Background: In a very tight nutshell, the setting is as today, except that FTL travel is possible. Only a tiny percentage of people live off-planet (around 10 million in total); you don't even know anyone personally who has gone off-planet. The off-world expansion was fueled by Cold War egos, and has since dropped away to nothing (FTL Now setting, if you're interested, Modified by me).


Situation: A virus somewhat akin to tha in 28 Days/Weeks later has broken out-to those unfamilar with this, it is a blood/saliva-borne disease which essentially turns the victim into a raving, primitive sociopath. This is a simplistic description. There is no cure for people who are infected, but the transition to homicidal is not immediate.

The virus has broken out in your area. The government has suspended habeous C and is shooting infected people. The gov't is setting up safe zones, and evacuateing people into them, but they only use an evac point for a few hours before moving it to avoid getting swarmed (there is a simple & effective test for the virus). Safe Zones are surrounded by miles-deep free-fire zones, so the only way in is by gov't evac. To add to the problems, various crazies and activists are using radio stations or Net sources to spread incorrect information about evac points, etc.

The Question: What would you do?
Keep in mind the military is fully activated, so military hardware of all sorts, aircraft, space craft, etc., are securely in gov't hands. Public transport's non-existant.



While I'm very familar with the average Human response in crisis large & small, I'm thinking the 'gamer mindset' would be an excellent addition to background color.

Two words for you: Northern Saskatchewan.  It's virtually unihabited and quite livable.  Lots of wood, rain, farm land, other people's cows...

I'd probably head out to one of the ranches near Fort Macloud to get horses.  They sell horses to asia for the meat because estrogen is now synthisized and no longer derived from pregnant mare urine.

I'd probably focus on firepower that was renewable.  That is to say black powder and bows.  Yes I'd want a good semiautomatic rifle but damn it.  The bullets are gonna run out.  Everyone will run out of bullets pretty quick in a world full of zombies and the related collapse of manufacturing.

Quote from: David Johansen;250461Two words for you: Northern Saskatchewan.  It's virtually unihabited and quite livable.  Lots of wood, rain, farm land, other people's cows...

I'd probably head out to one of the ranches near Fort Macloud to get horses.  They sell horses to asia for the meat because estrogen is now synthisized and no longer derived from pregnant mare urine.

I'd probably focus on firepower that was renewable.  That is to say black powder and bows.  Yes I'd want a good semiautomatic rifle but damn it.  The bullets are gonna run out.  Everyone will run out of bullets pretty quick in a world full of zombies and the related collapse of manufacturing.

Very good. May I use you as a NPC?

Sure...I look just like Brad Pitt and I drive a porsche...

Load the family up and get the eff out of the metro area.  Hit a Big 5 or some other sporting goods store and loot the hell out of it.  Hit a market and get as much water and other supplies as possible.  Hit a gas station for as much gas as possible, and then bail for the mountains.  I live in the Denver metro area.

I'd probably get eaten.

-clash

Quote from: flyingmice;250479I'd probably get eaten.

-clash

If not this.

1. Find Transport. Something armored and nominally fast (Humvee) with off road capability.
1.1 Find ample fuel.

2. Arm up. Find as much ammo and supplies as possible. Note: 1->2 depends on the state of the area I am in. I might Arm-Up first, then later upgrade transportation.

3. Head to the UP of Michigan, specifically, Hiawatha National park. You can survive and flourish indefinitely there. I know, I have done it.

4. Once there, covert expeditions to Menominee, Iron Mountain and Escanaba (never the same one twice) for equipment and supplies.
Supplies list:
Gas generator
Solar panels
Wind mill parts for water pump and electric generation
Canned food
Ammo
Tools
Building materials (nails, cut lumber, cement, etc)
Barb Wire
Horses
Live stock

All these things are either on local farms or in the towns.

Now, the real question would be how saturated would the UP be? Population is spread pretty thin there. I could see a bit of siege mentality where farmers/ranchers are holding out. Heck, there is an island off the tip of Door County that would make a great refuge without some of the horrendous winters of the UP.

Bill

Yeah, I'd probably get eaten too.  If I knew what was going on, I'd probably get in the car with my family and try to connect up with some people who had their act together.  

I figure I wouldn't have time to gather much supplies -- since once its in your area, the infected are damn fast.  I'd grab a bunch of containers for gas and some food and get in the car.  As long as gas holds out and I don't get boxed in traffic, the car is a pretty good defense against infected who only move by running and only attack with their hands and teeth.  (If they're smarter and use guns and/or cars, then that changes things a bunch.)  

I'd agonize a bit over stopping to fill a bunch of containers with gasoline, probably circling a bit before trying it.  I'd try to drive slowly and carefully.  The worst thing is to be boxed in or have an accident.  

Then I'd try to connect up to others in a spot secure against break-in.  The local Target would be a good possibility -- drive around it a bit and hold up a sign saying that we're OK, and see if they're OK and would let us in.  Yup, it's very Day of the Dead-ish.  There's a fair reason for that -- a big store or mall has a ton of supplies and is secure against break-in in ways that a family home simply can't be.

Quote from: flyingmice;250479I'd probably get eaten.

-clash

OK, I spit diet RC all over the desk. I hope you're happy.

QuoteNow, the real question would be how saturated would the UP be? Population is spread pretty thin there. I could see a bit of siege mentality where farmers/ranchers are holding out. Heck, there is an island off the tip of Door County that would make a great refuge without some of the horrendous winters of the UP.

An interesting point. How heavily used is that park?

You have an excellent plan.

Now what if, in the later phases, the PCs were tasked to find you? Because of your academic/techincal background?

Quote from: David Johansen;250473Sure...I look just like Brad Pitt and I drive a porsche...

What a coincidence-so do I!!

Odd, I always picture you as Clint Eastwood in a Humvee...

QuoteThe Question: What would you do?

Who am I?  My response as a civilian trying to get out of dodge would be a lot different then as a Marine moblized to waste some zombies.

As a civilian, probably I'd go to Hawaii or anywhere else that is only accesible by air or sea, small, but not too small, and with tight customs controls.  Iceland could work too, but Hawaii sounds more fun.  

As a Marine, I'd be prepping my platoon for assaulting the nearest zombie controlled area.

As President I'd be exploring the use of unconventional responses (nuclear, biological or chemical weapons) and their possible effectiveness in wiping out the plague.  I'd also be trying to figure where it came from.

Quote from: OneTinSoldier;250519OK, I spit diet RC all over the desk. I hope you're happy.

Thus earning my large stipend from the Keyboard Manufacturers of Taiwan.

-clash

Hawaii is a troublesome point for me. On the one hands, it is isolated. On the other, its a small area with a high population density, so if the virus gets a foothold, it is toast. I have not yet made up my mind.

Toykoyo was one of the virus epicenters, and there is a lot of air traffic between it and Hawaii; however, most of that is routed. The airlines were screening very early in the crisis, so it could go either way. ANZ weathered the storm due to their excellent disease control methods and a willingness to sink boats once the outbreak really got underway, but I haven't decided about Hawaii. The US controls are not nearly as good, and there are a lot of Japanese tourists to the area.