RMS Pacifica; FADM Josef Adama, Commanding
Off Coast of Veleria near Katangwa
The Royal Canissian 1st Task Force was busy. They were supposed to intercept astronaut Wolf Phideaux's Eagle capsule at sea, only to see the mission go tragically wrong as the pod overshot the mark to land "somewhere" in the Velerian hinterland.
Admiral Adama had searched areas at and around the splashdown site, in case the astronaut had managed to eject (even though there were no provisions for him to do so) and sent aircraft into the Velerian jungles where he could, carefully trying to gerrymander his aircrafts' flight paths so as not to overfly Japanistani territory.
SAR resources had recently arrived in Katangwaland, but who knew how long it would take to reach the hinterland of the wild, untamed continent? Heavy cloud cover made it difficult to see anything by satellite; there were no maps of the area, and in some cases they had to try to figure out bearings from tribal legends based on wild speculation.
No matter what, it was going to be a hell of a difficult search...
Seaside Palace, Canissia
King Arik Coyotus sent a message of congratulations to President Shady of the newly-formed UCSR.
"So much going on these days," he muttered, "The UCSR formation and my own Parliament's baseless concerns... still no word on events in Sabika... I have a missing astronaut... the space programs are making rapid pace..." It wasn't all good or bad news, it was just news, lots of it, and it kept coming in. Compared to the lull of a year ago, it was a hectic time at the Palace even though very little of it involved Canissia.
To add insult, the school season had started and the kids had all seemed to come down with the same cold, and brought it home to the Palace. NOw, from the Royal Family to the staff were all sniffling and sneezing in sympathy with one another.
"I hope we get some sort of break soon," the KIng muttered as he continued to pore over the intelligence folders and updates with his morning coffee... and orange juice.
Land of the Lost, Deepest Darkest Inner Veleria
"How much further?" Wolf asked, tired from the trek through the jungle. Lohn Jocke did not even seem fazed by the hike, even though he was obviously older than the young Canissian astronaut.
"It's a ways back to the camp," Jocke said, "We try to stay away from the dinosaurs."
"What were you doing out there, then?" Wolf asked.
"I saw the comet," Jocke said, "The comet coming to earth to land. And there was a comet-- you stepped out of it."
"I guess it would appear that way," Wolf said, "It was my space capsule."
"I suppose people will come looking for you, then?" Jocke asked, "They won't find you. The jungle won't let them."
"You talk about the jungle like it's alive."
"Maybe not alive as we are," Jocke said, "But there is a consciousness to it. You'll see. Veleria doesn't like to let its secrets go..."