Episode 2

[brianfenris]

GM POST


“Patriot to Washington: Lemme' make a suggestion. Since you were going to be setting up at that gas station along the highway, I'll send Charlie-Actual there. It'll take them a while to reach that location, so that will give your group a chance to clear the building and set up a defense. Just in case they're not who they say they are. Be advised, we're sending out some friendlies to cover your back. There call sign will be Calvary. For now they are going to maintain radio silence and hang back from your location. They have their ears on and can be there in a few seconds in case things go south. Over.”

JEFFERSON
Patty listens to the radio quietly, then says to Rob.

“Do me a favor will you and remind to talk to Bernie about the power station later. Sounds like things are already getting interesting.”

[Tori]

"Uh negative Ghostrider, the pattern's full. Washington actual to Patriot actual, negative on the filling station. Too much room to maneuver, too mush gasoline around in case bullets fly. Have the company meet us one klick north of the filling station," Bernie said as he keyed the mic.

"Washington to Presidents, roll up to one mile marker north of the target. Jefferson and I set up the perimeter, Adams, you support behind. All dismount. Remember, weapons pointed over the inbound truck. We're hoping to make friends and bring these guys onboard. On the other hand, if they are looking for pillage, loot, rape and plunder, we're the line between here and Patriot. Stay friendly, but stay frosty."

Bernie sped up knowing the team had his six. At a kilometer north of the Country store, he pulled up across his lane and dismounted. When Mac pulled up, he went up to Suarez. "Hey, you can use this." He passed Suarez his shotgun.

"I'm going to want this back, but you have it now. Keep it pointed at the deck and don't threaten these guys until they make a direct threat. Remember, we're making friends, not picking fights."

At that, he stepped out in front of the roadblock. He was dressed from head to toe in knives, but wasn't carrying a single firearm. If any vehicles approached, he would put his hands out, palms up and in a gesture to stop.

[foxx]

"All right, lets see what happens next." said Joe. He position the truck to provide rear support. Anyone trying to get past it would have a hell of a time trying with the big rig arm with battering ram in the way. He also made sure to stay close with the door open in case the need for him to jump is call for. If a lot of somebodies decide to show up, the need for him to move may save their lives.

[achsaber]

Rob listens to the radio then o Patty "no problem at all.I have to say the Bernie has a game plan for everything.I just hope we can run them the way he plans them."
"Did I really hear that right is that the Army I don't know if that's good or bad."
When we stop Rob gets out and shoulders his shotgun and leans against Patty's jeep.

[sellsword]

"As a matter of fact it did have a thatched roof and the owners were from Dublin,guess its a small world after all." Bryan got quiet when voices started to come in over the radio.Listening intently he even leaned forward a bit.He wasnt overly fond of military types.Sitting back he stifles a sigh as he again puts the mossberg in his lap.He was from the eastcoast and never really made it out west.he didnt know of the places they were talking about and the beautifull desert that framed the road now suddenly seemed very open and revealing he wished there was more cover more trees more anything.These people seemed nice and chochise might offer some security but his idea of getting to the coast and finding a good boat sung out in his mind more than ever.Bryan was a survivor and not just in the context of current events.As the SUV came to a halt he stepped out checked his guns again and took up cover behind the engine block of the Rover,pistol drawn.

[brianfenris]

GM POST

“Patriot to Washington, roger last. Relaying your position to Charlie-Actual. Calvary has signaled they copied you last as well. Be careful out there.”

Patty parks her van the same at Bernie's, blocking the other side of the lane. “Dunno how much good a power plant will do us, despite what he says, but I'm game if he is.” She gets out and makes her way away to the other side of the van taking the rear, leaning back against it with her Winchester shotgun cradled in her hands.

She says to Rob, “I really hope these guys really are who they say they are. A few more soldiers would be great.”

Bobbie's eyes widen in surprise when Bernie hands off his shotgun. He looks at the unfamiliar weapon then to Bernie. “Sure, man. I won't be startin' shit with these guys unless they do, but don't want me in the truck coverin' them with the machine gun?”

((Everyone make a Perception Roll.))

[Tori]

"Solid copy, we're in position, standing by. Washington out..." He searched the nearby area just to make sure there weren't any lurkers coming up. Then he scanned the horizon to the south with his binoculars, if the immediate area seemed safe.

Perception roll [dice=20+1]

"Patty, power plant's going to have a lot of useful stuff. I'm surprised you haven't scouted it already. It's probably got a machine shop. All plants have a small fire department and a security post to defend against terrorists. It would take an ambulance 20 minutes to get out here from Willcox. Power plant's also got an infirmary to stabilize a victim of an industrial accident. Then we'll find equipment like loaders, back hoes, dozers, dump trucks. Heavy stuff to move all that coal.

"World class tools, fuel, and if the infestation isn't too bad, we get ourselves a reinforced building. We might even fire up one of the smaller turbines, once we improve security."

He fished some pita crackers out of his pocket and a ration pouch of hummus, squeezing some on the chips, and allowing himself a snack before meeting what he hoped would be an army of friendly combat engineers, or at least a company.

"Since a shotgun is a little unfamiliar right now, a machinegun might be a 300 level course. Mack probably knows the pig a little better right now, but your chance will come. We'll make sure you can load, unload, work out a jam, all that..."

He looked around again to make sure nothing was creeping up and ate another chip with hummus. For now at least, he waited.
[rand=68034772701426922402820018224982677595646106384259551203402170445]

[sellsword]

[dice=20]

Bryan looks to the rest of the group,kinda making sure everybody has some sort of cover.As his gaze falls on Bobby and his shotgun he grins and nods his head "good to be outta that compound, huh?" Sitting on the road he puts his back against the SUV and takes a drink from his canteen offering some to their newest member." Lets hope there as happy to see us as we are them."[rand=141563859768211848089346829801798956559422425925745740627124905586]

[foxx]

Overhearing the conversation about the power plant gave Joe some optimistic hopes that maybe something could be salvaged. It would be nice to get his hands on a machine shop, with plenty of spare parts in the car grave yards he could keep their vehicles running for years to come. As long as the gas holds up. One day he might have to retire the truck in order to learn how to ride a horse. He hope that day was long in coming though.

He checks his Saiga shotgun and keeps his eyes peel for trouble.

Perception: [dice=20][rand=897223477021986304070614510378089287531539925089637238728413376]

[brianfenris]

Set to the ticking of the cooling engines of your vehicles, the hot morning sunlight beats down on your road block as you wait for Charlie-Actual and company to show up. From where you stand in the safety of your vehicles, you don't see anything moving in the surrounding desert, although Bernie and Mac see a flock of buzzards circling something in the distance several miles to the East.

In the immediate area around you, you can make out two houses. One is 215 yards to the East, the other a lays along the highway to the south about 280 yards. A turn off to East Van Ness Street also lays to the south closer by 135 yards.

Bobbie doesn't appear to grasp most of what Bernie said, shrugging in replay and waiting a forearm over his sweaty brow. He grins at Bryan and takes a long drink from his canteen before handing it back to him. "Thanks, barman, although I could us somethin' a bit stronger." He lays his shotgun his shoulder and walks back over to Mac's truck, taking up a spot in the massive rig's shadow.

[sellsword]

Bryan forces a laugh at bobby's comment as he retrieves his canteen."Yea im sure we all could,...but don't worry, when we get back ill take care of us."As Bryan,puts the canteen in his pack he watches Suarez walk away."Hey,...You do know how to use that shotgun, right?"

[Tori]

"Over east, a few miles off. Vultures circling... It could be a herd." He pointed the circling birds and passed the glasses to Anna. "If it's not a herd, whatever it is doesn't need my help anymore. Any towns over that way, Patty?"

He took the glasses back when he was done, scanning the road for the company and the horizon in all directions for groaners. "Back before The Wave, I volunteered for Doctors Without Borders. One of our missions was in Libya. The thing about deserts is trucks always kick up a bunch of dust. Let me know if you see any."

He took a peek under the vultures to see if anything was moving, and monitored the circling birds to see if they got any closer. Next, he scanned the houses looking for open doors or windows, signs if habitation, distress or zombies. "How about them, Patty? Anyone at home?"

Then he keyed his mic, "Washington to Patriot, negative contact with Army, please advise. Over."

[Mierin]

Anna stands next to Bernie silently, rifle in hand. 'Let's hope this isn't just a waste of our time.' she thinks to herself as she looks around for signs of trouble.

perception: [dice=20][rand=99368498464369458795142788449805315064233059009449373673846265744]

[brianfenris]

GM POST

Wiping his forehead again, Bobbie replies to Bryan's question, “Sure, barman. Just point an' shoot. Like in the video games.” He pull the shotgun against his hip and mimics firing it. “Don't worry. I got your back.”

Patty bites her upper lip, watching the flock of vultures to the east, thinking. “I don't know Bernie. My best guess is few houses and farms, then you run into the Dragoon Mountains.”

She point to the horizon where the land raises up into a small range of mountains. “I need to look at my map but there's is a town called Dragoon on the other side of them, if that's what you wanting to know.”

When asked, she looks at the the two houses in question and shakes her head. “I don't know Bernie. It's been a long while since I've been down this way. A whole lot of this could have moved in to those since them.”

The radio crackles in response, “Patriot to Washington, previous message relayed to Charlie-Actual and acknowledged. Unless they stop to take pictures and buy souvenirs in town, they should be at your location within the hour. Over.”

While the conversation going on, both Big Mac and Anna make out movement inside the house to the south. You both see a small dark hole open as a curtain is pulled aside for a few moments then released. It would look like some is home after all.

[sellsword]

Bryan smiles again,trying to tread carefully so as not to embarass the man.Standing he takes his own shotgun from where it lay on the hood of the Rover."yea jve seen that technique before,but theres a better way,especially if you want to hit what your aiming at."Unfolding the weapons stock he places its but in his shoulder and with Bobbys attention he mimics firing the weapon."Just like a regular rifle,really,nothing fancy,just be sure to hold it tight into your shoulder.""Save the hip fire incase your being overrun,or video games." At the last he grins and gives Bobbi a wink."if you got any questions,feel free i took some courses back east." Even if the information was going in one ear and out the other it made Bryan feel good to help.