Play@YSDC

Z-Day - 12:23 PM Mountain Time - At the motel
In the helicopter-
Lt. Alan Curtis watched in shock as the dead bodies rose and were just as quickly shot down, but he managed to keep it together. "All clear!" he shouted so those at the motel could hear. Then he made his way forward to the ruined cockpit and helped Senior Airman Roger Coltrane drag the bewildered Airman Brian Kincaid outside. "Hodges, Cole, get the co-pilot out before this thing blows!"

Airman Frank Hodges and Airman Thomas Cole lifted Lt. Rebecca Doolittle from the co-pilot's seat and looped her arms over their shoulders. The hysterical co-pilot continued to shriek as they pulled her out of the wreckage.

Keith Deeds lowered his rifle and put an arm around his brother Bill Black. "It's okay, Tsuba," he said. "I know, man. I freaked out too. It's okay. Come on, let's get moving." He somehow dragged his heavier, stronger brother out the exit. "Can you two manage to get out on your own?" he asked, turning back to Airman Gordon Cheng and Airman Greg Applebee. The two badly wounded men were capable of moving under their own power now, albeit slowly.

Outside the helicopter-
Lisa Crow gasped when she saw Keith bringing her boyfriend out and took in the horrified expressions on both of their faces. "What happened in there?!" she asked.

"Just be glad you didn't see it," said Keith. "We're okay, just...shaken. But these guys are gonna need help. We've got to get away from that bird before she explodes. Get on the bike, I'll put Tsuba on the back."

Northwest of the motel-
Duran and Phillips returned to the parking lot when they saw the wounded emerging from the helicopter. "Prepare to receive wounded!" called Phillips up to the balcony.

"You guys looking to stick around here?" Duran asked the bikers.

"Not for long," said Clarence Deeds, their aging leader. "We were hoping to refuel and maybe trade for supplies, then we'll be on our way. Got to keep moving, stay ahead of the hordes. Not sure why you boys are holding your position."

"This position must be held, otherwise we wouldn't be here. We've got orders. I'm not at liberty to say more, sir."

"Well, that's very commendable of you," said Clarence's wife Amanda. "I can help with your wounded. I'm a nurse, and I've got lots of experience - guess that's obvious." She fingered her gray hair.

Sue Newton stood beside her husband Lewie. "I bet you could help out too, honey," she said. "Not just their physical wounds, I mean. Judging from that screaming, they're pretty shaken up."

"I know what you mean," said Colin Lewis. "I couldn't even see what happened, but my teeth are already on edge."

His buddy Joe Soarez clapped him on the shoulder. "It'll be all right, man."

Melinda Christie still sat in the passenger seat of Keith's pickup truck, watching him pull his brother out of the smoking helicopter. Ernest Granger remained on his perch on top of his horse trailer, and Dr. Dale Owens stood outside his SUV, where his young son Adrian slept in the shotgun seat.

(Ernest, if you want to get back down, roll Climb. You can ask someone below to help you down, just in case. You are also free to remain up there. If anyone wants to see into the grass and hasn't already succeeded at a roll, roll Spot Hidden.)

'Now my little brother has to care for me like I'm an old man... should've let me burn, I'll never regain my honor from this.' Tsuba thought to himself.

Ernest took the opertunity to quickly scan the long grass for any sign of life, not seeing anything he decided he should climb down from his vantage point, slinging his rifle over his shoulder as he did so.

Coltrane nodded a silent thanks to the strangers who had helped them, however his immediate concern was the welfare of his men. Leaving Kincaid on the ground he turned and ran back into the ruined helicopter in an attempt to help the wounded Cheng and Applebee.

Keith gently helps his brother onto the back of his bike, with Lisa now at its helm.
"Head over to the others near the motel, but be gentle about it" Keith instructs Lisa. Putting his hand on Tsuba's shoulder and giving it a firm squeeze, "You're going to be fine, bro." he says to his brother. "Lisa's going to take you over to the rest of the riders. Help Ma' and Pa' see about getting some fuel, will ya?"
As the two ride off towards to main group, Keith steps back and surveys the sceen around him.
With his M4 in one hand, he soldiers back to the helicopter to help clear the wounded from the wreckage.

(Keith has an AR-15, not an M-4. By the way, since some of you have two characters in this thread, feel free to post for both characters in the same post. Just remember to use a different location heading for each if they're not together.)

In the helicopter-
The flames continued to spread, their heat smoldering the grass around the shattered helicopter. Smoke wafted all around it and into what was left of the passenger compartment as Coltrane helped Cheng and Applebee emerge.

Near the helicopter-
"Will do," said Lisa. "Hang on, honey." She kicked the Harley into life and drove Tsuba back out of the grass and into the parking lot.

Lt. Curtis peered into the wreckage. "That's everyone!" he called. "Fall back to the motel before it blows!" He tried to move Kincaid by himself, but couldn't get far. Hodges and Cole pulled Lt. Doolittle out of the grass and onto the asphalt.

Kincaid started to snap out of it. He stood on his own feet and looked nervously at the grass behind him.

In the motel parking lot-
Lisa Crow stopped Bill Black's bike next to the others. She dismounted and offered him a hand to get down. Tsuba felt his muscles unfreeze and found he had control over his own body once again.

"Thank God you're back safe!" said Amanda. "Is Keith coming?"

Rebecca Doolittle pulled her arms free of her escorts and stood unsteadily. "They're coming..." she muttered.

(In situations where there is no combat - other than perhaps shooting zombies from a safe distance - each major update will consist of five combat rounds. This also means that temporary insanity will end faster. Tsuba is now himself again and is free to move on his own, as are Kincaid and Lt. Doolittle.)

Ernest Granger climbed down safely from the top of his horse trailer.

The two women in orange suits climbed down from the balcony and stood at the southwest corner of the parking lot. "I'm Lt. Angela Blanco!" she called. "I'm in charge here. Bring the wounded this way. We'll use the downstairs rooms for triage. My assistant Zorie Spooner and I will check everyone in turn. Nobody goes up to the balcony until you've been screened by one of us to make sure you haven't been bitten."

With all of the wounded clear of the helicopter, Keith runs back to his truck. Seeing Melinda in the passenger seat, a big smile spreads across his face. For a moment, the carnage around him melted away and only Melinda remained. 'He human mind is a funny thing', he though to himself. 'Hell all around me and yet here I am awestruck with puppy love.'
"You okay sweetie?" he asked as he approached the passenger side of the truck, oblivious to what she jsut witnessed. "Come on, lets get over to the motel with the others"
Keith runs around the truck to the drivers side, and as he enters the truck, he stands up in the open door of the truck and scans the area. With everything looking clear, he sets his AR15 on the seat between he an Melinda and drives the truck off to join the others.

-Yes i am. And are you ok? Aren't you hurt?

"No. I'm not hurt," Keith replies, "Can't say the same for the others, though." Keith glances over at her as he pulls off the grass and onto the asphalt where the others await.

Tsuba shook his head but remained seated for a moment, he gave Lisa a weak smile and said, "I'm alright, just give this old coward a moment." The words were bitter on his tongue and as soon as he said it he wished he could have them back, he knew Lisa would try to convince him that he wasn't a coward and so on but actions speak louder than words and his actions or lack there of deemed him a coward as far as he saw it.

Groaning slightly with the effort of getting off his bike he walked over to his father with his head hung low and said, "What can I help with pa?"

Keith hops out of the truck when he arrives with the others and walks over to where his brother and father are. She steps out of the truck, walks around the the passenger side and helps Melida out. "Come on, darling. Lets go see what the plan is and how we can help."
Slapping his brother on the shoulder, "That was some hairy shit over there, eh bro? Thank god you were there 'cause I just about shit ma'self when those bastards got all bitey in that copter" he says with a grin, recognizing the angush on his brothers face and trying to cheer him up a little.
"So, what's the plan, Pa?"

Dale looks into the truck, where his son is sleeping, and shakes his head a little. He turns to Melinda, and apologetically clears his throat,"I'd like to help with the wounded, if I could, but I don't want to leave my boy alone. Would you mind keeping an eye on him? Thanks."

Ok.

Tsuba looked at his brother and smiled, his expression was still sad but not quite as much as it had been. "Thanks bro, I appreciate you gettin my ass out of there." He placed a massive hand on his brother's head and ruffled his hair. "Sure am glad to have ya around little bro." He stated as a actual smile appeared on his face. Shit happened and he knew it, he could either dwell on it or get over it and he had no time to dwell.

(Keith was already parked on the asphalt, as he had never driven onto the grass.)

Near the helicopter-
Coltrane helped Cheng and Applebee out of the grass and into the parking lot. Kincaid followed them out, and Lt. Alan Curtis brought up the rear. The plume of smoke rising from the wreck was getting thicker and blacker, and flames licked at the metal.

In the motel parking lot-
"You're not a coward," said Lisa, putting an arm around Tsuba. "If you were, you'd never have gone up to the helicopter in the first place. I don't think I could have done that. And you're not old, either."

Clarence Deeds smiled at his sons and Lisa, nodding. "Yes, that took courage, son. Okay, here's the plan. Those of us who can help the wounded will do so. Anyone else should head over to the diner - or what's left of it. Talk to anyone who's still there, fuel up the bikes and trucks, and see if there are any supplies that can be scrounged or traded for. I'll be part of that group. Who's coming with me?"

Melinda looked at Adrian as he sat in the passenger seat of Dale's SUV. The little boy was napping, his chest slowly rising and falling.

(Melinda, roll Spot Hidden.)

All of the Air Force personnel heard Sam Black's voice on the radio: "Everyone be advised that we have group of about 85 or so zombies aproching this location. They are currently about a mile and a half away now."

"That's right, ma'am," Hodges reassured Lt. Rebecca Doolittle. "The others got out of the chopper, and they're coming."

Doolittle shook her head wildly. "No, you don't understand!" she said. "Not them. Them!" She looked behind her, but didn't see anything. "I know they're out there!"

The remaining five men from the helicopter emerged from the grass. "Everyone get back!" called Lt. Curtis. "That bird is about to go up!"

Kincaid went over to Lt. Doolittle. "She's right, they're coming!" he said. "I saw them as we were approaching. There were about fifty or sixty of them in the grass a mile off, heading this way. They were moving slow, but they've got to be closer by now." He looked into the field too and pointed. "Oh God, there they are! They'll be here within five minutes!"

Duran got on his radio. "Be advised, we've got more of them coming from the west!" he reported. "Between 50 and 60, ETA 5 minutes or less."

(Everyone who wants to may roll Spot Hidden to try to see the zombies in the grass. If you have a Kevlar helmet, remember that there's a -5% penalty. If you see them and you have a rifle, you may begin shooting if you wish. The current range is approximately 550 yards. If you have a scoped rifle or an M-16, you will be at half skill. If you have any other rifle without a scope, you will be at 1/4 skill. The -5% penalty for aiming at the head applies after dividing your skill. You may shoot four times if you succeed at your Spot Hidden check. For each hit, roll damage. Remember that it takes 10 points of damage to the head to kill a zombie.)

Mr. Handy wrote:In the motel parking lot-
"You're not a coward," said Lisa, putting an arm around Tsuba. "If you were, you'd never have gone up to the helicopter in the first place. I don't think I could have done that. And you're not old, either."

Clarence Deeds smiled at his sons and Lisa, nodding. "Yes, that took courage, son. Okay, here's the plan. Those of us who can help the wounded will do so. Anyone else should head over to the diner - or what's left of it. Talk to anyone who's still there, fuel up the bikes and trucks, and see if there are any supplies that can be scrounged or traded for. I'll be part of that group. Who's coming with me?"

Tsuba smiled but didn't say anything, his family said exactly what he expected them to say but that was all right, he'd just have to redeem himself in his own eyes. "You know you can count me and Keith in pop."

Melinda is attentive to any problem.

Keith hops up onto the bed of his truck and scans the grassfor the approaching infected.
"Well, I sure as shit don't see 'em, but I believe ya when you say they are out there." Turning to his father and the rest of the group, "We best decide what to do before they get here. I figure we either beat feet and ride on out of here without supplies, or we make a stand with the rest of the folks. The hotel looks safe enough and we are going to need to get supplies sooner of later. What you all think?" He says to his dad and Tsuba.

Coltrane - Parking lot
""We need to get to the hotel, we can make a stand there! We're sitting ducks out in this field! Shouted Coltrane.
Coltrane started to make his way to the hotel, helping the wounded men on the way.

Ernest Granger - Parking lot
Ernest made sure his rifle was firmly slung over his shoulder ang started to jog towards the hotel. Cursing under his breath as he ran, Ernest was silently distrought at leaving the horses but knew he had no choice.

Tsuba smiled at Keith, "Yeah bro, I was thinking along those lines as well. So pop, what do you think?"

"Don't worry about that now, Doolittle. We're going to get you up in that motel, where we can fight them off. You'll be snug as a bug in no time" Hodges said in an attempt to calm Doolittle down. He bends over and inspects Doolittles injuries but is unable to concentrate with all that is going on around him and all that has happened. He gives her a wink and a smile and says, "Mearly a flesh wound" in a poorly done British accent.
Unable to ascertain anything about Doolittles injuries, he scans the tall grass for signs of the approaching infected and catches a glimps as a gentle breeze momentarily parts the grass. "Inbound spotted" he announces along with their range.
(OOC: Have any of the airmen pieced together the correlation between the infected, the infection and corpses standing up and attacking? On what bearing are the infected approaching from? Are they coming past the downed helicopter?)

Dale goes to see what he can do to help the wounded.

(OOC: Does Frank know if the helicopter that went down had door guns?)