Mar/Apr
2045
The Return of 4saken`s Hellions

Tracey Macho McGuire had been waiting in Gateway awhile. He had overcome any teasing over his name to prove himself as a competent scout and his first real job had been setting up for the big move to Gateway. Now Lt. Frank, leader of the Hellions, had sent word that the Gateway squad, led by none other than second-in-command Caleb Valentine, was finally on the move. He was surprised to learn that Greasy Lee - the gang`s best heavy gunner and it`s best mechanic - was also on the list, as were some others. Lt. Frank was serious about this one.

Tracey was pacing about in front of the gate near his car. There would be no Brandi Burks repeat if he could help it. His scout phoenix had no weapons, but he had his rifle. He would fight on foot if necessary. He was grumbling about not having installed a weapon, just in case, just for this arrival, because something was wrong. They were late. Frank would not have given an arrival time if he had not meant to keep it.

Hearing a sound from up on the gates, Tracey looked up to see someone pointing, then himself spotted the dust cloud. At first he was relieved but his binoculars did not show what he expected. He jumped into his vehicle and was ready to speed off but held out just long enough for a positive i.d. A Mutant Marauder and a damaged van, spouting oily smoke and with mangled armor visible even at this distance. One last look through the binoculars before he sped off and he was horrified to see the 4saken`s Hellions insignia on the pickup.

That`s no Marauder... it`s our fuel truck! He called up to the guards that they were friendlies and had them open the gates.

But where were the others? Caleb`s decked-out Landrunner Wrath and the gang`s Windsor? These were just the support vehicles...

Tracey looked upon them solemly as they passed by him. He stayed outside the gates a full minute longer, scanning the horizon for dust or any signs of other vehicles, then reluctantly hopped in his car to meet them inside.

Only two crew members had stepped out of the van. Not a good sign. Tracey`s heart fell even further as the city`s large gates closed ominously behind him.

The damage to the van was severe but to his relief there were no other crew members inside. He recognized Steven Behr The Bear, the gang`s ballistic man but the young woman with him was new to him. Stephen Wallace, another scout, was stepping out of the fuel runner.

What happened? he asked Bear, but Steve only gave him a blank look back. He had never seen Bear shaken up before. Wallace went up to Tracey and pulled him aside.

It was rough, he started. Hit a group of Stalkers on the way out. It went good at first, we caught them on that road with the busted bridge and all the dunes and Bear and Jane - that`s the new ballistics girl - started softening `em up real good with the CGLs. Caught them in a low spot. Textbook. But those things only have so much ammo. So we hit what`s left of them as they crest the ridge. It went well enough I suppose but it got pretty involved. It wasn`t pretty. But we came out on top.

We were doing well enough until just a few miles outside of town Caleb - he was lead scout, not me - gives us the heads up. We`re bloodied already and half of us were driving looted chompers running on half their cylinders... everyone split but we could see the Windsor getting nailed. We did everything we could to support it but they took the engine out... Brian Hayden and Derrick were in there.... maybe you`ve met `em? Anyway, the van tried to paint them up to buy us some time but there was no getting away. Caleb was trying to do everything at once. Trying to keep people off the Windsor and keep the enemy fast movers off the guys fleeing on the right, trying to keep the cars off of him, and we had this painted up Scorpion right on us. Him and Lee ripped it up good, blew the engine. But just as we`re getting some distance the driver got his rockets clear. Ripped the van right open.

Caleb finished them, but he had to veer off or he would have led the whole gang of pirates right towards us. Towards the end I saw one of them on him close and two more nearby. His landy was ripped up real bad. Right side armor was already open by then and I think I saw the right side gatling hanging in the wreckage. He must have been really low on ammo as well.

I hung close as long as I could, me and Bear in the van, and then Caleb gave us The Last Word.

Stephen sighed. The Last Word. The last order a squad leader would issue. Escape. Escaping combat in a wounded chomper or a fuel truck with no weapons was a given. But the Last Word meant escape with your life. It was an order. Leave me behind... I won`t be joining you.

It worked, you know... just like Caleb wanted it to. They took the bait. All three of them went after him. All three with fresh armor...

Bear and Jane were standing there, too, listening to the retelling of the events they had just lived through, unable to speak. The four gangers stood solemly for some moments, then rested a hand on the shoulder of the person next to them.

It was Bear that broke the silence. He looked up at Mezcal`s.

Let`s Drink.

They had only just sat down to drink when there was a loud pounding on the door to the bar.

Dust on the horizon! someone called in. Immediately the four of them went to the gates. It was Keith Brown - a driver from back in the day when Lt. Frank would still accept drivers - in a beat up Desert Stalker.

Keith filled them in. He was the driver for the Windsor originally, but he was escaping nearest to Caleb when everything went down. When Caleb had veered off to save them he had no place to go but towards Keith. And with the engine sputtering he had not gained as much distance as he would have liked before then.

There were three on him, he explained as they went back into the bar. The landrunner`s right side was ripped open. The nearest one kept firing, apparently cycling between its car rifle and machine gun to conserve ammo. A few of the shots inevitably landed inside.

He had some decent distance to the second two but the one was on him good, 20 to 30 meters, tops. There was a cliff in front of the landy and the only way to go was to the right, and expose his open side. The guy behind got some in, like I said, and the engine starts smoking.

Well... I don`t know if any of you have ever driven a landrunner loaded down to the chassis stops with armor, crew and weapons but they`re dead slow to begin with. Greasy Lee had it tuned up pretty good but the decision was made to put the V-8 in the van instead. No helping a landy. And now the engine was smoking...

That`s when Caleb gave The Word.

I was cresting a hill and could see it go down. At the last second he pulls left. Left! He actually rode up the cliff a little. He laid into it with the left gatling and spun around to bring the forward weapons on it. I guess he decided to go out the hard way. He got the bugger. Got him. I thought for awhile he might make it out. That the other two behind him might not give chase - there was still some comotion back by the Windsor - but between the engine smoke and him losing all that speed... well... they went after him...

That`s the last I saw. I came down the other side and didn`t look back.

He lifted a glass. The table was full, chairs and mugs on the table, but half the seats were empty. He toasted a glass to the empty seat at the head of the table, and drank.

By 4saken
To Be Continued...


Wendy Lockwood of Drive Backwards BFFs died at Northern Foothills Racetrack at night.


Amy Buggs of Lattes Raiders died at Scattered Hills.


Alicia Murphy of Mambas Maniacs died at Lost Oasis.


Gregory Grove of 2 Phat 2 Phunky died at Gates of Somerset.


John Gaskins of 2 Phat 2 Phunky died at Gates of Somerset.


Sarah Cannon of Jackknife Armada died at Road to Somerset.


Merle Lynn of LESS THAN JAKES died at Blown With the Wind.


George Wilson of We B Right died at Burning Skies.


Quinton Mork of Produce_Vendors died at Road to Gateway Truck Stop.


Nathaniel Mahoney of Lattes Raiders died at Forever Yellow Skies.


John Kwon of Lattes Raiders died at Forever Yellow Skies.


David Floyd of The Thug Matrix died at Road to Elmsfield.


Scott Franklin of We B Right died at Burning Skies.


Israel Daigle of Violet Menace died at Blown With the Wind.


Jennifer `Eat Lead` Geib of Brain Damaged died at Blown With the Wind.


`adaptable` America Shaftoe of Burnt Tree Security died at Once Upon a Town.


Mildred Dougherty of The Crimson Brothers died at Somerset Rally Circuit.


Eugene `Sour Kraut` Stoltzfus of SD Rollers died at Scattered Grounds.


Lia Fuller of CYBERPUNKS died at Blown With the Wind.


Donald Rose of Vigilante Sun died at Blown With the Wind.


`TINKER` Travis Smith of We B Right died at Road to Somerset.


`Sir` Charles Samuel of Lattes Raiders died at Road to Somerset.


`Sir` Jeff West of Lattes Raiders died at Road to Somerset.


`Sir` Nickolas Thomas of Lattes Raiders died at Road to Somerset.


`B-29` Enola Gay of Pestilence died at Maure Dore.


Donald Auer of DeathFromAbove died at Forever Yellow Skies.


James Hunt of Thuata De Dannan died at Lost Oasis.


Allison `Bloo` Berry of Undead Fish died at Gates of Gateway Truckstop.


Matt Sallee of The Flying Hellfish died at Scattered Hills.


Virginia `Ginny` Stmartin of River Bandits died at Gates of Gateway Truckstop.


Susan Jude of Marloks died at Gates of Gateway Truckstop.


`Mercenary` Diamond Blade of Vigilante Knights died at Scattered Grounds.


`Specialist` Jeffrey Victor of Comanche died at Road to Somerset.


Pamela Dimatteo of Comanche died at Road to Somerset.


Richelle Gholson of Mans Laughter died at Scattered Hills.


Leonard Moody of CYBERPUNKS died at Blown With the Wind.


Michael Jackson of Serpent Syndicate died at Road to Somerset.


George Bush of Serpent Syndicate died at Road to Somerset.


Steven Cameron of Feeding Frenzy died at Road to Somerset.


Erika `Roe` Williams of Ricky Ranjits Raiders died at Gates of Gateway Truckstop.


Nancy `Alky` Alexander of Mambas Maniacs died at Interstate Mythos.


`Bad Boy` Brett Mitchell of Mambas Maniacs died at Interstate Mythos.


Kenny Madsen of Comanche died at Road to Elmsfield.


Jessica Brickey of Mambas Maniacs died at Blown With the Wind.


`Bruising` Barbra Black of Mambas Maniacs died at Blown With the Wind.


Bobby `Little` Richardson of Mambas Maniacs died at Blown With the Wind.


Jeffrey `Stitch` Hernandez of Mambas Maniacs died at Blown With the Wind.


Jim Harris of DreadNaughts died at Gates of Somerset.


Kimberly Sanders of SplashandBurn died at Road to Elmsfield.


Yukiko Spencer of Troubadours died at Somerset`s Junkyard, Race Track 1.


Josh `Eagle Eyes` Rambo of The Thug Matrix died at Road to Elmsfield.


Rachell Quin of Secret Agent Clan died at Gates of Gateway Truckstop.


`The Hateful` Princess Hurt of Vigilante Knights died at Northern Speedway.


Antoinette McGee of the mad mad crushers died at Road to Elmsfield.


Phyllis Garza of the mad mad crushers died at Road to Elmsfield.


Rogelio Marin of the mad mad crushers died at Road to Elmsfield.


Heather Moore of the mad mad crushers died at Road to Elmsfield.


Ja `Rocket King` Ruhl of The Thug Matrix died at Road to Somerset.


`Sir` Joseph Braud of Lattes Raiders died at Road to Elmsfield.


Stanley Waller of The Thug Matrix died at Lost Oasis.


Vincent Hook of Aristocrats died at Road to Somerset.


Roberto Luongo of Aristocrats died at Road to Somerset.


`Plastic` Kim Yazzie of Riotous Assembly died at Scattered Hills.


Carl Johnson of Riotous Assembly died at Scattered Hills.


Darren Hutchinson of Comanche died at Lost Oasis.


Erika `Boss` Rollins of Lab Rats died at Gates of Gateway Truckstop.


Angela Kemble of The Flying Hellfish died at Road to Elmsfield.


Anthony Fischer of Division 5 died at Highway to Hell.


Ruth Ginsburg of Division 5 died at Highway to Hell.


Charles Whittaker of Division 5 died at Highway to Hell.


David Dobbs of The Thug Matrix died at Road to Elmsfield.


Paul Crownover of AADA:LA died at Gates of Gateway Truckstop.


Ivy Au of Vigilante Sun died at Gates of Somerset.


Benito `Benny the Jet` Santiago of SD Rollers died at Forever Yellow Skies.


David `Whispers` Carbajal of SD Rollers died at Forever Yellow Skies.


Elizabeth `Queenie` Pearson of Ricky Ranjits Raiders died at Forever Yellow Skies.


Kristen ``Scottie`` Goodale of Ricky Ranjits Raiders died at Forever Yellow Skies.


Leroy `Mario` Johnson of Ricky Ranjits Raiders died at Scattered Grounds.


Malia Voigt of Finjimatic Fury died at Under a Bloody Red Sky.


Benito Ratzlaff of Finjimatic Fury died at Under a Bloody Red Sky.


David `Full` Nelson of MainForcePatrol died at Highway to Hell.


`Sir` Alan Hillyer of Lattes Raiders died at Gates of Badlands Truckstop.


Emily Rouse of R.Inc. died at Interstate Mythos.


Charles Hope of Thuata De Dannan died at Road to Somerset.


Lionel Ferrara of Thuata De Dannan died at Road to Somerset.


Sean `Boulder` Holzer of Gearjammers died at Lost Oasis.


Bunny Blue of Mean Blue died at Lost Oasis.


Gordon Scott of AADA:LA died at Road to Gateway Truck Stop.


Bobby `Infection` Cutts of AADA:LA died at Road to Gateway Truck Stop.


Harriett Tubbs of AADA:LA died at Road to Gateway Truck Stop.


William `Jitters` Apodaca of SecretAgent Clan died at Highway to Hell.


William `Free Willie` Walker of SecretAgent Clan died at Highway to Hell.


`CAPT.` Kirk Thornton of We B Right died at Gates of Gateway Truckstop.


Peter `Best In` Miles of We B Right died at Gates of Gateway Truckstop.


Bonnie Teets of Drive Backwards BFFs died at Once Upon a Town.



Most Active Gangs

Our team have been out all month, tirelessly visiting every deathsport event and interviewing incoming caravans to figure out just who are the most busy gangs in Evan right now.

The most active gang on the deathsport circuit has been Karmagedon. Their most favoured type of event has been the race, although they have also competed in numerous deathrace events.

Out of town, the most busy squads have been:
1. Lattes Raiders, owned by Lattes Raiders.
2. SOMERSET TRADAH SLAYAHS, owned by KLINGON GIRL SCOUTS.
3. SSLongo2, owned by Longos Merry Men.
4. Lattes Raiders II, owned by Lattes Raiders.
5. Lattes Raiders III, owned by Lattes Raiders.

`Why do you have to go south?`

`Why do you have to go south?`

`We`ve been over this, Earl,` said Amy Banuelos. She pushed the magazine home in the gatling and snapped the inspection hatch closed. `We`ve got a responsibility. The pirates are swarming around Gateway. It`s a pinchpoint and they know it.`

`But why you? We`ve got a cushy life here. Roll across the dunes in the Viathan, Randy drops a few bombs on their head and I strip the rusty carcasses bare. We`re making a killing here. Why not just stay put?`

`Because there`s more to life than profit. The other gangs look up to us, follow our lead.` Amy popped the bonnet and rested it on a prop. She peered into the engine compartment. `We need to show that we can beat the pirates in Gateway, join Latte`s Raiders and Pestilence and Main Force Patrol, all those guys who are trying to make Evan a safer place.`

Earl snorted. `A safer place. Not possible, Amy. We`ve got the sun flaring up, and reports of those giant radioactive bugs...`

`So what should we do? Say that life sucks and just put up with it? Look around you, Earl. Somerset is dying, the life being squeezed out of it by these damned pirates. When was the last time you saw Jake selling anything other than a second-hand rifle looted from some deadbeat Enforcer?`

`Every time Norm or Don rolls in with a truckload of weapons from Badlands,` said Earl. `Look, Amy, I just don`t get it. Between trade runs to the truckstops and scouting for the dregs around here, we could be raking it in. We could live like kings.`

`You ever hear the phrase noblesse oblige?` The grease-spattered mechanic shook his head. `It`s an old saying, French I think. Means that those with power and money, those who people look up to, well, sometimes they have to step up, fight, do the right thing. Even if that means risking death.`

`And that`s what you`re doing?`

`I don`t like it any more than you do, Earl, but we`ve got to do something.`

`You`re serious about this?

Amy nodded.

Earl pushed her aside.

`Well, get out of the way and let a proper mechanic get this dustup into shape. You go pack your bags or something.`

* * * * *

The convoy rolled down the ruined highway at 50. It was a pleasure to drive fast, to hear the wheels grinding up the miles after the slow toil across the sand roads near Somerset. The Vedette took point. Not that it could take punishment, but it was low, quiet and could disappear into the hills like a snake in the grass.

Darrell followed in the Valois. She was surprised he`d volunteered, insisted even.

`We`re heading south to hunt wanted pirates, right?`

`Yeah.`

Darrell banged the roof of the car with one massive fist. `Well this baby`s got an HCR in it that`ll burst a head like a ripe melon at 100 metres. Couldn`t have better out there. And you need me in it.`

`What about Marcus?`

`Pretty boy?` Darrell`s tone left it clear what he thought of the thin, effete gunner. `He`s in love with that laser and unless you bring that with us, you ain`t getting him to Gateway. Besides, you need a real man down in the boonies.`

`I`m not sure`

`Look, just leave Randy and Earl in charge here. They know what they`re doing, and they make a good team.` A dumb team, but Randy`s uncanny ability to drop a mortar round squarely on the roof of an Antagonist doing 80 sure impressed the gang. `You said it yourself: Somerset`s safe right now. The problem is the parasites killing Gateway. You need me there, Amy.`

Amy had nodded, her decision made. She felt comforted having that bear of a man backing her up.

The Vivisector which damned fool thought naming every car they owned with a V was a good idea? brought up the rear, two new recruits. She hated risking them but the gang was spread so thin, with more than half of them travelling on errands, that she had no choice.

`We won`t let you down,` said the new mechanic - Natalie was her name. Amy could have sworn she was about to say `ma`am` but Natalie bit off her last words.

Her reflections were cut short as she caught sight of a dust cloud ahead. All considerations vanished as she focused on the now.

* * * * *

`This place never changes.`

Six months since she`d visited. Over a year since her first trip, a callow girl about to set off to cross the badlands with the wrong kit and tyres that would barely survive the run south. She`d forgotten how dusty Gateway was, the red-brown sand that spread everywhere, coating your clothes and filling your nostrils, clogging up engines and making every morsel of food rasp in your throat.

`It`s not so bad,` said Darrell, grabbing his kit out of the Valois. `I`ll get `er into the Bunker, then hit Mezcal`s. He grinned. `I hope Polska`s there.` He danced three steps on the sand, with the surprising lightness of foot common to many huge men. `Maybe, she`ll fancy a polka with me.` He guffawed, and Amy smiled at the plain good humour on his face.

* * * * *

Kenneth Larkin was a good four inches over six foot. Thin and lean, he`d hoped to get a good name at his initiation, once he`d earned his way into the gang. Something powerful. Something intimidating. Something, frankly, cool.

`Hey, Shortarse, what you gawping at?` Esky tossed him a beer.

`Someone`s driving up to the Bunker. Could be them.`

`You in such a hurry to get back out there. In that death carriage?`

`Better than sitting in a Phoenix reeking of that horse-piss you call cologne.`

`I don`t get any complaints,` said Esky, tipping his beer bottle and draining half of it.

`That`s cos all the girls you pick smell worse than you do.` Blonde hair, cut short. Mirrored shades.

`Agnes. Polska, my dear. That wounds. Shoots me straight to the heart.`

`I didn`t know you even had one.`

Esky`s retort was lost as the doors to Mezcal`s swung open. A voice boomed out.

`You missed me?` Darrell spread his arms as Polska leaped to her feet. He gave her a huge kiss, then held her tight.

`Right, who needs another beer?`

* * * * *

Amy ran through the plans in her head. She`d lead, of course. Darrell in the Valois with a new guy. Anthony, she thought. Shortarse in the hearse with his beloved mortars. I`ll put Natalie in there. Good car for a mech, she can stay out of trouble. Esky and Polska in the Victor with the last new guy. Adrian? Adam? Polska would complain she wasn`t with Darrell but she`d seen lovebirds in a fight before, and it was dangerous for everyone.

Should she join up with another gang? Form a squad with Ricky Ranjits Raiders perhaps, or Black Rock? She shook her head. No. She knew the strengths of her crew. Knew how to manage them. They`d go it alone.

* * * * *

Seven in the morning and it was already getting hot. The red-brown dust of Gateway gave way to orange-brown in the scattered hills on the edge of the badlands. The haze, halfway between mist and sandstorm, hung in the air, joining desert and sky into an indistinguishable canvas, a painting with no lines, no perspective, no nothing.

* * * * *

She picked them out, nine of them. They were sloppy, travelling in a line abreast, no pickets posted. Just over two to one odds. She made her decision.

* * * * *

to be continued



Evan Leagues

The current leaders of Evan`s major leagues are as follows:

Somerset Combat League - Riotous Assembly
Somerset Deathrace League - DeathFromAbove
Somerset Race League - The Paradise
Evan Race Ladder - The Flying Hellfish
Evan Deathrace Ladder - Canis Lupus
Evan Arena Combat Ladder - Canis Lupus

There is currently one minor league in progress also:

Northern Semi-Pro Combat League - Wasteland Extravaganza



Seth 'Woodbury' MacFarlane

The most skillful scout active in Evan today is Seth 'Woodbury' MacFarlane from Advanced Research Labs.

Current DW Gazette Editors: Sam, Hati, Racing Robbie, Bastille, Rezeak, SmokeyKilla.