Clearing the Market

[Scott Bruhn]

January 14, 1924
1225 hours
Portsmouth Market District
64 Degrees F, Cloudy, Storming

"Alright men, our orders just came in. We are to sweep and clear the market district. We're being sent in as the inital assualt force. Our objective is to take out as many of those things as we can, before reinforcements arrive. The british say they can be here in half an hour. Any questions? None, good. Let's move out." The CO shouted at the American infantry that had just arrived in Portsmouh.

Scott just looked at the CO with a non-caring expression on his face before saying, "Sir, the zombies are smarter than you think. It's not going to be just walk in, shoot, walk out. I'll be surprised if four of us survive."

"Talking like taht soldier can get you court-martialed. Also I know that the enemy has some intelligence. We are going tosustain minimal casualties. What makes you think a small town can take out a whole platoon soldier?"

"I've witnessed it dozens of times and each time, Odin has watched over me, making sure that I would not die. Hopefully this time'll be different, but I doubt it. If I want to be granted entrance into Asgard, I have to prove myself. Anyway, A smaller town than this could wipe out most of us."

The whole time Scott and his commander were discudding the situation, several of the new men huddled together. Their conversation was unnoticed by most of the platoon. Once finished, the men all walked over to Scott and looked him in the eyes.

"Frank, he's telling the truth. He has the thousand yard stare. But why are you using a trench gun, sir?"

"Call me Sarge for no soldier. As for my trench gun, it's what I call zombie repellent." He pumped the gun, chambering a shell. "alright men, we have our orders. If I'm not mistaken, the Lieutenant will want us to split into three groups. Any newbies you're with me, I'll make sure you know how to survive against these things. Just remember, aim for the head and watch the walls."

Scott took charge of his men and moved out toward the path that was designated to him by his CO. Moving through the market cautiously, Scott stuck up a fist to signal for the men to stop. Pointing one finger in the air, he pointed it to a wall on his left. Five men moved to the position and slammed against the wall. Scott pointed two fingers in the air and moved his hand to face a wall on his left. Five men moved and slammed against the wall.

[Nathan Ellis]

GM

As Bruhn was putting his men into formation in the street, an unseen danger was creeping upon them. From nearly everywhere but directly behind them, undead were coming to get a look at these new prey. Their prey looked different than others they had gone after, and acted differently as well. But their urge to kill everyone overrode their tiny mental warning of possible danger.

A lone Runner heard some of the soldiers slam against the building, his building, while he was eating! Pure rage surged through his veins as he let out a high pitched cry from deep inside his chest. To anyone hearing it, it sounded as if it could have been just outside their ear. This set off all undead nearby in a firey rage. Someone had disturbed them, and for that they must die.

Runner's bust out of any window that hadn't been boarded up, and came running out doors. Climberss swarmed over the walls. leaping down to the ground once they were within distance of their prey, in motions that could only be explain as ant like monkeys. This surely could have been straight from hell.

[[OOC: you've got at least 8 Climberss coming down the windows, and 11 Runners. If you stay around for long, some Crawlers and Walkers will surely show up.]]

[Scott Bruhn]

Hearing the scream coming from one of the zombies, Scott shouted, "Fire at will! Tango, Ten O'Clock." He drew his Colt for the increased range and accuracy and fired two rounds at the climber. The first round hit the cement right in front of it's right shoulder kicking up a small dust cloud. The second round penetrated it's neck and lodged itself in the spinal cord.

"Aim for their heads!" Scott continued to shout at the men. Then seeing a small group of runners coming his way,he holstered his Colt and readied his trench gun. "Tangos, 12 O'Clock." Scott let his men know before he shot a shell into the face of the closest runner, obliterating it's face completely. Pumping his gun, He fired another shell, this time blowing the shoulder off the zombie he aimed at. Chambering another shell, he fired again this time sending it to the ground. Hearing the sound of several soldiers scream in pain, Scott looked toward the sounds to see that three climbers had ambushed four soldiers and were now fighting to kill their prey. Scott rushed forward and kicked one in the neck and pumped the last two shells in his gun into the remaining three. One looked at him and jumped with an arm hanging by a small piece of flesh and muscle.

[Nathan Ellis]

[[OOC: good, you definitely got the idea of how these creatures are supposed to act.]]

A train had just pulled into Portsmouth, not 4 blocks from the Market District. As it came to screeching halt, Nathan woke up from a rather quiet sleep. Taking a quick look around, Frenchy and another passenger were still aboard. Looking out the still open door, he could see the train station, with obvious signs of fighting. Military soldiers stood nearly shoulder to shoulder, waiting to get on and head off to other fronts all over England. I should probably get out of the way before i get trapped on here, Nathan though, pushing himself up and walking off the car.

Off the car, the stench of sweat and sea hit him like a wave. No doubt from the hundreds soldiers all nervous of what was waiting for them, and the fact that this was a harbor. Making his way through the crowd, he finally found his way out of the station. In the street, there were jeeps driving up and down the road, and soldiers marching, running, or walking on the sidewalks. Not knowing exactly what he was looking for, Nathan began wandering aimlessly.

Not five minutes and a block of city later, Nathan began hearing the reports of rifles and screams of wounded. Hmmm, possibly a front here in town? Whatever it was, Nathan's curiosity got the best of him, and he took off in a job towards the sounds of battle.

As he got within a half block of the battle, Nathan slowed to a slow walk, and got up against the wall to his right. Crouching down a bit, and pulling out his revolver, he made his way forward. He could see what looked like several soldiers fighting a small horde of undead. They had taken casualties though, and a few were laying on the ground, no doubt either dead or wounded. He saw one run over to a group who were occupied with a few climbers and began kicking and shooting at close range.

He thought they could use some help, but what could he do? He only had a revolver, and after firing his 6 rounds, he wouldn't have time to reload. But as before, the good person in him overrode any sense of danger, and he moved in closer and a brisk pace, keeping his pistol at ready.

[Scott Bruhn]

The climber knocked Scott to the ground, sending his trench gun flying toward the bodies of the dead, and tried to reach his neck. Scott held it back with arm and reached for his knife with the other, but the climber swiped at his arm, gashing it pretty badly and pinned it to the ground.

"You want something to eat, huh? Take this you rotten piece of shit!" Scott told to climber as he drew his legs under the it's stomach and pushed. The result was, Scott managed to flip it off, but it landed on it's legs. Quickly un-sheathing his knife, he ran at the climber. The climber ran right back at him and jumped, this time Scott anticipated the jump and rolled to the side and stood back up behind the creature. He slammed the 10 inch blade into it's skull and withdrew it. Un-holstering his Colt, he fired the last five rounds at a pack of runners that were cornering the remnants of his men.

[Nathan Ellis]

Seeing the lone soldier kick the undead's royal ass, Nathan's moral was lifted enough for him to get into the fight. Rising up to full stance, he turned his body perpendicular to the a couple a zombies who were mauling an American soldier. Bringing the pistol's sights to bare on his target, he breathed out and squeezed on the trigger. The revolver bucked in response as it sent its heavy bullet on its way.

One of the creatures was jerked down as if being kicked by an invisible shoe to the rib cage. The creatures legs immediately stilled, but its arms continued to thrash at its prey, suggestion the slug had ricocheted within the rib cage and lodged in its spine. But now, its was too close to the soldier for Nathan to fire a follow up shot without possibly hitting the man he was trying to save. Swing his arm to the right and acquiring a new target, Nathan fired to more rounds, making the creature fall face first into the ground. However it wasn't done yet, and tried to stand. Unable to get a clear kill shot, and wanting to save the soldier at the same time, Nathan ran forward.

Grabbing the wounded soldier under the left arm and over his chest, Nathan began to pull him away from his assailants, while firing the rest of his pistol into the creature. Evidently, the large caliber rounds did enough nerve damage, as the infected man fell to the ground, writhing and screaming as his next meal was dragged away from him.

[Scott Bruhn]

While Scott ejected the empty clip and slammed a fresh one in, he heard the sound of a large caliber weapon being fired. Diverting enough attention to get a look at what was happening, Scott was thankful to see a man pulling one of his men away from several zombies. Bringing his attention back to the small pack of runners and the sound of rifles and side-arms being fired, Scott aimed and squeezed the trigger. He could practically feel the bullet penetrate the chest of the runner nearest his men. Changing targets, he fired three more shots, this time, two of the three hit the intended targets, disabling one and re-killing the other. Catching a blur of motion from the top of his vision, Scott could see several climbers readying themselves to jump on the unsuspecting prey. Unloading the last three rounds of his clip at the four climbers, Scott didn't even bother to see if they hit. He was too busy holstering his sidearm, sheathed his knife, and bringing out his trench gun. Rushing toward the trap he knew would definately finish off his men, Scott was lucky enough to get threee shells in his gun before chambering one and shooting at a climber, all the while shouting at his men, "Get the fuck outta there!!"

[Nathan Ellis]

[[OOC: alright, we'll wait for Gordon to show up, and then i'll give us a GM. Remember to count your shots people, you'll have to subtract them from your inventory.]]

[jawdog]

Gordan was around the corner from the fighting. Peeking around he could see all of the UN-dead swarming some Yankees and trying to pull out. He then crouched and opened far.

He thought to himself I might have only been in training for a week but ill help in any way i can

With that thought he shot 2 bullets at a one of the runners creeping up on the man with the trench gun. The first bullet missed and the second hit the zombie dead center of his forehead "Hey i actually hit one!" This raised his spirits greatly

[Nathan Ellis]

[[OOC: 25 yards is about the distance to hit anything human sized with a pistol, in the torso, getting a head shot would be lucky. Also, at that distance, you're cutting it close of hitting Scott. Just a fair warning.]]

GM

- At the corner -

A lone climber descended down the wall just behind Gordon and his group. Fresh meat, and they weren't even watching their backs! It'd be easy pickings. Oh how she just wanted to tear them apart, limb by limb, and hear them scream. Only 15 feet from the ground, she dove at the recruit just to Gordon's right. Biting into his should to keep him from getting away, she slowly turned his around till she heard his vertebrae snap. Oh that sweet sound she adored. But it wasn't enough. He wasn't hideous, like she now was. Jerking her head back she ripped out a good junk of his shoulder.

- In the street -

Although the flow of more Climbers and Runners and stopped, the groans of the approaching Crawlers and Walkers was unheard over the sounds of battle. More were coming to feast on what their brothers and sisters had killed. And to take part in the pleasure of their dismemberment.

[Nathan Ellis]

Pulling the soldier away from harm, Nathan holstered his empty pistol. Backing up to the door of a shop, he set the man down against the wall. The door was still closed, and he could see any immediate windows that had been broken, and all the infected were currently in the street. So hopefully, that meant that this building was currently vacant. Trying the door knob, he found it locked. Taking the soldier's pistol from his holster, Nathan aimed at the door just between the door knob and frame, and fired three shots. Having 'unlocked' the door, Nathan picked the man now unconscious up and carried him through the door way into the dimly lit room, the soldiers half empty pistol still in hand.

After setting him down, and checking to make sure the immediate area was clear, Nathan put the man's pistol back in it's holster after making sure it was safed. Reloading his revolver from loose rounds in his jacket pocket, Nathan returned to the door.

Looking around, and seeing the chaos, Nathan walked outside and into the middle of the street after partially closing the door. He didn't want to attract more infected to his hide away when he yelled.

"Hey! We have got to get inside," Nathan yelled, to any human willing to listen, and pointing at the door. Then backing up to the door, he crouched down, and readied to defend it from any oncoming hostiles...

[Scott Bruhn]

Scott heard someone shouting for any human left to get inside a building. "You heard him, MOVE MOVE MOVE!!" He shouted at the last five men that were still alive, injured but alive. "At least we knew what we were getting into. Think of the lieutenant and his men." Scott tried to cheer up his men as he covered their retreat into the building that the man from earlier had so kindly opened and secured. Firing the last two shells in hs gun, he made a dash to cathc up with his men and help get them there quicker.

Reaching the grroup, he shouldered the most seriously wounded man. One of his legs was a bloody mess of bone and flesh. With his help, they managed to reach the civilian and his hideout door. Getting his men inside, Scott reloaded his Trench gun with the fu=ive shells it would take, then reloaded his Colt and holstered it before stepping outside to cover anymore survivors in the area.

[jawdog]

((ooc:oh i didn't know how far away i was))

Gordan hid behind the corner on which he was just shooting and looked back to his men or now man. Gordan spoke up "Hey wheres the other recruit?" he asked

The recruit hadn't noticed this "I don't know" he replied. Gordan searched the immediate area and looked up to find a female crawler defecating the recruits dead body.

"HEY UGLY" Gordan said Firing 2 more of his bullets at her. He looked at the other man and told him "We got to get to the others! run!!" He said bolting off toward the other survivors with other recruit behind him. The recruit tripped and sprained his ankle "leave me keep going"

Gordan wouldn't have any of this and went back and put his pistol in his holder. He picked him up and put his hand over his shoulder and kept going onward carrying him to wards safety

[Nathan Ellis]

Once the new recruit and his other companion had gotten inside, Nathan motioned for the American soldier with the shotgun standing beside him to pull back inside, and followed suit after firing a couple shots at a Runner rushing that the door. Closing the door, Nathan began looking around for something to barricade it. Turning around, he saw a couple chairs and a small table. Picking each up and piling them in front of the door. Nathan was pretty certain that it'd hold, just as the pounding and scrapping began on the other side, as the undead attempted to reach their prey, which had just gotten away.

Taking a closer look at the man who had helped him cover the door, Nathan noticed sergeant's stripes and the name tag Bruhn. Glancing around the store, Nathan noticed several aisles of goods and the shelves behind the counter were mostly stocked with canned goods. The front window was boarded up, and only small rays of light filtered through to illuminate the general stores dusty interior. Evidently its owners had left a while ago, or were possibly in one of the stories above them.

Pulling his flashlight out of his pack, Nathan walked around the store, to keep his mind off of what had just happened. Flashing it on and off to see what each box was. You couldn't keep them on all the time, as the flashlights drained the batteries within minutes. Spotting some medical supplies, Nathan picked up a couple boxes of gauze pads and medical wrap, tossing them at Bruhn.

"My name is Nathan Ellis, we've got quite a few supplies from the looks of it. Grab what you need, we can either hole up here for a bit, unless you have other plans," Nathan said shakily, still a tad shaken from seeing other humans dismembered gruesomely. "It'd be a good chance to bandage up and reload." He added after a little more though, pushing the cylinder out of the revolver and reloading the two spent cartridges.

[[OOC: Take what you need, reload, and patch up. It's just a general store though, only canned foods, some medical supplies, and other miscellaneous stuff.]]

[Scott Bruhn]

Catching the medical supplies, Scott handed them to the only medic that was left out of the seven that he had with him. "Patch up Kowalski first, he needs it the most. Sergeant Scott Bruhn, U.S. Army. The medic is PFC Jenkins, the man he is patching up right now is Corporal Kowalski, the man by the door is Private Ramirez,the one holding his arm is PFC Woodring, and lastly we have Private Rook. My men and I need to rendezvous with our company commander, but given the situation, I'm sure he can wait."

Headed toward a shelf that had some cans of food on it, Scott grabbed several cans and brought them over to his troops. "Eat these and don't complain about them. Pass this water around, I'm pretty sure everyone's a little thirsty." Scott told an uninjured Private. Scott then walked toward the front counter in search of cigarettes and matches. Rummaging through the contents of a drawer that was behind a cash register, Scott came across the soft pack of a generic brand. Along side it were two books of matches.

"Yes." Scott silently cheered. Pulling out a smoke, he lit it and took a deep drag. "Ohh that's the stuff, let's see if I can find anymore." Scott continued his search through the front counter to come up empty of anymore packs. "Anyone need a smoke?" Scott asked as he walked back to the group of men.