ZRP-2: Chapter 5: Pariah's Warning

(James)
"Pretty much. I mean, we've come too far to just leave."

*Cooper*
"Still......I think we should move the civilians, at least those that can't fight. Over the bridge at any rate."

"Sam and Eve can escort them across the bridge." Hibiki said. "Maybe get them to a bus depot or something. There's gotta be a hotel somewhere over there at least, right?" Hibiki queried.

*Cooper*
"Actually, there's an old casino. We kinda had it cleared out a month or two ago, as a possible fall back point. Looks like we'll fall back there if it hits the fan."

(James)
"What about the trains? Any word on them?"

*Cooper*
"Dex informs me that the last, functioning car has been attached and there was enough salvaged fuel to get it running. But moving anyone there will be a risk."

"We go to the caaino and hide everyone there....could we righ charges to the bridges and bring them down?" Hibiki asked. "Perfect way to cover our retreat until we can get back to the trains."

*Cooper*
"There are already charges on the one bridge leading to the casino. As for moving everyone....yeah, we could."

(James)
"Then lets move them now while we have the chance. Get all unarmed civilians to the vehicles and get them over the bridge."

Hibiki looked at James. "Send Sam and Eve with them. Tell them they are the guards. And any weapons we won't be using, send with them. If we lose this place, we'll need everything we can get." She grimaced. "Cooper. How many people are still putting out fires?"

*Cooper*
"Fires just about out. So we can spare some more men to help."

(James)
"Well, that works. But do we have weapons to spare?"

*Cooper*
"Not as much as I'd like, and the same goes for ammo."

"Cooper. If worse comes to worse...how hard would it be to...drop a building on the shepherds?"
Hibiki smirked a bit at the thought.

*Cooper*
"Impossible. We don't have the explosives for that."

"Damn...well...there goes that plan." Hibiki chewed her lip. "Alright. Lets do what we can then." She sighed. "Bus moves last. Get the tank out first. We can't lose it yet."
Hibiki tapped her katana. "We'll need to move fast before the walkers get to us after moving the bus."

(James)
"Well, could always use the tank t take the fight the shepherds like last time."

"Last time it wasn't an army with artillery. It is too dangerous. We can't be reckless James. We have to think long term."
Pacing, Hibiki muttered to herself in Japanese.

Once the bus had plugged the hole I look for another clip. I was out, again. Turns out 15 bullets run out a lot quicker when it's a horde.
Damnit, it's got to be here. And stop cussing!
I give up searching because I remember I only brought two extra. It was the last of the originals actually. But now I have no guns.

(James)
"Yeah well last time, someone told me it was too dangerous to stay here. And so far we seem to be fine."

*Cooper*
"Yeah, so far. But that can change."

"Stop being so cocky! You're goi g to get yourself killed!" Hibiki had stoppee, now glaring at James. "Stop thinking tank beats everything. We can't lose it at this point. We barely have the bust still dammit." Hibiki muttered again in Japanese. "We have to play it safe with everything. We are facing him for Christ's sake, can't you realize charging them is fucking suicide?"

"Wait, duh Ty."
I forgot about the rifle I got earlier (thankfully it's got a strap). I take it off my shoulder and hold it in both hands. Then look for the safety.
I must look like an idiot...

(James)
=I raised my palms defensively=
"Not being cocky. Okay, not too much anyway. But at least we beat their opening move, so that's something."

*Cooper*
"What it is, is breathing room for us. And a little extra time."
=He turned to Hibiki=

"And no, the tank isn't leaving. It stays until we leave in defeat, but right now it is too valuable an asset to move."

"So are we going to shoot her as well?"

Aron: "Do you want to?"

"Not particularly, but if there's no other way..."

Raider: "I am not shooting a little girl, Aron."

Aron: "Jake, Dan, to the front with me. Kristy, get the girl."

I nodded and moved to the corner of the wall as they went around to the other side.

Hibiki frowned.

"Then what is the plan?"

*Cooper*
"Well, we move the civilians across the river first, with the bulk of our own vehicles. We'll see to it they're stocked with whatever food we have to spare, along with some armed personnel. As for our fallback plan....."
=He did a "follow me" gesture with his fingers and walked over to bench. We followed and he brought up a folded map=

"The train tracks run pretty close to the city before taking this bridge here, and crossing the river. After that, they run pretty parallel to the river, along with this road here though they're not exactly close together. If it hits the fan, our fallback plan will be to evacuate on the train, blow the bridge the civilians used, and then travel south on the east side of the river. Some of us can fit on the boat but it won't carry many people."

(James)
"We can draw lots later on the boat."

"Women and children who can't fit on the convoy take the boat. Otherwise, lots."

Hibiki sighed. "This isn't fun."

(James)
"When is choosing who stays and goes ever fun? Especially while under attack?"
=Silence answered the question=

*Cooper*
"Look, if we have to we can just destroy the boat. Only reason I suggested to take it was because I'd rather not leave the Shepherds a functioning boat."

The others stepped into view of the strangers with their guns raised.
I didn't listen to the shouting match, they were distracted at least and didn't notice me.

I grabbed the child's shoulder and placed the barrel of my rifle against her head.

"Drop your guns."

They turned to face me.

Survivor: "Let her go."

"Drop you guns or I'll blow her fucking head off."

When they don't, I press the gun harder against her head. "I said drop your guns."

Survivor: "Just do it, Adam."

They drop their guns as Jake, Dan and Aron move towards the car loaded with supplies, opening their backpacks.

I look around again, trying to find James. And again I can't see him.
You know what? I give up. Besides. They probably already told the guys back at the gate anyway.
I do a 160 and head back to the wall I was at.

Abel couldn't do alot from the wall he was at, they seemed to be mainly attacking the other walls, although a few what seemed to be artillery shells did hit pretty close-by.

"Dammit, what the hell is happening?"

Abel grabbed a radio from one of the soldier's pouches and clicked the PTT button.

"James? this is Abel, what's the plan here?!  I'd rather not sit here and wait for a mortar shell to blow us to hell!"

(James)
=I grabbed my walkie talked to Abel=
"Abel, no need to worry we took out there artillery. Recon on the roof says they're falling back but it's not a retreat so we may have some breathing room. Right now, just keep your eyes peeled for anything, mainly attacks."

Abel didn't bother to respond.  He handed the radio back to the now disgruntled soldier.

"Brilliant...  we get to sit around awhile longer."

The girl was crying now, and the raiders were almost done taking the supplies.

I backed away from the survivors as the other raiders raised their weapons and did the same, keeping them pointed at the other group, while I kept mine firmly against the girl's head.

As I reached the road, I let her go, keeping her in my sight as she ran to one of the men.

We ran to our vehicle and left, heading back to the school we'd fortified.

I made it back to the wall I came from earlier. Seeing everybody are still off the walls. I go around a bit and find Jennifer.
Seeing that she's okay, I look for Abel next. I spot him and walk up. Starting off with...
"Hey man, I couldn't find him. So I guess we should just keep an eye for Shepherds until he tells us otherwise."

"Yeah, sounds like we're just sitting tight, for now.  I don't know what James is planning, but he'd better figure it out soon, doubt those Shepards plan on staying back for long."

(James)
=I went back to talking with Cooper and Hibiki=
"Now, as for what to do for when they attack......look, if they attack at night, then we go with Hibiki's plan. But if they attack now in the next hour, then we have some factors to consider. Like the walkers. How are the Shepherds going to attack us, if they can't even get their own boots on the ground?"

*Cooper*
"Well, we kinda had to cut down most of the walkers here on the west side, so they can attack more easily there provided the horde leaves them alone, which it won't., But the noise will have drawn away other walkers from the other walls, so, odds are that with the reduced number of walkers they'll attack at the other walls."

"So we cause noise at every wall but one and beef up the defenses there." She grinned. "Manipulate them into our own little trap."

Eve rubbed her eyes. "I hate sieges..."

"Maybe it won't be that bad, waiting I mean."

"Oh yeah, 'cause last time we waited ended up great, got pummeled by heavy artillery..."

In the excitement, Abel had bit on his cigar, causing tobacco to get on his tongue.  He spit it out on the ground, then packed the back of the cigar tighter before setting it at the side of his mouth again.

"It was artillery that did that? Holy crap."
I yawn while I scratch the back of my neck. I had put the gun back where it was, hanging off of my shoulder.
"Shouldn't we be counter attacking or something. I mean if they can just bombard us."

"If we got them falling back, even it's just temporarily, yes, we should be trying to advance on them, while they try and re-organize...  although I don't know exactly how strong our forces are, but atleast a few scouting and sniper teams should go out."

Abel took a long drag from his cigar as he leaned up against a scaffolding.

"I've played enough video games and read enough history to know now would be the time."
I chuckle. I sounded pretty stupid, I knew it.

"Yeah, but all the violence in video games, and all the horrible things you can read in history books...  Nothing can really prepare you for any war.  Taking the life of another human being should never be taken lightly.  For every man or woman a person kills, it should start to weigh on you.  But, in this new world, I've seen people kill other people without blinking, even if those people were evil, that shouldn't be something you can just do, then shrug off like it's nothing.  It's people like that, that scare the living shit out of me."

Abel adjusted his stance.

"But, more on subject, even though you can never be prepared for war, James joined this battle and people are looking to him for guidance.  So he needs to figure out a fucking plan, and soon."

(James)
"Basically. Cooper, you're the one in charge, you give the order."

*Cooper*
"Got it."
=He reached for his walkie and hailed every soldier in the compound=

"Everyone, we have.....a plan, of sorts. At best, just a way of beefing up our defenses and putting the shepherds where we want them. North and south walls, I need you to make a whole lot of noise. No gunfire, but draw as many walkers as you can to your general area. That should clear out the majority of walkers by the west wall, creating a tempting target for the next attack, which we will be ready for. And finally, I want all civilians evacuated over the bridge and to the safe zone, with enough supplies and vehicles to survive if things hit the fan for us. And Dex.....get that train moving. We may need it as means of getting out fast."

*Dex*
"Got it sir."

(Sam)
"Well, this is technically my first siege. And I would have thought you'd be on the giving end of a siege Eve, given....well, your past."

Eve looked away.
"I'd make a sex joke Sam, regarding a siege, but I don't know how to make it...once we get out of here, can you help me with that?"

Hibiki reloaded her rifle. "let's kick some ass."

(Sam)
=I just stared straight ahead and sighed a little=
"Probably not Eve."

(James)
=How does one top such a classic statement? By simply doing something with your gun to have it make a clicking noise and then heft it casually, that's how=

Without missing a beat, Eve drummed on her thighs then clapped, making that ending drum and cymbal thing that happens during a joke or whatever.
She then bumped her shoulder into Sam. "Lighten up."

Looking at James, Hibiki one upped him by unslinging her shotgun, cocking it, and holding two guns while her sword remained sheathed on her back.
She said nothing.

(James)
"This isn't a competition dear...."
=Still, I grinned at her=

(Sam)
"Trying to. Cants say its easy."

"Well...I'd rather having you siege my heart then having to get sieged by the Shepherds, just saying."
Hoping the sweetness (she hoped was sweetness) of what she said, would get Sam to smile.

Hibiki smirked. "Or is it?"

(James)
"Trust me, it isn't."
=We probably had another hour or two at best before the real attack came. So we needed to rest a bit, especially since most of our fighting force was spent repelling the walkers=

(Sam)
"I knew it was a bad idea to kiss you. Your libido is out of control."

"Hey!" Eve looked hurt. "I said my heart. Not my pants..."
She looked at her feat. "I want your love, not your hand..."

Hibiki sighed. She just sighed.

(Sam)
"My love you have. But my undivided attention? Take a number and wait inline behind the siege."


=At the other walls, north and south, people began shouting. They yelled until their throats went hoarse, banged metal against metal, made as much noise as possible and went against the number one rule in the zombie world: stay quiet. But it worked, as more and more walkers came and gathered at the walls, moaning and raking their nails against the metal, working to find a way inside=

Eve smiled. "I'll take your love and sacrifice undivided attention. No need to stand in line when patience is far better then the line."

Hibiki watched as the walkers receeded.
"How many shots for the mortar do we have left again?"

(James)
"Just the one, why?"

(Sam)
"Good. Patience is a virue."

"Then we better save it. Ever seen Mulan?"

Eve rolled her eyes. "Except when the zombies are coming."