In reply to Tim Charles White (msg # 43):

Nodding, Tina slung her Stoner and went to the Personnel Exit hatch.

"Jimmy, after you?"

The Personnel Exit tunnel was clear, not cofferdammed with sand or other materials. There would be a metre or so of backfill once the top hatch was opened and it would fall down into the shaft. Better Jimmy than her!

In reply to Alice Maura McCloud (msg # 44):

Waiting on Alice, Bobby stood by the power coupling on the hood of the Ranger.

The switch to lower the Ranger was on the wall.

"After you hit the switch, I'll remove the power cable.

"We still need to pack everything into the Ranger. Clean load and mount the MAG-58. We can't even mount the gunshield until we exit due to height restrictions but we can still put the gun on the top ring."

In reply to Robert 'Bobby' Michael Kastelein (msg # 46):

Alice smiles "do I look like a gun Bunny"?
"No on  second thoughts do not answer that"
She shakes her head and goes to mount the MG before heading down into her drivers seat

A slight laugh "Higher than Air Force, I guess?  You guys are special, like angels.  Not angels I needed in the Cav, but angels to many I am certain."

A wink to Tina as he sets his (badly cleaned) m16 aside and gets his full gear settled, then adds wet weather gear on top of it before heading to the ladder.

"Right Tina, stand clear while I open it.  This will probably be a mess!"

Jimmy looped web belt into the ladder at the top, cleared the security with his ID, then looked at it to see if there was any way to remotely open the damn thing and not be under a shower of dirt and mud. If he can't.. so be it.  At least he had his wet weather gear on.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:58, Tue 17 May 2016.

Alice chuckles "angels with broken wings". "Did'nt do my Mum and dad any good in the end the storm still got them"

Just before he went up the ladder he nods.
"That was a bad storm, it got a lot of people.  Sorry."

In reply to James (Jimmy) Gerrold MacGuire (msg # 48):

Studying the ladder, Tina said, "if I recall the briefing, sand and dirt is laid on a ground sheet like a vapour barrier."

She went to the nearby locker, getting out the collapsible pole. She drew her bayonet and screwed it into the end socket. She handed the completed pole-arm to Jimmy.

"Here. If you open the top hatch and there's a plastic sheet or covering, poke it with this to let the ground covering out."

In reply to Alice Maura McCloud (msg # 49):

Bobby was waiting for Alice to hit the switch to lower the Ranger. It was a knife-type switch mounted on the wall.

"Ok, Alice. Any time you're ready. Once she's down I'll prep the MAG and mount it."

Lina picked up the handset and pressed the key switch.

"Alpha One.  This is Kilo Romeo Four Four.  Alpha One, Kilo Romeo Four Four. We read you. Over", she replied, slowly and clearly.  She dug a notepad and a pencil out of her cargo pocket and got ready to take notes.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:00, Mon 23 May 2016.

In reply to Mahalina Rae Powell (msg # 53):

"Kilo Romeo Fower Fower from Alpha Wun.

"I authenticate, ah, as follows: Whiskey, Mike, Tree, Six, Niner, Niner, Tango, Too.

"Do you have, ah, good copy? Ovah."

Whoever it was had a wicked Bahstan or at least Massachusetts accent!
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:00, Mon 23 May 2016.

"Roger that, Alpha One. Good copy. Stand by."

Lina checks the code against the CEOI card for a moment and puts the handset back to her ear.

"Prepare to copy.  Authentication follows. I authenticate, Romeo, Sierra, Seven, Zero, Five, Bravo, Three, India.  Standing by."
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:00, Mon 23 May 2016.

Jimmy sighs, a long heartfelt one.  He then opens the hatch.. and if the vapor barrier is intact he will accept the offered "polearm" and will start the process of clearing.

"How did I end up being the one doing this?"

In reply to Mahalina Rae Powell (msg # 55):

"KILO ROMEO from ALPHA.

"I, ah, authenticate ROMEO, SIERRA, Seven, Zero, Five, BRAVO, Tree, INDIA. I have good copy.

"Requesting to speak to Kilo Romeo Actual. Ovah."


Whoever it was wanted to speak to Tim, personally.

Over at the Personnel Exit, Jimmy opened the hatch and was relieved to find out the black plastic vapour barrier, while old and with a few holes, was intact. Accepting the pole from Tina he cut an "X" in the centre, then got out of the way.

Dark earth began cascading down in a column.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:01, Mon 23 May 2016.

Tina giggled. "Because, uh, chivalry isn't dead? My hero! You're sooooo strong and brave!"

She began scooping out the dirt that collected in the bottom of the shaft using a short-handled shovel.
This message was last updated by the player at 05:04, Wed 18 May 2016.

"Copy that, Alpha.  Stand by for Actual. Over."

She set the handset down on the bench and yells across the room.

"Hey Tim!. Get over here. Prime wants to talk to you!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:01, Mon 23 May 2016.

Jimmy grabs a shovel himself and joins her in clearing the dirt.

"You'd have thought the bastard would have died in the Apocalypse.  Bastard."

In reply to Mahalina Rae Powell (msg # 59):

"Thanks." He takes the handset "Alpha One this is Kilo Romeo Actual. Over."
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:01, Mon 23 May 2016.

In reply to Tim Charles White (msg # 61):

"Kilo Romeo Actual from Alpha Wun.

"To confirm, the current date is the second of February, 2141.

"The time now is 1249, Local.

"Your location is Grid Reference Alpha Hotel Three Three Four Six, Mike Tango Seven One Eight Three.

"Do you copy? Ovah."
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:01, Mon 23 May 2016.

In reply to Project Director (msg # 62):

Tim felt a sinking feeling in his stomach "Alpha One I understand... That is quite a difference, over."
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:02, Mon 23 May 2016.

In reply to Tim Charles White (msg # 63):

"Kilo Romeo from Alpha.

"Roger, it is. Welcome to the future.

"Your instructions are as follows: Detachment Kilo Zulu One Six Seven is en route to your position.

"RV with Kilo Zulu, then proceed west to Grid Reference Alpha Golf Three Two Four Seven, November Tango Seven One Seven Four.

"Contact this station for further instructions at that time.

"Do you copy? Over."
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:02, Mon 23 May 2016.

Jimmy stops clearing the falling soil and debris and stares in the direction of the MPV, eyes widening.

"Well... fuck."

A shadow of something crosses over his face, regret, sorrow possibly, but he grins shortly after.

"I left the oven on, hope I didn't burn the house down."

In reply to Project Director (msg # 64):

"ALpha One understood, over." Tim rubs the back of his head with his left hand. He reads out the coordinates so Mahalina can write them down in her note book.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:02, Mon 23 May 2016.

Jimmy will work at the dirt, though he pauses for the speech, looking thoughtful, then he is back at it.

He does take a break to get a good look at the map, checking a few things to commit to memory.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:57, Thu 19 May 2016.

In reply to Tim Charles White (msg # 66):

"Kilo Romeo from Alpha.

"Please put your radio on speaker if you are on handset. The following is generally addressed to all Project members.

"This, ah, situation no doubt comes as a shock. As you can guess, circumstances prevented us from activating your team and the rest of the Project immediately after the war. The USA ceased to exist as a political entity soon after that terrible day in 1989. Since then, without our help, recovery has been very slow, minimal in most places.

"But the American people do not need radio or TV or mass media to tell them who they are. They already know this sd their birthright. It cannot be taken away from them. The great nation that you, all of you, gave up so much to protect, nurture and shepherd to greatness again is not dead. It only sleeps, awaiting your help to awaken it, to once again become a beacon of freedom and prosperity in the world.

"And you will not be alone in these efforts! Right now, teams all over America are receiving their recall codes and activating. They are meeting with, helping and organising the people they meet around them, like you were all trained to do. There is a great amount of darkness across the land, darkness of ignorance, oppression, tyranny and lawlessness. But there are also islands of light where civilisation as we know it survived, occasionally helped by Project teams that was activated for some reason on their own. By their efforts and sacrifices, and yours too, we will prevail in this difficult and monumentally important task.

"We as Americans are capable of this. Our people once walked on the moon. We will succeed in this task as well because we must, and also because the American people deserve no less from us. With the Almighty on our side, and the hands of the people to assist us, we will win over all adversity, pay any cost, near any burden. We will triumph.

"Over."

Whoever it was speaking was a gifted orator, with a great deal of experience in public speaking. Regardless if this was understood on a conscious level, everyone felt their spirits lifted and buoyed up, as if maybe things weren't hopelessly fucked up after all despite all evidence to the contrary. And maybe so but all it would take was a bit of elbow grease and American ingenuity and know-how to put things right again.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:02, Mon 23 May 2016.

In reply to Project Director (msg # 68):

Tim picked up the handset again and answered. "Understood Alpha, One Kilo Romeo out" He gives the handset to Mahalina before turning and addressing the group. "Well as you all heard we have been asleep for slightly longer then we signed up for and the good news is we are not alone, there are others out there. So the egress time stays the same and once we have eyes on the outside we can access how hard that is going to be. Then we will wait for Kilo Zulu." Tim lays out a map on the picnic table.

"I am going to pin point the grid reference we have been given and just before we leave the bolt hole I will give everyone a look at the map and a chance to jot it down. That will be our rally point should something happen and we scatter for some reason. Standard operating procedures are in effect, you can only fire if fired upon etc. Are there any questions ?"


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This message was last edited by the GM at 22:02, Mon 23 May 2016.