Chapter 25- Inadequate Strength part 3

[Zombiphobe]

I can't quite get behind the idea that Fort Irwin is completely overrun with zombies.

Helicopters make a lot of noise, which would draw in any and all zombies. Kalani mentioned that after coming in loud at LAX, they were swarmed and only 3 people escaped alive. If the uniformed individuals were in fact zombies, they would have come running. As it is, there's a long, nail-biting pause before we hear a single zombie approach the helicopter.

[IamPaul]

Ah, yeah. That'll happen. I didn't come in till around chapter 8 or 9. So I was able to listen to the whole first 8 chapters without pause. After that it was difficult waiting for each new episodes, harder to wait for each new chapter, and even harder still to wait for each new season to begin. You'll get used to it though. A great way to pass the time between is to listen to We're Not Dead. That or begin anew and start listening at the beginning all over again.

Getting back to 25-3 I am starting to think over this whole Michael-is-getting-over-stressed thing. It seemed trivial that he would forget he was the one who had Jambalaya, but when you look at how it was mentioned in two chapters (25-1 he states what he is eating, 25-2 he specifically asks who ate the jambalaya) it seems like it is a note worthy point. I've listened to chapter 25 three or four times now but forgot to take notice if Michael slept. Has he had much sleep at all lately? Remember in chapter 3 he crashed out for a full 24 hours? Maybe Mikey needs to recharge his batteries.

I think that he was just joking about the jambalaya. Michael is quite a jokester. Kicking people out, the crowbar.

[Zombiphobe]

Like Crowbar states, I take the tied down choppers as the base is / was controlled. A zombie panic would probably have them moved. But, if the initial zombie assault is repulsed valuable assests would be protected as per standard operating proceedures.

I agree with Crowbar and LaMarche. If zombies had gotten into the base, I imagine the helicopters would have been the first choice for an escape plan. I would expect some to be missing or grounded (like the Jolly Green Giant was). There would be more chaos left over after a zombie infiltration.

[DeeKay86]

Can't.take.it.anymore.

no.episode.today.

must.make.it.to.next.week.

*dies*

[HaveCrowBarWillTravel]

Getting back to 25-3 I am starting to think over this whole Michael-is-getting-over-stressed thing. It seemed trivial that he would forget he was the one who had Jambalaya, but when you look at how it was mentioned in two chapters (25-1 he states what he is eating, 25-2 he specifically asks who ate the jambalaya) it seems like it is a note worthy point. I've listened to chapter 25 three or four times now but forgot to take notice if Michael slept. Has he had much sleep at all lately? Remember in chapter 3 he crashed out for a full 24 hours? Maybe Mikey needs to recharge his batteries.

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When you look at or experience Combat Fatigue/1000 yard stare and all that, you start noticing things that Mike is going through. "Have you noticed this" may be a better place for these comments, but I'll go ahead anyway.
Back to noticing things Michael is doing, or not doing...
Short term memory will always take a hit when prolonged stress is introduced. Lack of sleep, feeling like you have to do everything, feeling responsible for a bunch of people who aren't trained for this stuff, Randy, the deaths in the tower (especially the guy he left locked up) are all going to add to his stress levels. So, forgetting he had the MRE and getting lost in the cornfield, letting the group disregard/over ride his security protocols are prime indications that he indeed needs a "recharge."
Micheal has basically been running nonstop since they got back from their little "trip" down south.
I'm sure there will be many other instances of "slippage" from Michael as the episodes unfurl, especially if Irwin is a bust.
We all know that Mike started journaling because he wanted to stay sane. It's probably the only thing holding him together right now.

[kidmuncher]

To Arthur LaMarche, about the skids...

You are totally right. For some reason I had the Bell in my mind when I thought of that. The CH-3E (Jolly Green Giant) variants do not have skids and a quick look at Wikipedia suggest that the Sea King did have retracting landing gear, With that said if you look at an image you can imagine a few places where one of "them" might grab a hold. This detail could even be resolved if Pegs happened to forget to raise the landing gear.

[Kc]

To Arthur LaMarche, about the skids...

You are totally right. For some reason I had the Bell in my mind when I thought of that. The CH-3E (Jolly Green Giant) variants do not have skids and a quick look at Wikipedia suggest that the Sea King did have retracting landing gear, With that said if you look at an image you can imagine a few places where one of "them" might grab a hold. This detail could even be resolved if Pegs happened to forget to raise the landing gear.

Just a devil's advocate. Would Pegs know how to retract them?

[Willy Beamen]

I am of the opinion that Cross is losing it...falling apart...coming undone. The pressure is getting to him; he has spent two season's bottleing everything up and now his world is coming unglued. Cross has become emotionaly unstable. I think we are going to see an erratic and unpredictable Cross in the future.
Examples;
1. feaking out about the Jumbaliya garbage, which was obviously his.
2. going all "black ops" right outa the helicopter in an empty field with great visability in all directions (I love the mental image of a stressed out Cross glaring at a field of nothing, sweat running down his face, finger twitching on the trigger, unresponsive to other people talking to him)
3. remaining sexualy clueless
4. mood swings (more than usual)
5. landing willy-nilly at the Fort despite sighting movement in the base (why not a fly by to check things out first)
6 slow reaction to the zombie attack at the base

I think Cross is going to make a grave mistake that is either going to get the group into some serious plop or cause his own demise/separation/expulsion from the group

[HaveCrowBarWillTravel]

Just a devil's advocate. Would Pegs know how to retract them?

Damn you KC!!
I'm going to say that "I" would assume that lowering and raising the gear would have been one of the first things about landing and take offs, that Kalani taught her...
Now there's this big old BUT, hanging in the ether.

[HaveCrowBarWillTravel]

I think that he was just joking about the jambalaya. Michael is quite a jokester. Kicking people out, the crowbar.

Um... did you just use my name in vain??? hahah
Anyway, Mike was deadly serious about the left over package. When you go to the field, one of the first things they teach you is how to dispose of your waste. It prevents the arrival of vectors and pests. That all leads to safety and hygiene.
You ever go camping and was told to elevate your gear... especially your food? Hang it high so animals can't get to it? Same thing applies here. The infected could possibly smell the leftover contents and stumble into the camp. They start popping off rounds and now you have more infected headed your way.