[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] Outside Newnan, Southern Gate -> Parking Lot of Building [b]4[/b] (nearest Gilbert St across from Building [b]1[/b]) [/center][hr][hr] A lady ought to be free to die on her own terms, especially in this horrifying mockery of the world. Death was imminent for Astrid. In Ash's mind, she could do whatever the hell she wanted to from that point forward. If it was not her way to be surrounded by her people (or at least those that claimed her as their own), then so be it. If he had any regret with the situation (aside from his people getting killed, that is), it was that he could not provide for Astrid the clean, warrior's death that she had given her sister, Bridgette. She had her own plan, and he had to respect it. Before entering Newnan, Ash opened the door to the Hordebuster and stepped out onto the dusty ground below. For the first time since accepting an order from Lieutenant Colonel Leann McCormick, the former Commanding Officer of the Newnan Safe Zone, snapped to attention and raised his arm in proud salute. Those women were every bit the soldier he was; the distinctions of training and specific disciplines notwithstanding. They were probably better fit to survive in this new world than himself. The irony of that thought was not lost on Ash, either. He held his position for as long as he dared, his duty to the survivors being the priority. It was time to come home. Slowly at first, Ash pulled his massive truck into Newnan. They had a job to do. Within the Inner Wall, across from the Courthouse, Ash parked his 'Buster and switched into "incident mode" as people gathered to do what was needed. [color=steelblue]"Alright! Priority goes to the living. Smooth and easy, I need two gurneys from Medical brought around. Expect shock, expect that they cannot assist themselves much. Keep it gentle."[/color] He looked to a few others assembled, continuing, [color=steelblue]"Casualties. Far more than are acceptable."[/color] As if any were, especially for mercy work such as they were attempting. [color=steelblue]"Prepare the deceased for interment. Lay them out, recover anything of use from them. Weapons, armor, tools, meds, whatever. Catalogue everything and report. If they haven't already taken a blade to the brain, make that happen."[/color] Ashton turned his attention to his radio. [color=steelblue]"We're back. All stations, report in order of building assignment. Courthouse first, Mess, etc."[/color] His thumb had fallen away from the button on the walkie, indeed the apparatus was descending from his head when he spoke again, to no one really. His face remained the same stony vision as it had been for the past hour, more or less, but his voice felt vacant. [color=steelblue]"We lost our girls."[/color] [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]2[/b], Mess Hall -> The Hordebuster, Building [b]4[/b] Parking Lot [/center][hr][hr] James had come to help out, as everyone else had who was respectful of Ashton's orders. What he saw was sadly familiar. Additionally, he saw that state that Ash was in, recognizing it from previous incidents. He was holding it together in a way that was both admirable and frightening, [i]if[/i] you knew the man. If you didn't, it looked like the carnage didn't touch him. James was tempted to offer his services and take over the situation, let Ash get some rest and quiet, but he knew better. The man needed a project for his brain to push through logically, no matter how gruesome or stressful it might be. At least he could give a basic report. [color=firebrick]"Hey, Boss. We gots Guy up top on a rifle. Fire's stopped, but there're heaps of shit 'cause of it. You need talk with Froggy. Nothin' we can do right now 'bout it, though, don't think. Oh! Gotta guest, set up in the Mess Hall. She seems aight, be we got a gun on her, same old, same old..."[/color] James let his words trail off. There was a bit of work to be done before anyone could rest tonight. [color=firebrick]"Tellya what, Bossman... Everything gets offloaded, imma take a bucket to your truck, k? We can have a sit-down like last time. Talk stuff over."[/color] The Captain didn't speak, merely giving the overall clad man the barest of nods. [color=firebrick]"Okay! Let's get to it, then."[/color] There was indeed a lot to do.