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"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."

"Y... Yessir!" Vargas salutes as he follows the sheriff, keeping a vigilant eye out for any undead tangos. His over alertness borders paranoia as the sheriff mindlessly heads to the sheriff's office and jail. His demeanor and posture screams his challenging attitude; daring anything to give him a "reason". He skips up the steps to the building, unlocks the door and strolls in, without checking his blindspots, followed by Vargas.

Meanwhile, Shep walks back into the clinic. Upon finding the doc, he adds, "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." Doctor Anderson's expression promptly switches from attentiveness to complete surprise. He immediately rushes back to check on Nova.

Shep heads out, checking on the civilian "troops" as he passes to make sure they’re alert and armed with something. They are lead by one of the local laborers, who's new to town but seems adept at perimeter defense and logistics, "Keep sharp, and yell if you need help." Shep advises as the man, named Hunter, simply nods as he seems to be giving orders to a raven haired woman, whom Shep has never seen in town before.

Upon looking up, he notices that the lieutenant has continued flying up as Williams heads back down, towards the edge of town, to begin clearing buildings. Mikado seems to be circling wider and wider. After a few moments, he slows to a hover and begins firing down at something far outside of town, causing people to jump and express reinvigorated concern. The raven haired woman and Hunter seem unphased, as though they've been through stressful combat situations before.

Shep’s relieved to see at least one or two people on the line who probably won’t bolt at first contact. He gives Hunter and the raven-haired woman a quick, approving nod as he moves past. Once clear of the line, he breaks into a jog to catch up with the sheriff and Vargas. Before stepping into the building, he runs a full-spectrum scan for movement in the immediate vicinity.

While he’s scanning, he checks in with the suit’s AI. “Carl, you’ve been quiet for a while. Any suggestions?”

Shep’s relieved to see at least one or two people on the line who probably won’t bolt at first contact. He gives Hunter and the raven-haired woman a quick, approving nod as he moves past. The both nod in respect. He swears that he almost caught the raven haired woman about to salute, but stopped.

Once clear of the line, he breaks into a jog to catch up with the sheriff and Vargas. Before stepping into the building, he runs a full-spectrum scan for movement in the immediate vicinity. While he’s scanning, he checks in with the suit’s AI. “Carl, you’ve been quiet for a while. Any suggestions?”

"Besides the ruckus caused by the sheriff and Vargas, there is movement to the back, but I'm unable to determine what or how many." Carl breaks his silence, "I'm sensing an elevated amount of stress from you. You've got yourself into quite a pickle. Could I suggest finding a reason to scout the countryside to be able to make an appearance?"

A gunshot rings out from inside the sheriff's office; followed by the mechanical sounds of the SAMAS in hand to hand combat. As Shep ascends the steps, Vargas tosses two headless corpses outside and moves back into the building.

"Looks like you’ve got it handled in there. I’m going to clear the next building." Shep turns and heads for the market.

As he moves, he scans both ends of the street and sweeps the market with sensors, trying to account for refrigerator units and other equipment that could throw off readings.

"Yeah, Carl, I’m stressed. People I’ve known for years are dying, or turning, and then I’m the one putting them down. And I’m in over my head pretending to be a Coalition officer, handing out orders like I belong here. Sooner or later that cover breaks, and best case they slap me in cuffs and haul my ass off to be interrogated. Worst case they shoot me where I stand." He forcefully shoves aside visions of blood and exploding heads as they try, once again, to derail what little mental control he has left. He exhales sharply to calm his nerves. "So explain that last part. What do you mean by scouting the countryside so I can make an appearance?"

"Looks like you’ve got it handled in there. I’m going to clear the next building." Shep turns and heads for the market. As he moves, he scans both ends of the street and sweeps the market with sensors, trying to account for refrigerator units and other equipment that could throw off readings. Everything looks good from the outside. Besides people outside of the clinic, keeping a vigilant eye on things, including Reggie, nothing is amiss. Upon entering the market, carts and shopping bags are left where people abandoned them. Towards the back, there is the fridge and freezers, where Shep spots slight movement from behind one of the dairy displays.

"Yeah, Carl, I’m stressed. People I’ve known for years are dying, or turning, and then I’m the one putting them down. And I’m in over my head pretending to be a Coalition officer, handing out orders like I belong here. Sooner or later that cover breaks, and best case they slap me in cuffs and haul my ass off to be interrogated. Worst case they shoot me where I stand." He forcefully shoves aside visions of blood and exploding heads as they try, once again, to derail what little mental control he has left. He exhales sharply to calm his nerves. "So explain that last part. What do you mean by scouting the countryside so I can make an appearance?"

"What if you were to take me and this suit somewhere secure and walk back into town?" Carl replies, "It would explain that you weren't missing for too long and appear as a citizen in the town before a census shows you missing. It's sort of like the old, pre-cataclysm, classic superman movies. It was a calculation to avoid any suspicion on the part of the soldiers. Also, I need to review the manual for you to give this suit the proper maintenance that it needs. The joints are slightly stiff and we need to locate a working radio, and the railgun is surprisingly accurate and well kept, but does need a good inspection.

"Secondly, it would give you a chance to check some of the countryside for anymore zombies. Judging from the reactions of the SAM pilots, they don't see very much action and will probably be here for a while. How long do you want to sit in here? I've tried to keep the temperature regulated to keep you from perspiring, but you still are. With enough, you'll develop a rash, which will become uncomfortable if not worse, after a few hours."

The sounds of Lt. Mikado dispatching another straggler startles the perimeter guards around the clinic again, except Hunter and the raven haired woman. Reggie seems pretty focused too.

"No time right now, Carl." The resignation in his voice is hard to miss. "I have the power to help stop more people from dying. I can’t walk away from that just to protect my cover. I’ll deal with the consequences later. And walking the countryside unarmored and unarmed is a bad plan."

Rail gun ready, Shep moves through the store, sweeping for heat signatures as he advances toward the movement he spotted behind the refrigeration units.

"No time right now, Carl." The resignation in his voice is hard to miss. "I have the power to help stop more people from dying. I can’t walk away from that just to protect my cover. I’ll deal with the consequences later. And walking the countryside unarmored and unarmed is a bad plan." Rail gun ready, Shep moves through the store, sweeping for heat signatures as he advances toward the movement he spotted behind the refrigeration units.

"Understood," Carl says as Shep's sensors begin picking up humanoid heat signatures radiating from behind the refrigerated displays. It looks like an adult female and a child. They've noticed Shep approaching and are trying their best to hide. His Silver Eagle is wide enough for his shoulders to brush the shelves on both sides of the aisle, occasionally knocking merchandise down.

“It’s alright. You’re safe for now,” Shep says, keeping his voice calm, steady and convincing as possible. “We’ve got the clinic set up as a safe zone. Come out, then I’ll get you both somewhere safer.”

“It’s alright. You’re safe for now,” Shep says, keeping his voice calm, steady and convincing as possible. “We’ve got the clinic set up as a safe zone. Come out, then I’ll get you both somewhere safer.”

The people refuse to move as Shep's external audio sensors pick up a raspy male voice, "It’s alright. You’re safe for now. Come out, then I’ll get you both somewhere safer." Upon looking over, Shep sees a man, with half his hair torn out, leaving a bleeding, ripped scalp, also staring at the display case. He slowly shambles towards the fridge, picking up his pace.

"Shep, heat readings are extremely low from him. His core temperature is around room temperature, which is why our readings didn't see him right away." Carl pipes up, "Conclusion: He's likely dead."

OOC: I'm not sure of the exact layout, but I'm assuming the woman and child are somewhat between Shep and the undead man without blocking Shep's movements. With that in mind:

Shep turns from the pair behind the refrigerator case and says. “Stay there. Don’t move. Cover your ears.” Then he pivots toward the shambling man, closes the distance in quickly, and drives a single full-force strike into its head to end it fast without risking a rail-gun blast in the confined aisle.