CapnJim's Post-Apoc Stuff: Zone Run #10 AAR Epilogue...Pg 13...08 Sep 24

[CapnJim]

Okay.  I've figured out the whole gallery thing, and embedded the Part 2 and Part 3 pics into the AAR.

Vagabond will be happy to note this milestone in my posting experiences....

[mikedemana]

Great report, Jim! It was a lot of fun to read and interesting to speculate on the motivations of the various groups that were there. I'll be interested to hear why the cold weather gear. Maybe some anomalous weather in the PEZ...? 

Mike Demana

[Dr Mathias]

Great looking setup

Great reports too!

[CapnJim]

Great report, Jim! It was a lot of fun to read and interesting to speculate on the motivations of the various groups that were there. I'll be interested to hear why the cold weather gear. Maybe some anomalous weather in the PEZ...? 

Thanks, Mike.  I know what SAE30's motivations are.  Primarily, it's find and eliminate anomalies.  Dealing with hostiles, of course, is part of the drill...

For other groups, folks who are not Hostiles get one (or more, depending on the situation) rolls on the Civilian Reaction Table in use for that scenario.   Just as I did with the ambulance crew in Encounter 1, and the LEOs in Encounter 2.  The die rolls will drive the narratives of their various motivations. 

For Hostiles, well the beasties' motivations are pretty simple.  Looters are there to steal whatever they can get their hands on.  It's the bandits that may be the real threat.  All we know at this point is that they wear cold-weather clothes in  a hot clime, and carry Soviet/Russian-style weaponry.  The rest will be revealed as we go (and as I decide what it is...  )   

[Bullshott]

Well done. A great start to your campaign

Were the bandits wearing cold weather gear because that was what the Chechens in your collection were wearing and now you're stuck with it? Just having random thoughts 🤔

[CapnJim]

Well done. A great start to your campaig

Were the bandits wearing cold weather gear because that was what the Chechens in your collection were wearing and now you're stuck with it? Just having random thoughts 🤔

Er, sort of.    But I have ideas on why the cold weather gear.  We may get some answers when they chat with their prisoners...

[Vagabond]

Well that was jolly excellent Cptn Jim, I'd seen your post but not had the time to sit down and enjoy it properly, then it got longer and longer so it was with delight when I got to read all three parts at one sitting, and with pictures too. 

Great AAR

I'm not clear who shot O'Rorke when he appeared to be safe up against the wall. I'll go back and have another look to see if I can figure it out. Maybe even he doesn't know where the round came from.

Camera work is pretty spiffy, I  like the very first shot when the van came round the corner and saw the 2 police cars, I  think it's the telephone poles that make it special. Keep up the good work with the camera, I think you may have a future as a photographer.
Vagabond out.

[CapnJim]

You're too kind, Mr. Vags.  Thanks!  I did take a photography class in college.  40 years ago.  But I still remember stuff like lighting, forced perspective, framing, etc....

[CapnJim]

"They're here" came McGuyver's voice over comms.  "Okay good.  Now we can get down to business" was Carter's response.

A few moments later, Dr. Smith came into the old warehouse SAE30 was using as their local base, Pyle in tow (he was fresh from the local ER).  "Where are they?"  inquired Smith, very matter-of-factly.  "In the back room" replied Carter, and turned to head that way.  Dr. Smith followed him.  He and Carter went into the room where they were keeping the 2, er, guests they had taken earlier today.  As Carter went in, he said, in a raised voice "Don't nobody bother us..."

It didn't take long.  They had noticed that these 2 guys were shivering quite badly in the air-conditioned building.  So they turned the AC down a bit more, so it was even cooler in the back room.  Their "guests" were ready to talk.

When Dr. Smith and Carter came out about 20 minutes later, Carter motioned to gather around him.  This is what they discussed...

1.  Their guests were all Eastern European.  They had some experience in Zones throughout Europe.  Some of their fathers had been to Chernobyl.  They were called the Cold Bloods, and their cardio-vascular systems had somehow mutated to stand much warmer temperatures than average humans.  That meant, though, that they were very sensitive to cold temperatures.  Thus the clothing they wore.  The P.E.N.I.S. Zone is their first North American Zone, but they are here to gain control of it.

2.  SAE30 will head back into the PEZ tomorrow morning, and investigate the Hot Spot they missed in the woods across the road from that farmhouse.

3.  Then, as circumstances permit, they will make contact with Jethro at his service station, and Mr. Chambers at his hardware store.  SAE30 can perhaps get some local intel (particularly about the Cold Bloods) from them, and perhaps acquire some additional equipment.

4.  Then, they would continue to recon PEZ, maybe even getting into the Medium Area.

5.  And of course, Dr. Smith took SAEs 10% of the cash.  And the artifact (which he would examine back at his lab at the University).  Mind you, he did pay the team their 50% of the artifact's value, so they have a stash to work with when they get the Jethro's Garage and/or Chamber's Hardware....

6.  Carter and Newkirk are getting impressed with O'Rouke's budding scrounging skills.  The Team may have a second scrounger in the works...

They head back into the PEZ tomorrow then....and they'll have Pyle back with his SAW...stay tuned...

[CapnJim]

Encounter #3 will take place tomorrow (Wednesday).  It twill involve Point #2 above, keeping in mind Point #1...AAR to follow...

Here is the cheat sheet for Encounter #3.  Pyle is back with the crew now, and the cash and artifacts have been adjusted since Dr. Smith settled up with the Crew.  Also, I spent 2 Renown points to get the info on the Cold Bloods from the "guests" (who will be turned over to the military for processing). 



Once they get back to 10 or more Renown Points, I'm thinking of giving O'Rourke the scrounger Trait/Skill.  We'll see how things go...

[Doug ex-em4]

This is developing very nicely - intriguing. And I have to praise your cheat sheet. I’ve been trying for something as succinct as that but yours is superior. My intention is to copy it if that’s ok?

Doug

[Vagabond]

They were called the Cold Bloods, and their cardio-vascular systems had somehow mutated to stand much warmer temperatures than average humans.  That meant, though, that they were very sensitive to cold temperatures.  Thus the clothing they wore.


They should be well equipped for Global Warming then 

[CapnJim]

@Doug ex-em4:  Thanks!  Feel free to copy my cheat sheet.  In my former line of work, we called that R&D - Rip-off and Duplicate...   In fact, if you'd like I can email you the MSWord original...if so, just PM me your email address.

@Vagabond:  I would think so.  But too bad the heat in the PEZ ain't the kind of warming you're talking about....

The next morning, before SAE30 left the warehouse to head back into the PEZ, Carter asked Robinson to look on Google Maps to check out the site across the street from that farmhouse, to which they were heading.  Robinson did so, and this is what they saw...



The drive off County Road 412 passes through a narrow wood line and curves left.  There is a tree across the drive at the bend.  It was another farmyard.  Only it looked like this one's house and barn had burned up some time ago.  There was what appeared to be an abandoned truck at the wood line, and the whole place looked a bit run down.  "Okay" said Carter, "That's what I wanted to know." 

The Military had already been in to fetch their guests, and Dr. Smith had left as well.  So they could head out too.  "Mount up!" barked Carter, and they did.  When they pulled out of the warehouse, it wasn't sunny this day.  The sky was gray and overcast.  "Maybe it won't be so hot in there" someone said.  Another replied "I wouldn't hold your breath."

Some time later, they passed though that police roadblock on 412.  Manned by the officers they had helped out at the farmhouse.  They waved SAE30 through.  A mile and a half later, they came to the drive they were looking for.  "Damn, it is still hot in here" chimed in one of the crew...

They turned right into the drive, and here is what they saw as they pulled in...





Things looked about the same as they did on Google Maps.  And it from this point that the story of SAE30's third encounter in the PEZ begins.  Stay tuned...

[mikedemana]

Looks like it will be a good one! The Cold Bloods...damn Mutants!! 

Now, as long as Professor X or Magneto doesn't come along to recruit them... 

Mike Demana

[Doug ex-em4]

………if you'd like I can email you the MSWord original...if so, just PM me your email address.

PM sent.

Stay tuned

Oh yes - no doubt of that

Doug