[Outlive Outdead] Priority Mail IC

Klivian

American Southwest - August 1953

The United States Postal Service shipment from Colorado Springs, Colorado to Los Alamos, New Mexico is a milk run. At precisely 8pm, a convoy of two trucks pulled out of the main sorting facility and set out on a six hour drive through the desert laden with packages, mail sacks, and bulk crates.

Miles of identical two-lane highway flow by under the truck’s headlights. The monotony made it difficult to stay awake at times. Right on schedule, the convoy crossed the state line into New Mexico. Just a few more hours and it would pull into Los Alamos for offload, a few hours of shut-eye, and the reload. Then it would turn around and make the trip back to Colorado Springs.

George Spinner led the convoy of identical old mail trucks. They were not exactly a smooth ride. There’s no power steering. The clutch stuck. Second gear was shot. The speedometer was broken. The shocks were worn and seemed to send every bump in the road directly into his sore leg. Wind whistled through a line of bullet holes in the lower running board reminding George that this ex-Army cargo hauler saw harder days in its previous life. That sounded a bit like himself, George mused.

George shifted his weight on the hard bench seat trying to make his leg more comfortable when a tremendous BANG echoed through the truck cab. The entire truck began to shudder and shake, and pulled hard to the right. George threw both feet onto the brake pedal and pressed with all his might. His leg protested. The truck had barely begun to slow when a loud thump came from the front. The truck’s pull to the right became more than he could handle and the front right tire dropped off the pavement. George braced for impact as the truck hurtled into a fallout ditch.

Robert Zimmerman witnessed the accident from the second truck. It happened in slow motion it seemed. George had suddenly slammed on the brakes and jerked the wheel to the right. Without thinking, Robert countered with his own brakes and spun the wheel hard left and then quickly to the right to avoid crashing into George from behind. Robert thought he saw half of a tire launch itself out from under George's truck and fly through the air.

Robert managed to bring his truck to a stop a hundred yards up the road. Cursing at George’s ineptitude, he jumped out of the cab and set off towards the other truck at a jog. The truck sat at titled at odd angle in the fallout ditch. Only the shredded remnants of its front right tire had dipped down into the ditch before the truck's steel bumper had caught the ditch's embankment and dragged it to an abrupt halt.

The driver’s side door opened and George lowered himself to the ground with a grunt. He quickly checked himself for injuries as he had been taught in the Army. His leg ached worse than usual, but he was otherwise uninjured.

The mail trucks both look like this except that the tarp covered cargo area has been fully enclosed with a tin roof, sides, and rear doors.

Heir

Robert got to George as he finished checking himself over, looking not too terribly worse than normal. "What happened?? Did you fall asleep?!"

He looked over at the truck, sighing at the damage he saw. He began to examine the vehicle closer, trying to see all that was damaged. He whistled as he examined the wheel. "Not good George..."

He glanced around, trying to see what might have caused the wheel to blow.

Repair to see what is damaged, scrounge to see what caused damage (2d10=11 (SUCCESS), 2d10=8 (FAILURE))

Sakutian

"I'm fine Rob, and thanks for asking." George rubbed his aching leg and tried to focus on the distracting sound of Robert's voice. "I think I must've hit something, maybe that's what blew the tire."

He climbed back into the cab of the truck opening the glove compartment and fishing out his old service revolver. The last thing he needed was for someone to find that when they were poking around inside. Squeezing the weathered grip he slid back out of the truck and squatted down next to Robert. He stared at the ruined tire and shook his head. "Probably just ran over some barbed wire that some idiot left in the road."

Repair: 10. George knows the tire is blown.
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3764194/

Klivian

Robert shook his head. "Or maybe it was a tire some idiot thought could roll just a few more miles." He pointed at the remains of the blown out tire. It was completely bald with steel radials visible through the thinner parts of the rubber. "Just another one our of worthless Army hand-me-downs."

George bristled at the obvious jab but caught himself before his temper flared. He needed Robert to help him get out of this mess.

Robert stood and fished out a cigarette from the pack in his shirt pocket. He leaned against the bent fender as he lit the cigarette and took a drag. "We can put on the spare tire, sure. But that won't do a damn thing for the drive shaft. Your little offroad excursion snapped it like a twig."

George looked back under the truck toward the rear wheels. The drive shaft, a metal cylinder as big around as his arm, was broken in two just a few feet forward of the rear differential.

George sighed and stood back up. "So you go on ahead and send back a wrecker for me. Either that or we somehow fit my load into your truck. Seemed like they were smaller loads..."

George's voice trailed off as the back of the truck shook violently. The sound of splintering wood caused George and Robert to both spin around and face the cargo area.

Silence stretched for several long seconds.

Then a rhythmic thumping began to rattle the latches on the rear doors of the truck.

Heir

"Uh....whatcha got back there Georgy-boy? Hitchhiker?"

For whatever reason, Robert's heart was pumping hard, though he kept telling himself there was nothing to be afraid of. Working up some bravado, he walked to the side of the truck and thumped his fist against it. "You in there! You're not going anywhere else with us. Come on out and hitch a ride with someone else."

Klivian

The thumping stopped and an all-too-human moan reverberated from inside the truck.

The thumping began again in earnest. Robert could see the locking pins securing the door were starting to bend under the repeated assault.

Heir

"What the hell? What's rattled his cage?"

Robert walked over to where George was still observing the damage. "Who's back there George? He doesn't sound friendly". Even though he tried to remain calm, Robert didn't doubt George could hear the quaking in his voice.

Sakutian

Limping over to the rear of the truck George watched the locking pins bend further out of place as the heavy thumping continued. Like him the pins had seen better days but he knew they shouldn't have been so easily damaged. Aiming his pistol at the rear doors he shouted "Whoever you are I'm armed!"

Keeping his eyes on the doors he lowered his voice to a harsh whisper. "Open the doors Robert."

Klivian

Robert flicked his cigarette to the ground and drew the knife he kept tucked into his boot. He crept slowly towards the doors until his hand rested on the pins. He looked over his shoulder at George who stood a dozen feet away with a raised pistol. George gave him a slow nod.

Robert gritted his teeth and pulled the pins, threw the latch and swung the door open as quickly as possible.

The stench of decayed flesh, formaldehyde, disinfectant pours out of the truck. A man lunged out of the dark cargo area and into the moonlight. He wore the remnants of a surgery smock, stained with blood. Flesh hung from his limbs in tattered scraps.

He turned his head toward Robert and looked at him with lifeless eyes that were milky orbs of solid white. He moaned hungrily and reached out for Robert.

Annnnnd we're into combat. No surprise round.

George and Robert need to make a Control check at the start of their turn, however. If you fail, you may not attack this turn (rooted in fear, stumble and fall away, etc. However you like).

Initiative (Lowest Flee/Chase TN to Highest)
George
Robert
Creature

Creature Stats
Chase 16
Kill 12
Notice 12
Think 13
Swatter (-2 Kill TN to knock equipment out of character's hands)
Serendipity - Biter (Reroll a failed bite roll)
Setback - Trip & Fall (Auto fail on single Flee/Chase Roll)
Wounds - 0/4

Distances
L1 Robert<->Creature
L3 George<->Creature

Sakutian

Seeing the disfigured man leaping out of the back of the truck sent a wave of horror surging through George. He'd seen men maimed by mines and gunfire during the war, but to see someone in such a state walking around was beyond belief. The gun shook in George's hand and he watched helplessly while it turned its attention towards Robert.

Control Check: 2d10= 10. Fail! Looks like George has a war flashback. Sorry Heir.
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3764923/

Heir

Robert had his knife drawn, but upon seeing the disfigured...thing...he could only freeze up. The stench was beyond anything he'd ever smelled before, and the man's eyes...."Oh God...his eyes....what's wrong with his eyes...?"

Control (2d10=8) FAIL

Klivian

The creature leaped out of the truck and landed in front of Robert. Robert heard a bone in the creature's leg snap wetly. The creature swung his arm in a long arc trying to swipe at the knife in Robert's hand. The creature missed by inches.

Thanks for the pre-emptive block roll, Heir. That's gonna make combat go more smoothly. You guys can roll the blocks for the creature (Kill stat) when you attack it.

Kill Check to swat away the knife 2d10=6 - Fail

Distances
L0 Robert<->Creature
L2 George<->Creature

Sakutian

As the man beared down on Robert George's combat training kicked in. He aimed for the thing in front of him and squeezed the trigger. The pistol jumped in his hands as the gun fire and a single shot tore through the man's bloody scrubs.

Shooting the zombie 2d10+2= 13. Take that you undead son of a bitch!
Zombie Kill: 12
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3766366/

If I'm reading the combat rules right then because George has a a lower TN than the zombie he wins and causes one wound to the undead guy.

Heir

Out of instinct, Robert swipes his knife at the zombie, but right before his attack, George's gunshot startles him. His swing goes wide, and he backs away cautiously. "George, help!"

Attack with Knife (2d10+2=6) FAIL

Robert moves back one length with his move. He's moving away from George so as to give him room to shoot.

Klivian

The creature barely registers the impact of George's bullet. Up close Robert is able to see a spray of flesh from the exit wound.

The creature bears down on Robert and attempts to rake his ragged nails across Robert's arm with a quick swipe. Robert pulls away at the last second causing the swipe to go wide.

Kill - 2d10=15 Success
Heir gave me a successful Fight block over chat, and Robert's Fight TN is lower so the attack fails.

Distances
L0 Robert<->Creature (Heir retreated to L1, but the creature closed again to L0)
L3 George<->Creature (Heir pulled the creature farther away from George)

Wounds
Robert 0/4
George 0/4
Creature 1/4

Sakutian

Hearing the terror in Roberts voice George felt a wave of anger tearing through him. "Don't bother with the knife Robert! Just get the hell away from that thing!"

George pulled the trigger again and sent a second round into their attacker's chest hoping to draw his attention away from Robet. "Hey! Come and get me you ugly bastard!"

George Shoots: 2d10+2= 10
Zombie Block: 7
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3766432/

Heir

"What the hell are you?! With all of his might, he stabs the zombie directly in the heart..feeling it slide into its chest and push up against his spine. And yet, the thing kept coming at him...moaning something inhuman.

Something in Robert snapped, as he let out an inhuman scream of both fear and rage.

Robert Attack / Zombie Block (2d10+2=22, 2d10=15) Both Succeed, Robert has lower TN so he hits the zombie. Zombie is down to 3/4 for wounds

Break check (1d10+3=5) Major Break.

5-7: Attack the subject of the Fight check for the next two turns, even if it’s not a threat. You cannot block or
counter any attacks against you during these turns. Characters get +2 to their Fight/Kill rolls against you.


So Robert is going to be stabbing at a dead carcass for two turns if George manages to kill it. He can't counter or block, and Mr. Zombie gets a bonus to attack. Better kill him Sak!

Klivian

As the knife pushed into its chest, the creature wrapped its arms around Robert and yanked him close. With a snarl it clamped its filthy mouth around Robert's shoulder and sank decaying teeth into flesh.

Kill 2d10+2=13 - Success! Thanks for the extra +2 Mr. Break! One wound to Robert.

Sakutian

Another gunshot rang out across the deserted highway and Robert was splattered with more of gore as a bullet tore through his attacker's shoulder. The man slumped over onto the knife protruding from his chest. George moved towards Robertkeeping his weapon trained on the man in the scrubs.

"Jesus...you alright Robert?"

George Attacks: 2d10+2= 8
Zombie Blocks 2d10= 14
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3766457

Heir

Robert didn't hear George...he just stared at the body on the ground. Suddenly, he jumped on top of the body, pulled out his knife, and started stabbing it repeatedly. "It's not dead yet! It's going to get us Georgy-boy! This cat just won't quit!!" He started cackling maniacally.

Stabby stabby (2d10+2=20, 2d10+2=15)

So uh...can you break again when being forced to attack something from a previous break? If so, here's my break roll:

Break Check (1d10+3=6)

Which means he'll attack the dead zombie for two more turns, lol.

More stabby (2d10+2=17, 2d10+2=17)

No breaks this time at least!

Klivian

The corpse's body gave little to no resistance to Robert's knife. He sank the blade into its chest over and over until he was out of breath from exertion. He paused, jabbed a finger at the creature and laughed, "Not so tough now are ya, you sonuva bitch!"

The creature suddenly tensed beneath Robert leaned forward in an attempt to snap his jaws at Robert's finger.

Robert screamed and without thinking buried his knife up to the hilt in the creature's right eye socket. The creature twitched twice and fell back to the ground once again motionless.

Robert scrambled off the corpse.

Heir

Robert did two things after standing up. He threw up. And then he threw up again.

After there was nothing left in his stomach, he looked over at George. He was shaking violently from fright, but was starting to get a grip on himself again. "We need to get in my truck, and get out of here...right now."

He didn't bother to wait for George to respond. He just made his way back to his truck, wincing as he gingerly touched the area where the...thing...bit him. He started muttering to himself as he looked around his truck interiors. Cursing, he looked back out at George, who was reloading his gun. "Hey!" he yelled. "Do they stock these jalopies with first aid kits?"

Scrounge (2d10=11) Barely success!

Sakutian

George limped over to Robert's truck giving the body a wide berth. "They always kept one under the seat back when I was in the army."

Klivian

Robert raked the remnants of his burger wrapper and fries out of the floor board and craned his head to look under the seat. Just as George had said, there was an old army issue first aid kit. Robert pulled it out, thumbed the latches open, and lifted the rusting metal lid.

The contents appeared to be in good shape though many of the bandages and paper boxes were yellowed with age.

First Aid Kit - Repair checks to heal wounds; Used up on a break;
Roll +4
Break -4
Contents: Bandages, burn injury set, tourniquet, scissors, iodine swabs, sulfa powder (antibacterial)


Morphine Syrettes - Repair checks to heal wounds OR Control checks by others to control the user; Runs out on a break
Roll +3
Break -6

Heir

Grabbing the first aid kit, Robert yanked out an iodine swap and started to clean up his wound, wincing as he touched the more tender areas. "Blast that hurts!"

Looking back at the body, he shuddered. "I want to leave George....now. I don't know what that guy was on that kept him going, but it just wasn't right..." Robert started to lose it again, but quickly looked away and closed his eyes. Looking at his wound, he muttered. "You might have to drive."

Repair (first aid) (2d10+4=10) Success!

Not sure on what your healing rules are. If you don't feel like he should be able to heal up, then this post is just for fluff and Robert still has 1 wound.

Sakutian

Lifting Robert up into the cab of the second truck George pushed him along the seat until he was clear of the steering wheel. He glanced at the wounds he incurred during their fight but he kept a neutral expression on his face.

"Don't worry. We'll get you to the hospital and they'll fix you up good as new. Maybe you can find yourself a nice nurse to settle down with while they're patching you up."

George started the truck and jammed his foot on the gas until the massive engine roared and sent them soaring down the road away from the scene of the accident.

Klivian

Fifty miles passed in silence with each man lost in their own thoughts. George gripped the steering wheel with white knuckles and concentrated on the road beneath the truck's dim headlights. Robert stared out the side window and watched the stubby shrubs pass by.

At the truck topped a hill, the next several miles of road were clearly visible in the distance. A orange glow illuminated the center of the road a few miles away.

George slowed the truck, turned off the headlights and brought it to a halt.

"Hey! Why'd you stop?" Robert said accusingly.

George did not answer but instead pulled his binoculars from under the seat and dismounted the vehicle.

"HEY! Get this thing moving, George! What the hell?!" Robert leaned out the window and yelled at George.

George ignored Robert and pointed his binoculars toward the orange glow.

A vehicle was ablaze in the road. The gasoline fueled flames provided flickering illumination for a dozen yards. Nearby, a crumpled jeep sat upside down in the ditch. The jeep door was clearly emblazoned with the star and bars of the US Air Force. George was certain that he saw movement from inside the overturned vehicle.

Sak, George's "Leave No Man Behind" motivation is coming into play here. There may be a solider trapped in that jeep who needs help!

You will need a successful Control check to go against his motivation and drive past the wreck.

If he stops, though, you will receive one Plot Point.

Sakutian

George didn't hesitate, he slammed his foot down on the gas and sent the the truck barreling down the road towards the overturned vehicle as fast as it would go. They screeched to a stop next to the ditch and George leapt out of the driver's seat.

"What are you doing? Don't go out there George!" Ignoring Robert's shouting he Jumped down into the ditch and looked through the jeep's window.

"Are you alright in there?!"

Heir

Robert jumped out of the truck and chased after George. "What the hell has gotten into you man?! Don't be a hero!" Stopping behind George, he stared in morbid fascination at the flames.

Klivian

The solider inside the overturned jeep hung upside down from his seatbelt and struggled frantically to force the door open. "Get me out, man! Get me outta here!"

George spoke to him in a calm, steady voice. "Don't worry, son. Everything's gonna be alright. We're gonna get you outta here." He turned and yelled at Robert, "Hey! Rob, grab the tire iron from the toolbox!"

Robert startled as George's shout interrupted his pondering of the conflagration. Muttering to himself about this damned fool errand, Robert retrieved the tire iron.

With both George and Robert pulling on the iron, the jeep's jammed door finally swung free. Robert reached inside and cut the seatbelt with a quick swipe of his boot knife. The solider, a boy really, fell on his head with a thump before George pulled him out and propped him sitting up against the jeep.

"What happened to your patrol, son?" George asked.

The solider, clearly shell shocked, spoke in broken phrases. "So fast... Jenkins.... grabbed the wheel.... tried to fight him..... bastard bit me.... flipped the truck.... passed out I guess.... oh shit.... he BIT me.... oh shit.... shit....."

"You're safe now. You're with us." George answered calmly.

The boy finally focused his pale eyes on his rescuers. "Wait... you're the delivery! You brought it!" The airman sprang to his feet and darted to the back of their truck.

"HEY!" Robert yelled walking over. "That's government property there, GI Joe. You just climb down nice and slow."

The airman ignored Robert and flung open the cargo doors and started to topple cargo crates and toss mail sacks out the back. "Where is it?! Where is it.... c'mon... gotta be here..... gotta be.... WHERE IS IT!"

The airman screamed in frustration, spun around, drew his side arm pistol and pointed it at Robert.

"WHAT DID YOU DO WITH THE VACCINE?!"

Heir

Robert shook as he looked down the barrel of the gun. But, determined to get them back on the road, he tried to maintain his cool. "Look man, we just drive the trucks. I don't know nothing about a vaccine. We were attacked by some wacko that stowed in the back of George's truck up the road. We just want to finish this route and forget any of this ever happened. Please, put down the gun." He rubbed unconsciously rubbed at his wound. "He mentioned something about being bit..." Robert though.

Control Check (2d10=13) Success!

Klivian

The pistol shook in the kid's hand as he listened to Robert. Finally, a wide grin spread across his face and he holstered his pistol.

"Another truck! Of course! It's in the other truck!"

Sgt Andrews opposed Control Check (2d10=14) - SUCCESS, but Rob's TN is lower.

Airman Andrews

Control 13(18)
Fight 12(18)
Flee 12(19)
Hide 10(18)
Repair 12(17)
Scrounge 11(18)

Heir

Robert breathed a sigh of relief. "What's this about a vaccine? Vaccine for what?"

Klivian

The airman looked puzzled, "The vaccine for the virus, of course! The virus that turns you into one of those.... one of those.... those things. You guys were bringing it to us from Cheyenne Mountain."

Heir

"No one told us about that!!" Robert's voice got higher in panic.
"How exactly is this this virus spread?" He rubbed at his wound again unconsciously.

Sakutian

George listened to Robert and the airman but he could hardly believe what he was hearing. The idea of a virus that turned people into monsters was like something out of one of those awful comic books they sold in drug stores. "What's in Cheyenne Mountain?"

Klivian

"They're sayin' it's like something like rabies, you know? Spreads through bites and blood and such. And just like a dog turned rabid, all you can do is put'em down..."

"Cheyenne? Largest, deepest, most secure bunker in the world, rumor is. Carved right out of the granite. Full of top secret stuff, no doubt, like the lab in Los Alamos. Stuff I'm not cleared for, I'm sure."

Sakutian

"So if anyone is bitten they turn into one of those monsters?" George's eyes shot to Robert's bite wound before he could stop himself. "How long does it take to kick in?"

Heir

Robert began to shake violently as thoughts of turning into that....thing. "Where's the vaccine? We need to go back George...."

Klivian

The airman shrugged at George, "A few hours.... 6 tops."

He scratched his head at Robert. "Supposed to be on your trucks. Let me check something." He hopped down from the truck and walked back to his overturned jeep. Kneeling, he reached inside and pulled out a clipboard. Robert edged in close and read over the soldier's shoulder. The clipboard held a typewritten page on Air Force letterhead, glossy photos of each of their trucks, and photos of Robert and George from what looked like their drivers' licenses. He flipped to the last page where a cargo manifest contained three rows. One marked 'VACCINE', one 'VECTOR' and one 'WEAPONIZED SERUM'.

"Looks like you guys should have three crates for us. One's a big sucker, from the looks here."

Heir, I think this is a good time for Robert to make a Control check... what with the biting and all

Heir

"We....we need to find those crates soon." Robert started thinking to himself. How long has it been since I was bit? 1 hour, 4?

Calming himself, he looked at the airman. "We can drive back to the other truck...right George?"

Control (2d10=16) Sucess! Aint no thang