Vehicles in varying states of disrepair and damage littered the roads of Atlanta, it had been one of the first major cities to succumb to the plague that resulted in the end of the world as they knew it. It didn’t matter though, those who had survived the plague, the fall of modern civilization and the zombies who now roamed around looking for their next meal were more than capable of navigating the streets – provided they were careful. Just because there had not been zombies in the area yesterday didn’t mean there weren’t any there today – it was a lesson the Faction had learned the hard way, with the loss of some of their own.

Rick Steele was not in the habit of losing people, he still had the military mindset of “no man left behind.” He had been a US Army Ranger before the outbreak. It was true, he had often risked his own life to go back for one of the Faction’s members who had been cut off from the rest of the group and would otherwise have been eaten or worse, taken captive by the Conclave.

The Faction and the Conclave were always fighting for control of the Atlanta area. Rick didn’t care about “territory” like the Conclave did but he did care about keeping people safe. He had lost his family during the outbreak and he wanted to make sure no one else went through that same hell, though he knew he couldn’t save them all.

Today was an uncharacteristically sunny day, if not for the grime of the apocalypse covering everything one would have thought it was a normal spring day. Rick would have brought his daughter to the park on a day like this, she was only three when the outbreak occurred. He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts, he needed to focus on the situation at hand. He and a squad of Faction members were scouting the area for food, they were in a part of the city that hadn’t been explored yet so they weren’t sure what to expect.

They were slowly clearing an abandoned gas station, with any luck not only would there be food but fuel and other supplies as this part of the city had been overrun with zombies until recently when the faction started systematically clearing them out of the city. Rick had his M-4 strapped over his shoulder and pointed in front of him.

“Knock it off,” he barked in a low whisper when someone started loudly opening a bag of chips.

Everyone stopped when they heard a muffled sound from the back storage area. Rick made the hand motions for everyone to get into position to cover every angle of the door he was about to open. He said a silent prayer before kicking the door in.

Lee mumbled a little in her sleep as she rolled over in the giant wad of old blankets she had managed to find, piling them together to make a little makeshift bed. The girl hadn't slept in a few days, so this was over due, of course, sleeping out in the open wasn't the greatest idea. She'd been on the run for weeks, narrowly avoiding the monsters that roamed the streets now. She had no military training and her background was nothing more than a high school student ready to head off to college... She admitted to herself that the only reason that she was alive today was her super vigilance and her ability to get herself out of sticky messes, well, most of them, anyway, enough that she had managed to survive on her own so far.

She stirred again, things were quiet, but something shifted, in an instant she was up, wrapping her raven black hair in an elastic she kept around her wrist. Systematically tucking the shorter bang pieces that hung in her face behind her ear. She'd be glad when they were long enough to pull back as well, they served no useful purpose now, other than getting in her way. In an instant, Lee was moving, taking a quick second to re familiarize with her setting. She had done so the night before when she had chosen this spot for her rest, but sleep had muddled her brain just a bit and it took a moment for the memories from the night before to come back. She remembered there being a small window along the backside of this building, and headed towards it. She was careful where she stepped, avoiding any loud noises that might alert anyone or anything to her presence. She knew that this location had been riddled with those monsters only a few days earlier, she had been casing this location from a higher location for a week and a half, she had moved the second she had the chance.

Lee could see the window, she was almost there, watching as a tiny ray of light came shining through, illuminating the dirty floor. She fled, covering the distance easily and throwing herself up onto a pile of boxes. She was small enough that almost anything could handle her weight... but these boxes were flimsy and already falling apart, it didn't take much before they practically disintegrated beneath her feet. She let out a gasp and a small shriek as she fell, throwing her hand out to the window to try and catch it before she hit the ground. It missed as she went toppling backwards, throwing her other hand out instinctively to catch herself between the floor and her the rest of her body. Her hand skidding across the rough concrete ground and she winced as she felt it scrape away her skin, her knee followed. Sucking air through her teeth from the pain she pulled herself standing as quickly as he could, she moved towards the window, limping on the knee that had just struck the ground.

A loud 'boom' announced the others in the building as the door to the back of the gas station she had been hiding in was kicked open. She had weapons, but they were really more for show, she didn't really have any idea how to use them. She had no desire of getting shot herself, so she threw up her hands in surrender and in an effort to show that she was no current threat. Of course, her stomach churned at the thought of being captured by either faction, she preferred to roam on her own, it seemed safest.

Jack grunted as his boot caved in a zombies head and growled. "Damn, gonna be a pain scrapping you off," he whispered with annoyance. He shook his head with a sigh and looked to one of five of his fellow scavengers. "Got eyes on them?" he asked while adjusting his mask and slowly inching his way to the window. The scavenger nodded and gestured with his AK-47 towards a near by gas station.

"Full squad just went in, looked to be armed pretty well," he stated and looked towards Jack. "Three smokes says I can pop off more than you," Jack grinned under his mask and chuckled as he checked his G36.

"Sure about that? If we keep making those bets I'm gonna die from lung cancer before the zeds get me," he joked and glanced out his window to see the gas station. He didn't see anyone, but he saw a few shadows slip away behind the corners. Slowly he pressed the button on his radio and spoke softly. "Simple plan boys and girls, just light em' up once you get a clear shot. Conserve ammo and keep switching positions once they get a beat on you. They try to run, take out their knees so the zeds will follow the noise. If things get out of hand though we pull out towards our original rally point. Everyone clear on the plan?" five voice quickly, and quietly confirmed their orders. Jack tightened his grip on his weapon and kept his eyes trained on the entrance of the gas station.

He felt a little pride in his team of scavengers, which he was now leader of since his most recent promotion in the conclave. He was just another grunt, but after his previous leaders unfortunate demise Jack was given control of the small scavenger team. It was odd for Jack seeing as how he only joined two months ago, but he didn't complain about it, he just enjoyed his higher rank and its benefits. Though the only benefit he got was a little more food and relaxation time. Jack sighed and shrugged. Can't be picky now a days, right?

Selena was right in front of the smart ass who was eating the fucking chips in the middle of the scavenging. Her right eye twitched at the sound of the bag being manhandled and she slowly turned, her feet shifting on the spot. "What the fuck is wrong with you." She deadpanned in a whisper, the intensity of her judging the man who was chewing without an absolute care that he might be announcing their position was so very noticeable. It was as transparent as water and only a shithead wouldn't notice it.

Her brows were furrowed, not accepting of the male's antics. Her gaze moved from the bag of chips to the man's backpack while her mouth formed a tight line across the lower half of her face. The idea was clear and, thankfully, he wasn't a complete idiot and actually was sensitive enough to put it away as she had motioned. Pleased, Selena turned back to the door and waited, sharp axe on the ready and her trusty Ruger SR22 waiting patiently against her lower back, held by her short's tight waistband, for any possible emergency her axe couldn't cover.

As their leader, Rick, opened the door, everyone pointed at the space it had occupied, covering every angle they could. What they found inside, though, was to first glance no threat. A young woman that apparently had hurt herself with her hands up and shelves with loot greeting them right behind her. Her blue eyes did a once over at the girl. Her orbs moved to the scavenging galore and started to analyze every single product that could be useful for them and their needs, knowing pretty good her mates would assess the woman perfectly well on their own. They walked in an started to check the entire room for any possible threat. After securing every crook and cranny, Vincent went straight for the loot, grabbing at cans, checking expiration dates on cereals, breads and all that shit would be needed to feed all the mouths that awaited them back at HQ.

Taking her backpack off, she opened it and started storing away what she deemed a must first; water, pads, deodorant, the few pain killers, canned food and so on while also minding the weight she was going to be carrying around.

Sound had always been the staple of modern man and theirs vehicles. The deep rumble of a diesel engine on a crowded highway, the way a Mustang barked when it gathered speed, the calling card of those who enjoyed their machines furious. All things that would eventually get you killed. All thing that had undoubtedly got many killed, as evidence from the wrecks and reanimated drivers, still struggling to free themselves from their seatbelts.

Montana's military grade truck, sprayed an innocuous dark blue, was stuffed with so much automotive insulation it's once fearsome rumble had been muted to a stifled hum. This was a sound for the contemporary human, just quiet enough to only attract the most inquisitive of the tireless legion. It allowed him to idle in near silence as well. Useful if there were humans lurking nearby. As was true in the old world, humans were still the most problematic species around.

Problematic enough to leave their abandoned cars in the middle of the road. This issue had grown worse the closer he got to Atlanta. His main options were to try and drive through, or to move them manually. If he was lucky, he could simply move them out of park and they rolled on their own. Other times, he'd have to get out and physically push them out of the way.

Luck favoured the man, and the car sitting in his way, an old sun bleached Chevrolet, rolled freely across the road, where it came to a stop against a parking meter.

Back in his truck, the man continued down the road, passing several landmarks of interest, when he caught the tail end of lucid human bodies entering an abandoned gas station. Valuing intel over rashness in this situation, Montana turned slowly into a group of abandoned vehicles, and brought his truck to a slow stop. Had it been anywhere else, he would have kept driving, but since this was his first time in the city, he wanted to speak with some of its inhabitants. How the next few moments played out would effect his method of gaining that information.