Worse Than the Disease IC

[Shoot Da Moon]

Sean Pires

Sean is present for the whole interrogation even if he does not talk much. When the raiders offer to name the spy in exchange for their freedom, Sean nods. "Seems reasonable. As long as it is understood that we will need some time to deliver your info and they will need some time to act on it, and that you will remain our guests until what you say is confirmed. If you agree to those terms, it's a deal."

If they agree, Sean will need everything they know about the spy, not just the name - how long he's been operating there, how he contacts the center etc. He does not have high hopes, but if they do know the spy, it seems reasonable to ask if they know any details.

When te interrogation is over, the raiders are to be given food, water and peace in their room. Sean then goes to the radio room. "Can we reach Red Brick from here? Can we send them encrypted message?"

Spoiler

Show

Giving them 8 rations for the dinner.

The prisoners agree to those terms. They eat the emails given first, then give the name and description of the spy. He is apparently undercover as a drug dealer in Red Brick's best entertainment district.

The techies in the radio room certainly can get a message to Red Brick, even an encrypted message. Although the guys in charge of the city are...shady, to say the least.

[u-b]

Sean Pires

Not sure how he should act given the new info, Sean proposes to send an encrypted message to the Waffle House instead. The message is to contain the most interesting parts from whet the raiders said, including about the spy and the bounty with an associated info leak somewhere, and to request instructions.

[Shoot Da Moon]

Sean Pires

Not sure how he should act given the new info, Sean proposes to send an encrypted message to the Waffle House instead. The message is to contain the most interesting parts from whet the raiders said, including about the spy and the bounty with an associated info leak somewhere, and to request instructions.

(OOC: Are the rest of the exiles okay with this?)

[Volthawk]

Richard agrees with the plan, although after making sure the prisoners do get their food and water his attention is more on the rest of the information they learned. His first thought was that whoever is in charge of the paramilitary must be after the Shelter, but if that was the case they'd want the group alive, not dead out here. So the simple fact they were from a Shelter must be what's spooking them - if they do have someone in the Waffle House who gave them the information, they'd know that the group wasn't particularly elite or well-equipped, so it can't be a matter of fearing them individually, it must be the risk of them convincing Shelter 44 to get involved out here and the effect that would have on whatever these people are planning for the region. The raiders might have the advantage of having lived out here all their lives and knowing the ins and outs of the region, but the Shelter security force's equipment and training seemed like it would outclass most of what was out here. Typical. They were being hunted in case they did the one thing they couldn't do - go home.

Still, if another attack did come, at least they weren't alone this time. He made sure to keep the guards appraised of what was happening, and the likelihood of an attack in the next few days - if the last one had a 3-day gap between confirmation and attack, the next wouldn't be too long coming (perhaps sooner, since they already had people nearby in the survivors of the first one, and perhaps later, if they decided to wait for reinforcements). They just had to prepare as best they could for the next one - they wouldn't have the same luck with the minefield a second time.

[GnomesofZurich2]

Tariq is happy enough to let Richard and Sean deal with the prisoners, and sending the message to the Waffle House. After learning what the prisoners gave up, he asks, "This bounty out on us doesn't sound good. Is there any point trying to move on now, before the next attack, or do we just brace for it here? If the latter, what else could we do to shore up the defenses? It'd be nice to get the hole in the fence fixed, and I might be able to expand the mine field."

[Shoot Da Moon]

The techies in the radio room send the message to the Waffle House.

(OOC: Anything else before we move on to the next day?)

[GnomesofZurich2]

Tariq spends a few hours throwing together some more land mines and adding them to the mine field.

[Shoot Da Moon]

The exiles end the day on a quiet night, with some animals making noise in the distance as they go to their beds.

(OOC: Day 19 ends, everyone should mark off 3 meals for the day.)

DAY 20

The exiles wake up to a heavy snowfall and an eerie quiet. The group of survivors must plan for the day, knowing that another attack could be right around the corner...

[GnomesofZurich2]

While Sean and Richard rest up, Tariq assembles three more mines, and places one in the mine field. "Do you guys think I should plant these other two up the road? It might give us some warning if the next attack uses vehicles, but I don't really want to accidentally blow up someone who isn't out to get us."

[u-b]

Sean Pires

"There should be reinforcements on their way here and we have no reliable way of informing them about the mines without informing anyone else that might go the same road. I suggest you plant at least one mine ontop the hill, trapping the very nice sniping position there. The reasoning is that we won't use that location, but the attackers might."

Spoiler: As for other tactics...

Show

The first floor entrance is on the left side of the building. I propose, when things get hot, Simone to go to the right side of the building, open the rightmost window and stand to the right of it, aiming almost parallel to the building front ready to burn anyone trying to approach the entrance. This way she's not sticking out of the window for those in front of the building to shoot. She will also be able to burn anyone using the ladder, the bottom of which we should trap with a motion-sensing monkey (or something else not powerful enough to reach Simone on the second floor).

[GnomesofZurich2]

"I've got two, may as well plant them both there. I'll be back." Tariq heads to the hill and carefully plants those two mines.

[Shoot Da Moon]

The twentieth day of exile ends without incident as night falls on the radar base. The exiles settle in to sleep.

(OOC: Another 3 meals per person consumed for the day.)

DAY 21

The morning is dead silent, smothered by snow.

[u-b]

Sean Pires

Sean checks with the radio room for any messages, then hits the bunk to lie down for the rest of the day.

Spoiler

Show

Given the precedents, I will make the roll when the day is over.

[Shoot Da Moon]

Simone sets up a smokehouse in one of the less cluttered second floor rooms and starts cooking the animal meat into jerky so it may last long enough to be eaten. The delicious smoky scent wafts through the base and the surrounding woods for the rest of the day as Simone cuts the food into strips, salts it, seasons it and dehydrates it all.

The techs in the radio room give Sean what messages they've received so far; one crazy conspiracy theorist is claiming to have proof that the Shelters are a grand conspiracy to commit genocide, another report of a nighttime traveler spotting the ghost of Ethan Allen, leader of The Green Mountain Boys, on The Long Trail, and discussions of a rumor that the virus was really a magical curse.

[Shoot Da Moon]

A small pack of wolves smell the meat being smoked and closes it in search of a meal, but they quickly retreat from the base once one of their number hits a land mine and is blown to bits.

The rest of the day is without incident. The radio room informs the exiles that their back up got delayed by bad weather.

(OOC: One land mine is used up. Another 3 meals per person consumed for the day.)

DAY 22

The morning is cold and still.

[u-b]

Sean Pires

Sean looks outside to see if the weather is also a local issue and to what extent the visibility of the base's fence is reduced. Then he thinks of something else. "Tariq, can you discuss with Waffle House men how they are securing the way to the Gutter? Might be worth trapping it too."

Spoiler

Show

Day 21 food spent. Planning to rest for day 22.

[GnomesofZurich2]

Sean Pires

Sean looks outside to see if the weather is also a local issue and to what extent the visibility of the base's fence is reduced. Then he thinks of something else. "Tariq, can you discuss with Waffle House men how they are securing the way to the Gutter? Might be worth trapping it too."

Spoiler

Show

Day 21 food spent. Planning to rest for day 22.

"Yeah, and now I've got to put together another land mine. I might need to up to the pressure needed to set them off, too, so we don't get any more animals accidentally setting them off."

[Shoot Da Moon]

Sean Pires

Sean looks outside to see if the weather is also a local issue and to what extent the visibility of the base's fence is reduced. Then he thinks of something else. "Tariq, can you discuss with Waffle House men how they are securing the way to the Gutter? Might be worth trapping it too."

Spoiler

Show

Day 21 food spent. Planning to rest for day 22.

The weather outside is pretty bad - heavy snowfall over night has waist high banks along the fence and at the outer doors of the base. Visibility is somewhat compromised by the sheer White of the frost - the unwary may even suffer snow blindness.

The techs, meanwhile, can simply activate the door locking mechanism on The Gutter entrance with their computer, sealing it up and closing the blast door.

[GnomesofZurich2]

The weather outside is pretty bad - heavy snowfall over night has waist high banks along the fence and at the outer doors of the base. Visibility is somewhat compromised by the sheer White of the frost - the unwary may even suffer snow blindness.

The techs, meanwhile, can simply activate the door locking mechanism on The Gutter entrance with their computer, sealing it up and closing the blast door.

Given the weather, Tariq will postpone his expedition outside, and instead just go talk to the techs. "So, where else can the Gutter be entered? Is it possible someone would attack from that way?"

He is then going to go back to the workshop to assemble some more mines.

[Shoot Da Moon]

Given the weather, Tariq will postpone his expedition outside, and instead just go talk to the techs. "So, where else can the Gutter be entered? Is it possible someone would attack from that way?"

The tech explain that The Gutter is below most of the state, there are dozens of confirmed entrances found across Vermont - and you can hear rumours of more entrances everywhere. None of the techs know of a Gutter entrance near the base other than the one they found here.

As long as they lock down the base's entrance, anyone trying to infiltrate the base via The Gutter has either to hack the system, or blow through the blast door. Nothing to worry about in either case, the tech assures Tariq. He is a great sysadmin and the sound of the blast door breaking would give away their presence.

[GnomesofZurich2]

The tech explain that The Gutter is below most of the state, there are dozens of confirmed entrances found across Vermont - and you can hear rumours of more entrances everywhere. None of the techs know of a Gutter entrance near the base other than the one they found here.

As long as they lock down the base's entrance, anyone trying to infiltrate the base via The Gutter has either to hack the system, or blow through the blast door. Nothing to worry about in either case, the tech assures Tariq. He is a great sysadmin and the sound of the blast door breaking would give away their presence.

Somewhat reassured that the Waffle House guys are considering security, Tariq puts together the mines, and then after the weather clears heads out to replace the one that was detonated, as well as see about adjusting the pressure needed to trigger the other mines.

[Shoot Da Moon]

Tariq carefully completes his work with the explosives and tries not to feel the cold too much.

He idly appreciates the beauty of the countryside as he starts to head back, before he spots a few wolves in the distance - the three canines meet his eyes for an instant before casually turning around and going into the wilds. They are more than far enough away for Tariq to admire them, they seem to have learned their lesson from the last time they approached the base. There is no easy food here.

When he comes back inside, Tariq enjoys the warmth.

[Shoot Da Moon]

(OOC: Another 3 meals per person consumed for the day.)

For the rest of the day, Tariq talks with the techs in the radio room, discussing the surface world. They mostly talk about the Waffle House settlement, but they also give an overview of other places in Vermont.
The city of Bread Basket used to be known as Shelter 33. It now provides a huge amount of food to the region thanks to their sophisticated farms. They are very clannish, however, not allowing anyone not born in the city to go inside the Shelter and its internal settlement.
The city of Red Brick used to be a Shelter, too. It is now a den of vice, with casinos, hookers, fight clubs and drug dealers to spare. It has the best medical doctors and drugs in the region.
Gunmetal is the region’s industrial centre. Once it was Shelter 55, now it manufactures guns and other machines in their big industrial factory. The city’s primary trade is firearms and advanced tech.

The day ends on a peaceful note as the weather outside stays quiet. There is no further snowfall.

DAY 23

The exiles wake up feeling refreshed. They eat breakfast.

(OOC: Eat another meal per person. What do you want to do today, everyone?)

[u-b]

Sean Pires

Sean just keeps lying quiet. It's quite boring, actually, but he has no better plan.

Spoiler

Show

Maybe will shoot a wolf if they come close again and that does not cound as work. Otherwise, just resting. Rations spent.

[Volthawk]

Richard keeps resting up and recovering, but isnt as silent as Sean, striking up conversations with the Waffle House people where he can and just enjoying being around so many people again.

Spoiler

Show

Yup, taking more time to heal unless the plot throws a spanner in the works.

[Shoot Da Moon]

Around late morning, the peace is shattered by the Demi-distant sound of a land mine going off.
Followed shortly by another.

As those on watch scramble and look around, they quickly figure out the land mines on the hilltop were the ones exploding.

A more careful look reveals people had tried to get on top of the hill, pushing some kind of large metal contraption on wheels, only to set off the bombs and blow themselves up.

It seems there were no survivors...

[GnomesofZurich2]

Tariq is pleased the mines did their job.

"Good advice, there, Sean! Anyone up for checking out the aftermath? I have 2 mines saved up, so I can replant them while we're up there, if it's safe to do so."

[u-b]

Sean Pires

"Might be a part of a coordinated attack, so there might be more of them nearby. I propose we stay alert, be ready for more advances from other directions, and prevent the recovery from the explosion site. Then I'll check it early at night."

[GnomesofZurich2]

Sean Pires

"Might be a part of a coordinated attack, so there might be more of them nearby. I propose we stay alert, be ready for more advances from other directions, and prevent the recovery from the explosion site. Then I'll check it early at night."

"Okay, let's get eyes on all the directions attacks could be coming from, remember we've got the claymore mines which can be triggered against an incursion."

[Shoot Da Moon]

From what the exiles can ascertain, nobody except for the unfortunates up on the hilltop are anywhere near the radar base. Certainly, no other land mines explode. No-one tries to approach the base. All is quiet for the rest of the day.

When Sean checks the site of the explosion at early night, he finds the shredded remains of three men, and the very battered and bent wreck of a large...seige engine? No, a catapult. Close by is a large dried-up pool of some weird yellow chemical and a stack of butchered meat that was throughly chewed up by wild animals hours ago.