Somewhere only we know (Explore 30/03/20 #79)

            The secret world of the STS 
 
Back by popular demand, another instalment of STS: Who Dares Shoots. 
 
We left our recruits settling in to their sparse barracks and a hearty meal pre-prepared by C2 and C6. Unbeknown to the recruits, the DTs had already made contact with a field agent who had been planted in the Isle and had been living amongst the local population for many years for just such an operation. We cannot print their callsign only refer to them as candidate C8, but for those in the know they belong to the genus Mustela of the family Mustelidae. Members of this genus are small, active predators... enough said, too much information! 
 
Whilst out on manoeuvres at the bottom of the lane from the barracks shooting Loch Cill Chriosd or Loch Creosote as the recruits affectionately renamed it. A military transporter, not too dissimilar to those of the recruits, but capable of carrying far more equipment pulled up beside the shooting range. Out got field agent C8 and introduced ***self. C2, clearly fancied himself as team leader for the day and ventured across to meet C8... introductions followed, Robotog, Spreadsheet, Red Cap, Naga, Snoozey and I’m here all week! 
 
Everyone continued shooting for another hour or so, or maybe it was the thought of the full Scottish and bacon/sausage barms that started the rumblings and curtailed the shoot. Back at the barracks the recruits discussed operation locations while gorging on the sumptuous breakfast feast, not knowing whether they would ever have the opportunity for sustenance again... would it be 7pm or 8pm?  
 
C8 proved to be a godsend for the group offering never seen before locations here on Flickr... although many called for an arduous hike to reach them – like this location, an exhausting 30 mins yomp from the barracks – even the Royal Marines would wince at the thought, but not the STS! C8 also proved to be a bit of a mountain goat with fell-runner lungs and the groups “competitive” members... namely C5 and C6 struggled to keep pace and in order to bag the best spots first, not that there were any shortages of compositions but enthusiasm does get the better of some recruits – something the DTs will have to keep an eye on.  
 
The manse proved to be an ideal testing ground for the new recruits, the light was good but not the point of the exercise - constantly peppered with rain, howling winds that attempted to write off equipment and for good measure the occasional hail storm. Duration was the name of the game and as the light faltered indecisions meandered throughout the group... should we move on or stick it out for sunset. The weaker members of the team withdrew one by one with lame excuses... “just nipping back, not sure if I put those beers in the fridge” and “damn it, last battery just died” a rookie mistake if there was ever one. 
 
The recruits are whittled down to three – only C4, C6 and C7 remain to sit it out for sunset... that will bode well with the DTs in the final selection.  
 
In the next episode we meet the “umpire”... and the most challenging task for any STS recruit.

Taken on: February 22, 2020

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STS: Who Dares Shoots

undercover

Flickr original series

on location

Manse

somewhere only we know

field agent

Skye

Scotland « less

Sets appears in: • Glen Coe & Isle of Skye • Explored

Groups appears in: • Scotland • Isle of Skye more » • Landscape Exploration • Landscapes!!! • Isle of Skye Magic • Scotland in Picture • L'Europe pittoresque • Photography of Scotland • Colours of Scotland • in explore « less

Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, f/11.0, 1/125 sec, 17mm, ISO 100 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon EOS 5D Mark III
Lens:	EF17-40mm f/4L USM
Aperture:	f/11.0
Exposure Time:	0.008 sec (1/125)
Focal Length:	17mm
ISO:	100
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Aperture-priority AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	Uncalibrated
Software:	Adobe Photoshop 21.0 (Windows)
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