Chapter 30-Short Term Memory part 1

I am thinking we might get more from the recon mission in the next episode and something will go badly wrong. Michael said at the start of their part the it had to be pieced together from various accounts, and at this stage it doesn't seem like they would have to piece together yet. Especially as he said that this changed everything, my guess is that it has to do with the bitten solider getting on the chopper.
This is the first interaction where we get to see the outcome of humans vs little ones. Although it was a 'crush' rather then a bite, the filed nails may come into play. If the nails are able to transfer zombie in a similar way to bites and they take her back to the fort...

Awesome episode! I was waiting to hear the bored banter on that LP/OP on who they thought was more "bangable" but then the female Officer started in on the conversation and that explained away the PG talk from the dudes there (Nothing beats the kind of conversations you have in the field while you are sitting on 100% security and running on fumes).

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Originally Posted by Leedo2502

Nah that's the inside of the Chinook

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I dunno man...

Did anyone notice that Victor and Saul just inherited a satellite telephone? The RTO was the character called "Fowler". That's the same guy that was killed, whose bag our guys took. From here it could be as easy as hitting "re-dial" to get Michael on the line!

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Originally Posted by Cabbage Patch

Did anyone notice that Victor and Saul just inherited a satellite telephone? The RTO was the character called "Fowler". That's the same guy that was killed, whose bag our guys took. From here it could be as easy as hitting "re-dial" to get Michael on the line!

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Did not notice that, sir. Good catch.

Could it be that these "growing" zombies were children in-eutero when their mothers' were turned? COuld Pinstripes be numbering the ones born this way?

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Originally Posted by Osiris

I dunno man...

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I can't guarantee that the image is of the inside of a Chinook, it could just as easily be a Pelican/Jolly Green Giant. It isn't a C-130, the rear cargo ramp of the C-130 doesn't go all the way to the ground like a cargo helicopter's does, and requires supplemental ramps to reach the tarmac. The rollers in the WA cover image are for moving pallets on and off of the bird.

Attachment 1918Attachment 1919

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Originally Posted by opcn

So when the chopper first shows up Saul says that he lost it into the smog as it was flying out. Why is there smog in LA? Do the zombies like to get the cars idling on the freeway? LA has smog because of two factors, widespread irrigation raising the humidity, and millions of automobiles idling on the highways every single day. If the people disappeared then the smog would go with them, that first rain probably would have been it for the smog for good.

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On the We're Alive Facebook:

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We're Alive - The Zombie Story of Survival ‎Emerson LA is in a box that traps the both natural occurrence of smog and the artificial stuff. http://www.ehow.com/​list_7248055_...-angeles_.html --- Sadly, it may not ever go away.

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After looking at the Artwork it seems the soldiers might be masked up with SCBA apparatus. The soldier closest seems to be at alert with his weapon in firing position looking down the ramp. I wonder if the Chinook had to set down in "Ground Zero" and Ft Irwin sent a team to investigate.

Theory popped up on my third listen.
After the episode opens Saul says:

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Some old lifer once told me that after a few months you start to forget things…but after five…it’s been a long time since I wrote much of anything down. The tower fell around the beginning of August and now it’s December….now I’m playing a little catch up writing in this. I guess there wasn’t any good reason until now. But I’m gonna back up a little to November 27th.

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The soldiers report it to be December 1st.

What is UNTIL NOW? By the date given this could be as little four dates after November 27th, to 34 days. [December 1st, to December 31] Maybe he is reporting the incident to someone…maybe Fort Irwin? He got the patch from the body, so he would know that he came from Fort Irwin [it could be a fake to Saul but he’s a shoot first kind of person], the tape nametag would indicate that he is newer because in this instance they can’t get a nametape as fast as they would before.

has anyone tried to find that "street" Southbay on a map of Carson or Long Beach? I checked and couldn't find it. Though I will note that there are a TON of tank farms between Carson and LB. My guess is they were scouting out fuel locations.

I'd also wager that the Captain's three week classified mission was Pantex.

Maybe they got back to Ft Irwin and Ft. Irwin isn't taking any chances on the damaged squad leader. This, in my opinion, is the best ending to an episode so far in this series. It leaves Ft. Irwin, and Saul and Victor, both exposed. Although I have my suspicion that Saul, at the very least, made it to Ft. Irwin. I can't point to anything specifically but the seemingly short jump back to November 27, "when everything went crazy", points to the fact that he somehow got Michael on the newly acquired Satellite phone. If not the phone they got the bag from the recon team's comms person, Saul might be able to surmise how to meet up with Ft. Irwin personell.

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Originally Posted by trubkir

After looking at the Artwork it seems the soldiers might be masked up with SCBA apparatus. The soldier closest seems to be at alert with his weapon in firing position looking down the ramp. I wonder if the Chinook had to set down in "Ground Zero" and Ft Irwin sent a team to investigate.

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Nahh, that's just a ProMask, probably the M40.

I'm glad that KC didn't put Michael on the recon team and take the easy way out. I don't think Michael would go on any recon anyway cause that's Capt. Kirk crapola. He is better back at Ft. Irwin collating and analyzing the data and telling the recon teams where to go and maybe what to look for.

I did find it interesting that a Squad Leader that had spent 3 weeks in hostile country would get so slack with light discipline. Kimmet is going to have to have his DI's go over fieldcraft more thoroughly.

Late November is more than 3 months after the events following the fall of the tower, all of which except for Angel's death are known to have happened in the first days of August. Given Tanya as a starting point could there be an experimental anti-zombie vaccine by now, and could saving this wounded female Captain be what "changes everything".

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Originally Posted by Cabbage Patch

Late November is more than 3 months after the events following the fall of the tower, all of which except for Angel's death are known to have happened in the first days of August. Given Tanya as a starting point could there be an experimental anti-zombie vaccine by now, and could saving this wounded female Captain be what "changes everything".

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It is a "zombie" story so most people come up with worst case scenarios instead of looking at the brighter side of the outcome.

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Originally Posted by Cabbage Patch

I can't guarantee that the image is of the inside of a Chinook, it could just as easily be a Pelican/Jolly Green Giant. It isn't a C-130, the rear cargo ramp of the C-130 doesn't go all the way to the ground like a cargo helicopter's does, and requires supplemental ramps to reach the tarmac. The rollers in the WA cover image are for moving pallets on and off of the bird.

Attachment 1918Attachment 1919

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The CH-47 ramp is rounded on most models as well... Remember we are looking at an artistic rendering of an aircraft interior, sure it is detailed, but it is still a rendering. The Chapter art for this aircraft doesn't show the hydrolic arms that are on the C-130 also nor does it have the upper door thing (not the actual term) that is in the C-130 also the height of the ceiling of the Aircraft lends me to think that this is the CH-47. And finally since the chapter starts off with a CH-47 I'm going to make the small leap and say that this is indeed a Chinook.

Based on my experince riding in both C-130's and CH-47's if this picture was a photograph instead of an artistic representation I would say (after wondering why the soldier with his M-4 at the ready has a transparent weapon) that we are looking at a Chinook.

KC I eagerly await you to put this to rest LOL

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Originally Posted by awkwardalex

Theory popped up on my third listen.
After the episode opens Saul says:


The soldiers report it to be December 1st.

What is UNTIL NOW? By the date given this could be as little four dates after November 27th, to 34 days. [December 1st, to December 31] Maybe he is reporting the incident to someone…maybe Fort Irwin? He got the patch from the body, so he would know that he came from Fort Irwin [it could be a fake to Saul but he’s a shoot first kind of person], the tape nametag would indicate that he is newer because in this instance they can’t get a nametape as fast as they would before.

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I agree with you. As I said earlier, I also think the recon/chopper team have worse coming up, as Michael has to piece it together. With Saul also saying that something big coming up I am guessing it might be the same big thing.
My thoughts are that the rest of the season might build up to this December game changer, story lines merging back together and the end of season 3.

little ones got the blunt living but contagiouswith a desire to kill,human traits living growing working heart

Fine. It's the inside of a chinook.

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Originally Posted by Chris_is_frozen

You can also see a the body on the right is wrapped in plastic possibly so it won't spread

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I thought the body was the injured soldier (female) whose lower body was crushed by a zombie.

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Originally Posted by Kc

Fine. It's the inside of a chinook.

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See how easy it is?

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Originally Posted by Burnsville Kit

Could it be that these "growing" zombies were children in-eutero when their mothers' were turned? COuld Pinstripes be numbering the ones born this way?

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I keep wondering if there is a reproductive connection between the boheomoths and little ones.

• Big ones have stretchmarks-- rapid skin growth.
• Riley noted a simmilarity in behavoir between salivating dogs ready to breed and salivating zombies smelling human sweat pharamones.
• Zombies were described as having some sort of 'fun' or 'playing' with their victims before killing and eating them.
• The slimy goo could have been some sort of zombie afterbirth splooge left by the lil ones on top of the MRE boxes in 'There Might be Others.'

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Originally Posted by Witch_Doctor

The slimy goo could have been some sort of zombie afterbirth splooge left by the lil ones on top of the MRE boxes in 'There Might be Others.'

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Oh, god. That brings up terrible mental images!!!!

On Time Travel

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Originally Posted by nikvoodoo

So that was a healthy leap forward in the chronology wasn't it?

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Yes, Nick, it certainly was. I was a bit disappointed by the big jump in time, but it does make sense from a narrational perspective (and yes, I just coined a new word, Osiris, so put your grammarian referee whistle back in your pocket!). With the time jump, we get to now skip over a lot of the tedious revelatory material, such as:

• Vic/Saul/CJ long conversations about their past histories and what happened up until this point
• CJ getting the new guys acclimated to her resources at Dunbar and all the satellite farms / coops / safe houses
• Riley's inital training on how to be a soldier at Irwin
• Lots of boring missions of Vic/Saul running errands
• All the introductory crap with Datu and the gang over at Boulder

Of course, we also totally miss out on what is happening with Burt, who has probably been tortured 8 ways from Sunday by now... [and Kc, a perfect element to advance the plot at this point would be to have an episode where Burt manages to escape from the Mallers, eventually to stagger all the way back to rejoin Vic/Saul/CJ and give them crucial intel on the location of the Mallers and Lizzy. Write it up, dude... you can thank me later :cool:]

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Originally Posted by wh33t

I've been really hoping there will be some intensity in the next few chapters.

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Generally, the long period of time a story covers, the slower the pace, so it is good that Kc skips us ahead to the good bits. Do you really want 20 minutes of Michael summarizing all the new procedures and crap he has learned of since coming to Irwin?

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Originally Posted by Witch_Doctor

I thought the body was the injured soldier (female) whose lower body was crushed by a zombie.

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That is correct-

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Originally Posted by Kc

Fine. It's the inside of a chinook.

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LOL! Thanks a million, I wanted to avoid the whole helicopter talk we had (that I had a large hand in) when the Tower guys found the USCG bird.

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Originally Posted by Witch_Doctor

I keep wondering if there is a reproductive connection between the boheomoths and little ones.

• Big ones have stretchmarks-- rapid skin growth.
• Riley noted a simmilarity in behavoir between salivating dogs ready to breed and salivating zombies smelling human sweat pharamones.
• Zombies were described as having some sort of 'fun' or 'playing' with their victims before killing and eating them.
• The slimy goo could have been some sort of zombie afterbirth splooge left by the lil ones on top of the MRE boxes in 'There Might be Others.'

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Disgusting thought, hopefully KC doesn't go down that road. However nothing is out of the question until it is disproven.

I am of the midnset that Wh33t is. That is that the number 12 of this "little one"'s hand is possibly the 12th version.

I don't have much to back this up with; but with all this time passing I feel that the "little one"'s didn't grow so much as maybe Ink just made a 12th batch of playmates. If they had been growing than I would only assume that the nails would have grown also thus no longer sharp. (easily could be refiled I know) Along with the Tattoo's of the numbers should be stretched and somewhat faded if stretched.

Let me know what you think.

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Originally Posted by Bullethead

Disgusting thought, hopefully KC doesn't go down that road. However nothing is out of the question until it is disproven.

I am of the midnset that Wh33t is. That is that the number 12 of this "little one"'s hand is possibly the 12th version.

I don't have much to back this up with; but with all this time passing I feel that the "little one"'s didn't grow so much as maybe Ink just made a 12th batch of playmates. If they had been growing than I would only assume that the nails would have grown also thus no longer sharp. (easily could be refiled I know) Along with the Tattoo's of the numbers should be stretched and somewhat faded if stretched.

Let me know what you think.

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The number would be faded and stretched, yes. Making it hard for Victor to read....which it was, no? yes that would probably have to do with the dark, but could be due to the growing as well.

I like the idea of the iterations, but I dont think that's the case. I'm still of the opinion that the little ones are really some crazy creation by Ink and he just numbered them as he made them....and they're growing.

Also, since they're not so little anymore, I propose an acronym turned moniker: Little Ones became Not So Little Ones, becomes: NSLO. The NSLO's. (en-slows for vocal conversations). Just my mundane-not-adding-much-of-value 2-cents.

Great episode, but two weeks?! I sure hope part 2 is a long one! or maybe...release part 2 AND 3? :yay:

I am relistening to the episode now and I just wanted to touch on the thought some had about Saul using the new phone to contact Michael. Didn't he open up by saying something along the lines of 'I'm still looking for any sign of Michael and the others' then follow that with, 'let me go back to november just before it got crazy'?

This would tell me that he will not get ahold of Michael this chapter.

Hmm. I haven't heard it mentioned yet, and if it has been..i apologize.

But how about the fact that tayna found a way to slow/cure/ whatever the hell is going on with her..could not ink the "uber" zombie, have found a way to accelerate/mutate it?...at the hospital there was mention of needles/vials..at the time I think we wrote it up as steroids....but maybe..it was something else entirely

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Originally Posted by Bullethead

I am relistening to the episode now and I just wanted to touch on the thought some had about Saul using the new phone to contact Michael. Didn't he open up by saying something along the lines of 'I'm still looking for any sign of Michael and the others' then follow that with, 'let me go back to november just before it got crazy'?

This would tell me that he will not get ahold of Michael this chapter.

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Good catch! So we know that at the time of Saul's journal entry, some time in December, that he still hasn't had contact with Michael. The problem is that we don't know when in December that Saul made the journal entry. The incident with the recon team seems to have taken place on the evening of December 3/4.

It's possible that Saul is writing as early as the next day, and doesn't even know he has the Sat Phone yet. Or that he's talkied to the operator at Fort Irwin, but they aren't willing to trust him enough to give him details yet.

There are certainly plenty of scenarios under which Saul can never use the Sat Phone to contact Michael. It could be damaged. The number for Fort Irwin could be lost. The number for the phone could have been locked out of the system when it was reported lost. My favorite scenario has Saul dialing the right number, getting the operator, but when he can't give the counter-sign they hang up on him and never answer his calls again.

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Originally Posted by Cabbage Patch

Did anyone notice that Victor and Saul just inherited a satellite telephone? The RTO was the character called "Fowler". That's the same guy that was killed, whose bag our guys took. From here it could be as easy as hitting "re-dial" to get Michael on the line!

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I hope so. I really want to have Saul, Victor, and CJ meet up with the Ft. Irwin crew. I'm wondering if that is what Michael means by piecing the story together; he has a bit of what the troops are experiencing, and a bit of what Saul could tell him. Perhaps something "weird" is going to go down in regards to zombie actions that is going to be witnessed by both parties and they'll have to share their intel later.

With all this time that has passed, I'm wondering if Lizzy and Burt are dead. I can't imagine any reason Scratch would keep them around. Lizzy could get lucky and still be alive. If she is indeed pregnant, I'm sure the doctors there would have been able to confirm it. I get the feeling that Scratch wouldn't kill a pregnant lady (even though she just proved she has no qualms about shooting a defenseless "family" member just because he writes "F.U."). I don't imagine Burt survived much longer than Angel did. I really hope he is still alive, but I don't know why he would be. : (

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Originally Posted by 7oddisdead

Hmm. I haven't heard it mentioned yet, and if it has been..i apologize.

But how about the fact that tayna found a way to slow/cure/ whatever the hell is going on with her..could not ink the "uber" zombie, have found a way to accelerate/mutate it?...at the hospital there was mention of needles/vials..at the time I think we wrote it up as steroids....but maybe..it was something else entirely

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The needles and vials were part of the tattooing kit for the tattooing being done there, along with the clipping and filing of nails/claws. The hospital was a tattooing/pedicure spa for zombies. It's where Ink did his work.

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Originally Posted by Osiris

I laughed hard enough that my stitches hurt at the "Never Eat Shredded Wheat" line.

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I love compass and land navigation references!

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Originally Posted by Cabbage Patch

I concur on the artwork. It looks like the view down the tail ramp of a cargo aircraft, totally appropriate for a Chinook. That bright spot at the top of the picture could be from the flare.

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I absolutley loved the artwork. Maybe it made me nostalgic or something. Maybe's the Ghost Recon-playing talking, who know? But I like it.

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Originally Posted by Robzombie

The needles and vials were part of the tattooing kit for the tattooing being done there, along with the clipping and filing of nails/claws. The hospital was a tattooing/pedicure spa for zombies. It's where Ink did his work.

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you can't definitively say that. I don't believe we ever got confirmation one way or another..

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Originally Posted by Adventureless_Hero

With all this time that has passed, I'm wondering if Lizzy and Burt are dead. I can't imagine any reason Scratch would keep them around. Lizzy could get lucky and still be alive. If she is indeed pregnant, I'm sure the doctors there would have been able to confirm it. I get the feeling that Scratch wouldn't kill a pregnant lady (even though she just proved she has no qualms about shooting a defenseless "family" member just because he writes "F.U."). I don't imagine Burt survived much longer than Angel did. I really hope he is still alive, but I don't know why he would be. : (

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Yeah, the same thought crossed my mind, A.H. I can see Lizzy's out being pregnant, but realistically speaking, I can't see Burt hanging around--if he tells Scratch about Irwin, she says 'thanks' and shoots him in the face. If he says F.U., then Scratch says "No, fuck you!" and shoots him in the face. The only hope for him at this point is an improbable escape....

...but damn, I sure hope he lives, somehow. Kc couldn't be evil enough to do ANOTHER quick scene where all we see of Burt is him getting killed ala Angel. He couldn't do that to us.... he wouldn't do that to us... he shouldn't do that to us....


...oh, and Kc: just in case that was what you were planning, let me leave you with this little clip for your viewing pleasure....


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xs-hr...eature=related

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Originally Posted by Kc

Fine. It's the inside of a chinook.

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"the twin blade kind. chinook. military, right?"


(I like that quote)

Ok, there's a lot about this episode I liked. But the one thing that stuck out more than the others was Saul getting happy about finding NVGs and then bad mouthing them a few seconds later and gives them to Victor. I always liked playing with Night Vision Goggles until I absolutely needed them. At that point, it was better to go without them because the reason would be something so minor. Like at Ft. Irwin for a rotation or such.
Don't lose those nods, Victor. You might need them later.