MONTANA JANUAR 2032- Log transcript

[staggerlee]

"In the mountains above Havre, those of you still in the cabin sometimes hear muffled explosions through the wind. Now and then stray tracer rounds bounce in curves above the valley rim, like from a big fire spitting long sparks."

30. January 2032

A group of young men and a woman are plotting a daring and adventurous future beyond the modest safety that their humble hometown of Havre, Montana can offer in a* ravaged world going into its third decade after the nuclear war..
Our Party consists of more or less malcontent local boys and a girl in their early twenties;

William Haggamore, whose family was slain by elements of the armed trading company Waltham Co. (which maintains a trade route to the west coast and mostly cooperates with locally appointed officials).
His father had been accused of smuggling firearms to the Christian Identity and other militia groups resisting the ongoing reestablishment of Montana state govt.
McBain found a machinegun in this fathers sled. Farm burned to the ground.

Finlay Thurgood, a troubled kid, grown up in poor Assiniboine family who found him in a ditch during the troubled years. Dreams of daring exploits and getting back at the world.

James Johnson, a mostly good-natured farmboy with an intermittent explosive temper, expert basket maker. Got bored on the farm, wants to see the world.

Cher, a sultry queen of all trades, Will Haggamores gf, and a crack shot.

Travis Snow, a slow witted but brave young man, and an expert with any wrench after apprenticeship at the local train yard - which maintains a single locomotive with a couple of modestly armed waggons for trading along the existing line. Fuel and lubricants made from locally grown veg oil.

Jack the Knife - a young ne´er do well with gangster ambitions. Handy with a knife, as his self-styled nickname suggests.

Huddled in a hut on the snow-covered prairie, the party discuss their bleak futures on the praire and decide to head back to town to visit the local saloon.

Incident - seen from a distance on skis, two armed men in winter camouflage. The party investigates and concludes they must have been Sea Org*

*the armed wing the Scientology Party responsible for an aggressive expansion north and eastwards from their core territory in Nevada since spring of 2031. Emerging local enclaves and self reliant communities mostly overrun.
US consolidated forces are rumored to be approaching from the East. Local population generally in favor of reestablishment of local and federal govt, but it remains a contentious issue - aggressively resisted by right wing evangelical militia groups, particularly Christian Identity.

Sleepover in old station hut

1. February

Altercation with sheriff, coup attempt. Finlay attempts to overthrow local govt during the rallying of the local militia at the news of Sea Org nearby.
Fake attack, Christian Identity patrol raises the alarm. Finlay confronts McGrew, a domineering local clan leader, is rebuffed.
Local militia (150-175 rifles) supported by Waltham Co. forces (1 APC + platoon)

2. February

Attack! Havre is attacked by a approx company-sized formation of Sea Org, and an intense firefight erupts in Havre proper for the first time in a decade. Party fights alongside locals and W.Co. Sea Org barely repelled, appears to regroup outside town.

3. February

Party at Doctor´s house. Multiple firefights during last 24 hrs.
Prolonged campout with the doctor and wife. Pleads the party to spare them.

17. February

Finlay and James still recuperating from serious wounds, leave doctors house.

18. February

Sea Org force withdraws. Waltham Co. bolsters presence with a LAV-25 and patrol vehicle. Waltham Co. patrol in Chr. Id. ambush.

19. February

A new sheriff is elected - Brian Olsen. Appears to be weak willed, and a close associate of the McGrews. A Texan makes the party an offer they refuse. After an unclear chain of events, The Texan is killed, Cher, Jack the Knife and McBain all die in a brief but extreme firefight in the second floor of the local hotel. After an extremely heated argument, possibly based on a misunderstanding, McBain fired 100 rounds with his M249 on full automatic before succumbing to his fresh knife wounds, killing both Jack and Cher, severely wounding Johnson in the process.

23. February

The Party, decimated to say the least, has chosen to seek out and ally with their acquaintances;
Pippi the dog-sled expert, a taciturn and decidedly uncharming woman, yet known to be extremely trustworthy as long as the dogs are treated alright. Works for the forward elements of the US postal service, offering their services to communities at the frontier. Pippi is well known around the district and knows most people.
Maximillian McBain, a rowdy and violent folk musician, plays mostly the harmonica and entertains with homespun songs whenever he can , especially when there´s a drink or three in the mix. Has a preoccupation with iron armor to protect him from his existential issues.

The Party is gathered in Pippi´s cabin, Johnson is suffering from a terrible leg wound sustained at the hotel. They all huddle and try to keep warm in the spartan cabin for a few days.

28. February

Pippi leaves to go on a routine postal round with the dog sled.

2. March, a Tuesday

Pippi spots a group of suspected Sea Org west of Havre, 100-130 men or more, on skis, 4 snowskis w/ heavy MGs.

3. March

Pippi recces, observes additional Waltham Co. troops, approx 150 men + vehicles maneouvering towards Havre from the northwest.

TBC

[staggerlee]

4. March

Sea Org attacks with renewed strength, approx 2 companies of elite Sea Org supported by motorskis and mortars.
Col. Jones, commander of the Waltham Co. detachment and veteran of the Pacific Pirate wars 2023-29, seizes control over the defense of Havre.

It appears larger units of local antigovt militia arre trying to exploit the fighting to inflict casualties on both sides in harrassing attacks.
Forward elements of the US army 10th Mountain Brigade arrives from the East.

The Party have both been engaged in "negotiations" with local crime boss Floyd Banner about work on bootlegging operations, and asked to scout the western outskirts of town- and decide to skip town under the cover of darkness, the Durant Brothers, three big mountain boys who seem displeased at the prospect of competition centered in the literal Havre underground.

The heavy fighting can be heard several miles away and lights up Havre at night - flashes and stray tracer rounds softened by the falling snow are accompanied by muffled bursts and explosions that last through the night.

At dawn, it seems like another stalemate has been established.

5. March

The Party heads toward Billings to scout westwards, giving the fighting in and around town a wide berth. Towards late afternoon, Finlay and Travis spots a line of camouflaged infantry on skis, appears to be additional Sea Org tropps, about a platoon. There is a stretch in the line, but the Party decides to wait til after sunset (which comes very early this time of year), and attack the troops when they are encamped.

A vicious firefight ensues, several Sea Orgists killed in their sleeping bags by indiscriminate automatic fire, a motorski proved hard to control for an inexperienced driver, wreaking yet more havoc on the enemy camp. In the end, the entire enemy group was mercilessly destroyed, perhaps a hint of things to come, and several characters have been wounded. Finlay received a severe head wound, so the Praty decides to retreat to Pippi´s cabin with the haul of equipment and weapons they seized.

It appears the Sea Orgists were carrying a significant shipment of propaganda material from the Scientology department of Truth - including a movie projector, several films, notably many starring Tom Cruise and John Travolta, as well as e- meters, posters, pamphlets, candy, literature and a supply of Sea ORg billion-year contracts. In addition , the party now has two functioning motorskis, a few weeks of rations, some fuel (ethanol-gasoline mix) and a large number of automatic firearms, mostly AK variants and ammo. It is all deposited in a cache close to Pippi´s cabin.

TBC