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."