0400 Hours

The posse had a short and not-quite restful sleep by the lake. They arose when it was dark (O'dark thirty, as they say).

They met with Corndog's rig in the parking lot of Maxie's. Maxie had come in and opened up early, serving "trucker's breakfasts" of steak, eggs, toast and hashed browned potatoes washed down with milk and clean water.

All the various fuel tanks on the rig, technical and and bikes were topped up with Spook Juice, and a 55-gallon drum of Spook Juice loaded aboard the rig's van trailer. Plastic and wooden crates of food (some preserved, some fresh) and jugs of water were loaded aboard the trailer, too, enough food and drink for seven people for a week.

http://maps.google.ca/maps?sad...,2,3&t=m&z=6

Ideally, they would be on the road for 4 days at a minimum, maybe a day or two detouring if they were unlucky. It would be 1353 miles, and normal travel would average 400 miles a day. The fuel they had along should last for the trip.

The major problem with the route is that they would have to skirt the northern boundary of Combine territory. Although Roadkill and Peter weren't hunted by Throckmorton, other posse members were (Jane, for sure). But the Combine and Denver were directly between Near Wichita and Boise so it was a risk they would have to take or add days to the route.

Roadkill's rig (Roadkill and Sullivan in the cab, Smoker in the rear fighting position) would lead, followed by Peter's technical (Peter driving and Jane running the .50-cal.). The bikes (Rowan, Schaeffer, Michaela, Trejo) would follow or lead, as was their preference. Roadkill's rig, Peter's technical (and his IBS helmet) and Schaeffer's own IBS helmet all had radios tuned to the same frequency, although it was an unsecured one.

TS Crichton was somewhat at loose ends, but he could always man the trailer's front fighting position (Smoker covering the rear). Although neither position had a crew-served weapon, they has 6x Spook Juice Molotov cocktails to split between them.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:38, Thu 29 Dec 2011.

As he was experienced avoiding the combine, and familiar with the route to Boise Trejo look lead position for the convoy.  This had the added benefit of not having to travel in the dust cloud that this convoy was sure to throw.

Rowan packs her bike in the morning stowing the items she does not need in the panniers.
Then makes sure tricksters pannier has the top openand is comfortable for him to curle up in.
She parks beside kurt, "ready to ride love" she asks with a smile

In reply to The Marshall (msg #1):

Roadkill looks over the truck while eating breakfast, he has a lot of energy and can't wait to get out on the road, he checks this and that and makes sure fighting positions can be filled as soon as trouble hits.
"Smoker everything is in tip top shape I hope, make sure both fighting position are set and ready to go and comfortable for a long stay. better you than me up there"

As they are about to head off after breakfast making sure everyone can hear
"our radios are unsecured so keep chatter general and not if we should attack the combine or corndog if we run into him." he looks around "nothing else left then. 4 days journey to Boise or maybe 5, I did say that after last time detours will be limited to as little as possible. We go straight there. We have tanks fill of spook juice, food and water, Sullivan is neatly packed away in the rig, he better have some good stories to entertain me too or he will get to stay in the trailer." he looks towards the love birds
"those two have kissed and said their loving words so then lets hit the road."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:56, Thu 29 Dec 2011.

Peter had nightmares, as usual. He got a bit of sleep, almost more than he normally did in the relatively-safe environs of the town. But that was all. He still awoke earlier than everyone else and was ready to go about an hour ahead of time.

One things got up and started, he pitched in as needed but wasn't feeling very friendly so kept his mouth shut. He was glad to have fuel and food, however, a pleasant change of pace to not be hungry or worried about the next stop so much.

He gave Jane a quick smile which was the most friendly he had been all morning.

He rolled his eyes a bit at Roadkill's radio 101 class. He muttered under his breath so only Jane would hear him. "Right. Like we've never done this before.

He shook his head and climbed back in the truck once everyone was ready to head out. He thought about radioing Roadkill while they were still in town with "chatter" just to annoy the man, but didn't bother. It wasn't worth it. He hoped it would be a good trip but he had his doubts, as always.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:08, Thu 29 Dec 2011.

At 0400 Airen walks up to the meeting point at Maxie's wearing a full Infantry Battlesuit and only three of his pistols. He is fiddling with a holo-board as he walks up. "Ooooo Steak and eggs! Score one for the Convoy." He pauses and looks at Roadkill and then says " Can we talk for a minute or two in private?"
This message was last edited by the player at 20:24, Thu 29 Dec 2011.

In reply to Rowan Dawson (msg #3):

The Colonel smiled back at Rowan.

"So am I love, so am I. Though I have to admit that I am a bit unused to riding  a bike. I like it, but I'd prefer being in a fighting position on the trailer and having a stable firing platform if needed."

His pack and sniper rifle were securely packed into the BMW's sidecar, while he wore his M4 comfortably across his chest.

Rowan laughs "hey before I inherited this i walked"

As they start of Rowan can be heard singing

Oh I'd rather go and journey where the diamond crest is flowing and
Run across the valley beneath the sacred mountain and
Wander through the forest
Where the trees have leaves of prisms and break the light in colors
That no one knows the names of

And when it's time I'll go and wait beside a legendary fountain
Till I see your form reflected in it's clear and jewelled waters
And if you think I'm ready
You may lead me to the chasm where the rivers of our vision
Flow into one another

I will want to die beneath the white cascading waters
They may beg, they may plead, they may argue with their logic
And then they'll know the things I learned
That really have no value in the end they will surely know
I wasn't born to follow

rowan smiles and pulls out alongside Kurt

From his small riding area trickster hears his ward sing her chalange to the sky and pokes his head out and sings his challenge to the wind

Out of the truck's CB speakers (plus the other radios and a pair of backup speakers set in the cab's dash) came a voice with a French accent.

"Salut! I am Gilles, and I am 'appy to be your driver-assistant, should it be needed. Unlike vous, I can see in the dark, and is verra verra dark out. Per'aps I should take se lead, oui?"

0430 Hours

It was still pitch dark outside, although the Eastern sky was beginning to lighten. There was no moon and it was overcast, so the stars were hidden. Even with headlights, it would be slow going until the dawn broke about a half-hour from now at 0500).

Correction: I originally posted dawn was around 0630, but I had the wrong month, dawn is actually at 0458, my mistake!

Still, slow going until then.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:38, Thu 29 Dec 2011.

Jane squinted into the darkness
"We are gonna be screwed if something hits us, its just too damn dark!

In reply to The Marshall (msg #11):

Finishing up his meal and downing his drink, Smoker slung his rifle muzzle-down and walked outside into the darkness. "Shee-it. Time to get 'er done." He climbed up onto the trailer, getting settled into the rear fighting position.

Of few words as usual, Michaela strode out to her bike.

Arthur's sword was in it's scabbard on her back, that position formerly occupied by her now-shattered Katana. That hilt and broken blade were now in her pack. Perhaps the blade could be re-forged but she doubted the expertise and tools existed anywhere in the Wasted West, maybe not even the world. She also had Arthur's 10mm strapped to her hip.

Sighing, she slipped on her goggles, then checked her Commando SMG where it was secured above the handlebars (beneath the windscreen) and slid her Winchester into the rifle sheath behind her on the right. Michaela straddled her sport bike and took it off the kickstand but didn't start it.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:14, Fri 30 Dec 2011.

"Still have some time, just set up Gilles here, what is on your mind" He thinks for a bit "You are driving with Pete right"



Roadkill looked a bit taken back by the accent and then smiled. "looky there, this posse is truely multi cultral" Wanting to test it out and being that just before dawn it is the darkest roadkill decides that he will give it a go, see if it can do what it says.

"Just wanted to say that we need to be real alert when we get near Denver. Throckmorten would love to get his hands on me and a couple of others. That and how well do you know Corndog?" for a PA Marine pilot Airen is looking real scared when he mentions Throckmorten not to mention angry.

In reply to Tech. Sgt. Airen Crichton (msg #16):

Looking over the edge of the fighting position, Smoker called down from the roof of the trailer. "Yo, it's Crichton, right? How about you come up here? Pete's got a gunner already in back of his technical, it's just me up here."

"You can take the forward position, I'll stay keeping watch out the rear."
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:39, Fri 30 Dec 2011.

People were fighting over Crichton and where he should be placed. Peter just snorted. He didn't care. Sure, having another hand on his truck would be nice, and having one more on the rig might be overkill. On the other hand, the rig was a lot more "ground" to cover in a fight, so it made sense. And if the technical got "boarded" and he and Jane couldn't handle it? Then they were likely dead at that point anyways.

"We ready to roll or what? It's so early we don't even got DAYLIGHT to burn yet, but we're sure wastin' somethin'!"

Rowan
" Ready"

In reply to Roadkill (msg #15):

Gilles scanned the area, noted Trejo was waiting at the exit to the parking lot. He spoke to Roadkill, "s'at man wi'd all s'e knives on s'e motorcycle, 'e is sitting in s'e "pole position". In front. Alors, I must be "polesitter" myself if I am to show you 'ow it's done, n'est-ce pas?"

0435 Hours

It was up to Crichton to decide where he wanted to be, but they had to be rolling. He was wearing IBS and a helmet (with radio) so he'd be comfortable anywhere. He noted the Colonel also wore full IBS (in Flecktarn) as he rode his replica BMW, massive rifle in soft drag-bag propped up in a sidecar. Michaela slipped on a full-face Motorcycle helmet.

The quiet morning stillness was broken by the throaty roar of the long-nose and the coughing roar of motorcycles starting and revving up. Blue exhaust smoke plumed up into the cool air. Under the sound of idling vehicles was the faint screeching and keening sound characteristic of engines burning Spook Juice. The other-worldly sound was soon drowned out as everyone lurched into gear and straggled out onto the road.

Gripping the ape-hanger bars, Trejo took the lead at first, easily zipping ahead on his Harley in the morning darkness. Following him was the rig, technical, then the rear gaggle of 3 bikes/hoverbikes. It was a straight shot down the road through the inner and outer perimeters of Near Wichita, NE of the Wichita ruins. The dodged the odd wreck and where Highway 254 passed under I-35 (the Kansas Turnpike toll road) and they slowed down to weave around some fallen debris. Roadkill was satisfied with the performance of the hand's off autopilot, so far, but this wasn't really much of a challenge.

When took the off-ramp from 254 to turn right on Rte. 196, Gilles made his move.

The armoured semi-truck was especially sluggish at slow speeds but when they hit 40 MPH, things changed. As Trejo slowed to take the corner, Roadkill's rig leaped ahead cutting across inside of the corner with a roar of turbocharged Peterbilt engine! The overloaded top-heavy rig took the corner going 45 precariously heeled-over on only its left side wheels, the right side breaking contact with the pavement. Somehow Gilles kept it together, even plowing through a rusted van chassis (which disintegrated in a jolt and shower of sparks) sitting abandoned and stripped on it's frame on the right shoulder. Everyone on top held on for dear life.

But they made it through the corner upright, slamming down on the right when they straightened out. Trejo, not wanting to hold onto pole position at the expense of his life, narrowly dodged the armoured trailer looming at him out of the darkness. Running out of road, he spun out in the dirt of the left shoulder. Unhurt, he picked himself up from the dust, as well as his bike. Having taken the pole position in his trademark aggressive fashion, Gilles dimmed the headlights and ran "dark" up Rte. 196 on night vision alone, turbocharger roaring. Again, his handling was good without lights, maybe not the best Roadkill had seen but decent enough.

Feeling the trailer starting to go over, Smoker dropped down and grabbed the side of the fighting position, holding on for dear life. "Hooo-leeee Shit!" When the truck righted itself, he whooped.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:05, Sat 31 Dec 2011.

Making sure she stay well out of the Semis way Rowan rides along side Kurt.
" What was the need to be up and out so early she wondered

"fUCK FUCK!!!!!... Gilles you insane mini fridge! don't be killing our people! I will rip you out and piss on your circuits if you kill anyone of us, especially me" he turns to Suv "check to see if i have a black robe to come back in, actually check on my smoke would you"
Over the radio
"Ladies and gentalmen Gillies the auto pilot is insane but look at him go in the dark. Yehaa! Go get em fridgie! Is all ok back there, over"
This message was last edited by the player at 10:27, Sat 31 Dec 2011.

In reply to Roadkill (msg #24):

Smoker answered his walkie-talkie, "yeah, I'm fine up here! Son of a bitch, WOOO-HOOOOO! Don't worry, I think Trejo is fine."

Gilles spoke from the dash speakers, "ah, sorry, just been a while since I 'ave been on s'e road!"

"Blasted bot should have given you a test run after putting you in." Airen is in the front fighting position as that gives the advantage of height and increased visibility.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:04, Sat 31 Dec 2011.

Peter watched what was happening ahead of them in stunned silence. He slowed down quite a bit, not wanting to be ANYWHERE near that potential dust-up and crazy ass autopilot. He shook himself and angrily grabbed the radio to bark out.

"What the fuck are you doin' up there? You couldn't have just SAID you needed to be up front before we LEFT??"

He let out a long angry hiss of air. That was foolish and could have been very damn expensive in loss of life or property. It had all turned out fine but what if it hadn't? IT would have cost them profit, that's what.

To himself, he muttered under his breath, "Spirits preserve me from the foolhardy idiocy of others."

from some where close he hears Rowan answer
"So Mote it be"!

Ian does a quick check to make sure that no one was run over, he then gives his best "Piss-Off-Cop" look over to Roadkill.

"Mr. Roadkill, I hope you don't make a habit of driving like that all the time?  I might think that you were trying to kill us."

When he hears the bot speaking, he grins and says "Well I guess I should just let you off with a warning.  Just don't do it again"

He sits back and asks "Who programmed that bot?"

In reply to Sgt. Ian Sullivan (msg #30):

From the truck speakers came the sound of electronic chuckling. "Oh, ha, Gilles must 'ave left 'is licence in 'is other Nomex jumpsuit."

"My programmer was se Russian junker, Misha. 'E used se algorythms from "Need for Speed XXXII". I am 'appy to take it easy now, am just showing m'sier Roadkill what Gilles can do! My apologies to se man on se bike, was no 'arm meant."

There was a pause as something was processing. "Using low-light, Gilles is picking up a single person walking towards us, 2 kilometres down se road on se left, probably a man. 'E is looking normal to Gilles."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:32, Mon 02 Jan 2012.

0500 Hours

The vehicles hurtled down the road in the darkness. Without instructions from Roadkill, Gilles didn't react to the pedestrian walking down the road towards them other than to sidle over and give him some space. Probably just a traveller heading towards Near Wichita, it was hard to see details in the predawn light.

Speaking of dawn, the eastern horizon first began to glow reddish-golden, a gift of the kilotons (or more) of dirt and dust thrown into the atmosphere by the Final War. The sun hurtled above the horizon to the right and they were on the road, heading for Boise.

Current Location:

http://maps.google.ca/maps/ms?...e625b2ce8f&msa=0

Route:

http://maps.google.ca/maps?sad...,2,3&t=m&z=7

Rowan rides to the rear of the semi slightly to one side not trusting the idiot who was driving so fast in the dark.
Seeing it drift sideways she eases off on the throtle and slows to see what the problem is that they are avoiding.
If she sees the lone walker she will take a look at him to see who he is.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:14, Wed 04 Jan 2012.

From his riding box Trickster pokes his head up to snif the wind and see what hislady has found

In reply to Rowan Dawson (msg #33):

A figure in a dark duster with wide-brimmed hat appeared in her headlight for a moment, then flashed by.


OOC: You know how bikes are. By the time you see him, he's practically in your rear-view mirror. Rowan can try and stop or go back but the convoy is rolling...

Rowan blinks and the image faded from sight as she maintianed her position in the convoy.

"Don't care who that person is. Probably an undead zombie vampire demon. Too soon, too soon."
Shakes his head "should have rolled on last time too"
He looks at suvillian. "Oh that wasn't someone you knew was it?"

Peter called out over the CB. "So, I take it we jus' rollin' on an' not seein' who that was? Okay then. No more crazy fuckin' drivin' stunts though, Roadkill, you or that Aye Eye." He chuckled and shut off the CB.

Picking up the CB
"Yeah i don't thinking stopping in the dark to check on someone is a good idea. They can either take care of themselves or are one of those doom bringer ninja robe wearing demons. over"
roadkill goes to put the CB down and then suddenly remember.
"Oh and Fridgie has been told to settle down. We will keep on the road so you can follow my tail lights. I'm going to take over the driving when it gets past dawn though. over again. over"

Roadkill does put the CB back. "Damn being a passanger is dull." He looks to the sky. "Come on the sun"

Jane raised an eyebrow before she replied
Only an undead zombie vampire demon? Hell if thats it we might as well add crazy to  the list."

Ian looked at the person that they passed by and said "No"

The man receded into the predawn twilight behind them. Jane got the final look but all she could see was a man in a black duster with a black hat and a bag slung over his shoulder walking towards Near Wichita. Comfortable sprung-heeled cowboy boots clocking on the pavement as he walked.

Jane couldn't help but suppress a shudder as the stranger receded in the distance, almost as if they somehow dodged a bullet.

0600 Hours

The sun climbed above the horizon, and Gilles switched off. "Good day, Roadkill. 'Ave fun." An hour later as they were rolling north and then swung west following rte. 196 through the barren Kansas farmland. To the south loomed the Ghost Storm over the Wichita ruins. Crichton spotted a larger-sized 4-wheeled vehicle approaching them from head on, soon Roadkill and Sullivan saw it too. It looked like an ex-military Humvee of some kind.

Near Wichita Outer Perimeter

An hour earlier, Stone barely noticed the small convoy of his vehicles as it passed him. He wasn't too sure about all these newfangled things in this hellish world. He did know if they'd have interfered with his mission to eradicate the aberrations now living in the town called Near Wichita, he would have shot them all down without a thought.

As it was, things were going as well as expected. He stepped over the bodies of the guards manning the checkpoint into Near Wichita. They'd called for help from their local posse, as he'd planned, and when Misha, Quinn and the metal man Azrael showed up to face him he'd kill them and be on his way. The world was a good one, he figured. Near Wichita would wither without its protectors. An aberration to the Wasted West would be corrected. The natural balance would soon be restored.

In reply to Stone (msg #43):

Trejo suppresses a shudder as he rides by the lone figure.  There is something familiar and altogether unpleasant about the traveler.  He rides on by, keeping an eye on his mirrors, just in case.

In reply to Trejo (msg #44):

Rte. 196

The convoy and Humvee continued to close the distance in the early dawn light.

Up on top, Crichton could see a long ways off because of the flat blasted farmlands and straight road. He reported that the approaching vehicle was armed with what looked to be a M260 SA SAW on the pintle mount. As they approached the oncoming vehicle got a little over to its side but didn't stop or signal them. The paint scheme was a rust-streaked black, no markings.

It could be a Combine vehicle with that paint job, but Black Hats didn't usually travel alone and usually drove converted civilian vehicles. As well, the weapon wasn't Combine issue.

Rowan tucks back towards the rear of the convoy, when told about the incoming vehicle

Roadkill picks up the radio to address his adoring subjects, the posse.
"We have an oncoming solo vehicle that looks like no real threat to us. We carry on as we are. I don't care what they want. If they want something they can turn around and catch up to us.  Over"

With word of an oncoming vehicle, Jane flips the safety to the off position, but does not use the charging handle to chamber a round

Rowan moves so that her bike has the cover of the vehicles between it and the on comuming vehicle

As the figure recedes Airen shudders. When he sees the Hummer he radios the group and chambers a round in his SAW.

The oncoming Humvee didn't act aggressively but didn't slow down either. It just simply moved over to get by the convoy without hassle. Under the helmet, goggles and bandanna the Humvee gunner's features were hard to determine. He or she made no particular move to threaten the posse's vehicles.

Soon the Humvee was past them and receding. Ahead of them was the road arrowing west through the Kansas farmland under glowering clouds.

Soon, the convoy turned north along I-135 towards Salina, Kansas. They made the empty-seeming ruins of Salina by mid-day, turning left on I-70 then right on Highway 283 to Nebraska. By the end of the day (around 1600 hours) they would make I-80 and finally the town of North Platte, along the river of the same name.

Posse's Daily Route:

http://maps.google.ca/maps?sad...ia=1&t=p&z=7

Rowan moves back on point slightly to one side of the lumbering Humvee's path. She rides wondering what is happening behind them
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:18, Mon 09 Jan 2012.

"Keep an eye on that Hummer Smoker. If it doubles back let us let me know. To much wierdness with it to sit well."

1700 Hours

The Humvee didn't return, and receded in the distance behind them. The convoy travelled on, hitting the FEBA at the old border around noon.

Between the now-meaningless border between the USA and CSA stretched the Wall. It seemed that it had just always been there since the Southern War of Independence. In some areas it was a simple wall, in other areas it was a defensive zone miles deep on either side.

Fierce back and forth battles had taken place across the Kansas-Nebraskan border. They threaded slowly between minefields and barbed wire traps, around burned out vehicles, and past destroyed and empty bunkers and entrenchments. A safe route through the mass of obstructions had been cleared years ago to permit travel across the old battle area. It was completely deserted, even the dead seemed to have fled the area years ago.

Once past the border Wall they made North Platte, Nebraska, without seeing another soul. That evening they looked for a place to overnight along the North Platte river. They were in a shallow prairie valley in the middle of slowly-recovering grasslands. There were a few abandoned farms in the grassland, the town beside the river, or out on the plains themselves.

OOC: Where do you want to camp?

Airen looks around for what he consides safe sleeping areas.

Some where either elevated or enclosed by solid walls is my vote.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:45, Tue 10 Jan 2012.

This part of Nebraska wasn't particularly known for high ground. The Interstate ran along a shallow river valley, around them stretched the great plains from Kansas in the south to the Dakotas in the north. The river was to the right (north) of the Interstate, the old townsite in between.

They passed what might have been a military installation of some kind just to the right of the interstate, probably a supply depot located in the "Iron Eagle" golf course. That is, there was a large crater marking the probable location from where it was vapourised by a tactical nuclear strike. Schaeffer, Jane and Crichton estimated it had been a ground or subsurface burst somewhere in the .3 to .5 KT yield range. This long after the war the radiation outside the crater from fallout and debris had faded away.

The abandoned town site along the North Platte river had not only been damaged by the suffered repeated air strikes and artillery barrages. There were a few intact buildings in town, although there were many more partially-burned out shells and standing walls. If there were any survivors in the area (and there might well be a few) they hadn't built a walled settlement since the war. There was plenty of high ground along the ridgelines along the river, but of course that would provide a nice silhouette for anyone that was looking.

If they wanted to detour a few miles there was a line of hills to the south of the river:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=...ska&t=p&z=11

Marshall's Note: This should show up as a topographical map, if not, then select Maps and then terrain.

Over the radio "So shelter is a little scarce here guys. I don't think the blast crater is a good idea so do you guys want to camp along the river or in the ruins?

"Just about anywhere sounds good aright about now."
jane isnt fighting to keep her eyes open, but she can feel herself slowing down

Rowan considers for a moment then replies

"I would sugest the ruins water attracts things"

"Certainly could use a kip soon"
he yawns over the CB like a pure Luddite
"Hopefully we can find a nice place to hide our machines."
A cheeky somewhat evil grin comes over his face
"Schaeffer, can you get your wife to get the kettle on as soon as we park"

In reply to Roadkill (msg #60):

Smoker climbed down from the trailer to join the posse's little pow-wow.

"Let's keep our eye out for a barn or warehouse, then. Should be something around the outskirts of town. Maybe a truck stop."

Peter snorted at Rowan's comment, but only half-heartedly. "And ruins DON'T?" He smiled then and shrugged. "Six to one, half-dozen the other, really. I would say I'm tired and don't care but that would be a gross understatement and definitely not new information to anyone."

He gave a nod and climbed back into the technical. He would be glad to stop for a rest even though he never truly got any.

Once the camp site is decided on Rowan lets trickster out, "go have a run and a look around little friend".


Then sets up a small camp for Kurt and het self.
She is armed the whole time
This message was last updated by the player at 22:51, Thu 12 Jan 2012.

Trickster hops out and sniffs the evening air, a small yip escapes him as he trots, out to see what he can find, chases his own tail for a moment then a dust devil for sheer fun.
better he thinks, life is good some where safe to sleep durring the day and new strange areas to explore at night and food when he is hungry

Tuesday 10 March 2094
0600 Hours

With a bit of searching they found a huge abandoned and partially collapsed warehouse, some kind of school maintenance depot. The sign said "South Platte Schools Maintenance". It looked like several rigs could fit inside and was thoroughly looted. After a dinner meal they set sentries and retired for the night.

Nothing disturbed their sleep except for the nightmares of some of the posse. The next day dawned cloudy, as of the sky were contemplating rain.
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:03, Fri 13 Jan 2012.

Deciding that maybe the depot wasn't picked clean, Smoker (as a professional scavenger) looked around to see if he could find something to salvage and later sell.

However, despite a couple hours effort of looking he came up empty.

"Goddamn, thought I'd find something."

Peter laid to sleep soon after their arrival at the depot. He was tired, bone-tired and weary, but he was used to being that way ever since the bombs had dropped and that family had come into his life. He tossed and turned as he slept, sweat broke out and his body shuddered several times.

Then he suddenly sat bolt upright where he'd been laying. His eyes were wide open, as wide as they could go, as was his mouth as if open in a silent scream. His body shuddered and then unclennched, and he let out a long hacking cough.

"Shit. I hope that was just a dream. I wouldn't want all them folk t'actually be dead."

Jane dismounted after securing Ma Duce, and pciked a section of wall to lay against, waking only once to shift position

Rowan Streaches in the early morning light a small warm mass on her one side Kurt on the other
she considers what she has learnt
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:09, Fri 13 Jan 2012.

In reply to Rowan Dawson (msg #69):

Dim cloud-filtered light that leaked into the cavernous depot warehouse through holes in the roof, Rowan looked over the cook book she'd removed from the spectral Cathedral of Doom. It looked like some kind of vanity press printing from a small Net-order house.


Such books had become popular for small-time authors since computerised publishing had supplanted but not replaced printed books a few decades back. Probably no more than a hundred copies had been printed, if that, and it could have been a dozen. Or one.

Rowan sits there in the fire light reading and memorising
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:54, Sat 14 Jan 2012.

0630 Hours
Low overcast


After a light breakfast and some topping up of the fuel tanks, the posse was ready to get on the road. The sky was hidden by a curtain of clouds. Not rain, not yet...

They pulled out onto the Interstate. Trejo pulled out in front again, and this time as Roadkill was driving the rig he let him. Michaela joined him. The rig came next, then Rowan and Schaeffer, then the technical.


Marshall's Note: The bikes can be up front or between the rig and the technical. If it's important please specify, I'll assume the bikes are split up (some ahead and some in the middle of the formation) unless told otherwise. Schaeffer is NPC'd for a little while until Marc is back in the saddle so he'll ride wherever Rowan does.

In reply to The Marshall (msg #72):

Ian sits in the rig, he starts up some small conversation with Roadkill to pass the time.

1130 Hours
Cloudy

Outside Cheyenne, Wyoming

The small convoy ran east along I-80, beside the North Platte river across the great plains of Nebraska. They crossed into southern Wyoming, technically a no-go area due to the possibility of running into Combine patrols. Cheyenne didn't have a permanent Combine presence but Black Hats often set up roadblocks to force travellers to surrender tribute that was then sent back to Denver.

To get around the likely Combine CPs (Checkpoints) and the Ghost Storm over Cheyenne, they detoured north using back roads. Trejo and Michaela were running a couple miles ahead. Smoker had loaned Michaela his walkie-talkie, as she didn't have one and Crichton had a radio in his IBS helmet they could use up top.

They were riding west along Iron Mountain Rd towards the I-80 interchange. If there was a good place for a roadblock, this was it. The land was flat and mostly barren, with a few dead or struggling bushes, patches of yellow long grass. They passed a few abandoned ranches, although they were now passing the large homes of the furthest suburbs of Cheyenne.

In front, Trejo and Michaela stopped to survey the Interstate ahead to see if there was anyone blocking their way.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms...pn=0.126533,0.184708
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:02, Sun 15 Jan 2012.

Michaela scanned the area ahead, where the road they were on (Iron Mountain Rd.) passed underneath the Interstate. She passed her binoculars over the Trejo.

"What do you think, you see anything blocking the way?"

Back along side the convoy Rowan watches to the south,for any thing air born coming their way

"sooo, Sgt. When did that happen. you use to be a corporal"
Small talk, Roadkill knew he was the best at it, like everything else

The convoy was a couple miles behind the scouts (Trejo/Michaela).

They were in the former Ranchettes, a bedroom community on the far outskirts of Cheyenne. There wasn't much there as it wasn't a real town, just a few empty large suburban homes.

Otherwise, the terrain was a whole lot of nothing. Maybe a few hills off to the north, tangled brush, scattered abandoned homes and ranches.

The Colonel had been keeping to himself for the last day or two; he'd even not volunteered for scout duty.

Mainly it was that he just wasn't much of a driver...of cars. He knew how to drive a motorcycle, but that was about it. An old infantryman, there had never been any need or time for him to learn. Thus he needed every shred of concentration just to make sure he'd not caus some kind of accident.

While he liked riding the BMW, it was annoying not to have a stable firing platform and the time and leisure to watch out for danger as well.
Then there was the insane auto-pilot thing in the truck to consider as well.

There was the closeness to the Combine to consider as well. While he was not wanted by the Black Hats, he'd run into them a few times...or rather they had run into a couple of well-aimed .338 rounds at night.

"Anyone see anything?"

In reply to COL Kurt L. Schaeffer (msg #79):

Using the borrowed radio, Michaela replied, "we're coming up to where this road crosses under the interstate. It's the natural location for a roadblock. I think you all should slow down or stop until we've cleared it."

Roadkill always has a lot of time for Michaela as a straight shooting type of girl so if she says danger, then he listens but...
"I hear you but i am not stopping" he changes down "i'm slowing down to about 20mph so make it quick up there bikers. over. Pete, get by me and get ready to race up there and support. over. Smokes we are on our toes buddy"

OOC(I have no idea what miles are as we are no longer living in the time of the Tudors)
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:28, Mon 16 Jan 2012.

In reply to Roadkill (msg #81):

Crichton passed on the message to Smoker, as Michaela had his personal radio with her.

As the rig slowed Smoker ran to the front of the trailer beside Crichton and got out his binoculars.

In reply to Smoker Nix (msg #82):

When Roadkill starts slowing down and he hears Michaela's message about the underpass he starts scanning the area to see if he might notice something.  As well he moves his SMG in to a better position.

Peter listened in on the radio chatter. He hoped there is no Combine roadblock as they would likely have radios themselves and might have been listening in. He frowned at Roadkill's orders. Not that the other man was a "superior" to him, but he didn't mind following directiosn when needed. He just wasn't sure about putting the techinal in front of the semi if things went bad. Especially since the technical had only one forward-facing weapon....and that was if Peter was firing a gun from his hand!!!!

"You sure about that, R.K.? Technical's in the rear for a reason usually."

Nevertheless, he started speeding up and pulling around the semi.

In reply to Michaela Fukushima (msg #75):

Trejo took the Binoculars from Michaela and scanned the area. "Looks quiet" he said, handing them back.

Since Roadkill wasn't stopping Trejo kicked his bike into gear and motioned for Michaela to do the same, then headed forward to make sure there was no ambush ahead.

In reply to Trejo (msg #85):

In front, the bikes started rolling forward again.

Back at the convoy's main body, the technical pulled in front of the rig, leaving Schaeffer and Rowan on drag (rear positions).

Marshall's Note: I made something of an error, the Interstate goes UNDER the road you're on. Ergo, once you get to the Interstate you cross using a ground-level OVERPASS, not an underpass (that is, there is no uphill grade or high ground, the Interstate passing under in a trench).

In reply to The Marshall (msg #86):

Up top on the trailer, Smoker studied the overpass ahead of them, overlooking the Interstate. From this vantage could see over the scattered ranch and suburban homes of Ranchettes.

He had Crichton pass along via helmet radio, "something's not right, I see movement on the road ahead. Maybe a lookout on the overpass, by a wrecked vehicle."

Airen passes on Smoker's messages and adds "If we run into Combine troops we should probably kill as many as possible and stop any radio signals if possible. Only other option is blow thru and kill as many as possible."

Kill as many as possible sounded like a good idea. He picks up the radio
"Ahhh we got possible movement from a wrecked vehicle on the overpass, might be a lookout. Keep safe up there. over. If anyone is listening in, Any sudden movement equals an extreme overreaction from us all. over once more."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:32, Tue 17 Jan 2012.

The posse moved closer to the bridge.

It became clearer to Trejo, Michaela and (on top of the trailer) Crichton and Smoker that there was a black SUV technical (MG on ring pintle mount) with 2 offoad motorcycles on the bridge.

This looked like part of Black Hat patrol all right, from what Trejo, Jane and Crichton knew. Full-strength patrols would be sent out of Denver with 3 technicals (SUVs or pickup trucks) plus 4 bikes or ATVs to start. Fundamentally expendable, they would take losses until everyone was dead or amalgamated into another unit. Prospects like bikers, road gangers or just the truly desperate could attach themselves prior to joining the Combine with their headbanger chips implanted.

The end result was Black Hat groups were extremely variable. These could also just be people with black bikes and a black SUV technical. They wouldn't know until the "black hats" became obvious.

The bikes were through the clustered ranches of Ranchettes, about 1 mile away from the overpass. Still no sign of life from the vehicles parked on the overpass. It was possible the rest of the Black Hats (if there were more) could be parked beneath the overpass?

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms...spn=0.06416,0.102139

"Okay folks got 2 bikes and a black technical on the overpass. Looks Combine."

Jane flicks the safety off Ma Duece, absentmindedly checking to see if there is a round already chambered

Peter sighed and shook his head. It appeared that violence was once again imminent. It wasn't so much that he minded fighting. It wasn't even really that he minded killing, although generally he tried to keep that to those that deserved it. The main problem he had with violence was that he didn't have any special powers or great skill in running up and chopping people up. That meant that every fight he was firing guns at their enemies....AND THAT WAS JUST LIKE THROWING MONEY OFF THE SIDE OF A BRIDGE!!! It was almost enough to make him cry some days.

He got on the horn to Roadkill. "Think we should go around 'em? Seems like a lot of people on both sides could get themselves injured or perished if we try to blow through."

Nevertheless, he started getting ready. Since he was in the front, which was unusual for a fight on the road for him, he had to be ready to whip around whichever way might be needed to give Jane a shot. Or to drop back behind the semi if they made it through and some gave chase.

He made sure his guns were loaded and ready and within easy reach.

Roadkill understands where Peter is coming from and also wanted to avoid tragedy but at this point there was little point
"I hear you Pete but both sides have seen each other so we just go our way at this point. Friend or foe, we ride hot"
He puts the radio down and talks to his passenger.
"Sounds like you know a lot about these guys. What we got here? look outs or a little more?"

Chricton chambers a round and draws a bead on the bikes ready to fire if he sees a single Stinking Black Hat.      OOC Roadkill who are you talking to? If it's me you need a radio I think.

In reply to Tech. Sgt. Airen Crichton (msg #95):

Inside the cab, Sullivan noted that Roadkill seemed well-armed, at least personally, with a sawed-off shotgun and Commando SMG in thigh drop-holsters, plus a Mossberg pump-shotgun with tac-light.

They rolled closer to the parked vehicles (probable SAW-armed Combine SUV, 2 motorcycles). Trejo and Michaela first, then Peter's technical (Peter, Jane), followed by the rig (Roadkill, Sullivan, Crichton, Smoker) and Schaeffer and Rowan in the rear on their bikes.

From where they were, Trejo, Crichton and Smoker could see a man wearing a black motorcycle helment lying on top of one of the bikes, and a second with a black cowboy hat over his face lying on the hood of the SUV. They weren't moving or taking action, but looked maybe like they were napping (not sprawled).

The SUV was parked across the middle of the I-25 overpass, with 2 motocycles parked to it's right.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms...pn=0.008506,0.017252

(Scroll down to get the scale of the pickup to the SE of the overpass, and the semis on the Interstate below.)

<quote The Marshall>
In reply to Tech. Sgt. Airen Crichton (msg #95):

Inside the cab, Sullivan noted that Roadkill seemed well-armed, at least personally, with a sawed-off shotgun and Commando SMG in thigh drop-holsters, plus a Mossberg pump-shotgun with tac-light.

They rolled closer to the parked vehicles (probable SAW-armed Combine SUV, 2 motorcycles). Trejo and Michaela first, then Peter's technical (Peter, Jane), followed by the rig (Roadkill, Sullivan, Crichton, Smoker) and Schaeffer and Rowan in the rear on their bikes.

From where they were, Trejo, Crichton and Smoker could see a man wearing a black motorcycle helment lying on top of one of the bikes, and a second with a black cowboy hat over his face lying on the hood of the SUV. They weren't moving or taking action, but looked maybe like they were napping (not sprawled).

The SUV was parked across the middle of the I-25 overpass, with 2 motocycles parked to it's right.<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Once Rowan can see the set up the smiles to her self.

And once with in range casts Sleep: 7 aiming to catch the maxium amount of the Black hats

Ian replies to Roadkill "I have dealt with them before.  They are gang-bangers, nasty but still just a bunch of bangers.  Don't drop your guard."

Ian checks his SMG and starts scanning the area for anybody.

The Colonel wasn't happy. It wasn't that there was a potential fight ahead, he liked fighting. He just wasn't looking to doing it from a motorcycle.
Taking one hand from the handlebars, he switched his M4's safety of.

"I don't like this guys. From my point of view, we got two choices: either we speed up to break through, or we slow down to check it out. Me, I'm for checking it out, there might be some salvage to get."

OOC: The Colonel's using his IBS com, so you'll need a radio to hear and talk ;)

"Bloody hell Black Hats at least two most likely four. Waiting for movement before attempting to engage. Look sharp people let's be about it."

In reply to Tech. Sgt. Airen Crichton (msg #100):

"Day-am! they're not making a move, wonder if we caught them napping? Literally? Dead?"

Smoker readied his FN, chambering a round and making sure the safety was off. He was below Crichton on the right, on one knee behind the barbed-wire-festooned sandbag wall of the fighting position.

In reply to Smoker Nix (msg #101):

Roadkill slows it right down to a crawl. "giving you more time up there"

The rig slowed down, while Peter's technical sped up to about a half-mile behind the bikes. Luckily, the slow speed was no problem for either the hoverbike or bike with sidecar as neither would fall over. With any luck, the rig might not be as easily noticeable, being so far back. It also meant the rig wouldn't be able to lend support in a fight.

Trejo and Michaela glided quietly along the cracked and potholed road, taking care to be as quiet as possible by not pouring on the throttle.

They were about 200 yards from the overpass, the technical a half-mile behind them, the rig and Schaeffer/Rowan following a mile and a half away. The men were clearly sleeping. Finally, the sound woke them. The man in the cowboy hat on the hood of the SUV was resting with his hands behind his head, he sat up and turned to look at the approaching motorcycles. The man sleeping with his combat boots on the handlebars of his motorcycle stretched and dropped to the pavement. HI Damnation assault rifle in hand, he waved Trejo and Michaela down as he put on his radio headset. It seemed he didn't notice the technical about a half-mile down the road, or the rig a couple miles away.

In reply to The Marshall (msg #103):

A smile creased Trejo's weathered, seamed face as he raised a hand to wave at the Black Hat. He glanced sideways at Michaela behind his goggles.

"I got the one on the right. Take the one on the left, keep goin'."

Neither speeding up nor slowing down, he kept rolling the 200 yard distance separating them from the Black Hats.

In reply to Trejo (msg #104):

"Got it, chief." He voice was muffled by the full-face motorcycle helmet she wore. She was following Trejo and a little on the left, so this plan was about the best one, considering the risky nature of the attack.

In reply to Michaela Fukushima (msg #105):

Trejo readies a Machete beneath his duster, preparing to decapitate the closer black hat.

"Roadkill get ready to pour on the speed. The Black Hats have woken up and are waving Trejo and Micheala down."

With their increasing proximity Jane flips the safety selector to the "Off" Position, but keeping her finger clear of the firing mechanism

Apparently not noticing the trailing vehicles and not seeing the riders obviously readying weapons, the 2 visible Black Hats (cowboy hat and motorcyle helmet) didn't appear to be averly alarmed. A third man, in a black beret, stood up in the SUV's ring mount. He looked at the approaching bikes but didn't aim the SAW mounted beside him at them. A fourth man, with a black bandanna over his hair and holding an HI Blazer, stepped out from behind the rear of the SUV, closest to Michaela.

At about 50 yards range, Trejo and Michaela were rolling at fairly leisurely 30 MPH. They would reach the men in about 15 seconds if they didn't change their pace. The technical trailed them at just under a half-mile, and the rig a mile and a half behind that.

^
|
N


______===================================______________________
                      B __    1
                       |  |                          T
                       |3 | 2B
                       |__|                            M
_____                 4                  ______________________
     ====================================



0    10   20   30   40   50   60yds
|____|____|____|____|____|____|


B = Bike

T = Trejo (Machete)
M = Michaela (Arthur's Sword)

1 = Black Motorcycle Helmet (Blazer SMG)
2 = Black Cowboy Hat (Damnation AR)
3 = Black Beret (Hellfire SAW)
4 = Black Bandanna (Blazer SMG)

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms...pn=0.032152,0.052528

OOC: Turns are 5 seconds long and the bikes doing 30 mph travel 15 yards per turn, so will cover the 50 yards in 3 turns or so. Vehicles normally move 5 times per turn (they have 5 phases on Ace, Queen, 9, 5, 2). Drivers (like Trejo and Michaela) automatically sacrifice 1 Action per turn to keep nominal control and make basic maneuvers on the vehicle movement phases. They can spend additional Actions to make more elaborate maneuvers.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:05, Sun 29 Jan 2012.

In reply to The Marshall (msg #109):

Trejo veers to the right and picks up speed swinging his Machete at the Man in the cowboy hat as he drives past.

Initiative Draws

Card    Name

Joker:

Ace:    Black Hats (2 Actions)

King:

Queen:  Michaela (2 Actions), Trejo (1 Action)

Jack:   Rowan (? Actions)

Ten:

Nine:   Peter (1 Action)

Eight:

Seven:

Six:

Five:   Smoker (2 Actions)

Four:

Three:  Peter (1 Action), Crichton (3 Actions)

Deuce:  Schaeffer (1 Action)

Note: Underlined Cards are vehicle movement phases (Ace, Queen,  Nine, Five, Deuce.)

In reply to The Marshall (msg #111):

Steeling herself, Michaela got ready to draw her sword and strike as she rolled by.


Michaela Fukushima
No weapon in hand
East of roadblock
Quickdraw Sword.
Attack #4,
Continue riding past the roadblock

At about 50 yards range, Trejo and Michaela were rolling at fairly leisurely 30 MPH. They would reach the men in about 15 seconds if they didn't change their pace. The technical trailed them at just under a half-mile, and the rig a mile and a half behind that.<<<<<<<<<<<<

Rowan rides to one side of the truck with Kurt keeping a watch around them.
Thinking that one day she is going to get some UZi mgs mounted on the front of her bike.
And wishes she could cast sleep at range

Current Cards:

All

Action Summary:

The two bikes bore down on the roadblock. As they didn't seem to be making a move, the Black Hats allowed them to approach. When they got close they suddently revved their engines, trying to intimidate the Black Hats in front of them. Trejo doing it with his face alone.

It was close but after a little hesitation, the Black Hats held their ground. Trejo broke right to pass in front of the SUV, Michaela the rear. Each had a Black Hat in front of them.

As he passed, Trejo suddenly drew a huge wicked-looking machete and slashed at the man in the motorcycle helmet (#1). He dodged aside. Trejo screamed by the SUV and around the bike blocking the way. Michaela also drew the sword that belonged to Arthur without warning and in a move that was quicker than lighting, skewered the man in front of her (#4), pulling the blade out as she passed. He slumped down, blood spraying from his upper chest, HI Blazer dropping to the pavement.

Now past the SUV and bikes, they roared off down the road. The Black Hat in the motorcycle helmet (#2) and the one on top behind the SAW (#3) turned to follow them, hoping to engage them as they rode away. The Black Hat in the cowboy helmet behind the bike spotted the approaching technical and called out a warning, readying his Damnation for action.

"There's a couple trucks coming!"

Next Cards:

New Turn, but do not draw cards for now.

Tactical Map:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms...pn=0.002179,0.003235

^
|
N


______===================================______________________
                      B __
              T        |  |  1
                       |3 | 2B
                      4|__|
_____          M                         ______________________
     ====================================


0    10   20   30   40   50   60yds
|____|____|____|____|____|____|


B = Bike

T = Trejo (Machete)
M = Michaela (Arthur's Sword)

1 = Black Motorcycle Helmet (Blazer SMG)
2 = Black Cowboy Hat (Damnation AR)
3 = Black Beret (Hellfire SAW)
4 = Black Bandanna (Blazer SMG)

Red = Dead
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:14, Sun 29 Jan 2012.

General Enemy Actions:

The Hellfire SAW gunner (#3) swung around and fired at Michaela and Trejo as they roared away, still accelerating. The BH in the motorcycle helmet (#1) fired his Blazer SMG at them as well. The man in the cowboy hat (#2) yelled into his headset while aiming his Damnation AR at the approaching technical.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:45, Wed 01 Feb 2012.

In reply to The Marshall (msg #115):

The sound of gunfire took less than a second to reach the rig, about a mile away. It sounded like the popping of firecrackers. The HI caseless ammunition was engineered to have little or no muzzle flash, so visually it was a little difficult to tell who was shooting, where.

Crouched beside and in front of Crichton, Smoker peered at the roadblock using his binoculars. He decided to yell instead of relaying through Crichton's radio because at the current slow speed, the sound of his voice would not be taken away by the wind.

"Roakill! Michaela and Trejo blew through the roadblock! The Black Hats are shooting at them!"

Smokers voice rings out inside the truck cab.
"Alright, It is time to get this show on the road"
He accelerates the best the truck can and sets the turbo on to help them along.

Ian, seeing what Roadkill is doing, braces himself in the cab.

Peter narrowed his eyes as he watched events unfold. He slowed down a bit as they bikes tore away at high speed. He wasn't fool enough to try and catch up to them yet. He slowed down enough to let the rig pass him and took up the normal and familiar rear position in the convoy (that word used loosely). He refrained from trying to tell Jane to get ready. She was already on "high alert". So he just prepared himself for hellacious driving and possibly shooting at the same time.

"You hit. I'll follow." That was over the radio to Roadkill.

In reply to Peter Firecrow (msg #119):

Rowan drops back to let the truck force the passage

As Trejo and Michaela sped away, 2 of the the Black Hats fired at their backs. Trejo felt the bullets from a Blazer zip by his head and saw them skip off the pavement and guard rail, but he was unharmed.

The same couldn't be said for Michaela. The SAW gunner fired at her, and she slumped off her bike, hitting the pavement and rolling like a rag doll. They both then continuing to fire at Trejo.

Putting the hammer down, Roadkill passed the armoured pickup in a cloud of Ghost Rock smoke and roar of the engine's supercharger. Rowan and Schaeffer followed along behind the technical.

Slowly a maniacal look crossed Roadkills face as he hears Peter over the radio but that was quickly taken off by what happened up ahead. The potential injury to Michaela suddenly became priority one.

The SAW gunner fired at Trejo until his magazine was empty, as did the man with the Blazer. Neither hit. As they reloaded their attention was called to the rig, now barreling down on them from the other direction.

Ignoring the surviving rider, they reloaded, turning their attention to Roadkill. The SAW gunner fired at the oncoming armoured semi, as did the man in the cowboy hat with his Damnation. They could see a fifth Black Hat, in a black Avalanche ball cap and carrying a Damnation, get out the driver's door (on the far side) and go to the downed man.

When Roadkill was 100 yards away, they realised he wasn't going to stop. The man in the cowboy hat yelled, "get us out of here Goddamn it, he's going to ram!"


Marshall's Note: Okay, now's the right time to roll Quickness for Initiative! The Rig starts 100 yards from the SUV and 2 bikes. You are doing 60 miles an hour (which is about 90 klicks). Drivers discard an Action, then automatically drive on 5 Phases. You can still take any additional actions, but they are at -2.

                                                                |       |
                                                                |       |
______===================================_______________________|       |________
                      B1__                                                   ____
                       |  |                                                 [ Rig
                     5 |3 | 2B                                              [____
                      4|__|
_____M                                   _______________________         ________
     ====================================                       |       |
                                                                |       |

0    10   20   30   40   50   60yds
|____|____|____|____|____|____|

B = Bike

T = Trejo (Machete)
M = Michaela (Arthur's Sword)

1 = Black Motorcycle Helmet (Blazer SMG)
2 = Black Cowboy Hat (Damnation AR)
3 = Black Beret (Hellfire SAW)
4 = Black Bandanna (Blazer SMG)
5 = Black Ball Cap (Damnation)
Red = Dead
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:42, Mon 06 Feb 2012.

Rowan riding to one side of the rig sees her friend go down an swears visiously at the fates that dictate their bad jokes on the world.

She yells at her love "some one iis going to have to keep them off my back while I do a pick up on Michella"

Card    Name

Joker:

Ace:

King:   Smoker (2 Actions), Trejo (1 Action)

Queen:  Black Hats (2 Actions)

Jack:   Sullivan (2 Actions), Crichton (2 Actions)

Ten:    Peter (2 Actions)

Nine:

Eight:  Roadkill (1 Action)

Seven:

Six:

Five:   Jane (3 Actions)

Four:

Three:

Deuce:  Rowan (2 Actions)

Note: Underlined Cards are vehicle movement phases (Ace, Jack,  Eight, Five, Deuce.)

Smoker saw Michaela go down.

"Oh no! No! You fuckers!"

Bracing against the fighting position's sandbags, Smoker aimed his rifle and fired a shot at the Black Hat manning the SAW. He realised the SUV-mounted MG was their biggest threat, possbily enough to stop the charging rig.

Two spent casings rattled into the FN's brass-catcher.

Smoker - 2 Actions
FN FAL (20/20)
Forward part of Rig's fighting position
1) Aiming
2) Firing 2 single shots at SAW gunner

Red fury building inside, Trejo rode on.

Realising that Michaela was down and hurt, he rode far enough until they stopped shooting, then stopped and turned around.

"You're going to pay. All of you."

Tucking down low over the tank, he came back for her while the Black Hats were panicking at the looming rig that bore down on them like justice. Or their doom.


Trejo (1 Action plus driving)
Machete in hand
West of roadblock
1) Riding East, stopping where Michaela is located (driving action).
2) Holding additional action.

Current Cards:

Ace: Vehicles move (Trejo, Roadkill, Peter, Rowan, Schaeffer)
King: Smoker (2 Actions), Trejo (1 Action)
Queen: Black Hats (2 Actions each)

Action Summary:

There was 100 yards of separation between the rig and the SUV on one side, and Trejo on the other. The vehicles all rolled along, doing sixty. (Closing 30 yards.)

Smoker's first shot went wild. The second struck the SAW gunner in the head. His black beret whipped off as the man slumped over, spilling whitish brain matter and blood out the gaping hole in his skull and onto the SUV's roof. Blood and bone fragments splattered down inside.

With 2 men down, including the gunner, and an armoured rig bearing down on them, the surviving Black Hats decided that it was time to go! The driver (in the black ball cap) who'd gotten out, jumped back in and, slamming the door, started the SUV up. He began to accelerate and turn to the west, running away (and, coincidentally, towards Trejo).

The Black Hat in the cowboy hat made a running leap for the rear of the SUV, intending to climb up and man the SAW himself. He made it onto the SUV's roof but struggled with his friend's limp body, trying to wrestle it out from behind the SAW. (SUV is now traveling 5 MPH, heading west.) Motorcycle helmet jumped on his dirt bike and started it with a vicious kick. Revving the throttle, he peeled out, following the SUV in a cloud of greenish-blue Spook Juice smoke.


Next Cards:

Jack:   Sullivan (2 Actions), Crichton (2 Actions)
Ten:    Peter (2 Actions)
Eight:  Roadkill (1 Action)
Five:   Jane (3 Actions)
Deuce:  Rowan (2 Actions)

Note: vehicles will move on the remaining phases of: Jack,  Eight, Five, Deuce. If they don't speed up or slow down, they will cover 30 yards per phase.

Tactical Map:

                                                                |       |
                                                                |       |
______===================================_______________________|       |__________________
                    ___ <1=                                          ___ _______      (=S=
                   [_32|     B                                     <[___H_______|Rig
                                                                                   ___    <=R<
                      4                                                           [__J|Tech.
_____M                                   _______________________         __________________
     ====================================                       |       |
                                                                |       |

0    10   20   30   40   50   60yds
|____|____|____|____|____|____|

B = Bike


T = Trejo (Machete)
M = Michaela (Arthur's Sword)
J = Jane
R = Rowan
S = Schaeffer

1 = Black Motorcycle Helmet (Blazer SMG)
2 = Black Cowboy Hat (Damnation AR)
3 = Black Beret (Hellfire SAW)
4 = Black Bandanna (Blazer SMG)
5 = Black Ball Cap (Damnation)

Red = Dead
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:09, Mon 06 Feb 2012.

Airen sees the SAW gunner go down and then sees the next guy jump into the back. He fires two bursts of 12mm caseless ammo into the back of the truck. Wishing the whole time that he hadn't left the rail gun unfinished last night.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:10, Mon 13 Feb 2012.

Rowan on here move will head for Michaila and check her over treating her injuries if needed

In reply to Rowan Dawson (msg #131):

As fast as the truck can go Roadkill has two things on his mind. One being that of hitting that SUV with everything he can get out of the truck and of course the other not even needing to be mentioned.

For now Peter just concentrated on driving. He didn't want to take the chance that something went wrong and he was driving one-handed and trying to shoot at the same time. That could be disastrous. So he stayed quiet and just drove!

Things were heating up as they charged towards the Black Hats. The rig was in the right lane, technical behind and to the left. There was enough daylight to get a few bursts in.

Jane aimed down the barrel of the M1-Deuce and squeezed off a couple bursts at the rear of the SUV.


Jane Guin (3 Actions)
M2HB (105/105)
In the back of the technical, aiming forward.
Going on Five: 1)Aiming, 2) Firing 3-rd burst, 3) Firing 3-rd burst
This message was last edited by the player at 05:54, Mon 13 Feb 2012.

Current Cards:

Jack: Crichton (firing 2x bursts from SAW). Vehicles (SUV accelerates to 10mph, rig tracks SUV doing 60, technical moves straight doing 60, Rowan and Schaeffer brake to 50mph).
Ten: Peter (Hole Card), Sullivan (Hole Card).
Eight: Vehicles Move (SUV accelerates to 20mph, rig tracks SUV doing 60, technical moves straight doing 60, Rowan and Schaeffer brake to 40mph).
Five: Jane (Aiming and firing 2x bursts). Vehicles Move (SUV accelerates to 30mph, rig tracks SUV doing 60, technical moves straight doing 60, Rowan and Schaeffer brake harder, down to 20mph).

Action Summary:

The posse continued to close on the now-fleeing Black Hats. Roadkill had blood in his eye and would not be denied! Peter followed (Holding Action), while Rowan and Schaeffer applied their brakes, intending to stop and render aid to the fallen Michaela. Roadkill rammed and rolled over the remaining bike, which was parked in the middle of the bridge.

Up in the trailer's forward fighting position, Crichton lined up his post-mounted Hellstronme Industries 12mm Hellfire SAW on the rear of the SUV. Specifically, the jerkoff in the black cowboy hat hanging on for dear life, unsuccessfully trying to pull the dead gunner out from behind the SAW to man it himself. Bullets spanged off the SUV around him and it was hard to see the effect but something connected.

Cowboy hat lost his grip and dropped off the back of the SUV, leaving blood splatter on the door to show where the 12mm through-and-through exited out his belly, taking his liver with it. He tumbled along the pavement, cowboy hat skittering along with his dropped Damnation. Showing no mercy nor remorse, Roadkill ran over the still-rolling man with a scarcely-felt thump. There might have been a scream as the mortally wounded man comprehended his doom... maybe not. Crichton -12 12mm SAW rounds.

They continued to rapidly close the distance. When the rig was at point-blank range, Jane (in the technical) lit up the rear of the SUV with the cal-fifty. Empty shells and disintegrating links rang as they showered into the bed of the pickup. The SUV's rear doors blew off and the vehicle wove back and forth a little, wobbling. Then both rear tires blew as the .50 calibre rounds shredded them. The SUV fishtailed back and forth but stayed on the road, spraying up sparks as metal wheel rims dug into the pavement! Jane -6 .50 BMG rounds.

The Black Hat motorcyclist riding hell bent for leather beside the SUV turned his head, distracted by the devastation the Ma-Deuce was wreaking, as well as the spectacle of the rig just about bearing down on the rear of the SUV. He turned back to look ahead just in time to witness Trejo riding flat out from the opposite direction to meet him, deadly machete in hand. With a mighty but precise swing Trejo easily lopped the head off the motorcyclist, neatly parting the full-face helmet from the neck as he rode past. The bike didn't even go down, instead continuing along in a straight line as if nothing had happened and the rider's missing head was just some kind of optical illusion. Black helmet bounced and rolled alongside his body as it remained sitting on the bike. A split second later bright red arterial blood sprayed up and backwards out the stump of the neck in a macabre fountain. Trejo easily passed by to the right of the headless rider's bike, along the bridge railing on the sidewalk.

Beside Roadkill's rig, to it's left, Peter avoided the body laying in the middle of the road (not cowboy hat but bandanna) as did Rowan and Schaeffer. The latter were coming to a stop in order to dismount.

Next Cards:

Deuce: Rowan (2 Actions)

Vehicles move last time in turn. Rig will likely impact rear of SUV, which will probably try and dodge (good luck on that!) Rowan and Schaeffer will stop by Michaela and can dismount.


Tactical Map:

___________====DT->===========================________
          ___ <1= ___ _______
         [_3_|  <[___=SC_____|Rig
                    ___
                   [__J|Tech.
__________          M     <=R<  (=S=          ________
          ====================================


0    10   20   30   40   50   60yds
|____|____|____|____|____|____|

B = Bike


T = Trejo (Machete)
M? = Michaela (Arthur's Sword)
J = Jane (M2HB)
R = Rowan (AK)
S = Schaeffer (M4)
C = Crichton (SAW)
S = Smoker (FN)

1 = Black Motorcycle Helmet (Blazer SMG)
2 = Black Cowboy Hat (Damnation AR)
3 = Black Beret (Hellfire SAW)
4 = Black Bandanna (Blazer SMG)
5 = Black Ball Cap (Damnation) driving the SUV

Red = Dead
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:22, Mon 13 Feb 2012.

rowan brings her bike to a reasonabily gentle halt beside her friend and parks it, then gets her medical bag out from the side pannier.
And moves to check Michaela,.
She starts with basic CBR checking that she is breathing and then moves on throught the medical check list. As she checks for broken bones and other damage.
Looking at the colonel she smiles "check her bike and gear over will you love please."

In reply to Rowan Dawson (msg #136):

After Roadkill does the ram on the Blackhats, and if he stops the rig, Ian will jump out and cover Rowan and offer any assistance that might be needed.

In reply to Sgt. Ian Sullivan (msg #137):

As they get just in range Roadkill changes gear to give the rig that extra push but under the heat of the moment the gear slips "Dammit!" Thoughts of how to blame this on smoker suddenly came to mind.

Just at the point where the rig would slow down and make Roadkill look like a sunday driver behind the wheel, the gears slip into place propelling them forward into the rear of the SUV.....

Current Cards:

Deuce: Rowan (2 Actions), Schaeffer (Delayed Action)

Action Summary:

The rig slammed into the back of the SUV, spinning it around so that it was trapped left side to the semi's battering ram. Tires shrieked and sprayed sparks, glass shattered and the crumpled, dying vehicle shuddered. The left rear passenger door popped off. The driver was thrown across the front seats, gun falling from his hands.

Behind and beside the rig, the technical followed along at the same speed. Michaela stopped her hoverbike and jumped off. Schaeffer stopped his BMW and grabbed the massive Mauser sniper rifle from the sidecar. He'd already freed it from it's travel drag bag and made sure it was loaded. He stood away from Michaela and covered them. "I can't just yet my dear, see to her and we'll deal with her bike later. She won't be in any shape for riding, I fear." He raised the Mauser to his shoulder, checking the Interstate below them in either direction.

"Schiesse, we have company. Two more bikes with two black SUVs approaching from the south, 2 kilometers along the Interstate."

Across the lanes from them on the overpass Trejo roared by, beginning a U-turn to come back.

Rowan checked Michaela's vitals, but it didn't look good and she'd lost a lot of blood. She had some bruises and a lot of scrapes, probable fractured left arm. More serious was a lack of pulse and respiration. Pupils were dilated and unresponsive. With a sense of horror Rowan pulled open Michaela's leather jacket and lifted her Police vest to locate further injuries and discovered a massive exit wound in her lower abdomen. The entry wound in her lower back indicated likely severe liver trauma, the Police vest doing little to slow the 12mm caseless AP round down.


Next Cards:

NEW TURN! Post Quickness rolls.


Tactical Map:

-------------------------------====================================----------
            _  ____  ________________           =T-)
           | |/ I  |S                |Rig
           |_|\_R__|C________________|
                            ___
                           [P_J|Tech.
                                          M R    <=@<  (==]  S
-------------------------------====================================---------


0    10   20   30   40   50   60yds
|____|____|____|____|____|____|

B = Bike


T = Trejo (Machete)
M? = Michaela (Arthur's Sword)
J = Jane (M2HB)
R = Rowan (AK)
S = Schaeffer (M4)
C = Crichton (SAW)
S = Smoker (FN)
R = Roadkill (Driving)
P = Peter (Driving)
I = Sullivan (UMP)


1 = Black Motorcycle Helmet (Blazer SMG)
2 = Black Cowboy Hat (Damnation AR)
3 = Black Beret (Hellfire SAW)
4 = Black Bandanna (Blazer SMG)
5 = Black Ball Cap (Damnation) driving the SUV

Red = Dead
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:47, Mon 20 Feb 2012.

Rowan checked Michaela's vitals, but it didn't look good and she'd lost a lot of blood. She had some bruises and a lot of scrapes, probable fractured left arm. More serious was a lack of pulse and respiration. Pupils were dilated and unresponsive. With a sense of horror Rowan pulled open Michaela's leather jacket and lifted her Police vest to locate further injuries and discovered a massive exit wound in her lower abdomen. The entry wound in her lower back indicated likely severe liver trauma, the Police vest doing little to slow the 12mm caseless AP round down.

Rowan
Rowan kneels there working quickly and effiecently and affter a few moments realises that thee is nothiing more that she can do her friend is gone.
Waving for the Pickup, she Gathers Michaela's, body and posessions together, she is not leaving her friend on the road

Peter stayed back from the rig as he wasn't sure how the ramming would exactly go. The SUV could have been turned to one side or the other and be in the middle of the road. It could have been flipped over and slammed down in front of him. But it went the best way it could, with the SUV trapped on the rig.

Over the radio he asked, "How is Michaela? Do you need me to come get her?"

He heard the Colonel's warning and began looking for the oncoming bad guys. He yelled to the back, "WE GOT MORE COMING FROM THE SOUTH! 2 MORE OF EACH!"

He waited for responses and more information as he drove, slowing down some in case he needed to go back to help with Michaela, but not really wanting to risk too long with more Black Hats on the way.
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 17:49, Tue 21 Feb 2012.

Laughing at the sight of the SUV trapped on the truck he turned to Sullivan "Thats ..

He grabs the radio "If I can I'm going to meet them with our new passenger, keep going on and I will distract them so you guys can get to safety"
Roadkill puts the radio down and while keeping extremely calm about what might happen, he looks at the roading system while thinking
"Which turn off to get to the north of them, which one"

In reply to Roadkill (msg #142):

Ian was getting ready to hop out of the cab when he hears the call over the radio, looking over to Roadkill he says"We need to find a place so we can cover the rest of your friends.  The wounded need to be looked at."

He starts looking around for a place that him and Roadkill can bring the rig to to buy time for Rowan to work on the wounded Michaela.  As well he will do a quick check to the Blackhat the was knocked out of the SUV to make sure that he will not cause problems.

Rowan yells to Kurt that Micheale is dead
"Have we got time to get her on the pick up love"

In reply to Rowan Dawson (msg #144):

Schaeffer noted the SUV seemed to be in a lot of trouble, and replied to Peter, "yah, Michaela is down, request assistance ASAP."

"Acht! Please see to Michaela, darling, I will see to our guests."

Quickly and smoothly, Schaeffer unfolded the bipod on the barrel of the massive Mauser sniper rifle, resting it securely on the concrete railing. He checked the wind, then sighted in on the approaching vehicles using the rifle scope and chambered a massive .338 Lapua Magnum round.


COL Schaeffer (2 Actions)
Mauser SR-197 (5/5)
South side of bridge
1st Action Drawing a Bead
2nd Action Drawing a Bead
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:35, Thu 23 Feb 2012.

It was obvious the surviving Black Hat was in a lot of trouble.

"Fuck yeah!"

Putting down his rifle, Smoker crouched down.

He grabbed a Molotov cocktail, a whiskey bottle filled with Spook Juice and a rag wick. Taking out his Zippo, he spun the wheel, trying to light it but all he got were sparks. "Light, damn you!"


Smoker Nix (2 Actions)
Molotov Cocktail
1st Action, crouch down and grab Molotov
2nd Action, try to light it.

Jane banged on the roof of the technical above Peter's head.

"That asshole's had it! Stop so I can engage the new guys coming."

She swung the massive .50 around, sighting in on the new arrivals.


Jane Guin (2 Actions)
M2HB (99/105)
1st Action swiveling MG around
2nd Action Drawing a Bead

Maura closses Micheale's eyes and makes her body look decent.
Spinning around she sees that the fight is not yet over and moves to cover along side kurt, unslinging her AK to provide close in support.
"Micheale is dead love nothing I can do for her"

The Black Hat had fallen into the footwell as the SUV was slammed by the rig, then pushed along at 60 MPH. Helpless, he lay there, hoping to survive long enough for the SUV to stop.

"AAAHHH! SHIT!"


Black Hat (Seven Card - 2 Actions)
HI Damnation (30/30) 1 Grenade
Sleeving a Card.

Current Cards:

Ace to Deuce

Action Summary:

With the rig staying constant in speed and course, the SUV (Black Hat no longer at the wheel) started spinning out to the left. It started to drift out of control in front of the technical but Peter was already slowing down from 60 to 30 MPH. In the back of the pickup, Jane swung the .50 around to the south to cover the Interstate and the approaching vehicles.

On top of the rig, Crichton looked down at the spinning SUV  as Smoker tried to light a Spook Juice cocktail to throw at it. Sullivan looked out the armoured front firing port and saw the road was clear and the land flat, both shoulders were wide enough to pull over and in fact there were a couple crossroads where they could turn the rig around and return to where Michaela lay.

Back where Michaela lay on the pavement, it was obvious there was nothing more Rowan could do for her. As she ended her futile effort to save her life, Schaeffer prepared to engage the approaching vehicles, aiming his sniper rifle by bracing the bipod on the concrete railing on the Interstate overpass.


Next Cards:

NEW TURN! Post Quickness rolls.


Tactical Map:

       |       |                       |                            |
       |       |                       |                            |
-------         --------------------====================================---------
              ____  ________________
             / I  |S                |Rig
          ___\_R__|C________________|
         |___| ->              ___
                             <|P_J|Tech.              (-T=
                                               M R    <=@<  (==]  S
-------         ---------------------====================================---------
       |       |                       |                            |
       |       |                       |                            |
^
|
N


0    10   20   30   40   50   60yds
|____|____|____|____|____|____|

B = Bike


T = Trejo (Machete)
M? = Michaela (Arthur's Sword)
J = Jane (M2HB)
R = Rowan (AK)
S = Schaeffer (M4)
C = Crichton (SAW)
S = Smoker (FN)
R = Roadkill (Driving)
P = Peter (Driving)
I = Sullivan (UMP)


1 = Black Motorcycle Helmet (Blazer SMG)
2 = Black Cowboy Hat (Damnation AR)
3 = Black Beret (Hellfire SAW)
4 = Black Bandanna (Blazer SMG)
5 = Black Ball Cap (Damnation) driving the SUV

Red = Dead
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 22:14, Mon 27 Feb 2012.

Airen looks at the scene unfolding around him. He knows that it is about to hit the fan in a major way. Timing is everything. So he waits. Card 1 Sleeveing a Card


TSgt. Crichton (Red Joker, Acting on ? 2 Actions)
12mm HI Hellfire SAW (48/50 + 1 spare drum)
Trailer Fighting Position (front pintle)
1st Action: ?
2nd Action: ?

Marshall's Note: Players drawing the Red Joker cannot Sleeve a card.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:35, Mon 27 Feb 2012.

In reply to Tech. Sgt. Airen Crichton (msg #151):

Ian seeing that there are a couple of good places to park or turn the rig points them out to Roadkill and says that he would like to jump out if he is needed to assist in getting Michaela body.

He wants to make sure that the posse is out of here before the next group gets to them.


Sgt. Sullivan (King: 2 Actions)
10mm HK UMP (25/25)
Rig's Passenger Seat
1st Action: Sleeving a Card
2nd Action: Forfeit


Sleeving a Card
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:34, Mon 27 Feb 2012.

Marshall's Note: The Black Hat is going to use his Red Joker to take his 2 Actions on the Ace card.

Sensing that he needed to do something or else he would be dead meat for sure, the Black Hat regained his seat and wrestled with the steering wheel. Despite his efforts, the SUV continued to spin to clockwise, slowing down in a shower of sparks from the blown-out rear tires and smoke from the rapidly shredding front tires.


Black Hat (Red Joker moving in Ace: 2 Actions, -1 for Driving)
HI Damnation (30/30) 1 grenade
SUV Driver's Seat
1st Action: Drive/Continued Action
2nd Action: Additional attempt to bring SUV back under control, then to a stop.

Additional Note: Vehicles move in several phases throughout the turn, not just your action phase. The BH spends his 1st Action to Drive (throughout the turn) and also spends his 2nd Action to bring the SUV back under control.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:36, Mon 27 Feb 2012.

Peter drove and then slowed and tried to set up the best angle he could for Jane to take on the oncoming Black Hats with the Ma-Deuce. He made sure his own guns were ready too, just in case. "Jane, are you ready? Is this a good enough spot for you?"


Peter (2 Actions, -1 for Driving)
Auto-shotgun (20/20), 357 Redhawk (6/6)
The Technical's Driver Seat
1st Action: Drive/Continued Action
2nd Action: Putting the back of the technical in line for Jane to be able to shoot the oncoming Black Hats and possibly give time for others to get Michaela to the cab of the technical if they so wish.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:28, Tue 28 Feb 2012.

Initiative Draws

Card    Name

Joker:  Black Hat (2 Actions, 1 Sleeve Card), Crichton (2 Actions)

Ace:

King:   Sullivan (2 Actions)

Queen:  Schaeffer (2 Actions)

Jack:   Peter (2 Actions, -1)

Ten:

Nine:   Roadkill (2 Actions, -1 Driving), Trejo (1 Action, -1 Driving)

Eight:  Rowan (3 Actions)

Seven:  Jane (3 Actions)

Six:

Five:

Four:

Three:  Smoker Nix (2 Actions)

Deuce:

Note: Underlined Cards are vehicle movement phases (Ace, Jack,  Eight, Five, Deuce.)
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:51, Wed 29 Feb 2012.

"Ok Sully, let me slow this thing down so you don't have to smash into the road below"
As quick as he can and safely so as not to throw those on top to fly off Roadkill goes to where Sullivan pointed out.


Roadkill (Nine: 1 Action)
No weapon equipped
Driving Rig
Action: Braking for Ian to do his thing

Seeing the technical moving to do a pick up rowan gathers her friends belongings and prepairs with help to get the body and her gear into the back of the technical.
If left with actions she will then move her hover bike to cover, prepairing to fire from cover if needed using the scoped AK


Rowan (Nine - 3 Actions)
AK/2x Scope (30/30)
1st Action: Move to Michaela's Bike, get saddlbags.
2nd Action: Grab SMG and rifle. Move to hoverbike.
3rd Action: Readies her AK

OOC: There is no real cover aside from the concrete waist-high railing and hoverbike. I can't think of what you could do to prepare Michaela's body for transport, other than pick it up and carry it to the technical! It will take a couple turns to back up, so let's say she waits on that and instead puts Michaela's saddlebags and weapons on the hoverbike and readies her AK, but does not yet aim.
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:33, Fri 02 Mar 2012.

"Yeah, it's as good as it's going to get. We're pretty exposed out here but that's fucking Wyoming for you!"

She continued aiming at the approaching group of vehicles, holding her fire.


Jane Guin (Seven - 3 Actions)
M2HB (99/105)
Back of Technical
1st/2nd Action: Drawing a Bead, +6
3rd Action: Sleeving a Card.

Smoker finally got the Molotov lit.

With a whoop he threw it at the spinning Black Hat SUV as they started to pass it.

"Yee haaaaa!"


Smoker Nix (Three - 2 Actions)
Molotov Cocktail
Front of Trailer
1st Action: Try to light Molotov
2nd Action: Throw Molotov

Sighting in on the lead motorcyclist through the powerful Leupold 12x optical sight, Schaeffer ranged him in using the laser, thenset the trigger.

"On the way."

He stroked the trigger and the sniper rifle roared.


COL Schaeffer (2 Actions)
Mauser SR-197 (5/5)
South side of bridge
1st Action Drawing a Bead +6
2nd Action Firing. -11 due to range, +6 Aiming, +2 trigger, +2 Aiming/Ranging Laser.

The SUV continued to spin, spewing smoke and sparks. The rig braked to avoid outrunning it as the SUV slowed down. The technical stopped, and Jane zeroed in on one of the approaching SUVs through the M2HB's sights, but they were still over a kilometer away.

Above it, up on the trailer, Smoker finally got the Molotov lit. With a whoop he threw it down and it exploded on and inside the SUV, which bloomed into a sickening greenish Spook Juice-fueled flame with a "WHOOMPH!".

Over on the bridge, Trejo pulled his bike beside Michaela's body, and knew he couldn't save her. He savagely twisted the throttle and the bike jumped ahead with a roar. Trejo was determined to exact some kind of payback on the Black Hat, even though it appeared he was spinning out of control and on fire.

AK in hand, Rowan set it on the concrete and looked through the 2x sight, knowing they were too far away to hit or have an affect. Even with Schaeffer's warning she was startled at just how damn loud Schaeffer's SR-171 sniper was when it went off a few feet away. Despite a massive suppressor and muzzle brake there was a tremendous crack that echoed around them off the concrete abutments and the Interstate's retaining walls.

The massive .338 Lapua Magnum round soared downrange over a kilometer. It impacted the Kevlar vest over the rib cage of the first rider. It was hard to tell what kind of damage it did and it looked a little off-centre. Still, he was caught by surprise and fell off his bike, to the right, and rolled along the pavement as his bike roared along without him.

1) End of Turn, need new Initiative Rolls. I have already drawn cards.
2) Roadkill is doing 30 MpH, will need another 3 phases to stop (braking at 10/phase, 5 phases/turn). Peter is stopped. Trejo at 20 MpH and accelerating.
3) The rig, once it stops, will be about 100 yards (metres) away from Michaela's body, the technical is about 50. So backing up or turning around may be in order.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:56, Wed 07 Mar 2012.

OOC: Because the computer, internet explorer and die roller all hate me these actions will take me into the next round.



Peter noted that some of the others had stopped instead of following after the Semi and the Technical. He sighed and threw the technical into reverse, since it was sitting there idle.

"Hang on back there, Jane!"

He then started driving the truck backwards until he got close to Michaela's body and he stopped there. He put the technical in park and got out, intending to load the body into the back with Jane.

Roadkill continues to break slowly bringing the truck to a crawl
"Feel free to jump if you think you can make it" he grins, testing Sullivan.

Roadkill (2 Actions jake & eight)
No weapon equipped
Action: Breaking to slow down for passenger to get out
This message was last edited by the player at 12:12, Sat 10 Mar 2012.

In reply to Peter Firecrow (msg #162):

As Peter started to back the technical up, Jane decided to start firing on the approaching Black Hats using the M2HB, despite the long range.

"Get some!"

Empty .50BMG casings rang down into the pickup's bed.


Jane Guin (Jack - 3 Actions)
M2HB (99/105)
Back of Technical
1st Action: Firing 3-round burst
2nd Action: Firing 3-round burst
3rd Action: Firing 3-round burst

The Black Hat's wrecked SUV (now on fire) screeched to a halt.

The driver's door slammed open and the Black Hat fell out to the ground, then scrambed to the side farthest from the rig, taking shelter.

Because of his position he was not in sight of the people in the Rig. He was, however, in Peter's view.


Black Hat (Eight - 2 Actions)
NA Damnation (30/30)
Far side of SUV from Rig
1st Action: exit vehicle
2nd Action: prepare weapon
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:37, Wed 14 Mar 2012.

Seeing the Black Hat escaping from the burning SUV, Smoker grabbed his rifle.

He aimed it at the general direction of the SUV, trying to get a shot at the Black Hat but not succeeding.



Smoker Nix (Three - 4 Actions)
FN FAL 20/20
Trailer Front Fighting Position
1st Action - Sleeve Card
This message was last updated by the player at 08:08, Tue 13 Mar 2012.

When Schaeffer's round slammed into the lead Black Hat biker, all Hell broke loose and the vehicles hit the brakes.  The biker wasn't dead, and started crawling towards the cover of his bike.

Both Hellfire SAW gunners opened fire at the figures in the distance on the bridge. Pink tracers reached towards them and they could hear rounds zipping by, but no hits.

Two Black Hats got out of the SUV and ran over to grab the injured biker under the covering fire of the SAW gunners on the SUV pintle mounts.

In reply to The Marshall (msg #167):

Pulling back on the bolt, Schaeffer ejected the spent round from the rifle.

Deciding to take a quick shot, he aimed through the scope at the left Black Hat that was going for his wounded buddy. He set the trigger and ranged him in.


COL Schaeffer (2 Actions)
Mauser SR-197 (4/5)
South side of bridge
1st Action: Ejecting Round
2nd Action: Drawing a Bead, Setting Trigger, Aiming Laser, +6

Tactical Map:

       |       |                       |                            |
       |       |                       |                            |
-------         --------------------====================================---------
              ____  ________________
             / I  |S                |Rig
             \_R__|C________________|
                ___                  ___
               |***|               <|P_J|Tech.          (-T=
                 5                                  <=@<M R (==]  S
-------         ---------------------====================================---------
       |       |                       |                            |
       |       |                       |                            |
^
|
N


0    10   20   30   40   50   60yds
|____|____|____|____|____|____|

B = Bike


T = Trejo (Machete)
M = Michaela (Arthur's Sword)
J = Jane (M2HB)
R = Rowan (AK)
S = Schaeffer (M4)
C = Crichton (SAW)
S = Smoker (FN)
R = Roadkill (Driving)
P = Peter (Driving)
I = Sullivan (UMP)


1 = Black Motorcycle Helmet (Blazer SMG)
2 = Black Cowboy Hat (Damnation AR)
3 = Black Beret (Hellfire SAW)
4 = Black Bandanna (Blazer SMG)
5 = Black Ball Cap (Damnation) driving the SUV

Red = Dead
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:59, Wed 14 Mar 2012.

The rig slowed down, Sullivan hopped down, out on the passenger side. Roadkill wasn't exactly stopping, just slowing, so his only real option was start heading rearward. Up on top of the trailer, Crichton aimed to the south, while Smoker tried (and failed) to target the last surviving Black Hat.

Looking over his shoulder, Peter began backing up while Jane opened fire on the Black Hats. She didn't hit any but the ones that were running (an SUV and bike to the left) ran even faster, trying to get off the Interstate. The SUV's SAW gunner fired back, missing completely. Jane: -9 Rounds.

Those that had stopped to pick up their fallen buddy (and his bike) in the road lost another when Schaeffer pulled off a quick (although aimed) shot at the two dismounts from the SUV. The massive bullet practically took off one of the men's legs, shattering the thigh. The other dismount quickly hopped on the bike and started it, riding it off the Interstate to the right. The SUV squealed it's tires on the pavement as it peeled out, following. It's own SAW gunner also sent some rounds their way but all missed, as well. Schaeffer: -1 Round.

In the middle of the flyover, Rowan kept aiming but held her fire, knowing that she wouldn't hit at over a kilometre range using an AK (even a scoped AK). Instead, she slung her weapon and picked up Michaela's body as the technical backed up in her direction.

Spotting the last Black Hat hiding behind the burning SUV when he was about halfway there, Trejo pinned back the throttle and yelled, "watch out, he's got a fuckin' GRENADE!" He kept accelerating, calculating in the five seconds it would take for the Black Hand to arm and throw the grenade, he would reach him, then be past.

At the last moment the Black Hat heard him and, surprised, turned to meet his fate. If he had a gun in his hand he could shoot the oncoming Trejo but instead, he held a grenade with the pin pulled, which nothing on this Earth could speed up nor slow down. Trejo's Machete leaped into his hand; he drew back and struck in one swift motion as he passed. He could feel it was a solid hit. The weighted razor-sharp chopping blade cleaved clear through the man's chest, bisecting both lungs, his heart and, for good measure, severing his spine on the way out his back. The upper half of his torso fell sideways, still connected to the hips and legs at one side by muscle and tendon... horrifying, the legs still stood for a second, fountaining blood upwards, then the mostly-vivisected corpse collapsed into a lifeless pile of meat on the live grenade. Trejo kept riding, accelerating, to get out of the blast radius if he could.



New Turn: Quickness Rolls! Cards posted in

Tactical Map:

            |       |                       |                            |
            |       |                       |                            |
 -----------         --------------------====================================---------
             ____  ____I___________
            / I  |S                |Rig
            \_R__|C________________|
                     ___                    ___ Tech.
                    |***|                 <|P_J|      RM
                 (-T= 5                                  <=@<    (==]  S
------------         ---------------------====================================---------
            |       |                       |                            |
            |       |                       |                            |
^
|
N


0    10   20   30   40   50   60yds
|____|____|____|____|____|____|

B = Bike


T = Trejo (Machete)
M = Michaela (Arthur's Sword)
J = Jane (M2HB)
R = Rowan (AK)
S = Schaeffer (M4)
C = Crichton (SAW)
S = Smoker (FN)
R = Roadkill (Driving)
P = Peter (Driving)
I = Sullivan (UMP)


1 = Black Motorcycle Helmet (Blazer SMG)
2 = Black Cowboy Hat (Damnation AR)
3 = Black Beret (Hellfire SAW)
4 = Black Bandanna (Blazer SMG)
5 = Black Ball Cap (Damnation) driving the SUV

Red = Dead
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:59, Tue 20 Mar 2012.

In the middle of the flyover, Rowan kept aiming but held her fire, knowing that she wouldn't hit at over a kilometre range using an AK (even a scoped AK). Instead, she slung her weapon and picked up Michaela's body as the technical backed up in her direction.

Rowan will get the body into the semi and collect Michaela's other equipment.Then check tosee if her love needs any help.

Petere kept backing up, wanting to get to Rowan and get Michaela onboard...her body anyway....the thought made him sad for a moment, but he narrowed his eyes and re-focused himself. Death was always around, it hung in the air and around the corner, it slept next to you and rode in the passenger seat when you drove. One could not get away from death.

He tried to keep it as steady as possibly for Jane as he backed up and then began slowing down when/if he got close.

In reply to Peter Firecrow (msg #172):

Ian is seeing that the Rowen is getting Michaela's body onboard the rig he is watching out for anything.  He asks if he can help out at all.

He sees the next group of Black Hats coming but he knows that it would be pointless to shoot at them from this range.

Smoker watched in awe as Trejo ripped past the last Black Hat and chopped him in two. It was the most insane badass thing he'd ever seen.

Trejo's warning of a grenade came as a shock, and he dove to the top of the trailer behind the sandbag barricade to take cover. He grabbed at Crichton to get him to safety as well. "SHIT! Get down!"

As she was about to fire another burst of suppressive fire to keep the approaching Black Hat reinforcements scattered, Jane heard the warning as well.

Being a pilot, she was a believer in the "golden BB". This was a single round fired blindly into the air that hits a plane, a piece of shrapnel that somehow finds it way through the bunker slit and into your skull. No amount of skill or planning could prevent it. Only luck and getting the hell out of the way!

Accordingly, she hit the dirt, diving to the bed of the pickup.

"Schiesse! Rowan, GET DOWN!" Schaeffer bellowed. The grenade was far enough away but there was no use in temping Mars, the God of war.

As much as he wanted to run to her and throw her down, protect her body with his own, there probably just wasn't enough time. Holding his rifle he dropped to the concrete, hoping Michaela's dropped bike will provide enough cover.

Rowan goes flat at the yell, not sure of what is wrong , but trying to make her self a small target

In reply to Rowan Dawson (msg #177):

Ian hears the shout to get down, his training kicks in and he drops down.

IF Peter and Jane are in potential trouble from the grenade, he will slam on the brakes and duck down in the cab.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:31, Mon 26 Mar 2012.

The grenade went off with a "BANG!" what was left of the Black Hat practically disintegrated. Within a few seconds, the burning SUV also went up in a louder "CRUUUUUMP!" The secondary scattered deadly metal debris and flaming fuel in all directions. If there werew other grenades inside what remained of the wreck, they decided not to go off as well but that might change at any time. Burning parts of SUV rained down everywhere around them all.

Shrapnel clanged off the front of the technical and left side of the rig. Peter and Jane were unhurt, as were Smoker and Crichton. Roadkill swore in surprise; being in the middle of a right turn, his attention was in the opposite direction. He was well-protected, up in the cab. Hugging the dirt, Sullivan still had the rig for cover.

Ironically, Trejo was completely unaffected as he kept going, speeding up so that he was practically outside the explosion's area of effect. He was doing 80 and about 75 yards away when everything blew up.

On the far side from him, Both Schaeffer and Rowan were unhurt, although a burning piece of bumper whanged off the concrete between them. The technical was in between her and the fireball so she had a measure of cover, and Schaeffer had rolled behind Michaela's dropped bike.

The other Black Hats continued to vacate the Interstate, having split up to the right and left.

Rowan picks her self up and grabs her gear heading for her bike.
"Time to go love" she yells at the Schaeffer, "I think we have outstayed our welcome here"
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:22, Wed 28 Mar 2012.

In reply to Rowan Dawson (msg #181):

Picking himself up, he helped Rowan load Michaela's body into the technical. Burning debris was all around them but it was of no consequence. They were alive and needed to remain that way.

"Ya, let us continue west, immediately!"

As he saddled up on his own bike, he looked at Roadkill's rig as it turned right onto the offramp, heading for the north-south Interstate. Kicking the replica BMW to life he transmitted,

""Roadkill! We are ready to continue heading westward. We will start now, please catch up when convenient."

He picked up a personal tactical radio from a downed Black Hat. This was a very short-range unit, but it would give them the BH operating frequencies and perhaps the encryption key if Crichton was as handy as he seemed with electronics. With it they could listen in on the BH tactical net.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:44, Mon 02 Apr 2012.

Now that Peter finished backing up, Jane was able to help Rowan, Schaeffer and Sullivan load Michaela's lifeless body into the back of the technical. Her personal effects were gathered up as well as her saddlebags, but her bike would have to be left behind unless Sullivan wanted to ride it.

Down the road Trejo pulled a skidding U-turn, returning to the scene of the fight. Satisfied that the others had seen to Michaela as best they could, he picked up and examined one of the dropped HI Blazer SMG, picking up a spare magazine for it as well and a hand grenade.

Roadkill parked under the overpass where everyone else was located. He sat, revving the engine, menacing greenish-black Spook Juice smoke shooting out of his stacks. Up top, Crichton aimed his HI SAW down the empty Interstate, along with Smoker, but they had no targets.

By the time everyone picked themselves up and got sorted out, the Black Hats had scattered. They were somewhere about a half-mile or so away, but split up on the east and west side of the north-south Interstate.

Examining the captured weapons, Trejo noted with horror that the "Fail Safe" indicator LED was ON. Most Combine equipment of any value (all weapons, vehicles, communications gear) were booby-trapped to explode when someone who wasn't "chipped" like Jane, Crichton or himself picked it up, or detonate if a chip wasn't in detection range for a certain amount of time to prevent its capture or theft and re-sale. Usually this was turned off, but with it set like it was it was booby-trapped.

It was all booby-trapped now. All the Black Hat gear. If Schaeffer tried to use the tactical radio  he was holding, it would blow up like a bomb. Only Jane, Crichton and himself could use Combine gear safely! Trejo grabbed the captured tactical radio out of Schaeffer's hand.

"EVERYONE, DON'T USE OR PICK UP ANY COMBINE STUFF! THE PRICKS GOT IT ALL BOOBY-TRAPPED AND IT'S GONNA EXPLODE! WE GOT A COUPLE MINUTES! LET'S GET OUTTA HERE PRONTO!

"¡Vayamos! ¡Vayamos!"

Peter had been about to get out of the truck once the danger was over. He had been about to go and see what he could salvage. He vaguely remembered Jane's warnings, however. And then Trejo's yelling stopped him cold, killing the rampant greed that had threatened to overwhelm his better judgement.

He instead waited until Michaela's body (and any others getting in the back) was loaded up. Then he began to drive forward slowly, waiting for Roadkill and others to take the lead.

"Let's get out of here."

Rowan nods in agreement, "time to go love" she says to the colonel

In reply to Rowan Dawson (msg #185):

Having no idea what actually went on in the encounter with the black hats as he was in the front and driving he here's COL Kurt L. Schaeffer message about heading west. Meh, so the black hats may hear them but what harm can it do now.
He grabs the radio
"What are you guys doing up there? Heading west? really? Did you get Michaela back onto her bike? Seriously you want to leave now even though they can just shadow us all the way until they get reinforcements? We gonna hit these guys or what!"
This message was last edited by the player at 06:51, Wed 04 Apr 2012.

In reply to Roadkill (msg #186):

Sitting on his bike, Schaeffer used his binoculars to look for the Black Hats. They were gone from the Interstate, hiding somewhere in the subdivisions off to either side, and he strained to see them.

"I am sorry. Michaela is dead. We need you back here to get her bike unless Sgt. Sullvan wishes to ride it."

"Also, we no longer see the enemy, and therefore can't easily attack."

"We can detour north before heading west to throw them off our scent, and if they do follow we shall set an ambush."

He put the bike-and-sidecar into gear, starting to slowly ride westwards.

Rowan replies as she rides along side her love
"My feeling is to out run them and hit them at a place of our chossing".

In reply to COL Kurt L. Schaeffer (msg #187):

Roadkill hangs up the radio without replying and waits a while.
"you got control Gillies. If I say go then you need to go. I think you know how to do that"
Roadkill climbs to the top of the truck and relays their friends fate.

In reply to Roadkill (msg #189):

The French-accented voice came out of the dash-mounted speakers, "d'accord. Will be taking it easy, chief, do not worry."

The twin exhaust stacks spat greenish Spook Juice smoke as Gilles started up. A faint moaning echoed up the pipes, much more noticeable up on top than in the cab.

They pulled forward, then Gilles carefully swung wide to enter the on-ramp (going the wrong way) and proceed back towards the rest of the group, who were now getting in motion to head west.

Having known Michaela more than a day, Smoker seemed more affected than Crichton at the news. Still, he'd grown up in this world, he was no stranger to death.

"First Arthur, then Michaela. They say only the good die young. Sending the all those Black Hats to Hell doesn't nearly seem like a fair trade. But let's get going."

He got ready for travel, pulling down his goggles and pulling up his shemagh bandanna over his mouth and nose.

"Crichton, why don't you move to the rear of the trailer to keep watch on our rear?"

Instead of taking off, the motorcyclists waited for the rig to get moving.

Along with Smoker, Sullivan helped wheel Michaela's damaged bike into the trailer, then remounted the cab to sit in the passenger seat. Smoker used the folding ladder inside the trailer to climb back up through the roof hatch while Cricton moved to the trailer's rear fighting position to cover them in case the Black Hats decided to show their stinking faces, but they didn't.

Loading the bike into the rear of the trailer was a relatively quick procedure. Smoker kept track of the time using his watch, so they could be away before the five minutes were up and the Combine booby-traps armed themselves.

Still on his bike, Trejo stopped beside the technical, looking stonily at Michaela's body. He barely knew the young Squire, now she would never become a Templar now. He wondered if her dead mentor could have taught her to survive better or if her joining her mentor in death so quickly was somehow inevitable. He administered her Last Rites, anointing her with some water from his canteen, then tracing the sign of the cross on her forehead with his fingertips.

In the mean time, Crichton monitored the BH tactical radio net but all he heard was static. The Black Hats had split up but weren't talking to each other, probably playing dead and hoping they went away. To make sure they didn't coordinate anything, Crichton quickly boosted the power output on his own radio and, with Giles's help, used the CB transmitter to jam the local Combine frequencies.

That was the problem with the Combine, he thought, the only hold Throckmorton had over his troops was the threat of death from their commanders, and if the commander was dead they showed no initiative or guts.

They travelled about a half hour, continuing westwards, and there was no sign of pursuit. Schaeffer called a halt. He walked back to the technical and rig to have a word with the entire crew.

Schaeffer said, "it is clearly far too dangerous to ride in softskin vehicles like our bikes. This is not a liesurely motorcycle tour! We saw what happened with Michaela. Therefore I strongly suggest the following:

1) One scout bike only, Trejo perhaps. He will have Smoker's radio.

2) I will be up on top of the trailer where I can see and provide fire support. Rowan, I suggest you ride up there as well or in the back of the technical with Jane. But not on your hoverbike, too dangerous.

3) If the scout bike encounters any threat do not engage. Withdraw and let the vehicles handle it with their heavier firepower. Worse comes to worse I can flank them on foot and bring my rifle to bear.

"If this is acceptable then please, let us be on our way in a hurry. If it's not acceptable, well, I intend on loading my bike into the rig and riding on it. Rowan, I suggest you do the same and ride in the back of the technical."

"Order of march will be: Trejo on bike, then rig with Roadkill, Sullivan, Smoker, Crichton, myself, then technical with Peter and Jane and (hopefully) Rowan."

In reply to The Marshall (msg #192):

Smoker was on the roof of the rig, keeping a 360 degree watch with his binoculars but still listening. He called down his opinion.

"Fine by me! Trejo or whoever's out front can borrow my radio. Crichton and Schaeffer have radios in their battlesuits so we can communicate with Roadkill and Peter via CB easy enough. Whatever we do let's get it on!"

He dropped his radio down and Schaeffer easily caught it, then offered it to Trejo.

In reply to Smoker Nix (msg #193):

Roadkill looking very despondent nodded
"yeah that sounds great. I'm, I'm gonna drive"
Roadkill jumps back into the drivers seat and looked forward.

Rowan nods and gets her bike into the rear of the Semi and lashes it down safely.
Then gets trickster to join her in the back of the technical with her equipment

In reply to Rowan Dawson (msg #195):

Everyone saddled up, and they resumed their journey. Trejo led the way in front of the rig, with the technical following. Schaeffer kept a watch at the front of the trailer with Crichton and Smoker in the rear. If there was trouble up front, Crichton could quickly make his way forward with his SAW.

The Black Hats never showed their faces again. As they moved out of range of the Combine chips in Crichton's, Jane's and Trejo's skulls, the booby-trapped Combine equipment (weapons, personal electronics, vehicles) began to explode where they lay in the roadway. The hollow booms sounded flat and faint across the empty plains, echoing through the empty and decaying suburban ranch homes and duplexes.

Off to their left, they could see the Ghost Storm whirling angrily over Cheyenne's city centre.

Once past the ruins of Cheyenne, they quickly returned to the Interstate leading west. They didn't see anyone the rest of the day, finding shelter near the empty and dead city of Rawlins, Wyoming. They spent a cold and wind-swept night on an abandoned farm outside of town, rig parked in the cavernous milking barn.

Some atrocity had occurred there at some point, as old bloodstains throughout the house (mainly the bedrooms) and a hastily-dug mass shallow grave out back attested. Animals had dug up some of the corpses of the murdered family and scattered the bones about the gravesite. Bits of clothing poked above the dark earth.

After cooking a sombre dinner even Smoker didn't have the heart to scavenge for parts and salvage, unlike usual. Borrowing Schaeffer's entrenching tool, Trejo began digging a grave for Michaela under an old oak tree in the front yard. He was just about finished by sunset, a cold wind sighing mournfully across the lonely prairie.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:17, Sun 15 Apr 2012.

Rowan goes to help bury her friend.
It seems to her she is losing way to many of them lately.
Once they have Michaela buried she will make sure the grave is covered so her friends sleep is not disturbed.
She stands there s they finished silently saying good bye.
Looks at Trejo

Hear Now the words of the witch,
The secrets we hid in the night,
When dark was our destiny's pathway,
That now we bring forth into light.

Then starts to sing, as she scatters herbs for undisturbed rest over the grave.

That which once came from the earth
Has returned again to the earth.

That which once belonged to the spirit
Has returned again to the Ancient Ones.

The wheel has turned.
Nothing is final.

No farewell is the last farewell.
The wheel turns onwards
And we who remain behind
Know that one day we will once again
Share of bread and wine with our sister.
And remember it has always been thus

Rowan bows to the grave her fingers sketching warding over the grave as she does so.
Turns and goes to find Schaeffer wanting very much to just to be held at this moment
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:17, Sun 15 Apr 2012.

In reply to Rowan Dawson (msg #197):

Schaeffer was there as well when Trejo laid Michaela's body to rest. Shaved and washed up as much as possible, Schaeffer was wearing his cleanest undress fatigues and red airborne beret. Not formal but as close as he could get.

Coming to attention, he saluted his fallen comrade, then relaxed and moved over to Rowan's side, putting a comforting arm around her as the cold wind ruffled their clothing.

"I am glad we could do this for her. Michaela was not a soldier, but she fought for something higher. She will be missed. Come, let us return to the house, und have some hot cocoa, ya?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:58, Sun 15 Apr 2012.

After washing up and changing into her cleanest USAF BDUs, Jane wandered over to the grave as well.

"Goodbye, kid. See you on the other side."

Absentmindedly, she rubbed at the scar at the back of her neck where the Combine auto-surgeon had implanted her fail-safe chip. It had been disarmed and was supposedly safe. Supposedly.

Jane glanced over at Peter. "So, Peter, feel like buyingt a girl a drink?" Her blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail under her beret and without the coating of usual road grime and dust she looked pretty.

Rowan smiles a little sadly and slides her arms around her lover, "oh yes please love, though I could wonder where you found such a think out here"

In reply to Rowan Dawson (msg #200):

Smiling, Schaeffer sipped from his metal messkit mug. "Cocoa? Is a powder. From the MilRat package."

It was by no means comfy, but portable lamps gave the farm house living room a kind of homey feel, along with the fire in the chimney. A pot of water boiled above t fire as it fire cracked and popped.

Stained sheets and boards were used as blackout curtains over the glassless windows, to cover the chinks left by the storm shutters and prevent light from escaping outside.

Muttering under his breath, Nix slipped out to run routine maintenance checks on the rig and the technical.

Then he set to the sad task of assessing Michaela's bike - keep the thing entire or break it down for parts? In the back of his mind he heard her laugh at the wind in her hair as she opened it up on a sunny day, her delight at its power beneath her when a skilful manoeuvre had kept her hide intact and brought her into a position to rain hell on any lurking Black Hats....

Those Templar folks didn't know what they'd lost. But he did.

 Rowan wrinkles her nose at her lover, reaching for his mug and helping her self to a sip, "been around a while it has" she adds.
She snuggles up into the curve of Shafers side under his arm, "I am very tiered of seeing friends die she adds softly".
She gazes into the fire,  "is there any where in the world do you think where this hell does not touch"?

In reply to Smoker Nix (msg #202):

As they settled in for the evening, the (former) military personnel held a short pow-wow to set up defences, including anyone else who wanted to be there. Shchaeffer the sniper, Crichton the US Marine and Jane (USAF pilot) took a walk around the farm and perimeter areas.

Noisemakers were set up around the perimeter of the farm buildings (main house, barn, silo, sheds, etc.) They would set a watch in case the Black Hats or anyone else came looking for them. Schaeffer would set up a sniper's nest and OP at the top of the farm's grain silo where they could see for miles.

If they were attacked or discovered the main idea would be to get to the vehicles and get mobile if at all possible and either fight their way to the Interstate or avoid contact by taking the back roads, continuing west towards Junktown. Rally points were set in case people got separated (just down the creek that ran beside the farmhouse, the main road, etc.). Worse came to worse, the farm house had a solid cellar basement to hide in, and could be defended 360 degrees by Jane and Crichton's Hellfire SAWs (not to mention Peter's .50, if it were dismounted). The technical was parked behind the farm house (where it couldn't be seen from the road and also closer than the garage) and the rig was inside the milking barn.

After, everyone was informed of what measures were taken. Food was eaten, weapons were cleaned. Schaeffer tendrf to his massive Mauser sniper rifle and Rowan's Kalashnikov, Jane pulled apart the Ma-Deuce, Crichton his SAW and so on.

Peter watched sadly as Michaela's bike was loaded up. Such a waste. Teh good die young in this Hell on Earth. He lit up a cigarette as Trejo sat near the body on his bike and began doing things. Peter thought it vaguely reminded him of Catholic stuff. But that was another life.

He didn't say anything contrary to the "plan" the German Colonel offered, nor did he naysay Rowan and her pet getting in the back with Jane. Jane could probably use the company, someome to talk to.

Once the rig was ready, Peter followed after it in silence, trying not to be lost in his own thoughts. He occasionally glanced back at Jane in the rearview mirror. He reminded himself it was a bad idea to grow fond of anyone in this wretched world. They were taken away too easily.

He also glanced back at the explosions when they went off, and then the angry Ghost Rock Bomb Storm. He never liked those things. Very dangerous and fucking creepy as hell those wailing spirits. He was glad to put it all behind them.

When they settled for the night, Peter was still quiet, which wasn't terribly unusual for him really. He helped with the grave-digging if Trego let him and he silently paid his respects after.

He started to head towards his drink to be alone when he was surprised by Jane's question. After a second's hesitation, he smiled at her. "I thought you'd never ask? That's the right response ain't it? Or is it hell yeah?" He gave her a chuckle.

He walked over to the technical and opened up the passenger door. He dug around until he found what he was looking for, turning around with a blanket and 2 bottles. He looked around, then leaned in and whispered.

Then he shrugged and looked around again. "Where ya wanna drink?"
This message was last edited by the player at 19:54, Mon 16 Apr 2012.

In reply to Peter Firecrow (msg #205):

Jane nodded, putting her VTOL flight helmet in the back of the technical. She slapped the receiver cover down on her Hellstromme Hellfire SAW, but didn't charge it. The SAW went under a tarp to keep it out of the elements.

"Thanks, Pete. I could use the company. We can hang out in the barn, there's enough room to keep out of Roadkill and Smoker's hair. Let's go." She took her meal and a blanket.

Cue Music: Treble Charger, "Red"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vs_95IuXajo
This message was last edited by the player at 11:10, Tue 17 Apr 2012.

"Who knows? I like to think so. Some place safe, where we don't have to look over our shoulders to see what's gaining on us."

Cue Music: Aimee Mann, "Save Me"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNbTC6xLVg0

Taking his mug back, he drained it. Leaning his body into hers, he looked where she was looking, into and beyond the flames.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:14, Tue 17 Apr 2012.

While digging the grave Trejo let Peter take a turn with the shovel, wordlessly nodding his thanks. There was no salute, no ceremony or funeral like there had been in Near Wichita for Arthur, Michaela's knight.

Cue Music: Primitive Radio Gods, "Standing Beside a Broken Phone Booth (With Change in My Hand)"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1piLRStP7xE

In the barn, Smoker set to fixing Michaela's bike. He set up a trouble light, got out tools and a dropcloth to catch fallen parts like nuts and bolts.

Pipe clenched between his teeth, Smoker looked the machine over for problems. It had belonged to one of the Doomsayer's posse. The bike had come into their possession (already damaged) outside of Las Cruces near the community of Shalam Colony.

This time, the front forks were bent and a side mirror had been sheared off. He pulled the front wheel assembly off, shocks and all. Some pounding with a hammer fixed the forks and he put it back together again. Then, a tune up.

Crichton assisted Smoker, mainly by helping with the tough job of lifting the bike and passing tools. After, Crichton then carefully disarmed the Combine fail-safe chip in the Blazer he'd captured.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:14, Tue 17 Apr 2012.

In reply to The Marshall (msg #208):

Roadkill just smokes up and looks on at the guys digging for about a minute. After he heads off and checks out what smoker and Crichton are up to and just hangs out with the guys.

Peter wondered if she had been wanting the whiskey and not him from her comment. But she said yes, so he grinned and stashed the bottles on his person. He put he blanket over a shoulder and grabbed his own meal as well. Tonight, he didn't want to think about who had been lost. Tonight he wanted to get drunk.

"Sounds fine."

He followed after Jane. Once in the barn, he laid out the big blanket and sat down on it. He pulled out the bottles and sent them down, one for each of them if they needed....and he had a feeling Jane could drink as much as he could, maybe more actually.

He opened one of the bottles, held it up for a toast. "To the art of survival, keepin' goin' when you're not sure you want to...to findin' the good in the bad, to findin' beauty where you can...an' t'gettin' Jane drunk, I mean to gettin' drunk!" He chuckled and took a long pull.

In reply to Peter Firecrow (msg #210):

For that evening Ian know that he is the new comer to this group and see that they have alot of morning to do.  He asks the ex-military member if there is any think that he can do to help for the evening in standing watch or help walking the perimeter.

During that time he keeps going over his head what he might have been able to do differently so that Michaela would have survived.

In reply to Sgt. Ian Sullivan (msg #211):

Sullivan's offer was gratefully accepted. Due to the size of the group and possibility of contact (the Black Hats may still find their spine and come after them) it was decided to conduct 2-hour watches, doubled up. Everyone was put into the schedule (Peter and Roadkill excepted due to their primary duties as drivers).

His experience being in law enforcement and not the military, Sullivan didn't know what he personally could have done to change the outcome. These weren't criminals or hostage-takers that could be negotiated with.

Certainly, in hindsight using the heavier armed and armoured vehicles to force the roadblock would have worked better than trying to run it with bikes. Sending Schaeffer ahead in Ghillie suit with rifle to provide sniper support would work even better, if they had the time.

In reply to Peter Firecrow (msg #210):

Jane followed Peter in silence into the barn and gave a sigh of relief to be away from the others.  There were comrades but there times when you needed to sort things out and sometimes that called for company one ... possibly two.

When Peter gave his toast and mentioned getting her drunk she just gave a half laugh and gave him a light punch in the arm before repeating his toast.  " You can't get me drunk tonight.  You might be excused from guard tonight because you are the driver but I will have to take my shift.  You really want a drunk happy gunner on your hands in the middle of weird country?"

Jane took a long pull on the whiskey and sucked in her breath when it hit.  She held it down and just stared at the bottle before carefully setting it down and leaned back on the blanket not saying anything but enjoying the silence for a minute with Peter.

Peter accepted the punch along with the laugh, glad he could get to laugh especially considering the last few days. "Who, me?" He waggled his eyebrows at her. I want a drunk happy gunner all the time! Pliable is good, too!" He grinned and shrugged. "Well, happy at least, as much and as often as I can for her." Then what he'd actually said sunk in and he got embarrassed slightly, so he took a drink of his bottle.

He fell silent and hoped it was a nice silence not an awkward one for them to drink to, or that she'd break the silence. He was too old for this.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:48, Wed 18 Apr 2012.

In reply to Peter Firecrow (msg #214):

Jane chuckled at Peter and shook her head.  "First drunk and now pliable.  Not sure how pliable I am.  Somehow I don't think you'd like me to be too pliable.  Flexible maybe but not pliable.  Having a backbone is a necessity these days isn't it?"

Jane looked down at the blanket they were on and started to draw little shapes on it with her fingernail.  Doodles they might have been called.  Random acts of trying to figure out how to say what she wanted to say although she did like this silence.  It was "comfortable" and relaxing.  She finally looked up at Peter and raised an eyebrow and blushed.  "So...what would you do if I was pliable"

As Jane waited to see what he would say, she was mentally chastising herself for sounding dumb.  Dumb Jane.  Really dumb.  He has you blushing like a teenager.  Just give me a target that I can shoot at.  It's not as painful as trying to figure out this shit.

Much to his own shock Roadkill turns down a drink. He didn't want to drink it off he wanted to remember and get hold of one of the fuckers and gut them while they still drew breath. He had done similar and worse in his raider days.
"Gonna keep it straight Pete. I want my aim steady and when i end up doing some surgery, well you need a steady hand."

Peter laughed as she made fun of his word usage and held up one hand in a defensive gesture. "Fine, fine. Perhaps I not the best chooser of words. I did not intend offense. I don't want your judgement to be clouded, or for you to be less than you are. I like you because of who and what you are. I just meant in regards to...man, I'm really bad at this. Do you know how long it's been since I tried to make a move on a woman?" He laughed again, shaking his head.

Her final question caught him off-guard. She was interested? He hadn't completely bungled things? He looked over at her as she blushed and waited for his answer. He didn't say anything, he just leaned over and kissed her. Then he leaned back to gauge her response.

In reply to Peter Firecrow (msg #217):

Jane didn't return the kiss but also didn't turn away.  Her eyes got big and she held her breath.  When he broke the kiss she just stared at him for a little bit and then she got a soft smile on her face.  "Oh.  That's the reward for being pliable?  I can work on being pliable. Given if somebody would want me to be more pliable.  You know somebody who would want me to be more pliable?"  Before Peter could answer she leaned in to him and gave him a kiss and then sat back blushing and not meeting his eye for long periods of time.

"I th..." He was cut off by her return kiss. He blinked in surprise. When she was done he smiled at her again. "I thought we had agreed the word was flexible, not pliable. I would very much like you to be flexible."

He looked over at her and saw she was blushing again. "That's a good color on you." He smiled and chuckled. "We should probably take it slow. And then if or when we move forward, remember I'm old and out of practice. Be gentle with me, warrior woman."

He took a drink and then set the bottle out of the way. He reached over and lifted her chin towards him. He slid the hand around to cup her cheek as he kissed, much longer and with more passion that time.

In reply to Peter Firecrow (msg #219):

Jane's chuckle was cut off by Peter's kiss.  When she came up for air she had to comment.  "Old my ass."  Her shiney eyes looked into him and she pushed him back a little bit so she could clear her head.  "I don't know which is affecting me more.  The whiskey or you.  Perhaps you're one of those liqueurs that get better with age because there wasn't anything wrong with those moves." She took another pull on the whiskey and then moved so that she could settle back against him.  "So.  Now that us ol geezers got that part out of the way and broke the ice...what's next?  We going to get any flak from the rest of the group?  Even the dimmest will pick up on us sooner or later."

Jane turned her head slightly to look up into his eyes.  "I think I could drown myself in those eyes."  Her own eyes got larger at that statement and she quickly blurted out. "Tell me I just didn't say that out loud."

"Who knows? I like to think so. Some place safe, where we don't have to look over our shoulders to see what's gaining on us."

"I want to find that place love so very badly",
Rowan Mutters softly.
Leans over and kisses Shaffer and looks back to the flames

Taking his mug back, he drained it. Leaning his body into hers, he looked where she was looking, into and beyond the flames.
</quote>

"In the dance of the fire past present and future are all one"
It is said
"Time present is there in time past and both together in time yet to come".
"If one had the knowledge and the skill one could walk the fire, to other places, it is a shame that no one living now knows how it is done"
Rowan sighsand settles down

Rowan sighsand settles down
</quote>
Out in the Darkness trickster hunters for the shear enjoyment of the chase as his ear and nose check the wind in the dark for who and what is out there

Peter raised an eyebrow at her. "You don't think I'm old? Somethin' wrong with your eyes?" He gave a quiet laugh. "Glad you liked my moves. Yours aren't so bad yourself." He put an arm around her and took a drink himself. "After the way Rowan an' the Colonel've been gettin' all lovey-dovey, I don't think I care what everyone else thinks. Let 'em talk. Now, I'm not sayin' I'm gonna be openly just kissin' you or gettin' groped out for everyone to see or anything." He grinned at her.

"I didn't hear a thing, Janey." He smiled. "Old geezers." He snorted as he tried to lift her embarrassment. "You know, for a soldier girl, you've got some pretty nice curves." He chuckled at her.

In reply to Peter Firecrow (msg #223):

Jane grinned.  "Of course I have curves.  Underneath these fatigues I'm still a woman ya know."  She chuckled and had to give him credit on Rowen and the Colonel's situation.  "I'll survive some of their kidding if we get it and what do you mean I can't grope you in public.  <exaggerated sigh>  Very well but you still might get the kiss or two.  You're the one who said we were old.  Shouldn't waste too much time."

Jane allowed herself the luxury of putting a hand up to Peter's face and run her hands through his hair.  "I like your hair and you don't have much grey.  I look forward to one day showing you how flexible I <b>really am."  She gave him a smile and let her hand that was still in his hair pull his head down to her.  "_{That should give you something to think about}." she managed to whisper against his lips.

She wanted to take her time with this relationship.  yet not too slow for one never knew when their last day on earth would occur.  Combat, the weirdness of the west, and a handsome man were indeed things that got her pulse quickening and here she had all three.

In reply to Jane Guin (msg #224):

Roadkill didn't like the rowan and colonial thing so seeing more get into it, it was just a bit too much. Time to go or at least just avoid having to see or hear. He gets in the truck and locks the doors and tries to get some rest before having to take watch.

As the others say goodbye to their friend Airen says a soft prayer under his breath to Eagle and Crow. When he finishes helping Roadkill with the bike and stripping the Blazer's chip. Airen pulls out some tools and a long gun case opens it and works on the incomplete gun inside. Muttering that it might have made a difference in that young girl's life if I had only finished it sooner. Will not happen again.

Night fell hard on the open prairie.

Clouds hid the stars, it began to rain.

Without night vision there was little to see.

All the watches proceeded without incident.

Added: Peter and Roadkill were not woken for watches, as they were driving the next day and could use the sleep.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:07, Fri 20 Apr 2012.

Rowan wakes up in the Morning as the first rays of the sun light the sky,nice warm and comfortable, Trickster curled against her front and the Colonel against her back.
She lies there a few moments considering the situation.
Now how does she move with out waking the Colonel up she wonders

In reply to Rowan Dawson (msg #228):

The Colonel was already up, having volunteered to take the last watch on the grain silo.

Water was already boiling for breakfast MilRat pouches on the kitchen counter.

There was no table nor chairs, having been broken for firewood or trashed long ago. Stained mattresses had been dragged into the living room for sleeping, other than that the ground floor was barren save for trash (which Schaeffer cleaned up and dragged out back so they wouldn't be stepping on broken glass).

"Guten morgan, mien liebchen."

Rowan cocks her head on one side, wishing she spoke German.
Smiles as she mentaly unwinds the words.
"Morning love, I trust you have the water heated for a nice long shower" she teases

Smoker was still sprawled flat on his back, snoring.

In reply to Rowan Dawson (msg #230):

He snorted.

"Ya, a good half-litre of water for milady's bath. Another day, another Deutchsmark."

Schaeffer was dressed in his fatigues, M4 carbine slung across the chest, but hadn't put on his IBS body armour or helmet.

Rowan wags her finger at him "for that you owe a kiss".
She closses the distance in a glide, "and a lady always collects".
"So do I ride in the side car seeing as Smoker has decided that the Motor bike is too dangerious to ride around here"

In reply to Rowan Dawson (msg #233):

Schaeffer poured them hot water for mixing instant coffee. The advanced packs had instant espresso, including chemically-induced foamed milk. As he talked, he shaved using a sonic-infrared razor and mirror.

"Smoker? Ach, no, that was my decision based on ze tactical situation. Too dangerous for bikes on the open road near Combine territory.

"I was thinking that perhaps, yes, at some point I should be having someone in the sidecar with me, but for now, please stay in the technical, my love. I will be on the trailer where I have a better view and can use my rifle. Sorry, I know how much you like riding that hoverbike."
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:49, Fri 20 Apr 2012.

Rowan, smiles "you are right about that love, but then I walked a lot before I inherited that bike."<Green>
"So okay I will stay in the technical with trickster".
"means I can give covering fire if needed"</Green>

In reply to Rowan Dawson (msg #235):

Jane walks in, having woken up to the smell of somebody's version of coffee.  "It doesn't matter if it is instant or not.  There's still something about waking up and smelling coffee.  Mornin everybody.  What's the agenda for today"

It didn't matter if he wasn't woken for his shift or not. He still didn't get a full night's sleep. He never did. He woke up in a cold sweat, just shy of screaming, as usual. He took a few deep breaths to calm down and then went to look over the Technical, just routine maintenace while he waited for everyone to wake up.

 rowan looks over her shoulder, "Good morning Jane, just getting an opinion on where I am riding today"

In reply to Rowan Dawson (msg #238):

Jane fixed her coffee and while waiting for it to do its thing, looked at Rowan.  "I suppose you want to ride the bike?

Jane smiled over her coffee knowing that it was doubtful that Rowan would get to do that.

Having taken first watch Airen wakes during the Colonel's watch. He slaps the final fittings on the gun while everyone is waking. "Now to field test it. Always tricky. Not now while we are on the road I think. Next bill board that we see." when he sees every one moving about Crichton joins them. "I guess Boise is next huh."

In reply to Tech. Sgt. Airen Crichton (msg #240):

Schaeffer looked at his map.

"Boise is the objective."

"We will pass Junkyard, first."

He laughed when Jane asked Rowan if she wanted to ride.

"Hey, do not be giving her ideas, now! I say is too dangerous."

rowan looks at them both.
"The earth abides, living is dangerious,only in the love of the lady do i live and under her gaze do i walk."
"So yes I would preffer to ride. "But here it is pushing the boundries of common sense a little to far."
"So today at least we get to discuss the men in our lives Jane"

Wednesday 11 May 2094
0700 Hours
Rain

Outside Rawlins, Wyoming

Schaeffer lit the fire in the fireplace using deadwood they'd collected from the yard A little smoke began to stream from the chimney, lost on the wind.

As the farmhouse showed signs of life, Trejo and Sullivan were up in the OP, keeping watch. Dawn was a favourite time for attack and although it was tempting to go join the group, someone needed to keep an eye out.

In the truck parked in the barn, Roadkill slept on. He hadn't been woken to take a shift because he was driving. Peter dozed on in his technical, having also had a full night's sleep. In theory. However, both had vivid nightmares about the day, as well as their familiar recurring nightmares.

It was a grey day, it had been raining on and off during the night and it looked to be as if it would rain continually during the day.

In reply to Rowan Dawson (msg #242):

Jane chuckled at the Col and smiled at Rowan.  "That discussion might be a bit one sided...but I'll listen to whatever you wish to tell me about the Col."

She sipped her coffee and didn't say anything for a bit.  "I believe it might be a little early to say that I have a man which I can talk about.  You know those early stages in relationships where you even wonder if it's called a realtionship?"

In reply to Jane Guin (msg #244):

Ian stands watch at dawn.  The rain over night and this morning is keeping any dust that might indicate vehicles are heading in their direction so he is very on-guard.

When he worked with SWAT the very early mornings was the time that they would do some raids and busts so he knew that it was a common time for groups to do attacks.

He could smell the coffee that was being brewed down stairs and is temped to call down to ask for a cup.

In reply to Jane Guin (msg #244):

Roadkill spent a long night sleeping and having his normal nightmares.
When he gets up he grabs something to eat and drink. He get back into the cab and starts up the truck.
"We going or what?! This isn't a love in."
He lets the engine heat up for about a minute before leaving.

Rowan nods
"Only once, this time it seems more fated I guess".
"It doesn't matter what any one else says including Road Kill and the rest, it depends on what you and who ever else believe."
"Only the people involved know what they feel."

Hearing Road kill, Rowan swallows the last of the coffee and grabs her pack "and saying his name has awoken the convoy Boss, and it sounds like he wants to get a move on."
Yelling back at Road KIll Rowan Adds
"No it aint and hold your britches some of us preffer to be awake before we hit the road"
"Males the only none understandable speices on Earth" she says with a grin to Jane
Rowan leans over and gives the Colonel a morning kiss the "next one waits till the next stop love" she adds
This message was last edited by the player at 09:17, Sat 21 Apr 2012.

In reply to Rowan Dawson (msg #247):

Jane grinned at Rowan and lifted her cup in a salute.  "truer words were never spoken.  They say females are hard to understand.  Just goes to show you that it's them not us."

She watched Rowan give Col a kiss and wondered if she would ever get comfortable enough to give or get kisses in public as easily.  That, however, wasn't on the official mission list of objectives for today.  Taking a last sip of her coffee she went out to check on her baby.  She had been planning on naming but still hadn't. Perhaps today would be a day to do that.  It was an odd thing that she did but everybody has their odd moments.

Stepping out and up to the Ma-Deuce, she climbed into the back to verify that her gun was still in good working order.  She didn't want any surprises when it came to firing it.

The activity, chitchat and smell of coffee eventually disturb the snoring Smoker's repose, and he blinks awake.

"Morning all," he says from where he's sprawled. He checked faces. "Anyone taken coffee to the folks in the OP? I'll go if you like."

He gets up and wriggles into his longcoat. That spikey blond hair looks even wilder than usual.

Peter looked up bleary-eyed as Jane walked up to the technical. He mumbled a "Mornin'. to her and a small smile. He seemingly went back to what he was doing with checking over the technical, but he watched her out of the corner of his eyes when he could.

When Roadkill piped up, Peter rolled his eyes. "Been waitin' on you an' Smoke, Roadkill." He grinned at the good-natured barb.

In reply to Peter Firecrow (msg #250):

Jane watched Peter with closed eyes for a moment and when he opened them and said morning she gave him a soft smile.  "Mornin.  Just thought I'd check out baby before I might need him."  She allowed her eyes to watch Peter for a second longer than normal before she patted Baby.  When she could she looked at Peter and didn't like how tired he looked.
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:20, Sun 22 Apr 2012.

Wednesday 11 May 2094
0730 Hours
Rainy

Heading West from Rawlins, Wyoming

The guys in the OP appreciated the Joe, even if it was instant. They all had a quick breakfast.

All too soon, Roadkill was up and then it was time to go. Schaeffer and Crichton policed up the house, making sure all trash was collected, fire doused. When they left it was like they have never been.

Once on the Interstate, Trejo was in the lead on his bike, wearing his riding leathers and goggles against the chilly rain. Roadkill followed, rain leaking in the armoured viewports where the windows used to be. Sullivan was beside him. Smoker and Crichton were at the trailer's front fighting position, Schaeffer kept watch to the rear from up high.

Following the rig was the technical, with Peter driving (again, wet from water streaming in the front armoured viewport) and Jane on the back on the fifty, along with Rowan and what appeared to be a pet coyote ("Trickster"). Jane took the dust cover off "Baby" and pulled back the charging handle to cock the machinegun, as it was standard to travel with it ready to rock.

Rowan throws a blanket across her self and trickster and sits cradling her rifle her back to the cab.
Nad keeps an eye out form her position