Z-Day - 10:30 PM Mountain Time - Northwest of Warren Air Force Base, west of Cheyenne, Wyoming On the road-
While the pack of zombies consumed what was left of the hapless Victor Gonzalez, the survivors fled southeast down Randall Road towards the gates to Warren Air Force Base, their intended sanctuary. Emily Montrose, together with her daughter Lauren and Kyle Perkins, had managed to escape from the flipped over pickup truck and were racing away from the scene of carnage on foot. Behind them, the Cadillac Escalade trundled along. It had burst a tire after colliding with one of the zombies, so it could only move slowly. Alfredo Bocelli drove the SUV. Kathryn McCoy sat beside him. The lovely air traffic controller was still shaken from the many terrible ordeals she had suffered. Just when safety was at hand, she was forced to witness yet another death. Normally unflappable, she had endured more than anyone should have to - and still she managed to keep it together somehow. Cynthia Louise sat next to her in the shotgun seat, still unsure how she had survived everything that had happened when so many others had perished. Ho Nguyen sat in one of the middle seats, along with Duncan Jergens and Hector Salazar. Ho had lost his store and his employees tonight and was left with nothing but the clothes and weapons on his back. Would he be able to start over in this terrible new world? In the back seats rode Joey Milano and Harvey Bennish.
Emily strapped her helmet onto her head as she ran and spoke through the hands-free radio: "Carmichael. This is Emily. We crashed a vehicle and are under attack outside of the gates. Can you lend assistance?"
"Carmichael here," replied the colonel on both Emily's and Kathryn's helmets. "I'm sorry, but I'm afraid we can't open the gate if you're being pursued by the infected. We can't risk them breaching the base." Their hearts fell as the news sank in. They were trapped outside the base, trapped with the dead. Then Lt. Colonel Carmichael spoke again, his words providing a glimmer of hope. "There may still be something I can do. I have a helicopter on combat air patrol not far from your position. I'll send it your way to help you. Carmichael out."
The gates of the base were still too far away to see. The zombies behind them were no longer visible now as the darkness closed in around them.
OOC,Everyone, roll Listen and Spot Hidden. The base skill for both is 25%. There is a -5 penalty to both skills if you are currently wearing a Kevlar helmet.
Kathryn fails to see anything in the darkness surrounding the Escalade. However, after the last comment from Carmichael she hears a distinct sound .close by...
"Alfredo, what if we ditch this heap? We can use it as a beacon to attract the dead... Then we run for the fence and take 'em down when they reach the beams from the head lights?"Kat unbuckles and gets ready to follow Emily, Kyle and Lauren ahead. "The base is sending an attack-heli to help us out."
On the road- Emily could hear a faint sound to the southeast that was gradually getting louder. It sounded like a giant eggbeater whipping the air. Laurenheard it too, but she couldn't quite see what was making it. "Something's coming, Mom!" she said, pointing ahead of them. "I think I see a light or something in the distance." Kylecouldn't seenor hear it.
The Escalade rolled onwards slowly. Kathryn also heard the approaching sound. Cynthia remained motionless beside her. "You're right, we can't leave the SUV," said Alfredo. "Those guys back there ain't interested in eating this - only us. If we got out and hoofed it, they'd ignore it and come straight for us." He couldn't hear it. but he clearly saw something. "There's the chopper coming from the southeast!" he called, pointing in the direction of the gates. "A Huey, if I'm not mistaken. We're only another fifty yards or so from the gates now, too."
Crammed between Cynthia and Alfredo, Kat turns her attention to the girl. "We´re almost there, Cynthia. They have electricity and showers. We´ll have a cup of tea quite soon and I´ll tell you all about photography.... A cute girl like you should be happy. Show me a smile and we´ll be at the gates."
She takes Cynthia´s hand and squeezes it to show her that she is alive. Kat keeps the 9mm in the left hand resting in her lap.
"Kyle, Lauren: Stay close" Emily said. "Once the helicopter get's closer and lands, we'll make a run for the chopper. Be careful, though. Those men in the chopper have been through just as much hell as we have. They may think we are one of the zombies if we make a mad dash for the chopper as soon as it lands. Put your hands up and approach cautiously until thye are sure we are safe. Okay?"
Feeling relatively snug between the others, Kat pushes back in the seat and aims at the wind shield, to be ready if one of the zombies comes at the car from the front. "Then let's roll to the gates and wait this out."
Both of them ran with Emily the rest of the way to the gates. As they appraoched, the helicopter became visible to all of them. It arrived from the southeast, the direction in which they were headed, and its searchlight was moving around. They and the SUV were illuminated briefly as it passed over them. The chopper hovered overhead. The gates themselves were sealed tight and heavily guarded from the inside. Kyle grinned and waved at the helicopter.
The Escalade also rolled the rest of the way to the gates. "All right," said Alfredo. "We're here. Are they gonna land or what?"
"Stay in the car then and hope for those guys to open the gates. I´m helping my friends out. Let me out Alfredo, we have a good head start and you can close after me."Kat moves closer to Alfredo and says, "Let me slide under you - that´s the quickest way."
Emily stood in the stop light and gathered her kids neat to her with a one armed hug. She used her other arm to wave up to the helicopter in an attempt to get there attention and let them know they are not infected.
On the road-
"I think it would be easier if I just got out too," said Alfredo, "but whatever you say, Kathryn." He undid his seatbelt and pressed forward against the steering wheel while Kathryn slid past him. It was a tight squeeze, but she managed to climb out and stand on the road.
The helicopter began to descend, but it soon became apparent that something was horribly, horribly wrong. It was coming down too fast, and it slammed into the ground before going over on its left side! The main rotor snapped off as it struck the ground. The stricken Huey lay still.
OOC,If anyone goes over to the wreckage, roll Spot Hidden. The base skill is 25%.
Barely managing to get out of the Escalade, Kat says, "Fuckety fuck!" Through the com, she relays, "This is traffic controller Kathryn McCoy, your heli just went down! You want us to salvage the survivors? Then open the gates and we´ll get your guys inside!" She starts sprinting in the direction of the wreckage. As she clicks of she catches a glimpse of the heli.
"Lauren, stay here by the gates and try to get them to open them" Emily said. "Kyle, grab your rifle and come with me." Emily sprinted off with Kyle towards the stricken helicopter.
Ho stays in the truck, frozen. Oh no, what happen now? How zombies take down helicopter? A light seems to go on in his head. If someone go over there grab radio, or guns, or missile if you can. Army will need more, right? We can set up business! He rubs his hands together.