Assuming
the pilots take up the Captain's request, they can either take to the skies in
the DH 2's or take the Albion truck to the small village.
Village
of the Dammed
If
they fly, it's a short flight to Frévent, lasting about twenty minutes. From the air as they circle overhead they can
see with a notice roll that the entire village has been subjected to some kind
of artillery barrage. The centre of the
village is pockmarked with craters and debris. Small fires still burn where the bombs
fell. Luckily, the village was evacuated
as the battle lines extended to this sector, so civilian casualties will be
low. Near the centre of the village the
pilots can see the burned out husks of the missing ambulances. A stunted field to the west of the village is
flat and clear enough for the pilots to land safely with a piloting roll. From there it's a five minute walk into the
village.
The
village of Frévent is eerily quiet, even so close to the front. The footsteps of the pilots echo in the still
morning air, and every blown out window and doorway seems to be watching them.
As
they approach the ambulances notice rolls reveal that there are several British
army soldiers scattered around the burned out transports, all of them have been
machine gunned or burned. With a smarts
roll (-2) the pilots can determine that the trajectory of the bullets is from
about a 120 degree angle, as if the soldiers were shot from above.
Blast
craters surround the ruined vehicles, with severe damage to the surrounding
houses. With a notice roll, the pilots
realise that one of the craters is significantly smaller than the others. If they approach it, they see the tail fin of
what looks like a small bomb. On closer
inspection, the bomb is partially buried in the roadway. Having some experience with ordinance, it
looks like no bomb the pilots have ever seen.
Filigreed markings cover the exposed surface, in strange esoteric
designs. The metal of the bomb casing is
not steel, it looks like a strangely hued bronze. If the pilots remove the bomb, it moves
easily and is far too light to have any explosives inside. As soon as they touch the bomb, the shattered
forms of the dead soldiers and medical personnel start to move.
The
walking dead stand and attack the flyers, their horribly mangled bodied cause
fear checks. There are two plus one for
each pilot.
Undead
Soldiers
Attributes: Agility d6, Smarts d4,
Spirit
d4, Strength d6, Vigor d6
Skills: Fighting d6, Intimidation
d6,
Notice d4, Shooting d6
Pace: 4; Parry:
5; Toughness:
7
Gear: Varies, but they can use weapons!
Special Abilities:
•
Claws: Str.
•
Fearless: Zombies
are immune
to
Fear and Intimidation.
•
Undead: Undead:
+2 Toughness, +2 bonus to recover from Shaken, no additional damage from Called
Shots, immune to disease and poison.
•
Weakness (Head):
Shots
to a zombie’s head are +2 damage.
Assuming
the group survive the attack they can investigate the bomb further. Once removed from the crater, they can see
that the nosecone of the bomb can be easily removed, but would take a set of
appropriate tools and some careful manipulation. This is best done back at Vert Galant.
Homeward
Bound
After
a successful flight back to the aerodrome at Vert Galant the pilots are
debriefed by Captain Herbert. Given what
the flight has been through, and a few words from Conan Doyle, he is less
inclined to question the validity of their report. Rather, he is somewhat shocked by the news.
"Distressing news chaps,
rather disturbing. Some strange new
Bosche weapon perhaps? This is an unsettling turn of events, more so that they
would fire on ambulances. Best take that
thing you found over to the ordinance chaps and get them to have a wee peek at
it. Maybe get some clues, what?"
He
salutes and turns to leave.
"Oh, dash it, I almost
forgot, that Times chappie is here, in your barracks, large as life if you please!
He's wanting to speak to you all"
The Man
From The Times
Lounging
in the officers barracks is the man from the Times. Mr Parkhurst is a small bulldog of a man with
a thickset beard like a privet hedge.
Pince nez spectacles perch on his nose and he's dressed in tweeds that
make him look like a holidaying prep school teacher.
"Ah, the famous
flyers. Good to see you all, I'm
Lawrence Parkhurst, as our mutual friend has no doubt told you, ha ha. Now, as far as MI-13 goes, it's all very hush
hush, we're to make ourselves invisible.
There are other groups and organisations out there who would take a very
dim view of our activities. Ostensibly,
you are to continue your duties here under the command of Captain Herbert. In reality, you are all seconded to
MI-13. I'm here to liaise with Sir Conan
Doyle and other members of our group, if you have any problems or questions,
I'm here to help. Till then, keep
mum."
He
stands and turns to leave.
"Oh, by the way, reports
of your bravery and promotions are on the way to the London office for
immediate publication, good for morale and all that."
If
the group think to ask him about the strange bomb they recovered or to update
him on their findings at Frévent he ponders it for a moment.
"Gads you fellows are
keen. Another engagement with the enemy
already? As to this strange thing..."
He
taps the shell with a pencil and pulls on his beard thinking.
"Best get it disassembled
and examined I think, take it over to the ordinance shed and speak to a fellow
called Mctavish, he's your man"
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