[center][h3][b]Joe's Journal[/b][/h3][/center] See [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/96476-convalescence-a-new-world/ic]Convalescence[/url] (A New World) by Vermillion et al. This is the Journal maintained by Captain Joseph Filion, Sr. after the plague of the 21st century wiped out over 90% of the human population on the planet. The RP takes place in the year 2032, sixteen years after the loss of mankind. Only the scant few survivors are left, trying to eke out a living. This journal starts with the death of his wife, Pam and carries his adventures forward with his two children. For more information about Joe Filion, check out the character Sheet [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/3541495]here[/url] [color=0076a3][b][i]April 3, 2016[/i][/b][/color] This is very difficult to write. I promise to maintain this journal of the events of our lives after your death. You died on a Sunday. I miss you very much. You were the love of my life. I don't know if I can go on without you, but I must. Theresa and Joseph need me to survive. They cannot without my help. This new strange world will be dark and barren without your beautiful smile and quick wit. You knew how to make me laugh. We were one person, together. Now I have a void inside my heart; an emptiness that may never be filled...I...don't know.... [color=0076a3][b][i]April 6, 2016[/i][/b][/color] We buried Pam this morning. It was difficult not to cry. Maybe some can cry freely, but I cannot. I allowed myself that when I was alone. I didn't want to appear weak to the kids. I could not cry in front of them. I miss you Pam! Please come back!!! I know you won't come back, but my heart is tearing up. What will I do. I have no plan. Maybe I should just commit sui... I can't even write the word. I know I can't do that. Theresa and Joey need me. I must be strong for them. Man, this is one of the most difficult things of my life. Harder than Ranger school. [color=0076a3][b][i]April 10, 2016[/i][/b][/color] I have resolved to go on. I must do it for Terry and Joey. They need my help. I changed into my ACUs because I would rather be somewhat camouflaged in this strange new world. I have no idea who survived this apocalypse. Not everyone will be trustworthy. I know I must find help to survive, but I don't want to think everyone is going to want to stay with others like me. I must be somewhat diplomatic. If I can approach with something to share or trade, I would have a position of leverage. Today, we took the minivan to the armory. I still have the keys. There is no one around. There never is. Not anymore. I felt it was safer to start carrying my own .45. I've had the thing since after I came off active duty. I always like the heavier punch of the .45 over the 9mm. But who knows. I guess the FBI doesn't agree with me. They say there is no difference between the .45 and a .22. I was able to get into the unit arms room. No one had been in there yet. I found the keys to the arms room in the First Sergeant's safe. Yes, I know the combination. It wasn't that difficult. I also had the keys to the supply room. In the arms room, I found the following equipment: 10x Mk 19 Automatic Grenade Launchers 10x M2 .50 caliber machine guns 8x TOW missile sights (Tube Launched, Optically Sighted, Wire guided missiles) 2x 120mm Mortar Systems 4x M240 Machine guns 4x M249 SAWs (Squad Automatic Weapons) 4x M4 Carbines with M203 Grenade Launchers 4x Mk 14 Enhanced Battle Rifles 10x M9 9mm Berrettas 91x M4 Carbines trunk full of Aluminum 30-round box magazines for the M4 Carbines. In the rear of the Armory, I found the following vehicles: 24x M1025/M1026 HMMWVs 8x M996 HMMWVs (TOW carrier) 1x M1037 HMMWV shelter carrier with S250 shelter 2x M998 cargo/troop carrier HMMWV with 3/4 ton trailer 2x 2-1/2 Ton cargo truck with 1x 5/4 ton cargo trailer & 1x 400-gallon water trailer 1x 5-ton wrecker The Supply Room contained enough sets of TA-50 gear to outfit two platoons of soldiers; at least sixty sets. I looked over the trucks first trying to decide which one I should take, knowing I wanted space to put equipment in and room for Theresa and Joseph. They are only six and four and would love to ride in one of daddy's army trucks. The deuce and a half would be too large and consumes a lot of fuel, but would have more than enough cargo space. The Hummvee on the other hand would be a more comfortable ride and I could mount a machine gun on top, assuming I can find someone to man it. It also has ample cargo space for our needs. I chose my M1025, which mounts a .50 caliber Machine gun. The bumper markings indicate 42I2C101 and C-6. In the center of the rear bumper is a black star and NYARNG. From the Arms room, I took an M240 Machine gun to mount in the pintle on the roof. I don't have any bullets for it, but at least I have a little heavy firepower. No one to shoot it either. I took twenty M4 Carbines from the Arms room plus the four Mark 14 EBRs and two SAWs. I still don't have ammunition for any of these, but the firepower is quite overwhelming when loaded. I'll work on the bullets later. The last thing I took from the arms room was the ten M9 Pistols and all the magazines I could find. Those might come in handy a lot sooner. Finally, I loaded eight duffel bags full of TA-50 equipment. Each duffel bag includes: Molle Tactical Assault Panel (TAP) or Assault Vest to include modular pouches for ammunition, first aid kit and two one-quart canteens Molle 2 Rucksack and frame 2-quart Bladder system Kevlar Helmet with camouflage cover Shelter half with pins, ropes and poles Wet weather poncho Wet weather parka wet weather trousers wet weather boots laundry bag Intrenching tool with cover I also picked up spare flashlights, batteries, four 5-gallon fuel cans, two 5-gallon water cans, three cases of MREs (Meal, Ready to Eat) and four shovels. I used a five foot by three foot cart to haul everything from the armory out the back bay door and load them into the back of the HMMWV. There was no reason to mount the M240 in the pintle yet since I didn't have any ammunition. The MREs would come in handy until we established a viable food source. At least I still had my .45. Once, I had everything loaded, the kids and I waved good bye to the minivan and we headed back to the house. I wanted to get my own personal field gear and uniforms as well as my M1A SOCOM 16 Carbine. That would definitely come in handy. The Dillon Reloading press would also be coming with us and as much 550-foot lb cord or Parachute cord I could find. At the house, I loaded up those other items as well as a storage bin filled with my reloading kit. I had reloading dies for 5.56mm, 7.62mm, 9mm parabellum and .45 caliber. Those would come in handy for now. I still had a few bags of gunpowder and primers for the cartridges as well as the tools needed to reload ammunition. These tools will come in handy as fresh ammo will run out quick. We spent the night at the house. [color=0076a3][b][i]April 11, 2016[/i][/b][/color] This morning, I began wearing the ACUs from the unit. They will be my survival clothing. I put on the Molle assault vest with 2-quart bladder on underneath, filled. I had mounted a holster for my .45 on the assault vest and inerted the pistol with a full magazine. The remaining magazines were loaded and placed in ammo pouches. After breakfast, the kids and I got into the HMMWV along with our clothing. I donned the Buffalo Bills cap I got last season. I've never been a fan of Rex Ryan, but he was really changing the team for the better. It was an 8-8 season, but I know they could do better. They just needed a few more years to develop the talent Ryan was putting in the roster. I know they will beat the Patriots this year, those no good cheaters. I ran into Gene Moll and Corbin Chandler at the Police Station. They obviously had the same idea I did. Fortunately for me, Chandler, a 6'4" black man originally from from California had the keys to the arms room. He unlocked it and we took what was there including ammunition. I kept a Mossberg 500 Tactical 12-guage shotgun and as much ammunition as I could carry. I loaded the 9mm magazines in the Hummer and kept a few available as needed. Gene and Corbin had a few survivors in their families and were willing to join us in a group. I talked them into taking a trip to Ft. Drum tomorrow. I'll share my MREs and we'll pick up some groceries from the store later today.