[hr][hr][center][h1][i][b][color=steelblue]Ash Holloway[/color][/b][/i][/h1][img]https://68.media.tumblr.com/c6f0f86d13839f8542e4b754c251da73/tumblr_ojog8uNf9k1qdhps7o1_r1_500.gif[/img][/center][hr][center][color=steelblue][b]Location:[/b][/color] Hordebuster -> Arnco Mills Safehouse (E10)
[color=steelblue][b]Skills:[/b][/color] Leadership [/center][hr][hr]

	There was still the matter of the Dead, though they were more sparse here than farther back up the road. The sound of a couple of them behind the house did have Ash's attention, however. They weren't getting any closer, it didn't seem, so getting his people behind closed doors and taking stock of their inventory seemed like the thing that took priority. 

	Pausing for just a second, Ash stepped back up and into The Hordebuster. Though she was not with them, Thana had left her bag in the truck. He intended to get it back to her, but if there was something in it that could help them all out in the meantime, he was going to leave no stone unturned. Ash felt fairly certain that a military woman like Thana would feel the same way if she had his rucksack, and he wouldn't blame her a bit. This was survival, period. But the thought of her did linger with him. Was she alright? Was she captured or killed? Should he pack up everything he possibly could and stage a secondary assault on those assholes in Eden, just in case? 

	[color=steelblue][i]See to your people, Captain. This is your assignment. The situation can be reassessed later.[/i][/color] Damned voice. Damned logical, pragmatic Soldier's voice. He exhaled sharply. Yes, this was his mission. Tend to his people, sweep for survivors. Broach other topics later. This is what a leader does. Okay. 

	Ash's shoulders were getting awfully full as he slipped Thana's pack over his shoulder, alongside his own. His bow was in one hand, and with his other, he began leading Niesha out of the back of the truck. [color=steelblue]"Hit those locks, just in case."[/color] he said softly. A lock on a truck door wouldn't keep someone out forever, especially in this day and age. But with grates over the glass, it would keep them out for a while longer than not, perhaps giving time to address the issue with knives and firearms. The last cab door locked, Ash closed up and trudged toward the safehouse. 

	[color=steelblue]"When we get in, I need two groups. Group A makes sure this place is clear, one room at a time. Closets, hamper, whole nine. Every entrance and window accounted for. Tiffany, Riley, that's you."[/color] He looked to Jack, a man that might have just lost everything, with some tiny piece of understanding. [color=steelblue]"Jack, you and Niesha locate supplies and give us an inventory. Start with light sources, we're going to need them. I'm going to work on the finding and setting up the radio - check in with the other safehouses."[/color] Upon reaching the porch, Ash set down his baggage and drew his weapons, pistol and knuckle duster knife. You can't be too sure, even entering a safehouse for the first time. [color=steelblue]"And let's go..."[/color] Ash opened the door and stepped inside, adrenaline of "what could be" spiking through his blood despite his notable fatigue.  



[hr][hr][center][h1][b][i][color=dc143c]Thalia Carmichael[/color][/i][/b][/h1][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/e4117d5f-65c8-4b8e-98df-5810a59267c5.jpg[/img][hr][b][color=crimson]Location:[/color][/b] Eden, Entry -> Grand Gallery outside of Reception on the left wall, behind a pillar
[b][color=dc143c]Skills:[/color][/b] Stealth, Survival, Pistol [hr][hr][/center]

	Gunfire always sounded different to Thalia when it was indoors. It seemed more personal, somehow. It was very personal in this instance, but mostly because Team Leader just used some asshole's neck as a sound suppressor. The real trick was that it didn't suppress very much sound. Worth a shot, though. For herself, Thalia preferred to use sharp things whenever possible. It was strange, giving it a nanosecond of thought, she wasn't the slasher type back Before (because Before was special and therefore had to be pronounced as if it were a proper noun). She was mostly a city girl. The uprising of Dead over Living changed things a bit, and she was damned grateful for every one of those training sessions with her family involving all things sharp and pointy. The Apocalypse let her use what she learned without moral dilemma; on the Dead at first, and then the Living as it was needed. What was scary was the ease at which the transition was made. Perhaps there was a bit of evil in her. Perhaps more than a bit. Or maybe this was the natural condition of humanity at large when pressed into a need to survive. Thalia wasn't military, that was obvious. She would stack her training up against theirs as it mattered in keeping alive, though. 

	The call of "Clear" from the side room was good enough for Thalia. If they were taking this place apart room by room, great. She just hoped they could find the armory, if this place had an armory, and soon. Thalia might not have enough bullets to go around. The sound of singing could be heard, though blocked by bits of interior wall. To begin with, Thalia wondered why in the hell someone would be casting their voice that loud in a mortal setting such as this, giving away their position and... ...and then she heard an element of a Kiwi accent. Or course it was Lola. She almost smiled. Crossing the main hallway, Thalia moved to take position in the doorway of the next room up. Thana was kind enough to clear the first room; it would be impolite not to return the favor. 

	When she got as far as the next pillar up on the left side, she realized her error in stepping out of the shadows. It was where she did her best work. Those accompanying her in this little endeavor were trained for this sort of thing, assaulting strongholds and laying covering fire and the like, but it was still sort of new to Thalia. Some experience is better then no experience, but the rookie mistake she made was assuming that the hall was clear. From behind the pillar opposite of the room she was considering clearing came an Edenite proper. He looked scared, which was both good and bad for Thalia. Unfortunately, she was not in a good position to use her blade properly, so before the man could raise his rifle, Thalia let a quick bullet fly from her new Beretta. It went wide, poorly aimed and in haste, prompting her to give consideration to getting a little more practice in then next time they had an overabundance of ammunition. But her problem was more immediate. 

	The man had ducked back behind the pillar, as she was tempted to do, herself. That was a defensive measure, however. They were on the offensive. No establishing a foothold or any of that stupid shit that she saw in every old war movie, this was simple "kill and move forward". They had the numbers [i]and[/i] the home field advantage. Then again, they also had a balls-moron sentry who couldn't hide behind cover without exposing his knee. A grin cracked the ash over her face as she put a bullet into the guy, partially blowing his kneecap off. He fell forward with a sustained scream of shock and pain, quivering slightly in the dim light. The second bullet pounded hard into his forehead, not quite center but good enough to get the job done. 

	Her shoulder pressed against the wall, she risked a peek from behind her own pillar. The room she had intended to clear wasn't cleared, and she couldn't tell if others were holding position father up the hall or advancing. Thalia [i]hated[/i] wasting ammo. And she was kicking herself for not getting handier with a rifle. [color=dc143c]"Need some covah out here!"[/color] she called, only as loudly as she dared. She didn't quite want to give away that it was only three of them on this side of the building.