Re: X8T-121: Aerielle
There was nothing for him to be suspicious of, and there was clearly no threat from the bird-people, at least not weapon-wise, but the air was there element and it was a long way down. Something still nagged at him, though. He couldn't quite put a finger on it. Maybe it was that metal canopy. It was just... incongruous.
He didn't need to ask the others who could climb; he already had that info in his head, from the files.
"Yeah, Marcus, go ahead and dial home while the rest of us set up the climbing gear. Don't send the MALP through just yet, though."
"Looks like you're our climbing expert, James. Set up a rope system for two people, tied off to the MALP, and then you go down first to secure the area. Once you've done that, we'll use the MALP's winch to lower the non-climbers down."
"Sarah, you'll be next. Access the situation."
"Del'noc... next."
"Followed by Kylie... Marcus... Cormac... and I'll bring up the rear."
He hated being last; he wanted to be first, should have been first, but in this situation, the best climber needed to take point. The MALP's winch could lower everyone, but the climbers could use ascenders to get back up to the mountain top faster than the winch could.