Given my day job, I was trying to avoid going to that exact place, even if it would be a case of "write what you know."  :)  It is, however, logical for ADEM to be the lead agency for long-term recovery because they would be best-positioned to coordinate it.  They would probably be running the civilian side of the overall project, coordinating very closely (through the state emergency operations center) with the State Guard and any remaining elements of the National Guard.

So... from a team perspective, our reporting chains would most likely run to our respective parent organizations, but with a dotted line to the state EOC, and we would request additional resources or follow-on teams from said EOC.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:33, Sun 08 July 2018.

Scott Guillory

Call Sign: Sexton

Age: 47 (born January 8th, 1983, Pine Bluff, AR)

Languages: English (native), Spanish (basic), Haitian Creole (pidgin)

Key Skills: Leadership, Persuasion, Scrounging, Small Arms

Key Gear: notebook, radio, expensive 3-Gun competition firearms finally getting real use

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Profile:

After the second shot of whiskey, C. Scott Guillory (the "C" is for "Chase," which he abhors) occasionally describes himself as the dwarf hidden in Governor Steve Ralford's chariot, whispering that the emperor, too, is mortal.  The truth is a bit more complex than that, but the two men have been close friends (some would say co-conspirators) since they met at high school baseball tryouts.  They attended UARK together, hiked and hunted across the Ozarks together, and aided and abetted each other's careers - Ralford in the Marines and later in law and politics, Scott in law enforcement before his election as Sixth Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney.

During Ralford's 2022 run for governor, Scott was instrumental in keeping the campaign organized behind the scenes.  This set the precedent for his ambiguous position in the Ralford administration.  On paper, he was the governor's deputy chief of staff.  The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's editorial staff described him as "fixer" when they were feeling charitable and "hatchetman" when they took offense to his handling of a major issue.  Many of his tasks involved working with local cops and prosecutors and the state auditor's office to bring Ralford's anti-corruption platform to fruition.  Little Rock political operators also realized Scott was one of only two people to whom the governor had to listen - and he was marginally more accessible than the first lady.

After the 2027 nuclear strikes, Scott disappeared from public view for more than a year.  He resurfaced in early 2029 sporting a couple of mostly-healed bullet wounds and a small entourage of cops and National Guardsmen from Arkansas and Louisiana.  Upon his return to Little Rock, he slotted into place as the governor's usual representative in the state emergency operations center, giving Radford one unbiased source of information on the condition of his state (or at least one with known and trusted biases).

In light of his history, outside observers find it surprising that Scott is the civilian co-leader of one of the recovery outreach teams rather than the overall chair of the Governor's Recovery Task Force.  More experienced analysts are aware that Scott has never been content to sit in an office when he could be in the field.  Since 2029, he's seemed to be looking for something in reports coming in from across the state and what's left of the country.

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Appearance:

Scott is a Mark One Model Zero dark-haired, dark-eyed, middle-aged white guy in mostly-decent shape, slimmer than he was a few years ago thanks to the post-apocalyptic weight-loss plan.  In a crowd, there's nothing remarkable about him.  He's missing the tip of his right ear, there's a bullet crease scar along the inside of his left bicep, and his sixth and seventh ribs show the remains of an entry wound and subsequent surgery, but none of those are particularly noteworthy in 2030.

Fierce self-discipline and a need to be taken seriously outside Arkansas eradicated Scott's southern/Ozark accent long ago.  He speaks in generic Middle American television diction with occasional small-town figures of speech and creative profanity calculated for shock value.  His well-honed poker face still carries a faint tinge of street cop professional detachment.

Before the war, Scott's self-assigned uniform was a charcoal gray suit.  The quality increased commensurately with his career trajectory, as did the selection of neckties, but the basic theme remained the same.  In the field, he's switched to lightweight cargo pants and expedition shirts, hiking boots, an Arc'teryx BAC hat with a subdued Razorbacks morale patch, and Oakley Flak 2.0 sunglasses.  He also wears a battle belt with his sidearm and two magazines, radio, karambit, trauma kit, a smoke grenade, two pencil flares, and either a spare magazine for his rifle or a shell carrier for his shotgun.  For a planned gunfight, he changes into secondhand ASP olive drab BDUs, a Velocity Systems Scarab plate carrier, and an Ops-Core FAST ballistic helmet.  When there's vehicle support, though, he still travels with one gray suit in a cleaner's bag - just in case.
This message was last updated by the player at 01:41, Thu 12 July 2018.

Big thanks to Spartan for working up the team vehicles. I like what we've got, wheels-wise, but I'm a little worried that between mechanic's tools, construction tools, any demo (do we have anyone who can handle demo?), extra fuel, food, ammo, etc. boxes of snail mail, medical supplies, and possibly a still, maybe a little more cargo space might be needed. The trailer for CCUV was supposed to answer this, but a related concern is that the trailer will reduce the CCUV's speed and maneuverability.

Maybe an FMTV or something similar?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...um_Tactical_Vehicles

Not necessarily as substitution, but as an addition to the convoy?

Both of the current NPCs are intended to serve as drivers, either primary or secondary. That covers two of our current vehicle roster of three. Is anyone else planning on taking the wheel- maybe not full time, but part time? Obviously, if we add another vehicle, we'll need a fourth driver.

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My preference has always been not to make the convoy too large, partly because a smaller team with relatively limited resources fits better with my idea of the T2K game world and partly because I think a smaller party will be easier to manage, so I’m quite happy with just the three vehicles – by my count we’ve still got over a metric ton of spare cargo capacity, split roughly equally between the JLTV, the CUCV, and the trailer. I take your point about the trailer restricting the CUCV’s mobility but imho a five ton truck is going to be equally restricting (and at least the trailer can be unhitched if it has to be).

And to answer your question, I have no plans to make driving a key skill area for any potential PC. :)

In reply to Good Ol' Rae (msg # 41):

Tori drove a highway patrol cruiser for a few years before becoming a detective, so I'm happy for her to operate Excessive Force.

PS: The M1102 shouldn't restrict mobility too much.  Here's Paul's write-up of this trailer family.

High-Mobility Trailer (HMT)

Notes: Specifically designed for use with the HMMWV, this trailer may also be towed by virtually any vehicle of comparable size. It replaced the M-101 in US service starting in 1997. Three versions of the HMT exist: the M-1101 HTM-L, the M-1102 HTM-H, and the M-1103 HMT-HC. The three trailers have in common riveted construction of high-strength aluminum, a heavy-duty off-road suspension, the same wheels and tires as the HMMWV on a one-axle, two-wheel suspension, hydraulic surge brakes with automatic breakaway activation, a retractable support on the adjustable towbar, and two adjustable support legs at the rear. The HTM-L (Light) is designed for lightweight cargoes; the primary difference between it and the HTM-H (Heavy) is the beefier suspension on the HTM-H. Both may be provided with bows and a canvas cover, and they are designed not to impede the capabilities of the HMMWV. The HTM-HC is a basic chassis with a ladder-type frame; this frame may mount many sorts of tank bodies, shelter bodies, generators, searchlights, ammunition, communications setups, etc. The statistics below are for the basic frame and chassis.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:13, Mon 09 July 2018.

OK, as long as you guys don't think cargo space/carrying capacity will be an issue. I worry too much, sometimes.

So, for primary drivers, were looking at:

Rios (EF)
Skillins (RB)
Watkins (AH)

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This message was last edited by the GM at 16:09, Mon 09 July 2018.

Okay, my two are up.  Saul is meant to be more my primary with Carissa taking care to make sure I can play in the shooting matches.  She can also serve as a backup driver if necessary, but she's not amazing at it (AGL + Skill = 10).

If they need tweaking, let me know and I'll be happy to turn down or turn up aspects as needed.

Also, Rae can you bring up a second character selection for me?  I'll post up their skills and profiles then.

Thanks!

OK, this is a modified version of what I was originally planning, with some parts staying in but other parts out and some major background changes. I think most importantly for me, I've resolved the question of what motivated her to go for a military career in the first place. It is still a draft, so comments are welcome. I'll try and finalise it by Wednesday (I'm out tomorrow). Would have probably got it done today but I got a Microsoft 10 mandatory update that took two and a half hours. The name is a placeholder (I didn't think of the similarity in names with Carissa until a minute ago).

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Charisse Okamoto

Name: Charisse Okamoto
Age: 31 (born Honolulu, Hawaii, May 1999)
Rank: Captain, United States Air Force
AFSOC: 31PX (Security Forces)
Languages spoken: English (Native speaker), Japanese (Native speaker), German (Basic)
Primary Weapon: M4A1 Carbine w/ M68CCO
Secondary Weapon: M17 Automatic Pistol (military designation for SiG Sauer P320)
Melee Weapon: Gerber StrongArm Knife (in the absence of a kendo stick).

Callsign: Nisei

Skills
Expert (12+): Navigation, Observation, Small Arms (Rifle)
Advanced (10+): Armed Martial Arts, Forward Observer, Grenade Launcher, Scrounging, Survival, Unarmed Martial Arts
Professional (8+): Autogun, Climbing, Computer, Ground Vehicle (Wheeled), Instruction, Leadership, Medical (Trauma Aid), Parachute, Persuasion, Scuba, Small Watercraft, Stealth, Swimming, Thrown Weapon, Tracking
Competent (6+): Meteorology, Pilot (Rotary Wing)

Appearance

Charisse Okamoto stands five feet seven inches tall, with dark hair that falls to her shoulder blades when she lets it down but is usually worn pulled back into a tight bun. She is usually attired in Airman Combat Uniform fatigues in the Operational Camouflage Pattern, OCP aka multicam, camo pattern, over which she wears an OCP Soldier Plate Carrier System vest which has the usual assortment of pouches attached. In non combat situations she will frequently replace her Enhanced Combat Helmet with either an OCP boonie cap or no headgear at all, while her brown eyes will be hidden behind a pair of gold rimmed Ray ban aviators.

Her fatigues bear a full color U.S. flag on the upper left sleeve as well as a nametape with the words U.S. AIR FORCE over her left breast pocket and second nametape with her surname over the right. Rank insignia is worn on both of her collar points. Out of uniform she'll favour casual civilian dress, usually jeans or, in low threat situations and the heat of an Arkansas summer, cargo shorts, and a hooded top, while she'll occasionally be seen in a blue Air Force Falcons tee shirt (she was a member of the women's soccer team at the AF Academy).

Background

Born in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1999, Charisse Okamoto's decision to follow a military career came as something of a surprise - and perhaps a disappointment - to her  father, a Surgeon who had hoped that his daughter would follow in his footsteps. Rather than going to medical school Charisse secured a place at the United States Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, obtaining a Congressional nomination from Hawaii's junior Senator, who regularly played golf with her father.

She was determined to do well at the Academy, throwing herself into every aspect of it, realized that as a girl in what was primarily a boys' club she had to give as good as she got. Graduating from the Academy in the class of 2020 with a Bachelor's Degree in History, she was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and assigned to the 86th Security Forces Squadron at Ramstein Air Base in Germany.

Routine promotion to First Lieutenant followed in due course, and in 2024 Charisse was accepted for training as a Combat Rescue Officer (CRO).  She completed the initial phases of the training - Army Airborne School, Combat Diver School, basic and advanced SERE - but dropped out midway through the actual seventeen week CRO course itself, something that she did not take well at all.

When the shit hit the fan Charisse was a newly promoted Captain, serving with the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana. She was still at Barksdale when the War started, watched the BUFF's take to the skies once the nuclear genie had slipped out of the bottle. When lack of fuel grounded the last remaining B52's she initially found herself taking part in various operations aimed at maintaining law and order and providing humanitarian aid in north western Louisiana, until the Mexican led Allianza crossed the border and drove north.

As Allianza forces approached the Texas / Louisiana State line Charisse was part of an ad hoc American force that had been flung together to try and halt the invaders. The fighting was bloody, brutal, with Mexican columns making it as far as Barksdale itself, causing heavy damage before they were repelled. Charisse was in command of a provisional Company that consisted mainly of surplus support and maintenance personnel from Barksdale and Louisiana State and local law enforcement officers, and her unit was hit hard, almost overrun. After it was over it was suggested in some quarters that she had been reckless, had pushed too far forward, allowed her unit to become almost surrounded by the invaders. A few people went as far as to say it was only through good fortune that the whole Company hadn't been wiped out. Some of the surviving Louisiana State Police troopers were particularly scathing of her afterwards, and, as is the nature of such things, various versions of Charisse's role in what has become known as 'the Battle of Barksdale' are in circulation, most of which have been through various stages of embellishment.

Shortly afterwards Barksdale - or at least what was left of it after the fighting - was evacuated, with the Air Force blowing up anything they could not take with them. One column headed for Texas to reinforce the American forces fighting the Allianza there, while another, smaller, column went north, eventually ending up at Little Rock AFB in Arkansas. Charisse was in the latter group, and, along with other Air Force personnel at Little Rock, soon found herself engaged in operations supporting the Arkansas State Guard.

Contacts
TBC

It looks like Carissa has a modicum of medical skill, but we still need a proper medic- for the team and for winning hearts-and-minds. Everyone but Teg is already playing two PCs and I'd rather nobody take on a third. No pressure Teg, but any interest in gen'ing up a medic secondary? If you'd rather not, I totally understand. I don't want anyone to be overextended. I've got a couple of medic concepts rattling around in my head so, if necessary, a new NPC can take the job.

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Let me think on it.  I'm still finalizing my thoughts on Scott.

In reply to Tegyrius (msg # 48):

Thanks, Teg. Again, if you have any doubts, it's probably best to stick with one PC. I just wanted to put the call out there, just in case.

A few years ago, my wife Michelle- also in public education- visited a school district in NW Arkansas to take a look at their instructional model in action. When she got back, she told me that Springdale, Arkansas has the biggest Marshallese Islander population in the CONUS. Considering the setting we chose, and this little tidbit, I really wanted to run a Marshallese NPC and, since Spartan snagged the autogunner slot, and the medic slot is still up-in-the-air, I wrote him as a utility character. He can cook (good for hearts and minds), drive (backup), and fight a little- the type of character we won't feel bad about leaving to babysit the vehicles when need be. What do you think? Is he not useful enough?


Age: 23
Rank: E-4, Arkansas State Guard
Languages Spoken: Marshallese, English, a bit of Spanish
Primary Weapon: M4 Carbine
Secondary Weapon: M9 Pistol

Jackson Kabua was born to young, immigrant parents, Marshall Islanders lured to U.S.A. by the Tyson Food Corporation with the promise of steady work and a path to full U.S. citizenship. They joined the largest Marshallese community in the continental United States, located in Springdale, Arkansas. Jackson grew up in company-owned trailer park, surrounded by a large extended family (expanded further by chain-migration). Like many in his tight-knit immigrant community, Jackson struggled in school, his only enduring interest in academics being a CTE culinary arts class he enrolled in during his sophomore year of high school.

After over a decade working on the killing floor at a Tyson processing plant, Jackson's father decided that he'd had enough of poultry. He hadn't found the American Dream in Springdale, so he decided to venture out and look for it elsewhere. With his meager savings and a little help from the community, he bought an old food truck and moved the family to Little Rock (Jackson had just turned sixteen). It took about a year, but the Kabua family's Marshallese-Mexican Fusion proved exceptionally popular with the neo-yuppies in Little Rock's business district (so much so, that his father eventually was able to buy a brick-and-mortar restaurant downtown). When not barely avoiding flunking out of school, young Jackson spent nearly all of his waking hours behind the gridle, or behind the wheel, of 'Kabua's Fast Island Cuisine'.

When WWIII came, Jackson couldn't avoid the draft. He was swept up by the Army, for which he became a 92G (Food Service Specialist). After abbreviated basic and Advanced Individual Training (as a cook), PFC Jackson was shipped to the ETO where he spent most of his tour cooking for the men and women of the 5th Infantry Division. On one particularly desperate occasion, during a Russian Federation breakthrough, now-Specialist Jackson was put into an ad-hoc rifle company made up of cooks, clerks, and assorted REMFs and thrown into the breach. In the ensuing week-long battle to escape the Kalisz Pocket, Jackson took over a M240 machinegun from its fallen A-Gunner, wielding it to good effect. Later, during a BM-30 Smerch rocket strike, Jackson was seriously wounded, requiring evacuation to Germany and thence to the U.S.A.- little did anyone know at the time that it would be one of the last medevac flights back to the States. After a lengthy and painful rehab and convalescence, Jackson headed to Little Rock on administrative leave*. Technically, Jackson is a deserter, having made no effort to return to his posting after the lights went out. The Arkansas State Guard, desperate for experienced manpower, decided to overlook this little, inconvenient detail.

Appearance: Vaguely Asian (to the unaccustomed eye) in physical appearance, Jackson has dark skin and thick, black wavy hair. In the field, he wears the same standard-issue OCP ACU that he went AWOL in.

Personality: Jackson is fairly quiet and easy going, but he becomes animated and outgoing when he works with food. He wants to protect his family and he figures that the ASG will give him the best platform with which to do so. Jackson was largely unaffected by his brief but intense experience of combat- in fact, during the fighting, he was quickly able to overcome his fear, displaying a bravery for which he was awarded a Bronze Star.

Skills:
Expert (12+):  Ground Vehicle (Wheeled), Culinary Arts
Advanced (10+): Scrounging, Survival, Swimming
Professional (8+): Autogun, Navigation, Computers, UMA, Small Arms (Rifle)
Competent (6+): Spanish, Thrown Weapon



*Does anyone know what it's called when the military doesn't know what to do with someone who's been seriously wounded, so they don't discharge them, but they don't recall them to active duty either?

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This message was last edited by the GM at 17:38, Tue 10 July 2018.

Seems like a good addition to me.

Food is morale.

lol, I'm not overweight, I've just been enjoying good morale for a sustained period!

So...the one thing we always forget about until it’s too late.

Are we taking a dog? Maybe a police working dog?

I added a line about Jackson Kabua taking over a GPMG during the battle to escape the Kalisz Pocket, to justify putting some SP into autogun- the idea behind this being to have a backup gunner to Cole Anderson, or someone to take over on the .50 if/when Cole dismounts with his SAW.

I'm thinking that the party will have been dispatched after the tail end of a hurricane blows through southern Arkansas. It wasn't devastating (to AR, at least), so the teams' mission doesn't become disaster relief or reconstruction, but it explains why Little Rock hasn't heard from some of its southernmost outposts in a while, and it acts as a catalyst for additional adventure scenarios. The civil affairs mission hasn't changed, but it gives the state gov't more of a reason to dispatch such an experienced, well-equipped team to the southern half of the state, when New America is a growing threat in the Ozark uplands of the north.

It's not too late to tweak a PC to include a working dog. Really, it's not too late for any minor (or major) PC tweaks. I want y'all to be happy with your PCs before we get IC.

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This message was last edited by the GM at 22:00, Tue 10 July 2018.

 Going to tweak Carissa a little to get a back up medic for the team.  Say bye-bye to veterinary skills :)

If she has the veterinary skill, she can take care of the dog.

In reply to Tegyrius (msg # 56):

Turns out she has both, although now she's better with humans than pups.  I had to do some tweaking, but it will round out the character and the team a little better I think.

I have to gear shop, but after that I think I’ll be good to go.

Rae, are you cool with, say 1/2 a doc’s med kit and 1/2 a vet kit for Carissa?  As secondary medic I figure she should have something. I’m negotiable to surgery tools...

Do we have a mechanic and/or a civil engineer on the team currently?  Spartan, I know you were looking at an engineer concept initially...

@Keys: I'm cool with that. I'm guessing there's quite a bit of overlap when it comes to basic medical kit stuff- syringes, suture needles, scalpel, stethoscope, etc.

@Teg: NPC Duane Skillins is a skilled automotive mechanic.

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I’ve got a 2/9 going for mechanic, but that dog just barely hunts.

Sorry, trying my country colloquialisms out.

Okay.  Sooo... other than primary doc and civil engineer, do we have any other glaring skill holes?

Rae, go ahead and set me up as Scott for my primary PC, please.  I am still undecided on the commitment of a secondary but I'm happy with his general concept and bio as my main.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:51, Wed 11 July 2018.

It is done, Teg.

What would y'all like your little ASDF task force (is there a better technical term? Civil Affairs Team, perhaps?) to be called?

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