/qst/ — Operation Bugsquash (Y2K, Alien Invasion, Post Apocalypse

Summary

In the world of Systems Failure, the Y2K computer glitch was not a simple technological hiccup, but the catalyst for a devastating alien invasion. On January 1, 2000, a race of trans-dimensional energy beings known as "the Bugs" used the world’s flickering power grids to breach the dimensional barrier. Resembling giant, monstrous insects, the Bugs possess the terrifying ability to convert their bodies into pure energy, allowing them to travel at near light speed through electrical hardlines and instantly take control of any electronic device or military vehicle. Because they feed on high-voltage electrical energy, they swiftly crushed Earth's conventional armed forces and seized control of the planet's power plants and communications networks, triggering a global societal collapse known as "The Meltdown."

By the year 2009, Earth is a shattered, post-apocalyptic wasteland. The remnants of the major cities have been transformed into "Bugtowns," heavily guarded power centers where millions of captive humans are herded like cattle. To maintain the power grids they feed upon, the Bugs use a parasitic larvae called "Silkworms" to lobotomize their human captives, turning them into docile, easily controlled zombies who operate the machinery. Outside these Bug-controlled zones lies "Free America," a sprawling, lawless frontier of ruined towns, hidden bunkers, and wilderness. Here, survival is a daily struggle not only against roaming Bug patrols, but also against ruthless human warlords, cutthroat "splatterpunks," and opportunistic bandits who prey on the desperate.

Despite the overwhelming odds, humanity refuses to go quietly into the night, sparking a massive, grassroots guerilla resistance known as "The Great American Bug Hunt." The heroes of this new world are a gritty, eccentric mix of hardcore survivalists, retro-tech mechanics ("Grease Monkeys"), wandering peacekeepers, and fanatic "Exterminators" who wage a relentless war against the alien occupiers. They are secretly backed by the remnants of the U.S. military operating out of a sealed-off NORAD base in Colorado. To combat the aliens' mastery of electronics, NORAD is reportedly reverse engineering the bugs technology against them, experimenting with gene therapy and steroids, along with furthering along late 1990s cutting edge military technology.

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>>6415186 (OP)
>The Wyoming Free Irregulars
I FUCKING HATE BUGS

>>6415186 (OP)
>The Wyoming Free Irregulars
YEEHAW

>>6415187
Is this in the same universe as those 'Taskforce Vanguard' quest things that kept popping up, or?
>Wyoming

>>6415186 (OP)
>NORAD

File: Uniform_Tops_09.jpg (86 KB, 780x792)

>>6415205
>>6415196
>>6415192
Climate and Biomes
As someone who has been living there for decades, you know that Wyoming is quite different from a lot of states. It's about two thirds "Cold Desert" and about a third "Prairie". Less than 10% or so are very high elevation, very thick, possibly very wet, Forests. Not Woodlands, which are thinner, but Forests.
https://dmap-prod-oms-edc.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/ORD/Ecoregions/cec_na/NA_LEVEL_II.pdf

Camo Effectiveness
In the thickly forested areas, hunting camo and stocks of M81 US Woodland blend in quite well. OD green and various browns of the world fit in reasonably enough, especially with staining or vegetation mixed in.

For the cold deserts, tan and khakis do just fine, but there is debate over if the old "Chocolate Chip" six color is the best camo or the newer "Three Color Desert".

The Prairies and wheat fields (Which exist more in the Great Plains to the East), are debatable in color. Some say desert colors blend in well enough, with how sun-bleached the grasses are. Others say a new type of camo or some kind of camo from Africa or the Middle East is required. Still others say a copy of a hunting camo. Not that much manufacturing exists.

Camo options
(According to the source books and checking catalogues for the period)

Remaints of the military and national guard, along with the looting of bases and warehouses, allows for stocks of all the uniforms that were issued out to the military. Alongside that are uniforms from commercial copies and commercial sales from military suppliers.

All of the prices are for just the top (jacket).

Battle Dress Uniforms (new): started as low as $25. They could be a made of "Ripstop 100% Cotton", in M81 Woodland, Three Color Desert, or Tigerstripe. They also could be a single color, but made of any other of patented, fancy terms that just meant 65% polyester and 35% cotton ripstop.

Authentic, brand new, milspec BDUs: went as high as $36. They were coated to hide better under infrared, were made of 50/50 Nylon Cotton in either poplin (breathes more) or twill (Like jeans).

Hunting camos went for about $40 to $50.

>>Side Choice
You will get extra XP and possibly have the chance to save money. The WFI fights in small companies and presumably they banded together over time and organically. Lets figure out what your band/bands were doing in that time.

>1.
Pick 5 uniforms that you bought before the chaos and carried in the first year of fighting. Any of the colors above, any of the weaves or fabrics. It is presumed you bought in bulk or replaced the uniforms as they wore out.

>2.
Do you ever try and get Light/Heavy Camouflage Coveralls (Jumpsuits)? It can be any color above except Woodland

The western part of the state will eventually be part of The League of Free Cities.
>3.
Do you focus on trying to aid them in rebuilding and stability, try to focus on raiding bug towns and armories to add to your supplies, numbers, and firepower, or try to do raids to the east into the Great Plains where food and bandits are more common?

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>Why does this matter?

After a decade of fighting and the death or enslavement of 25-75% of humanity, there are major logistical issues plaguing the WIF and all of the remaining survivalists. The era of massive vehicles full of fuel, carrying every little thing a soldier might need, are long gone. Supplies are limited, and everything has to be carried by a person or beast.

>How bad is it
The average survivalist stockpiled about 7,000 dollars worth of equipment and gear, not even including some weapons, thousands of rounds of ammo, trade supplies, and precious metals. A lot of people didn't stockpile nearly as much.

So those supplies are going to get eaten up trying to outfit the WFI.

Fighting on foot is really slow, almost medieval, and the United States is about the size of Europe. Horses are faster, but they tire out quicker than people, which is how we caught them in the first place. Not only that, but people were breeding horses not for riding long distances or for pack duties, but for muscle and show.

Those proper types of horses exist now, but they are expensive ($2,500), usually only Survivalists had them, and they only had one.

One mule is $1,000 and carry a lot, but it's slow. Roman legionaries used to have one for every ten soldiers.

>TLDR

Stockpiles of equipment and barter are rather low, everything has to be carried, each uniform weighs like a kilo. Uniforms wear out and that costs money. Uniforms either blend in or they don't, and that can be dangerous. Carrying spares adds weight.

Something needs to be done.

>>>Choose 1 of the following

>>Focus on trying to better differentiate yourself from the other factions, the bugged former-soldiers, and rag-tag bands or bandits. This helps with identification, growing your faction, and building up a reputation.

>>Focus on trying to husband resources and being self-sufficient. You might end up looking like other factions, and this might be deliberate.

>>6415282
Oh. It is that TaskForce Vanguard. Not to be a downer but you should really learn from your other attempts and make this an actual quest not just the weird extension of your ttrpg game or whatever

>>6415288
I don't think RPGs involve running part of a faction, but okay.

There is 5 to 9 years to play through.

>>6415282
>>Focus on trying to husband resources and being self-sufficient. You might end up looking like other factions, and this might be deliberate.

Would still have access to retro tech. Also mechanical, chemical, and biological. Lack of manpower is gonna suck the most.

File: Wyoming.png (27 KB, 428x344)

I forgot to post the little picture of the state.
>>6415506
The technological baseline for most areas is from between 1850 to 1880, around where the Amish were self-sufficient. This is right before the start of the Second Industrial Revolution.

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The Bugs took all the major cities, along with any serious electrical infrastructure. The northwest of the state has coal fields, where bugged and enslaved humans are rumored to be slaving away to produce power for the addicted Bugs.

In the first few years Free Humans coalesce in places with available water, fleeing from major population centers that are written off. Wyomings third largest settlement is west of Cheyenne and South of Casper.

The western part of the state can be very dry, but where people can live the beginnings of the Free Cities are rising.
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I will look at our options for being self sufficient. I was hoping the other available choices would draw some interest.

While I figure out what happened and get some new choices, how about I lay out an easy one.
>>6415506
What is the name of this company or battalion that will someday fold into the WFI?

Most votes in the next 24 to 48 hours, or before I update tonight (if the name is good).

>>6415506
Survivalists, militiamen, and bunkerlords are famous for their ability to shoot, even doing trick shots and shooting accusations from moving horses. They are also well known to have deep stocks of supplies.

But just as important is their survival knowledge and training. While many of them have former US military basic training or obtained something similar, they're far more versed in tracking, navigation, and a few from hunting, gathering, preserving food, and skinning animals.

But there often are former jobs that provide skills and a whole second set of skills learned during and after the world ended.

And uh, hmmm

>>Second or first most common Background for the battalion or company

If you interact with the side choices I will let you pick something overly represented in the milita.

Otherwise, roll 1d100

File: Where Is The Power.png (270 KB, 1024x640)

>>Decision Time, most in 24-48 hours!

In the first year after the power went out, people didn't know what to do. There was panicking at first, but as the supply chains began to fall apart from there, people began to turn on each other.

Millions were beginning to freeze to death, and people began to fight over firewood and food.

>>1. Focus on hunting and gathering, along with trying to isolate, live off the land, and keep the locations of whatever supplies exist hidden. If supplies and items can be moved, move them.

>>2. Try to stock up with chopped, split, and drying firewood; along with preserved game and roots, during the spring, summer, and fall months. Shoot anyone who tries to get food from you and won't leave.

>>3. Same as 2, only you will trade surplus stocks and production, or items that might go bad, in exchange for other materials, labor, weapons, and items that are important to you.

>>4. Same as 1, only you try and ambush or counter-hijack groups of rising splatter punks. Who will get mad at you about less mouths to feed and less wolves roaming?

>>5. Focus on 3 but if you see chances to ambush and rob some bandits or bugs, you go for it.

>>6416041
5.

Rolled 77, 40 = 117 (2d100)

>>6418586

Rolled 26 (1d100)

>>6418648

Rolled 87 (1d100)

>>6418649

The foundational core of your band of survivors, who would eventually join and be part of the Wyoming Free Irregulars, was prepared and prepped for the end of the world. The power being out is far more of a problem for the major cities in what would become Bunkerville, than it is for smaller towns and farmsteads. There are a lot of big industrial farms, despite what people tell you, but their heavy reliance on fertilizer and fuel means they break down quickly.

Some of your group get confused and think a nuclear war has happened, and they don't do anything but sit in their shelters for a few days or weeks, but soon everyone who was prepared is trying to stay warm with their firewood supplies, hunting as much as they can, and going through their perishable food. As the snow begins to melt and the ground becomes soft, as the animals begin to wake up and spring takes root, the gathering begins. Trees are cut down and the long process of making firewood begins. Those who were in the wrong location but have some resources to barter, relocate to the more wooded and wet parts of the state.

Ammunition is a precious resource and so snares are used as much as possible, as are traps. Production of jerky and pemmican starts up, along with preserving what can be found. If biscuitroot, wild onions, and early tubers are found, they are eaten now, instead of the stocks of dried and canned food.

The major city areas, people are pointing fingers and blaming each other. People that always wanted to kill someone, try and make a go for it. Gangs try to be cops and cops try to be gangs. People with political differences or racial hatreds start with fists and escalate to blades and guns.

In the rural areas some of the local jerks and melt addicts "can't live" without their fresh booze and highs, so they try to kill and steal money or what their fix is. People wind up shot, even a trusted friend tries to run off with someone elses gasoline.

>>6418670
As the year begins to progress and progress, people are starting to rely on each other. Mules, donkeys, and horses are dragging hauls of lumber. People are converting their cars to use diesel if possible. There is some violence as people try to seize supplies of used cooking oil, as it's worth a fraction of what gasoline is worth, which is a lot.

Try to trade with others
As the year passes some people flee to the rural areas or smaller towns, and mostly they are rejected. We look through what we have that is breaking and what we could salvage, along with what we could claim from places that appear empty or already looted for weeks on end. There is some trade and exchange, but mostly it's just making sure that everyone in the group has a uniform diet, along with the absorbing of some women and youths that have useful skills or combat experience.

see chances to ambush and rob some bandits or bugs, you go for it.

We have ham radios and we know these backroads, these woods. With binoculars and barking dogs, we notice that a group of six were moving towards us. It takes us awhile to spot them and identity them, but soon realize they are wearing a mixture of hunting camo and likely have firearms. As they get closer we eventually realize they are dragging plastic sleds or toboggans. At first we don't know if these people are just like us, some neutral band, or people who will shoot at us but we can ignore until they leave our area.

The bands of survivors communicate as best as they can and assemble in an over watch position, just as the small group is about to pass by a smoking house. We identify that they are carrying shotguns and black rifles, possible AR15s. They might have some hunting rifles but we can't be sure. If we make a bad call, we end up killing when it's not necessary, not that all of us are hesitant to kill. Our camo clothing is fairly fresh and we blend into the local area, attaching branches to ourselves as needed.

We get into an L shaped ambush and we wait, making sure we can't possible shoot each other or shoot too soon. The start of the ambush is going to be a loud elk rifle with a powerful scope. The gun's loud noise will signature that the targets were identified or they started shooting first.

A portable walkie-tackie squawks. These men are loaded down with food, Soviet surplus ammo tins and supplies, and they are stuck now.

We try to communicate with them using radio or megaphones, but they are too jumpy or there is a misunderstanding or they're out to kill us. One of them loses his head while the others are trying to raise their rifles or go for cover. They start shooting at us and we are shooting at them, before too long they are all dead and not one of us is wounded.

They have another medical kit, a very good camp stove, and those we shot in the head or limbs have mostly intact Gore-Tex jackets. Their boots are all good, looks like heavy winter boots.

Half of us keep watch and the other half dig shallow graves. We use rocks and chisels to mark the site.

We know everything there is to know about our territory and we periodically can do an armed patrol half a days walk this way or that, or half a days ride by horse. But for all our hard work, that is only 25 miles in any given direction. We hear a lot of rumors that this or that city is laid to ruin by rioting, disease, or fighting. We hear about insurrections and states trying to form their own governments. Religious nutjobs attacking people and drinking poisoned koolaid. Hell, we even hear about zombies and aliens.

But we know that cleanliness is very important and disease happens easily. We're constantly trying to get as much fat and lye as we can, and try to make as much soap as we can, and try to make it last a long time. Any source of antibiotics or alcohol, even glasses cleaning wipes or the stuff from first aid kits, is very vital. We could be stuck depending on this stuff to treat open wounds, if the situation gets bad enough.

Some of us, maybe a lot of us expected the lights to come back on after six weeks, others a few months. Others by the end of the year. But the lights don't come back on.

It was a hard year, but the hardest year might be the first or the last. We are pretty sure the next year will be easier.

>>6415963
>>6415263
These need to be engaged with if you want your second decision to happen sooner. This is way more writing than I first thought, maybe people don't like reading and won't read it.

By the end of the second year the power starts to come back on for some parts of the country, so we are told. The internet and phone lines even begin to slowly but surely begin to work. The issue is that we don't really have power and we don't really want to turn on the generators if we don't need to. There is some turning on the power or starting up a car to see what we can hear, but not much more than that.

When we start to hear a lot of talk about how things are close to back to how they used to be and how they found stockpiles of food, or moved supplies from other nations, or they're going to start up the logistics network... We are skeptical. Besides, didn't we prepare for the world ending? Some of us don't want the world to come back together, and if it does... Well, we are fine as we currently are. We're not quite starving. It was touch and go a few times, and our longterm supplies aren't quite intact... But we can make it another few years, God willing.

Decision time! Which do we want to do?

>1. We focus on trading and prosperity, building up supplies and being able to stand up on our own. This is being isolated and not taking time to go places or know what is happening. If a plague or something is spreading, we might not get it, but we might not be warned about it.

>2. We try to obtain more information, assert ourselves as the local government, or try to link up with the closest half decent town, and try to get services back on. Maybe we see if we can find alternate ways to get power and coordinate with others.

>3. We try to strike a balance.

>>6418688
3. Having enough for a long while just means that there is still a day we will be plum out of luck. Also the bugs are a threat as long as either they ain't dead or people are still using electricity on a grid. The WFI isn't safe from bugs unless we can exert our will on the dumber citizens on using electricity!

Rolled 21, 14 + 25 = 60 (2d100 + 25)

>>6418746

It's a bit hard to update when there isn't a lot of interest and it was harder when the outcome was so bad. I had to spend a few days trying to think of if everyone just died or what happened, but then I thought of an answer. [B]Then I got IP blocked for posting too much??[/b]

[b][red]-4, No AND[/red]/b]

It was a very difficult process trying to convince people that maybe we shouldn't be connecting ourselves to the main grid. The whole grid went down and as far as we knew, a lot of the world went down with it. That didn't make any sense... There was power plants and facilities that hadn't been updated in the 1980s, so they didn't have computers. Not to mention, at least one or two survivalist's mentioned.. Unix and somehow about how Y2K was a problem with uh... That software...

The explanation that people understood was that software was like if you had a diesel engine or a gasoline engine, or if you were a woman or a man. Software decided what the computer could do and how it worked, and how you worked with it.

There was some weird mathematically problem with Unix software, where it counted up to a certain point and past that, it would glitch and max out at the highest or lowest possible number.

Some of you said the magnetic poles moved, some blamed the illuminati, some blamed aliens, some "the bugs", some lizard people, and even some blamed zombies. Quite a few others just thought it was some technical issue, terrorism, or some rogue state. Maybe it was the CIA?
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Regardless, using the radio to listen was likely fine, but being connected to the rest of the power grid and the internet would expose us to whatever took everything out earlier. If we did setup a grid, it should be local and be monitored. Besides, gasoline should be for trucking the sick or going to fetch antibiotics.
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Wanting to balance things, we had arranged for a meeting with some of the other local communities, the ones about as figured out and stable as we were.

>>6423189
I don't know how quests are supposed to work. Maybe we need saiyans? Does having saiyans make quests popular?