Ahead of the recon team, the collection of low foothills and outcrops that shielded the makeshift camp for the exercise - housed in an old farm - was the most defining feature in the otherwise generic landscape. There were gentle rolls and dips to the terrain, but no real great changes in elevation. A gently-flowing river meandered away to the south-west, crossed by a simple bridge was one of the only other notable features, with copses of small, hardy trees making up the majority of the west. In short, terrain not overly favorable to GEAR operations, due to the lack of cover. 
The training area was unihabited by civilians, and was a safe environment for the exercise, with a few wrecks from previous live-fire exercises dotting the landscape, and craters being reclaimed by nature. 
With this beatific waste surrounding them and no background noise, it was little surprise that the advancing recon team were quick to pick up on sensor activity, watching warily for any approaches. Lying in wait, however, the exact position, number and makeup of these forces wasn't obvious on first contact, but there was [i]something[/i] out there. 

Meanwhile, at the rally point, Silver's team lay in wait, hunkered down and securing the rear area. A few flickers of contact glimmered at the edge of the [i]Harlock's[/i] sensor array, and Blade frowned. Switching channels, he established direct contact with Ken and Mike.
"Maxwell, Nawlin - I'm registering a sporadic contact at about half a klick out, south-south-east. I can't tie it down. Investigate the area, but fall back for support if you find anything suspicious, over."