daisy023 | REPORT 023 :: DESERT // VOICE | WRITTEN

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REPORT 023 :: DESERT // VOICE | WRITTEN | ACTION

This is Daisy SPARTAN-023. All units picked for the Desert Op, sound off with your roles. ... I was picked as Field Guide.

[A leadership position. It's been so long.]

Those of you that have knowledge on desertic environments or general survival methodology, now's a good time to share it. Some of you must have more knowledge on this sort of environment than the average fighter, so while this guide may be moot in some way, use this as a way to reinforce old knowledge, and have an idea on what to do when we're out there.

Desert theaters... Are something I'm familiar with. [She has seen too many worlds burned to dust, ash, and glass.] It's a difficult environment, but not impossible.

- As always, equipment from last drafts counts: Compass, flashlight, first-aid kit, water purification kit, canteem, radios, sunscreen, hats, goggles, and a watch. More importantly now, keep the water purifier and the canteem with yourselves. The elements of the desert will make the body require more water than usual. Even the supplies we'll get will need to be taken care of.

- Pace yourselves out there. Strenous work will heat our bodies faster, so carry what's needed. Survival gear counts a lot more now, and with the recurrent shifts and sands of the desert, carry what you know will be reliable out there when both happen.

- Keep your bodies covered but loosely, carry enough clothing to stay warm during the nights, and wash your faces as often as possible, and breathe through a wet face cloth to protect your nose and mouth. You should use scarves and Bandannas to cover your heads and faces.

- All electronic equipment we carry should not be exposed to direct sunlight. Keep not only an electronic map of the area, but a drawn one on paper too, if you have the time. While we'll be given an one to keep track of the area, a physical one could still come in handy. Machines break; eyes don't.

- Drink even if you're not thirsty. Thirst is not an adequate warning of dehydration. And when possible, drink cool water. Normal measures are one quarter in the morning at each meal, and before hard work. Salt loss will be replaced through meals. TIP: Wrap a wet sock around your canteems to cool them.

- Keep watch on for both flora and fauna. The desert is a harsh environment, so a lot of creatures will be drawn to us as a source of moisture, shadow, and food. Watch your clothes and boots and make sure there's nothing in there before you wear them.

... I'm almost afraid to ask this, but I need to know if Shift Hunters have proven to be edible. ADDENDUM: They are not. The flesh of Shift Hunters is harmful to the human body. Should be avoided and disposed of whenever possible.

- Both jeeps are to stay close together. Even if we get working radios, we should be at a distance to assess the situation, and slow down if either group begins to have problems. Be advised: Jeeps will raise their own dust, so stay in line within sight.

- This is for marksmen: If you see something beyond one and a half klicks, assume it's going to be a little lower than what it appears. The hotter air is going to cause a refraction with the distance, making things look higher than they are in daylight, and lower in nightime.

- With the limited resources that will be in the desert, anything that can be safely consumed will have to do. Whatever biases you have against this, you'll have to overcome them.

[Om nom nom scorpions.]

- Use water filial magic whenever possible to extract water from wherever possible: Vegetation, groundwater, moisture. Use it along with the methods listed on the field manual attached with this transmission on getting water. This ability is going to be useful now, more than ever.

- Climatize yourselves while you still can. Five days will be too few days for everyone to adapt to the desert, especially so having spent the last months in winter. If you want to prepare, exercise and gradually increase the heat you're used to to ease your transition from the snow to the desert. If you volunteered for the mission... Let's hope we readied ourselves.

- The moment any of us gets the first symptom of heat illness, stop working, get into shade, and rehydrate. This is not about resisting the elements – It's something called “the weakest link rule”. The moment one person suffers heat exhaustion or a heatstroke, not only has he turned into a casualty and will need immediate medical attention, but the rest could follow, moreso with the shifts out there. This is why you must constantly hydrate yourselves throughout the day and keep the team informed of your status.

In this transmission is another field manual of the library that deals with desert environments. This one's even more outdated than the one given to UNSC Personnel, but it works for what we have.

Good luck, you guys. I'll be up for the days responding to this and preparing. We'll keep in touch. SPARTAN-023, out.

---

[ACTION]

[And as noted in her post, she'll be around the village gathering the gear that won't be supplied to her. Perhaps you have something she may need, or simply may want a few words with her prior to the mission.

She's currently wearing clothes for the desert in case her request for a Helljumper suit is rejected, and chances are you'll find her in a bench, with those clothes, struggling to tie down her long hair. This giant girl needs someone to help her turn it into a braid.]