1 A.K (After-Khan): A Post-Apocalyptic Military Roleplay Interest (Re)Check

[Dark]

Done that already.

Also nice Dr.Mcninja avatar YankeeSamurai.

[xbriannova]

Some problems with your timeline, YankeeSamurai. The U.S pulled out of all fronts altogether by 2015 onwards. At first I was thinking that your character shouldn't be in Syria, but I guess I'll let that one slip as peacekeeping is not equal to war. It's the part from when Khans 1-21 strike Earth.

JANUARY 2020: 17 meteorites strike Earth; an already teetering globe descends deeper into chaos. II MEF immediately mobilizes. The US military is spread thin across the Eastern Seaboard, coordinating with local law enforcement to maintain order.

While it is fine that II MEF mobilizes to maintain order, the latter part of this sentence seems to suggest that there's still coordination and organisation after the meteorites fell. There's not supposed to be any. Communications of any kind would be cut off completely. Not to mention, being on the surface would mean a high casualty rate, and low visibility, making things all the more chaotic and uncoordinated.

Since your character did not enter one of the vaults, you'd be spending like a year aboveground, which means you'd be seeing ALOT of looters and bandits. In this case, your character would be quite experienced. I'm not sure if you intended him to be very experienced, but just wanna let you know where your character is heading. Is this what you want?

SPRING 2020: 2/8 and the rest of II MEF eventually finds itself much further north, assisting in the federal push to retake Washington DC.

You're going to have to explain how II MEF got so far north in all that fallout, raider attacks and communications blackout. Your unit wouldn't have answered any calls for assistance because there wouldn't have been one. Also, the way it is written you seem to think that the federal government was retaking DC from the outside. Actually, they came from underground vaults IN Washington DC, so they were actually retaking it from inside-out. You're going to have to explain the former. Again, I just want you to know where your character is heading- a young, but highly grizzled and experienced soldier. I'm sure you have no problem explaining how your unit got up so far. I can understand if it is by accident or the instinct of a U.S military unit to head for the capital, but it cannot be due to communique.

As for the rest, it seems fine.

Also, guys, I've been working on even more backstory. For the time being, here's a little something in the form of the squad's command hierarchy:

[YankeeSamurai]

Do you think any military units would've been kept in a vault? Depending on the answer, I guess this could help explain why my character's unit is in DC.

According to you, my character is heading in the direction of being a grizzled veteran from the start of the roleplay, which is not entirely what I intended. I'm wondering if there's any plausible way for military personnel to start the roleplay as relatively inexperienced. If not, that's completely understandable as well.


EDIT: Why would there not be communication of any sort? Did the meteorite strikes have some sort of EMP-like effect on electronics? And for reference, even an actual EMP isn't guaranteed to fuxx0r up all electronics - there's much speculation that certain types of devices would not be affected by an EMP strike. A simple google search turned up this interesting discussion.
http://forums.radioreference.com/hf-...adios-emp.html

[Kaylin]

Hmm so it seems I am one of the only non military people to be put in as one XD.....also was curious on the rating of this rp as in is it a pg-13 aspect or are we going mature aka R rating.

[xbriannova]

The Federal Government threw in several units into the vaults, yes. You did say though that your unit's based in North Carolina, which is a few 100 kilometres away from Washington D.C.

Well, if you want your character and your unit to be relatively inexperienced, I do have a few ideas. You could always make North Carolina more peaceful and civilised in the way they dealt with the meteorite impacts, so they didn't have to deal with any looters and raiders. The only thing your character would then be experienced with is in traversing the wasteland and avoiding death by exposure in the fallout environment. One does not simply walk into D.C. After the meteorites struck, cities would have crumbled down, and the terrain ripped around somewhat, so vehicles would be of limited use, and walking would be difficult. There's also the issue with supplies as well, as the entire world's infrastructure's pretty much thoroughly busted.

Otherwise, there would be units outside of Washington D.C that'd be kept in vaults, at least, those that weren't mobilised to help keep order when the apocalypse struck. There's only enough space for a very small percentage of the nation's population anyway. But then again, if your unit's kept in a vault, you'd have to rewrite half of your background. If it's a vault outside D.C, you still have to deal with how your character got to D.C and the experience he gained from the journey.

Although I suddenly thought of something. To make your character completely inexperienced, you could make North Carolina not only peaceful after the apocalypse, but also easily traversable. I checked Google Map and I THINK it's just mostly forests and suburbs, so your character and his unit could potentially make it up to Washington D.C with little difficulty, making him and his unit relatively inexperienced in dealing with what is to come. There's got to be a reason why it took a year for him to get up to the capital though- maybe your character and his unit's lingering to do their job? Or do they have to scrounge up the supplies to go up north?

I've laid out pretty much all the paths you could take, but if you thought of anything else, which I'm sure you will, do try it out and I'll see.

EDIT: Replying to Kaylin. I think it's likely going to be M. With an environment like that, I can't imagine it'd be any less. Also, your character isn't the only non-combat oriented character. There's another two more.

[YankeeSamurai]

In my opinion, as long as we don't have weird torture porn type shit in here, I don't see the need for a whole lot of restrictions. But it's up to the GM.

[Dark]

True...There are some certain equipment which can resist the EMP waves..Unless of course the whole communication system was based on the use of special home servers (Linked with the internet). Suppose those servers were damaged during the catastrophe.

[xbriannova]

There's definitely not going to be weird torture porn type shit, not to worry I'm not that type of person lol

Expect profanity, violence (sometimes to the extreme) and nightmare fuel though. I doubt there's going to be anything sexual with this kind of post-apocalyptic environment going, but there could be a bit. Everyone would be more busy trying to find their next meal or safeguarding a place to sleep than anything heh.

EDIT: Hmm... EMP waves... Actually, I was thinking more towards the meteorites pretty much knocking out the satellites, throwing up so much dust into the air that it makes the atmosphere impenetrable to radiowaves. Yes, then there's the communications infrastructure getting bombed out of existence by 17 frickin meteorites and the earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions caused by them.

[YankeeSamurai]

But the provided background didn't seem to imply anything about EMP strikes. Am I just in the dark about the effects of a meteorite impact? I know a huge crater will be formed, along with large amounts of dust choking the atmosphere, but radiation from an impact? Is that a real thing, or...?

[SilverwindBlade]

Rank: Sergeant

Name: David Carwell

Sex: Male

Age: 36

Race: Caucasian

Nationality: English

Service Affiliation: Royal Marines

Unit: 40 Commando (currently detached on exchange training with USMC), 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines

Vocation: Royal Marines Commando

Position: Rifleman, Amphibious Light Infantry

Job Scope:
"3 Commando Brigade is the UK’s amphibious infantry, ready to move in support of British interests at any time. Self-sustaining with the help of British Army and Royal Navy units, 3 Commando Brigade can go to trouble spots around the world and and get to work."

Combat Experience:
OP HERRICK, Afghanistan 2011-12
Operations in Syria, 2013-14
Counter-piracy operations off Horn of Africa 2015
Exchange training with USMC 2019~

Personality Report:
Has a rough-edged sense of earthy humour, like most military men, tempered with a sense of dedication and quiet confidence, without a sense of arrogance about his own skills and accomplishments. Dedicated family man, with a wife and infant boy back home. Has tried to keep in touch with them regularly, and often sends them gifts and photos of things and places he has seen while he has been on cross-training.
A good follower of orders, he also shows initiative and imagination in his duty, and is not afraid to ask questions.
Always eager to learn, he seeks out information both for his professional duties, and for his own interest, and reads many books and spends a prodigious amount of time on the internet in search of facts, often spouting trivia in conversations. He has earned numerous nicknames and reputations for this quality, as well as it making him popular amongst his fellow soldiers, along with his personality.

Despite this outer appearance of a well-adjusted and happy individual, he is acutely aware of the amount of time he has spent away from his wife and son, and is eager to transfer to a HQ position back in England, where he can spend much more time with his family. He was on the cusp of receiving approval for the transfer before the Khan incident, and is now determined to return home and find out what happened to his wife and child, and will do almost anything to get home, but is torn between his personal goal, and the sense of duty he feels to the American people he has served with and grown to know while being in the USA.

Background:
David joined the RM after a few years of drifting between tedious jobs, and feeling his didn't really fit in or enjoy his work. After a chance meeting with a Marine who was a friend of a friend in a pub, he decided to enlist.
His training - like that of all Royal Marines - was extremely hard, and he almost dropped out on several occasions. However, words of support from the friend, and the thought of going back to his aimless life kept him in, and eventually he passed as a full-fledged Royal Marine.
After this, he was given further training for his particular role.
David met his wife-to-be during his first period of post-training Leave. While at a celebration party for his return home, she attended, a friend of one of his friends' girlfriends. They hit it off straight away, and spent his next period of deployment exchanging e-mails, texts and phone calls, as well as meeting several times, often with one or the other travelling a long distance to meet up.
They soon became an 'official' couple after his next Leave, and made plans.

Davids' parents initially disagreed with his choice of career, as they had no history of military service, but their minds have (somewhat) changed toward the idea of his service, given the amount of improvement he has shown as an individual, however they still try to push him toward a civilian career, much to his continued annoyance, and constantly offer unwanted 'advice' and 'help' with him and his wifes' lives.
Her parents, especially her father, are much more welcoming of his career in the armed forces, and tend to be more of the 'leave things alone' type parenting, and offer help when it is wanted, much to his relief.

Davids' combat experience came when he was deployed to Afghanistan in the closing stages of British involvement there, and he saw some light-intensity action against local insurgents, exchanging gunfire with them a few times, and coming under mortar attack in a F.O.B on one occasion. He also developed skills of working with and talking to natives, and learning about their culture. A lot of work done there was also non-combat related, such as helping to bring in supplies of food, water, and other vital necessities, and in constructing local infrastructure, such as schools and drainage, helping to bring about a better understanding with locals.

After this, he was involved in the UN deployment in Syria, and there again was involved in combat, some of which was gruelling house-to-house combat, as well as dangerous urban patrols, where snipers and other hostiles were often a danger, as well as the necessity to carefully gauge every potential combat situation, and be wary of non-hostile civilians and locals, as well as actively dangerous and hostile enemies.

Later deployments involved some work in protecting civilian and military shipping off of the Horn of Africa, including Maritime Boarding, Search and Seizure experience, sometimes resulting in brutal close-quarter combat with armed pirates.

After this deployment, he returned home and was granted extended leave for both his wedding, and the birth of his son Lucas. His wife and son then moved into a house near Norton Manor Barracks, Taunton, Somerset. His wife, Katie, also began her own home-run business at this point too, to supplement their income.

After this, he volunteered for and was selected for cross-training with the USMC, and experienced training with many units, before being assigned to Camp Allen, Norfolk, Virginia for further training in counter-terrorism and security duties.

Current Status:
David was in Washington D.C. when the Khan incident occurred, attending the British Embassy to take of various administration issues. Unable to leave the country due to the mounting chaos, many of the embassies' personnel were swamped by the number of British Nationals trying to return home, with the embassy itself later swept up in the chaos. David managed to escape, and seek shelter and survive by taking refuge elsewhere.
Following the chaos and devastation, he has assembled some equipment of his own, and is trying to learn as much as he can about the situation, with the aim of finding out about the situation back home, with the eventual aim of returning home.

Physical Description:

Equipment Loadout:
Due to being on a cross-training deployment and having to scavenge, David has no access to British Equipment. His equipment is a mis-matched bag of gear, acquired from surplus and camping shops or department stores, barracks, ruined apartments, and even dead peoples' own gear.
MTV tactical/load-carrying vest & pouches (Tan)
US Army ACH Combat Helmet (ACU Pattern)
Dust goggles
Shemagh-like scarf (black-and-white)
Gloves (black, thermal)
Kneepads (Black)
BDU jacket (ACU pattern)
Thick fleece (olive drab, from camping store)
Black working trousers (or 'pants' for you yanks)
Black T-shirt
Hiking boots & socks
Large MOLLE backpack (tan)
LED Flashlight & Batteries
Zippo-type lighter
30m Paracord
Personal 1st aid kit
MRE-type food, as well as some canned/dried goods, chocolate, and bottled water
Water purification kit
Sewing kit
Woollen hat (black)
Multi-tool
Sleeping bag
Cloth rags (from old blankets, sheets, clothes etc) for many uses (bandages, soaking as torches, blankets, etc)
Spare magazines for primary and secondary weapons
box of rounds for both weapons
Gun cleaning kit
Pencils
Paper
Personal grooming kit
Spare batteries for sight & weapon light
Survival-type watch
Compass
Binoculars
Couple of books
Hip flask of whiskey (for medicinal purposes as well as drinking)

Weapon Loadout:
M16A4 Rifle with vertical foregrip, attached flashlight, and MARS sight
M9A1 pistol
OKC-3S Bayonet

Skills:
All expected skills of a soldier with the Royal Marines (i.e., survival, evasion and escape, fitness, combat-related skills, driving), as well as a reasonable unofficial grounding in popular science, culture, and technology through his wide reading. He is also an okay cook.

-----------------------------------

I figured improvising my equipment made more sense, as it's supposed to be after a disaster struck, and my character isn't in their homeland. Gathering what he could to survive sounds pretty sensible, as he couldn't exactly roll up in full combat kit as a non-US forces soldier, and if the chain of supply and logistics has broken down pretty badly too.

As to the issue regarding communications:
Long-range communications, as well as other services and utilities rely on more than just technology to keep them going, they need people as well.
Lines of communication need power to keep working. A lot of people who staff such places are civilians, and many civilians would have died in the initial impacts, with more dying afterward from disease, starvation, and the general level of chaos that would prevail.
The earthquakes would also have a huge effect on this - earthquakes would destroy gas, water and electricity, as well as telephone, internet and TV cable lines too. The resulting fires (from gas) and lack of clean water heat and electricity would lead to more casualties and deaths, leading to a mass reduction in the work force and civilian population. Most people would be struggling to find food and supplies, let alone rebuilding national and international communications.

Communication systems also require spare parts and a long chain of logistical support and control to keep going as well. If the government was forced to take cover in shelters and bunkers to avoid the apocalypse, then private corporations wouldn't have much of a chance, and that includes things like communications, I'd imagine.

In short, it's not just the actual meteor impacts that are the source of the destruction, it's also the following chaos that would make a lot of difference to the world afterward too.