Outbreak II

[BassDrum]

The morning after our little excursion the three of us piled the bodies up onto a tarp a few at a time(there must have been about 15) and used the lawn mower to drag them down the street and into a fallow cotton field. They looked like the cast from a zombie movie, but there was something more real to them. I don't know what it was, but I could NOT relate this to a movie, no matter how much I tried. It took us about three hours to move them because it was so hot and we needed breaks, physical and emotional. We took turns, but mom didn't do much because she couldn't lift the bodies, so she mostly stood watch with a shotty(like she would have done any good). While we were moving the bodies we were noticing some movement in a few of the houses on the street, but we just kept our eyes peeled and tried to get that shit done quick. As long as they weren't coming out the doors we didn't have the energy or supplies to waste on them.

As I stared into the face of a kid, probably about 14 y/o, with a huge wound on his arm and now a shotgun wound to the neck, I could feel a part of myself dying. Even though we had to do it, we had 'killed' fifteen people last night, and now were were having to relive the nightmare to move them. He was wearing an Aeropostale shirt and some jeans, but they were really torn up, and were more like shorts at this point. He had a phone in his pocket, as well as a wallet with nothing of physical value, and I wasn't going to take his money. I checked his other side pocket and found a rosary, so I put it around in his hands and tried to lay him out flat.

These bodies looked terrible. This was some bad sick going around. Almost all of them had some huge piece of flesh torn out, which I'm assuming is how they got infected. What made is worse was the blood. Some of them were covered, literally COVERED in blood. The shotguns had messed them up pretty bad, but they weren't bloody around the buckshot wounds. We did all we could to avoid touching them, including wearing gloves. We did end up finding a loaded 9mm in a CC holster on one guy, but he looked like he had been taken down and killed immediately, not just bitten, so I'm not surprised he didn't get to use it.We had them all laying in a pile in the most graceful way we could manage. I don't follow a major religion, but we bowed our heads and I said a general prayer that could apply to most, and we lit them up. I didn't have more than 7 gallons of gas on hand, but we used it all since we decided we could get some from the cars around if we needed some.

A lot of the houses were in pretty bad shape. I live in a relatively new neighborhood(15 y/o, about 100 houses total) so none of the houses are usually dilapidated, but a good many had windows broken out and swinging front doors, and one even had a car parked in the garage. Through the garage door. I'm guessing that someone was trying to get in REAL fast and didn't have time for it to open, although their windows are broken out and I didn't notice anyone inside.

The water and power were out when we got back. We needed some supplies. Even with the food and water we had, it was only enough for about a week, maybe two. We decided that we had spent all morning outside without any uninvited guests, so we would be okay to try our luck again. We were going to check out the cars and possibly some houses.

More soon.

[DarkAxel]

26 June

After yesterday's excitement, I stayed in most of the day. The only time I ventured out was to see about the guy that got shot because of my idiotic plan to see what was going on in Jackson. He was still alive, but in pain. Serious pain. They had him in the basement of the church. The preacher's wife and daughter were tending to him the best they could, feeding him broth and water by dipping cheesecloth in a bowl and and letting it drip into his mouth. They guy's wife was there, along with his brother, who stared daggers at me while I talked to him and apologized as best as I could to his family. His brother didn't take my offered hand, and to be honest I don't blame him. I saw the hatred blossom behind his eyes, and I knew when his brother finally died I'd have a mortal enemy. Something else for me to look forward to.

I couldn't do any planting, not with a man laying on his deathbed because of me. The burdens I've had to carry since this whole shit-storm began are starting to weigh me down, like the chains around the ghost of Jacob Marley. I have a fifth of good scotch put up in the pantry. I'd been saving it to drink on my birthday, but the whole country going apeshit kinda put that celebration on the back burner. I think its time to break out that bottle. I need some oblivion right about now.

[Tater Raider]

June 26

06:00
Underway. Shift colors.


11:30
I'm rowing 2 on, 1 off. Teaching Mrs. how to row correctly. Good form saves a lot of wear and tear on the muscles but it is still very difficult for her with her fibromyalgia. Nonetheless, I need a break too so this is as good as it gets for both of us. Little Girl is taking her job of steering very seriously and is doing a pretty good job of it.


17:45
Back is stiffening up badly. Mrs. is done rowing now but she did good while she could. I'm going to relax the pace some.


19:30
Taking break to rest. Been coasting about half an hour. I've drank 2 gallons of water by myself and have yet to urinate. Think I'm dehydrating and getting heat exhaustion. I must press on though.


21:30
I think we are about to land at Osceola, Arkansas.


23:30
We are as arrived as we are going to get. Osceola was blockaded by civilians like Tiptonville but this is our exit from the river so we landed anyways. Unlike Tiptonville, they insisted on examining us for infection including blood.

We cleared the physical (I insisted that a female examine my wife and that thee child be examined last and with either her mother or I supervising, her mother took the honors). Our passes were taken and checked, along with our names.

I guess they were yellow because it was a golden ticket or something. We were taken to a hotel, a fairly nice one at that, and that's where I'm writing this from.

The Arkansas National Guard got orders from the governor rescinding the Federalization of the National Guard. There is talk of secession and another civil war (second amendment issue on top of everything else including old wounds never fully forgotten) except that the zombies are everywhere and no one wants to invite them to the war. They (NG) are organizing containment using civilians so that people are protecting their own towns. Some areas are lost, like Little Rock, and others are being fought hard for, but in smaller towns, say under 10 or 20 grand population, the zombie menace is mostly contained through strict quarantine.

Someone will be bringing us our first hot meal in days in a bit. Little Girl is passed out but we will try and wake her when it arrives so she can get something warm in her belly.

My clothing is fitting loosely now. The bug-out kick-started my diet/fitness program I guess. My hands are a mess though. Lots of blisters with band-aids covering them. Antibiotic band-aids over blisters = lots of pain.

Now the rough part. I might be a good man in a crisis but I'm in a “safe” area now and am being told we are going to wait here for my brother to show up or arrangements to be made for safe transport. I know with everything that's happened I'm going to have nightmares and my health issues are ones of the mind. Mrs. knows that as of tomorrow she has to mother 2 kids, me being one of them, and I'm going to go off into whatever world it is I go to after a crisis. So I'll wait for my meal, take a large dose of my sedative that I stopped taking, and sleep for a day or 2 and end up doing whatever it is when I go places I never remember.

Point is I got myself, my wife, and, most important, my kid someplace safe and we will soon be with family that is familiar with dealing with me like this. That's a win.




I stick my pencil back in my notebook and rubber-banded it shut. My job, such as it was, is done for now and I know there will be more in the future. I know what's coming for me and I don't like it but the mental break is going to happen regardless so I'll make the most of it.

Mrs. looks at me and smiles.

I say, “Hon, I'm taking a shower quick. Well, maybe followed by a bath.”

“Okay babe. You did good, you know that?”

“I screwed up a couple places and we are lucky we got here, but thanks for thinking I did alright.”

She kisses me on the check and says, “You did better than alright. Go get your shower.”

“You make sure I stay in here tomorrow, okay?”

“You got it.”

And you know something?

Best shower I ever had.




My part in this is done now. Hope you all enjoyed it and I learned a couple things too, a couple very weak points I still have to take care of.

[Biggin]

June 26th

Summer storms have been in full swing. The power is unpredictable. There are frequent outages but they only last an hour tops. The gun fire around town has started to become more frequent. A lot of high power rifles can be heard... it's like the opening day of deer season.

The front of the house is getting really swampy. Mr. Wes's house is built in a wetland protection area that floods every time it rains. Luckily he built his house up about 12 inches above the road. The water normally never makes it close to the top of the gravel driveway.

The tree barricade we constructed a few days ago is still in good shape. Every couple of days we go out and start the tractor to make sure it stays reliable. Same goes for the gens. We haven't had to crank them up yet, but that time will probably come. We are hoping the Feds will re-establish some sort of sanity before we have to break out the gens... once the 85 combined gallons of gas is gone we won't know what to do.

June 27th

0300: We heard a loud crash this morning and a horn started going off. My dad, Mr. Wes, and I got out the spotlight and checked the gate. Someone hit the bricks on the other side where the gate is connected... they hit it hard too. The column is pretty damaged, not near as bad as the car though. It was an older style Mustang. Not the old nice ones, but the 90's style. There wasn't a whole lot left of the driver.... he got ejected, clipped the other column and a tree. His head, half his torso, and his right arm ended up in the ditch, one leg in the road, the other about 40 feet away on the edge of the woods. We didn't see the left arm and weren't really up to looking for it.

Mr. Wes disconnected the horn and we just left the car where it was. We will try to move it once the sun comes up. It seemed like there was a passenger... there was some blood on the passenger door handle and the door was open... that's not saying much though. The car must have been going a hundred miles per hour when it wrecked. The driver door wasn't closed either.

0800: We chained up the wrecked car to one of the trucks and dragged it out of the way of the gate and left it in the ditch. There wasn't much in the car... just some alcohol and bloody rags and a Hi-Point. The vulture were already making short work of the driver's remains.

[DarkAxel]

27 June

Today, just about everyone turned out for church service, because after the service the preacher promised a big meal, and what a meal it was. Green beans, new taters, fried green tomatoes, cornbread, biscuits and gravy, eggs, plenty of meat, and a hodgepodge of different junk foods. Everybody brought something, even if it was a bag of chips or a few Twinkies. The preacher called it an early Thanksgiving feast, giving thanks for our survival and the food we were eating.

I gotta hand it to the preacherman, he is really getting things done. His wife said she'd teach anyone who wanted how to cook, sew, and do the traditional "Woman's work". A lot of men signed up too. Roadblocks are going up on the main roads, and groups of armed men kept watch. Roving groups would travel up and down the roads, exterminating what groups of zeds they could find. The hunters were organized into teams to bring in more meat, and our community began to elect leaders. All of this was the preacher's ideas. The funny thing was, he didn't run for anything. Not for Constable, not for magistrate, not even for a seat on the community council. Instead, he accepted responsibility for maintaining the church and the community's stores.

The electricity, which had been spotty at best since Jackson was abandoned, went off again this afternoon, and hasn't come back on yet. With no real news coming in, I don't expect it will ever come back on. A few people are panicking a bit, but no widespread violence or anything occurred. This crisis has welded the people into a true community, and we intend to keep on keeping on.

My garden is fully replanted now, and what was left is starting to flower and bear. I coaxed Mom out of the house to show her, and her mood is beginning to brighten, if only a little. She's up now, helping the ex with the housecleaning and chores. The TV is sitting back in storage now.

My last big concern is my brother. With his long-term health considerations, seizures, diabetes insipidus, and thyroid problems he depends on his medication to survive, and we're now down to half a month's supply. I should have stocked more before the crisis, but as they say, hindsight is 20/20. I can only hope now that his body can adjust to life without meds after I run out.

Hope: such a tiny word, yet so powerful. As long as we have hope, I have faith that we can survive: As a family, as a community, as a species.

[Biggin]

June 27th

1400: The day had been going pretty average since the wreck was cleaned up. There was the usually echo of occasional rifle fire but nothing out of the ordinary... strange that in just a few weeks the chatter of guns in the distance has become normal..... The women were working in the kitchen and cleaning vegetables from the garden. The men were gathering firewood from the back of the property.

My brother and I were tossing freshly split logs into the bed of Mr. Wes's F-250 when we heard three shots from the direction of the house, Bang! Bang! Bang!, the universal sign for a hunter in trouble. We both stopped and looked at each other then looked over at the dads... nothing even had to be said. My brother and I jumped into the bed and I slung up the AR, my brother the 12 gauge 870. We sped through the trail back to the house. The four of us were greeted by Hanna's mother, frantically waving her arms at the back door. We stopped the truck and spilled through the open back door. The rest of the women were staring through the front windows.

"What's going on?" My dad asked.
"There's a man, he's walking down the driveway... he looks like he might be hurt." My mom replied.

The group continued their conversation while I turned and got the LR-308. Mr. Wes picked up his deer rifle of choice, the .300 Winchester Magnum. We decided we had to confront this man and figure out what is going on. At this time, we are still discussing helping him. Obviously he is somewhat with it since he made his way onto the property...

Myself and Mr. Wes set up with the rifles on the porch. We took special care to make sure that if we fired the shots would easily sail by my brother and dad who walked 10 yards or so down the driveway. The man was still stumbling along, obviously injured, about 100 yards or so away.

"STOP!" My dad yelled, not yet raising his AK.

The man froze. I shouldered my weapon to get a better look at what this man was doing. I tracked along the roadway then found his feet and tracked the cross-hairs up to his face. He was a black man in tattered clothing. He looked to be mid forties, maybe fifty at the oldest. He seemed to be leaning a strange way, kind of off balance to his left. His jaw was slack as he stared in the direction of the noise.

"Don't come any further, we will come to you. Just stay there!" My father bellowed.

As I watched the man, his body seemed to twitch a little. I watched a snarl develop across his face. I then noticed something that made my heart drop. His right arm was severed at the bicep.

"Dad, get away from him!!! He's infected!"

My brother and dad both glanced over at me for a split second, in that second the man... or what used to be a man... let out a blood curdling shriek and started stumbling faster and faster toward them. My dad turned and shot, BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM. I could see sprays of flesh coming out the back of the infected and dirt and gravel flying into the air from the impact of the rounds. The infected continued on, not acknowledging the 124 grain bullets speeding at 2400 feet per second that were ripping through its torso. I centered my cross-hairs right on the infected's nose and fired right as Mr. Wes did the same. The .308 and .300 Magnum rounds did their job, ripping through the infected's skull and dropping it to the ground in a heap.

No one moved for what seemed like forever. Finally Mr. Wes called out, "Damn! You okay, Bob? That fucker was haulin' ass!" He always found a way to break tension.

My dad slowly walked towards the wretched creature. He stopped about five feet away, then turned and vomited. He made his way back up the driveway.

"Dad, are you okay??" My brother asked. Dad continued past us, silent and pale, into the house. I looked at my brother, visible concern on my face. The three of us, Daniel; Mr. Wes; and I, walked down to examine the corpse and figure out a way to dispose of it. I realized then why my dad was so shaken. The creature had in its pocket the all too familiar tape player I had seen many times throughout my childhood. Connected to the tape player was a pair of old fashioned headphones that were laying near the remainder of the infected's head.

"It's Clayton....." I murmured. Clayton was the happy go lucky gardener who had worked for my family and around our neighborhood since I could remember. Every time I got home to school he would talk to me about class and guns. He used to be in the army and was very familiar with the M-16. He even gave me a few pointers one day that helped me noticeably tighten up my groups at the range. He was an awesome guy.... and now here he was... or at least here his body was.

This whole civil unrest thing wasn't too bad at first. I think after that incident, we all realized just how bad it could be... this shit sucks. Morale has dropped... we will have to have a little meeting later about this. For now, everyone is far to shaken to talk about it. Mr. Wes said he would take care of the corpse. He wouldn't let me and my brother help. He refused to. I am kind of glad too... I needed a place to go. I went to the back of the house and found a place out of the line of sight of the cameras. I sat down and laid my rifle next to me.... and I wept. I don't know how long I was there, but I cried harder than I have ever cried before. After that, I prayed. I prayed we could make it through this. I prayed I didn't have to do to one of my family members what I did to Clayton........

[TripwireC91]

Well Heimdall and I made it most of the way to Indianapolis with out much except empty road. We tried to use the CB in the truck to get some info about the status of the city. The most information we got was - it was burning and military had shut down all traffic. About five miles out of town we found out the military hadn't shut down the roads, they were just blocked by so many cars it was impassable.
"To many cars to push them all out of the way" I say. Heimdall looks at me and smiles "Wanna bet?"
"Don't try it we can't afford to loose this thing, it's our way home" I respond. Heimdall turned the truck around so it was facing the way we came. We grab our packs and weapons. I take the PSL loose from my pack. I let the AR hang on its single point sling as I use the glass on the PSL to look down the road.
"Well good news, I don't see any movement" I say.
"Lets hope we just run into zombies," Heimdall says "there easier to deal with." I just smile. I turn on my cell phone and I finally have service.
"Here, I need to make a phone call" I say to Heimdall as I hand him the PSL. I dial my brothers number and pray to God I hear his voice. My brother answers and tells me to make it quick his phones about dead and no power to charge it. So I give him instructions to pack what he can easily carry and I'll be there soon.
"So how much city do we have to go through to actually get there?" Heimdall ask.
"Not much mostly just housing develpments, its the suburbs after all."
"Oh great.... people" Heimdall says.
"Oh don't worry, they probably have eaten each other by now" I say.
"Your brother is still alive isn't he" Heimdall points out.
"Fine, you talk to the zombies and I'll deal with the people" I smile to Heimdall.
"Shut up" Heimdall says "Lets get moving its late afternoon now and we want to be out before dark, I left the starlight back home for your dad."

We don't talk much as we move. We want to stay quite and out of sight as much as possible, we still haven't seen any military. We've seen some zeds at a distance, but Heimdall wouldn't let me drop them. "There 600 yards I can take em" I say.
For the first time Heimdall takes my place as the voice of reason "We can't afford the noise right now keep moving"

Were about a mile away from my brothers house and we run into two scavangers. They went for there guns but froze as soon as they relized they would be dead before they had a chance to finish pulling them out. "Keep going" I say "very slowly." They pulled there guns out. "Put them down and take five steps back"
"Hey man I need this for protection" The older of the two says
"I won't take it from you, but I don't want you to use it against me either" They both put there guns down and step back. "stay on them" I didn't have to say it to Heimdall but I did any way. I step up and pick up the guns.
"Hey fucker! you said you wouldn't take them" The older on yells.
"Keep your voice down ass, we don't want any attention." As I talk I drop the mags out of the hand guns and lock the slides back. I toss the hand guns up the street one way and the mags down the other way. "As I see it, well be out of your range before you can reload them.... Have a wonderfull and joyfull day" I say to the two of them. Heimdall and I take off again.
"I woulda kept the Beretta" Heimdall says "it was nice"
"How many more hand cannons can you carry?" I ask
"Theres always room for one more" Heimdall smiles back
"Fuck its hot out" I complain
"Why do you always start whining about shit" Heimdall growls at me
"they say people practice what there good at" I laugh
"Ain't that the fucking truth" Heimdall growls again
"Shut up" I grumble back
"look Trip it was later than we thought" he points out to me.
"we moved to slow" I figure we have at most two hours of light left.

We're about two blocks away from my brothers place when we start hearing gun fire and its close. I pull up the PSL and look back the way we came. "I new we shouldn't have let those two dumb fucks live" I swear more as I see the two scavangers run south through an intersection with a huge group of infected on them.
"Hopefully the have good cardio" Heimdall says "get them as far away from here as possible."
"Heim, we are so not that lucky" I point out
We finish the two blocks as fast as we can and Heimdall pounds on my brothers door as I watch down the road, good thing Heim put good glass on the PSL its still a good picture in the failing light.

"oh thank God" My brother sighs as soon as he opens the door
"Bro we gotta go now, hurry and get your stuff. Food and water first then anything else that won't slow you two down" I say with out looking up from behind the PSL.
"You heard him" my brother says to his wife "lets do it as fast as we can"
"Oh" Heimdall adds "bring socks and toilet paper"
"give us five minutes" my brother says over his shoulder as him and his wife start dumping there stuff back out.
"One pack apiece" I say "and five minutes may be pushing it"
"been a little bit since we heard gun shots" Heimdall points out.
"yeah either no ammo or they became a happy meal" I say as I see movement in the scope. It's dusk almost about to become dark but not to dark yet. I know its a person but at this range, in this light, I can't tell if its a friend or foe.
"we may have to stay here tonight" I say as soon as I see a few more people following the first, with the way they're moving the have to be infected. "We have infected moving in on us."
"How many?" Heim ask
"so far I'm counting ten with more coming"
"They roam around here picking up unlucky people for lunch" my bro says. As soon as my brother finished talking we could hear the roar of jet engines. They were flying low and fast, then four huge explosions to our south west less than a half mile away.
"Oh fuck" my brother exclaims. Followed by more jet engines and more explosions. These where to our south and also close.
"Time to go" Heimdall says.
"what about them" I ask
"How far out now" Heimdall ask
"300 yards and I can still make out about 20 now with more behind them, to many to take out once I start shooting." Just then the ground around the zeds just exploded, windows in houses where blown out, I was knocked down along with just about everyone else.
"Artillery!?" Heimdall yells in shock.
"Must be lets move now, I don't want to meet whose calling in the co0rdinates" I say. I toss my bro the PSL after he hands the .22 to his wife. I pull up the AR. Good thing where all physically fit, for the most part. We head north for a little bit and then head back west trying to make our way back to the Freightliner.

(will finish writing this tomorrow night, to tired to keep writing now)

[IceWing]

Day 12 (Saturday, June 26)

Power was out this morning when we woke up. Not sure if it ever came back on last night. Still some warm water left in the tank. We both enjoy what may be the last hot shower in a while. Water pressure is still up at the moment.

Follow what's now become the ritual morning ritual of checking out around the house before letting the dog out. Still looks clear. No sound of gun shots this morning. Air still smells a bit smoky, again, likely from downtown. No ash noticeable on cars though.

Spend the morning caulking outside again. Finishes up yet another item on the list. Should help maintain climate control inside. Put duct seal (aka monkey crap) on one noticed gap to heat pump\compressor and some around the electrical main coming in. Also add a little more around the conduits from the roof.

Lunch is leftovers out of the fridge and stuff that won't last long in the freezer.

Run a couple of small plumbing lines from the RO system to the fridges and get the ice makers and water dispensers working. Kinda seems silly since the power is out, but keeps me busy for an hour or two. Run the electrical line to where the overstove exhaust fan would\will go as well. Can now close up the last wall segment.

Dinner is more leftovers. Should be able to keep the ice cream frozen for a couple of more days.

Go to bed when it gets dark.

Day 13 (Sunday, June 27)

Check outside in the morning. Looks clear. Smoky smell is lessened today, not really noticeable unless we're concentrating on it.

After breakfast, put a quick and dirty shed together for the batteries on the back of the house, making sure it's all nice and secure. Read and reread the instructions for the solar setups, as well as some other documentation I had printed out from the net on how to install the stuff. Run the wires around. Carefully get the panels up to the roof and get them installed, making sure I have the mains turned off in the meantime. Add a junction box in the basement where the fridge circuit goes. Cut it and pull some of the extra slack (about 2 foot was left when I rewired that circuit), capping off the line going back to the main breaker box. Wire that to the inverter. Long term, I'm going to have to get an automatic cut off switch and put it in the circuit if I can get the entire house kicked over to solar. Short term, I'm not going to be running all that much and I can use secondary wiring.

We've now got fridges and freezers running again. Tomorrow maybe I'll try to get the radios powered up and the internet connection back up again.

[Yeti]

Evening newscasts carry a national broadcast with Ms Lista reporting from Rossyln, Virginia.
Those outside the immediate coverage area will pick it up via radio, the military is helping with the rebroadcast as much as they can.

Latest reports indicate containment has been successful in many cases. During our press briefing this afternoon, General Day of the Air Force requested any house or neighborhood that has fortified itself to mark itself in someway visible to aerial drone recon planes. They are attempting aerial recon's of suburban areas to gauge where survivors are located.
Painted numbers on roofs are ideal he says, but cars arranged in numbers can work as well.

If there are Army and Marine Patrols in your area, please use the white sheet method to allow them to know there are uninfected present. And please whatever you do, do not fire upon the units, or point weapons in their direction. Their rules of engagement is Unit Preservation first, too many have been lost in ambushes both by looters/scavengers and the infected. While the Federal Gov't has issued confiscation orders, several Governors have countermanded the orders. Military Commanders have said barring further orders from above they will use their discretion with the State Governors in mind. It is asked however, if you have the means, to allow the military to refill their water containers as most of them are operating fully on the go. And water weight is a perimum for them.

We will be scrolling a list at the bottom of your screen for areas that are being defended with heavy units. For those of you on radios, the stations will brodcast the locations at the end of this news cycle.

As far as higher level authorities, we have received no word in the last 24 hours from the Senior levels of Government.

Those in and around major cites will notice Military Attack Helicoptors attempting to take out masses of the infected. The military has adapted a containment policy for the cities as most uninfected has now left. Areas within 20 miles of population centers are considered part of their containment zones. If you are traveling through these areas expect to be stopped questioned and inspected. Anyone of questionable medical issue will be detained for a minimum week, there are no exceptions to this.

All HAM operators are instructed to use frequency ###.## and contact local military leaders. They will be receiving regular news bulletins along with emergency flash traffic.

In other news, the Navy has sank 14 ships that have attempted to make it to the shores of the USA and the Air Force has shot down several airliners that would not respond as well. With the military forces on the ground in the Middle East being pulled out. They have orders any equipment that can not be brought back with them is to be destroyed.

The American Embassies in Moscow, Berlin, Paris, and London are all under siege by infected but currently holding. The English are helping to evacuate the Paris and London Embassies to their carrier fleet.

Word has been released by the English on Prince Charles death it seems he was infected during the evacuation and did not survive. Prince William has been named the Crown Prince.

Austrailia's Sydney hasn't been heard from in days. Ships off the coast report several collapsed buildings and fires raging.

Bejing, Hong Kong and Tawain are all silent as well.

Japaneese islands have reported light casulaties, though the Japaneese mainland is reporting over 80% infected. Citizens are being evacuated as they are found. Though hope does not hold out for many more to be rescued.

This is Melinda Lista reporting for America.

Those that have been seeing her nightly broadcasts can see the bags under her yes and the gauntness of her face appearing of someone not getting sleep and not eating well.
In the background you can hear the gunfire and aircraft flying over the river in the attempt to take back DC from the infected.

Far as Unit Perservation, it means just that. They have lost numerous units to swarms of people, both infected and uninfected trying to get their gear. Many have posion ivy/oak level of an itchy trigger finger right now.

There is one major clue in the report for those really paying attention, and it's affecting the military greatly.

The pull-out the military is currently is attempting is scheduled for 30 days with the majority of equipment coming as well. They do have a 3 day plan in place for an extreme emergency, but nations are warned that Diego Garcia is fully uninfected are American Subs in the Indian Ocean.

[Biggin]

June 28

Today was a better day than yesterday. Everyone seems to be doing better after the shooting. My mom took it pretty hard, Clayton was always a good, nice man.

The news today was much welcomed. It lifted our hopes quite a bit. Mr. Wes was glad to have something to do. For a fifty year old man, he sure does have a lot of energy. He got the ladder out as soon as we heard the message on the news to paint the roof. He grabbed a can of paint and spelled in huge red letters "HEALTHY INSIDE." Even though the news said for neighborhoods to paint the message, we figured it wouldn't hurt to put it on our home as well.

After painting the message, we took extra precautions and rigged a white banner that is to be dropped across the front porch if a military vehicle approaches the gate. It's looking like a storm will be rolling in soon so we are trying to get as much accomplished as possible before we have to batten down the hatches. It's stormed everyday for about 4 days and always around 1700 hours.

[DarkAxel]

28 June.

News! Finally we hear news from the outside! The NG deserter ran down the road, waving his tactical radio in the air, hollering hosannas to any that would hear. The NG is being reinforced, and have cleared Hazard. They are moving up the main highway to clear Breathitt County. The orders to confiscate weapons and food have been countermanded by the acting governor of Kentucky. It looks like the military is starting to get a handle on the situation and are beating back the zeds. I'm also told I need to paint the number of non-infected individuals on the roof of my house. I stopped the guy, and asked to use the radio. After a few calls, I got in touch with someone wearing the green.

"Unidentified user, this is a military radio net. X-Ray Gulf Whiskey".

Damn, I'd forgotten about authentication codes.

"This is PFC B-----, Been out since zero-eight. I ain't got no authentication code."

Silence. I could almost hear the man at the other end thinking, then he came back.

"B-----, what unit?"

"Two-Two-Six, Chem, Based at the Jackson Armory. India Alpha Delta Tango in zero-two".

More silence. I'd imagine that the man on the other end was looking for a way to confirm my identity.
Then I heard another voice over the radio, a voice I knew: one of the guys who had shipped to Lost-in-the-Woods with me.

"B-----, How the hell have you been?"

"Makin it, M-------, We've survived. What's going on?"

"We're headed toward Jackson in convoy. Hazard is secure. You wanna tell us where the hell you are?"

"Sure. I'm home. You remember where. The community is organized and patrolled. No infected in homes, though infected remain in the woods. We're killin' 'em as we see 'em".

"How'r yall set for food and water?"

"Sittin good, You make it down this way, we'll make sure yall get fed good".

"That sounds mighty fine, B-----. It'll take us awhile to get there. Gotta stop and clear every home on the Highway. Prolly be there by twenty-one hundred, that's two-one-zero-zero hours. Slow goin'. Keep that radio handy, and we'll call ya before we get there. Tell your neighbors we're comin' and keep your weapons down. The boys'r jumpy as hell. Nice to hear from ya again".

"I'll be waitin' for ya, M--------".

The radio fell silent, and I ran to the church to spread the news.

[Yeti]

Note: Any many case to maintain cleared homes they are going Marine Corps method, destroy it and it can't be used against you. This is especially true in heavily infested areas. If it looks securable they do, if it don't than they simply render it useless, aka satchel charge.

[Yeti]

The following news reports can be seen on local broadcasts or heard via radio, most are carried live.

Note: change name to your own local reporter and towns for your interactions, I'm just using a SW Ohio town to mess with Ice Wing.
We are traveling today with 2nd Platoon as we enter the town of Eagle Township in SW Ohio, as you can see vehicles ahead of us clearing a path while we push towards Cincinnati.
The majority of the soliders in our unit just arrived back stateside last night on transport aircraft into Virginia. And than bussed to Ohio to support and relieve units that have been involved since the beginning.

===========================
Cameras show houses being systematically searched for infected, many times shots can be heard from within when the soliders enter.
Houses with white sheets out, are called out to using megaphones and loudspeakers. At each medical personal examine the occupants, and the officer in charge speaks with them about movements of infected, if any are in the area and the occupants needs.

Medical (non-narcotic) supplies are freely given, but food is in short supply. Many of the soliders appear gaunt in appearance or haggardly tired.

Anyone looking into any of the command vehicle will see the growing collection of dog tags on a hook off the dash.

In one report out of the Chicago area, gangbangers had taken one house over as their own and fired on one of the Miliatry Patrols, the patrol simply took cover and called in a Cobra support which promiently lit the house up with cannon fire.
It is broadcast nationwide as an example what will happen to lawbreakers.

========================
National Evening News casts are now being done by Ms Lista at the Anchor Desk in the ABC Studios in Rosslyn, Va.

She reports the Red Cross has set up a call system for finding loved ones, details are scrolling at the bottom of the screen.

The Military is raising a priority in finding unaccounted members of government.

Casuality reports in percentages are being scrolled at the bottom of the screen.

Virginia and WVa both agree the majority of the infection has been held at their borders, and the Military states Richmond is 85% cleared at this time.
They have both extended an offer to the other States to bring in surviving children to their states for safety.
Governers for Montana, Idaho, and the Dakotas are reporting reporting they are relatively clear of infected currently as well. Though only 50% of their states have been checked.

Further Infected reports from scienctists studying them indicate thermal imaging does not find them as they are cold blooded and simply blend end with the surround image.
Lack of food sources, nor air seems to slow them down either. As they tell of one of the early captures being starved and placed in a vacuum without ill effect on it. Extreme cold (-30 F) seemed to slow them down, and extreme heat (130 F) caused body detrioation but neither ceased their motor functions.

It is asked those with the following work experience to report into your local governments to help maintain public utilities for your areas.
Water Works
Electricity
Oil Refinement
Construction Engineering
The military is being stretched thin in its protection of these assest and their patrols.

===================================
Other not as public news
Military loses are very high. They didn't understand the bite = infected immediately and it took time for the word to get out. Figure stateside numbers are depleted to around 30-40% of normal. This number will vary with closeness to major metro centers.
Example: Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland was overrun and less than 5% survived.
But one like Quantico Marine Base in Virginia, has held strong and is a centerpiece in the leadership left of the military with over 80% remaining.

====================================
Quiet news
Presidential Succession is being talked about in high military levels.
Senior civilian leadership has been silent for days. Due to their location, the bunker is inaccessible to the current military leadership available. This is the reasoning for asking all elected officials to report in. Though many conspiracy theorist will jump the other direction in that they are planning on wiping them all out.

[limolnar]

Having a one-room retreat home in a very secluded area of east Texas, I've spent the last 7 days in the far wilderness with no roads leading in or out. There is no television or electricity at my getaway, and the only communication with the outside world comes through the car radio, which I never run. Water is retrieved from a fresh creek in the winter and spring, but this is summer, and it's dried out. Despite the rain-catcher on the roof (accessible from inside via a ladder and trapdoor), I rely on lots of bottled water through the summer and fall -- from hydration to washing up.

People at work and in my family are accustomed to me disappearing from the face of the earth for a week twice a year, so this is business as usual. It's just me in that little shack, but I still like to display my Boy Scout survival badges, a wilderness survival certificate, and wu-shu master class awards.

I have three guns (a rifle, a shotgun, and a .500 S&W Magnum) and thousands of rounds of ammo, but they're not for hunting most of the time, since I use a bow and arrow. Instead, this is big bear country, and I've had to put down a few hormone-driven males over the ten years I've owned it. Inside the house is a wood-burning cast-iron stove. My underground storm cellar was a small dumb-bell shaped batcave that I put a door on (after driving out the denizens). It has lots of pickled items and preserves and wine, since I'm a canning nut. Incidentally, I keep my spit-seal 50-gallon gasoline tank just inside the door here as well, due to the chilly conditions in the cellar.

It's time to restock the dry goods and head back to work. I draw thick, rubber-sealed rolling metal covers down over the windows and front door; no sense in letting the bears get in to rifle through the house. I may have only the box of saltines left, but they're mine, damnit! I get in the four-wheel-drive Land Rover and drive the twenty miles to the nearest mid-sized grocery store -- the hand-painted sign reading "Marissa's General's Stone", just off the Farm Road.

At Marissa's some of the locals are talking about a flu infection that causes a "fevered madness", but I pass it off as a summer cold. Anyway, I've got more important things to think about: like what's waiting for me at work.

With a big sigh, I drive the 400 kilometres back to Houston. About half-way, I see a pile-up on the outbound lanes from the city. It looks as if there was an accident, but no one is around. My conclusion is that the slow-ass state department responsible for the clean-up is really, really late. That doesn't explain why there aren't any police, but no matter. I'm heading the other way, after all.

After about an hour I notice a large amount of stalled traffic. I slow down my speed to take in what looks like a woman giving CPR to a man lying on the road and several people milling about. And thank goodness I was going slow -- or so I thought. I almost hit a man running into the freeway. Getting out of the vehicle, I ask the man what happened, but he doesn't respond. He's covered with blood and breathing heavily. Dark blood pours out of his mouth and he lurches forward, stumbling. I run toward him, asking him to lay back. That's when the man bites me, and HARD! I scream and hit at him, tearing off a large part of my arm as he pulls away. Other people are running from the other side of the road. I back away in horror. These people should not be alive! Ribs showing, dragging limbs...they're not as they should be. I turn to run, but the bloodied man bites my back, pulling me down and the others pile on.

My spirit begins to leave my body and I look down on myself as the cannibals feast.

[Biggin]

June 29

We could here cargo planes and fighter jets flying overhead starting in the late afternoon yesterday and continuing on periodically as I write this. Most are either going to the airport which is about 10 miles away or Camp Beauregard across the river in Pineville. It's encouraging to know that there is still some form of government and order. We always talk about how much the government screws us but right now there is nothing more encouraging than hearing from an official on the news.

We haven't had any visits from military personnel yet, but we have taken extra precautions and developed a plan to make sure they know we are friendly.

Mr. Wes set up a barrel filter to filter water from the pond out front. We also have rain catches set up in the driveway. I have enough potable water tablets to filter about 35 gallons of water if we get in a pinch, but right now the barrel filter is working just fine. Power is completely out in Alexandria. Water still runs, but it is sluggish through the pipes and smells bad. We are avoiding drinking the water from the tap.

It's SO hot. The AC has been out all today and it's supposed to get up to around 105 F with the heat index factored in. We take dips in the pool frequently and drink tons of fluids. We never let our guard down though. A couple of people are always watching the front gate while others are cooling off. Those in the pool always have a weapon nearby. It is starting to set in that we come first, no outsiders will take precedence over our well being. If they come in, they can contribute and be accepted into our group after a period of probation in which they stay in a locked room at night for a minimum of 5 days and are not allowed to have any weaponry. If we see then with a gun before that 5 days, we tell them to leave. If they don't leave... well we do what we have to do to survive. The group agreed on that the other night.

For now, we will continue watching the news and each others' backs.

[DarkAxel]

29 June

The convoy arrived a little late last night. About the time they were due to arrive, I made my way to the largest roadblock and waited with the tactical radio. Around 12:30 they rolled in, headed by an M93 Fox, backed up by two Bradley APC's, a couple Deuce-and-a halfs, a water buffalo, and a civilian Tractor-trailer pulling a fuel bowser.

Before they arrived, the ladies of the community prepared a large feast for them, and even though night had fallen before the convoy rolled to a stop in front of the church, much of the community turned out to greet them. These guys were American soldiers, local boys for the most part, and by God they were going to get all the support we could muster. They dismounted and set up a perimeter, and the commanding officer, a Captain, stepped out. He had a few quick words with our elected magistrate, then sent in most of his boys to eat. A few joined the patrols and roadblock crews, laden with foam plates filled with food. The unit medic headed downstairs to see what he could do for the man that was injured during my "joyride to Jackson", who lingered on. How he survived this long, I'll never know.

The NG soldiers looked pretty haggard. Their uniforms hung off of their frames, giving the impression of kids wearing Daddy's uniform. Most of them had an empty look in their eyes, like they were seeing into the beyond, into the grave. They sat down at the tables that had replaced the pews, and tucked in quite greedily. After finishing two plates, the Captain motioned the preacher, the magistrate, and me over for a little chat.

He asked about quarters for his men. There were plenty of empty homes in the community, those abandoned by their owners and those who's owners had burned on the pyres. More than enough for his men. He asked if we had any food we could spare. Thankfully, my garden was the only one seriously ravaged by refugees, and the early crops were coming in fine. He decided that for one night, he would order all his men to stand down for a good night's sleep: we had promised them protection, and he was sure that rest would do much for his men's morale.

"How many infected show up a day?" the Captain asked me.

"Around 35 to 40. More on some days, less on others," I said. "We've gotten pretty efficient at disposing of them".

"Any sign of them slowing down?"

"Actually, now that you mention it, they haven't been showing up as much. There are other communities between us and Jackson, though. I'm not quite sure how they are faring". I recounted to him the details of my journey into town. "Expect hostility in some areas. The fellow downstairs got shot because one group thought we were NG coming to take their food and guns".

"Well, I gotta say, that trip took some balls, B-----. I'm not sure I would have tried, myself". The Captain picked up another piece of cornbread and almost swallowed it whole, then washed it down with a glass of tea. "I'm going to call in all my men and send them to get some sleep.

"Tomorrow, my medic will be inspecting everyone here for signs of infection. We've still got a lot of work ahead of us".

"Yes Sir," I said. I followed him outside to the Bradley he was using as his command vehicle. Before he ducked into the open hatch he turned to me.

"B-----, how in the hell did you manage all of this"?

"Sir; preparation, organization, and motivation. It's got us this far". I came to attention and snapped of a salute, which was properly returned.

"See you in the morning, B-----. Get some rest. I'll need you here in the morning".

"Yes, Sir".

Then I went home and slept.

[IceWing]

Day 14 (Monday June 28)

Wake up and see the LEDs are lit up again. Means the power is back on... Need to figure out how many more items I can bring over to the battery bank... We also need more batteries, an automatic transfer or cutoff switch. Given the fact that the city seems to be, well, shut down, I'm not counting on the stores being open any time soon... Starting to wonder if it's going to be ever. It may be time to start seriously contemplating some salvaging runs.

Gotta love satellite. Still getting stuff off several of the channels. There was a rather disturbing news report though...

Started out bad. Containment has been successful in many cases. That's the thing about containment... It only has to fail once. Once it does, you're hosed. The Air Force is trying to identify where survivors are located, using drones... I'll have to put some numbers up on the roof, not that I suspect they can find us. It makes me a little nervous that they're using aerial recon to locate survivors... Almost makes me think they're looking at density of survivors possibly in an effort to determine if it would be cost effective to 'neutralize' certain infected zones. Lose 2k survivors, wipe out 2million zombies. From a military standpoint, it's a strict cost\benefit analysis.

The comment about allowing military patrols to refill their water containers because they're fully on the go, that concerns me as well. That means they're not operating out of a fortified base of operations, where things like water resupply are available. And fully on the go MAY translate to 'bugging out' or 'have been routed'.

And, with no word in over 24 hours from senior levels of government... That sounds suspiciously like Continuity of Government failed, at least in any meaningful way, and everybody is on their own. The reports of attack choppers trying to whittle down mobs sounds like a bunch of crap. It's not an effective application of force, given maintenance requirements, not to mention ammo demands. If that IS going on, then certain parties are basically saying they're going to take out as many as they can before going down.

The number of 80% infected in Japan scares the piss out of me. I can't help but notice we don't have numbers for the US.

I jot down the frequencies listed for HAM and make it a point to listen to those, see what else I can pick up information-wise.

Discuss things with the wife. We're set well for supplies right now, as well as for the next few months. Not quite enough to make it through winter though. Start making a list of additional items that we're going to need to get. Need to consider turning part of the basement into a greenhouse. This is starting to sound more and more like the wheels have come off and ain't going back on... That changes the equation just a bit.

It's kinda surreal, because out here, things don't seem all that different. I wonder what happened to the other house. Not that we have any intention of checking ANY time soon.

Power went out at about 10 am. Never came back on. I keep contemplating kicking in the generator, but don't really want people to know somebody on the street has a generator. Mind you, probably the only person who has a chance of hearing it would be Joe, across the street. Still, better safe than sorry.

Spend the rest of the morning finishing the reorg of the basement, putting all the tools away and such. Basement is now neater than it's ever been.

Think I'll build some interior shutters as well, so I can open the outer ones up for light and still be able to somewhat secure the windows if I cannot get outside safely to close\secure them.

About lunch time, we heard something new in the distance. Automatic weapons fire. Not a lot of it. Couple of three round bursts if I wasn't mistaken. Soon after, my radio came to life with someone proporting to be a Marine Security detachment. They were setting up at a local power generation facility and would like to have a community meeting that afternoon around Five PM at the fire station. They indicated that their convoy had just arrived in the area and would be setting up for the foreseeable future to help provide security for the power plant as well as serve as a checkpoint.

Me and the wife discuss this and, given that the area seems moderately secure, it may be a good idea to go down there and get some information. Neither of us love the idea, but we both think it needs to be done. I leave at about three, making sure my cargo pants are bloused in my boots, since I'm going to hoof it and don't want to get ticks. I deliberately chose a tan pair instead of black so as to not look mall ninja-ish. I go back and forth on going armed or not, but decide that it's only a mile, and since they may try to confiscate weapons that I want something I can hide a bit easier, so I take the revolver instead of my nine in it's drop leg holster. I really don't like that holster anyway, but I bought it when I got the pistol when I turned twenty one and was more of a complete yutz than I am today. I hope. A button up shirt, left untucked over a t-shirt should hide it pretty well. I take one of the bikes and start my way through the woods, moving carefully and quietly.

Leaving the safety of the BIL feels weird, so I make sure to kiss my wife before leaving and tell her I love her. Just in case.

(To be continued\edited tomorrow)

Our road, as usual, is empty as I walk uphill to the offshoot I want to take. Follow it, in the woods, for till it ends, then continue along till I come to the unfinished subdivision. I drove around up here once early on, and it doesn't look like they sold any more of the lots. Too bad, cause I could really use some more lumber about now. Plus some skylights would be nice.

While I'm at it, I wish for a pony and my own nano-manufactory. Damn, don't get those either. Does make me think about checking on the horses down the road. And maybe on the people who own the land around us.

Stash the bike near the road in the brush, then continue downhill through the woods. Come to a stop several hundred yards away (above) the firehouse and observe for a bit. It's only 3:30.

From my vantage point, using a small pair of binocs I see what looks like a small convoy, a regular HUM-V towing some kind of trailer. A pair of deuce and a half trucks, one with a trailer, one with a water buffalo behind it. A tractor trailer pulling a tanker of some kind and a military ambulance finish up the group. They're all parked in the parking lot of the fire station.

The marines I can see are working with a purpose. I count about a dozen or so around a roadblock \ checkpoint they've set up around an uparmored HUM-V, and there's another one at a second checkpoint down the road a ways, past the power plant, which also has about the same number of troops around it. All of them are loaded for bear, and they all seem a bit twitchy. Most of their attention seems to along the road. I'm guessing the hillside behind the fire station makes them feel a bit more secure.

I watch for a while longer, just to get a feel for things, then decide to head down there...

Now I find myself in a difficult situation. I've got a largish armed group I want to approach, in a situation where there are infected people and a shoot first mentality. I carefully move back into the woods, move parallel to the road a couple of hundred yards till I'm out of sight, then descend the hill. After consideration I disarm and conceal the pistol for later retrieval. There's enough firepower down there to hold off a, well, horde of zombies. And if that's not going to do it, six more shots isn't going to make a big difference.

Before I move into sight, I call out. "Hello the marines. One man, coming in. I am not hostile."

I hear some commotion and then "Step forward with your hands clear and be identified."

I do so, making sure to keep my hands clear of my body. I follow instructions and approach the barricade. I REALLY don't like this, but I'm early and don't feel like getting myself shot.

An NCO comes up to the barricade as I approach. I spy his rank insignia as he's looking me over, his rifle at combat arms, but not points at me. "Gunny? Mind if I put my arms down?"

"You armed?" he asks.

"Not at the moment, sergeant."

"You a fool?" comes the retort.

"Maybe at the moment. Kinda feel like one with my arms like this... Besides, considering the whole turn firearms in to the NG thing, if I were a gun owner, and I came upon you guys, I might not be for long..." This guy looks like he's seen the elephant, kinda reminds me of some vets I knew, so I make a gut check and ask if he's an OathKeeper.

He studies me for a moment, then nods and tells me to put my arms down. "Not bitten I assume?"

"Not by anything or anyone contagious. My wife does get a little frisky at times though."

He laughs and releases his weapon, offering me his hand. "Gunnery Sgt. Smith at your service."

I introduce myself. He tells me I'm the first one to arrive and leads me inside.

As I walk past it, I can't help but notice that the ambulance has some bullet holes in it, from in the inside.

[TripwireC91]

As we turn west to head back to the freightliner we hear gun fire behind us. Day light is all but gone and there is no street lights working anywhere that I can see.
As we move my brother starts talking quitely "when the power was on, the news said that the military was successfully containing the infected."
"Some containment" I respond.
"I know" he says queitly "I really wanted to believe it, but from what I've hear from some of my friends that got out, they're just trying to sweep the cities clean.... killing everything, just to try and stop it."
"I say we take off and nuke everything from orbit" Heimdall says with out turning around "It's the only way to be sure."
"Shit" my sister in law gasp as she stumbles and falls, "anybody have a flashlight we can use?"
"Yes I have a light on my AR" I respond "and no, we can't use it." She complains as I help her up, but decides not to argue. She knows we can't risk the light with infected around and the gun fire so close.
We do our best to stay off the streets, but here and there we do have to cross them. The gun fire gets fainter as we move away only to be replaced by creepy wailing. Occasionally we're forced to cross in the front of a house or two because of privacy fences. Heimdall stops us before we head out in front of a house. "Zeds in the street" he whispers. I move past my brother and sister-in law to kneel beside him. I raise the AR and take aim on the zed closest to us on the right. There where only 4 zeds, as soon as I turn the green laser on and paint my target's head Heimdall and I let loose two rounds apiece.
"May God have mercy on your souls" I whisper under my breath. I decide to take a few steps out to get a better look down the street. As I take a fourth step a zed burst out the open front door, tackling me on my left side, and both of us hit the ground. I was able to get my left hand on the damn things neck holding its snapping teeth off me. As soon as we hit the ground Heimdall was already moving, he kicked the infected off me and double tapped the bastard in the head. Heimdall stepped back grabbed the front of my tac vest and pulled me to my feet.
"thats why I go first" he said.
I grabbed the back of my pants.
"what the fuck are you doing?" Heim asked.
"I coulda swore I shit myself" I respond.
My brother was covering the door of the house with the PSL "we have to go right now" his voice carried urgency in it that made me look down the street in the direction we had came from. It's a clear night, making it easier to see things and it was easy to see the lazy jog of infected coming up the street.
"Keep pace with me" Heimdall orderd as he took off.
Stealth was no longer a concern of ours, not being a happy meal was top priority now. As the zeds wailed and chased us Heimdall turned south at a main intersection in town to get us back to the road the Freightliner was on. I occasionally turn and fire a few rounds at the infected chasing us. I would knock a few down making the ones behind fall over the ones I shot. -yes I did try to shoot a few in the head but that was next to impossible running backwards- Heimdall would fire a few rounds into zeds that where in front of us so we could get past them. I catch back up to my sister-in-law "Here" I say as I pull the ruger .45 out of its holster. She slings the .22 and takes it "only shoot if you know you'll hit it in the head" I gasp from all the running "I only have one extra mag for it."
"How far" my brother pants
"One more mile" Heimdall calls as he turns us back to the west. It's a straight shot back to the truck now. There a few more explosions back and to our south. "Could use a few of those here" Heim exclaims as he fires at some more zeds.
I turn and fire of two rounds, mag is empty. I drop the mag out of the AR and reach around to my back left side and pull out the beta mag, I have a feeling I won't have time to reload very soon.
"Heim, where not going to make it at this pace. We won't have time to start the truck." I try to say but I've been out of breath for a while now but I have no choice but to keep going.
"Worry about one thing at a time" Heimdall yells back.
Just then then Heimdall runs up a car turns and kneels on the roof and unloads a mag at the zeds. He jumps off and runs beside me as he reloads.
"Hundred yards back and the truck is just ahead" he gasp.
"Will they make it to use before we can get it started?" I try to say between breaths.
"Maybe"
"then run faster," i order. Heimdall glances over at me and puts all he has left and runs ahead of us. "Give me the .45 back" I try to say to my sister-in-law.
"I shot 7 times" she said. Thank God she counted her shots. A mag in the ruger .45 holds 8 rounds, plus 1 in the pipe when I handed it to her. I let the AR hang on the sling as I drop the mag of the .45. Sure enough one round in it, I trade the mag out for the full one, and put the ruger in it's holster. If I have to use the last round I pray I have time to reload..... I won't end up as one of those things.
Heimdall reaches the freightliner 20 yards ahead of us and gets in, I really hope he checked the sleeper. As we reach it I jump up in front of the fifth wheel and behind the cab and open up on the zeds. With my heart rate this high and my breathing this heavy, my accuracy suffers greatly. Time to spray and pray. As I'm unloading the beta I get rewarded by hearing the engine come to life. "Hurry up there on top of us" I yell. I continue to unload the beta not caring if I hit them any where vital as long as I slow them down.
I know what Heim is waiting for though, if he tries to go to soon he may stall the motor and then we're royal fucked. Zeds are five yards out, I'm not even aiming any more and head shots are a lot easier at this range. We start rolling forward, infected are trying to climb on the back with me as we move, I'm firing fast enough the AR sounds like its full auto. As Heimdall works the truck fewer and fewer infected can keep up with us which is good because the beta mag is empty and I switch to the .45 and cap the few still hanging on to the truck. As I holster the .45 I can't help but to think where were all the "real people". I lean back against the cab of the truck, now safely at speed, and sink down to a sitting positon. I put my last mag in the AR and put the beta back in its pouch. Then I reload the mags of the .45 with the ammo out of my pack.
After I'm done I look up at the clear night sky and I can't help but to see the faces of the zeds that crossed my sights, especially the children..... may God forgive me.....

[Heimdall]

Must go faster, must go faster I say to myself as we near the rig. "Hurry up there on top of us" I hear as I take a flying leap for the steps and get in the cab. "Shit I Dropped the keys" I yell to Gamer and his wife as they enter the cab, the look of terror ceases as the glow plugs are ready, and the rig comes alive. "You mother fucker." He says, "NOW of all times?" his wife adds, "Gota have some fun in life." I say as I start throwing gears. A few miles out of town I have them ask Trip if its all clear, when he says it is I stop the rig and get out.

"Why are we stopping," Trip asked "I was fine riding in back." "Yea well, its your turn to drive." I explain. "My turn? I've never driven one of these things, how long am I driving for?" Trip asked. "Well its time to learn, and all the all the way back, I'm not going with you guys." I say, showing him the small bite mark on my wrist. "Fuck, When how..."I cut him off " When you were nearly nailed, I was. Then I got the one off you an we left. I gota go back and kill that thing." "What good will that do, there has to be some thing..." "There ain't shit to do" I cut him off again "I already don't feel right I'm gonna die, and all is not right in my little world, I gota at least try to get him back. Sides he started it, its only right."

The other two come to join us, "Whats going on why are we stopping so long?" "Trip, you shit yourself again?" they ask jokingly. "Nope we had to stop and bury our dead." I explain, showing them the wound. There is no sound, but there look says enough. "I left my guns in the rig, the Berettas low, the Witness is int bad on ammo, and theres two full and one partial for the AK, and I'm keeping my .38." "What are you going to do?" asked Gamer. "I'm gonna go kill the son of a bitch that killed me." I reply, the sound of determination in my statement "But its like five miles back and you only have five shots, you'll never make it back there!" He exclaims. I can only chuckle at first, then to a boisterously loud laugh. "Like I got shit else to do with the rest of my life. Sides I got five more Hydrashocks in my pocket." I reply to him, "Now get the hell out a here fore y'all end up like me." I order them.

I give Trip a run down on how to drive the rig and they start her up to leave. "You sure you'll be all right, what if a hoard gets at you I can spare the AR?" Trip asked. "No, I got my machete for that." I reply, "Get goin." The truck lurches and shakes to a start. "Don't mix the clutch damn it, clutch out, THEN gas. Don't you drop my rigs clutch half way home." I yell at Trip as I watch them off before turning to head the other way, time for payback, and a long damn walk. They better make it back, if not I'm kickin there asses in the afterlife.

I'm a few miles in to my walk, I'm sweating allot more than normal and I feel nauseous, its only been twenty minutes since I was bitten. I wonder how long this takes to happen, it was only for an instant, he barely got a taste of my arm when I saw him and pulled away. I wonder why that one didn't continue to attack us he just squirmed around in the hedges. Another mile in and I stop, I'm puking up god knows what, the bile burns, but as much as I'm use to vomiting it always sucks coming out of my nose. I'm getting close, but I don't know which one will come first, my revenge, or his victory.

"Well lookie here." I say as I approach the un dead scavenger from earlier still clutching his empty Beretta. He moans towards me as I draw my machete, with one swipe I take off his head. His body drops but his heads still alive, I give him a chop to end his misery that I'm approaching. "Mine." I say as I take the new Beretta 90two from his hand, theres some blood, and a few scratches on it from when Trip tossed it, looks pretty new otherwise. I search his body and find a spare clip, after I clean it off I load it and stuff it in my belt just as a sharp pain hits my abdomen, gota keep moving, I want my payback.

I arrive at the house where it all happened, I feel like boiled hell. My skins hot, like I bathed in Tabasco sauce and my chest hurts. "Remember me?" I ask as I approach the Zombie. Hes coming at me dragging his legs. I see a nasty buckshot pattern in his back, guess thats why he wasn't in a hurry. I step on his back as he lashes out at me and then I reach for his wallet. "Id like to know the name of the man who succeeded in killing me, if you don't mind?" I say to the once man, now trying to attack me yet again. "Robert W. Frazer, Nice to meet you. I know you wouldn't have tried to kill me if you knew any better, so no hard feelings. Well, good bye Rob." BANG "Ill be joining you soon." I feel a little better now, I'm not sure if its because I ended Roberts suffering, or I got my payback, but Ill enjoy it wile it lasts, I still feel like the fifth ring of hell though, I don't think I have much longer now.

I sit on the hood of a near by car and lean back on the windshield, Its a nice night, with out the city lights you can see so much more of the star lined sky. I hear a few Zombies approaching from a distance, there dull moaning combined with the shuffle of lazy steps. I look at the .38 in my hand, and cock the hammer. "Well, time to go." I say to the night as I raise the gun to my head.

[Yeti]

Warning I watched "Crazies" last night so I'm feeling the Zombie love for today.

This is a list of the current presidential line of succession, as specified by the United States Constitution and the Presidential Succession Act of 1947 (3 U.S.C. § 19) and subsequent amendments to include newly created cabinet officers.
1 Vice President
2 Speaker of the House
3 President pro tempore of the Senate
4 Secretary of State
5 Secretary of the Treasury
6 Secretary of Defense
7 Attorney General
8 Secretary of the Interior
9 Secretary of Agriculture
10 Secretary of Commerce
11 Secretary of Labor
12 Secretary of Health and Human Services
13 Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
14 Secretary of Transportation
15 Secretary of Energy
16 Secretary of Education
17 Secretary of Veterans Affairs
18 Secretary of Homeland Security

218 is needed currently to reflect a Quorum in electing a new Speaker of the House.
51 is needed currently to reflect a Quorum in electing a new Senate Pro Tempore

Mid-day newscasts show more street fighting with various units across the nation's cities, though newsfeeds are strangely lacking of Northeastern Cities with the exception of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine seeming to maintain control in their states.

Utah is seemingly begining to stem the tide out of Salt Lake City, though they are not sure if it's a result of a successful containment or the result of the infected leaving the area already.

Casualty/Infected Rate numbers scroll along the bottom of the screen for the World and major US cities with their last official tally date.

London 90% infected, Great Britan 50%
Tokoyo 80%+, Japan mainland 85%+ last report 4 days ago.
Paris 75%, France 65-70%
Rome 70%, Italy 80%, Vatican City being held in force by Swiss Guards though casuality rate is high. The Pope has been given shelter aboard US flagged ships in the Med.
Sydney, Austrailia 75% was last reported 2 days ago, no further word has been heard since containment was breached.
India last official reports were 3 days ago at 70%+
Hong Kong & Bejing China both reported at 80%+ 2 days ago
Mexico City 95%+

No word accompanies these reports on when they were taken or the status of their containment.
New York City, NY 90%+
Boston, MA 80%+
Philadelphia, PA 70%+
Pittsburgh, PA 70%+
Miami, Fl 85%
Tampa, Fl 70%
Minneapolis, MN 70%+
Los Angles, CA 90%+
San Diego, CA 80%+
Portland, OR 70%
Seattle, WA 80%
Houston, TX 85%
Austin, TX 80%
Chicago, IL 75%
Detroit, MI 85%
Washington, DC 95%
Baltimore, MD 95%
Charolette, NC 70%
Atlanta, GA 90%
Baton Rogue, LA 80%
New Orleans, LA 85%
Cincinati, OH 85%
Columbus, OH 90%
Des Moines, IA 90%
Kansas City, MO/KS 95%
St Louis, MO 95%
Anchorage, AL 70%
Note: The list is far from complete, for figuring out your area, use a 20 mile = 1.0% rule. Find the closest of the cities. 100 miles = 5% less on the average number of infected. If any of you actually get to 0% congrats you win ZPAW.

Now back to the first bit of Presidential Succession.

Evening Newscasts again call for all Elected Leaders to report in to the nearest surviving military unit in person or via radio. If you have web access you can even contact them through this station's webpages.

Those checking internet, will see a banner link FOR CHECK IN OF ELECTED OFFICIALS, clicking it will be a questionaire of position, length of term, municpality elected by, election date, seated date.

General news is carried next with more Civil Defense readings, and how to approach the military directions.

[DarkAxel]

1 July

Things have been wonky for the last couple days. The soldiers haven't left yet. The new additions seem to appreciate every meal and they have taken over zed-killing duty, but the Captain stays holed up in his Bradley most of the time. The boys in ACU talked everlastingly to each other, but fell silent when a local passed by. By the end of their first whole day in camp, I got the distinct impression that something was amiss. For one thing, the medic didn't inspect a single woman after the Captain had spoken to him yesterday morning.The tac radio wasn't picking up anything more than local radio traffic. By the time I laid down last night, I would have killed to know what was being said on the command freq's. I also found out that the preacher was seeing the Captain on the sly, thanks to M--------.

This morning, three soldiers marched my old NG squadmate out to the intersection and executed him for desertion. After that, the Captain announced that the Acting Governor had called up the unorganized militia: Every non-infected male between the ages of 18 and 35 were being placed under the authority of the Kentucky National Guard. More soldiers arrived this afternoon, led by a Major Pike Anderson. I was told that I had been reactivated and placed in charge of the militia from my community.

What the hell is going on?

[BassDrum]

Power has been out for a long while. We're doing okay on food, but not as okay on water. The tap water started to have a foul stench a few days back, so we stopped drinking it. We're still using is for washing and such but we're burning through the stored water faster than we can handle. We may have to go out for more water soon.

We're only okay on ammo. A good bit of our stock was used up in the attack the other night. A man walked around the neighborhood today. He looked healthy, and was just scoping the place out. He ended up breaking into the house across the street when it got dark. He was looking pretty Tacticool with his Black boots and AR-15, but if he has any true skills we may need him to help up gather supplies. Hell, if he's still alive he's probably a hoss.

[Yeti]

1 July

Things have been wonky for the last couple days. The soldiers haven't left yet. The new additions seem to appreciate every meal and they have taken over zed-killing duty, but the Captain stays holed up in his Bradley most of the time. The boys in ACU talked everlastingly to each other, but fell silent when a local passed by. By the end of their first whole day in camp, I got the distinct impression that something was amiss. For one thing, the medic didn't inspect a single woman after the Captain had spoken to him yesterday morning.The tac radio wasn't picking up anything more than local radio traffic. By the time I laid down last night, I would have killed to know what was being said on the command freq's. I also found out that the preacher was seeing the Captain on the sly, thanks to M--------.

This morning, three soldiers marched my old NG squadmate out to the intersection and executed him for desertion. After that, the Captain announced that the Acting Governor had called up the unorganized militia: Every non-infected male between the ages of 18 and 35 were being placed under the authority of the Kentucky National Guard. More soldiers arrived this afternoon, led by a Major Pike Anderson. I was told that I had been reactivated and placed in charge of the militia from my community.

By 1655 hours, all uninfected would have to evacuate to Hazard. No explanation was given. Three men failed to report to muster this evening at 1600 hours. Soldiers went to their houses and shot them out of hand. Every other man who showed up wanted my blood. I could see it in their eyes. I had brought them here. I was responsible for them being here. Because of me, my neighbors and family were being loaded on trucks with whatever they could carry. We crossed the Perry County line at 1703 hours.

Three B-52s rumbled across the skies toward Jackson at 1705. I couldn't tell what they had dropped, but the impacts shook the pavement as we made our way toward Hazard. The double-flashes told me all I needed to know. Jackson was no more. Most of Breathitt County was no more. We had been warned to close our eyes, but the cries of agony in the back of the 2 ton truck told me some had ignored the order. When I opened my eyes, three mushroom clouds rose into the roiled air. Everything I had was gone. My home, gone. My community, gone. The infection in Breathitt County, gone. Along with what or who ever remained.

Ummm how about no.

[Tater Raider]

1 July

(some stuff)

Three B-52s rumbled across the skies toward Jackson at 1705. I couldn't tell what they had dropped, but the impacts shook the pavement as we made our way toward Hazard. The double-flashes told me all I needed to know. Jackson was no more. Most of Breathitt County was no more. We had been warned to close our eyes, but the cries of agony in the back of the 2 ton truck told me some had ignored the order. When I opened my eyes, three mushroom clouds rose into the roiled air. Everything I had was gone. My home, gone. My community, gone. The infection in Breathitt County, gone. Along with what or who ever remained.

Ummm how about no.

From the sidelines:

I could see where the military, in order to eliminate the threat the virus poses, would use nukes. Having said that, they are under civilian authority and would not be used without proper authorization. Having argued both sides I think Yeti is the ref so it's his call.

When I posted stuff about the militray I was talking with my nameless brother in Arkansas, former Army and current AR NG. He would tell me what he thought the NG would do (it's his area and he knows the people after all) and if it made sense and advanced the story or he insisted I'd post it. He also threw in curveballs you guys saw me post, like the houseboat incident. Thought this might help you guys still writing.

Yes, I'm still reading this thread and I'm loving it. Please keep it going!