ZRP-2: Brave New World

Brook turned back forward and saw on the horizon smoke trails. "Guys, guys look.' She said and pointed out the windshield at the smoke on the horizon.

Sorry bout that.

=My glee turns to fear as I see smoke pillars=

Oh god no....

=I then put the accelerator to the floor=

Hibiki gunned the car. "Ready up!"
Eve sat up, bow out. The cat relocated to her shoulder. Hibiki frowned. "We need to contact the others. Tell them to get ready."

Hibiki pulled over and slowed down.

"I only have the axe- oh... oh! I kinda forgot. Sorry."

I smile sheepishly. It's weird to tell someone you forgot their name.

Abel looked out and up a a bit seeing the smoke. He muttered beneath his breath.
"That can't be good."

(James)
=Getting out of the car, I turned to look at the other cars, motioning for them to stop=
"Everybody out, we've got a situation!"

(Sam)
=I followed James, weapon drawn and at the ready=

Eve got out as well, Hibiki climbing out to listen.

"Abel, pull over." She commanded and pointed at James telling them all to pull over.

=I then slow down and pull over to the side of the road and stop. I then get out of the truck=

This is bad...very bad

=I then run over to James=

Please tell me I'm not the only one who saw that?

Abel stopped the Jeep, then started to exit the vehicle, grabbing his shotgun as he did.
"What's going on?"

Brook jumped out of the Jeep and walked over to James and the rest of the group. "The city is on FIRE!" She exclaimed.

"Smoke. I want everyone ready to go." Hibiki said. " I need the armored jeep up front. I want three in the pickup bed ready to fire." Hibiki directed. "Anything more, James?"

(James)
"Andrew, you're not the only one that saw that. Abel, by the looks of things, the Elites are under attack. By who.....I have a bad feeling I know who."

(Sam)
"What should we do?"

(James)
=I looked from her, to Hibiki=
"We do what we came here to do. We build up good relations with these people, and I think the 'how we do that' is pretty clear."

I follow Brook out of the jeep, axe in hand. I was busy staring at the smoke to talk or yell.

Abel stepped forward.
"I'll hop in the truck bed."

"What if we're too late? What if the Shepherds attacked and moved on? I don't think corpses are going to help us..."

Good, glad I'm not going crazy.

=I nod to Abel=

Good , cause I need three people with some heavy artillery in the back

=I then head to the truck, firing up the engine=

We're making a gun truck, people. Hop to it.

(James)
=I look to Brook=
"Then we take our chances, and see if we can't grab supplies. But those are friendlies, or at leas people friendlier than the Shepherds. We help them."

"Fine, James.. You're the boss here.. I've got a rifle, I can be in the truck and provide suppressing fire." She volunteered, making sure her black M14 was shown for everyone to see.

Hibiki raises the G36K into the air. "I got the firepower, but I need to drive." She paused. "Two for the back. Who's the third?"

Mira stepped forward. "Me."

"I only have an axe for right now..."

I wish I had at least grabbed the rifle. But it didn't make sense at the time to do so.I haven't even fired it...

(James)
"Alright people, weapons at the ready. We move in from behind, that means South East if we can, and attack the attackers from the rear. If the Elites have half the gear I think they do, we'll make short work of these guys."


(Sam)
"Hell yeah."

=I nod and look at Mira admiringly=

That's my girl. Knock 'em dead for us back there.

=I head into the truck cab and fire up the engine=

Abel climbed in the back of the truck.
"Who's driving the Jeep? Tyler?"

=I yell over the engine=

Might be the case!

=I look to the others=

And don't just stand there. Hop in!

"I could do that. I mean, I've driven a car before."

Brook hopped into the bed of the pickup truck and got her rifle ready. She took a few deep breaths and made sure her .357 was with her as well.

(James)
=I climbed back into the Charger, Sam and Eve following me, and strapped in=
"Floor it Hibiki!"

Abel made sure his shotgun's tube was full.
"That's gonna have to be good enough Seth!"

=I nod and floor it=

HOLD ON TO YOUR HATS, PEOPLE!

=I hear the engine roar as the truck accelerates=

Mira jumped on the back, rifle ready, and then was thrown back.
"ANDY YOU FUCKING IDIOT." She screamed, standing back up.

Hibiki floored it. Eve took Sam's hand for comfort and to steel herself.

I realize that nobody objected to me driving the jeep. I practically jump with joy and hop in. I turn the engine on and follow after the Ford.

=I give Mira an apologetic look=

SORRY BOUT THAT, MIRA!

=I then slow the truck down a bit, but keeping it at a good clip=

Abel took the left side of the truck, and held his shotgun in one hand, and had his other on the trucks frame.
I hope he doesn't flip the truck...

Brook was on the right side, holding onto the railing and using the railing as a prop for her rifle.

(James)
=As we drew closer to the city, I saw as the smoke got thicker, larger even. A collection of buildings could be seen. I don't think anyone saw us yet, and the road we were on was headed for the bridge across the river if the signs were any indicator=
"Hibiki, get off at this exit. We should be under better cover behind the buildings."

Hibiki nodded.
"And fucking stupid kids. Armored jeeps first...can't anyone understand logic?"

(James)
"In a world where the dead are rising and religious fanatics see it as the work of God, you really think logic is still going to be present?"

"When you have the armored car, I'd expect as much." She retorted. "Whatever."

I continue following the truck. I wasn't sure where I was needed. I mean I can drive, but I don't know where we're going.
The trail of smoke I presume. Maybe I should speed up and go first? I mean, I'm in a armored jeep...

=I stop and wave the jeep forward, then follow the jeep and start to pull in front of the charger=

Kids these days...

=I give a thumbs up and pull in front of the charger, behind the jeep=

"Guess I was right."

I keep heading to the smoke. Going as fast as the jeep will go actually. I hear the Transmission shift gears. It was louder then usual.
Well, from the last time Dad drove our car when it's transmission was bad. It was different then.
You see, my dad was a mechanic and I was learning from him. But anyway, the smoke was nearing.

(James)
=I rolled down the window, and made a gesture for us all to stop before we turned the next corner. Since getting off the highway, we had entered a small collection of buildings that had hidden us from view of whatever was at that smoke. Once the Charger stopped, I got out of the car, bow drawn and arrow notched=

"Okay, we move nice and slow, and stay in cover. If it is Shepherds, I want to catch them with their pants down."

(Sam)
=Following James, I couldn't help but snicker a little=

=I stop the truck and kill the engine, then hop out of the truck, my crossbow drawn=

Let's hope this works...

=I walk up behind the group, keeping my distance but watching what was happening=

Hibiki followed, Eve staying close to Sam.
"Don't waste ammo. Pick your shots carefully."

Brook hopped off of the truck and walked along behind the group, her rifle was drawn and she was very ready to fire it. She grinned at the thought of dead shepherds.

Guess we're not going in screaming and playing the drums.
Abel jumped out from the truck and hit the road's hard surface with a thud.
He then walked over to the Jeep to get his sword.

(James)
Like we didn't need to be told that already.
=We got into a group, spread out a little so we wouldn't be that big a target. We rounded the next corner, and I soon saw the battle being waged. Three blocks ahead of us, were Shepherds, in their vehicles and out of them. They were firing at this wall built around the entrance to a bridge, even trying to throw molotovs at it. I say trying because more often than not, those that had fire in their hands were shot before they could throw it. There were people on the wall, clad in what looked like SWAT or Riot gear, and they returned fire with guns bigger than what the Shepherds were using. I motioned to Eve, Sam, and Andrew=
"You three, take the left side of the block, and take cover behind that car. Light em up on my say so. Abel, Brook, and Tyler: overturned car in the middle, hit them from there. Hibiki, Miranda and I will take the right side."

(Sam)
"Sounds good."

"Got it." She nodded, not looking at James but at the battle ahead of them, waiting just to shoot one of the religious dickheads that support this apocalypse. "Just tell us when, James." She said, her finger slowly moving to the trigger as they waited to rush to their cover positions.

=I nod, and put a bolt into my crossbow=

I have no problems with that.

=I then look down the sights and head over to the left side, switching to my hunting rifle, racking a round into the chamber=

Just like a turkey hunt back home. Line 'em up.