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By TimHart, 07/29/2009 6:06 pm

MISSION FILE: RECON CA-4 – CA2 COMMAND GROUP – WESTERN REGION
DATE: 4/01/2161 to 4/2/2161
LOCATION: At WrightWood, Ca.
REPORTER: Tim Hart, Medic of CA-4

Day 4/01/2161: SECOND LOG UPDATE:

11:00pm at WrightWood CA.

Well this has been a hell of a day. This will be my second log update and I hope the last for today. We made it to the town of Wrightwood, but I would call it more a frontier fort. It looks like it is right out of the late eighteen hundreds. Man O man is looked like the Wild West fort up in Calgary Canada I visited as a kid. Fort Calgary I think it was called. We were greeted by a kid in his late teens and an old timer who looked to be well into his golden years let’s say. Neither one of them should have been on watch but not my call. We interacted with them for a bit till the real head of the fort showed up. He was a tall ass mofo. He must have been right around seven feet tall.  Well we found out he was the Sheriff and owner of the main bar in town. It cost a trade unit for each of us to get in for the night. A trade unit here was a food item, a silver coin, five rounds of ammo, ect…

Once inside we meet up with the leader and men of the Carsdale Lumber Company. We gave Paullina the wounded lady over to them and showed them the bodies of the savages that we had killed. It was brought to their attention that this group was most likely the ones behind the attacks on them and Nighteye’s people. I think we got thru to them as they are going to send riders out to Nighteye and his people to bring them here to look at the savages. They have rented the barn in town and have invited us to camp with them tonight. The fire outside the barn was very inviting and kept me warm once I went to sleep.

I went over to the bodies and threw snow over them to help them keep and to get rid of the body lice. God they were nasty.  Well I thought I should do an autopsy on the bodies. As I started to prep one of them I was quickly asked to stop till we could find a building to work in. I continued working with one of the bodies prepping it for dissection. While I was working on this Vod, and the rest of the team tracked down the town’s doctor and procured his office for me to do the autopsies in.

At the doctors home I was able to perform a fairly thorough autopsies’ of the bodies. For the most part they are human, but just seem to have a lot of things a little off. I think I’m letting the Dark tower by Steven King get the better of me. For some reason I keep thinking they are the low humans from that book. While I was working on the bodies Rick was able to get a message to base camp. I was informed they wanted to talk to me but I asked Rick to tell them I would call back later. That was till I heard them say my wife was awake, live and well. The science team had been awakened. I almost dropped the cadaver’s skull cap on this news. I asked Rick to help me communicate. God it was good to hear her voice. She seems well and I told her I would be safe and see her in about a week.

With the science team up I transmitted photos and the samples with my med kit to them to review. It will take most of the night for Rick to transmit but I hope to hear back from them late tomorrow with findings. The bodies all had this mark on them in some location and one of them was suffering from elevated radiation burns and poisoning.

Here is a drawing of the tattoo,  mark , and brand I found on the bodies. They all had one somewhere.

Well off to clean up well and get some sleep!

Day 4/02/2161:

The morning came very early today but I did sleep well and feel good. Just can’t wait till this is over and I can see my wife. Been a long and I mean long time apart.

Well I ate a large helping of eggs & bacon. We then made ready for the ride up the mountain. We had some talks on if we should head right out or wait and hit the store to get warmer clothing.  I was out voted and we headed right out.

While on the trail up Rick I think it was Rick spotted a tail on us. He fell back and found out it was two of Nighteye’s men keeping an eye on us. He quickly lost sight of them and caught up with us. He then took point handing off the radio to Fred.

We made good time up the hill and set-up a field base camp at a point on the mountain where we could no longer use the horses.  Carlos stayed with the mounts while we headed up the mountain on foot. It was decided to lighten the load for the climb up to make for a quicker climb. I was going to only take five clips for each weapon, but after all the talk took them all. I ended up humping a good sixty kilo’s up that dam mountain, but it paid off.

While hoofing it up the mountain we were jumped. They came right up out of the snow and seemed to know right where we were going and when to hit us. It was the Crimson eye savages again and a shit load of them. I was smarter this time using short burst to take them out one at a time for the most part. I did open up with a medium burst liquefying two of them. This auto shotgun is one meat grinder. There was a good two dozen of them and after the fight we found out that Nighteye’s men had saved our asses as they took out a bunch that were behind us. There were just feet from Vod and Hannah. I wanted to check out the bodies and see how they knew where to jump us. It was decided that we would have time on the way back to do this and to push on to the comm. tower site while we could.

Once on site we spread out and were able to find the site. The box to the card reader was rusted shut. While myself and Rick talked about who would do what to open it Fred came up and knocked it away with a hammer. Vod put the card in and headed down. I followed him down to a five by five room. This room seemed to be staged to avoid the true nature of the site. We found a trap door in the floor that lead down to the true heart of the site. We split up and started to build the site. Four hours later we had the comms up and when Rick flipped the switch powering the site a whole new level of communication opened in the area. We picked up the team in New Mexico again and were able to communicate. CA2 soon took over communication with them shutting us right out. Then Vod got a message from our friendly AI. She seemed very happy with what we did. After less than a minute we received a SOS from the CA Science one. It was under heavy attack from the Mexican army and would not bug out as it was acting as cover to evac the locals. CA2 had us drop everything to rondevo with our vehicle that was to be staged for us. I prepped my gear and Fred said it may be a good idea if we go and check the bodies out while the others clean up and close the site. Vod informed us that we did not need to leave till the morning and it would be night by the time we hit the site where the bodies are. I felt that Myself Fed and one or two more could hump down the mountain to recon the dead then head to base came and sleep.  We may be tired but will have the ride to rest as I just sit inside for most part. It would also let me gather more data on this group of people and see if we can find out how they are tracking us. With any luck we may find there base camp. So off we go.

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By VodPancheco,

Wrightwood California April 2161

MISSION FILE: RECON CA-4 – CA2 COMMAND GROUP – WESTERN REGION
DATE: 4/02/2161
LOCATION: Mt. Baden Powell, Ca.
REPORTER:Commander Vod Pacheco, Recon CA-4

“Activate the Radio Relay station”

            Or

“What the heck do you want to go up that mountain for?”

Objective– Due to lack of Satellite communications, we have been assigned to travel by horseback/foot to the top of Mt. Baden Powell to activate the Auxiliary ground based Radio relay station.

 After the week of R&R from the reuinion of CA2, CA4 and the Lazy 8/CA-7 we were assigned the mission to activate the Radio Relay station. Seeing as how most of us were pretty rusty at horseback, and because I wanted to see how Fred would handle it, I decided to have the team travel the whole way on horseback.

            The newly awakened CA-9 Vehicle Support team is repairing and modifying our V-150. This should be ready for us once our current mission is completed.

            I went thru the trade pack and pulled out some lightweight items we could use along the way as needed, including Swiss army knives, game traps, disposable lighters, hunting knives, etc.

The Ride out the Tehachapi valley and down the 14 was uneventful. We stopped again at the roadside diner in Rosamond, but this time we had Fred to negotiate a suitable trade for a meal. There were some snickers of recognition, and I’m reminded of how much I overpaid for our last meal, so I ate in silence.

We approached the foothills in palmdale where hwy 14 enters what was the Angeles National Forest Mountains, and spotted a very tired man driving a wagon, with what appeared to be a sick girl in the back, leading a cow. I called a stop and hailed the man, asking what was the matter.  He explained that his little girl was sick and he was taking her to the “Docs” in Palmdale to see if they can help, although he had no idea how he would pay them. I know we don’t have an endless supply of help, but this is the kind of thing that we joined up for. This looked like one small opportunity to spread the word that Morrow teams can help people and are not just guys with guns. A little “grass roots” story could somehow come back to help in the future. I asked our medic Tim to take a look and see what he could do for the girl. After a little work at convincing the man, Jacob, that Tim truly was a medic, even though he doesn’t have any “doc” id, he was able to figure out she had an infection, probably from drinking bad water. A small dose of antibiotics and Jacob invited us back to his farm for the night.

            The Farm, wow… Jacob is what would truly be called a dirt farmer. A Cow, which he figured he would have to use to pay the docs, and some rudimentary foodstuffs. Jacob, and his wife Michelle had 3 kids, and they were proud of what they had. Hanna took a hint, and thru “woman to woman” communication, was very subtle in breaking out some of our supplies to “help” out in the kitchen. (and leave this family a little extra to help). Tim was able to identify that an old well was the cause of the infection, and was able to get the kids to understand that the well is what made them sick.

            We bunked down for the night, and most of us slept well. I say most, because apparently Tim had some crazy dream. It involved some Monks, apparently talking “to” him and giving him directions about some reference book in their library.  In the morning we talked to Jacob, and he said that there was a monastery up the road where a bunch of monks make Cider, and help the local farmers with some farming advice and techniques.  He asked about all our gear, and we explained we were heading up into the mountains. “what the heck do you want to go up there for?” we said.. that’s where we need to go.

3/31/2161

            We left the farm in the morning, and began the road up into the mountains. We encountered some monks with a stuck wagon, and with a little mud on our clothes, got them unstuck. They invited us back to St Andrews Monastery for some cider and refreshments. The Monastery was a fortified compound, with 10 foot stone/concrete walls. The Monks apparently do what they can to help out the farmers around them. We explained the Morrow Project mission to them and the fact that we are around to help as well. They were amazed in thinking that we were perhaps part of a group that came thru some 75 years ago. Military “US military” people in Cammo BDUs with a Tank or APC of some type. They apparently were searching for some other groups, but they didn’t have the same insignia on their uniforms as we do. So some other group is out there……. Perhaps the Marines know something about this in their history?

            They mentioned that the land up road is claimed by the “blackfeather” tribe, which is at odds with the townsfolk of Rightwood and the Carsdale lumber company working the area.  Also apparently the local Ranching group is not taking care of their bondsman very well, thus the poor state of Jacob and family.

            Meanwhile Tim apparently went off to the library to talk to some monks about his “dream” (see Tims report for more details) He came back with some access card which he turned over to me.

            The town of Wightwood was about 6 miles away, so we decided to leave the monastery and make the town by nightfall. Traveling up the road, we came across and old man in leathers, who appeared to be a native or “Indian” straight out of the old movies. We approached him and he challenged us, asking why we were travelling on his land. I apologized for trespassing, unaware that the road was not available to who ever needed to travel. I explained that we were not here for hunting, or trespassing, and just wanted to pass thru to the town up the road. At that point we noted that he had a bandage on his upper arm that was bleeding. Tim came up and offered to help out, and was able to extract the arrow shaft that was stuck in his arm. Nighteyes explained that the Carlsdale lumber company attacked and kidnapped 2 of their people. We gave him one of our blankets in trade for access on the road and said that we would talk to the Carlsdale company to see if we could recover his people. (or figure out what truly is going on) We asked about the trail up in the mountiains and he asked what the heck we wanted to to up there for… I replied that it was where we needed to go.

            Traveling up the road towards the town, we came up on wha appeared to be the scene of a fight with a shot up wagon pulled off the side of the road. The alert went out and everyone began to disperse off the road as “BANG” a big cloud of smoke from a tree and a bullet whizzed by us. A Crossbow bolt hit Keshawn int eh chest. No damage thanks to his armor, but  it knocked him off his horse. Everyone began to spot people hiding in trees, or by bushes, and the bullets started flying. Hanna shot the guy out of the tree, and I loosed a short burst into a guy in a bush. Tim just about vaporized 2 guys with that shotgun of his. It was practically over before it began, and the attackers were down or running away.  We checked the bodies, and they had this “crimson Eye Tatoo” which one of the guys recognized from some Stephen King novel for the Crimson King. We were able to rescue a woman from the wagon, her name Paulina, from the Carlsdale lumber company.    

We figured something was going on, since these attackers weren’t from the black feather tribe so someone might be trying to stir the pot and get the two groups fighting.

We loaded two of the bodies with us to prove to the Carlsdale company people who attacked their wagon, and also because something didn’t seem right about the bodies to Tim. He thought that he might be able to check them out better in town. Once we got to the town, and past the old Geezer “guarding” the gate we went up to the Carlsdale co. offices. They were thankful for the Paulina, and the wagon, and after explaining about the bodies, understood that perhaps it wasn’t the blackfeather tribe causing the problems they have been having. They also denied kidnapping the blackfeather tribe people so that too gave evidence that some 3^rd party was at work.

I went into the “Starbucks” bar and met Ted, some huge 7’ man and asked about some medical offices. He laughed some and said old Hacksaw had a place across the way, but it was dubious that we would exit better.. or worse. Tim took the bodies over to Hacksaws place and arranged to use the space to “autopsy” them. (ick) We radioed back to CA-2 and were surprised to find that he had awakened CA5, the medical team and Tim’s wife said that he should not get killed (good advice). Tim found that the bodies had radiation burns. The backs of their hands were a little radioactive, but they had various scorch marks.  Also their organs were all there.. but something was “strange”. See Tim’s report for more details, but he was able to send digital pictures and sample results via uplink to CA-5 for analysis later.

I played a little poker with the sheriff, hoping for some information. He said that there hasn’t been any trading up the “2” recently, which is strange for this time of year.  Only hwy 138 is active.  We asked about the trail up the 2 and into the mountains, he asked “what the heck do you want to go up there for?” I said that it was where we needed to go.

4/1/2161 – April fools day.

            We awoke in the town early, and got a hot breakfast in before hitting the trail. The objective was to get to the top of Mt. Baden Powell and to the Radio Relay station today. We rode out of town, and up what used to be hwy 2. Keshawn and a few others noticed that we were being followed. He broke off the trail and tried to circle around to see who it was. Low and behold 2 hunters from Nighteyes group said that they were under orders to follow us and make sure we were safe. Ok… that’s nice.

            Keshawn rejoined us and we reached the foot of the mountain where we needed to leave the horses. The climbing gear was distributed out and we began to hike up the mountain trail.

            Freeking in the middle of nowhere we are attacked. And not by a few people. The group handled the ambush well, spreading out and covering zones. Bodies began to fly and from Tim’s shogun, vaporize. Just when we thought we had things under control, Hanna turned around and saw 2 dozen bodies in the ground with arrows all thru them. Apparenlty it was good that Nighteye’s group was covering us as we didn’t even notice the enemy behind us! (note to self… check 6) How did they know we were there? In the middle of some trail to the top of some mountain. ARG. “what the heck did they want up here?” We checked the bodies and they too had this Crimson King tattoo on them. They also didn’t act at all scared of the copious use of fully automatic weapons ripping their comrades apart. Something is defiantly strange. 

            We completed the climb and made the peak with no injuries. After a little looking and digging, we found the access panel and gained entry to the radio relay station. Following the instructions in our Ipods we activated the station and contacted Cmd Poole. We also got connection to NV-2(see first log entry upon waking up) MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

Then CA-1 the science team came on the line. They reported that they were under heavy attack by Imperial Mexian forces, including Artillery and Armor. They were low on ammo and down at UC Irvine with about 300 militia and civilians. They requested immediate assistance. I passed this too to Cmd Poole who said to continue getting all equipment up and running and he would get back to us. With the servers powering up and in self checks, the MorrowNet came online, and I wasted no time posting pictures of Fred on horseback to prove it happened. Poole came back online, and said that we were to spend the night up there, and then first thing get down the mountain and to Cajon. CA-9 had completed our vehicle refit, and it would be waiting there for us. We needed to get there, and then Race off to assist CA-1 out of UC Irvine. No rest for the weary.

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By FrederickDouglass, 07/27/2009 9:27 pm

Top of Mount Banden-Powell

 

 

 

 

MISSION FILE : RECON CA-4 – CA2 COMMAND GROUP – WESTERN REGION
DATE: 4/2/2161 at 4:00pm
LOCATION: Mount Baden-Powell, Ca.
REPORTER: Fredrick Douglas, Inland Empire Trucking Company, Detached duty with Morrow Project Team CA-4

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By Project_Director, 07/25/2009 2:23 pm

DNA Virus discovered in most of the post war population

MORROW PROJECT SCIENCE ALERT:

TEAM: CA – 5, Science Division, Medical Rapid Response Team.
COMMAND GROUP: CA-2, High Desert, California
LOCATION: CG- 2 FOB at CCI in Tehachapi Valley.
PROJECT MEMBER: Dr Michelle Cummings, Lead Geneticist.
DATE: March 31st, 2161.

First of, what the hell happened to the world and to the Morrow Project? Our time frame is completely FuBar as we planned on being awakened within the first 3 years, not over 150 years after the war. None of the research labs, local hospitals, or support organization are left. Heck from what we can tell most people have never even scene a computer.

I almost think I am going to see a T-Rex walk across the desert with the level of technology that is left for us to work with. Okay its not that bad, as there is a functional civilization here with the fundamentals of a modern infrastructure, but I would guess the technology level in general is about korean war (1950’s) level with more in Power Systems and less in communications and informational systems.

But I think I should focus on what is currently happening to our team and local morrow project teams. Cmdr Poole is in control of the situation and has awakened our team of 9 members and called us to help rebuild a morrow project presence in southern california. We are currently working out of the old prison medical building at CCI. Its actually in pretty good condition considering it has not been used in over 50 years. The Equipment is all shot, but the buildings (built to withstand earthquakes) have held up well. Most of the electrical wire has been stripped so we are in the crappy position of running new electrical, and data communications lines to our area.

We do have some help from local members of a ranch, who are calming that they are the decedents of our local MP Ag Team. I do not understand all of that, but they are willing to help and they know how to handle tools that I have not touched since I was building houses in New York City in my teens, so I welcome all of there strong backs!

But what I wanted to write this log for is the Strange Genetic findings I have been discovering in the local people and wildlife. I know that there would be mutations after all that hard radiation was dumped into the local environment by the bombs and the catastrophic crash in the ecosystem, but most of that should have resulted in death or cancer leading to death.

What I am finding is that, on the whole most people show very little mutation or cancers. It is higher in there descendent’s than before the war, but not by much. Also there is traces of an unknown virus in most of everyones system. The Morrow Project Members do not have it, but the Ranch group does.

It seems this virus helps to stop mutation in some way. I have no idea how it does it yet, but it does.

But in the other end of the spectrum is such strong mutation that its impossible to describe. The Ranch members brought us a dead “Maggot” that was killing cattle in the hills around the ranch. No one at the ranch think much of them, but to us its a complete mystery to how it could even exist since the war was only 4 to 5 generations ago.

A Maggot seems to be a mutant humanoid of 4 to 6 feet tall with razor sharp teeth and claws. They are scavengers, with a keen sense of smell and good night vision, but poor sight, and a dislike of daylight. It walks like a human but it is only related to our geneo in the way that we are related to Apes. I am thinking that something has effected it genetic code at a base level or something has designed it DNA.

Who would have wanted to design something like? At the time of our freeze date in 2009, this sort of manipulation was just theoretical so somewhere science has taken great leaps forward. Its that or a brilliant madman unleashed his creations on the world.

I fear that the world has changed more than I ever dreamed of possible. But this also means we have that much more to discover.

UPDATE:
April 2nd, 2161 at @ 3am.

Recon Team CA-4, who are setting up the communications relay station in the near by mountains have sent us pictures and a simple blood sample scan from there medical kit of a person who attacked the team. From the preliminary findings, it appears that the subject blood had extremely high levels of the same virus we discovered in the earlier findings. I bet when we get the DNA scan from the teams large medical kit, we will find DNA tampering as well.

There is something out there that is effecting living life at a genetic level and it still active. Could this been a secret russian weapon? A doomsday virus to keep the war going on a genetic level even after the bombs have fallen?

I do not know, but I fear we will find out one way or another.

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By Project_Director, 07/23/2009 8:59 am

MP CA-4 on Horseback crossing the High Desert Area, March 30th, 2161

MISSION FILE : RECON CA-4 – CA2 COMMAND GROUP – WESTERN REGION
DATE: 4/1/2161
LOCATION: Near Mount Baden-Powell, Ca.
REPORTER: Fredrick Douglas, Inland Empire Trucking Company, Detached duty with Morrow Project Team CA-4

It’s no secret that if God wanted man to ride a horse, he would never have invented trucks or internal combustion vehicles.

On day one we rode a couple days south, heading for Mt. Baden-Powell to mess with some Cee Bee gear the Morrow folks have up there. We passed Edwards and made Palmdale on the second day. Coming to Pear Blossom, we met a farmer taking his kid to see a Doctor in town. The child had picked up a bacterial infection of some kind from a contaminated well and the team’s medic gave his parents some antibiotics to cure it. They were so poor there was a real danger the parents would sell the medicine and trust in the Lord to heal their child, but I think they’ll follow through on their promise. The Johnsons’ fed us and tried to give us what they had, and it was almost too much for them to bear. We tried not to eat them out of house and home, but it was difficult not to insult them.

The team medic, Tim, is a good man but he identified himself as a Doctor. This could cause problems, because he may be a Doctor but he’s not an Em Dee. The Em Dees are a good thing, as they perform an important service and keep out the charlatans, but they are extremely strict about who they let call themselves Doctors for good reason. These folks will run into problems if they insist on using that title without permission although they probably could work something out with the Em Dees if they prove themselves competent, which shouldn’t be a problem. Meeting with the Em Dees is yet another thing to do, along with reconcile the new and old branches of the Project, and meet with the Marines.

After spending the night at the Johnson farm, a little west of Valyermo, we met with some Monks from the local Abbey and helped them cross a river, and traveled with them to their Monastery (the Monestary of St. Andrews near Big Rock Springs) to do a little trading. We found some useful information about the area, mostly regarding the different factions. One of the Morrow guys had some kind of dream or vision from one of the elder monks (who passed away that night), and found evidence that other “sleepers” had been through the area, a long time ago. This may have been another faction than the Morrow Project, as they seemed to be dressed different, and were investigating them or otherwise looking for them.

Heading up the trail towards the base of Mt Baden-Powell, we ran into some local Amerinds under a fellow named “Night Eyes” from the Black Feather tribe. He seemed upset at attacks by some Gringos of a local forester clan, the Carsdale Lumber Compay. There had been attacks and ambushes, and a couple of his people were captured, but it seemed a little fishy, like someone was running a scam to get two groups to fight each other. After helping Night Eyes out and getting his permission to travel Tribal lands, we were ambushed by some amateurs who’d already attacked a couple of people in a wagon.

After taking them down, we found a wagon from the Carsdale Lumber Co. We helped out a survivor from the people who’d been in the wagon, and found the bushwhackers all had an “Eye of Ra” tattoo.

The next step is to get to the town of Wrightwood, see if we can shed some more light on the situation.

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By Project_Director, 07/21/2009 8:04 am

Mount Baden-Powell

MISSION FILE : RECON CA-4 – CA2 COMMAND GROUP – WESTERN REGION
DATE: 3/30/2161 to 4/1/2161
LOCATION: Near Mount Baden-Powell, Ca.
REPORTER: Tim hart, Medic of CA-4

Day 3/30/2161:
Start of new mission today to setup an antenna for valley. We headed out from the ranch on horseback. Our small group is headed by Vod Pacheco. He is on top of his game if I can just keep him from getting shot up. The man is a magnet for bullets I swear.

We have added Hannah and her husband Fred to the team. Both seem very capable and know the area well. Hannah is the granddaughter of the leader of the ranch. Whom it turns out is a direct descendent of the Projects Ag team for our area. Seems they have been up and running for a hundred and fifty years or so while we were still a sleep. Hanna is a hell of a horse back rider and dam good shot with a rifle. She and the other ranchers seem to have a chip on their shoulder and have an air about them as if they are better than the locals. They do not even seem to realize that they act this way, and when not treated as they think they should be they take it to heart. I still think they are good people and that this is just part of how they have been raised. When push comes to shove they seem to do the right thing and that is what counts.

 
Now Fred where do I begin with Fred, well I can say he is a character that is for sure. His family is a group of local truckers in the area. They seem to be like the gypsies of old, and do most of the road side trading and moving of equipment. Fred himself looks like a cross between a Pirate and a Rastafarian. He has long deadlocks and if very flashy. This part of him works well to hide his quick wit and skills. People seem to underestimate him and in the end allows him to come out on top.

Keshawn Skrolin is our Sniper still and can light a match at a thousand yards with that rife of his. Rick Fudge has comms and I’m betting we will need him once on site to set the antenna up correctly. I cannot forget Travis Smythe our Driver and all around handy man when it comes to machines. He is a sight on horseback. I should start to take bets on who fill fall off the most him or Fred. The ranch also gave us a guide for the trip. He is an ok gu y. Seems to know his stuff and is a quiet fellow.

We traveled from the Ranch to Louis Diner on Highway 14 in Rosamond Ca. We eat a very nice meal hear and with Hannah and Fred did not spend a small fortune on it this time. Seems the ranch has some pull here as well. We were allowed to sleep in the Barn used by the Diner Staff for the night.

Day 3/31/2161:
Well we got up early today, had a fine meal and hit the road. We traveled down Highway 14 through the burned out outer edges of Lancaster and Palmdale, to allow us to make better time. We continued along highway 138 to Pear Blossom the Fort Tejon Rd then onto Pallet Creek Rd. Man I was getting sore being in the saddle so long. Been a long time for us all and even growing up on the ranch I never spent a whole day in the saddle.

Well around here we saw a farmer pulling his child in a cart pulled by a cow in poor shape. The farmer was a mister Johnson. He was rushing to get his little girl to a doctor. I was allowed to take a look and found she was very sick. He informed me she had drunk some bad water and he needed to get her medicine for her. I told him we could spare the some medicine for here and Fred made it very clear that he was to make sure she took the medicine and he did not sell it. It seems good quality meds are hard to come by. I will need to get use to this. The project side of me wants to help, but it looks like the medical supplies we have will need to be treated as if I were again over seas in a third world contry. It is going to get harder and harder to help people as I run out of supplies, but it is just not in me to not help if I can.

The Johnson Farm was just west of Valyermo and we made camp here for the night. With the help of our guide and Hannah adding to the food stock of the family we sat down for a great meal. I checked up on the little one and the meds seem to be working there magic. She was able to eat some and slept well.

It was again here with Hannah I noticed the difference in the culture. Hannah was very good to the family and made sure they had what extra food we could spare. The thing is she acts more like a lord from the middle ages taking care of one of her subjects. She still did the right thing and treated the family well, but you could tell they were from different class levels. This is something I will need to work on getting use to, and I fear it will not be easy. Well off to sleep.

On a side note I had one hell of a dream. In it I was awaken by an older monk who seemed to be waiting for me. In this dream we were in a library and the man was showing me a book that I had to look at. He also said that he was happy he was able to last and that he was to die this Night. I woke in a cold sweet. Man this dream was too real. I have not had a dream like this in a long time and will be happy if I do not have another.

Day 4/01/2161:
We woke up early again and I had a small meal. I felt guilty eating what this family needed more than me, but I did not want to insult them either. We headed out and as we hit an apple orchard at the bottom side of the hill we meet Brother Mathew and Company a long Big Rock Springs Creek. From the conversation with then I found that they had just loss one of the monks that night and that there were stories in the library of another group like us coming thru this area seventy years ago. We headed back to their Monastery St. Andrews.

While the team was working with them and gaining information on the area and its people. I was drawn to the library. On the execute of find out more information from one of the young monks in the library I was able to find the book that was pointed out to me in my dream. I found papers and a high end access card to a lab in one of the major cities. I hide them quickly as the young monk was coming back. He showed me a reference to the group that came thru here seventy years before. They do not seem to be the project, but were sleepers for sure. They left word they were going to visit the marine base.

Vod and the others traded for a keg of hard cider from the monks and we grabbed some food and drink We headed out to try and hit the village up the road before night fall. Along the way I went over the notes and gave the access card to Vod. It looks like the this lab is where some AI’s were created and the notes outline the need to re-set them to get them out of the war game mode they are in. The A1’s names have been outlined and we will need to gather more information on them. We have already met one of them and She/it seems to want to setup trade with us.

While heading up Big Pines Hwy (Trail) up to around Jackson Lake we meet Nighteyes and some others from the Black Feather Tribe. This was a very tense encounter, and on more than one occasion I thought for sure we would soon be fighting them. I was asked to look at Nighteyes arm to see if I could help. I kind of lost it and snapped at Hannah and some of her remarks. I know I have said this before, but I really will need to work on how I react to her and the other ranchers demeanors. I thought for sure she was going to get us in to a fire fight. Nighteye’s did not help and I can tell will be a pain in the ass to deal with. I was able to fix his arm and we found out how he got wounded and what they thought was going on. Seems there is bad blood with them and the town well mainly the Carsdale Lumber Company. Vod and the team worked out a deal to gain us passage, and Fred’s skills helped here. God my ass is sore from all this riding. Hell I still can’t believe I have fallen off my horse.

About Mile up the Road We were found an Ambush of Carsdale Lumber Company and some strange savage people with the strange Tattoo’s. These strange people attacked us as well. The team did a good job putting them down and I seemed to have over done it again with the shotgun. Not much left of the two I hit. We found a suviver and I was able to stabilize her. It was around four PM When we started out again for the town, and we seem to only have about another hour of Light to get to the Villiage of WrightWood CA.

Something of note the tattoo’s on the bodies seem to be tied to one of the AI units

LOG UPDATE:

5:00pm on the way to WrightWood CA.

As we were making ready to saddle up and leave the ambush area, Fred stops Vod and Tim, along with Hanna.

Fred pulled us over and said, “I got something that needs saying. It’s only because it could be crucial we’re all on the same page.”

He turned to me and continued, “My apologies for having to say this under these circumstances, if there was any other way…”

Then he went off on me. If not recorded I’m sure I would not have been able to remember it all, in short here it is:

“Now, Tim, first and foremost, you disrespected my wife in front of Night Eyes, when you contradicted her. I may have to fight those assholes now to defend her honor because of that, although I hope not. Maybe folks were just ruder to ladies back in the old days, but we’re not your “servants”, we’re your local experts. If you don’t trust our judgment when either of us is making a play like that, we’ll be happy to take our leave of your service.

Second, Medicine may have been free and Doctors may not have charged for their services before the war (although somehow I don’t think this was the case), but that’s not how it is, now. Nothing saying you have to skin people for your services, but there’s also nothing wrong with a little “quid qo pro” (that is, you scratch my back…”) if we need something and they can afford it. So quit being so damn high-and-mighty about charging for medicine and services. Unless you piss antibiotics and shit insulin, you’re going to have to charge for your services at some point. Last, and most important: you’re not a Doctor. Maybe you were one before the war, but if so I think your credentials are “expired” by about 150 years. Claiming to be a Doctor nowadays is a serious thing, and people are killed for less. Every Doctor is part of a group called the “EmDees”. The EmDees regulate who can call themselves Doctors or Nurses (kind of like a female doctor) and if they think someone is a charlatan or faker, or worse, trying to break their monopoly on providing medical services, they will come down on them like a ton of bricks. I guess Hanna’s family must have made some kind of deal with the Em Dees to be allowed to practice medicine, and maybe you can do the same, but until then you better think of some other thing to call yourself or you could literally wind up in jail or taking a dirt nap if someone had a mind to put you there. Savvy?”

Fred’s tone was serious, not confrontational or excited. He was outraged at the disrespect shown to his wife, but under control and not about to slap leather to settle the point as he would put it. I was taken by surprise at what he had to say. I knew I should have talked to Hannah after I snapped at her with NightEyes, but just did not get to it yet.

Dam I knew it would come to this sooner or later. I saw Fred’s point that he was just standing up for his wife right or wrong. I’m sure I would have done the same as he did and let him know this. The EmDees will be an issue. I will need to try to see how to work something out with them soon I’m sure. I also see his point on the meds, but it has always been an issue with me to help any and all. I had some issues with this while overseas too. Well I tried to let Fred know I understood what he was saying. I also let him and Hannah know that I was scared that we would end up in a shootout from how Hanna was going about handling the situation.

My only concern I informed them was to avoid any un-needed gun play and bad blood. That I knew Nighteye’s was a jerk and looking for a fight. He was baiting Hanna and she was not helping the situation. I knew I crossed the line and did plan on talking to her about it later. I just did not have the time yet. As for the Med’s I know we will run out soon, but I could not take the cow from that family and if there were watching they would have seen I only used the standard ranch medical supplies on Nighteye’s . I cleaned his wound and gave him what the ranch doctor would have.

 Now I know we could have charged him for this, but the way the situation was playing out I felt it would be better to let it slide to help ease the situation.
I let them know I was sure this would not be the last time we have words. It just seems we butt heads a bit and some of this is my fault. I have a lot to get use to fast and will snap at the ones I trust. I asked them to please pull me aside and let me know I’m being an ass. I also informed them that I thought they both were good people and try to do what you think is right. The need to understand that I come from a different time and because of this fact what we both take as being the norm is going to come in to play.

I wanted to make sure they knew that I was only here to help as best I can, and that It may not seem so but it is true. I let them both know again I snapped at her and I was sorry for this. I asked Hannah to check what she says before she speaks. This way she will not let jerks like Nighteyes get a rise out of her. I told her they are not worth it and she was better than that. I allowed Hannah to vent on me and convey her side of the situation.

I asked them to keep in mind this is not my time and I to need to think before acting. Well we are riding in to town now and the lady seems like she will make it. I have a lot more to think about and still more to work on.

It would have been nice if they would have briefed us on this when we signed on. O well on to the brave new and very changed world.

Comments (1)

By Project_Director, 07/20/2009 9:57 pm

SUBJECT: Rise of City States in Riverside County
MISSION FILE : AG TEAM CA-7 – LAZY EIGHT RANCH – WESTERN REGION

DATE: 1/16/2131

LOCATION: Southern California Region
Compiled by Political Science Officer, Carlos Winston.


From historical records of the survivors, When the War came to Southern California, Riverside county took no direct hits but its proximity to Los Angeles still doom it.


The direct impact from the nuclear exchange create a destruction that killed over 25% of the people in the coastal area of Los Angeles. But Millions of people still survived the direct impact of the explosions and they fled the only area that still had any form of functional government, Riverside county.


Riverside area found itself will millions of starving and thirsty people who were desperate for stability, food, and shelter.


Riverside county did try and control the refugees and with the 7th Battalion of Marines from 29 Palms they had a chance, till almost 12 days after the war, the power systems final failed and with it the water supply went from critical to catastrophic.


All it took was a small riot between exhausted National Guardsmen guarding a water treatment plant in Riverside. It soon became a pitch battle with hundreds of thousands people fighting for food and water supplies. The Looting spread and fires broke out in cities without water pressure to fight the fires.


National Guardsmen, police, and Marines soon found themselves outnumber 100 to 1 against people that had nothing to lose. Some units fought well, some overrun, other deserted to save there own families or communities. It became apparent that there was just not enough troops to hold the area, so the marines withdrew to Barstow to Hold the line at the marine supply depo there and guard what they could of Palmdale and Lancaster.


The Fear and panic destroyed whatever sense of community that was left, and every neighborhood became its own enclave. Mobs quickly over run most areas which then turned on other mobs for the dwindling food and water supplies. Within months the population was down to less than a 1/5 th the prewar population. By the end of the first year, 125,000 people were still alive in the ruins.


Not all citites completely fell to the Mobs. Some cities also managed to do the same such as they scrambled to keep control of water, farming areas, and weapons. The difference of having a National Guard Company in the area when the riots happened could make all the difference in the final outcome.


Within 20 years after the war, small enclaves, expanded and fought one another for the basics. Salvage was a life or death fact to keep the Water pumps or power systems going. A Community that lost its Food growing area or water supply was doomed within a year.


Thus Larger Communities started to absorb the small communities and the City States were born.


An Example of this is the City State of Riverside.


In the City of Riverside, the University kept its self intact by a unit of National Guardsmen, and managed to save some of the water pumps and infrastructure. Over the next few years, the University managed to repair limited amounts of infrastructure to allow for it to keep a safe water supply and limited farming. With these basic elements riverside managed to keep at least a low level of technology and attract the more technically minded people to its enclave. As time when on, it became the center for salvage of the local areas as well as the protector of the farming areas to the south.


Now Riverside controls The Old Ruins of the City of Riverside, much of the Farm lands to the South and the areas to the east. The government of Riverside is not interested in growing more as it is hard pressed to stop the constant raiding on its lands from the other cities and the gangs that inhabit the no mans land in between incorporated areas.


In Summary:


Traveling through Riverside county one finds themselves in a dangerous land of constantly skirmishing cities states. The areas not under direct control are no better with local gangs fighting everyone else for land and supplies. Many of these gangs are hired by other city states to harass there neighbor cities to keep the balance of power.


So far no City State within the last 30 years have attacked another in a full scale conflict one as it would leave itself to weak to defend itself verse the other rivals.


Recently Marine Units have started to be hired out to guard some of the city states in exchange for taxes. This is on a limited basis and is usually a short term arrangement as the Marines are very expensive and will only defend not attack.


Mercenary units are common in this wild west of constantly shifting power struggles and have been know to switch side in the middle of a battle.


But there is hope, with the new Highway patrol, it seems that the gangs and city states are starting to keep the old freeways clear for trading. In time this might stabling of the area and allow for the rebuilding.

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By Project_Director, 07/15/2009 6:46 pm

MISSION FILE : RECON CA-4 – CA2 COMMAND GROUP – WESTERN REGION
DATE: 3/19/2161 to 3/29/2161
LOCATION: Lazy Eight Ranch, Tehachapi Valley, Ca.


Meeting with CA-7’s descendants
Or
“Who’s running this show anyway?”


After driving thru the day, the caravan of CA-4’s V150 and CA-2s commando Ranger made it to the Tehachapi Valley. We noticed that not a lot of American Flags were being flown in the area, with the exception of marines. More commonly was the Rattlesnake “don’t tread on me” flag if any. The area was rich in livestock and hearty crops, of higher general quality than any others seen so far since we emerged just a short week ago. The people of the land seemed to have better general health as we approached our destination, the circle-lazy-8.

The group made it to the western section of the valley into an area which used to be Stallion Springs, the apparent headquarters for what was originally CA-7. The main compound had been converted out of a golf course area, and as we pulled in many people were in Makeshift, or original Morrow Project Uniforms. They were saluting us as we drove in and there seemed to be many smiles all around. Interestingly, Fred was as bewildered as us with the uniforms and we got the feeling that this wasn’t normal garb for the guards and folks of the Circle Lazy 8 Ranch.

We were greeted by an older woman, Martha, who introduced herself as the Team leader for CA-7. Cmd Poole and I introduced ourselves and our teams as well, and we were lead into a Barn. In the barn over 100 men and women were gathered, and everyone who appeared over 18 was in a CA-7 Uniform. Some of them, who looked like Sergeants, or equivalent, were in original resistweave, with the others dressed in cotton copies. They greeted us with fanfare and speeches of rebuilding America! Perhaps in this long awaited reunion the Morrow Project will find the nucleus to catalyze the true rebuilding.

They had laid out a huge spread of food, and we were all encouraged to have a great time. Thru socializing, it became apparent that not everyone was in agreement. There were 3 distinct groups:

• Younger people were really happy to see us, excited for the “Project to get started and to come out of hiding”
• 20s – 30yrs olds generally were “reasonably happy” but seemed unsure about what this all means
• The older people seemed suspicious of us, and probably what we mean to them. I can understand that they see us as an agent of change, and perhaps change isn’t always good for them.

I chose to sit with a group of the middle people, who it turned out were a lot of the administrators of various departments for the Ranch, Security, Logistics, economics, intelligence, etc. We began to strike up conversations with them, and it turns out they were awoken almost 100 yrs to the day. CA-7 was an agricultural support group. The founders decided not to “take control” and instead use their Agricultural techniques and skills to bind the various groups and governments to each other economically so as to eliminate fighting between groups.


I asked about the war between Bakersfield and the high desert, but they didn’t want to talk too much, but I was able to find out that CA-7 group served as scouts and forward targeting for artillery, destroying the Bakersfield column and ending the conflict. Talking to Jones, head of security about our fighting in Big Jakes ranch, he identified the woman who shot me as El Cobra from the Valencia gang. All of them were surprised about the Mexican troops this far north.


Next few days the team sort of split up, to in a word Recon CA-7’s environment. Keyshawn took to riding horseback on various patrols of the neighborhood. Travis worked on the V-150 and various maintenance projects with Stacy, the head Mechanic. The V150 was modified with some exterior racks, gun shield, etc. Tim checked into the Medical situation, and even manage to repair one of their old Medtech devices with some new batteries and a little tinkering. We did note that everyone in the area had all their teeth, and was well fed, and in good condition. Vod, who was recovering with his fractured leg, took to teaching younger groups about the Morrow Project, to get a feeling for the social environment, and to determine what types of things were being taught. Cmd Poole spent days in deep conversation with Martha and the Elders.

A general feeling for how things went around here developed thru everyone’s’ experience. The Ranch and actually the entire valley is run using a type of Feudal system. The leaders are “the family”, descendants of CA-7s’ team. People in the area could swear fealty to the ranch and bond to work for the ranch for 20 yrs of service. In exchange, their family gets medical care, protection and food, and their kids get education for about 10 yrs of schooling. After 10 yrs they are no longer bonded, but do receive land to work as their own. The people do not talk, or appear downtrodden and universally think that this is a great thing. The concept of voting, and everyone being equal was pushed off as joking, and the young kids couldn’t believe it. I’m sure that this feudal system is something that evolved from what CA-7 originally conceived of, out of a necessity of the times.

Eagle air turned up about 8 days after our arrival at the ranch to discuss the loss of their Helo. Details of that discussion will be in a later appendix, as commander Poole told me to deal with it. Apparently commander Poole and Martha were not getting along all that well, as both of them thought they should be “in command”. Discussions continued. Poole did elect to send his command team out to awaken CA-9, a vehicle recovery and repair unit. They arrived a day later, with a new computer and would go locate a replacement tire for our V150.

Thru the patrolling Keyshawn informed me that it seems health and education sort of “declines” the farther you get from the Circle-Lazy-8 ranch. It seems the program of general enrichment of peoples lives is reserved for those who benefit the Ranch, instead of for anyone who wants it. The ranch controls the whole valley, and seems to have its fingers on or in everything, not overtly, but the presence is there. Keyshawn was also able to scout out the old federal prison buildings and found them unused.


MORGAN also contacted Vod, with the following:

“What is the mission of the Morrow Project?”


“What resources are required for the Mission to be successful?”


“What can you trade to me for to help the Morrow Project Succeed?”


“More Data is required for Interaction, please provide”


Details of that interaction will be in an a later appendix.


Poole finally emerged from discussions with Martha and he said a deal of sorts has been struck. We will set up at a nearby location and co-locate with CA-7 to work together. Overall command was still “undecided” but CA-2, 4 and now 9 will move into the Prison buildings.


Poole then gave us orders to activate the communications array at the top of the mountain southeast of here. About 5-6 days travel. By horse. Locals confirmed that with the passage of time, the roads up thru the rugged terrain were probably not functional for the V150, so we will gear up and go by horseback to activate the communications array.


Each member can load about 275lbs total of weight including themselves. We will travel with a guide from the ranch and ascend the mountain to raise the antenna. There are locals in the area, tribal, or miners, who might not be friendly, but shouldn’t shoot on site, as they are accustomed to traders moving thru the mountains.


Personal notes – I signed up for the Morrow Project. This kingdom of CA-7 is something that I am sure evolved over the past 100 yrs but I’m sure CA-7 didn’t envision it like this. They seem to have hermitted away, hoping to make things better by passively influencing. The morrow project has much loftier goals than that, and I’m sure we will be instrumental in realizing those goals. I just hope it doesn’t result in pushing away what could be a great resource for change and good in this land.


Current team status –

CA-4 team members are healthy and outfitting on horseback.
Hannah and Fred have been “hired/assigned” to us to aid in both our objectives and in interacting with the people. It is my hope to learn from them as much as possible for as we slept thru this time… they have lived it.

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By Project_Director,

MISSION FILE : RECON CA-4 – CA2 COMMAND GROUP – WESTERN REGION
DATE: 3/17/2161 to 3/18/2161
LOCATION: Road to Lazy Eight Ranch


Frederick Douglass Johnson Private Log


In the morning, we had a pow-wow with Jake and talked about mutual defense and talked to the Marines. This was more Hanna’s area, as the Circle-Lazy Eight were going to be more involved than Inland Empire, although with the Mexicans involved this is different than the usual Bakersfield-High Desert ruckus and this may change.


We got into the Circle-Lazy-Eight and got set out again by Hannah’s great-great-gammers Martha (the ranch’s foreman) who told her to located Vod’s team and get them back ASAP to the ranch. They were heading somewhere north into the High Desert towards Mojave and so that’s where we were going too. Picking up Chelsea, a cousin and apprentice gunner, we set out hours later than the Morrow team, playing catch-up all across High Desert.


After spending a delightful night staying in Ridgecrest, then continued on into the nothingness that the pre-war town of Ballerat used to be located in. It started snowing, really pleasant, so we alternated in the gunner’s position so no one had it too bad, but it still sucked big-time.


We met up with Vod’s Morrow, and arranged via Cee Bee to meet up in Ballarat. They met us in their Rig, and Vod’s leg was hurt. They also had a pilot from Eagle Air, Samantha, and she was unconscious. Apparently, Vod and Keshawn got shot down in her bird by some folks that were digging around where they needed to be. The note they got back at Big Jake’s led them to Ballarat or what was left of it, and then they got another clue to go looking in the mountains. Written on a gravestone, no less!


Some of those Eagle Air Ballooners flew by in a Cessna looking for Samantha. They were told the situation and vowed revenge on whoever shot the chopper down, then flew away. Whatever was happening they needed to get a move on, so we sent Chelsea with Samantha in the Scout to meet up back in Ridgecrest.


Eventually, using the heat-seeing thing, we located where Vod’s team needed to dig, some kinb of bunker. It sounded like whoever was there was doing their own digging, and they were close. So we quickly made a plan, we’d deploy a panzer-hunting team with the Rig as support. Vod’s leg was fucked, Travis had to drive, Keshawn was the gunner and Rick was TC, so that left Tim, Hannah and I to be dismounts, using some Panzerfists these guys had in their Rig, and Hannah got a 40mm gas grenade to use on anyone outside.


There seemed to be a Track and a Rig like a van, plus an earth-mover. No one in sight was on foot. We rolled up and we bailed out, although because we didn’t stop Hanna took a header in the dirt. Tim and I made it to some cover. The Rig continued rolling and engaged their track. Both got some hits in but the other track’s gun seemed damaged. Then this AA gun mounted on another Track opened up on the Rig and hosed it down with lead, but it couldn’t penetrate. Tim and I were pinned down, after getting up Hannah split and went the other direction. The first Track was still mobile so Tim nailed it with a Panzerfist and killed it. The second wasn’t having much luck using it’s super-MG on the Morrow Rig, although it was chewing it up some and blew out one of the tires.


Something happened at that point. Whoever was in command of the side called for a truce. Tim and I used that time to move up and get a bead on the other Track. It turned out this “Morgaine” needed power, which was in the bunker. We held all the cards so Veronica backed off and Vod made some kind of trade with her for information. As a Gypsy Trucker I applaud this trade, as knowledge is power. I just hope it was useful. It seemed like Morgaine wasn’t really there. She was just controlling “robots” with the radio, like in stories of the old times. Robots are like little vehicles that don’t have anyone inside them. Really freaky but I guess that’s no stranger than the stories of people sleeping forever like the Morrow people. Maybe this was more common before the war?


The bunker was opened and Tim, Hanna and I went inside. We met Vod’s team’s overall commander, a hand named Poole. Seemed a bit on the high-and-mighty side, like Martha, but when they both get into the real world and deal with people they’ll probably change their tune. Apparently the founding families of the Circle-Lazy-Eight were descended from other Morrow people, another team that woke up early, or on time or something like that, over a hundred years ago.


I sense a power struggle of some kind coming up. The new guys seem to have some kind of official authority given to them before the war by this Morrow Project but I can’t see turning over command of the Circle-Lazy-Eight to them sitting too well with Martha. The folks at the Circle-Lazy-Eight are more numerous and have been around longer. Although I would tend to go along with the Circle-Lazy-Eight folks because they’ve been part of the community longer and have more people and resources, they honestly haven’t really done a lot to rebuild the USA or even really improve the High Desert socially or politically. They certainly haven’t really gotten involved outside Stallion Springs unless there was no other option.

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By Project_Director,

Commander Poole of CA-2

MISSION FILE : RECON CA-4 – CA2 COMMAND GROUP – WESTERN REGION
DATE: 3/18/2161 (04:30pm)
LOCATION: Ballart Ca – Heading to Lazy Eight Ranch

Reviving the Command team
Or
“Dealing with the Ghost in the Machine”

Keyshawn and Vod spent the night huddled down on the snowy hillside next to the helo crash with the injured pilot. The pilot was going to be ok, but was suffering from a concussion. The remainder of the team hunkered down south of Ballarat.

The following morning, we radioed the team and guided them up a nearby fireroad near the crash site. They lowered down some ropes and managed to get the three of us and the gear. Tim checked out the pilot and confirmed the diagnosis that she would recover in a couple days. We elected to keep her sedated for her own good. Vod’s leg apparently was not as severe as first thought, and he was able to hobble around with the temporary cast/splint, but for the next few days would spend in a jump seat next to the comms station. While on the mountain, we contacted Fred and Hannah who were reroute to Ballarat, and we said we would all meet up there.

We continued to get sporadic high speed encrypted communications from the next road over, where we figured the hostile unit and bolt hole were. While in Ballarat, we observed a Cessna plane flying up the valley, and radio contact was established. They were looking for the helo and pilot. We informed them of the helo crash and that the pilot was unconscious but ok. Fred sent his cousin back down the road with the pilot to get her out of harms way, while the team made plans to travel to CA-2’s location. We heard an explosion, and thermals indicated some type of blasting going on from CA-2’s location.

Driving up the dirt road we continued to intercept the high encryption comms. We had Tony and Rick scout around corners as we went up the only way in. with the sound of jack hammering the cement of what must be the CA-2 bolt, we opted for the fast attack. The V150 sped around the corner and we spotted an M2 Bradley, and an earthmover/transport. The M2 turret began to rotate towards us, and Keshawn took aim at the M2 as well, letting loose with a long burst of fire. Unfortunately a bump in the road threw off his aim, and the M2 was unscathed. The M2 return fire hit the V150 a couple of times, with one round trashing the onboard vehicle computer. The V150 stopped, and Fred, Hannah, Tim bailed out to try to flank the enemy. We noticed something strange about the enemy vehicles, that they were very heavy on communications antenna and the visible hatches appeared welded shut. Keyshawn hit the M2 with a 2nd burst from the 25mm, and did some damage.

The M2 apparently tried to return fire, but an internal explosion was identified as a misfire, and the main gun was disabled. Smoke blossomed out of the M2 and it began to back up. Vod then spotted the 7.62mm Vulcan M113 to the right behind a rock pile. The turret began to turn towards the V150 and Keshawn turned our turret towards it. Both vehicles fired, but Keyshawn missed, while the V150 was pummeled with machinegun fire. None of which penetrated, but it ruined the paint job. The V150 was luckily. Shielding the dismounted team members from the crazy amount of gunfire coming from the M113. Tim, cool as a cucumber took aim with an Armburst, and the M2 exploded in a shower of cooked off ammunition. It was noticed that this entire time no voices or people had been seen on or near the hostile vehicles.


Then Vod’s phone rang.


Keshawn tried to hit the M113, but the fusillade of fire from the enemy vehicle prevented any hits from our 25mm on the hostile vehicle. The V150 was becoming hard to handled, and it was evident that the right front tire was being shredded by the incoming 7.62 rounds.


Vod’s phone rang again. He noticed that it said Bluetooth attempting to connect. So he hit accept. And it was replaced by a text communication stating “do I want to talk”

Vod replied “Yes”, and the text return said.. stop firing. Vod typed back “you first, you fired first”. The sudden silence in the V150 was deafening, as the 7.62 rounds stopped impacting the V150. Vod gave the order to everyone to Hold Fire.

The phone changed to a voice communication and Vod was greeted by what appeared to be a computer simulation of a woman, who introduced herself as Morgain.


Why are you here?


Why are you here?


I am here for power, I sense power inside the concrete structure. Power like the fusion power source for your vehicle.. I need power.

We are here for the people and equipment contained in the concrete structure.


I care not for the equipment or biological’s, I need power. Will you deal?


Where are you? Who are you.


I am Morgain, location classified. Operation Phoenix is in process.


Vod and Morgain talked and eventually made a deal that Morgain could have the nearly exhausted fusion power plant in the bolt hole, and we can extricate the team. In addition to that Morgain would provide us with a data dump of the history of the past 150 years. Unfortunately our Main vehicle PC was too damaged, (hard drive salvageable) We utilized my Morrow Project PDA, and as many external storage devices as we could scrounge together to get as much as possible. Morgain was a computer construct, part of a military wargame simulation that has been activated, and all these vehicle were remotely controlled, by the high speed data communications bursts we had been intercepting. She has been awakened, and is searching, for power, technology. There are apparently others of her, but not her.(other constructs?)


Morgain used some of her mobile “droids” to complete the opening of the CA-2 bolt hole, and we were able to get in and assist their awakening.

Commander Poole immediately began to take charge, identifying us as CA4. Vod briefed him, and in the middle of this, Hannah came out stating that she was with CA7. ????


Apparently CA-7 woke up about 100 years ago, and she is one of their descendants. The Circle Lazy Eight ranch is their command post for what they have been working on for the past 100 years. About 150 “team” members at this point. From the look on Fred’s face, he too was a little surprised at this news, which told of the depths of this secret, even between husband and wife. Hannah insisted that we travel to the Circle Lazy Eight ranch command post.


Commander Poole said the Vod and Hannah would ride with him, and the remainder of the team would follow. He wanted to be briefed by them both on the way to the Ranch.


Morgain extracted the fusion plant from the bolt hole, and then even assisted in reconstructing a makeshift Tire for the V150. It offered to replace Vod’s fractured leg, but Vod declined, shuddering at the image of a cyborg. Fred said that his truck stop could probably assist CA-4 in getting a better tire when we reached it, until we can get a new vehicle tire from a cache. Hopefully CA-2 has the locations, or we can integrate our PC hard drive with CA-2s if needed. Its going to be a long ranch and talk to the Ranch.