Characters (Chapters 1 - 11)





Jaeger
Born December 27th, 1977 in Old Trap, North Carolina. Dropped out of high school at 16 to work with her father as an automobile mechanic until she earned her GED at 18 and joined the Navy. Became a Construction Electrician in the Seabees and did tours in Iraq and Afghanistan before being dishonorably discharged in 2005 after ten years of service. Arrested in 2007 for multiple counts of murder and sentenced to death by lethal injection in 2008. Diagnosed with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease) in 2009. Sentence reduced to life in prison without parole in exchange for participation in clinical trials at UCON’s Stem Cell Core laboratory in Storrs. Treatments began in January of 2010. Story begins April 15th, 2010.


Completed Expeditionary Combat Skills (ECS) training at the Naval Construction Battalion Center in Gulfport, Mississippi. ECS is a basic combat-skills course where the students spend time in a classroom environment learning map reading and land navigation, battlefield first aid, how to lay out defensive plans, how to conduct patrols, vehicle egress, and many other combat-related skills. Half of each course is spent at a rifle range where students learn basic rifle marksmanship and then qualify with the M16 service rifle. ECS students also learn fundamentals of the M9 service pistol and qualify. At the end of training, new Seabees are ready to perform with their new battalion. During their tenure with an NMCB, personnel may be assigned to a crew-served weapon, such as the MK 19 40 mm grenade launcher, the M2HB .50-caliber machine gun, or the M240 machine gun.




Frank
Frank Collins was born on May 13th, 1963 in Philadelphia. General handy-man with no college degree or meaningful employment prior to 2008 when he took a job at the 'Fort' as a maintenance man and groundskeeper. Bitten by his wife when she became a zombie during the initial Yellowstone ashfall. Like Jaeger, he changed and did not become a zombie himself. Unlike Jaeger, negative effects outweigh the positives. Stronger than average human strength and capable of bursts of high speed but suffers brain damage that renders him mute, only able to follow simple orders and unable to take care of himself. Rarely initiates actions. Seems slack-jawed and emotionless unless his daughter, Molly, is threatened. Heals slightly faster than human norm but not nearly as fast as Jaeger. Apparently feels no pain. Pale skin, black hair faded to nearly blond, and milky white eyes.







Molly
Molly Collins, daughter of Frank Collins, was born on November 19th, 1987 in New London, CT where she was raised until 2008 when her father took a job at the 'Fort'. Troubled childhood; drugs, alcohol, sex and gang violence. Dropped out of high school and worked as a stripper in Groton for awhile. Bright but undereducated. Low self esteem. Violent tendencies. Lesbian. Heavily tattooed, mostly high-quality gray-scale work that covers both arms and upper chest. Piercings. Dyes her hair platinum blond.








Mary Grimes
Born on April 5th, 1991 and raised in Mansfield, Connecticut. Had just started school at UCONN’s main campus in Willimantic and hoped to earn her degree in Computer Science. Not so much now. Parents last known location was Key West, Florida. Brother died on April 17th from infected bite. Moderate to advanced skills with computer systems.


Maliqe Idrizi
An illegal immigrant from Albania, Maliqe was affected by the falling ash and developed a weak healing factor as well as heightened spatial awareness and hand-eye coordination. Her daughter, Marley, was rescued from the Vale College upon Jaeger's arrival and has become close friends with Mary Grimes. Marley does not know that Maliqe was her mother, believing instead that the strong women was an Aunt. Before her death, Maliqe extracted a promise from Jaeger to watch over and protect Marley.


Travis and Sarah Lockwood
The Lockwoods own the Millhouse Hotel, which had become a safe haven for most of East Moodus's survivors after the apocalypse. Prior to the Yellowstone eruption, the Lockwoods were wealthy and influential members of the Moodus community, owning no small amount of real estate and holding high status in the town's politics. The pair tend to carry on as if nothing were wrong with the world, collecting other survivors along the way in an effort to support their previous lifestyle.


Mr. Green
A member of an unnamed government agency, Mr. Green was staying at the Millhouse Hotel when Yellowstone erupted. He has since taken over as lead security officer for the Hotel and Lockwood's part of town. Not very popular.


Dave Fargo
Owned Fargo Construction prior to Yellowstone's eruption. Was working outside of town building the area's new high school and was pulled off the job site by Travis Lockwood to repair damage in East Moodus after the first series of earthquakes. Practical man involved in each work project. High common sense but low initiative. Remained in East Moodus with Lockwood at the Millhouse Hotel in order to help the group continue to survive.


Henry, Kate and Hope Morris
The Morris family were rescued north of East Moodus by Maliqe and Jaeger. Henry is a disabled veteran (loss of both legs in Iraq), Kate is a housewife and Hope is their teenaged daughter. They have a bad history with Travis Lockwood, who nearly evicted them from a house they rented, and decided to stay with Maliqe and Jaeger. Henry is a decent shot and is teaching his daughter how to shoot. Hope has a bit of hero worship going on with Jaeger.


Silas
Silas Cooper was born on February 22nd, 1961 in Boston. He joined the Navy at 18 and became a Submarine Machinist Mate (non-nuclear). Retired as a Senior Chief (E-8) after 20 years of active duty. Remained in Groton, his last duty station, with his wife and daughter (who both died in the initial exposure to Yellowstone's ash fallout) and started an automotive customization and repair shop. Silas is the current leader of the 'Fort' survivors.


Olora
Olora Feng. Born on August 9th, 1986 in Mystic, CT., earned her Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Connecticut and took a job with Sprint as a Systems Engineer. She bought a condo at the 'Fort' prior to Yellowstone's eruption and was the group's initial leader until Silas appeared. Outspoken opponent against allowing Jaeger, Hank and any other 'non-humans' residency at the Fort. Generally seems cold and emotionless. Possibly suffers from Asperger syndrome.





King George
Leader of the Dead Cross

The Dead Cross Militia
A small group of militant survivalists with White Socialist leanings, the Dead Cross has steadily grown under the leadership of a man known only as King George. The initial group responded brutally and efficiently to the Yellowstone eruption and subsequent zombie apocalypse, having already established a fortified base of operations, plenty of stored food and no small amount of ordinance.

The core membership features several ex-military personnel while newer additions tend to be non-combatant survivors who sought safety and refuge with the well organized group.Their compound is somewhere east of The Fort and Jaeger's Woods.








Other Survivors
There's only so much food, water and essential supplies for the remaining survivors to share. Growing crops and raising animals beneath the dark and overcast skies of the volcanic winter is impossible while the constant threat of animal and human zombie attacks make scavenging extremely hazardous. Countless clusters of survivors as well as the lone Rambo-types are scattered across the area. Some are content to co-exist and wait out the winter. Others take what they can from smaller, weaker groups.