There is some wisdom in the talk about "Never rely on anything that needs charging, feeding, or sharpening". Only some. Frankly, I'm a believer in finding every advantage you can get, and technology is one of them.
Now a lot can be said about the utility of the humble claw hammer in an undead Apocalypse - it can be used as a small crowbar, nail up barricades, break heads without going dull, and can be found just about anywhere - often with ergonomic grips no less. However, most reanimates don't use ranged weapons, and are quite beyond a person in close combat - so melee weapons aren't that great in the first place, and blunt ones even worse - blunt trauma and knocking the brain around inside the skull works terrible wonders on humans - but doesn't really work on the buried vonrable parts of the reanimate - for that you want to remove or crush the head entirely. Either use and axe or sledge hammer - something that fits on a tool belt just isn't enough.
You should know by now, I am anything but an advocate for carrying around a lot of firepower. If
you look like you're expecting trouble, people are going to be more
than happy to oblige and all that. (Guns just make some people too jumpy
and others too overconfident - and when they meet - never a good
thing.) Still, I keep a Kalashnikov derived rifle with me (a model 101
in 5.56mm NATO to be exact - people ask all the time.) though I hardly
ever use it, and a hidden handgun too (.38 Super Colt 1911 derived
target model - I st - liberated both guns from a collector's basement
after the Event.)
Similarly - if you've got some plans - you don't need a big vehicle, or a lot of friends - but going alone and fast isn't for everyone.
Showing posts with label KC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label KC. Show all posts
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Traveling the Zone
You have to take a holistic approach to the zone, treat it as a living thing. Kind of like a bear - you don't mess with it, or poke around in its territory, and it won't give you over much grief.
Traveling about with a convoy, collecting every convenience and treasure to be had, will make you a target for bandits. Going along with just a hatchet and your wits - what can they steal - where's the profit? Never mind getting all that stuff probably involved stepping on some toes. The rival recovery team? The village you nearly bankrupted for payment? Maybe some military guys who don't want you picking over their old vehicles and the bones of their comrades?
Don't forget about the reanimates. The more you poke about in urban areas, the more of them you see. Now I can't confirm this, but I just have this strangest feeling that they can remember you. Reanimates know the trouble makers from the good boys. Dumb as any type one is, we've seen them show group intelligence before. They attack in mixed groups with threes commanding attention so Betas can get close, type ones trigger the mine field so that others can get through, even if that trap stops the whole bunch, somehow the creatures know to use a different approach next time. And damn, for creatures that can't speak, they certainly know how to organize a group.
I suppose you're going to wait for me to say "the journey of a thousand miles begins with but a single step" and go on about the preparations you need for any sort of travel. Well screw that, its all a bunch of BS. The more you try to prepare, and the more stuff you pack, the more fuel it takes to move it, the more spares you need to bring to ensure nothing gets left behind if the vehicle breaks down, the more batteries you need - run as fast as you can to stay in one place. As a hippy would say - "you don't own stuff, stuff owns you".
Well, that works for me anyway, though I am a live off the land explorer. Your results may vary, void where prohibited, and see box for further details.
What to expect then? Well remember - if its a hot tip - it isn't. Someone passed that information along, and most things are either known, or lost for a damn good reason. If no one has raided that factory, it may well be because a tailings pond burst its dams and the air is toxic. Otherwise, someone probably has been there already. Not that you won't find anything, but look less for treasure, and more for investment opportunities.
You may face bandits, the type you meet depends - the bold or the well armed take to the often traveled roads, in spite of caravan defenses, the more desperate hunt off the beaten path. Other adventures, possible, but more likely to find reanimates wandering aimlessly. The Citizens do occasionally explore new areas just for the knowledge, but more often than not, if you meet them, they have a mission.
Wild animals can be a problem and a big one. Those stories about tigers in Illinois? Not really stories. You have plenty of animals that got out of zoos either from their own ingenuity or keepers trying to be more merciful than leaving them to starve in their cages. They feed on the carcases of just about anything - especially those stupid toy breeds of dogs - and are used to humans. Kind of a bad trait in a 300 pound predator. Feral domestic dogs are also not afraid of humans either, so watch out for them too.
Don't get me wrong, its still a great place to travel, and most days you'll be alone with your thoughts and the concrete bones of the modern age. Its that one day in twenty where you run across a mutant walking corpse, an alien war-machine, opportunistic bandits, Southerners on a mission from god, and an emu that test your skills.
Traveling about with a convoy, collecting every convenience and treasure to be had, will make you a target for bandits. Going along with just a hatchet and your wits - what can they steal - where's the profit? Never mind getting all that stuff probably involved stepping on some toes. The rival recovery team? The village you nearly bankrupted for payment? Maybe some military guys who don't want you picking over their old vehicles and the bones of their comrades?
Don't forget about the reanimates. The more you poke about in urban areas, the more of them you see. Now I can't confirm this, but I just have this strangest feeling that they can remember you. Reanimates know the trouble makers from the good boys. Dumb as any type one is, we've seen them show group intelligence before. They attack in mixed groups with threes commanding attention so Betas can get close, type ones trigger the mine field so that others can get through, even if that trap stops the whole bunch, somehow the creatures know to use a different approach next time. And damn, for creatures that can't speak, they certainly know how to organize a group.
I suppose you're going to wait for me to say "the journey of a thousand miles begins with but a single step" and go on about the preparations you need for any sort of travel. Well screw that, its all a bunch of BS. The more you try to prepare, and the more stuff you pack, the more fuel it takes to move it, the more spares you need to bring to ensure nothing gets left behind if the vehicle breaks down, the more batteries you need - run as fast as you can to stay in one place. As a hippy would say - "you don't own stuff, stuff owns you".
Well, that works for me anyway, though I am a live off the land explorer. Your results may vary, void where prohibited, and see box for further details.
What to expect then? Well remember - if its a hot tip - it isn't. Someone passed that information along, and most things are either known, or lost for a damn good reason. If no one has raided that factory, it may well be because a tailings pond burst its dams and the air is toxic. Otherwise, someone probably has been there already. Not that you won't find anything, but look less for treasure, and more for investment opportunities.
You may face bandits, the type you meet depends - the bold or the well armed take to the often traveled roads, in spite of caravan defenses, the more desperate hunt off the beaten path. Other adventures, possible, but more likely to find reanimates wandering aimlessly. The Citizens do occasionally explore new areas just for the knowledge, but more often than not, if you meet them, they have a mission.
Wild animals can be a problem and a big one. Those stories about tigers in Illinois? Not really stories. You have plenty of animals that got out of zoos either from their own ingenuity or keepers trying to be more merciful than leaving them to starve in their cages. They feed on the carcases of just about anything - especially those stupid toy breeds of dogs - and are used to humans. Kind of a bad trait in a 300 pound predator. Feral domestic dogs are also not afraid of humans either, so watch out for them too.
Don't get me wrong, its still a great place to travel, and most days you'll be alone with your thoughts and the concrete bones of the modern age. Its that one day in twenty where you run across a mutant walking corpse, an alien war-machine, opportunistic bandits, Southerners on a mission from god, and an emu that test your skills.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Nomad's Guide to the Living
Ahh, that was a good meal. A fine piece of venison, carrots in a vinaigrette, twice baked potatoes - the ultimate reason why you must be kind to your fellow man.
The power of human beings grows exponentially when they are in groups. Traveling alone, you simply can't have meals like this. It takes a while to stalk wild game, and put together a fire, and secure your camp. There just aren't enough hours in the day to properly clean the beast, much less prep for preservation. Rip off some choice bits, and leave the remainder to the scavengers. Hey - coyotes need to eat too. But it would be nice to claim a bit more for your effort. When you're keeping to a light load - melting butter and a bottle of vinegar just don't pack so well.
Now of course the downside is that when there are other people who depend on you, you get tied down. You accumulate stuff, stay in a central location, and don't take risks since others need you around. Not so bad if you don't enjoy the zone, but your are missing a lot if you don't.
Alone or in a group, you have to be ready to work outside your clique. Your ability to tolerate and work with a-holes is probably the defining survival trait, more so than any ability to fire a gun or swing an ax.
A good thing to do when meeting people, is establish a common ground, a shared sense. Tell them about trouble in the direction you're coming from and show a concern about their safety. If its a warm day, tell them "lets get out of this sun" and offer a water bottle. A nip of something in the old hip flask is a great icebreaker in the evening.
It is possible to reason with the aliens, but you have to time it right. Outside their mech-suits, they're the size of a dog so a giant human with a rifle as long as they are tall is not a welcome site. Its safer to approach the robots really - they're aware they have the upper hand, and don't need to shoot immediately to protect themselves. Try to look at the shoulders of the suit - if its kind of blue or green, that seems to be the normal soldiers, no color on top of the camouflage is a commander and less likely to talk. Officers try to avoid the front lines it seems - so go for the soldiers, they're less paranoid.
Also, don't try to talk if you're in California. Really, the farther you are from the West coast, the easier it is. Not all of them are working towards the same goals it seems, and the ones in the West are a nasty bunch.
But enough about them - you mustn't get too worked up about the aliens, you don't meet them that often. Just enough be a challenge when you don't need it.
Back to people. Aside from saying hello, I'm not that good with people. I try to pay my good fortune forwards and give tips to those I meet in the zone - just note what I'm dong now - but my priorities are my own, and this world is too refreshed to simply settle down into a cycle of we need more food to support more people to gather more food that seems to control so many settlements. Towns have got to have a reason to be, and a goal to work for and much of our strife is that people either can't agree to that, or chose a goal that is mutual exclusive to their neighbors.
I want to see the zone. For now, that is enough. Unless you have pie - that would be great right now.
The power of human beings grows exponentially when they are in groups. Traveling alone, you simply can't have meals like this. It takes a while to stalk wild game, and put together a fire, and secure your camp. There just aren't enough hours in the day to properly clean the beast, much less prep for preservation. Rip off some choice bits, and leave the remainder to the scavengers. Hey - coyotes need to eat too. But it would be nice to claim a bit more for your effort. When you're keeping to a light load - melting butter and a bottle of vinegar just don't pack so well.
Now of course the downside is that when there are other people who depend on you, you get tied down. You accumulate stuff, stay in a central location, and don't take risks since others need you around. Not so bad if you don't enjoy the zone, but your are missing a lot if you don't.
Alone or in a group, you have to be ready to work outside your clique. Your ability to tolerate and work with a-holes is probably the defining survival trait, more so than any ability to fire a gun or swing an ax.
A good thing to do when meeting people, is establish a common ground, a shared sense. Tell them about trouble in the direction you're coming from and show a concern about their safety. If its a warm day, tell them "lets get out of this sun" and offer a water bottle. A nip of something in the old hip flask is a great icebreaker in the evening.
It is possible to reason with the aliens, but you have to time it right. Outside their mech-suits, they're the size of a dog so a giant human with a rifle as long as they are tall is not a welcome site. Its safer to approach the robots really - they're aware they have the upper hand, and don't need to shoot immediately to protect themselves. Try to look at the shoulders of the suit - if its kind of blue or green, that seems to be the normal soldiers, no color on top of the camouflage is a commander and less likely to talk. Officers try to avoid the front lines it seems - so go for the soldiers, they're less paranoid.
Also, don't try to talk if you're in California. Really, the farther you are from the West coast, the easier it is. Not all of them are working towards the same goals it seems, and the ones in the West are a nasty bunch.
But enough about them - you mustn't get too worked up about the aliens, you don't meet them that often. Just enough be a challenge when you don't need it.
Back to people. Aside from saying hello, I'm not that good with people. I try to pay my good fortune forwards and give tips to those I meet in the zone - just note what I'm dong now - but my priorities are my own, and this world is too refreshed to simply settle down into a cycle of we need more food to support more people to gather more food that seems to control so many settlements. Towns have got to have a reason to be, and a goal to work for and much of our strife is that people either can't agree to that, or chose a goal that is mutual exclusive to their neighbors.
I want to see the zone. For now, that is enough. Unless you have pie - that would be great right now.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Nomad's Reanimate Guide
You would be surprised how many people don't know how to deal with reanimates these days. Sure, everyone knows the basics of defending their outpost, but if those plans fail - few are equipped for the evacuation, or the traveling life. Two years of proselyting has won over fairly few converts to my way of thinking, but even if you don't want to tour the zone like me, you can know how to survive it.
First of all - don't travel at night. Reanimate vision isn't that great, but they certainly aren't blind, and at night - its better than a human's...
Come to think of it, the best way to imagine reanimates is as some sort of large cat - puma, tiger, leopard. Maybe not the clearest color vision, but good to hunt at night, a stalking pattern that usually relies on ambush, decent sense of smell - though not a blood hound - and good hearing. Mind that last one - I try to avoid using guns as much out of not attracting attention as any sort of pacifism or desire not to hurt people.
If you're not moving at night, you need a place to stay - simple enough. In the middle of nowhere, chances are a tent or staying in your vehicle are OK. though don't neglect a warning system just in case. Seaborne shipping containers on flatbed trucks make for great mobile shelters - they're built out of steel or carbon fiber to withstand storms and movement by crane. Semi-truck trailers however, are at best aluminum sheeting over a little fiberglass insulation and you can punch right through them.
In more urban areas, you will probably want to take advantage of one of the standing buildings. Avoid basements, and go for the second floor or hither. If reanimates surround the area, escaping an upper floor by going out a window or blasting your own hole is a lot easier than digging out of a basement. Of course, if you avoid being noticed that is even better. Another thing to avoid, is private residences.
The standard house is build to be affordable to the standard family. Construction materials are not as heavy duty as commercial structure. Its not reinforced for thousands of customers, or made from simple sturdy concrete. Houses are mostly wood and aluminum siding, fiberboard, maybe a brick facade. A lot of insulation yes, but blown foam is not exactly meant to stop claws and bullets.
Now I spent some unpleasant time in a government institution before, but I tell you these days, you can not go wrong with a government building. Those things are designed to stop bullets and bombs, armored glass, Kevlar wall paper, flame proof coatings - you name it. Run some heavy chain around the truck barriers, and reanimates will be stymied for quite a while. While many normal glass widows have broken, leaving buildings full of rotting furnishings, government places will still be nicely furnished. Just look out for if the building still has residents.
Ahh, foods here, and I'm famished. If you'll excuse me - how to deal with other humans will have to wait for a bit later.
First of all - don't travel at night. Reanimate vision isn't that great, but they certainly aren't blind, and at night - its better than a human's...
Come to think of it, the best way to imagine reanimates is as some sort of large cat - puma, tiger, leopard. Maybe not the clearest color vision, but good to hunt at night, a stalking pattern that usually relies on ambush, decent sense of smell - though not a blood hound - and good hearing. Mind that last one - I try to avoid using guns as much out of not attracting attention as any sort of pacifism or desire not to hurt people.
If you're not moving at night, you need a place to stay - simple enough. In the middle of nowhere, chances are a tent or staying in your vehicle are OK. though don't neglect a warning system just in case. Seaborne shipping containers on flatbed trucks make for great mobile shelters - they're built out of steel or carbon fiber to withstand storms and movement by crane. Semi-truck trailers however, are at best aluminum sheeting over a little fiberglass insulation and you can punch right through them.
In more urban areas, you will probably want to take advantage of one of the standing buildings. Avoid basements, and go for the second floor or hither. If reanimates surround the area, escaping an upper floor by going out a window or blasting your own hole is a lot easier than digging out of a basement. Of course, if you avoid being noticed that is even better. Another thing to avoid, is private residences.
The standard house is build to be affordable to the standard family. Construction materials are not as heavy duty as commercial structure. Its not reinforced for thousands of customers, or made from simple sturdy concrete. Houses are mostly wood and aluminum siding, fiberboard, maybe a brick facade. A lot of insulation yes, but blown foam is not exactly meant to stop claws and bullets.
Now I spent some unpleasant time in a government institution before, but I tell you these days, you can not go wrong with a government building. Those things are designed to stop bullets and bombs, armored glass, Kevlar wall paper, flame proof coatings - you name it. Run some heavy chain around the truck barriers, and reanimates will be stymied for quite a while. While many normal glass widows have broken, leaving buildings full of rotting furnishings, government places will still be nicely furnished. Just look out for if the building still has residents.
Ahh, foods here, and I'm famished. If you'll excuse me - how to deal with other humans will have to wait for a bit later.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
KC's Glass is Half Full...
"To night we've got a special guest. Back from a long sabbatical, we have KC explorer and philosopher of the wastes, KC"
"Been a while since you've heard from me, hasn't it? Well, what can I say? There is a notable lack of two way communication, and a long distance between points, made even longer by the fact that the short cuts are usually crawling with things you want to avoid. Ahh, but the things I have seen - new civilizations forming, the evil get karmic comeuppance, I watched c-beams glitter in the dark near Tannhäuser Gate...
"Really? Would that have been anywhere near the shoulder of Orion?"
"Finally! Someone gets it! I tell you, its like they don't teach classic film appreciation anymore? To all those listening to this, find what's left of the SPHERE and look for some movies. I mean it, I'm serious. Look - you have to enjoy yourself, and you might as well do it by preserving the worthwhile of history. Relax man, its a zombie apocalypse - not the end of the world.
"That would be a pretty bold statement. Care to back it up?"
"You disagree Mr. Hobbes? I would have thought that was pounded into everyone by now. The sun isn't blowing up any faster than usual, the sky isn't afire, no dinosaur killer asteroids have been spotted, and only a couple of nuclear weapons were used. If a wolf started eating the sun and the giants rose up to kill the gods, then taking what you can and as much of it as possible might be OK.
"Pretty confident there will be a rebuilding then."
"Its already happened, and accelerating. You yourself have the time to maintain a radio station, city states have established themselves so well they're beginning to argue about boundaries. We've met actual aliens, answering some pretty major questions about the universe, and proving faster than light travel is possible - somehow. Humanity is going to see the stars, this is just a minor setback like the black plague, the Spanish flu, or the death of Jimmi Hendrix."
"So we keep making pop culture references and maintain a zen attitude, and this too shall pass?"
"Well, if you want me to be doom and gloom, I can be. But I've gotten along in the zone with a live and let live attitude fairly easily. Know your reanimate types, slow, smart, strong, ambush predator, super-soldier, and walking tank. Don't shoot if you don't have to, and keep a low profile. Remain unattached to goods and mobile, yet connected to people and prepared to stay around and help them. Always take time to enjoy life, keep your powder dry, and don't trust a bartender that makes Shirley Temples with vodka."
"Been a while since you've heard from me, hasn't it? Well, what can I say? There is a notable lack of two way communication, and a long distance between points, made even longer by the fact that the short cuts are usually crawling with things you want to avoid. Ahh, but the things I have seen - new civilizations forming, the evil get karmic comeuppance, I watched c-beams glitter in the dark near Tannhäuser Gate...
"Really? Would that have been anywhere near the shoulder of Orion?"
"Finally! Someone gets it! I tell you, its like they don't teach classic film appreciation anymore? To all those listening to this, find what's left of the SPHERE and look for some movies. I mean it, I'm serious. Look - you have to enjoy yourself, and you might as well do it by preserving the worthwhile of history. Relax man, its a zombie apocalypse - not the end of the world.
"That would be a pretty bold statement. Care to back it up?"
"You disagree Mr. Hobbes? I would have thought that was pounded into everyone by now. The sun isn't blowing up any faster than usual, the sky isn't afire, no dinosaur killer asteroids have been spotted, and only a couple of nuclear weapons were used. If a wolf started eating the sun and the giants rose up to kill the gods, then taking what you can and as much of it as possible might be OK.
"Pretty confident there will be a rebuilding then."
"Its already happened, and accelerating. You yourself have the time to maintain a radio station, city states have established themselves so well they're beginning to argue about boundaries. We've met actual aliens, answering some pretty major questions about the universe, and proving faster than light travel is possible - somehow. Humanity is going to see the stars, this is just a minor setback like the black plague, the Spanish flu, or the death of Jimmi Hendrix."
"So we keep making pop culture references and maintain a zen attitude, and this too shall pass?"
"Well, if you want me to be doom and gloom, I can be. But I've gotten along in the zone with a live and let live attitude fairly easily. Know your reanimate types, slow, smart, strong, ambush predator, super-soldier, and walking tank. Don't shoot if you don't have to, and keep a low profile. Remain unattached to goods and mobile, yet connected to people and prepared to stay around and help them. Always take time to enjoy life, keep your powder dry, and don't trust a bartender that makes Shirley Temples with vodka."
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Zone Karma
"It has been quite a while KC, we were beginning to doubt you would return."
"Thank-you for your concern, Mr. Hobbes. Frankly, I was rather worried too. I've got the feeling that I'm no longer the sole voice of the zone. A lot of people are venturing out to expand living space, to find the dwindling technology, to preserve a bit of the past before nature takes it, or because their city state has grown beyond simple survival. One man on a motorcycle might be a good guide, but he is not a movement."
"Not even if he's Che Guvera?"
"What? Me as a revolutionary? Che is ain't so! (laughter) No. No. I'm kind of anything but, really. I intentionally try not to make waves. Its, well...."
"Bad to make enemies? Dangerous to cut off suppliers? Unhealthy to bait raiders?"
"I'd say all of the above, but then again, sometimes it might be a good idea to do any one of those, or all three at the same time. The zone doesn't have some multi-axis description of behavior good and bad, it doesn't align one way or another. But there is definitely a sense of karma if nothing else. I'm not a big believer in religion or a wanna-be hippy, however I have a sense that what goes around comes around. A guy with a lot of scars - even money says he was either dumb enough to get them, or smart enough to survive getting them. The woman with just a handgun is either woefully unprepared or knows exactly what she needs, and carries no more than necessary."
"So you're basically saying that the rules of the zone is don't step on any toes because you can't tell how tough people are or if they have connections?"
"Not Really."
"That is what it sounds like."
"I know. I'm not really the Arcadian rhetoric kind of..."
"Aristotelian"
"Yeah, that one thank you. Its more, you gotta prepare for the worst, and accept that there will be consequences. But still, do what you feel is right. Live for the day, but know you're not getting away scot-free. Oh hummp, I'm just spouting meaningless platitudes, and I hate that. Its the kind of thing I always hated in parents and teachers just these per-programmed responses. I should be talking about using motorcycles for transportation or good ways to find mmmo rather than muttering about nice behavior."
"What was that...
[Diego, is everything OK back there?
We seem to be having some power problems, that something seems to be shorting again... wrap it up"
Noted.]
"Well, as luck would have it KC, you're getting a chance to think of a better response - we're having some problems and are going to have to cut this short."
"Gotcha. I hope its nothing I did..."
"Old Equipment, and improvised spares."
"Yeah, well thanks for having me, and good luck getting everything running."
"Thank-you for your concern, Mr. Hobbes. Frankly, I was rather worried too. I've got the feeling that I'm no longer the sole voice of the zone. A lot of people are venturing out to expand living space, to find the dwindling technology, to preserve a bit of the past before nature takes it, or because their city state has grown beyond simple survival. One man on a motorcycle might be a good guide, but he is not a movement."
"Not even if he's Che Guvera?"
"What? Me as a revolutionary? Che is ain't so! (laughter) No. No. I'm kind of anything but, really. I intentionally try not to make waves. Its, well...."
"Bad to make enemies? Dangerous to cut off suppliers? Unhealthy to bait raiders?"
"I'd say all of the above, but then again, sometimes it might be a good idea to do any one of those, or all three at the same time. The zone doesn't have some multi-axis description of behavior good and bad, it doesn't align one way or another. But there is definitely a sense of karma if nothing else. I'm not a big believer in religion or a wanna-be hippy, however I have a sense that what goes around comes around. A guy with a lot of scars - even money says he was either dumb enough to get them, or smart enough to survive getting them. The woman with just a handgun is either woefully unprepared or knows exactly what she needs, and carries no more than necessary."
"So you're basically saying that the rules of the zone is don't step on any toes because you can't tell how tough people are or if they have connections?"
"Not Really."
"That is what it sounds like."
"I know. I'm not really the Arcadian rhetoric kind of..."
"Aristotelian"
"Yeah, that one thank you. Its more, you gotta prepare for the worst, and accept that there will be consequences. But still, do what you feel is right. Live for the day, but know you're not getting away scot-free. Oh hummp, I'm just spouting meaningless platitudes, and I hate that. Its the kind of thing I always hated in parents and teachers just these per-programmed responses. I should be talking about using motorcycles for transportation or good ways to find mmmo rather than muttering about nice behavior."
"What was that...
[Diego, is everything OK back there?
We seem to be having some power problems, that something seems to be shorting again... wrap it up"
Noted.]
"Well, as luck would have it KC, you're getting a chance to think of a better response - we're having some problems and are going to have to cut this short."
"Gotcha. I hope its nothing I did..."
"Old Equipment, and improvised spares."
"Yeah, well thanks for having me, and good luck getting everything running."
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Artistry Zone
People don't believe me when I say the zone is a beautiful place. I guess that is partly my fault - would you believe a guy that only goes by initials and rides around on a turbine powered motorcycle? I'm just a lay about who doesn't accept the seriousness of the situation. There is work to be done fixing up the encampment, there are slobbering former humans out there behind every bush and around every corner. That KC guy is just a nutcase.
Let 'em. They'll miss it when its gone. I'd say more for me - but why be greedy and claim the whole USA as my own? Its a big problem these days, and I try not to be a part of it.
Above you is a sky bluer than ever with no industrial particulates being pumped up every day, or with more stars than you've ever seen because there are no lamps burning all night. Look to either side, and you already see the wildrness taking hold, new green shoots and flowers everywhere.
People marvel at ruins of old castles, the shattered bits of the Parthenon seem to be a standard of architectural beauty. Look at any modern building that is falling a part, see all sorts of neat stuff. The million diamond twinkle of irregular glass shards reflecting. Stalactite streaks of rust and other hues painting their own murals down the sides, and re-bar busting through concrete, spilling out showing all the technology and effort that went into making that building on display. Somehow, we came to the aesthetic that when something is done, you should never realize it was built or how in the first place - but now the beams and pass ways and trusses are in plain view.
You see animals you never have before, and its quite enough to meditate by. Well, I'm not one to zen meditate, especially with those animals about - there are an abundance of wolves, lions, coyotes, and others of that kind running about, gleaning from the plenty of left-overs of civilization. It will probably take another decade or so for that to get in balance and all the escaped dogs to revert to a stable wolf-like state.
Even the alien stuff has its own aesthetic. Can't say much for the colors, but they do have their own mosaics and like to paint old walls when they think no human is watching. We expected the first non-earth civilization we met to be a lot of things - but graffiti artists probably wasn't one of them. Provided you don't get too close, even those laser towers are kind of neat - they're like small outcroppings of giant flowers.
There are really only two ugly things in the zone. Reanimates just aren't an easy sight for the eyes - or the nose if you're close enough. Dirty, unkempt, scared - but usually clothed. Almost always really, though with no fashion sense. And they seem to change it up too. Might not be as dead as we think if they do that.
As to the other bit of ugliness?
Well, that is the behavior of people. This place supported what - ten or twelve billion people in 2050, and now that we're well less than two, they still think there isn't enough for everyone. The civilization that brought us flights to Mars, the SPHERE, 180 story tall city-scale buildings, and a few hundred flavors of ice-cream somehow wasn't good enough, and it needs to be remade in a different image.
As I said before, no need to be greedy, and no need to be a part of it.
Let 'em. They'll miss it when its gone. I'd say more for me - but why be greedy and claim the whole USA as my own? Its a big problem these days, and I try not to be a part of it.
Above you is a sky bluer than ever with no industrial particulates being pumped up every day, or with more stars than you've ever seen because there are no lamps burning all night. Look to either side, and you already see the wildrness taking hold, new green shoots and flowers everywhere.
People marvel at ruins of old castles, the shattered bits of the Parthenon seem to be a standard of architectural beauty. Look at any modern building that is falling a part, see all sorts of neat stuff. The million diamond twinkle of irregular glass shards reflecting. Stalactite streaks of rust and other hues painting their own murals down the sides, and re-bar busting through concrete, spilling out showing all the technology and effort that went into making that building on display. Somehow, we came to the aesthetic that when something is done, you should never realize it was built or how in the first place - but now the beams and pass ways and trusses are in plain view.
You see animals you never have before, and its quite enough to meditate by. Well, I'm not one to zen meditate, especially with those animals about - there are an abundance of wolves, lions, coyotes, and others of that kind running about, gleaning from the plenty of left-overs of civilization. It will probably take another decade or so for that to get in balance and all the escaped dogs to revert to a stable wolf-like state.
Even the alien stuff has its own aesthetic. Can't say much for the colors, but they do have their own mosaics and like to paint old walls when they think no human is watching. We expected the first non-earth civilization we met to be a lot of things - but graffiti artists probably wasn't one of them. Provided you don't get too close, even those laser towers are kind of neat - they're like small outcroppings of giant flowers.
There are really only two ugly things in the zone. Reanimates just aren't an easy sight for the eyes - or the nose if you're close enough. Dirty, unkempt, scared - but usually clothed. Almost always really, though with no fashion sense. And they seem to change it up too. Might not be as dead as we think if they do that.
As to the other bit of ugliness?
Well, that is the behavior of people. This place supported what - ten or twelve billion people in 2050, and now that we're well less than two, they still think there isn't enough for everyone. The civilization that brought us flights to Mars, the SPHERE, 180 story tall city-scale buildings, and a few hundred flavors of ice-cream somehow wasn't good enough, and it needs to be remade in a different image.
As I said before, no need to be greedy, and no need to be a part of it.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Citizen Contacts
It me, KC again. Been a while - huh? Well, that is just what I do - I'm an adventure, a lone wanderer, explorer or the Terra nova. You can expect me to be out of contact occasionally - most of the time even.
Where specifically have I been recently? Well, the area North of Lone Star and South of Vegas for one, even made it to near the California border. I really miss that place, but so far, there isn't a safe way through. Most places, the Citizens are in just a big of a hole as the rest of us, squabbling over resources and the proper way to move forward. They have their S--t together, and they don't like us. Shoot on sight, search and destroy don't like. Hate us as much as they hate the guys on the other side of the Rockies.
Yep, I've actually seen shots fired in a Planetary Citizen civil war.
I'm trying to be optimistic about this. Not in the "hopefully they'll kill all of themselves for us" way either. A number of them are decent people, I've stayed with a few on occasion, and traveled with them on others.
For my survival guide, it comes down to a basic rule. Let the Citizens come to you. The kill everybody types aren't going to signal, and only rarely communicate - they don't care. Ones on the fence or outright friendly will if they've got something to say. Watch their right hand. If they make a peace sign - thumb to opposite finger, middle fingers in a V and wave it back and forth, that is a gesture of greeting. Waving a fist back and forth go away. Its just like how humans wave to each other for attention.
Now, once you do make contact, the question is what to do. The two big recommendations would be to ask for escort through their territory, and permission to salvage structures. Pretty often, the answer will be no, but at least some of the time they'll agree. Travel becomes safer, and they're quite interested in learning about the remains of towns and factories near their settlements.
A payment is likely to be requested. Don't sweat it. Citizens have their own tech and supply needs, so they're not going to ask for your most valuable stuff. They're too small to drive your vehicle or use a human rifle very well - so unlike humans, they won't be constantly trying to get those. Raw materials, snack foods, up-to-date information some help dealing with a raider or reanimate problem, translation work.
Despite the seemingly fantastic nature of working hand in hand - in hand - with our four armed friends, its not going to make you rich. Aside from the perks you ask for, they're not about to offer much. You could get some food if you really want it, but you do realize they're insectivores - right? Won't kill ya, but I'm sure a lot of toxic things taste better anyway. Weapons - well a decent knife or hatchet is possible - steel is steel regardless of the blacksmith, and those gyro-jet guns they've got - well, what is the point considering how hard it is to get ammo?
Nor is cooperation going to give you a lot of information. You can't really ask about what the Citizens are up to or about the more violent groups. Imagine trying to ask a person who only speaks Chinese to describe the command procedures of a lunar colony - most of the language is different, and many don't really know anyway. Actually, I'm kind of suspicious - I think they're feigning ignorance or playing up unfamiliarity with terms to get out of answering questions. Its a bit hard to tell what the overall agenda is.
On the other hand, how much can you trust the agenda of most Humans? I know its kind of a catch-22 but as I said, stay optimistic. If you just try to shoot first and presume everyone is out to get you, doors are going to be closed, then karma is going to come around, and people are going to see the worst in you. Try to be good, you might be swindled now and then, but you'll also make friends that will help you through those rough times. Some of them might even be from another planet.
Catch you later.
Where specifically have I been recently? Well, the area North of Lone Star and South of Vegas for one, even made it to near the California border. I really miss that place, but so far, there isn't a safe way through. Most places, the Citizens are in just a big of a hole as the rest of us, squabbling over resources and the proper way to move forward. They have their S--t together, and they don't like us. Shoot on sight, search and destroy don't like. Hate us as much as they hate the guys on the other side of the Rockies.
Yep, I've actually seen shots fired in a Planetary Citizen civil war.
I'm trying to be optimistic about this. Not in the "hopefully they'll kill all of themselves for us" way either. A number of them are decent people, I've stayed with a few on occasion, and traveled with them on others.
For my survival guide, it comes down to a basic rule. Let the Citizens come to you. The kill everybody types aren't going to signal, and only rarely communicate - they don't care. Ones on the fence or outright friendly will if they've got something to say. Watch their right hand. If they make a peace sign - thumb to opposite finger, middle fingers in a V and wave it back and forth, that is a gesture of greeting. Waving a fist back and forth go away. Its just like how humans wave to each other for attention.
Now, once you do make contact, the question is what to do. The two big recommendations would be to ask for escort through their territory, and permission to salvage structures. Pretty often, the answer will be no, but at least some of the time they'll agree. Travel becomes safer, and they're quite interested in learning about the remains of towns and factories near their settlements.
A payment is likely to be requested. Don't sweat it. Citizens have their own tech and supply needs, so they're not going to ask for your most valuable stuff. They're too small to drive your vehicle or use a human rifle very well - so unlike humans, they won't be constantly trying to get those. Raw materials, snack foods, up-to-date information some help dealing with a raider or reanimate problem, translation work.
Despite the seemingly fantastic nature of working hand in hand - in hand - with our four armed friends, its not going to make you rich. Aside from the perks you ask for, they're not about to offer much. You could get some food if you really want it, but you do realize they're insectivores - right? Won't kill ya, but I'm sure a lot of toxic things taste better anyway. Weapons - well a decent knife or hatchet is possible - steel is steel regardless of the blacksmith, and those gyro-jet guns they've got - well, what is the point considering how hard it is to get ammo?
Nor is cooperation going to give you a lot of information. You can't really ask about what the Citizens are up to or about the more violent groups. Imagine trying to ask a person who only speaks Chinese to describe the command procedures of a lunar colony - most of the language is different, and many don't really know anyway. Actually, I'm kind of suspicious - I think they're feigning ignorance or playing up unfamiliarity with terms to get out of answering questions. Its a bit hard to tell what the overall agenda is.
On the other hand, how much can you trust the agenda of most Humans? I know its kind of a catch-22 but as I said, stay optimistic. If you just try to shoot first and presume everyone is out to get you, doors are going to be closed, then karma is going to come around, and people are going to see the worst in you. Try to be good, you might be swindled now and then, but you'll also make friends that will help you through those rough times. Some of them might even be from another planet.
Catch you later.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Four Plus Five Equals Mystery
"Its so nice to have you back KC. How have you been?"
"I'm still doing fine. No complaints here."
"Good too hear, good to hear indeed. Now the question of the hour is about reanimates. A few people have sent us messages to warn of new types, but we haven't had much luck confirming this. You're well traveled - is there anything we should be aware of?"
"Everything else in the zone is changing, that the reanimates are doing it too wouldn't be a surprise."
"Can you confirm any of these rumors? I would be especially interested if you can tell us anything about the type four - everyone seems to agree they exist, but no one has described them."
"Unfortunately, I'm in the same boat as everyone else on the type four."
"Can you at least explain why everyone seems so obsessed with them?"
"Think of the standard six as an army. Your basic type one is a cannon fodder grunt, as close to a basic soldier or movie ghoul as you get. The advanced variant is smarter, more experienced - a sergeant. Twos and Betas are kind of akin to attack dogs or helicopter troops. Well, they can't fly - fortunately - but they're damn good climbers. Next, we have the power armor and assault vehicles.One, two, three, alpha, beta, gamma. Most of you might know that as kappa though - they skipped six letters, but to their credit, who would be thinking of the Greek alphabet when encountering one for the first time?
"Very True"
"Now the type four, that fills in some of the gaps in the army metaphor. Who is in command? Logistics? Recruitment? We know that reanimates will retreat, but also tend to recover their losses and any other corpses they can grab. Where do they take them, and why? I've met a few people who claim to have been bitten without transforming. It very well could be the type four or its tentative delta sub-type would be what manufactures reanimates. Also, remember - if its indeed the nanotech vaccine behind this, those micro-bots don't work without outside command. Wearable computers the size of a small t-shirt are possible, ones the size of a thread tip - less so."
"Ever try to find one of these things?"
"I'm sure some have, but well - it seems rather like trying to find a heart of a wildfire after dousing yourself with napalm."
"That can't end well."
"Nope."
"OK, Type five then."
"I might have possibly seen a few."
"Such confidence of your own observations?"
"Type four would seem to fill the need for control. Type five fills the need for conspiracy."
"The need for conspiracy?"
"Remember a few years ago on the centennial of the so called Roswell crash? The government actually declassified a hundred something pages to show the thing was just an old jet stream motivated reconnaissance hot air balloon, even provided blueprints, in case you had a factory for producing old film cameras and developing agent on hand. The U-2 dragon lady wouldn't fly for another decade or so, satellite recon longer still, and they needed to watch the Russians and monitor nuclear tests out in Nevada. And yet, there still seemed to be people, four generations on, that are convinced the government was concealing aliens exist."
"Reanimates came from Roswell on flying saucers?"
"Ah, ha, heh -a moment... No. But a lot of people believe the government is hiding something. That something like this could be an accident? Pretty far fetched."
"And the need to have planned ahead and make your own undead isn't?"
"A while back I had nothing but time on my hands and a roommate who bounced off the walls with this sort of stuff. If we can make nano target diseased cells and viruses, we can make it target healthy ones too. And if we can make cybernetics, from working limbs to eyes for the blind, then what is stopping us from making half robot-super soldiers?"
"As a doctor, I can tell you quite a few problems. To begin, a cyber eye still wouldn't have room for the necessary coolant to make an IR sensor, and even video links require an implanted processor and an external machine. As to limbs - most of those are a bit weaker than a natural one to avoid over-stressing anything. A super arm that can lift three hundred kilos attached to a normal spine is asking for sever injuries."
"Right, but there is sect that is going to think a reanimate is a perfect soldier, or at least an attempt at one. Lord knows we love the idea, as far back as Gilgamesh, Goliath, Hercules...Amazons. If you're going to fight a dirty war like the one in South America - an army that gains strength for every one of your or theirs killed and invokes more existential fear than national resistance is great. As for fighting aliens when resources are limited - something that doesn't need weapons or logistics seems great."
"We seem to be running short on time, so quickly - do you belive these things are a product of science gone wrong?"
"I don't think governments and bureaucracies are that competent. I don't think an individual would have the resources or knowledge. If it can't be one person, and it can't be a group well - I guess you can't blame anyone, and just have to play it as it lays."
"Alright. Well, thank you again KC for your time, and thank you to our listeners. If you've got questions or comments, find a way to sen them our way."
"I'm still doing fine. No complaints here."
"Good too hear, good to hear indeed. Now the question of the hour is about reanimates. A few people have sent us messages to warn of new types, but we haven't had much luck confirming this. You're well traveled - is there anything we should be aware of?"
"Everything else in the zone is changing, that the reanimates are doing it too wouldn't be a surprise."
"Can you confirm any of these rumors? I would be especially interested if you can tell us anything about the type four - everyone seems to agree they exist, but no one has described them."
"Unfortunately, I'm in the same boat as everyone else on the type four."
"Can you at least explain why everyone seems so obsessed with them?"
"Think of the standard six as an army. Your basic type one is a cannon fodder grunt, as close to a basic soldier or movie ghoul as you get. The advanced variant is smarter, more experienced - a sergeant. Twos and Betas are kind of akin to attack dogs or helicopter troops. Well, they can't fly - fortunately - but they're damn good climbers. Next, we have the power armor and assault vehicles.One, two, three, alpha, beta, gamma. Most of you might know that as kappa though - they skipped six letters, but to their credit, who would be thinking of the Greek alphabet when encountering one for the first time?
"Very True"
"Now the type four, that fills in some of the gaps in the army metaphor. Who is in command? Logistics? Recruitment? We know that reanimates will retreat, but also tend to recover their losses and any other corpses they can grab. Where do they take them, and why? I've met a few people who claim to have been bitten without transforming. It very well could be the type four or its tentative delta sub-type would be what manufactures reanimates. Also, remember - if its indeed the nanotech vaccine behind this, those micro-bots don't work without outside command. Wearable computers the size of a small t-shirt are possible, ones the size of a thread tip - less so."
"Ever try to find one of these things?"
"I'm sure some have, but well - it seems rather like trying to find a heart of a wildfire after dousing yourself with napalm."
"That can't end well."
"Nope."
"OK, Type five then."
"I might have possibly seen a few."
"Such confidence of your own observations?"
"Type four would seem to fill the need for control. Type five fills the need for conspiracy."
"The need for conspiracy?"
"Remember a few years ago on the centennial of the so called Roswell crash? The government actually declassified a hundred something pages to show the thing was just an old jet stream motivated reconnaissance hot air balloon, even provided blueprints, in case you had a factory for producing old film cameras and developing agent on hand. The U-2 dragon lady wouldn't fly for another decade or so, satellite recon longer still, and they needed to watch the Russians and monitor nuclear tests out in Nevada. And yet, there still seemed to be people, four generations on, that are convinced the government was concealing aliens exist."
"If I may int-er-upt, No Citi-zen ev-er came to Earth Be-fore"
"I wasn't accusing you - I'm just setting up the point, "Reanimates came from Roswell on flying saucers?"
"Ah, ha, heh -a moment... No. But a lot of people believe the government is hiding something. That something like this could be an accident? Pretty far fetched."
"And the need to have planned ahead and make your own undead isn't?"
"A while back I had nothing but time on my hands and a roommate who bounced off the walls with this sort of stuff. If we can make nano target diseased cells and viruses, we can make it target healthy ones too. And if we can make cybernetics, from working limbs to eyes for the blind, then what is stopping us from making half robot-super soldiers?"
"As a doctor, I can tell you quite a few problems. To begin, a cyber eye still wouldn't have room for the necessary coolant to make an IR sensor, and even video links require an implanted processor and an external machine. As to limbs - most of those are a bit weaker than a natural one to avoid over-stressing anything. A super arm that can lift three hundred kilos attached to a normal spine is asking for sever injuries."
"Right, but there is sect that is going to think a reanimate is a perfect soldier, or at least an attempt at one. Lord knows we love the idea, as far back as Gilgamesh, Goliath, Hercules...Amazons. If you're going to fight a dirty war like the one in South America - an army that gains strength for every one of your or theirs killed and invokes more existential fear than national resistance is great. As for fighting aliens when resources are limited - something that doesn't need weapons or logistics seems great."
"We seem to be running short on time, so quickly - do you belive these things are a product of science gone wrong?"
"I don't think governments and bureaucracies are that competent. I don't think an individual would have the resources or knowledge. If it can't be one person, and it can't be a group well - I guess you can't blame anyone, and just have to play it as it lays."
"Alright. Well, thank you again KC for your time, and thank you to our listeners. If you've got questions or comments, find a way to sen them our way."
Friday, June 3, 2011
They Won't Play Hope on the Radio
"Its so nice to have you back KC. How have you been?"
"I'm still doing fine. No complaints here."
"You told us about a recent encounter with some New Birmingham forces - do you think they're on the move?"
"I would be surprised if they weren't. Five years have passed. It doesn't always seem like that, when the normal rhythms of life are gone or you're more concentrated on survival than calendars. But its time someone started making a move."
"I wouldn't have figured you would encourage them-"
"Not them specifically! I wouldn't say I encourage this at all, really. People have suffered enough without us starting wars all over the place. But, chances are even preserved foods have spoiled, replication limited crops are running out, easily exploitable supplies are taxed - its become time to start taking new territory. The US government needs to do something right now to prove it still exists, and to keep all the trigger-happy soldiers in Vegas from turning on each other. Tesla has its squatters, NEST units internal division, Lone Star a potential target of the god squad. All that is before the cross border travel, raider skirmishes, and what ever the aliens have have been doing for the past five years. We didn't take them out when they were weakest after landing - now they've set up factories. Nothing personal Sing Sing - I certainly hope things work out well between our people, but well, as we say - its been quiet, too quiet."
"You're not usually this doom and gloom. Have you seen something that has shaken your faith?"
"My faith in Humanity is as strong as ever. That is the problem Mr. Hobbes. I know we're going to pull out of this. But who is holding the rope and who will be swinging from the end of it is very much anyone's game at this point."
"Do you see a way to stave off this apocalypse. Well, second one anyway."
"In a prison, you get gangs based on race, ethnicity, supremacist ideology, or prior allegiance. Somehow, there is simply no "I don't want to be stabbed in the exorcise yard" gang, despite that being a common concern and shared by a very large group. Most people don't want armored vehicles rolling though their fields. You can try to take solace in the idea that once a overall government is established, electricity and normalcy will return - a bad dictator is better than a good anarchy as the saying goes. Well, at least as some say. My response would be one thirty second long press of that censor button, but you wouldn't let me back here is I was that profane."
"I thank you for your restraint."
"To our credit, this isn't a 1950s nuclear war, we're not just running down the gears waiting for the fallout cloud to reach the last bastion on reduce the Earth to silence. There is still time for peacemakers to work it out, for daring do adventurers to foil plans that imperial the zone, and the forward thinking to forge an alliance between human and citizen. But that chance is fading."
"I'm still doing fine. No complaints here."
"You told us about a recent encounter with some New Birmingham forces - do you think they're on the move?"
"I would be surprised if they weren't. Five years have passed. It doesn't always seem like that, when the normal rhythms of life are gone or you're more concentrated on survival than calendars. But its time someone started making a move."
"I wouldn't have figured you would encourage them-"
"Not them specifically! I wouldn't say I encourage this at all, really. People have suffered enough without us starting wars all over the place. But, chances are even preserved foods have spoiled, replication limited crops are running out, easily exploitable supplies are taxed - its become time to start taking new territory. The US government needs to do something right now to prove it still exists, and to keep all the trigger-happy soldiers in Vegas from turning on each other. Tesla has its squatters, NEST units internal division, Lone Star a potential target of the god squad. All that is before the cross border travel, raider skirmishes, and what ever the aliens have have been doing for the past five years. We didn't take them out when they were weakest after landing - now they've set up factories. Nothing personal Sing Sing - I certainly hope things work out well between our people, but well, as we say - its been quiet, too quiet."
"You're not usually this doom and gloom. Have you seen something that has shaken your faith?"
"My faith in Humanity is as strong as ever. That is the problem Mr. Hobbes. I know we're going to pull out of this. But who is holding the rope and who will be swinging from the end of it is very much anyone's game at this point."
"Do you see a way to stave off this apocalypse. Well, second one anyway."
"In a prison, you get gangs based on race, ethnicity, supremacist ideology, or prior allegiance. Somehow, there is simply no "I don't want to be stabbed in the exorcise yard" gang, despite that being a common concern and shared by a very large group. Most people don't want armored vehicles rolling though their fields. You can try to take solace in the idea that once a overall government is established, electricity and normalcy will return - a bad dictator is better than a good anarchy as the saying goes. Well, at least as some say. My response would be one thirty second long press of that censor button, but you wouldn't let me back here is I was that profane."
"I thank you for your restraint."
"To our credit, this isn't a 1950s nuclear war, we're not just running down the gears waiting for the fallout cloud to reach the last bastion on reduce the Earth to silence. There is still time for peacemakers to work it out, for daring do adventurers to foil plans that imperial the zone, and the forward thinking to forge an alliance between human and citizen. But that chance is fading."
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Typical Night
I've made a few small edits to the layout of the blog - nothing major yet, but you may notice there is now a link to the main rules to the right.
Still, unless they had some old 1950s twenty megaton hydrogen bombs lying around, few places are ever quite completely gone. Its a hell of a lot safer to pick your way into an old basement than to pitch a tent.Rubble, concrete, and dirt protects better than nylon - who would've guessed, right?
This time around, I got a bit of a surprise though. A New Birmingham force recon patrol. I almost didn't believe it - this far North - but you always know. Most people are pretty lax about what they wear in the zone - comfort and freedom of movement after-all. Even Vegas military types tend to ditch the Battle Dress Uniforms outside the strip - no point in attracting trouble. But the god squads always have their own unique appearance. Its a black and gray zig-zag disruption pattern - literally a zebra turned forty-five degrees - with a big hunter green crusader's cross on the front.
I suppose it works in urban areas. As to anywhere else, well they still wear it. Given that they're the ones with reanimate troopers, maybe they know something about how the neighbors see that we don't.
Anyway. I wasn't about to lead them back to my hideaway, so I just holed up under a stretch of still standing highway and kept an eye on them. Not ten minuets pass, and suddenly, I get a sphere ping. Someone has set up a network - a pretty powerful one if I can get it with all the twisted re-bar about. Unfortunately, I've got no idea what was on that network - it was encrypted, and I quickly switched off my receivers, if they could set up a network, they could set up bandwidth sniffers too. I try to avoid violence, but well, I'm not on good terms with that particular city state at the moment.
I'm not the only one apparently. Less than an hour later, its getting dark, they're still picking through rubble, and some creatures come out to meet them. Some wild dogs wandered in, but got scared off quickly enough. Beta type reanimates, not so much. To the squad's credit, they quickly formed ranks and coordinated fire. However, they didn't give chase when the things backed off. Its not a good sign when reanimates give up without a fight.
They're smart enough to know when a battle is hopeless, but generally you need to make them understand its impossible first. If they back off, that means they're coming back in force later. The smartest thing to do then, is what I did - get the hell out. They can rip open power armor, and climb concrete walls, but there are no reanimates that can outrun a motorcycle. Some smart enough to jump from a high embankment and try to hit you, but not when the town's been reduced to a parking lot.
Two days later, I checked back. The network was still up, but aside from some black and white rags, no sign of the troopers. We might have our differences, but I certainly hope the balance of them got out.
***
Normally, I don't roll through pancakes. Just not much there intact. Between the thermobaric bombs and the follow-up napalm strikes, the place looks like its been nuked. Even glass and steel buildings aren't all that safe - at least a few of them had major support beams melt under the firestorm heat, and have since toppled onto their neighbors.Still, unless they had some old 1950s twenty megaton hydrogen bombs lying around, few places are ever quite completely gone. Its a hell of a lot safer to pick your way into an old basement than to pitch a tent.Rubble, concrete, and dirt protects better than nylon - who would've guessed, right?
This time around, I got a bit of a surprise though. A New Birmingham force recon patrol. I almost didn't believe it - this far North - but you always know. Most people are pretty lax about what they wear in the zone - comfort and freedom of movement after-all. Even Vegas military types tend to ditch the Battle Dress Uniforms outside the strip - no point in attracting trouble. But the god squads always have their own unique appearance. Its a black and gray zig-zag disruption pattern - literally a zebra turned forty-five degrees - with a big hunter green crusader's cross on the front.
I suppose it works in urban areas. As to anywhere else, well they still wear it. Given that they're the ones with reanimate troopers, maybe they know something about how the neighbors see that we don't.
Anyway. I wasn't about to lead them back to my hideaway, so I just holed up under a stretch of still standing highway and kept an eye on them. Not ten minuets pass, and suddenly, I get a sphere ping. Someone has set up a network - a pretty powerful one if I can get it with all the twisted re-bar about. Unfortunately, I've got no idea what was on that network - it was encrypted, and I quickly switched off my receivers, if they could set up a network, they could set up bandwidth sniffers too. I try to avoid violence, but well, I'm not on good terms with that particular city state at the moment.
I'm not the only one apparently. Less than an hour later, its getting dark, they're still picking through rubble, and some creatures come out to meet them. Some wild dogs wandered in, but got scared off quickly enough. Beta type reanimates, not so much. To the squad's credit, they quickly formed ranks and coordinated fire. However, they didn't give chase when the things backed off. Its not a good sign when reanimates give up without a fight.
They're smart enough to know when a battle is hopeless, but generally you need to make them understand its impossible first. If they back off, that means they're coming back in force later. The smartest thing to do then, is what I did - get the hell out. They can rip open power armor, and climb concrete walls, but there are no reanimates that can outrun a motorcycle. Some smart enough to jump from a high embankment and try to hit you, but not when the town's been reduced to a parking lot.
Two days later, I checked back. The network was still up, but aside from some black and white rags, no sign of the troopers. We might have our differences, but I certainly hope the balance of them got out.
Monday, February 28, 2011
KC and the Kid
"Halt! Who goes there?"
The kid can't be more than ten or twelve, the gauss rifle is almost as long as he is tall. Probably his first time outside the walls of whatever settlement he's been living in, and not too sure about how to handle that thing. Better play this real smooth - kids with guns are not a good combination. Lets treat him as mature and try a standard greeting.
"No worries my good man, I mean you no harm. In fact, I could probably do you an hour of good. I've got some things to trade you might find valuable."
He turns to face me, but doesn't change his stance - not good for shooting or making a run for it if I did want to hurt him. A lot of places see the first night in the zone as ritual mark of maturity - but they could've done a better job than this -
"Maybe, maybe not. Either way, you're not moving from that spot until my father gets back."
At least he is paranoid. Not a bad start, but you can't be too over wound in these places...
"Fair enough, I'll stay right here. Though might I suggest you move from that particular spot? Its not a good idea to stand so near the fire when protecting the camp. The light ruins your dark vision, and silhouettes you against the horizon. Frankly, you should have noticed my approach much sooner than you did."
"How do I know this isn't some kind of trick? Who are you to be giving me advice?"
"I can't see how anyone could profit from giving a boy bad advice, and it would certainly clash with my good intentions to do so. As to who I am, you can call me KC."
"Like that guy on the radio?"
Hobbes is being heard all the way out here? Must have upgraded - I'll need to find my way back there soon.
"Not like, I am the guy. Your talking to the metaphor, not the simile."
"The hell?"
Don't hold it against him - he was only five when the even happened, he wasn't reading the classics.
"Its a joke. Never mind. I take it you've been traveling long?"
"No. If your KC, prove it."
"How might I ask? Its not like you can log into the sphere and do a background check. Anything you know about KC comes from the radio, and I could have heard the same transmissions and memorized them so its not like asking me about something I said on the air is going to prove anything."
"I guess."
He lowers the weapon. I've gotten through to him. But its only a start. I've got some work ahead of me. If this father of his will just give him a gun and then wander off, then its up to me to teach him about the zone. The boy's life should be on someone's conscious.
"Look, we have a society of trust here. I know its an odd thing. But perhaps there was something wrong with a society that allowed everyone to spot check each others' records on a moments notice. There certainly was enough else wrong five years ago. We all see it as some sort of golden age these days - and certifiably, having stable electricity, not having to grow your own food, and the occasional intercontinental zeppelin flight are nice. But that is really overlooking the rest of the age. Nano-Vac...
Even through the shadows I can see the kid's eyes glaze over. I do get overly poetic and off topic - all the pent up stuff from when I'm exploring alone and can't talk.
What's your name boy? And where's your father?"
"I'm Jim, and Dads... the trail food doesn't agree with him."
"Oh, we have all been there. Are you far from home, or is there a settlement nearby?"
"There's some farms up the road a couple of miles, but we're a bit farther than that - an old industrial park. Where are you from?"
Sounds like a good place to check out. Probably already traded the mirco-fac CAD disks for agricultural supplies, but they might have some spare parts of note.
"I've been every where man, I've been every... Yeah - its before your time, though I have been told I do a pretty good impression of Cash. I'm an explorer, I'm indexing customs of the zone."
"How can you have customs in the zone?"
"Take how I greeted you for instance. The first thing out of my mouth was an assurance it was situation normal. If it wasn't I would have mentioned "I saw raiders a day ago" or "Citizens up North" first. Skip pleasantries like hello and state concerns.Its how news passes around here. Then a time commitment. Not everyone is going to want a transient looking for five days work or be able to delay to trade an hour. Once again, we can't just telecommute this - we need to figure it now."
"Oh. You really put that much thought into just saying hello?"
"You really put that much thought into everything. The zone isn't too dangerous if you approach it in a safe way. Really kind of a nice place actually - you never know when you'll find a proverbial Comstock Lode or Willamette Valley for yourself - "
"What the hell are you doing with my boy!"
Ah the father. Big guy, waving around a pistol in a way that speaks of unfamiliarity. More likely to be shot by accident than... lets not push it.
"Trails clear ahead pal! I'm just here for an hour of trading and talking. A day or two of teaching the boy if you allow it. I can even be a guide if you tell me where you're heading."
"Drop your rifle."
"You know its unreasonable to ask me to disarm in the wild - at its strapped to my chest. But you can see my hand ins't near the trigger, and I haven't harmed the boy in this time."
"He seems nice dad - and he was the one on the radio."
"Jim what did I tell you about sitting by the fire while on guard duty?"
Better father than I thought.
"Its bad for your night vision. Mr. KC said that too."
One of those ineffable moments of the zone. High emotion. Danger. But unlike the beautiful ones, it passes quickly. The revolver's barrel shifts from me to the ground.
"I guess it will be alright. I'm Ben, you've already met Jim. Luke should be back soon - he was checking a trail, looks like something heavy passed through."
"Wasn't me Ben, I stay away from powered armor."
"Well, lets sit down and talk trade. You wouldn't have any stomach meds would you?"
"Plenty."
Staring down two people with guns - easy. Now comes the fun part.
The kid can't be more than ten or twelve, the gauss rifle is almost as long as he is tall. Probably his first time outside the walls of whatever settlement he's been living in, and not too sure about how to handle that thing. Better play this real smooth - kids with guns are not a good combination. Lets treat him as mature and try a standard greeting.
"No worries my good man, I mean you no harm. In fact, I could probably do you an hour of good. I've got some things to trade you might find valuable."
He turns to face me, but doesn't change his stance - not good for shooting or making a run for it if I did want to hurt him. A lot of places see the first night in the zone as ritual mark of maturity - but they could've done a better job than this -
"Maybe, maybe not. Either way, you're not moving from that spot until my father gets back."
At least he is paranoid. Not a bad start, but you can't be too over wound in these places...
"Fair enough, I'll stay right here. Though might I suggest you move from that particular spot? Its not a good idea to stand so near the fire when protecting the camp. The light ruins your dark vision, and silhouettes you against the horizon. Frankly, you should have noticed my approach much sooner than you did."
"How do I know this isn't some kind of trick? Who are you to be giving me advice?"
"I can't see how anyone could profit from giving a boy bad advice, and it would certainly clash with my good intentions to do so. As to who I am, you can call me KC."
"Like that guy on the radio?"
Hobbes is being heard all the way out here? Must have upgraded - I'll need to find my way back there soon.
"Not like, I am the guy. Your talking to the metaphor, not the simile."
"The hell?"
Don't hold it against him - he was only five when the even happened, he wasn't reading the classics.
"Its a joke. Never mind. I take it you've been traveling long?"
"No. If your KC, prove it."
"How might I ask? Its not like you can log into the sphere and do a background check. Anything you know about KC comes from the radio, and I could have heard the same transmissions and memorized them so its not like asking me about something I said on the air is going to prove anything."
"I guess."
He lowers the weapon. I've gotten through to him. But its only a start. I've got some work ahead of me. If this father of his will just give him a gun and then wander off, then its up to me to teach him about the zone. The boy's life should be on someone's conscious.
"Look, we have a society of trust here. I know its an odd thing. But perhaps there was something wrong with a society that allowed everyone to spot check each others' records on a moments notice. There certainly was enough else wrong five years ago. We all see it as some sort of golden age these days - and certifiably, having stable electricity, not having to grow your own food, and the occasional intercontinental zeppelin flight are nice. But that is really overlooking the rest of the age. Nano-Vac...
Even through the shadows I can see the kid's eyes glaze over. I do get overly poetic and off topic - all the pent up stuff from when I'm exploring alone and can't talk.
What's your name boy? And where's your father?"
"I'm Jim, and Dads... the trail food doesn't agree with him."
"Oh, we have all been there. Are you far from home, or is there a settlement nearby?"
"There's some farms up the road a couple of miles, but we're a bit farther than that - an old industrial park. Where are you from?"
Sounds like a good place to check out. Probably already traded the mirco-fac CAD disks for agricultural supplies, but they might have some spare parts of note.
"I've been every where man, I've been every... Yeah - its before your time, though I have been told I do a pretty good impression of Cash. I'm an explorer, I'm indexing customs of the zone."
"How can you have customs in the zone?"
"Take how I greeted you for instance. The first thing out of my mouth was an assurance it was situation normal. If it wasn't I would have mentioned "I saw raiders a day ago" or "Citizens up North" first. Skip pleasantries like hello and state concerns.Its how news passes around here. Then a time commitment. Not everyone is going to want a transient looking for five days work or be able to delay to trade an hour. Once again, we can't just telecommute this - we need to figure it now."
"Oh. You really put that much thought into just saying hello?"
"You really put that much thought into everything. The zone isn't too dangerous if you approach it in a safe way. Really kind of a nice place actually - you never know when you'll find a proverbial Comstock Lode or Willamette Valley for yourself - "
"What the hell are you doing with my boy!"
Ah the father. Big guy, waving around a pistol in a way that speaks of unfamiliarity. More likely to be shot by accident than... lets not push it.
"Trails clear ahead pal! I'm just here for an hour of trading and talking. A day or two of teaching the boy if you allow it. I can even be a guide if you tell me where you're heading."
"Drop your rifle."
"You know its unreasonable to ask me to disarm in the wild - at its strapped to my chest. But you can see my hand ins't near the trigger, and I haven't harmed the boy in this time."
"He seems nice dad - and he was the one on the radio."
"Jim what did I tell you about sitting by the fire while on guard duty?"
Better father than I thought.
"Its bad for your night vision. Mr. KC said that too."
One of those ineffable moments of the zone. High emotion. Danger. But unlike the beautiful ones, it passes quickly. The revolver's barrel shifts from me to the ground.
"I guess it will be alright. I'm Ben, you've already met Jim. Luke should be back soon - he was checking a trail, looks like something heavy passed through."
"Wasn't me Ben, I stay away from powered armor."
"Well, lets sit down and talk trade. You wouldn't have any stomach meds would you?"
"Plenty."
Staring down two people with guns - easy. Now comes the fun part.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Travels and Texas
"KC - you've been to Tesla, Vegas, several NEST towers - it seems just about everywhere. I have to ask - how do you do it?"
"I know where to find stuff, I know what people want, and I know how to take care of myself. Its a fine line to wall really - give too much of yourself, and people take advantage. Don't give of yourself, and people start taking because they believe you deserve it for being a [bleep]. Oh, right, your censorship thing. Sorry."
"Its all right. Please, continue."
"I live by the rules of the zone - I keep track of where I've been, I repay kindness, and stash what I can't take in marked sites so the next person coming though can be safe. If you're new to the wandering like, I'll help give you direction. But I'm not going to swear allegiance to anyone, and I don't pick fights. A fast motorcycle is ten times as good as a fast trigger-finger."
"There has got to be more to this than simply avoiding exploitation and confrontation."
"Not really. This world was almost big enough for billions upon billions of people five years ago. At ten percent of that, there should be enough to go around, and space that warring people should be able to get away.Its not like the yard at San Quentin.
"The prison...? You were at-"
"That's not appropriate right now. Maybe a better explanation is the Lone Star City-State."
"To be honest, I don't know much about them and if that's an apt metaphor. What can you tell us about the Lone Star arco complex. I hear they've become a de-facto city state, but not as much is said about them as all the others."
"They're kinda quiet, cause they don't want more trouble then they can take. NEST knows they've got problems, and don't mind using the radio antennas atop their two hundred story towers to call for assistance. Vegas thinks its still the rules of this country and sends out missives. New Birmingham wants to rule this country and points out their reasons loudly. Lone Star has most of what they need, where they need it. However, they're also stuck between New Birmingham's Expansion plans, a rather nasty group of the aliens that are far less personable then the one you've got working here, and a fairly high number of bandits - is that feed back or the thing speaking?"
"Sing-Sing - you know anything about the ones out west"
[High pitched squeel]
"Vocorder girl! uh - KC, would you mind if I went and spoke to her in her power suit, and you continued recording with Diego?
"Fine with me - how about you mister Dezf, des... I',m sory - how is it pronounced again?"
"de Zúñiga - like the fourteenth century Spanish philosopher. Not that Hobbes ever pronounces it correctly or spells it out in transcripts. But yea, you go talk to the alien, and I'll talk to our guest."
"If I can ask a question for a moment - how did you meet Hobbes, and how did an OB from the East Coast end up here?
"Its kind of anti-climatic really. We got stuck in this state when the EMP grounded air traffic, and somehow crossed paths, and both came to the conclusion we should get out of the big city quickly, because being stuck in an unfamiliar metropolis during a crisis was not going to be an easy trial to handle. A bit more to it of course, but our listeners probably want to hear about the Texas City State."
"Well, as I was saying, its in less immediate danger than most of the other states. Part of its territory was an old college campus so they've got education as needed, and a nuclear reprocessing station, so large amounts of electricity could be available. They're also pretty close to sea base meant to respond to event in the gulf and its resident cruisers. They don't have much in the way of industry - no micro-facs, nothing but some incomplete buildings that would have been zoned for it - yet everybody wants them.
It sits at a corridor into alien over-run California - so the PCs want it, NB wants its power plant for industry and the ships for power projection. Vegas shows the flag with occasional bomber over-flights because those ships officially belong to them. Frankly, I don't think the cruisers have left the docks once, because someone is going to blow them up if that happens - PC because they're a threat or USAF because they're stolen.
The people I've met there don't come off as wacky like Tesla or zealous as the religious freaks. You can still tell there is some sort of internal conflict brewing. I'd guess it has to do with which government they want to join, and on what terms. What else there is to it, they hide that pretty well."
"Don't they have some mag-lev hubs running through there or other transit stations?"
"I seem to recall such - yes."
"Is there a reason why you went there?"
"First and foremost, just to say I've been everywhere - you know, like why people climb mount Everest. The other is that there were a lot of rumors both down South and in Vegas about the reanimates down there. That they were a lot more organized then usual."
"Are they?"
"I'd have to say yes. I snuck past a lot more of the advanced types then I've encountered anywhere else."
"Do you think there's a reason?"
"I'm sure there is a reason. Don't have a clue what it is, but I know there has to be one."
"Anyone even making a guess?"
"Well a lot of people claim its some sort of conspiracy, and that the reanimates are under the control of someone - be it the aliens, Vegas, lone-star itself as a way of border enforcement, or even scientists at Area 51. All that is perfectly reasonable compare to the one about the cows though."
"Cows?!"
"Yeah, its one of those really strange things. You never see any domestic cows, very little live stock of any type really, but never cows. Yaks, Zebras, even elephants escaped from zoos in some places, but domestic cattle. As the reasoning goes - factory farm animals packed together in feedlots were some of the most terribly hormone and antibiotic ridden creatures on the planet and a major source of contamination and resistant bacteria - so even more than humans, they were injected with nano-vac. When that stuff went haywire and produced the reanimates..."
"So you mean the whole undead thing could be becasue of [bleep] cows?"
"Seems I returned just in time - Language Diego."
"You here this about the cows?"
"Yes, and some interesting facts from Sing-Sing. But we're going over time, so lets try to wrap this up and find a way to present it a bit more eloquently."
"Fair enough - I'm getting hungry and the guest looks like he could use something too. File set saved, back ups OK, music set to go, and powering down..."
"I know where to find stuff, I know what people want, and I know how to take care of myself. Its a fine line to wall really - give too much of yourself, and people take advantage. Don't give of yourself, and people start taking because they believe you deserve it for being a [bleep]. Oh, right, your censorship thing. Sorry."
"Its all right. Please, continue."
"I live by the rules of the zone - I keep track of where I've been, I repay kindness, and stash what I can't take in marked sites so the next person coming though can be safe. If you're new to the wandering like, I'll help give you direction. But I'm not going to swear allegiance to anyone, and I don't pick fights. A fast motorcycle is ten times as good as a fast trigger-finger."
"There has got to be more to this than simply avoiding exploitation and confrontation."
"Not really. This world was almost big enough for billions upon billions of people five years ago. At ten percent of that, there should be enough to go around, and space that warring people should be able to get away.Its not like the yard at San Quentin.
"The prison...? You were at-"
"That's not appropriate right now. Maybe a better explanation is the Lone Star City-State."
"To be honest, I don't know much about them and if that's an apt metaphor. What can you tell us about the Lone Star arco complex. I hear they've become a de-facto city state, but not as much is said about them as all the others."
"They're kinda quiet, cause they don't want more trouble then they can take. NEST knows they've got problems, and don't mind using the radio antennas atop their two hundred story towers to call for assistance. Vegas thinks its still the rules of this country and sends out missives. New Birmingham wants to rule this country and points out their reasons loudly. Lone Star has most of what they need, where they need it. However, they're also stuck between New Birmingham's Expansion plans, a rather nasty group of the aliens that are far less personable then the one you've got working here, and a fairly high number of bandits - is that feed back or the thing speaking?"
"Sing-Sing - you know anything about the ones out west"
[High pitched squeel]
"Vocorder girl! uh - KC, would you mind if I went and spoke to her in her power suit, and you continued recording with Diego?
"Fine with me - how about you mister Dezf, des... I',m sory - how is it pronounced again?"
"de Zúñiga - like the fourteenth century Spanish philosopher. Not that Hobbes ever pronounces it correctly or spells it out in transcripts. But yea, you go talk to the alien, and I'll talk to our guest."
"If I can ask a question for a moment - how did you meet Hobbes, and how did an OB from the East Coast end up here?
"Its kind of anti-climatic really. We got stuck in this state when the EMP grounded air traffic, and somehow crossed paths, and both came to the conclusion we should get out of the big city quickly, because being stuck in an unfamiliar metropolis during a crisis was not going to be an easy trial to handle. A bit more to it of course, but our listeners probably want to hear about the Texas City State."
"Well, as I was saying, its in less immediate danger than most of the other states. Part of its territory was an old college campus so they've got education as needed, and a nuclear reprocessing station, so large amounts of electricity could be available. They're also pretty close to sea base meant to respond to event in the gulf and its resident cruisers. They don't have much in the way of industry - no micro-facs, nothing but some incomplete buildings that would have been zoned for it - yet everybody wants them.
It sits at a corridor into alien over-run California - so the PCs want it, NB wants its power plant for industry and the ships for power projection. Vegas shows the flag with occasional bomber over-flights because those ships officially belong to them. Frankly, I don't think the cruisers have left the docks once, because someone is going to blow them up if that happens - PC because they're a threat or USAF because they're stolen.
The people I've met there don't come off as wacky like Tesla or zealous as the religious freaks. You can still tell there is some sort of internal conflict brewing. I'd guess it has to do with which government they want to join, and on what terms. What else there is to it, they hide that pretty well."
"Don't they have some mag-lev hubs running through there or other transit stations?"
"I seem to recall such - yes."
"Is there a reason why you went there?"
"First and foremost, just to say I've been everywhere - you know, like why people climb mount Everest. The other is that there were a lot of rumors both down South and in Vegas about the reanimates down there. That they were a lot more organized then usual."
"Are they?"
"I'd have to say yes. I snuck past a lot more of the advanced types then I've encountered anywhere else."
"Do you think there's a reason?"
"I'm sure there is a reason. Don't have a clue what it is, but I know there has to be one."
"Anyone even making a guess?"
"Well a lot of people claim its some sort of conspiracy, and that the reanimates are under the control of someone - be it the aliens, Vegas, lone-star itself as a way of border enforcement, or even scientists at Area 51. All that is perfectly reasonable compare to the one about the cows though."
"Cows?!"
"Yeah, its one of those really strange things. You never see any domestic cows, very little live stock of any type really, but never cows. Yaks, Zebras, even elephants escaped from zoos in some places, but domestic cattle. As the reasoning goes - factory farm animals packed together in feedlots were some of the most terribly hormone and antibiotic ridden creatures on the planet and a major source of contamination and resistant bacteria - so even more than humans, they were injected with nano-vac. When that stuff went haywire and produced the reanimates..."
"So you mean the whole undead thing could be becasue of [bleep] cows?"
"Seems I returned just in time - Language Diego."
"You here this about the cows?"
"Yes, and some interesting facts from Sing-Sing. But we're going over time, so lets try to wrap this up and find a way to present it a bit more eloquently."
"Fair enough - I'm getting hungry and the guest looks like he could use something too. File set saved, back ups OK, music set to go, and powering down..."
Friday, September 24, 2010
Observations on Ocupations
I've noticed an interesting pattern in my discussions with people. It hasn't been even a quarter generation since the event, but everyone treats it as different epoch of history, and a nigh mythological one at that. Most are disinclined to speak of their prior jobs in the same way no one speaks of a former life as a priest of Apollo or a Mayan elder.
The only time it ever seems to come up is when they are complaining. No one introduces themselves as "I'm Bill, I was an accountant before the event." But get William hot under the collar while under siege and you'll get an off hand comment like "these things are worse than people asking for refunds on April 15" or some other oddly inappropriate comment.
Perhaps its becasue they don't want to face the past. They had a family, friends, home life and virtual realities back in the same time they have a job. Now... not so much. Even the doctors and surgeons don't tend to mention their expertise up front. Not that I blame them - they were hit the hardest. Physically from being on the front lines trying to figure out what was going on. Inside, well all doctors feel it when they lose a patient, and most of them lost a few thousand...
Of course, for all the nostalgia, it wasn't that great. Infection raters were on the rise as were sea levels. A lot of people were displaced, and when you got a refugee problem like that, people turn. And don't get me even started on that f-ing war down in South America. The closest actual military people were 200 kilometers from any given firefight, and civilian casualties still went through the roof. Use only drones, pull apart the infrastructure, let it collapse, then waltz in. But when its decentralized and the utilities are buying power back from citizens with green energy what do you do? Suddenly, every hacienda with photovoltaics and hotel with windmills is part of the war effort.
And they wonder why tranquilizers sell so well.
Of course, it would be more ghoulish than anything walking around out there to say things have made a turn for the better after the event. There are some enclaves of people who think so, but I'd prefer to give them a wide berth. No, its much, much worse. But its a second chance. A bad second chance is better than none at all.
Prison records, work records, the slate has been wiped clean. And there aren't really the old jobs that let one fall back into the old complacent standards. Some of the people up in one of the NESTS or eeking out in some other arco might try. So long as people have hair, there's going to be barbers, con men to fleece them, and bankers to play off both sides. ha. But most of use are thinking it over.
Even though they've gotten their second chance, its still stuck doing the same ol' same old. It might be digging potatoes rather than data mining - but everyone is still stuck in tasks that don't have individual meaning. It might put food on your plate overall, but that one potato right there or the one left of it - doesn't matter which you pull up first.
I've been going for Keruac's "On the Road" or Walt's "Pioneers O' Pioneers".
My mission is to draw people on out here. We all got to eat, so I can't take every farmer of course, and well some people just have the temperament for it wand wouldn't take to me. But this is the one chance everyone has to be an explorer, to see everything old like new. Five, ten years top things are going to be running like before. Don't you doubt it, people can do some great things when they work together. But I want them to have a taste of the real life beforehand.
The only time it ever seems to come up is when they are complaining. No one introduces themselves as "I'm Bill, I was an accountant before the event." But get William hot under the collar while under siege and you'll get an off hand comment like "these things are worse than people asking for refunds on April 15" or some other oddly inappropriate comment.
Perhaps its becasue they don't want to face the past. They had a family, friends, home life and virtual realities back in the same time they have a job. Now... not so much. Even the doctors and surgeons don't tend to mention their expertise up front. Not that I blame them - they were hit the hardest. Physically from being on the front lines trying to figure out what was going on. Inside, well all doctors feel it when they lose a patient, and most of them lost a few thousand...
Of course, for all the nostalgia, it wasn't that great. Infection raters were on the rise as were sea levels. A lot of people were displaced, and when you got a refugee problem like that, people turn. And don't get me even started on that f-ing war down in South America. The closest actual military people were 200 kilometers from any given firefight, and civilian casualties still went through the roof. Use only drones, pull apart the infrastructure, let it collapse, then waltz in. But when its decentralized and the utilities are buying power back from citizens with green energy what do you do? Suddenly, every hacienda with photovoltaics and hotel with windmills is part of the war effort.
And they wonder why tranquilizers sell so well.
Of course, it would be more ghoulish than anything walking around out there to say things have made a turn for the better after the event. There are some enclaves of people who think so, but I'd prefer to give them a wide berth. No, its much, much worse. But its a second chance. A bad second chance is better than none at all.
Prison records, work records, the slate has been wiped clean. And there aren't really the old jobs that let one fall back into the old complacent standards. Some of the people up in one of the NESTS or eeking out in some other arco might try. So long as people have hair, there's going to be barbers, con men to fleece them, and bankers to play off both sides. ha. But most of use are thinking it over.
Even though they've gotten their second chance, its still stuck doing the same ol' same old. It might be digging potatoes rather than data mining - but everyone is still stuck in tasks that don't have individual meaning. It might put food on your plate overall, but that one potato right there or the one left of it - doesn't matter which you pull up first.
I've been going for Keruac's "On the Road" or Walt's "Pioneers O' Pioneers".
My mission is to draw people on out here. We all got to eat, so I can't take every farmer of course, and well some people just have the temperament for it wand wouldn't take to me. But this is the one chance everyone has to be an explorer, to see everything old like new. Five, ten years top things are going to be running like before. Don't you doubt it, people can do some great things when they work together. But I want them to have a taste of the real life beforehand.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
KC in LV AZ
"Welcome back listners! I'm happy to say that once again we have the infamous Mr. Cats in our studio."
"And once again I need to remind you, its just KC."
"If its not the sound guy, its my guests, if its not the guests, if its not them... it had better not be anything else because there's no one within fifty miles of here."
"I get that feeling a lot in my travels."
"Speaking of which, I'd like to know - what is the scariest place you've been?"
"Las Vegas, Nevada."
"Vegas? Vegas! That's one of the major government zones, its where most of the US leaders and army is, its got to be one of the safest places in North America."
"Best protected perhaps, safeset, that is another matter entirely. And for the sake of argument, its a couple of senators, a secretary of something or two, and a bunch of military brass, but where the bulk of the US government is, its kind of hard to tell."
"I know, I know, but I just can't see how Vegas is your top pick. I mean, haven't you been inside an overun arcology before?"
"NEST zero one, zero seven, and zero eight. Certainly hazardous, and unsettling. Your listeners would probably love to hear about those some time. But I stand by the idea, Vegas is the worst."
"I'm sure they would, but you're going to need to give a good reason why a controlled zone is the worst."
"First of all, I was in Vegas, before. When I was young, my parents went through there while on a trip to California, and I got to see it in its full glory before the oil crisis. Went back after I turned 21, and even with the new restrictions on long distance travel and power use, reduced water consumption, and generally less tourism - it was still a sight to behold, it kept that city of lights and free shrimp cocktail mystique. Go there now, and its black. Sure there are more important facilities than the casinos, but I mean even the street lights are out, the only illumination is the headlights of the military vehicles blocking the roads in and an occasional lantern at a sector post.
If you have any concept of Las Vegas from before, this alone would just take you as completely wrong. There is more automated ligihting in an abondend arco-tower.
Even if that old spirit is gone, something else is there. You can feel it in your teeth, crawling about your spine. Part of it is that you can't go ten feet without seeing pointing a gauss rifle in your direction. Every one of those soldiers has a symbol of their unit on them, and then a larger version of it, and a larger one still. They want to show off their allegiance. There is a definite pride, and a sense of purpose and heroism in belonging to a pre-event battalion. However, the resources of Vegas just won't support them all, and there is going to be a demobilization and disbanding of units.
Its like being around 10,000 captains who want to go down with their ship.
There are nightly fistfights over who gets to guard the quietest place in the desert and who gets to stop wearing out boots with pointless street patrols after a curfew everyone follows. It is by the grace of god that things have gone so well up until now, but there will be a reckoning amongst these soldiers."
"Couldn't they be sent on longer range patrols or reinforce other G-zones? Why keep them there?
"You would probably need to interview an actual soldier or his commanding officer. Part of it, is that everyone wants the credit and cushy job of protecting the city. Secondly, where would they go? The desters and mesas are a lot like the alien's home world, so to the south is quite a few of their outposts. North of them is the free city of Tesla and Rubuy Ridge - groups that don't want the govenment to interfere with their new societys, and would probably activly fight them. California was hit hard by the plague, and little short of a nuclear weapon would thin their numbers.
Speaking of which - as you might know, several A-bombs were used in the defense of Vegas five years ago, and there is good reason to believe they have more. To say this is a point of - conflict - is an understatement. With no nations surviving fully intact, they could go ahead and vaporize every other world capital and see no retaliation. A few generals believe this would be a good thing - part of America's manifest destiny to rebuild the world under its own image when we pull out of this dark age. A few more moderate ones only want to use ICBMs on the aliens, but still... So forces need to be kept around to either back this "stranglove" faction, or to oppose them if they made a play for power.
"I... I don't knwo what to say about that."
"And you shouldn't. A basic part of human decency is not wishing devastation upon others- and certainly not acting upon such. If it scares you, you're a good person."
"With bombshel... revelations like this, I think we need a few minuets to think about this and then a lot more information about the government in exile."
"Take your time. The Zone isn't going anywhere without me."
"And once again I need to remind you, its just KC."
"If its not the sound guy, its my guests, if its not the guests, if its not them... it had better not be anything else because there's no one within fifty miles of here."
"I get that feeling a lot in my travels."
"Speaking of which, I'd like to know - what is the scariest place you've been?"
"Las Vegas, Nevada."
"Vegas? Vegas! That's one of the major government zones, its where most of the US leaders and army is, its got to be one of the safest places in North America."
"Best protected perhaps, safeset, that is another matter entirely. And for the sake of argument, its a couple of senators, a secretary of something or two, and a bunch of military brass, but where the bulk of the US government is, its kind of hard to tell."
"I know, I know, but I just can't see how Vegas is your top pick. I mean, haven't you been inside an overun arcology before?"
"NEST zero one, zero seven, and zero eight. Certainly hazardous, and unsettling. Your listeners would probably love to hear about those some time. But I stand by the idea, Vegas is the worst."
"I'm sure they would, but you're going to need to give a good reason why a controlled zone is the worst."
"First of all, I was in Vegas, before. When I was young, my parents went through there while on a trip to California, and I got to see it in its full glory before the oil crisis. Went back after I turned 21, and even with the new restrictions on long distance travel and power use, reduced water consumption, and generally less tourism - it was still a sight to behold, it kept that city of lights and free shrimp cocktail mystique. Go there now, and its black. Sure there are more important facilities than the casinos, but I mean even the street lights are out, the only illumination is the headlights of the military vehicles blocking the roads in and an occasional lantern at a sector post.
If you have any concept of Las Vegas from before, this alone would just take you as completely wrong. There is more automated ligihting in an abondend arco-tower.
Even if that old spirit is gone, something else is there. You can feel it in your teeth, crawling about your spine. Part of it is that you can't go ten feet without seeing pointing a gauss rifle in your direction. Every one of those soldiers has a symbol of their unit on them, and then a larger version of it, and a larger one still. They want to show off their allegiance. There is a definite pride, and a sense of purpose and heroism in belonging to a pre-event battalion. However, the resources of Vegas just won't support them all, and there is going to be a demobilization and disbanding of units.
Its like being around 10,000 captains who want to go down with their ship.
There are nightly fistfights over who gets to guard the quietest place in the desert and who gets to stop wearing out boots with pointless street patrols after a curfew everyone follows. It is by the grace of god that things have gone so well up until now, but there will be a reckoning amongst these soldiers."
"Couldn't they be sent on longer range patrols or reinforce other G-zones? Why keep them there?
"You would probably need to interview an actual soldier or his commanding officer. Part of it, is that everyone wants the credit and cushy job of protecting the city. Secondly, where would they go? The desters and mesas are a lot like the alien's home world, so to the south is quite a few of their outposts. North of them is the free city of Tesla and Rubuy Ridge - groups that don't want the govenment to interfere with their new societys, and would probably activly fight them. California was hit hard by the plague, and little short of a nuclear weapon would thin their numbers.
Speaking of which - as you might know, several A-bombs were used in the defense of Vegas five years ago, and there is good reason to believe they have more. To say this is a point of - conflict - is an understatement. With no nations surviving fully intact, they could go ahead and vaporize every other world capital and see no retaliation. A few generals believe this would be a good thing - part of America's manifest destiny to rebuild the world under its own image when we pull out of this dark age. A few more moderate ones only want to use ICBMs on the aliens, but still... So forces need to be kept around to either back this "stranglove" faction, or to oppose them if they made a play for power.
"I... I don't knwo what to say about that."
"And you shouldn't. A basic part of human decency is not wishing devastation upon others- and certainly not acting upon such. If it scares you, you're a good person."
"With bombshel... revelations like this, I think we need a few minuets to think about this and then a lot more information about the government in exile."
"Take your time. The Zone isn't going anywhere without me."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)