The Second Expedition to Zaqistan

On August 9th, 2006 the Second Zaqistan expedition departed the Embassy of Zaqistan in Los Angeles, CA. On August 14, Landsberg and Zaqistan Retreat Master Jeffrey Herbst arrived in Zaqistan. It took Landsberg and Herbst two trips to haul material to assemble three robotic sentinels, a variety of tools and three gallons of water. Despite blistering desert heat, Landsberg and Herbst walked more than 11 miles roundtrip and worked through numerous technical setbacks, to complete the three seven foot tall sentinels along Zaqistan's Southern border.

Retreat Master Jeffrey Herbst among the ruins of the town of Terrace, enroute to Zaqistan

The Expedition's Toytoa Sienna

The last sentinel was erected just after sundown, after which the Expedition battled darkness, a fast moving lightning storm that gathered on the horizon and started moving towards the Expedition's vehicle. In order to get the robot parts out of the vehicle, the Expedition removed all cargo from the vehicle which it appeared would be drenched in rain and ruined if Herbst and Landsberg did not return quickly.

The Robotic Sentinels stand guard along the Zaqistan-United States Border

Retreat Master Jeffrey Herbst beside a Sentinel

Images of the Guardians of Zaqistan

However, a mile or so out of Zaqistan, Landsberg stopped and vomited, hampered by an acute case of dehydration. Landsberg was only able to move a tenth of a mile at a time before having to rest and try not to collapse. The Expedition inched towards base camp with the storm in hot pursuit. Finding the ridge of foothills of Terrace Mountain that base camp was located on in the dark was no easy task, but eventually Herbst rediscovered the camp. While Landsberg curled up with a half gallon of water, Herbst stowed the cargo and pitched a tent five minutes before the the rain fell.