-sized Gate to open withut attracting attention, which was only a few tens of feet behind the outlook she as Feltain were lying on observing. 

Must have gotten a high-level caster, one that could easily open a gate from the Myst Gate to their location easily. Not the sort of resource AMET usually had access to on a mission, but this was hardly a usual sitation.

She glanced behind her at just the right moment. She could just make out the point of white light - usually muted, she noted - appear and swell to the gate flat, white rectangular Gate... Actually, was it  a bit smaller than the usual two-by-one-five metres? Stab could have sworn the streamers of roiling colours that spilled out from the Gate were slightly more muted too.

Their reconnaissence asset was smaller than she expected - it was a Kobold Commando, in full armour, the slightly oversized helmet covering the large ears and nose. She'd never seen on in person before - but, she supposed, that was sort of the point, wasn't it. The commando moved smoothly and soundless to their position, and the Gate, without no cerimony, disappeared.

The commando crawled up between them. they were good, Stab noted, she was right next to them and she hadn't heard a sound. He hadn't even bothered turning his visual scatter pattern on.

Feltain was clearly impressed - he was a originally commando himself by training, Stab recalled - since his voice was respectful when he quickly appraised the kobold of the situation. 

"That's them there. Still no clue as to what they've got under there. Whatever it is, we'd need to be right up next to it to be able to see through the sensor baffles. I've got a planned infil route, just in case we were ordered to do this ourselves, but I wouldn't want to presume."

"That okay," the kobold replied. (Male, Stab idly noted.) "Already worked out own route. Smaller, so will be different. Setting off now. [i]Crippling Glare[/i] coming in now, want to be closer to see what reaction will be if they spot it."

Stab resisted the urge to tell the kobold to be careful.

"Rather you than me, sir. I mean, there are an awful lot of them... Er... Anything we need to do, sir, in case, well, like... If you get unlucky?" She ventured, hoping she didn't sound like he was calling his competance into question, because, that would be SUPER rude. She noticed Feltain stiffen ever so slightly and tried not to kick herself.

"Get unlucky?" The kobold just sounded amused. "That not be necessary." He patted her shoulder lightly.

"Me already here."