Hondo's Cabin - After Chaos

Fernando

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Re: After Chaos
Reply #1280 - Jun 12^th, 2016, 1:54pm

Technical & Personal Note:

The Spirits are only working in Texas. They are rebuilding the Power Grid, Rail Ways, and highways there. They are not, as per your (Jeanette - the writer) admission that the Texas spirits are not operating, fixing or repairing roads outside of Texas. They may have interests in such areas outside of Texas, but they have not done anything for to improve the way. At best they surveyed the roads and put down to map they clearest way to get to Charlton Texas though the (former) Interstate highway system. Jeanette, Fernando and the "crew" is no where near Texas, as they are in the lower part of Montana or there abouts, only having traveled some 200 miles from their starting point and have another 1600+ miles to go. The 1600+ miles depends on what roads they take and thus it can be longer or shorter.

Except by some cooperation with some other Spirits to get people and the campers to Jeanette, the Texas Spirits did nothing on the improvement of the roads in this area as they are still concentrating their efforts in Texas. This has been done by the people and towns of the area. Thus in knowing this - Fernando does not give a rat's rear end about what claims Moro has about the Texas Spirits did in Texas because it has no affect or ramifications on where they are at in the current moment, which is no where near in Texas. Perhaps when they reach Texas and Fernando sees what was done that he may have a change of thought about them. But until them, Moro does not have a leg to stand on.

Remember, this trip is to take several days, if not weeks to complete. Possibly even months. It is best to make the best of it and do what has to be done. All Fernando sees is Moro bragging about the Spirits and their accomplishments; and he sees little to nothing in what they are doing in the here and now. Perhaps if Moro was a more pro-active member of the group in finding safe haven mutant friendly towns to drive to or fresh food to barter or gather and does her share of the work to take care of the camp site and those who are part of it, things would go easier. I am not saying that she should be in the kitchen tending to the children, but there is a situation of slavers raiding group, who is going to do what when they strike? The crows will protect Jeanette and those near her, but what about the others? I doubt they will extend themselves that much to protect 20+ people. Thus Fernando and Hondo are going to gather Intel on the Slavers and if needed, do a preemptive strike against them to protect the group and the nearby towns. In the end this is a Mad Max World, but one that is more recovered and thus more organized and more capable like a small city-state nation.

After the third town, the group should travel west and south towards Sturgess on the same direction as I'm guessing Gabrielle will be, where there will be a large motorcycle & gang rally going on. Here is an opportunity to make friends and deals to get protection for the couple thousand miles to the Texas Border. It is also a place to blow off some steam as the pressure within interpersonal relationships are getting onto a lot of people. But this trip will take another 5 - 8 days to complete and 4 towns minimum to go through. From Sturgess, we can hit a large state highway and onto the interstate from there. In the very least, it is going to be very interesting. Hope Jeanette is a party girl, and it would be best if she walked in her EMT uniform instead of her Pioneer dress, this will bring her more respect to those there...

During or after Sturgess, we find Gabrielle. That depends on how the rpg goes.

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Hondo I. Sackett

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Re: After Chaos
Reply #1281 - Jun 12^th, 2016, 2:19pm

Note: remember as well as containers Hondo has the fuel trailer now too.

Hondo went back to his camper and went right to his gun cabinet.

Valentine: what's wrong?

Hondo: nothin' yet. Can you pack me a lunch, Val? Zoey, go get miss Ruth for me please.

Zoey nodded and dashed out the door.

Tonya: something has to be wrong.

Hondo: I wanted Zoey out, so I'll explain quickly. The slavers had tracking devices on the vehicles we took from them with self destructive devices built in. They probably know we are here but they might not. They know we are formidable so they might be waiting to set off the vehicles until they got here.

Valentine: what! We have been sitting around with bombs in camp!

Hondo: the garage in the last town disabled the unit on Ruth's truck. The SUV however was still active.

Tonya: they are going to come get us again, aren't they?

Tonya was obviously afraid. She had fought before and had been brave for Zoey but now, still down an arm and weary from the days before she wasn't in a state to go through it again. Hondo walked up and put his arm around her.

Hondo: don't be afraid. We are in this together. I won't let the slavers have any of you. Now, Fernando and I have to take care of some stuff. Karl will stay here to help guard.

Tonya: he'll probably just run.

Hondo: eh, I doubt it. He has been given reason enough to fight to the death here as it would be a treat compared to the alternative.

Tonya: what happened?

Hondo: it's one of those things that I'll hafta explain later.

Tonya: there seems to be a lot of that around here.

Valentine: oh, sweet thing, if you only knew.

Hondo let go of Tonya and continued grabbing gear. He put on his double drop leg holster with two colt annocondas, a shoulder holster with a double stack 1911, his derringers went into his vest pockets, a 22 mini revolver went into his hat crown, and he strapped a small. 380 to his left ankle. He had his knife, a shot gun, a lever action carbine, the M1 and he grabbed his war bag. He hoped he didn't need even half of what he had but spares we're good. He grabbed a second large Bowie and threw it into the bag and grab his field Med kit as well. He set them outside the camper for now. About then Ruth showed up.

Ruth: you wanted to see me.

Hondo: yes. Fernando and I have to take care of some business away from camp.

Ruth looked at the guns and spare ammo and then looked back at him.

Ruth: dare I ask?

Hondo: probably better not. Anyway, slavers might know we are here. Not sure but there is always a chance. Want you gals armed at all times. Karl will stay and guard. Please let him do his thing.

Ruth: I still don't know what you have against him.

Hondo: I saved your lives. I think you at least owe me the trust on this.

Ruth looked at the ground: sorry.

Hondo: just do as Fernando and I say and you'll be alright. We'd never purposely try to to hurt you, physically or emotionally. I don't take please in keeping you two apart but I have my reasons. Please except that.

Ruth: I will.

Hondo: OK, good. Valentine will coordinate things here while I'm gone. Thats all.

Ruth nodded and headed back to her group to talk with them.

Hondo turned to VAL and Tonya.

Hondo: keep the tracking exploding device deal quiet. They don't need to know.

Valentine: should you be burdening Tonya with all this.

Hondo: she's a Sackett now. I need to trust her with this as she is part of my family. When Zoey is a bit older I will need to trust her with the same things. Its part of the privileged and burden of being a part of this family.

Tonya: I can handle it.

Hondo: atta girl.

Zoey came running back from the talking with Esther and Susanna.

Zoey: where you going?

Hondo: to work.

Zoey: what work?

Hondo: I help folks. Thats what I do.

Zoey: can I go with you?

Hondo: not now. Its a bit dangerous for you, little lady.

Zoey: I will be good and help!

Hondo: I said no. I need you to take that the first time I say that. I won't repeat myself again. We need to have a long father- daughter talk when I get back on what's expected of you.
Your ma can get started with it if she has time.

Valentine: rather wait until you are there.

Hondo: understand. Zoey, some day you will go with me but it's when I know you are trained right, I can trust you, and you're strong enough to handle it. We will teach you and find out what you know soon and go from there but for now I need you here watching. If anyone comes to camp get Val and stay with Tonya. Tonya, Val, teach her to reload your weapons in case of trouble. Tonya, use her as you extra arm if you need to.

Zoey, Tonya is your big sister now. Listen to her and Val. Do what they say.

Zoey: Okay daddy. Daddy?

Hondo: yes?

Zoey ran up and hugged him.

Zoey: I love you. Please come home again.

Hondo realized that most likely her dad had left and been killed. He needed to get that story from Tonya, bit there was no time now. He hugged her back and kissed her on the cheek.

Hondo: don't worry, my little kitten. Ill be back.

Zoey: papa used to call me kitten.

Honor haugged her again then let her go. She ran inside the camper, not wantingnto watch him leave.

Tonya: take care out there. Don't want to lose you either.

Hondo gave her a kiss on the forehead.

Hondo: don't you worry none, foxy lady.

Tonya giggled for the first time since Hondo had met her.

VAL walked up to him and looked him in the eyes.

Hondo: what you gonna warn me about, ma'am?

Valentine kissed him passionately, pulling her body into his. After a moment she pulled away. Tonya was turned, watching out of the corner of her eye. When caught she flushed enough to be seen even with fur, and turned away.

Hondo chuckled at that and turned back tonhis wife.

Hondo: that was a he'll of a warnin'.

Valentine: that wasn't a warning. Just giving you a reason to come back in one piece.

Hondo: meet you in the rain room tonight.

Valentine: I'll have drinks ready and we'll lock the doors.

Hondo: sounds like a plan.

Hondo grabbed his gear and headed to meet Fernando.

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Well the cowboy, like the red man, you had to leave your land
You can't raise your stock and plant your crop in the gumbo and the sand
Greed disguised as progress has put us to the test
They won't be glad until we're gone from our home out in the west
It's sad to see those good old days replaced with greed and doubt
Soon we'll leave the country, the campfire has gone out
Bid 'em all adieu, you can't turn the world about
The cowboy left the country, the campfire has gone out

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Jeanette

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Re: After Chaos
Reply #1282 - Jun 12^th, 2016, 5:26pm

Note: Earlier I did say they are only operating in Texas. As I studied the infrastructure I realized the Texas Spirits couldn't be confined to just Texas. They need to go beyond the Texas border. As I looked beyond the Texas border, I saw opportunities in what's left of the United States and Canada. So yes, the Texas Spirits did repair entire sections of the Interstate highway system outside of Texas.

Because of what you and your player character are doing, I'm having to fight every lie spoken and every dreamed-up accusation instead of actually writing a story. The Texas Spirits were proactive. Guess who complained about it and threatened to leave and guess who is the player who wrote two crewmembers going AWAL?

The party does not need to make deals to get protection. But guess what, two people threatened to walk out because of the protection they were receiving. Protection is there for ALL members of the party, not just Jeanette.

Jeanette Isabelle

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Fernando

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Re: After Chaos
Reply #1283 - Jun 12^th, 2016, 6:39pm

"There's nothing on the Slaver's motorcycles." Fernando tells Hondo as he approaches the Slaver's SUV, "You ready to go?"

"Ready as I'll ever be." Hondo replies back as he puts the weapons on the center console of the seat.

"Good. I got a couple things as well. We'll prepare along the way." Fernando shows off his cordless drill with a 1/4in bit on it.

Together they get into the Slaver's SUV and head into town.

While filling up the tanks and jugs in town, Fernando goes into Joe's Plumbing and gets a few pieces of scrap PCV Plastic piping and ends. He then goes to Tom's gun shop and asks for a couple pounds of gunpowder and "Slo-Burn" fuses. When asked, Fernando shows off the device he found in the slaver's SUV.

"We find those all the time in Slaver Vehicles we recycle. We just cut the wires when we find them." Tom tells him.

"This will be no more." Fernando tells him.

"So we're on for tonight?" Tom asks.

"We need to move it up to right now." Fernando tells him.

"Then hold up, I'll get the guys together." Tom says.

"I'll be at the gas station filling up. I'll wait for you guys there and then we're leaving with or without you." Fernando tells him.

"Hold up." Tom says as he ducks into a back room. He comes out with two mid sized metal carrying cases, the lettering on it faded, but Fernando can make it out as LAWS - Anti-Tank Portable Missile System. Fernando looks at the metal boxes. "They're probably duds but knowing you, you can get them to work."

"You just bought yourself extra 10 minutes. Make sure to bring the best drivers as we will be driving hard and fast." Fernando says.

Tom nods at him as Fernando gathers the bags and metal carrying case. He heads out to meet with Hondo at the fuel filling station. Hondo notices the metal carrying cases Fernando is carrying.

"I'm not goin' to ask where you got a pair of LAWS from." Hondo begins.

"Tom says chances are they are duds but with some luck maybe we can get them to fire." Fernando says as he puts them into the back seat.

"Primers probably went bad. I could fix them in the truck but that would take time." Hondo points out.

"Don't have time. But I got parts to make a dozen of so pipe bombs you will be assembling while I drive. Tom and a couple friends are coming with us. I told him that they got 10 minutes to get here." Fernando tells him, handing him the bag of pipe parts and gunpowder. No sooner as he finished his words, several vehicles arrived and surrounded them:
https://www.wired.com/images_blogs/photos/uncategorized/2008/05/05/alsv.jpg
http://www.cgsociety.org/cgsarchive/stories/2002_7/Sigma/PAV_right1.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/3KoSh36.jpg
http://static9.comicvine.com/uploads/original/11112/111124633/3230505-sword+apc. jpg
http://www.public.navy.mil/spawar/Pacific/Robotics/PublishingImages/Dune%20Buggy /dbuggy2.jpg

Out of the fourth one, an old lady in worn out battle gear comes out of it.

"Somebody here call for a war against the slavers?" She yells out like a Drill Sargent.

Fernando and Hondo look at her before Fernando asks, "Who are you?"

"Field General Majorine Jastrey." She answers.

"You're wearing a Major's uniform." Fernando points out.

"It's a field commission. The general was killed in battle and I was the next highest ranking soldier to take over and was promoted to Field General. We won the battle." General Jastrey answers.

"I'm not going to ask what battle that was..." Fernando says to himself, then he says out loud "Where's Tom?"

"Here I am!" An arm comes out of the vehicle's window she came out of.

"Boy! What I told you about exposing yourself?!!" General Jastrey tells him, then turns to Fernando and Hondo, "Where are your credentials?"

Tom is heard saying to himself, "Yes grandmother..."

Fernando pulls out his wallet and shows her his federal government ID to her.

"Hmmm... A Spy Boy Toy. I hope your Intel is rock solid." General Jastrey tells him.

"If I had a map, it would be rock solid." Fernando tells her.

General Jastrey signals him to follow her. Hondo finishes the filling of the SUV fuel tanks and jugs, putting them into the back the SUV. General Jastrey reaches into the back seat where she was and pulls out a roll and unfurls it on the hood of the bumper.

"They are here - its almost a 3 hour drive to get there. The biggest problem is that they always seem to know we are coming and get the jump on us." General Jastrey points out on the map and verbally.

"I got this." Fernando pulls out the device he found in the Slaver's SUV. It is connected to a motorcycle battery.

"What good that will do us?" General Jastrey asks.

"It's the remote self destruct from the Slaver's SUV. When it start clicking, then we will know that they know we are here and think they blew up the SUV. We'll blow up some explosives to make them think they got us." Fernando tells her.

General Jastrey nods. She then yells as she rolls up her map, "Lets Roll Hard and Fast Fellas!!! Radio Silence On Channel 3.5*!!!"

Fernando and Hondo get into their Slaver's SUV with Fernando driving and lead the group onto the mission.

- - - -
*Note: CB Channel 3.5 - a skipped frequency between CB Channels 3 and 4, at a frequency of 26.995 MHz.

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Fernando

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Re: After Chaos
Reply #1284 - Jun 12^th, 2016, 7:34pm

Quote from Jeanette on Jun 12^th, 2016, 5:26pm:

Note: Earlier I did say they are only operating in Texas. As I studied the infrastructure I realized the Texas Spirits couldn't be confined to just Texas. They need to go beyond the Texas border. As I looked beyond the Texas border, I saw opportunities in what's left of the United States and Canada. So yes, the Texas Spirits did repair entire sections of the Interstate highway system outside of Texas.

Because of what you and your player character are doing, I'm having to fight every lie spoken and every dreamed-up accusation instead of actually writing a story. The Texas Spirits were proactive. Guess who complained about it and threatened to leave and guess who is the player who wrote two crewmembers going AWAL?

The party does not need to make deals to get protection. But guess what, two people threatened to walk out because of the protection they were receiving. Protection is there for ALL members of the party, not just Jeanette.

Jeanette Isabelle

Fernando is playing his character. And I did say that he will do and say things that others will not like.

I find problems with the Texas Spirits working outside of Texas as you stated, because it makes the RPG too simple to do. With them in the mix, there ill be no highway gangs, no slavers, no raiders, no Pro & Anti Mutant towns, not much of a challenge to anyone in this RPG.

Furthermore you have stated "Japan, Israel and parts of the USA exists. The rest of the world was destroyed." That is where I get my point about getting Latex from Mexico being difficult as Mexico would have been destroyed by this logic. Thus Canada would be destroyed too.

It is more believable that the towns and villages cleaned up the highways up to 10 miles so they can be connected to other towns but the middle part between towns would be a problem. The Texas Spirits would believable if they remained and worked in Texas. People outside of Texas would know of them as interfering, and making one sided deals because that is how they see them. It just shows that no body is getting the big picture on what is going on and them being secretive only makes it worst. It anything they extended their work just 100 miles outside of Texas but that would be the limit they would reach.

We go to Sturgess, we can talk to various groups, make deals for safe passage for what favors we can do for them, and they can get us what is the fastest route and mutant friendly towns are there along the way.

Such a trip is possible. Consider this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsAVL2wROww
3 girls and a guy in a vw camper on a 6 week, 10,000 mile journey. Thing is, they broke down a couple of times and we have yet to do so. They got their maps, and made friends along the way - great for them. This is what I'm going for - town hopping and making friends where we can. Though the video is sped up, they are averaging 65MPH. We, because of the condition of the roads, are doing 45 at best. Much of their North/Mid Western ride is what we are taking, especially the ride around Yellowstone Park where we are currently at from my calculations. And in this area, what interstates are there at least 50 miles away.

We can make this fun and serious or the spirits can get us a magic carpet and get us to Gabrielle and then to Texas through use of their teleport beam. You wanted an RPG, you got an RPG. Jeanette is doing fine but she could be doing better. All the other characters are being played to the best of the abilities of their players and circumstances given. The Texas Spirits working out s Texas would not work because they would not be the Texas Spirits. They would be the North American Spirits, and that will not go well with the other spirits.

So we can continue as we were or you can get the Texas Spirits to Teleport us all to Texas and end the RPG at this point. Do the latter, any future RPG would not be worth doing.

Just because Fernando as a character is pointing out issues and problems he sees the Spirits are doing does not end the RPG. Nor does it take them out of character. Fernando is playing his role in his mistrust and anger against them. Nothing more. Moro is either to accept him as he is or leave. It's that simple. If it makes her uncomfortable, then Fernando is doing his job. She is supposed to be a Spirit, a level above what she thinks Fernando is, so what Fernando has to say about is to roll off her like water off a duck's ass. But she's going to nitpick and try to convince him of others wise? That says that she is hiding lot more than meets the eye and he can see through that veil of secrecy. That is all I can say on the subject.

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Fernando

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Re: After Chaos
Reply #1285 - Jun 12^th, 2016, 7:49pm

Quote from Jeanette on Jun 12^th, 2016, 5:26pm:

Note:
...
..
.
Protection is there for ALL members of the party, not just Jeanette.

Jeanette Isabelle

Then why did the spirits not help Hondo when he was shot? You said it yourself in the past posts, the Spirits are there to protect Jeanette. Nobody else is mentioned but I'm assuming that those with Jeanette get the crow's protection.

But Fernando has no protection except for what he can create. Same with Hondo. Fernando does not want the crows around him to report to who ever it is they report too in the name of protection. He can deal with what situation is thrown at him. If Jeanette can not do the same on her own, then she is worthless as a rescuer and as an EMT. Why the crows want her is beyond me.

If anything, as I pictured it when we started, Jeanette should be at Fernando's side looking over a map with him and saying "We should take this route." or "We should spend a couple nights here." But she is not giving any form of input and Fernando is getting all the Intel gathering as to how the group should proceed.

What I find amusing is that Jeanette was looking forward to be part of a caravan and yet when she was on it, what input you had her do was that she bored of the situation. She finally met up with the reality of it was not as exciting as it could have been. I bet if she drove the VW Camper off a cliff, the crows would put it back on the road for her. There is no surprise there.

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Jeanette

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Re: After Chaos
Reply #1286 - Jun 12^th, 2016, 11:03pm

Note: First I want to make sure something is clear before we proceed. When I say "Moro's people" or "Moro's ancestors" I'm specifically referring to one group who split into two during World War II: one of the groups in Japan [not the group who held Chihiro captive] and the Texas Spirits. This group arrived from one planet and is not related to any other group. The Native American Spirits are from another planet. The two or three groups you and Hondo introduced [the group who brought Hondo here, the group in Fernando's moon base and the group working for the slavers] are probably from their respective planets. There are small groups who are from Earth. I said this before; I believe it's worth repeating. The term "Spirit" is given by humans from Earth to anyone who is either not from Earth or is not human.

With that hopefully clear, let me address the first thing you said. Fernando's threat to Moro's group that he will go back in time and prevent this race from ever existing, if they do not fix a mess they did not create nor do they know who are what caused it, is creating a problem. They know Fernando can carry out that threat.

I don't believe that would make the RPG too simple. What I believe will make it too simple is if the Texas Spirits bring back modern medical technology. I resolved the issue in my mind by making refills for existing medical kits and NOT make new ones. To keep new kits from being made, certain items should not be made though Jeanette was staying in character when she recommended that her favorite first aid book be printed.

Don't forget Arendelle. For clarification governments are no more. The land and some of the people are still there. To address a problem you pointed out in the early planning stages, there are thriving settlements in the former U.S. territory outside of Texas.

It's already established that the Texas Spirits are working to rebuild the infrastructure outside of Texas. We either stick with what is established, ignore all claims of the Texas Spirits working outside of Texas or undo all that in the next change in the time line.

The Texas Spirits made a promise to do everything in their power to protect the entire party, not just Jeanette. The Texas Spirits backed off when Fernando and Hondo threatened to leave if the Texas Spirits continue with their protection. It may not be as exciting; I believe the Texas Spirits should do everything in their power to uphold their promise even if Fernando and Hondo complain. Even if it means Fernando and Hondo will leave, the Texas Spirits should do what they can to uphold their promise.

Off the top of my head, the only time they were written out of character is when Hondo wrote two crew members go AWAL. I brought this to his attention and he did nothing about it. Remember, a Spirit is someone who is not human or not from Earth. The Texas Spirits are more technologically advanced in some areas but they are not higher beings.

Let me add this. Keep your character in character. Even as a writer you have not addressed some of the things I believe need to be addressed such as why does Fernando say the time loop ends when Jeanette completes the mission when to the Texas Spirits it appears the time loop is tied to Jeanette's fifty-six year journal?

Jeanette Isabelle

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Jeanette

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Re: After Chaos
Reply #1287 - Jun 12^th, 2016, 11:06pm

Quote from Fernando on Jun 12^th, 2016, 7:49pm:

Then why did the spirits not help Hondo when he was shot? You said it yourself in the past posts, the Spirits are there to protect Jeanette. Nobody else is mentioned but I'm assuming that those with Jeanette get the crow's protection.

But Fernando has no protection except for what he can create. Same with Hondo. Fernando does not want the crows around him to report to who ever it is they report too in the name of protection. He can deal with what situation is thrown at him. If Jeanette can not do the same on her own, then she is worthless as a rescuer and as an EMT. Why the crows want her is beyond me.

If anything, as I pictured it when we started, Jeanette should be at Fernando's side looking over a map with him and saying "We should take this route." or "We should spend a couple nights here." But she is not giving any form of input and Fernando is getting all the Intel gathering as to how the group should proceed.

What I find amusing is that Jeanette was looking forward to be part of a caravan and yet when she was on it, what input you had her do was that she bored of the situation. She finally met up with the reality of it was not as exciting as it could have been. I bet if she drove the VW Camper off a cliff, the crows would put it back on the road for her. There is no surprise there.

Hondo did not get help because he said he would leave if he got it and because he, the writer, wrote the two crewmembers going AWAL.

It was mentioned before; I will say it again. The Texas Spirits want Jeanette because of her journal, not because she's an EMT.

At first crows were guiding the party. There was a complaint over that so the party was given two maps with the route they were to take marked on it.

Jeanette was not board on the way to the current town. There was not much to say other than the brief conversation with Hikaru.

Jeanette Isabelle

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Hondo I. Sackett

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Re: After Chaos
Reply #1288 - Jun 12^th, 2016, 11:37pm

Back at camp all the ladies had strapped on pistols and had rifles set nearby, except for Zoey, Macey, and Jeanette's group, as they had kept to themselves mostly that day so far so information hadn't been given to them. The women folk and Karl tried to act inconspicuous, going about daily chores, wearing jackets to keep their hardware hidden and keeping long guns in arms reach but not out in the open. Karl got up on the camper roof with a lounge chair and pretended to nap as he kept a look out.

Valentine went over some steps for reloading with Zoey and Tonya while Ruth watched Macey and the two little boys.

Zoey practiced loading magazines and Tonya practiced one hand may changes. Tonya had the small .32 NAA Hondo had given her as a back up and Val set her up with a Sig Sauer 9mm and spare mags on a belt pouch. It took Tonya a bit to get a hang of one handed may changes but once she figured out the best method for her it went very well.

Zoey complained about not getting a gun too.

Zoey: But Tonya has one.

Tonya: I have had some training on them at the school. You haven't yet.

Valentine: They planned to sell you as warrior slaves and taught you how to use a gun?

Tonya: Not all were sold to area combat groups. They trained some of the better scoring of us to use hand guns, at least the basics to see how we did. If we excelled we could go on to advanced weapons and train as body guards. We didn't know, of course, that they were going to slave us out until after it happened.

Valentine: If you don't mind me asking, why were you two sold?

Tonya: I'm not sure about Zoey.

Zoey: I had bad dreams about papa dying. They said I was broken and would be too much trouble not fix.

Valentine: They sold a little girl to be killed because she needed love? Those animals! Come here, Zoey.

Zoey came over to her and Valentine hugged her.

Valentine: You are not broken. Don't let them tell you what you are. You deserve folks who love you. We might not be the best but we will always love you.

Zoey: Thanks, momma. I love you too.

Zoey pulled back bit sat on Valentine s knee for a bit.

Tonya: I was to be sold because of my looks. I excelled at hand guns but they said no one would hire a guard that looked like me. I was getting too good and they we're afraid if I learned any more I'd be a problem. So they sent me off to die.

Valentine: I just can't understand some of these animals logic. Their loss is our gain, though. We gained two beautiful daughters.

Tonya: Yeah, about that. We need to talk.

Valentine: OK. What's wrong?

Tonya: Alone, please.

Valentine: OK. Zoey, why don't you go get Ruth to get Macey and the boys ready to come over here for the day. I have something special to show you all when you get back.

Zoey: OK.

Zoey took off and Valentine turned back to Tonya.

Valentine: We can talk now.

Tonya: OK. About this daughter thing. . .

Valentine: You change your mind?

Tonya: Oh. No. No. No! Nothing like that at all.

Valentine: OK, then. What about it all.

Tonya: First off I am grateful to you guys for taking us and. . . and I do love you guys but. . . I just don't feel comfortable calling you mom right now.

Valentine: Oh. . .well, if you don't feel comfortable calling us you patents that's not an issue.

Tonya: You misunderstand. I. . . I called Hondo dad already. . . I. . . it just. . .

Valentine ( sadly ): You don't want me for a mom?

Tonya: It's not that it's just. . . You feel more like a friend to me. I. . . it just feels odd to call you mom. I still love you and all I just.

Valentine: It's OK.

Tonya: No, I see I hurt your feelings. I . . . I didn't mean to.

Valentine: No, no, sweetheart. I would never push you to call me something that didn't feel right. Even if you called me mom I still want to be your friend too. I would never want to lose friendship between us. Just call me Val. If you change your mind later that's fine. If you never do, I'll care for you just the same.

Tonya: OK. Thanks.

About that time Zoey returned with Joanna, Ruth, Macey, and the boys.

Ruth: We brought them and some snacks we made.

Valentine: OK great.

Valentine introduced the kids to TV. They we're enamored with it. Joanna stayed with them. Val setup a movie list so they wouldn't have to learn all the controls. She showed Joanna how to pause, play, stop and controlled the volume. Joanna was pretty impressed too. Valentine put on mostly old western movies for them to watch. Once settled in Tonya, Ruth, and Valentine went to Ruth's camper to do further loading and may change training with Ruth and the other two girls as well as dry fire training with some, not Hondo's training snap caps.

Back to top

Well the cowboy, like the red man, you had to leave your land
You can't raise your stock and plant your crop in the gumbo and the sand
Greed disguised as progress has put us to the test
They won't be glad until we're gone from our home out in the west
It's sad to see those good old days replaced with greed and doubt
Soon we'll leave the country, the campfire has gone out
Bid 'em all adieu, you can't turn the world about
The cowboy left the country, the campfire has gone out

IP Logged

Hondo I. Sackett

YaBB Administrator

Behind you!

Posts: 1349
Gender: male

Re: After Chaos
Reply #1289 - Jun 13^th, 2016, 1:17pm

Hondo built the explosive devices as Fernando drove.

Hondo: damn, jefe! Did you miss a pot hole?!

Fernando: no time to take it easy.

Hondo: I know. Just nearly drilled through my hand on that last bump.

Hondo held up his left hand to show blood trickling from a 1/4 inch hole, down the back side of his hand and onto his copper wrist band.

Fernando: how bad is it?

Hondo: it's a long way from my heart. Merely a flesh wound. Just let me know before we Co airborne again.

Fernando: I'll try.

Hondo: I sure hope they leave the women folk alone.

Fernando: the sooner we take care of them the better chance we have of them leaving our camp alone.

Hondo: yeah, I reckon. Just, . . .

Fernando: you have more to worry about than you and Valentine now. I know.

Hondo: yeah. Never been a dad. Worried I won't be what they need.

Fernando: you will do fine and I'll be around if you need advice.

Hondo: I appreciate that.

Fernando: you got the explosives done?

Hondo: almost. Why?

Fernando: getting close and the road looks worse ahead.

Hondo: I'll be done in two shakes of a lambs tail.

Back to top

Well the cowboy, like the red man, you had to leave your land
You can't raise your stock and plant your crop in the gumbo and the sand
Greed disguised as progress has put us to the test
They won't be glad until we're gone from our home out in the west
It's sad to see those good old days replaced with greed and doubt
Soon we'll leave the country, the campfire has gone out
Bid 'em all adieu, you can't turn the world about
The cowboy left the country, the campfire has gone out

IP Logged