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21 August 2139 21 - 27 August 2139 28 August - 3 September 2139 4 September 2139 5 September - 6 September 2139 7 September 2139 8 September 2139 9 September 2139 10 September 2139 11 September 2139 12 September 2139 13 September 2139

 

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report covers:   21 August 2139, 1800 MT to 13 September 2139, 2110 MT

 

21 August 2139

 

weather report:  5 kph winds from W and WNW. Nightly low temperature 25º C, daily high temperature 36º C. 25% cloud cover. Sunrise at 5:15 am, sunset at 6:49 pm (note that DST is not in effect).

 

     About sunset, a convoy from the Ravagers arrived in Cheyenne. There were 38 men led by Major Beatdown:

 

• twelve bikes, alcohol powered
  

• one scout car (three man crew)
  

• one armored car (three man crew)
  

• a school bus -- capacity 65 passengers + driver; includes a roof rack. 185 HP gasogen engine, 12 meters long, weight 15 tons. Passenger capacity is reduced by about 14 passengers due to the gasogen installation. Three man crew for this trip.
  

• an MC-9 Greyhound bus -- built in Toronto about 1984. Stainless steel body. 12.2 meters long, weight 12.5 tons, engine is 9.3 liter 280 HP V8 Detroit Diesel 8V-71, with a 4-speed Allison automatic transmission. Can carry 44 passengers (the three rear seats and the toilet were replaced by the gasogen system). 8.5 cubic meters of cargo space under the floor (in three compartments)), plus racks over the seats. The air conditioning system doesn't work any more. The escape hatches on the roof have pintle mounts for machineguns, but don't have guns mounted for this trip. Three man crew for this trip.
  

• an armored battle truck. Six man crew for this trip.
  

• two cargo trucks (one intended for the trade, one carrying supplies). Each has a two man crew for this trip; one has a machine gun above the cab. They can each seat 12 men in the cargo box on the folding seats, and 8 more sitting on the floor. I'm sure if you cram people in, Indian railway style, you could get 30 people in the back and cab ...
  

• one semi-tractor hauling a lowbed trailer (for the Chariot). Two man crew.
  

• a dump truck full of charcoal. Two man crew.
  

 

     Also part of the convoy were Scotty and Tyra, in an XR311. People at Cheyenne just before the convoy arrived:

 

• Doc, Jake Gootz, JJ, and Jesse

• Bixby -- he's snagged a cap-and-ball revolver and musket from the arsenal

• Annie, Holly and Luanne of the WWGG

• the Chieftain's harem:

• 4 shepherd women, who had each been here for most of a year.
  

• 1 woman from Santa Fe, NM. She was traded to Harald by a merchant a couple of months ago

• 1 woman from the Green River Valley, captured by the Feemen on one of their raiding expeditions. Her name was Heesis, and she hated the Doomriders (they killed her father when she was captured). She didn't know any of the WWGG, but she had heard of them. Within a day or so, Annie recruited Heesis into the WWGG. Heesis was a tall, beautiful blonde (there's a reason Harald wanted her for his harem); she seemed to have the same odd fainting episodes that Holly did.
  

• the Feemen, numbering 376 or fewer, depending on decisions and die rolling made since the last episode:

 

• 95 unwounded boys

• 5 wounded boys, will recover fully if treated
  

• 65 unwounded girls

• 5 wounded girls, will recover fully if treated
  

• 4 unwounded adult male warriors

• 10 wounded adult male warriors, will recover fully if treated

• 5 wounded adult male warriors, will recover as invalids with treatment (i.e., amputees)

• 5 wounded adult male warriors, will recover as severely incapacitated invalids with prolonged treatment (i.e., double amputee)

• 120 adult working females

• 8 wounded adult working females, will recover fully with treatment

• 1 wounded adult working female, will recover as invalid with treatment (i.e., amputee)

• 1 wounded adult working female, will recover as severely incapacitated invalids with prolonged treatment (i.e., double amputee)

• 20 elderly or invalid males

• 4 wounded elderly or invalid males, will recover fully with treatment

• 24 elderly or invalid females

• 4 wounded elderly or invalid females, will recover fully with treatment

 

     48 Feemen would benefit from medical treatment ("major wounds").  Treating a major wound requires either:

• Doc uses a "dose" from the medic bag, and makes his Medicine skill roll; each attempt takes 20 minutes. He can continue to make attempts and use doses; fumbles result in dead patients; and if he's been working more than 10 hours (30 Medicine skill rolls) his skill rolls will be halved after that -- but the stimulant shot in the med kit will let Doc keep working for 20 hours without that penalty ...

 

• OR:  any team member, or Bixby or a WWGG (not just Doc) can use the med kit (one per team member, including Doc himself), or the large med kit. An attempt uses one "dose" from the kit, which makes its 75% chance to "fix the problem"; the attempt takes 10 minutes (which includes triage, removing bullets, etc.).  The user can repeat the attempt with no penalty; the machine can't fumble. The smaller med kits started the campaign with 8 doses of "fix major injury"; the large kit has 48 doses. For an "invalidating" major wound, there's a 20% chance that the Med Kit will also repair that issue, too! Check twice for people with  "double bad" possible outcomes; a second success will result in an eventual complete recovery!
  

 

     Having at least one assistant with at least 30% First Aid or 20% Medicine skill would have added +5% to Doc's Medicine skill. Using MP "Pain Relief Spray" ... or a very careful amount of iguana ... on the major injury patients being treated with Medicine skill added +5% to Doc's Medicine skill.

     Anyone with an untreated major wound had a 10% chance of dying every 4 hours (it was actually a bit more complicated, but this presumes Doc was triaging the patients). There was also a "small town worth" of minor wounds to treat.

36 Hours At Cheyenne

Initially, Doc and Luanne worked on the wounded Feemen; Holly, JJ and Gootz were told to get some rest; Jesse was put to work taking an inventory of medical supplies. Doc, Jesse and Luanne all took a Stimulant spray/shot from a Med Kit. Bixby worked with the unwounded Feemen (he was best at their language) to move the wounded into the palisade, get some shelter and supplies set up, remove bodies from the palisade, and watch for Doomriders. Annie stood watch atop the tower.      About noon, Gootz was waked up to help Doc with the patients. He could fix up doses of iguana equivalent to a dose of MP Pain Relief spray/shot. I suspect Gootz would also take a stimulant at this point, either from his Med Kit or something of his own ...     Mid-afternoon, JJ woke up and replaced Annie on watch. Probably Annie, Holly and JJ would spell each other on guard/watch duty, on and off. Doc and Luanne would continue to work on the wounded, aided by Gootz. Bixby and Jesse dealt with inventory, managing the food/water/sanitation issues, and controlling the Feemen survivors. Does that sound correct?

 

     JJ checked out the Doomriders' vehicles and effects for any intelligence material. Some of his findings or conclusions:

• The Doomriders were carrying enough alcohol fuel to travel another 1000 kilometers.

• Some of their weapons come from Styx, others from the USAF.

• One of the buggies had a sketch map of the pre-War roads in Wyoming, with major towns marked on it. The sketch map was drawn with a pencil on the reverse of an old sheet of teleprinter "roll paper"; it's 8.5" wide, and about 17" long, with some damage. On the reverse of the map  is some printed info:

 

the teleprinter message found by JJ

 

21 - 27 August 2139

 

     With the assistance of the Ravagers, team R54 moved all the remaining Feemen to North Park, Colorado.

     At least once, scouts on motorbikes  or horses were seen kilometers away. Probably Doom Riders, though hard to tell that far away.

     As the team left Cheyenne for the last time, they set off bomb (lots of black powder) in the remaining structures, including the warehouse. Thousands of pounds of toxic chemicals were spread high into the sky by the blast.

     The Wild West Gunfighter Girls headed west with the last convoy from Cheyenne, and gave a hearty farewell to the team as the convoy turned south towards North Park.

 

28 August - 3 September 2139

 

weather report:  

 

     The team settled into Ultraviolet, for various activities:

 

• some rest and recuperation (and experience checks)
  

• more negotiations with King Jubal, and with the Sisterhood
  

• setting up radio-telegraph relays for Ultraviolet and the Sisterhood

• settling the remaining Feemen in North Park

    

The Project Radio-Telegraph Relay

Initially established by Team R54 in the Colorado Rocky Mountains ...       King Jubal, some of his mechanics and knights, and a few members of the Sisterhood of Shadows have been trained to operate and maintain the network.      Communication is by Morse code; in ordinary circumstances the network is monitored on an irregular daily schedule.      Roughly speaking, the equipment consists of ... antennas are ... power supply is ...      With a good antenna location, a strong clear signal can be received ... kilometers ...   Keep in mind that the Waste Lords have small antenna towers at each of their towns, and a larger one at Shelter City. Lukas Skalicky can confirm that they do monitor radio traffic on a variety of bands. There's a reason you got a lot of radio equipment from the town you raided.

locations: Ultraviolet, at King Jubal's palace in Hoosier Pass, along Colorado SR 9 somewhere in South Park (proposed) at one or more Ranger locations other locations as required to establish the network

 

 

4 September 2139

 

     The team got a visit from Cassandra, Alice and Betty -- Sisterhood assassins. Cassandra had a chat with Scotty, and agreed to provide a skilled scout in return for $200. Alice and Betty learned how to operate a radio.

 

5 September - 6 September 2139

 

     Jesse, Alice and Betty rode south to set up some radio-telegraph repeaters.

 

7 September 2139

 

     The Sisterhood scout Dee Dee arrived at Jubal's palace at the end of the day.

 

8 September 2139

 

weather report: ... 

 

     A hearty breakfast, a firm handshake and best wishes from King Jubal, and the team rolled out of Ultraviolet. Besides the Morrow Project members, they had Dee Dee and four Shepherd women rescued from Cheyenne. The trip to the vicinity of Cheyenne was thoroughly routine by now.

 

9 September 2139

 

weather report: temp low 77 F, high 95 F; winds light (6 kph) from W and WNW; cloud cover 25%

 

     Prowling around northeast of Cheyenne, the team came across the ruins of various Shepherd camps and farms, and the remains of Shepherd refugee groups -- victims of the Doomriders over the last couple of months.

     A few loose horses were seen running across the prairie; one or two destroyed Doomrider vehicles stood blackened along the roads.

     The team arrived at Stockyard (formerly known as Torrington); once they made it clear they weren't Doom Riders, they were allowed to enter. A few youths ran up to ask about their “fancy firesticks” - while the womenfolk stood back and whispered amongst themselves, some frowning disapprovingly, others smiling and giggling. They met with Mack Dolan, a leader of the Shepherds. He was very grateful for the team's rescue of the four harem inmates.

 

Stockyard

A few buildings surrounded by many pens and fences; a trench 3 meters wide and 2 meters deep surrounds the buildings, at a radius of roughly 150 meters. Most of the pens and corrals are just outside the trench, which seems to have been crudely camouflaged until recently. Some burned-out Doom Rider vehicles sit in the trench or in the fields.      The buildings have been hit by gunfire and a few mortar rounds; the main building, an old auction shed, only shows its curved roof above the ground (the ash is 10 meters deep around here). There are several other buildings entirely underground.   Including men, women and children, 230 shepherds are present; they are mostly living in the auction house. Hundreds of sheep and horses are also here. 100 fighting men are mostly armed with bows, arrows and melee weapons; a score or so have muskets or other simple firearms. Folk wear hide and leather (especially sheepskin). Also in the auction shed is a semi-tractor, low-bed trailer, and a small bulldozer. The semi-tractor has crude bullet-resistant armor around the cab; the bulldozer has the same around the driver's seat. People of note: Mack Dolan:  the boss. a tanned, wrinkled "Marlboro man" type, with white hair.  Cowboy hat, big silver belt buckle, .45 Colt revolver. Zeke:  an Arapaho Indian, second in command. He's busy finding food for everyone (and animals), water, medical supplies, weapons ... Maisey:  a healer, she is tending to the wounded foot of a young shepherd when the team arrives. She received her medical training (somewhat limited) in the Navajo Nation. Juan and Jesus:  they're from Juarez, and own and operate the bulldozer. They came up here last spring, to earn money making little dams and ponds for the shepherds. What do you know about the Doomriders? "The Doomriders have always been a danger, but they haven’t been heard from since the days of my pappy. They believe it’s their duty to stamp out all life, and once this is accomplished, join the rest of humanity in Hell by killing themselves too. Thankfully they’ve been quiet for some time -- hopefully killin' each other -- but now something’s got a bee in their bonnet, because they’ve re-appeared out of the heart of the wilds up north and are rampaging all over the countryside. They’ve already slaughtered a good number of my people, and there’s no telling how the Feemen and Salvation are faring against them."      "The first attacks we heard of were in early July; I put Juan and Jesus to work making the trench then. A week ago we were attacked, playin' their loud music and shootin' off flares. They hadn't reckoned on our trench, and a lot of their trucks came down hard. We set 'em on fire and drove the rest off; I expect more will be back any day now."      "From the stories I heard as a boy there won’t be any stopping them. I’ve ordered my people to start moving the herds out towards the Green River valley, but sooner or later the Doomriders will catch up. These are desperate times. We’re ready to join the Salvation, if for nothing else than mutual protection. They may be weird, but they’ve got guns and armored cars and can put up a fight against the Doomriders where we can’t."      "I can’t tell you where the Doomriders come from, but we’re just simple folk. If you want answers I suggest going to Casper and talkin’ to them there Salvationists." Why not fight them? "Hell no, we’re not idiots! There are only a few hundred of us and we’d be nothing in the face of their onslaught. We got a few guns from their vehicles after they attacked, but not nearly enough. No, the plan is to move west and stay out of their way. Sorry if that disappoints you, son, but I have to worry about my people’s survival." What about Casper and the Salvationists? "Hmm. Not a lot really. They’ve held onto Casper -- or the valley they call Casper -- since before anyone can remember, and are the only group around here that the Feemen don’t mess with - ‘cept maybe the Doomriders, of course. A bit odd, those Salvationists, but then aren’t we all. A few of our boys go out to their city each year to do trade so we know they have things we don’t out here, like electric and guns. ‘Course, they’ve got some strange ways as well, and the city, well, let’s just say that Cheyenne is a stinking pool of science. Not sure why they call themselves the Salvation either - they don’t seem too friendly, and they sure as hell ain’t out to save anybody. Whatever they’re up to, they’re probably the only folks in Wyoming who can survive more'n a few days against the Doomriders." How about the Feemen and Cheyenne? "We used to range all over this area, but the Feemen drove us out of some good country. Most folks around here don’t care too much for their kind. They were a warrior tribe who came from out of state during the Atomic War and kinda just took over. They came with medicines and supplies for the people of this land, but ended up using their juju as a lever to make new rules. Over time, as things got lean and diseases started to rear up, people were forced to grovel at the Feemens’ feet to get the things they needed to survive. The Feemen were real smart - I’ve gotta hand it to ‘em - because for many years they only accepted guns or ammo in trade. Nowadays, they'll take any rowdy kid or exile that they can get; even their boss is from somewhere back east. But the bastards seem to be content holed up in the ruins of Cheyenne It’s a fortress. Not sure what they’re gonna do about the Doomriders, but chances are they’ll try to sit it out. And about three weeks ago there was a big battle at Cheyenne ... Doom Riders, Feemen and some other folk ... oh, those was you? Well, good work from what I hear." If the team doesn't seem like jerks.  "Me and my people have deliberated for long enough and we’ve decided it’s time to throw our lot in with the Green River Valley folk, for the sake of survival. The Feemen weren't much use, but at  leas they kept the Doom riders busy."      "We’ve got a lot to offer them in return [motions to the sheep herds outside]. If you can let them know we're coming, we'd be much obliged." But the Green River is pretty far from here, isn't that a bad idea?  "What choice have we got? The Salvation are the only other chance against the Doomriders. We can't expect to out run the Riders, with all the families we have to move. I suppose if we could get our hands on some real weapons we could fend for ourselves. Damn sad if it came to that, leaving these lands, but we’ve lived this long by learning not to be sentimental."

 

     The Morrow team had a hearty meal with the Shepherds, and continued northeast, towards Lusk and eventually the Cheyenne River south of Newcastle. There were plenty of signs on some roads of horses and motor vehicle passage, though "plenty" was still once every week or so. The few communities north of Lusk had been destroyed a year or two ago.

     Newcastle itself had been destroyed during the war by a 550 kiloton airburst -- the oil refinery was a strategic target.

 

10 September 2139

 

weather report:  temp low 18 C (65 F), high 28 C (83 F); winds light (6 kph) from W; cloud cover 25%

 

     Prowling along the south-eastern edge of the Black Hills, the team realized that the mountains and forests were infested with Doom Riders. At least a dozen lookout towers dotted the ridges and hilltops; some of them were connected by a simple telephone system (single-wire, earth return). The team interrupted one of the circuits, hoping that for a day or so the Doom Riders wouldn't realize there was a problem.

     About twice a day, Doom Rider patrols visited the towers, bringing replacement watchers and supplies.

 

The area around the Black Hills. Red stars mark Doom Rider lookout positions.

 

The Black Hills

The Black Hills cover an area 200 kilometers long and 100 kilometers wide in western South Dakota and northeastern Wyoming. They include rugged rock formations, canyons and gulches, open grassland parks, pine forests, tumbling streams, deep lakes, and some of the world's longest caves. Beginning in the late 1870s, many gold and silver mines were dug into the mountains; the most famous is the Homestake Mine, near Deadwood.      Most famous, however, is Mount Rushmore, carved with the likenesses of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln.      Harney Peak, several kilometers west of the monument, is the tallest peak in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains. It's about 2200 meters above sea level (and at least a kilometer above the prairies and badlands that surround the Black Hills). There is a large stone tower, built as a fire lookout, on the peak, and a small dam and reservoir for the fire crew. From the tower, you can see into three adjacent states (Wyoming, Nebraska, and Montana).

 

     The team drove their vehicles after dark (quietly, of course, and using little or no lights) into a sheltered ravine, and sent JJ into the hills for a quick scouting mission. He came back just after sunset, to say it was pretty clear that Mount Rushmore itself was the focus of activities in the Black Hills.

 

11 September 2139

 

weather report:  temp low 19 C (67 F), high 26 C (79 F); winds light (6 kph) from W; cloud cover 30%

 

     JJ was sent for a more thorough scouting mission this day, north past Buffalo Gap.

     The grasslands from Pleasant Valley to Canyon Springs Prairie supported herds of (gelded) horses for the Doom Riders; regular camps each for a hundred or less Doom Riders dotted the grasslands and some of the forest areas. Timber and grass were being turned into methanol by the Doom Riders at each camp; a number of small forest fires had obviously burned down some of the timber in the previous year or so. The distillery was usually the largest building in the camp, with a couple of bins or silos adjacent. Buffalo Gap and Dodge's Pass had reasonably strong defenses -- JJ didn't get up past Canyon Springs Prairie to see what the situation was up there.

     During his scouting, JJ saw many natural caves (south of Pleasant Valley, mostly) and some old mines north of Pleasant Valley. The mines had all been abandoned by 1940, and weren't very large; some of the natural caves, however, looked to be quite long. The database information in the V150's computer system mentioned the Wind Cave and Jewel Cave, with hundreds of kilometers of passages. Making camps or hiding, while traveling on foot, was trivial in the Black Hills.

 

Pleasant Valley, in the Black Hills

 

     However, travel itself was more difficult; hunters, patrols, and lumberjacks were likely to be encountered anywhere in the hills. The Doom Riders' main camp was at the foot of Mount Rushmore, at the old visitor center. JJ said the faces of the presidents had been painted to somewhat resemble the members of KISS.

 

 

12 September 2139

 

weather report:  temp low 16 C (62 F), high 23 C (74 F); winds moderate (20 kph) from W; cloud cover 100% in the morning. Light rain around sunrise.

 

     JJ observed the Doom Riders' camps around Mount Rushmore, counting men, horses, vehicles, weapons, etc. Twice a day (around sunrise and sunset), an old bulldozer pulled a sledge up around the back of the presidents' heads, to bring supplies and replacements to a watch tower and anti-aircraft gun positioned there.

     As a note, that was the only specifically anti-aircraft weapon JJ saw, though of course the Doom Riders have other automatic weapons, cannons, etc.

 

JJ's Intelligence Estimate on the Doom Riders

A dozen camps, with platoon-strength forces present, are scattered around the grasslands and prairie between Buffalo Gap and Canyon Springs; there may be more further north in the Black Hills. Mounts (i.e., horses) are available for all these men, but no heavy armored vehicles. A few light armored (rifle-proof) cars, and a dozen or so motorcycles, are typically present, along with some large trucks (dump trucks or tankers) and maybe a bulldozer or tractor. Guard towers have automatic weapons; there was no sign of artillery or mortars, although some 40mm grenade launchers were spotted. Large trucks and the camp HQ have antennae, probably for CB radios. Camps and watch towers are connected to a simple telephone network -- it's almost certainly a party line.       Watch towers are manned by four men, with a couple of light automatic weapons. Besides telephones, the watch towers have flares, horns, and other signalling systems. Most (but not all) are on the telephone system; most don't have a radio antenna. Watch tower guards have poor binoculars at best; they don't have searchlights. They're about 10 kilometers apart.      Harney Peak has a large stone tower, with multiple antennas. The view from there extends for a hundred kilometers or more. I didn't get within 10 kilometers of it, and it looks like a tough nut to crack -- it's a small castle, built in the 1930s by the Conservation Corps.      Traffic in the grasslands, and to the grasslands from Mount Rushmore, is common by day, but rare after dark. Trucks carry supplies and men; motorcycles or horses presumably carry messages. No aircraft or runways were seen.      Buffalo Gap has four dug-in tanks, probably M48 Pattons, or Shermans, and sufficient trenches, steel or stone obstacles, fougasse nozzles, and possible land mines to make entering by that route very dangerous. A hundred or so men were stationed there -- about like the other camps, but better-equipped. A large number of dummy or inoperable heavy weapons were mixed in with the usable guns.      At Mount Rushmore's visitor center, at least 2500 men are present. There are no "camp followers". Tents, vehicles, sheds, water and fuel tanks, and other equipment are placed very randomly. The valley below Mount Rushmore could easily hold twice as many men. Telephone lines, antennas, generators, search lights, sound systems, and "street" lights are powered by half-a-dozen (at least) generators.      A couple hundred cavalry horses were seen at Mount Rushmore. Two dozen heavy tactical vehicles were present, several hundred motorcycles, and several hundred other automobiles. Half-a-dozen towed artillery pieces were present, no two the same.      By day, the Doom Riders are preparing for winter:  canning or drying food, repairing equipment, and training their new recruits. After sunset, they have a big heavy metal concert, and shine searchlights at the faces on Mount Rushmore.

 

     After sunset, JJ skulked away, and returned to the team's camp late at night.

     During the period of JJ's recon mission, Jesse had monitored the radio. There was a fair amount of CB radio traffic, in Road Talk; and a very few (once or twice a day, during the evening) high-frequency transmissions. Jesse may have missed some other non-CB stuff, since he doesn't have a scanner for all the tens of thousands of possible channels his radios can receive.

 

13 September 2139

 

weather report:  temp low 23 C (75 F), high 30 C (86 F); winds very light (1 kph) from W; cloud cover none

 

     The team left their vehicles and headed on foot north towards Mount Rushmore; the previous day's rain had left the skies crisp and clear. They crossed Pleasant Valley several kilometers west of Buffalo Gap, and headed up into the rugged granite slopes. North of the grasslands, there weren't any logging camps (the hills were too rugged, and trees a bit sparse), so the team made good time. By sunset, they were at the "back" of Mount Rushmore.

     They crept up among the scruffy pines and bushes, and found a position to watch the Doom Riders at the top of the mountain. Around sunset (7:07 p.m.), a bulldozer pulling a sledge with a dozen replacement guards came grinding, roaring and scraping up the mountain; it turned around without really stopping, forcing the Doom Riders to jump off or on.

     Two Doom Riders climbed into the watch tower; the others mostly sat on or around the anti-aircraft gun. As the sky darkened, the sounds of heavy metal music began to drift up from the valley below. The team easily disposed of the inattentive guards.

     The anti-aircraft gun was built on an excavator's treads and chassis; it had three .50 cal machine guns, a 37mm automatic cannon (with no ammunition), two 37mm anti-tank guns (with simple 22nd Century reloads), and several fake gun barrels. The excavator chassis had no motive power -- it was being used as a tracked trailer, in essence. The gun platform itself had a Volkswagen motor, driving a hydraulic pump, to rotate the platform itself.

     The watch tower had some flares, an air-raid siren, a couple of other bells and whistles, and a field telephone; the line led down over the face of Mount Rushmore.

     A 20-meter-deep slot, with steps, was protected by a simple chain-link gate (mostly to keep animals and sleepy guards from falling in). The guards had been using the slot as a casual toilet, so it was kinda nasty at the bottom. A heavy door, with a button pad, was at the bottom; fortunately, the door wasn't actually locked. Beyond the thick blast door was a short landing, and a vertical shaft with a ladder leading down; a dim bit of light reflected up into the shaft.

 

7:30 p.m.

 

 

• level 5:  medical and cryostasis

• level 4:  communication and control

• level 3:  services and utilities

• level 2:  crew quarters and supply room

• level 1:  primary and backup power

 

     The team cautiously climbed down, but nobody was about. A few old emergency lamps shed a steady glow in the halls; the old ceiling florescent fixtures were dark and dead. The tunneling machine that had originally bored out this facility was sealed up behind a metal panel at one end of level 5.

     The medical lab was mostly stripped empty; next door, however, was the cryostasis room, with pads for six Morrow Industries cold sleep berths. Only five berths were present (the sixth had clearly never been installed); of the five berths, four stood open and empty. The last berth, furthest from the door, was closed and still operating; the team peered in the inspection port and saw an 11-year-old girl.

     Data plates on the berths were somewhat incomplete -- they didn't have serial numbers, for example. Bringing up the diagnostic information on the berths' control panels revealed:

 

• Berth One (with the girl):  occupant placed in stasis on 20 November 1989, at 1330 hours MT.

• Berth Two:  occupant placed in stasis on 20 November 1989, at 1440 hours MT; awakened by external command on 2 August 1999.
  

• Berth Three:  occupant placed in stasis on 20 November 1989, at 1530 hours MT; awakened by external command on 2 August 1999.
  

• Berth Four:  occupant placed in stasis on 20 November 1989, at 1630 hours MT; awakened by external command on 2 August 1999.
  

• Berth Five:  occupant placed in stasis on 20 November 1989, at 1700 hours MT; awakened automatically due to low power levels on 2 August 1999.

 

     There were a few stains, probably a few years old, on the floor near the ends of berths three and four. The team decided to wake up the girl, and pushed the big "begin revival process" button. The whole process takes about 45 minutes to an hour; Jesse was left to monitor progress.

 

7:50 p.m.

 

     Proceeding down the stairwells, the team found a communications room, and a "computer room". The equipment in both rooms was mostly shut down, and clearly the communications circuits weren't going to work anyway. The rooms looked a lot like missile silo control rooms, including the rather "ejection seat" styled chairs. The team decided not to try starting up some ancient computers.

 

JEEP-3 Joint Emergency Evacuation Program

This facility was operated by the US Army Information Systems Command. Communication systems included HF, VHF and UHF radio, microwave relay, satellite links, telephone circuits (Autovon and the "Redswitch" hardened telephone system) and a secure fax line. There was video conferencing equipment present originally (it was down in what's now the Doom Singer's quarters).      Some of the labels for communication links:  WH sit room NMCC NMCC EA cell ANMCC Site R SAC/Offut AFB NORAD CIA/Langley State Dept Looking Glass AFI/Ft Belvoir NSA

 

     On level 3 were water and air filtration systems, air tanks, pumps, etc.

     Further down at level 2 was room filled with supplies (the "storage room" on the loot list), and the former "staff living quarters". That room had a shower and toilet, and a pack-rat's collection of 20th Century knick-knacks. A slave girl, Vita, was handcuffed to a stanchion in that room.

 

8:00 p.m.

 

Loot found in JEEP-3

 

     While some team members were immediately attracted to the loot, the possible arrival of the Doom Singer prompted them to travel one level further down. Level 1 had a backup diesel generator (not currently operating) and a radioisotopic thermal generator (RTG). The RTG was putting out less than 10% of its rated power of 55 kilowatts. Note that the reactor originally contained about 100 kilograms of plutonium, and was built by Aerojet General and Atomics International, neither of which were part of Morrow Industries or the Council of Tomorrow. The power generation room was slightly radioactive.

     A crude tunnel, obviously of recent origin (within the last five years) led downwards from level 1. The sounds of distant shop tools and motors drifted up this tunnel; strings of Christmas tree lights provided light. The crude tunnel proceeded in a series of switchback for a total drop of about 140 meters -- down to the level of the valley floor. While it's a ramp, the trip would be about like hiking the stairs up to Vernal Falls, in Yosemite Valley. There were signs of tire marks from motorcycles or quad-traks on the ramp -- sometimes the Doom Singer didn't want to make the hike up here.

     From level 1, the original tunnel extended at least 100 meters in a gentle curve, north tending a bit east. This passage didn't seem to be in current use, and wasn't lit; the team determined that it passed behind the heads of the sculptures. Openings on the upper levels of the JEEP facility gave the Doom Riders access to the eyes, nostrils and mouths of the Mount Rushmore sculptures; these holes, crudely drilled and dug, were used to install special effects.

     Scotty, JJ, Gootz and Doc returned to level 2, and began grabbing loot. Echoes from the "heavy metal concert" outside could be faintly heard.

 

8:15 p.m.

 

     Thus, at about 8:30 p.m. (40 minutes into the wakeup process), some of his team mates arrived back on level 5, hauling heavy loads of loot to the bottom of the vertical shaft. Jesse asked them to bring some slippers or shoes, or even clothing, for the girl; he in turn was asked to go down to level 2 and evaluate some diesel generator parts. Plus, I'm sure, a certain amount of "you gotta see this place, man".

     Roughly at the same time, the concert outside in the valley ended. The sound of hobnailed boots and rough goblin Doom Rider voices began to echo in the rough ramp leading up from below. The team knew they'd have visitors in less than an hour; hauling stuff from level 2 to level 5 took about several minutes for each round trip.

     The girl in the cold sleep berth coughed and opened her eyes at about 8:40. Jesse cleaned her up, gave her some water to drink, and wrapped her in some warm clothing or towels, and put his CVC protective vest on her. 

     As the Doom Riders drew near, Scotty and JJ moved into position in the unlit, unused tunnel on level 1, to fire along the main tunnel at the bad guys. Doc and Gootz were on level 2, ready to destroy the bad guys as they came into the stair well.

 

9 p.m.

 

     The girl told Jesse her name -- Corinne -- and a sentence or so about who she was.

     Ten or so Doom Riders appeared on level 1, and headed for the stairwell. They weren't quite bunched up enough for the team's ambush to work perfectly, but it was all over in half a minute. A couple of the Morrow team members got some very minor wounds.

 

     From Jesse's position upstairs:  bang bang budda budda boom bang boom ... the signal to move out!

Jesse moved Corinne to the ladder, had her climb into the modified Alice pack and began a slow and careful climb up.

 

     JJ was sent by Scotty down a couple of levels on the crude ramp tunnel, to plant a booby-trap bomb. 

     Vita was able to tell the team that none of the dead Doom Riders was the Doom Singer ("He's taller, with light-colored hair, and had the same accent as you guys."). The team knew that the firefight would have been audible down at the lower entrance, and decided to skedaddle. Scotty gave everyone about 10 minutes (although he told them "Lets plan on getting out of here in 5 minutes!") to top off their canteens, lighten or change their loads, and grab any of the stuff they have found so far. After the booby trap on the ramp, JJ was directed to use about a third of the dynamite and all the gun cotton to drop the stairway between Level 1 and Level 2. 

    

Doom Rider Dudes:  what they had
1	Morrow Project coverall, very patched and stained (and more holes and patches now). No Morrow patches present. - Corpse was booby trapped with one of the old M26A1 and one of the Mk II black powder pineapple grenades.
1	NIJ class II vest, worn under the coverall. It's in really bad shape, as a clothing item; probably an old police vest. - Left untouched
1	.454 Casull revolver, with new-loaded .45 Long Colt ammunition - Carried up to Level 5
2	M1911A1 pistols, each with three magazines of old .45 ACP ammo - Carried up to Level 5
4	.357 Magnum revolvers, with .38 Special ammo - Carried up to Level 5
2	Uzi submachine guns, each with three magazines - Carried up to Level 5
2	sawed-off M79 grenade launchers, each with two 40mm training rounds converted to simple black-powder explosive rounds - Carried up to Level 5
2	sawed-off 12 gauge shotguns, with 16 rounds of 22nd Century black powder buckshot - Left behind, unloaded.
1	TEC-9 submachine gun, with two 20-round magazines of 9mm Parabellum ammo. Technically it's a KG-99 pistol, with a 3" barrel, converted to full auto ... it does have the highly-dangerous barrel shroud (not the "shoulder thing that goes up") - Magazines taken to Level 5.
6	converted MkII pineapple dummy grenades, filled with black powder - Carried up to Level 5. One possibly used to booby trap a foot locker of coins.
2	M26A1 fragmentation grenades, very old - 1 Used to booby trap the Doom Lord in the morrow coveralls, 1 possibly used to booby trap a foot locker of coins on Level 5.
lots	of knives, garottes, swords, etc. - Any folding knives snagged and carried up to Level 5
some	wacky weapons:  bolos, harpoon guns, blowguns, etc. if you care
some	other stuff as I think of it, or you ask - A baby's fist holding an apple?
many	fleas; if you're searching the bodies you might get bit on exposed skin (if any). Note that the Doom Sayer's chamber was flea-free.

note that this level of detailed information is NOT available with only 10 minutes to examine, load, etc.

 

     It was 9:10 p.m., by the time the Doom Riders had been looked over and looted, and wounds tended to. The team was lumbering up the stairs to Level 5 and the exit ...

 

notes for this episode

 

on to Over Hill and Dale