Setting the Scene

Chapter 1. A bid for freedom
Date: 18th January 2016
Location: Plymouth ferry Dock, Devon, UK

Days since infection started: Day 23

9 days ago those infected started to fall into comas.

5 days ago the government had announced a lottery would take place to decide the people that would be taken on a ferry to the Channel Islands where it was clear of infection.

3 days ago those lucky enough to be chosen were announced. Your families were chosen. Angry mobs formed and riots started. The government battled to control these but found it difficult.

2 days ago the riots continue. On top of this those infected start waking up. They started attacking those not infected. With much of the military and police force engaged there was little that could be done to stop them. By the end of the day millions were dead.

Present day:
It has been a long three days since your family’s name was announced. Your pick up was delayed a day due to the riots and the rise of the infected. Even though the infected have not yet affected Street and Glastonbury you still have had your fair share of problems. Several people have shown their displeasure towards you and your family, you have even had some people try to force their way into your homes. As a result you have been forced to defend you homes in some cases with more severity than you were prepared for. At 4am your family were escorted by military personnel from your homes onto a large truck. Here is where you meet each other and including myself . You find the atmosphere a mix of relief and nervousness. You know it is a long journey still ahead especially with infected and rioters still causing trouble.
Once the last family is on-board (approx. 10 families) a woman dressed in military apparel gives each of the families a folder. Looking inside you see ID tags with your names printed. Underneath your names are on the paper along with the corresponding ID numbers. Your eyes are then drawn to the bold wring underneath which read:
Leaving from: Plymouth
Destination: Guernsey, Channel Islands.

As you read it a smile appears on your face when it starts to sink in, it is really happening. You sense the mood rise as people start to accept their fortune.

(Cough, Cough)

You look up and see the military woman looking at you.

“Each of you will now receive an identification chip. It will be injected just below the skin under the left armpit. This is so we can confirm who you are and you will be allowed access onto the ferry. We are doing this because there have already been leaks as others have tried forging the IDs. By scanning the chip with one of these (she lifts up a handheld scanner) we will be able to confirm who you are.”

The injection hurts for a moment. The chip is scanned with a reader and it lights green and the woman reads out your name and number.

The journey seems to take an age. The woman informs you that the roads have become clogged with cars some of them abandoned. She also informs you that Plymouth was hit hard by the infected that have reawaken, and that they are extremely dangerous and should you be attacked do not hesitate to kill them. Early reports suggest they cannot be reasoned with and do not behave like normal people. She also tells you that when you approach Plymouth and pass through that there may be gunfire as this will be to clear the way and to put down any infected.

No sooner do you reach Plymouth her words are immediately confirmed. Gunfire booms out from the Humvees that escort the truck. You also can hear an unearthly wails/screams, which instantly sends a shudder down your spine. These noises make the children and some adults scream and cry. Every now and then you hear a bang against the side of the truck along with that now unmistakable scream. The truck moves faster and faster swerving every now and then.

As you draw closer to the ferry port you hear numerous people shouting for help and wanting to gain access to the port and a megaphone denying them access. As you pass through the gates you hear a loud “SHUT THE GATES!!!”. Following this you hear masses of screams from the people outside the gate and then gunfire. You come to a screeching halt and are shouted at to disembark as quickly as possible. As you do you glimpse at the gates you see the gunfire coming from two .50cal gun emplacements which are being aimed behind the panicking people. The gates and fences and now shaking and FALL!!

The people start pouring in as you and your families make a break for the ferry. As you get to the gate you both get knocked to the floor as your family pass through and they shut the gate as the people come crashing into it. You hear a loud scream and you recognise it and for the first time you see in person the infected and they are running right towards you.
You are forced to make a break for it….

2nd session:

After returning to Fort Austin they hear Cpl Knox mention that he heard them people responsible for the ambush refer to themselves as the 'Angels of Death'.

Lieutenant Mahoney thanks them for their efforts and offers them a bed for the night and longer should they require it. Kim asks about contacting her family and that they haven't answered her calls. He mentions they may not have signal but Signaller Arthur may be able to contact the boat for them.

When they enter the comms station they meet Signaller Arthur who has just lost signal, much to her displeasure. Gary and Kim learn that military personnel were not allowed to be entered in the lottery. She tells them that she has lost signal and is unsure as to what the source of the problem is. Kim offers their help, she thanks them but until she know what the issue is she will not know what they can do to help.

Moments later they hear loud explosions. Rushing outside they see that the explosions emanated from Plymouth's city centre, still a bit too close for comfort. Mahoney tells them that he knew that there were mentions of bombings as a potential fail safe but didn't think it would happen. He also asks them if they could come to the briefing in the morning as it will be the first time he has been able to properly gather everyone since the base was breached.

Gary wants to find out more about the 'Angels of Death' and so they head to the infirmary where the medic (Hyde) is tending to the unconscious soldier's (Neale) wounds. Knox tells them that they got to the location both him and Neale went in while the other two stayed by the vehicle. They heard a commotion and the other two had been killed they shot at the gang and they fled. He is sure that he hit one. Afterwards some infected came and that is went they dragged the bodies into the store room and blocked themselves in. He also remembers seeing a winged skull motif on the back of their leather jackets. Gary and Kim use their phones and find out that there have been reports of the Biker Gang seen using an old church but the location is unconfirmed. Also there have been noise complaints around the Egg Buckland area.

Gary tells the Sergeant that he is unsure about the Lieutenant's leadership capabilities as he seems to not be taking control of the situation. The Sgt reassures him that the Lieutenant is good and he will show that he has the skill to lead, also that he has been knocked back since the attack and the sudden responsibility that has been thrust upon him.

After getting a bite to eat they find their quarters and take rest for the night. However it is a relatively sleepless night with their minds running wild with thoughts of their families and the days events. They even see visions of the infected and hear their screams, except the screams are real and they are coming from outside the walls. Showing perhaps they are more active at night!?

DAY 24 SINCE THE INFECTION STARTED

In the morning they attend the briefing.

They learn that 73 personnel perished in the attack on their base. The everyone participated in clearing the bodies and moving them off campus and 'secured', because they did not know if they would come back like those infected had done. He introduces the Gary and Kim to the everyone.

The Lt. also starts several missions:

1. Find out more about the 'Angels of Death'. Stevens is to lead a recon team back to the ambush site and gather any intel they can and perhaps trace where they came from.

2. Find more medical supplies. He tells Chinery to map all the known locations of hospitals and local surgeries.

3. See if there any survivors at Efford Fort. Communication was lost after the initial attacks.

4. Arthur has traced the problem to the compound just outside the base. Arthur leading the group find out the source of the problem and rectify if possible.

Gary suggests that they completely block the main entrance and use the smaller entrance at the front as the main one creating a funnel effect. Also perhaps booby trapping the rear access as well. Kim suggests going to a local builders merchant to collect extra resources to do this. The Lieutenant tells Chinery to find the nearest one as well.

Gary and Kim offer their help in going to the compound.

As a team of four (Gary, Kim, Arthur and Smith) the head through the back exit and into the wooded area. As they get closer to the compound they hear a cry for help. They find it is coming from near a fallen tree and see a pair of feet sticking out from underneath. As they get closer they see the person is already dead and a rustling in the bushes ahead of them is a gaunt pustule covered old man with a creepy smile on his face. Then multiple ear splitting screams announce the arrival of 10 infected running at them.

They make a break for the compound. Gary takes a pot shot at the old man and hits but not killing it. The infected get closer about 30ft or so away from Gary now. He runs. Smith 80ft away stops, turns and kneels and fires off a 3 round burst killing one outright. Gary runs past him. Kim and Arthur storm ahead. Smith fires a single shot killing another the moves again. Arthur (much fitter than Kim) has already reached the gate to the compound and opened it and shouts for them to hurry up. Gary at this point sprints past Kim and gets into the compound and turns and waits for any infected to come into the gate. Kim manages to reach the compound and goes around the fence pistol drawn ready for any to come around the corner of the fence. Smith has only just got to the corner of the fence and has a close call with an infected. he manages to get into the compound and turns next to Gary and aims at the gate. Arthur shuts the gate and locks it, as simultaneously Kim shoot at one at the corner but does not kill it, and Gary and Smith unleash a hail of fire killing one. A few shot after and the gate is cleared whereas Kim has 3 next to her by the fence and she is stood in a 5ft gap between the building and it. She shoots one while another sprints off back where they came from; but another manages to pull a big enough gap in the chain-link fence and grabs her hair. Gary comes and shoots it in the head killing it; and Kim manages to kill her first one. Moments after a scream can be heard from where Gary had just been and the same infected that sprinted off has bitten him on the neck. It takes the three of them several attempts to kill it but when they do it is too late and Smith is dead.

Smith Is questioning how it got in when Gary takes charge and commands Arthur to continue with what has to be done and both he and Kim will secure the compound. Arthur finds a chewed wire leading to the dish. Afterwards both Arthur and Gary enter the small building as she wants to go in, while Kim tries to block a hole in the fence to prevent any more coming in. Gary spots a small trail of blood leading to one of the two rooms that lead off from the main room. Arthur recalls that there was always at least one person stationed in the compound. As Gary opens the door with his weapon raised an infected soldier jumps at him but fails to grapple him; however he is hit by one of his claws (and with some "luck" manages to avoid infection). It takes a couple of panicked shots to finally put it down.

Cheers my writing has never been my strong point as I always struggle to put down my thoughts or intentions

Wow, intense stuff! That sounds like a brutal firefight

Ouch! Getting colder and harsher by the minute.

Session 4

There has been a jump forward in time.

NOW
Estimated days since the infection started: 98

Days since being separated with families: 75

Date : 2nd April 2016

A lot has happened since the AoD were taken out.

The entrance has now been properly barricaded this wasn’t before several attempted attacks by the infected which you guys have now dubbed ‘Screamers’. The new main entrance which was suggested by Gary always has a medical staff member there to ascertain whether anyone is showing infection or has received any wounds.

Their efforts at Efford Fort bore no fruit; the place was a mess several bodies everywhere and a number of infected laying in wait for their arrival.

A run to Derriford Hospital and Nuffield Heath showed the extent of the infection and its toll on the hospitals. They were deadly quiet, blood and bodies lined the hallways (many from those who could not recover from the infection) and signs of struggling were shown. Gary, Kim and their team were lucky enough to find some medical supplies, grabbing anything that looked remotely useful. However in the darker areas they found screamers in what could be described as a quiet stasis. This was disturbed by a loud noise which awoke the horde and lead to them running for their lives in the process.

Ammunition start to get much lower as Fort Austin does not receive any more supplies and since guns are illegal and not very common in Britain ammunition is hard to come across (unless you know where to look and whom to contact).

A few things they have learnt about the infected in this time:
• They are VERY active at night
• They are found more in the darker areas during the day; here they can be found in a ‘stasis’ from which they can be easily awoken
• Light and noise definitely attracts them
• They have been seen eating dogs and cats but the disease is not zoonotic
• They have also been caught routing through rubbish.

Approximately 60 people have joined the community at Fort Austin. All of which are part of the general populace. Some found their way to you after being driven out of the town centre. Others were found while out on runs.

Gary and Kim have befriended a number of them especially a couple of those you rescued yourselves.

1. Geoff: early 40’s, straight shoulder length black hair, rugged facial hair, 6’, Strong and fit, red checked shirt, opinionated, stubborn, loyal, fierce, vegetarian (Kim saved his life from an ambush with some quick thinking)

2. Bryan: 30’s, bald, black 5’8”, broad, builder by trade, strong, likes to use his hands, quiet (Kim backed him up in an altercation with Kelly where she accused him of stealing food from the stores)

3. Lydia: early 20’s,long brown hair in a ponytail, Plymouth university student - psychology, friendly, helpful, kind (trapped in a building Gary got her out and lead her to safety)

4. Helen: late 30’s, ginger, helpful, typical farmers wife, afraid of men (Kim shot the male who was trying to rape her)

5. Kelly: late 20’s, black hair, trouser suit, salesperson, abrupt, adaptable (dislikes Kim after backing Bryan instead of her)

6. Burm: 30s, thai, good with melee blade, Buddhist, speaks broken English, nice, kind, loyal, married to Emily (Gary Helped him find and rescue Emily)

7. Emily: 20’s, ginger, Australian, trained veterinarian, married to Burm, soft spoken, honest, generous

8. Jerry: 40s, brown hair and beard, shirt and trousers, April’s father, only concern is to protect April, struggles to get April to talk these days (jealous of Gary as he seems to be able to get April to open up, sees him as competition as a father figure)

9. April: 12, school uniform and blazer, shoulder length brown hair, pretty, taciturn, can sometimes be found sobbing when on her own (Gary seems to be one of the few that manages to get her to talk, she reminds him of an older version of Tegan)

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The morning brings with it a heavy downpour which batters the windows of the buildings. Today Gary has been charged with leading a group for the first time to go on a run.

At breakfast Burm and Emily ask Gary and Kim if they could bring back any magazines, a Buddha and some incense if they find any. (this is now a common thing as many people ask if those that out to pick up something for them).

Soon After before meeting the team Thomas (as Gary and Kim are on first name terms with Sgt Austin)tells them that they are getting low on ammunition and they cannot give it out like they used to however the Mahoney want any group that goes out to be armed but will have limited ammunition so those going with them will have a 9mm pistol each with a full clip loaded.

The team consists of :- Gary, Kim, Geoff, Bryan, Lydia and Kelly.

Thomas explains that they have been systematically 'clearing' and searching each area and that they are to continue this. So far they have 'cleared': Egg Buckland, Leigham, Crownhill, Estover and Derriford (here is where the hospitals are which are deemed extremely dangerous, there is also a small airfield which has no useable aircraft but a useable airstrip).

They are told to go to the southern Woolwell area and go through the housing area as well as if possible visit the surgery and Premier Inn/Toby Carvery. But to also be on their guard as the noise from the guns travels surprisingly far and the hospital isn't that far away.

They take two Pickup trucks, a few 25L jerry cans and some holdalls.

They head to the Surgery which proved relatively fruitful as the small pharmacy inside had not been disturbed. (Gary pocketed some painkiller etc for himself). In the upstairs in one of the meeting rooms they heard some infected behind the locked door which they decided to leave because they couldn't open it to remove them.

They then went to the premier inn where they had no issues and gathered lots of clean bedding. They then went into the Toby Carvery where they gathered all the bottles of alcohol and soft drinks that were still there and loaded them via the fire exit, meanwhile Gary and Lydia were syphoning fuel from the cars in the car park.

Due to a lapse in Kim's concentration meant the crates were not stacked sensibly and the stack of crates fell over and smashed some of the bottled contents. This resulted in three screamers barrelling from the kitchen towards her. Sending Lydia to get the others who were either loading the vehicles or syphoning fuel she pull out her bat and waited for them.
One of the screamers barrelled to wards her and smacked her with one of its claws and was grappling her, while another came at her. at this time the other joined the fray but failed to put any down. Gary and Lydia came through the front entrance, and Gary shot at the one who was grappling Kim!!! But his skilled showed as he blew it clean away covering Kim in its blood (luck was on her side meaning no infection). One of the infected turned its attention to Kelly clawing at her face while the other grappled Bryan. Gary feeling confident fired at the one attacking Bryan but shot through its cheek muscles not killing it. Then due to a combined effort the screamer were put down permanently.

Bryan shouted at Gary for being so reckless by firing into melee combat, to which Lydia backed him up saying one of them could have been hit. Kim though thanked Gary for his efforts.






While they loaded up the rest of it onto the vehicles Gary went into the kitchen and found industrial strength cleaners and tea towels. He said to Kim and the other to put them over their faces as it may help keep the blood splatter off their faces.

Session 5

So the team move onto the housing area of the South Woolwell area. It looks like some people have attampted a couple of road blocks on a couple of the entrances to the estate. It doesn't take long for the team to quickly fill the vehicles. This isn't before Gary is sure he sees movement at the end of the road. They try one last house which has 3 infected inside. They decide to take them on with their melee weapons while waiting just outside. Their reactions are not quick enough as they come barreling out at Gary, Kim and Kelly. Kelly dodging the attack while Kim takes a hefty blow. Gary buries his hatchet into its skull while Kim hits a 'home run'. It takes mere moments for the others to pacify the last infected.

They decide to head back to base with the full vehicles and rest as Kim has taken some hits. Kim seeks medical attention in the mean time.

The next day:
Estimated days since the infection started: 99

Days since being separated with families: 76

Kim recieves some pain killers as she intends on going back out with the rest of the group.

They find a building which has some flats above it and some commercial property underneath (two salons and a Londis) Gary and Kim's eagle eyes spot some twitching in the flats above the shop. They go up while the others see what they can find. Knocking on the door Gary explains that they are from Fort Austin and there is food, water, shelter and safety there. They decline their offer. It appears these people have already cleared out the shop and the other units of their contents. Moving further down the road Gary finds a Transit van and with some surprise the keys too. He leaves the van their 'earmarking' it for later. As they go further down the road Kim hears what can be described as metal on metal scraping and bash. Going back to investigate they see the cars that were near the apartment have been moved to make a road block. They suspect that someone is trying to hem them in. Gary decides to take the van now and they move on a bit away from the road block.

They then to still continue searching for more supplies. They find a small trailer which they attach to one of the pickups. With Gary on the roof of the van which is in the middle of the convoy and Lydia at the back. The other four go in to the buildings. Gary believing it was all clear (a proper bungle with a 1/1 rolled for awareness/observation) was startled when Lydia started screaming out and a man had climbed up the back of the van and swung at Gary's legs with a bat. It hit him hurting his leg but he kept to his feet and blew the guys brains everywhere with his assault rifle. Kim hearing the scream bolted out of the house to see what the commotion was all about. She then shot at one of the people who was in the open, dropping him. Lydia screamed again which was quickly silenced. Gary shot at one of the two people near Lydia's location killing him, while Kim ran over and lead down near the first pickup. She spotted her legs and shot out both her ankles making her fall into a heap. Meanwhile the other ran and jumped into the vehicles ready while Geoff ran towards Lydia. Gary Killed the last person near Lydia while Kim 'finished off' the woman.

TO BE CONTINUED...........