WW3: PNW Session 2 Notes - Calling Up the Militia
Session Notes #2 - March 7th, 2022
SPC Vandergriff, CPL Boyd, and SPC Espinoza spent a couple of days rigging up a system of communication links around the area using the existing cellular towers. While crude and somewhat spotty, it should serve the purpose, and allow the Dragoons to attempt to track any NAF or MC radio transmissions. The other three Dragoons spent some time scouting out likely sites for future attacks, getting the lay of the land. They could see that it would be difficult to defend such a large area, impossible in fact for a Dragoon squad. They would need local assistance. After some discussions between SSGT Copley, SPC Costas, and SGT Caldwell, a plan was formulated.
The Yakima County Sheriff’s Department would be used as a nucleus for a standing organized militia. Most deputies still maintain some loyalties to the United States, and the rivalry between them and the Yakama Tribal Police could be used to NERCC’s benefit in the future. It also allowed a separation between law enforcement and the military, avoiding other problems down the line. The deputies were used to issue a general call-up of able-bodied men to report to Toppenish High School, with arms, to determine what sort of personnel and numbers were available to start with. Due to the distances involved, most of the respondents were from the communities closest to the highway, and thus in the least danger from raiders.
Approximately 120 men showed up (mixed Anglo, Yakama, and non-local Native American), carrying a mix of SKS’s, various deer rifles, two or three AK’s, a smattering of AR-15’s, several Garands, and a large number of lever-action .30-30’s. One manbrought an old Barrett .50BMG rifle and a box of ammo, and another guy brought a Vietnam-era flamethrower, recently refurbished. Marksmanship tests showed that most can shoot at 10-11, a few can shoot at 13-14, and a handful who shoot at 16+. Unfortunately, at least half of the candidates are out of shape, unable to run two miles without much wheezing, gasping, and complaining. PT will be called for before anything else.
Notable NPC’s include:
“Yoda”, the ancient curator of the Yakama Cultural Center and Museum. He speaks only in Sahaptin, but is a crack shot with his .30-06 deer rifle. He has a name, most likely, and is apparently friends with Chief John Farmer.
“Heckyl and Jeckyl”, two of the three WW2 re-enactors who showed up in full D-Day 101st Airborne kit. They are decent shots and enthusiastic militiamen, but are otherwise what one would expect. There is apparently bad blood between them and the Market Garden re-enactors in nearby Kennewick, WA… but they pointed out that one of those guys owns a “fully functional Sherman tank that you should totally confiscate“.
Due to continuing scheduling issues, we will assume that SGT Korilov, SGT Thompson, and SPC Davies will be arriving soon (off-camera) to take up roles as the “training cadre” responsible for developing the militia into a viable force. This frees up PC’s of attending players to handle the more adventurous “fire and maneuver” tasks until Ft. Atkinson can start playing again.