Protection: Episode 1: All Things Zombie, Batrep, AAR

Turn 1 (2-6)

The transport hit Donkey Drive spot on 08.00 hours and bounced its way down the pitted main drag.

“There you go Gunny, we’re here,” stated the young Guardsman as he pulled up adjacent to a water trough.

Gunnery Sergeant Thomas Highway jumped from the cab.

“Back it up there,” he ordered pointing to a convenient spot next to the work site.

The Field.

Banging on the side of he truck he summoned the platoon. It was daylight but no one was in sight. An eerie silence hung over the shanty, the like of which Highway had only experienced when the shelling stopped. He surveyed the scene with the eyes of a thirty-two year veteran’s experience.

“Sergeant Jones!”

“Gunny?”

“Get the BAR set up in that vegetable garden, behind the fencing. Fragetti, Take the left flank of the trough complex. Arc from one-o-clock, thorough nine. Choozo, the right. Arc eleven, through to three. Quinoness protect the truck, Doc stay with him.”

Sgt. Jones sets up the BAR

He watched with a degree of satisfaction as his platoon shook-out to their positions. He heard Jones barking the BAR team into slicker action and then identifying to them his required arcs of fire. The city workmen went about their work with pick and shovel. Happy he sat on the broken trough and lit a Cuban sucking in the tasteful smoke.

‘Stitch’ Jones was also a happy soldier. His gun team were in position with a good arc. He was comfy in his role and he had a date that night. ‘Life’ he thought ‘is sweet’.

One zed created. Section 4

Turn 2 (3-1)

His revere was broken when ‘Swede’ Johansson, “Sarge, you better look at this.”

Jones turned to face the direction of his subordinate’s concern. A middle aged white woman shuffled towards his team. Her long hair was unkempt and matted with blood. The dress she wore was tattered and flesh hung from out of its rips.



The first Zed of the day.



“Stitch. That’s my Aunt,” gasped Johansson.





The zed created was on a double. Therefore was known to the individuals.

Turn 3 (1-4)

‘Holy smoke. That just ain’t right,’ thought Jones as he brought his rifle to bear. 

An Off'd Zed

The creature growled exposing a sharp row of pointed teeth. He fired. The round crashed into the woman’s head shattering like a watermelon. Johansson dropped like a sack of spuds.

Highway was studying the city’s men as they dug into the soil around the trough when the shot rang out.

Jones passed his zed or no zed test and fired the others passed with a double and therefore it was somebody they knew. 1 zed was created in zone 6, behind the truck.

Turn 4 (3-6)

“Jones! What the hell! Can’t you follow orders? I said no firing unless you get the command!”

“Gunny, you’d better come and see this.”

Highway got up and moved towards his 2 i/c.

“Gunny!” Choozo’s cry dampened his anger. He turned on his heel and saw a figure engage the guardsman.

Another

Not sure of his orders Choozo held his fire. The shambling figure came on. It's face growing more macabre as it neared. Choozo swallowed hard. The creature growled and lurched the final yards at the young soldier.

Hand to Hand

Choozo banged his rifle against the slavering creature pushing it back, "get back!" he screamed.
 The beast came on, snapping and snarling. The butt of Choozo’s weapon buried itself into his assailant’s forehead bursting it in a cloud of red mist.

Choozo passed his ‘zed or no test’ as well as his ‘being charged’ one. The melee ensued R1(4/66645) R2(4/644331).

Turn 5 (1-6)

Highway examined the body of Choozo’s assailant, “I heard about this shit during the war,” he said. “The Limeys told tales of the Hun looking like this eating people. But I never saw it myself.”

Highway examines the body.

Chozzo listened in slack-jawed.

The workmen stood from their labours and looked at the scene.

City Employees Carry on watched over by PFC Fragetti

“You men!” barked Highway, “get back to it, I don’t want to hang about here any longer then I have to.”

Turn 6 (5-3)

“I’ve had enough of this shit. Quinoness, grab a Springfield. We’re going to clear out them shacks!”

The driver picked up a rifle.

“Choozo, Quinoness, with me! Jones cover us! Fragetti stand fast on the working party. Fix bayonets. MOVE!” Highway jogged across Donkey Drive towards the first building.

House Clearance

Turn 7 (5-5) (3-6)

Quinoness looked up as the door of the building opposite burst open, “Gunny!” He loosed a shot at an overly dressed zed that charged from within.The creature tumbled black gore splattering the shanty.

A Zed burst forth

Down but not out!

Norman Wisdom, a labourer, hesitated in his work and called to his comrades that he had located the source of Donkey Drive’s water problem.

The zed moaned and rolled onto its back. She began to rise.

Double revealed 1 Zed created from building 3. Q snap fired and knocked down the zed. 1 zed created behind the shack in zone 3. The double starts the work pary's next phase of activity. Two more moves and two sets of doubles remain before completion.

Turn 8 (1-2)

Highway moved onto the collapsed body. It’s bloodstained clothing and light palour identified it as one of the sick. His bayonet cleaved the figure’s skull.

Highway 'pops the weasel'

“Choozo, watch our six. Quinoness, the door, I’ll be first in.”

The shot created a zed which was located behind the shack. It began to move inexorably towards the house clearance team. 

Turn 9 (3-5)

"On my mark. Three, two one, MARK!" ordered Highway.

Quinoness hammered his size ten shoe to the shack’s door and it burst from it’s hinges. Highway followed it in. The one room shack was empty save for some boxes as tables and a ramshackle bed.

The creature behind Highway’s shack heard the door shatter and thought of food. It shambled from behind the shack towards the sound.

Q meleed the door and beat it. A R&R card was drawn for the building and there was nothing inside except for a food reward.

Turn 10 (4-5)

Highway and Quinoness searched the shack.

“Choozo!” yelled Jones as he saw a figure lurch from behind the shack and descend upon his friend.

Choozo felt the cloth of his tunic rip as black stained claws shredded his back. Rolling forward he escaped the assault. Standing he turned to face his threat, “Holy ghost,” he gasped as a slavering once human creature thrust itself at him. Snapping he thrust he bayonet at the creature renting its stomach, it fell. Choozo thrust the blade of his bayonet into the collapsed beast bursting it’s eye in a cloud of red/black fluid.

Lucky Choozo

Choozo is attacked from the rear. Jones and the SAW are unable to activate & Choozo was on his own. Melee at a disadvantage; R1 (3-4/2) R2 (6-2) OOF. A close run thing.

Epilogue

End of Turn 10

The work party are still hard at it but have a lot of work to do (2 doubles + 2 moves). The lack of Rep has proved an issue for the SAW and although it has great range and impact it has not been brought into the action. Highway has split his force. Has he 'knocked on' in his own 22, or should that be fumbled on his own 2 yard line? Episode 2 to come. (PS Sorry, I got some of my figures & names mixed, I hope it didn't Confuse matters too much).

There is a winner in the 'Guess the Bob' competition I'll post the result this weekend.

Watch out for yourselves, and your own. Cheers for reading, Bob.