The workshop is active but orderly. Daniel Roberts checks packed radios and charged lamps, Evan Cole, a young adult man with a lean build, short dark hair, medium-brown skin, and a red windbreaker over black work clothes compares tools against the recovery list, and Maya inspects medical supplies while Charlie’s bandaged arm stays supported.
Daniel Roberts
Charlie, I need you to inspect the route notes before we lock the plan. Challenge anything that could endanger us downtown.
A campus map covers the central table, marked with the Eighth Avenue hardware store, the construction yard, service lanes, blocked streets, and three proposed retreat points. The downtown route remains unverified.
Evan Cole
The old access road may bypass the main street, but the map ends before the yard gate. We cannot assume it is open, wide enough, or free of infected.
Maya Rodriguez
Medical packs are ready, but I want clear abort signals. If someone is bitten, badly injured, or separated, the team returns instead of pressing toward supplies.
Daniel Roberts
Grant and Thomas’s father are staying behind to coordinate Belmont and monitor the radio. Thomas, Andre, Rosa, Evan, and I will accompany you, with me covering the rear.
Daniel Roberts
What assumption should we challenge first, Charlie? The road, the target, the vehicles, or our ability to retreat?
“Charlie says they challenge the vehicle and fallback positions first. He doesn't a want a repeat of Larry's Garage. They stop and park the car before reaching their destination and make that the fallback point. Then if they run into trouble they at least don't immediately endanger the truck.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Reasoning, rolled -1)
Charlie Moore
We challenge the vehicle plan and fallback positions first. I do not want a repeat of Larry's Garage. We park before downtown and make that our fallback point.
Charlie traces the route to a broad service-lane turnout before the hardware store and construction yard. The team marks it as the truck’s locked fallback position, outside the immediate danger zone.
Thomas Roberts
Agreed, babe. We stop there, secure the truck, and continue on foot. If downtown turns bad, we fall back to the vehicle instead of bringing trouble straight to it.
Evan Cole
I’ll verify the turnout has two exits, usable cover, and enough room to turn around. No parking there if the route can trap us.
Evan compares the old map with Grant’s notes while Daniel adds the fallback point to every radio copy. Maya Rodriguez labels the vehicle as a noncombat shelter and emergency extraction asset.
Daniel Roberts
Then the truck stays out of the fight unless extraction is necessary. I’ll mark the return signal and keep the team’s movement tied to that position.
The revised plan is accepted: drive only to the surveyed turnout, park and secure the truck, then scout downtown on foot with the fallback route preserved.
“Charlie reminds them that this is a recon mission. The only thing worth bothering to recover would be UV lights. Otherwise we just mark the location and move on.”
Charlie Moore
This is a recon mission. The only thing worth recovering is UV lights. Otherwise, we mark the location and move on.
Charlie circles the hardware store and construction yard without adding recovery tasks. The map now emphasizes observation, documentation, and a clean return to the secured truck.
Thomas Roberts
Agreed, babe. We check for UV equipment, record everything else, and leave the moment the information is secure.
Evan Cole
I’ll document entrances, vehicle locations, supply concentrations, and infected signs. Nothing gets loaded unless it is a UV light and the route is completely clear.
Daniel Roberts
That keeps our objective narrow and our retreat simple. I’ll make sure everyone knows we are not turning reconnaissance into a salvage run.
Maya Rodriguez
Then medical preparation stays focused too. We carry what supports the team, preserve the extraction option, and return without spending resources for unnecessary gains.
Daniel updates the mission sheet: scout, record, recover UV lights only, and withdraw. The downtown plan becomes deliberately limited, protecting the team while gathering what Belmont needs.
“Lastly, Charlie has them run through the revised field procedure he, Thomas, and David made after the Science Building run.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Willpower, rolled -1)
Charlie gathers Thomas, Daniel, Evan, Andre, an adult man in a dark navy security polo, black cargo trousers, sturdy black boots, and a fluorescent yellow-green safety vest with reflective strips, and Rosa around the marked campus map and runs them through the revised field procedure from the Science Building encounter.
They rehearse the sequence: identify noise hazards, confirm two exits, assign a rear guard, preserve the fallback truck, and establish the point where the team disengages.
Thomas Roberts
I’ll drive us to the turnout, secure the truck, and keep extraction ready. Once we’re on foot, everyone stays tied to the route, babe.
Daniel Roberts
I’ll cover the rear and mark every turn. If stealth fails, we stop, assess injuries, exits, enemy behavior, supplies, and the objective’s value.
Evan Cole
I’ll verify the approach and call out alternate lanes. If we fight, we choose the ground, keep an exit behind us, and avoid chasing.
The team practices forming a defensive perimeter, moving through a choke point, signaling withdrawal, and regrouping at the secured turnout. Each member repeats their assignment until the sequence is clean.
Daniel Roberts
Procedure confirmed. Stealth protects us, adaptation keeps us alive, and retreat remains available before the situation chooses for us.
✓ Quest Accepted
Confirm the downtown team’s readiness with Maya
“Charlie says he thinks this should be the new standard for all future teams. So they should leave the procedure posted for the other survivors.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Diplomacy, rolled -1)
Charlie Moore
I think this should be the new standard for every future team. Let’s leave the procedure posted so everyone can use it.
Charlie adds the finalized procedure to the mission board beside the downtown map. The sheet lists noise checks, two exits, rear-guard assignments, fallback vehicles, reassessment points, and disengagement signals.
Thomas Roberts
Agreed, babe. A posted standard gives every team the same starting point, even when different people lead or the route changes.
Daniel Roberts
I’ll make copies for the dorm, workshop, vehicle bay, and entrance desk. New volunteers can review it before joining any field exercise.
Evan Cole
I’ll add a route-check section and a space for team-specific changes. The standard stays consistent, but nobody mistakes it for a substitute for judgment.
Daniel posts the first copy under the heading FIELD TEAM STANDARD. Andre, an adult man with a sturdy build, short brown hair, and a dark navy security polo beneath a fluorescent yellow-green reflective vest and Rosa read it with the other survivors while Maya adds medical abort signals and injury reporting.
Thomas Roberts
This is how Belmont gets stronger, babe. We turn hard lessons into habits, then make sure everyone can come home.
“Charlie asks Maya to check himself and the others for field readiness. Then they can pack up and leave.”
SUCCESS (Great Health, rolled -1)