[hr][hr][center][h1][i][b][color=steelblue]Ash Holloway[/color][/b][/i][/h1] [img]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a203/D__S/michael%20biehn/american%20dragons/tonyluca3.png[/img][/center] [hr][center][b]Location:[/b] The Hordebuster [/center][hr][hr] The Hordebuster carried on as it was designed, forward with dread certainty. Were he outside of the vehicle witnessing its approach, it would likely a very intimidating sight. But piloting this beast (as one does not merely [i]drive[/i] a truck like this) gave him a sense of righteous motivation. He was going to get there, he was going to save his people, he was going to get the wounded back home. As if to underscore the afore mentioned dread certainty, he began to come across the Dead. A trickle at first, but in rising numbers. The few that straggled on the road met with a gruesome end, caught by the giant wedge on the front of the vehicle and flung far and wide. The pitter-patter of metallic clunking sounds percussed in Ash's ears, a good half of them popping like overripe fruit as the Hordebuster rolled through. Most were off the road, but it was a small matter of time before they decided that his massive truck was a more attractive lure than whatever they were after originally. After taking the call from Astrid, the obvious answer: They were interested in Newnan. Explosions did that, apparently. They would be safe inside the 'Buster, all of them, if he could get his people inside. Newnan had good walls, they would be okay, too. But they had to move fast. About that time, Meg's voice came through his radio. [color=steelblue]"Good. We'll be there in less than a minute. Hold tight."[/color] [center][i]Less Than A Minute Later...[/i][/center] There were times that Ash was bothered by his kneejerk ability to bury his emotions under a layer of matte granite rationalism. Disturbed, even. It allowed an open, genuinely feeling person like himself to do things that were horrible in nature, barbaric even, without hesitation or moral compunction. Then there were times like now that he was grateful to be able to bury his almost compromising grief and shock. More death. So much more death. People he didn't know, people he did. Bridgette was dead, outright. Some lady he'd never met, impaled on the limbs of the fallen tree. Others in the back of the crashed truck, but Ash couldn't tell if they were living or dead from his vantage. And Astrid - She wasn't dead yet, but it was inevitable. Two of his went out, and he lost them both. More than that, he had really taken a liking to them both. Ash could easily say that women like that didn't exist anymore. And that was truly a shame. [color=steelblue]"You don't get a bullet, Astrid."[/color] he responded to the Shieldmaiden, quietly. [color=steelblue]"Not unless you ask for it or you're already dead. When we're done here, if you need help with something more appropriate, talk to me."[/color] The gruff Captain tapped the handle of his machete. One soldier to another, if she wanted a warrior's death he would be honorbound to provide it. But not right then. Right then, he climbed atop the fallen tree to assess the situation more fully. He tried very hard to avert his gaze from Bridgette's corpse, though he was glad to see that the same courtesy he had offered Astrid had been given to her. Ash deepened his voice and addressed everyone present. [color=steelblue]"Here's the deal: We have a clear path back, or at least we did five minutes ago. I need everyone able to get the wounded over this tree and into the back of the 'Buster. [i]Now[/i], some of the Dead might have decided to follow us back, so we need to make this quick."[/color] [color=steelblue]"Meg: Take a drive back up, see if you can pull off any of the Dead trailing us. Grab a bag of Molotovs if you think you'll need them. We've got three."[/color] [color=steelblue]"Jack: Cop, right? Climb up the 'Buster's ladder, get a good vantage point. Lookout."[/color] Ash offered the Massachusetts native his carbine. [color=steelblue]"It'll just get in my way."[/color] [color=steelblue]"Bazhooli: You've got good arms. Help them with the wounded and supplies."[/color] Ash himself pulled his machete and began cutting away branches from the downed tree, clearing an easier path for the transfer. [color=steelblue]"Let's look alive, people. Lot to get done, little time to do it."[/color] [hr][hr][center][h1][i][b][color=c0c0c0]The Great Bazhooli[/color][/b][/i][/h1] [img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/f619b8f0-bb27-4eb3-8056-c98ba46ea9fa.png[/img][/center] [hr][center][b]Location:[/b] The Hordebuster, Crash Site [/center][hr][hr] [color=c0c0c0]"Is nothing, Jack."[/color] responded The Great Bazhooli rather optimistically. [color=c0c0c0]"You kill next one."[/color] Inside the Hordebuster, Bazhooli looked about with a small amount of wonder on his face. This hunk of moving parts and scarred metal was a [i]home[/i], rather than just a machine built to splatter dead things across the countryside. There was a bed in back. There were weapons. There were supplies, pictures, and the faint but unmistakable smell of young liquor. He didn't have the opportunity to see what had been done to the dump bed of the vehicle, at least not yet, but he was very curious. It reminded him of his train car, the place he had lived for quite some time before his circus was destroyed by raiders. He maintained his optimism, though, fighting back the sorrow of losing his people. He looked to Jack, pointing out various interesting bits inside of the cabin. For some reason, The Great Bazhooli did not feel that he should begin plucky conversation with Ash, at least not at this time. When they reached the Crash Site, Bazhooli had reflexively reached for two of his knives. It took a second to realize that these were the people they had come to assist. He felt a little foolish, smiled awkwardly, and kept quiet. When he was given an assignment, he blurted out a quick [color=c0c0c0]"Slushayus', Kapitan!"[/color][sub]1[/sub], and immediately jumped into it. For the sake of easier labor, Bazhooli leaned his rifle against the Hordebuster, near the suicide door from which he exited the truck. Easy access in case of an emergency. He glanced back at Jack. They didn't actually know each other, at all really. But they were both very new to this group. There was a sense of camaraderie about that - he didn't know what to expect from these people, but he was united with Jack and Tatiana in that same uncertainty, he reckoned. Nothing to do now but trust, be useful, and get back to Newnan and his cat, wherever the hell Schrodinger had gotten himself off to. [hider=Translations] 1 = Aye Aye, Captain! [/hider] [hr][hr][center][h1][color=firebrick]Black James(!)[/color][/h1] [img]https://v.cdn.vine.co/r/avatars/6AE78329E91063505631975227392_pic-r-1396533712688c4afde8ecf.jpg.jpg?versionId=ZnGOSit0zozlhxpJk0w6QVx4cSozVRdq[/img][/center] [hr][center][b]Location:[/b] Building [b]1[/b] (Tower) [/center][hr][hr] James got the message loud and clear through his radio. A single person coming up to the Northern exit. They didn't use that as an entrance, generally. Hell, he wasn't even sure that they [i]could[/i] crack the gate open to let someone in. He held the walkie up to his face, staring at it for a second. James wasn't actually sure how to proceed. Either someone generally let him know how to best help, it was outside of his duties (and therefore easy to ignore), or it fell into one of the few things he was really good at. He snapped out of it, and spoke into the mic. [color=firebrick]"Naw man, that's... naw. Ain't nobody shootin' nobody right now. We got enough dead folks and not enough bullets."[/color] Well, if there's a guard for the North Gate, they've got to know how to open it. So, what was that thing that Ash and Zoie kept saying when someone showed up unannounced? [color=firebrick]"Aight, y'all know the drill. Guest drops weapons. Security detail to the North Gate. Y'all crack it open when detail shows up. I'll be there in two minutes."[/color] James nodded over to Guy. Of course he had this. It's what Guy did. Well, aside from shoveling pigshit when he pissed off the Boss. He gathered his weapons up and began to move toward the North Gate at a jog. Damned unexpected visitors, making him run again...