Ivy and Chrome PbP Forums

Reggie is relieved as the number of zombies steadily decreases, But his concerns rise again as Ryan and Hughe are forced to flee on foot from the last one. Reggie knows that his urge to go and help them would be counterproductive, as that would only place himself into the line of fire, complicating things for those with firearms, but he still feels it.

Trying to distract himself from something he can't help with, he scans the nearby buildings, watching for more survivors or more of the unquiet dead.

Shep does a quick scan behind and to the sides, making sure all of this noise hasn’t attracted anything else. The wagon. If satisfied that there’s no immediate movement, he brings the railgun back to bear and lines up another shot—waiting until the boys are well clear before he commits.

He wages a brief mental struggle with himself, wanting to surge forward and put himself between the boys and the last of the undead. But he knows that would leave the wagon exposed if anything were to spill out of the surrounding buildings, so he holds his position, sight steady, ready to fire the moment the angle is clean.

Sheriff Harper encourages Ryan and Hughe to run faster. He motions for two men with ropes, fashioned into lassos to get ready, "Alright folks! Advance as one group! Expect anything!"

Lt. Mikado fires a few single shots down at something out of sight as Sgt. Williams hovers closer to Shep for an appropriately angled shot, intending to minimize collateral damage to just the street.

OOC: Turn Order

Sheriff 24
Al 24
Reggie 19
Jack 15
Hughe and Ryan 9
Sgt Wilson 9
Shep 5
Mazur 5
Townsfolk 4
Zombie 1

As the group advances forward, Reggie doesn't notice any straggling undead leaving any buildings, although, almost all of the doors are shut.

Jack moves up next to him, "Let's get this shitty monster when it gets close."

"IF it gets close..." Mazur makes a sour face.

Hughe keeps a pace slow enough for Ryan to stay with him, however, the zombie continues to gain on them as Sgt Wilson fires a single shot, evaporating the zombie into a pile of appendages. Hughe and Ryan react by slowing down before they make it to the wagon. The side of Ryan's face is horribly swollen, closing his eye, making him appear almost monstrous. Hughe notices Susan amongst the crowd, wielding a pitchfork, he immediately runs to her, asking if she's okay.

Lt. Mikado continues firing occasional shots as the Sheriff and Al check over the boys to make sure they aren't bit. In doing so, Hank advises Hughe that interacting with Susan will only get her into more trouble, causing outrage in Hughe, "Now? You're worried about that now?"

Sgt. Wilson addresses Shep, "Well, sir. Time to get these folks to the hospital..."

The journey towards the clinic is as gruesome as ever. Friends, family and respected members of the community lie along the street and walkways with their heads mostly destroyed. Many in the group begin to cry, including Jack. Mazur's eyes begin welling with tears as he spots the bodies from the fight from earlier in the day. Eventually, the group meets up with two more Samas units; one being Lt. Mikado.

Upon rushing everyone into the clinic, where Irina and Ret are safe. The doctor steps out to address Shep with news on Nova. "Colonel Daniels, Nova pulled through and began to heal rather quickly. Her ribs are already showing signs of calcification and I had to work quickly to get her skull fragments in place as she healed there. But we have an issue." he begins to grimly frown, "She's showing minor signs of being infected. Her average body temperature is lower than room temps and her eyes have changed to an orangish color. She still shows intelligence and empathy. Do you mind if I keep her for more observation and study?"

"Looks like we did it, little buddy." Shep's AI ancestor comments. "Statistically, considering what little data I have on various undead via encounters and myths, there will be more in hiding."

The able-bodied townsfolk immediately setup lookouts on the roof and a perimeter of armed, yet mostly untrained, sentries to protect the building.

“That’s very encouraging, Doctor…” Shep responds, but lets it hang, as if he has more to say.

He switches to internal pickup only. Looking down slightly, as though in thought—so that anyone watching his faceplate doesn’t think he’s speaking to himself—he addresses Carl. “What do you know about partial-conversion undead? What’s the risk of her turning fully at some point? If she dies a natural death a week from now, does she turn then?”

While Carl processes the question, Shep adds aloud, “One moment, Doctor. I may have some additional information for you.”

“That’s very encouraging, Doctor…” Shep responds, but lets it hang, as if he has more to say.

He switches to internal pickup only. Looking down slightly, as though in thought—so that anyone watching his faceplate doesn’t think he’s speaking to himself—he addresses Carl. “What do you know about partial-conversion undead? What’s the risk of her turning fully at some point? If she dies a natural death a week from now, does she turn then?”

While Carl processes the question, Shep adds aloud, “One moment, Doctor. I may have some additional information for you.”

"I'm sorry. I've never encountered or heard of anything quite like this outside of fiction. Fictional accounts are usually directed towards entertaining young adolescents. I would exercise extreme caution and let the doctor do his job. Even my own medical analysis shows that all of this is highly... alien or demonic."

Reggie notices a pause while Shep seems to either be using a computer of some sort or taking quite a while to think. The sheriff arrives, giving Reggie a paternal pat on the shoulder, "Proud of you, son." His eyes fill with tears as he struggles to say, "Y... you're mom would..." and just nods and pulls Reg in for a hug to hide his pain.

Shep looks back up at the doctor. “I would very much like you to keep her for observation, Doctor. Be careful, though. I don’t know how changed she’s going to be from this… or if she could slip into the same kind of mindless violence we’ve seen from the others.” He keeps his deeper fears—about what might happen if she dies quiet for now. “And, Doctor… let’s keep this as quiet as we can. No need to cause panic.”

He winces slightly, realizing the external speakers likely carried that to everyone in the room and maybe the entire hospital. “I’ll come check on her when I can,” he adds. Then, more quietly, “And thank you. Saving her means more to me than you know.”

He turns away before the moment lingers too long and steps toward the Coalition troops. “We need to expand the safe zone,” he says, tone practical rather than forceful. “Building by building. Rescue anyone still alive. Clear out anything that isn’t.”

He gestures slightly toward the town beyond the clinic. “Let’s coordinate with the sheriff. One unit stays here, the others split up—each team takes a couple of armed civilians who know the layout. Civilians don’t engage unless they have to. Leave that to us.”

He pauses. “Thoughts?”

Shep looks back up at the doctor. “I would very much like you to keep her for observation, Doctor. Be careful, though. I don’t know how changed she’s going to be from this… or if she could slip into the same kind of mindless violence we’ve seen from the others.” He keeps his deeper fears—about what might happen if she dies quiet for now. “And, Doctor… let’s keep this as quiet as we can. No need to cause panic.”

Ret laughs, "Little late, metal man."

He winces slightly, realizing the external speakers likely carried that to everyone in the room and maybe the entire hospital. “I’ll come check on her when I can,” he adds. Then, more quietly, “And thank you. Saving her means more to me than you know.”

He turns away before the moment lingers too long and steps toward the Coalition troops. “We need to expand the safe zone,” he says, tone practical rather than forceful. “Building by building. Rescue anyone still alive. Clear out anything that isn’t.” He gestures slightly toward the town beyond the clinic. “Let’s coordinate with the sheriff. One unit stays here, the others split up—each team takes a couple of armed civilians who know the layout. Civilians don’t engage unless they have to. Leave that to us.”

He pauses. “Thoughts?”

Lt. Mikado approaches Shep, nodding, "Well, Colonel, the building is secure and we have a defense force... kind of," as he motions to the armed townsfolk, "I agree with you. I don't feel right until we sweep each and every building in town and any within a five mile radius. Would you accompany us to verify with the locals that we aren't just invading their homes?"

Sgt Williams nods in agreement, "Yeah, the locals up in Lake Crenshaw aren't exactly happy with our presence. This could change their minds."

"Exactly," the lieutenant adds.

The sheriff nods, "Al needs treatment for a fish bite but I can come. Reggie, I'm counting on you to get your friends together and stick to the clinic."

OOC: Let's have Reggie go back to the main thread to reply.

Shep hesitates for a heartbeat before responding. He had hoped to stay behind and keep the hospital secure… and maybe step out of this borrowed military role for a little while. The day has taken its toll on him, mentally and physically. Every exchange—especially with people he once knew—threatens to chip away at the precarious emotional control he’s holding onto.

“Good idea, Lieutenant. Let’s go two by two. I’ll take one of your people and clear one side of the street. The sheriff—and anyone he wants with him—can move with the other element. But I think one of us should stay here and patrol the perimeter, in case something slips past or comes in from the other direction.”

He pauses, giving Mikado room to agree or adjust, careful not to step on the lieutenant’s authority. Then he turns to Sheriff Harper, lowering the volume on his external speaker. “Frank… I think we’d better put someone armed on Nova’s room. Just in case. Someone you trust not to panic.”

Shep hesitates for a heartbeat before responding. He'd hoped to stay behind and keep the hospital secure… and maybe step out of this borrowed military role for a little while. The day has taken its toll on him, mentally and physically. Every exchange—especially with people he once knew—threatens to chip away at the precarious emotional control he’s holding onto.

“Good idea, Lieutenant. Let’s go two by two. I’ll take one of your people and clear one side of the street. The sheriff—and anyone he wants with him—can move with the other element. But I think one of us should stay here and patrol the perimeter, in case something slips past or comes in from the other direction.”

"You have your choice of me, Sgt. Major Vargas, Sgt Williams or myself. Or, if you like. Would you mind taking the sheriff and getting the surrounding farm and ranch community to safety until we can do a full inspection of the surrounding region? It would save a ton of time. If the undead are all we need to worry about, then I think a few of us could split up. We'll remain within line of sight of each other most of the time. Would that be acceptable, sir?"

Then he turns to Sheriff Harper, lowering the volume on his external speaker. Deliberately mispronouncing his name, “Frank… I think we’d better put someone armed on Nova’s room. Just in case. Someone you trust not to panic.”

Without hesitation, the sheriff shouts, "Once you get stitched up, you're on guard duty for our young missus," to Al.

"Who made you boss?" Al shouts, then yelps while the nurses stitch his fish bite.

"The Lt. Colonel did." he weakly smiles.

Shep considers for a moment before responding to the lieutenant, his tone calm but leaving little room for debate. “Legitimate points. But it’s paramount that we keep this area secure first. Why don’t you take Sgt. Williams and do a quick aerial recon of the town and surrounding area—look for any movement—while the sergeant major, the sheriff, and I start clearing the nearby buildings.”

He shifts slightly, keeping his voice even. “Focus on containing anything from slipping beyond the valley and surrounding farmland. Stay on comms and let us know if you need support. We’ll do the same.”

Shep considers for a moment before responding to the lieutenant, his tone calm but leaving little room for debate. “Legitimate points. But it’s paramount that we keep this area secure first. Why don’t you take Sgt. Williams and do a quick aerial recon of the town and surrounding area—look for any movement—while the sergeant major, the sheriff, and I start clearing the nearby buildings.”

He shifts slightly, keeping his voice even. “Focus on containing anything from slipping beyond the valley and surrounding farmland. Stay on comms and let us know if you need support. We’ll do the same.”

"Roger that," Shep catches a hint of frustration from the Lieutenant. Mikado motions for Williams to accompany him as they take to the sky, kicking up dust and some pebbles.

Shep and Hank hear Irina and Ret blabbering something like, "She just bent the bars without trying!" Their voices then fade as they find a room and close the door, muffling their voices.

Sgt Major Vargas just stands at attention, obviously intimidated by Shep's unique armor, status and rank. Hank raises an eyebrow, "I wish I could keep the locals in line like that." he nods as he walks past towards the main clinic entrance, "The orphanage is gone so the next secure building would be the jail, armory and sheriff's office. They're all one building. We can pick up some guns and I can deputize some people afterward." The sheriff's gaze falls on Shep's helmet. It's shifted from the kind glance of a caring, authoritative town figure to the usual thousand yard stare of trauma victims and war veterans. Without another word, or 'Lt. Colonel Daniel's' consent, he heads outside, intent on where to go. It's eerily quiet as two SAMAS suits circle the small town, climbing higher with each pass.

Vargas follows outside, then says over his loudspeaker, "Nothing spotted, yet. All quiet so far, sir."

"Vargas," Shep says, frustration edging into his voice, "I don’t think I made myself clear. Tell the Lieutenant I want them to assess and engage where he sees fit. My intent wasn’t to have them just flying circles over town." Then, in a softer, more understanding tone: "Go with the Sheriff. I’ll be right there."

After Vargas leaves, Shep looks for a nurse or doctor. "You may need to give Nova something to keep her calm. If she’s strong enough to bend the bars on the bed, who knows what she might do if she gets really upset."

Shep heads out, checking on the civilian "troops" as he passes to make sure they’re alert and armed with something. "Keep sharp, and yell if you need help."