Damnation Alley (Part 4) "Detour"

Anna screamed in agony, clutching her arm where she had been bitten.  "It feels like razor blades moving through my veins."  She worked a loop of a belt around her arm, trying to create a tourniquet to fight the effects of the zombie bite.  "I don't want to die..."
"Just hold on!"  Dawn yelled.  "Hang on Anna, we're going to get help.  I promise, if we can save you, we will!"
Larry hammered the accelerator on the Humvee, trying to coax every ounce of speed out of the lumbering truck.  "I can still see the other Hummer.  I think we can catch them!"

The chase begins!

Anna has been bitten, and the team of agents is driving away with the doctor and a potential cure.  This scenario is a chase, along with a negotiation (as Dawn tries to get them to voluntarily help/give them the cure) and Anna 'fighting' the infection.  I'll explain each of the mechanics I'll be using for these conflicts.

Tracking the chase

Rules for the chase:  As each vehicle is the same (a Humvee in this case) speed is less of an issue.  Getting slowed down due to obstacles will make a bigger difference.  Each turn the vehicles will roll for the road ahead to determine the difficulty of maintaining top speed.  Also each turn, the drivers will roll a number of dice equal to their Rep (or drive skill) looking for successes.  Each turn, all of the successes from the driver roll, and the various obstacles that are successfully passed are added up.  The vehicle with the higher total moves ahead in relation to the other by 1 section.  Once one vehicle is 4 sections ahead, a pass 2D check by the driver in front means they have ‘lost’ the other vehicle.  If both vehicles are in the ‘same’ section, either side can initiate an encounter.  This will move to a normal table layout and play.

The chart for the obstacles is:

1 – Clear, roll for extra speed (keep all successes)

2-3 – Minor debris, roll for speed (keep all after 1D)

4 – Obstacle, pass 1D or bash 2 collision

5 – Obstacles, pass 1D, twice or bash 2 collision (each time)

6 – Major Obstacle (I modified this as I played)

      1-3 – Pass 2D or bash 4 collision (bash 2 if pass 1D)

      4-6 – Pass 2D or bash 6 collision (bash 3 if pass 1D)

Anna and the Infection tracker

Infection Tracking:  Normally an infected model gets d6 turns and then becomes a zombie.  I am giving Anna a fighting chance, but still keeping it moving.  She has 6 stages to pass through, with stage 6 being dead/undead.  Each turn she will roll 2d6, looking for successes.  For stages 1 and 2, she only has to pass 1D to stay in that stage.  For stages 3-5, it will require her to pass 2D. 

Tracking the discussion

Convince:  I am using a similar mechanic to the decision to stay or go, from "A Brief Interlude" where the group split over heading to Minneapolis.  Instead of convincing people, this is just to ‘win’ over the other side.  Each turn one member of each team (in this case it will be Dawn and Agent Johnson) will argue their points.  They each will roll dice equal to their People score, and compare successes.  Whoever has more success will add the difference in the total to their tracking pool.  The first to have five successes wins, either Dawn convinces the agent to stop and exchange medical treatment for his injured agent, or Agent Johnson decides the mission is more important and stops listening.

"I heard them talking about a doctor and some sort of samples." Dawn said, turning the agents radio over in her hand.  "I'll tell them we want a straight exchange, their agent for the cure."
A cough came from the downed agent.  "If you want to live at all don't mention the cure over the radio."  He managed to sit up, even with bound hands, he seemed threatening.  "There are some out there who will kill to keep it suppressed."
"What are you talking about?"  Blake said, looking confused.  "What, some other company is trying to keep the zombies going?"
"Not a company.  Some other group.  They are very well equipped, and are ready to act...violently when needed."  The agent answered.  "I'm not sure, but I think they were some sort of international group."
A brief silence filled the Humvee, everyone exchanged glances, not sure if they should believe the story.  "So what do we do, just follow them?"  Larry asked, and Anna groaned.  "I don't think she will wait that long."
"Just tell them you want to hand me off.  If they will stop, you can talk in the open.  That should be safe enough."  The agent didn't look too convinced.  "When he asks, tell him the code is panda."
"Larry, get us close, and keep us with them."  Dawn said picking up the radio.  "Here goes nothing."

The group starts one section behind the agents.  Let's hope Dawn can talk the agents into stopping.

Both vehicles have obstacles

Anna holds on

Dawn gets 1 success ahead

The first turn goes pretty well.  The drivers both have obstacles to dodge, and end up in a tie for successes.  Anna holds at level 1 of the infection.  Dawn gets 2 successes versus 1 for the agents, and starts making progress towards convincing them to stop.

Agent Johnson couldn't believe what he was hearing.  Those civilians had Agent Killian, and wanted to hand him off.  He smelled a trap, and kept driving.  "Smith, keep an eye on that other Hummer.  If we get the chance, we'll get Killian back."
"Roger that."  Smith said, popping out the top hatch and mounting the machine gun.

Next turn:

Anna fails a roll

The team has a mostly clear road

The group catches up!

The agents win big

The agents are not convinced!

Turn two goes against the survivors.  Starting off, Anna fails her pass 1D roll, and slips to stage 2.  They do catch up to the agents vehicle, which gives me the option of forcing a confrontation.  The conversation goes well for the agents, who get 4 successes to 1 from Dawn.  Ouch!

"Listen, we are not stopping for you to try and ambush us."  Johnson said into the radio.  "Of course I want my agent back, but for all I know he is already dead."  Dodging a wrecked car, Johnson looked to the other side of the highway at the other Hummer.  "Clear the channel, we are done!"

Dawn was frustrated.  "Damn it!  they aren't listening!"  She wanted to throw the radio down.

"Keep trying, they'll come around."  Blake said  "They won't want us to just dump him off in the middle of this madness!"

Turn three starts, I decide against going for attacking the agents.  

Anna holds on

Agents have an obstacle

The team face an obstacle

Dawn makes a comeback!

Turn three continues the roller coaster ride.  Larry keeps the team even with the agents, both face the same obstacle and end up tied.  Anna gets 2 successes, and holds at stage 2.  Dawn gets 3 successes versus 1 for the agents, tying up with three successes towards resolution for getting the agents to stop.

"We're not just going to drop him off on a street corner."  Dawn said into the radio.  "It will only take a couple of minutes, we both stop and head our own ways."  Dawn had been pretty convincing, they were not going to leave the highway until clear of the city.  The agent didn't have an answer for that, and clearly wanted his comrade back.
Anna yelled out, writhing in pain in the back of the truck.  "She's burning up!"  Agent Killian yelled.  "Don't leave me back here with her!  If she turns, I'm a dead man!"
Blake gave the agent a dark look.  "Then she better not turn."  He growled.
"Looks like trouble ahead, hang on!"  Larry yelled, swerving down the road.

Turn four, and the survivors face some extra obstacles.

Anna slips to stage 3

The agents get a chance to sprint, but fail

Larry manages the obstacles

Dawn rolls well, but the agents hold on

Turn four gets the team so close!  They just need one more success to convince the agents to stop, and then we can swap the agent for the cure.  They manage to stay even on the road, and even though Anna slips to stage 3, they are really close to getting her the cure.

"We're leaving the city, it will take just a minute to hand him off.  The road is bound to be clear soon, just stop."  Dawn said to the radio.
"You are certainly persistent."  Agent Johnson replied.  "I appreciate you keeping him alive.  Did he mention anything?"
Dawn paused.  "He said panda."  Dawn hoped this was the right move.

Turn five starts up, and the agents have some trouble!

Anna stays at stage 3

Larry handles an obstacle

Trouble for the agents!

The agents miss their roll by 1D and face a collision with an obstacle.

Crashing through a wreck!

The hummer barrels through

Dawn misses one success

Who will win this?

Turn five keeps the team tied on the road, and Anna holds at stage 3.  The agents crashed through an obstacle, I hoped it would stop them (that would make it easier...I think) but I was so disappointed by the people rolls.  Dawn could only cough up 1 success versus 2 for the agents.  We're all tied up again, there is a good chance the conversation is settled in the next turn.

Agent Johnson had a bad feeling about the civilians.  They gave the proper code word, but something seemed off.  They must want something, and they had a lot of ground to cover to get to Delta Four.

"The median is clear ahead, let's stop."  Dawn said over the radio.

"I don't think so.  Just head out of town we'll come get him."  Johnson replied.

Turn six.

Anna falls to stage 4

Clear sailing for the agents

Larry handles the obstacles

The team falls behind

Larry manages the obstacles, but falls back against the agents being able to drive in the clear.  Not too far back, just behind by 1 section.

Dawn comes up short...

Agents win the negotiation!

GAH!  Even with two successes, Dawn can't quite pull off the win to convince the agents to stop.  Time to go to plan B - forcing an encounter.  Now it's up to Larry to catch up to the agents truck and hope for a good scenario.

"We're through.  Stop following us, drop our agent off and we'll come get him.  Goodbye."  Agent Johnson turned his radio to a different frequency. "Smith, we are completing the mission, then getting Killian."

"Roger that."  Smith sounded calm.  "That Hummer is still following along."

"Keep an eye on them."  Agent Johnson just wanted to get this done, he hoped they wouldn't try something crazy.

Turn seven, time to end the chase!

Anna continues to slip, now stage 5

Two obstacles for the agents

Larry has an easier road

Larry handles his obstacle easily, and wins the drive roll by three.  The team catches up, and forces and encounter the next turn!

Time to meet the agents!

"They are still right with us!"  Agent Smith yelled, covering the camouflaged Humvee with his machine gun.  "Should I engage?"

"Only if they come at us."  Agent Johnson replied.  "Keep an eye on them, and the zeds."  A bright orange cone ricocheted off the front of the truck.  "Looks like a construction zone ahead.  Doctor, please make sure you are buckled in."

Larry was running the Hummer all-out.  He could see the construction zone ahead, and an opening in the traffic wall.  "Here's our chance!"  He called out.

"Blake, take the rifle, cover us from up top.  When we get close, try and disable their Hummer.  If we have to, we'll trade our ride as well to save Anna."  Dawn said, checking her pistol and getting ready for the fight to come.

"Got it."  Blake slapped a magazine in to the rifle.  He patted Anna on the leg.  "Just hang on, we'll get you better in a jiffy!"

Anna groaned, her face pale and her hair matted with sweat.  "I'm about spent...better hurry..."

Turn seven gets the team close, and Plan B is to attack the agents.  Larry wins by three successes, so he finds a good spot in the road for the team.  Both trucks are entering a construction zone, which will allow them to cross over more easily.

Entering the construction zone

To be continued...