While Peter was concentrating on driving, the others with him were vocal about the other vehicle wiping out. Thankfully, it didn't seem too bad, at least it wasn't a rollover, which was possible. But it could be stuck in the mud for a while.

Jane and Crichton began yelling that the other vehicle had wiped out! Peter could do one of two things: continue on without stopping and have a chance at cutting off their prey, or stop and assist, which would probably help but likely (but not certainly) lose them their lead.

  "Do we keep an eye on them or do we stop? Honestly if we can separate it might prove better. I don't know what you guys want to do, but there is that." he says as he unslings the rifle and prepares for what comes.

Peter heard the yelling and frowned, glancing back at the other vehicle for the briefest of moments. He slowed to a stop. "I am not sure we can take them by ourselves though, and if the other vehicle is stuck or damaged and not able to continue, then we will be on our own."

He thought for a second and let out a sigh. This was all so much more trouble than it seemed to be worth it as time went on. He shook his head. "No. Unless you all outvote me, I think we should go back and make sure they get going again as well. We likely lose the ability to cut them off..."

In reply to Peter Firecrow (msg # 378):

Up behind the .50-cal. Jane, being ex-military, offered her tactical opinion, "if we don't cut them off then this crazy side run is pointless. We won't have Trask and Brother Edgar but we have three heavy-hitters: me with the Ma-Deuce, you with the ACR and of course Crichton has his cannon. With the element of surprise we will have as good a shot as we are going to get.

"Even if we can't take them out immediately we can stop them. With the Humvee delayed they can still assist if we get into trouble or come in and deal the killing blow. I say let's haul ass!"

In reply to Peter Firecrow (msg # 378):

"I hear you, Peter. Let's stop and pull the Humvee out. The more the merrier.

"If we miss them, well, no one can say we didn't try!"

  "I kinda feel like this side run will be a waste if we don't try to get ahead of them. Do we think we can get far enough ahead that we can stay that way until we can establish contact with the Humvee? If not then getting ahead is a waste of time anyway."

Peter let out a loud sigh and ceased slowing down. He instead kicked the truck by in to high speed and headed back on their original course. Over the radio he simply said, "Catch up when you can. Stay safe."

Smoker checked out the angles.

"Right, Trask, PULL!"

The technical in the lead quickly left the stuck Humvee behind. After a few minutes more hectic travel down the side path they reached the main road. At this point the interstate passed between walls of kudzu-wreathed trees hiding piles of broken brick and shattered concrete with rusty rebar sticking out. The side road intersected the highway just in front of a small canal or slough chocked with weeds. There didn't appear to be any natural place for an ambush.

They could hear the whine of an approaching hoverbike and the roar of a rig engine. They were just out of sight around a bend a quarter mile behind them, they would come into view in less than a minute.

Back at the stuck vehicle, after a moment of effort they were able to free it and get it on the road again. It was a question if they could catch up to the others in time.

In reply to The Marshall (msg # 384):

Jane studied the area.

"No great spots for an ambush, like a curve. We can hide in the trees and wait for them to go by, hit them then. That ditch could provide cover on either side of the highway.

"Do you want to dismount the fifty or keep it on the technical hidden in the trees? One things is we don't know if they will recognise this vehicle."

Trask mounted back up as quickly as he could and then held on. He would wait until they had covered some ground before trying another scan for the vehicles they were after.


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"Well done," said Smoker, scrambling back aboard.

Brother Edgar returned to his seat as well.  He wasn't really sure how much help he had been in the process, but he tried.  And prayed.  The Glow seemed to have looked kindly on the endeavor.

  "If I am in the trees and you guys need to bug out the hummer can hopefully pick me up. If not it's been a fun ride. And no I think the 50 cal. should stay mounted. I am gonna try and climb up there and get a better line of sight on the lead vehicle. Drop the driver if I can." he says as he pats the rifle.

In reply to Tech. Sgt. Airen Crichton (msg # 389):

"Crichton, you sure you want to climb a tree? The problem is, you're kind of stuck up there once the shooting starts, and once they figure out you're there concealment is not good cover.

"I guess we could park the technical here in the woods on the side path. Then open fire when they come alongside? Whatever we do, let's do it quick."

Peter was 'semi-sort of in charge' only because he was the driver, unless Crichton wanted to jump out while they were moving at speed. His mind flashed through a few possibilities for an ambush, possible tactics and approaches. He dismissed several out of hand. He also wasn't keen on Crichton getting in to a tree as it left him a bit exposed but made him have to flag down the other vehicle if the chase continued.

"Jane and Crichton...do you either or both of you think you can put Kargo down while he is driving the hoverbike? If the bike crashes it will likely sustain damage, but I am not sure that can be helped. I know it is Rowan's bike, but rather it be destroyed or get it back needing a few repairs I think."

Hr frowned. "The large rig is a bigger problem, no pun intended. On the other hand, we are freer in how we stop it as it is not our vehicle, nor anyone's we know." He nodded to himself. "I think we ambush the hoverbike together and then attempt to full-out stop the semi-truck with firepower from the machinegun and what weapons we have, aiming for the driver, the tires, the engine, whatever looks like we actually damage. I am going to stay behind the wheel in case they get past us, so I would prefer you both stay in the vehicle with me, but if you really want to climb a tree, Crichton, then do so quickly. Does that sound good? Any alterations or suggestions?"

The goal behind to get the technical in to position just before the hoverbike would be in sight and then open up with personal firearms on the driver as best we can. Then let loose with the big guns and such on the rig.

  "Dropping the biker would be easy. I'm more worried about the semi. And I gotta ask do we know the driver is a member of the crew that did this because we know they took a few folks with them. Now shooting the block, tires, what not I feel more comfortable with potentially killing a relative innocent not so much. Now if the driver so much as fires a shot he's fair game. And I think unless they armored the windows that the .50 cal can take 'em." he says quite seriously.

  "The rig is a bigger target so of course easier to hit. Now boring a hole into the engine is pretty easy unless again they armored it. If they did that well we can try is all I can say."

In reply to Peter Firecrow (msg # 391):

Jack hefted Col. Schaeffer's borrowed G22.

"Ok. I'm a decent shot and I can take the biker out if he's in the lead. This popgun has a scope and I can put a burst through his skull. Then you can reserve the big guns for the rig or any escorts. Let's do this!"

The side trail was at a fairly straight section of the abandoned interstate, so if the technical was in plain view the hoverbike (or whoever was in the lead) might have a good 2-300 yards of vision. Probably enough to give a fair bit of warning to whoever was following.

Their other option was to hide the technical under the cover of the side trail where the thick kudzu-draped trees would hide them in shadow. When the convoy approached they could then pull out. Cannibal Jack could snipe Kargo or whoever was riding the hoverbike if it was in the lead out of the saddle. Then they could open up with the heavy stuff on the truck, possibly taking out the engine.

Peter gave a slow nod. "Alright. That sounds good. We should wait to take him out too early." He paused, interrupted by a thought. "Actually...hmm...if the rig tries to turn around then it would just give more time for our friends to catch up or possibly corner it." He seemed to be speaking to himself.

He then waved a hand. "Nevermind. Wait until you have a good shot on the biker but otherwise drop him when you can."

He pulled the technical into as much of a hiding place as he could without sacrificing the ability to get on to the road somewhat quickly.

 "This should be interesting. Well for what it is worth it's been nice knowing you guys. Ya know just in case." the junker has obviously done this before as his tone is measured and even.

Back at the mud wallow, they others had gotten the Humvee rolling again within seconds. Muddy water sprayed everywhere from the tires and they gained speed, slewing from side to side. Soon they kept going at a breakneck pace, and saw where technical had pulled off to break trail back to the main road, likely to set an ambush.

Peter, Crichton, Jane and Cannibal Jack set up for their ambush.

Cannibal Jack dismounted, moving to the treeline to where he could see the road and then getting down into the culvert where he had some cover. He set up the G22 and braced it, looking through the scope.

After charging the ma-deuce, Jane waited in the back of the technical. The plan as she understood it was to keep the pickup hidden in the side path until the ambush was sprung, then they would roll forward and take out the additional vehicles.

Behind them they could hear the Humvee approaching. They hadn't been really delayed tha tmuch and would no doubt join the fight soon after it started!

They were none too soon as the hover-cycle appeared around the corner about a quarter mile or so away.

Marshall's Note: Let's have a Sneak check from Crichton, please! Also, a Cimbin' check if he's going up the tree.

In reply to The Marshall (msg # 397):

By the roadaide, Cannibal got down into the weeds and brush at the edge of the culvert. None too soon a hoverbike appeared. Behind it was a cabover pulling a car trailer. It was difficult to see what was on the back but it appeared half-loaded with vehicles. Following it was another rig, a longnose pulling a van trailer.

"I can see a battleaxe on the back of the lead biker on the hoverbike. I think that's the guy you told me about, cuttin' off that guy's head back in Vivian. I'm gonna wait until they get close."

There seemed to be only the 3 vehicles. Closer the three vehicles came. Jacked sighted in on the lead hoverbike with the G22' scope. Finally at 100 yards, Jack fired a 3-round burst at the helmet of the lead rider, who was wearing a suit of Infantry Body Armour. With a short "BRAP!" the three 4.6mm rounds took him in the upper chest and head. He flipped off the bike, backwards. "Got him!"

In reply to 'Cannibal' Jack Hayes (msg # 398):

The rig with the car carrier swerved to the left, then hit its airbrakes and began skidding to a stop. The rig behind it swerved to the left, also hitting its brakes.

Marshall's Note: Quickness checks needed for Peter and Crichton.
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:44, Tue 23 July 2019.

Trask held on as best as he could given the circumstances, that being said his grip was artificially enhanced in his suit so he was probably going to be alright. He was scanning as they moved looking to locate the enemy vehicles while setting his sensors to combat modes as the familiar red and green shapes formed across his HUD.


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