PufferfishYou set your little friend carefully on your right shoulder and he quickly morphs, moulding to the shape of it. You stare at your shoulder, mouth agape, and suddenly his skin ripples and slowly changes colour to match the coat, disguising himself, though not perfectly. The hue is off, though just by a shade, and you doubt anyone would notice unless they felt the texture.
You shrug, then approach the door with care. You take your time checking the heavy wooden door for booby traps, conscious that someone may still be here. After a few minutes of studying the door frame and trying to peer through the frosted front window you finally decide the best way to find out if the entrance is rigged is to just go for it. You turn the doorknob and ease it open. When you don't explode you push the door open completely, stepping forward with confidence and looking around quickly. You see the new sunlight coming in through the dusty, barren lobby flash across something metal and grey.
The realisation comes too late and you manage only a brief flinch before a bullet slams into your shoulder, spinning you round and tossing you to the floor. You roll over slowly and put a hand against the wall near the wide open door, trying to stand up, but a lance of pain shoots through your chest and you slip back to the floor. You look up as your assailant, a young boy, haggard and half-naked, his skin black with infection, approaches you from behind the counter and walks slowly towards you, his pistol still trained on your torso. He stops a few feet away from you, his face set in a cold, lifeless expression. He's obviously starving and his skin hangs from his bones like that of an old man's.
You both stay like that for a few moments, just staring at one another. Your body is wracked with waves of pain and you don't dare take your eyes away to look at the wound. The boy takes another step forward and levels the pistol.
Click. His eyes go wide with surprise.
gman8181Our standard recon will take us EAST down to the next intersection, where the Pump Station is located, our first reference point. Its always entirely abandoned and we have a small stash of emergency supplies stashed there should the outpost ever fall.
After that is the ruined clinic to the NORTH from the Pump Station. Lots of human squatters there, and its rarely ever empty. We're not on speaking terms with them but there's an understanding. We leave them alive, and they keep that street clean. Once in a while we like to check on them, and I'm sure they do the same for us. They probably won't shoot us on sight, but I wouldn't count on it in this fog. You can't take chances here and I'm sure they know that considering that they've survived as long as they have. Its better for everyone if we just keep our heads down.
Once we've checked on the people we double back to the Pump Station, then head SOUTH to the infested Tenements. Its a dangerous place thats always overgrown no matter how many times we burn the place. We frequently discover patches of Lobe Caps and Irish Crackers down there, plus the usual suspects. You know how it is. We usually just check the alleys and torch anything thats getting too out of hand to prevent the dangerous ones from spreading to the surrounding buildings or the street, but sometimes we try for the inside. We've never made it past the first floor before having to fall back, but funnily enough no matter how many times we hit the place we always find something useful.
Once thats done we'll head back to the Pump Station and take a breather, then we'll see what we're up for from there. Everything clear enough for you boss man?
Pufferfish - Allora
Warm Rags + Leather Overcoat [pack of cigarettes, Terrence the Amorphous Blob, switchblade] + B-3 Gas Mask (doesn't need filters), Long Lead Pipe [left hand], Briefcase [right hand; full bottle of whiskey, 4 tins of spam, 10 cans of fruit], Backpack [broken gas mask], Open Can of Peaches [in hands]
gman8181 - Jim (Green)
U.S. Army Winter Uniform [Sergeant rank; hand grenade, combat knife], Trench Gun [in hands; 6 shells], Ammo Pouch [9 shells, map of the city, compass]
At Outpost
Andre "Lexi" Alexi
Edvin "Ed" Ganados
Timothy "Tom" Reese
Benjamin "Benny" Neal
Johnny "Pits" Pitola
Lucas "Luca" Paulson
Lonnie Hampton
On Patrol
James Schweitzer (Indigo) - U.S. Army Winter Uniform [Corporal rank; Bayonet, sketch of outpost and immediate vicinity], Springfield rifle [magnified scope]
Guy Waters (Crimson) - U.S. Army Winter Uniform [Private rank; bayonet, field medi-kit, flare gun (one flare)], Springfield rifle
Lance "Marble" Marburg (Dark Blue) - [Private rank; bayonet, 2 hand grenades], Springfield rifle