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The sun reaches towards its apex as the jeep continues its steady journey southeast. The landscape begins to open up, the forest recedes and farms become visible along the sides of the road. The plateaus still hover in the background, but they have moved farther away, affording you a clear view of pastures, farmland, and, occasionally, villages.
It is going through this valley between the uplands that you see the first sign of having crossed into the liberated territories. On your right is a metal sign with directions in both Republian and Antegrian and riddled with bullet holes. You look around at the land once more, with greater and renewed focus. You don't know when you crossed over - you could have been driving through your new demesne for more than 30 minutes for all you know - but this must be near the northern section of the district for how close the plateaus rest on either side.
You keep a keen eye on the changing landscape outside and especially on the dun-colored villages visible amidst the low and rolling hills. Whose are these? And they ancient towns? Republian settlements planted during the long occupation? Who lives there, Gennady? Friend or foe?
The vista continues to broaden as you continue south deeper into the district. On the left side you pass the blackened and charred hull of a tank, a legacy of the fight to take this region. Leaning over to that window, you can make out more black dots on roadside - other vehicle casualties? - and, more visibly, shallow craters in the earth from mortar fire and light artillery.
The vehicle slows to cross a bridge before making a hard turn east and following the river upstream. From the right-side window, you can now make out a large hill sprouting from the plains. Recalling the satellite map, this must be Vadim-Tepe. Your desire for a closer look at the outcropping is answered as the road dips closer and closer to the edge of the massive promontory. You can make out small figures crossing the slope followed by flocks of white and black goats. You make occasionally glances away from the hill as well, to see if you can make out the army base labeled on the map. It is to no avail, however. There are some buildings on hills to the north, but at this distance it is not clear if they are part of a base or just farm houses. It makes you sorely wish you were in field kit, with binoculars hanging from your neck, and not dress uniform. Unfortunately, your binoculars are banging around in your luggage, along with everything else of utility.
