Car Wars - The AADA Road Atlas and Survival Guide - Volume 7 - Mountain West

GURPS®Autoduer and

CAR INARS®

The AADA Road Atlas and Survival Guide

VOLUME SEVEN: MOUNTAIN WEST A Supplement for Car Wars® and GURPS AutoduefE> Written by Jeff George Edited by Melinda S. Spray Cover Art by Guy Burchak; Interior Art by Gary Washington and Charlie Wiedman Ken Trobaugh, Managing Editor Production, Maps and Graphics by M. E. Roome and Charlie Wiedman Page Design and Typography by Melinda S. Spray GURPS System Design by Steve Jackson; Car Wars Development by Charles Oines.

Playtosters: Brian Adams, Bruce Adams, Tim Bailey, Michael Barnes, Steve Beeman, Todd Fone, Craig Gaddis, Cannon A. George, Raben Gilson, Terri Glick, Ron Kesler, Scott Kester, Creede Lambard, Sharleen Lambard, Elk Leibold, Kevin Lyn~:h, Raben Rapploan, Mike Sample and Kirk Tate. Car Wars, Aulodwl, GURPS, tho all-seeing pyramid, and AADA are registered trademarks of Steve Jackson Games Incorporated. Copyright© 1989 by Stove Jackson Games Incorporated. All rights reserved. Printed in tho USA.

For a current GURPS errata sheet, and a free catalog of our products, send a legal-sized, self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Steve Jackson Games, P.O. Box 18957, Austin, Texas 78760 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

ISBN 1-55634-135-0

THE MOUNTAIN WE.Sr ••••••••••••••••••• 2 The Code of tile New West ....... ........... ........... 2 Map of tho Mountain West .•.......................•.•... 3

THE AADA ROAD ATLAS AND SURVIVAL GUIDE: THE MOUNTAIN WE.Sr •••.•••••••••• 4 Driving Customs ...................................... 4 Tho Police, Speed Limits and Traffic Laws ...........•..... 4 Weapon Laws, Weapon Courtesy, Road Conditions .......••.• 4 Colorado .. ..... ......••........... ...... ...... ..... 5 Boulder .................... .. .. ....... ...... ... . 6 Colorado Springs . • . . . . • . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . 7 Denver ......................... ...... ..... ..... . 8 Fon Collins/Greeley ............ .................... 10 Manitou Springs, Pueblo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Doserot Autonomous Region ..........................•.. 12 Grand Jun~:tion . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • 13 Idaho Falls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . 14 Logan ...... ... ....... .......... ......... ... ... 15 Pocatello . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Provo ............•............................. 16 Salt Lake City . . . . . . • . . • . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Idaho •..........................................• 19 Boise ...........••••......•... ........ ......•.. 19 Coeur d' Alone ....•..••••.••...................... 20 Montana ...................... ... ..... .. .......... 21 Billings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Butte ...... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Great Falls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Helena ..................... ... . ...... ......... ·. 24 Wyoming ........•................................. 25 Casper ... .. ..•................................. 26 Cheyenne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

AADA SPECIAL: VACATION AMERICA •••••• 28 Transportation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Commercial Transportation, Escons and Convoys . . . . . . . . . . . . Vacation Destinations ••••••••..••..•............. ..... Arches and Canyonlands Regional Parks . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . Grand Canyon Regional Park • • • • • . • • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rocky Mountain National Park . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yellowstone National Park .... ........... ......... ...

28 28 29 29 29 29 29

THE RISE OF DESERET •••••••••••••••••• 30 Tho History of Utah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Tho Doseret Secession • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 The O.urch ofJesus O.rist ofLatter-day Saints . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

STEVE

Tho Third Civil War ............. ............ ... .. .. 31 The General Authorities, The Law in Deseret .......... ... . .. 31 Tho Fall of Idaho . •. ...................... .... . .. .. 32 Tho Treaty of Denver ............................... 32 The Treaty ofDenver ....................•.•......•.. 32 Tho Doseret Autonomous Region •...••.................... 33 The Blight Years ................................... 33 The Vote ofConjidence ...•........•................. . 33 Local Government, Non-Mormons in Deseret ................ 34 Peacetime Expansion ................................ 35 The Deseret Patrol ..... .... .............. ........... 35 Doserot Today ....•.... . ... . .....•......... . . .... . ... 36 Deseret Patrolmnt ...... .......... ....... .. .. ... . .. . 36

BLUD ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 37 Tho History of BLUD ............ .................. . .. . 37

Tho Early Years of tho AADA •......................... 37 Tho Arona Safety Code (ASC) ....... ..... .......... ... . 37 BWD Organizalion, BLUD and tho Law .................. 37 Tho Candlestic:k Disaster .......... ................. .. 38 Tho AADA Clamps Down ................... .... . .. . . 38 BLUD Colors, Joining BLUD ........ .... .............. 38 BLUD Emerges ....... ... ........... .............. 39 Tho AADA Fights Bac:k ................ .. ............ 39 Hamilwn "HR" Burgess .•..•........................ 39 The End ofBLUD .•........•...•............. ..... . .. 40 Tho BLUD War ................................... 40 BLVD Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 BLUDToday ... ....... .... ..... .. .................. 41 En~:ountering BLUD .... .... . ...... ................. 41 The Typical BLUDie ..... .. . ....... .......... ...... . 41

CAMPAIGNING IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST ••• 42 Colorado .............•............................. 42 The Banditos •.•••••••••.••.•.............•....•.• 42 Doseret Autonomous Region, Idaho .................... . ... 43 The Powder River Gang .. . ..... ..... . ............ . ... 43 Montana, Wyoming ........ . . ...... .............••..•. 44 The Fann Guard .•••••..•.......................... 44

MINI-SCENARIOS ••••••••••••••••••••••• 45 Going to tho Sun • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .... . ... 45 Out of Sight, Out of Mine ............................... 46 Frontier Days ....................................... 46 Division 1 Duelling ................................... 48 Truckin' Taters ...................... .......... .. . ... 49

BLUD MONEY •••••••••••••••••••••••••• SO

~ACKSON

GAMES

TBE IIOUIITAIII WEST The Code of the New West Because of the vast uninhabited areas in the Mountain West, there is little or no effective law enforcement. In these areas, a standard of conduct, called the "Code of the New West," has evolved. Travellers in these areas, therefore, have some idea of what to expect in a road encounter. The overwhelming majority of duellists are familiar with and abide by the Code; only the most despicable outlaws, bikers and other breeds of criminal ignore it. In many areas, the slightest transgression of the Code is a capital offense. The victim's kin, neighbors, or any other good people have license to punish the offender. The Mountain West is a hard land, where people survive only by cooperation and trust; those who breach that trust cannot be tolerated. The points of the Code are: 1. Never aim your weapons at another person or vehicle, unless you intend to shoot. If someone points a gun at you, assume he intends to kill you. Shoot him first. 2. Never fire on an unarmed person, shoot a person in the back, or at a vehicle without warning. 3. Never ignore a call for aid or leave anyone - even a duelling opponent stranded in the wilderness without a mobile vehicle. Instead, offer him transport to the nearest town or city. (In many areas, this point is considered to discourage tire shots, which quickly immobilize a vehicle.) 4. Never issue a false call for aid or fire upon anyone - even a duelling opponent - who is coming to help you. S. Never approach a home or other remote building without radioing ahead or at least honking for attention. Anyone approaching a building silently will be presumed an attacker.

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Introduction

There is nowhere in 21st-century America more reminiscent of the Old West than the Mountain West states. Here, tough, fiercely individualistic men and women carve out an existence from rugged mountains, arid deserts and vast plains. Gunplay is common on the highways of the Mountain West, as honest citizens defend themselves against cycle gangs, outlaws and rival duellists. Rowdy miners work the tunnels and pits in search of rare minerals and metals, while dusty cowboys on off-road cycles drive cattle across the plains. The closest thing to law in these areas is the "Code of the New West," (see sidebar). However, the Mountain West is far from uncivilized or unsafe. Among the most secure areas in the country are Colorado's Federal Corridor, southern Idaho and the entirety of the Deseret Autonomous Region. Thousands of lawabiding citizens live here in peace and prosperity, safe from the violence of the western outlands.

The States The states of the Mountain West- Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, plus the Deseret Autonomous Region- are an amazingly diverse group. No two have quite the same sort of government, culture or economy. They range from Mormon homeland, Deseret, to anarchic Wyoming. Colorado and Idaho are divided into two distinct regions, one well-ordered and one chaotic. And Montana has fallen under the domination of Japanese mega-corporations, which face increasing terrorism by groups such as the Big Sky Liberation Army. The Mountain West states represent the best and the worst of the 21st century. Southern Idaho, with its rich potato crop, has enjoyed an economic prosperity since the Grain Blight that rivals standards set in the 20th century. The unique theocracy of Deseret has managed well through crisis after crisis, due to the solidarity and communal spirit of its predominantly Mormon constituency. Wyoming and Montana, on the other hand, watched their economy teeter on the edge of collapse. Bankruptcy became a statewide epidemic in Wyoming, while in Montana, Japanese concerns snapped up under-valued real estate and businesses. In Colorado, the government turned its attention and resources towards the problems of its large cities and wrote off small towns across most of the state as indefensible and inconsequential.

The Rockies The one feature that every state in the Mountain West has in common with its neighbors is the Rocky Mountains. The individual ranges that make up this mountain chain rise in Alaska, continue through Canada and the Mountain West, and end in New Mexico. Rising to altitudes of over 14,000 feet, the Rockies create the North American Continental Divide. Snowstorms can strike the higher elevations almost year-round. In winter months, most of the passes through the Rockies are blocked by tremendous snowfall. In this age of forgotten highway maintenance, the roads lie untouched until the snow melts in the spring. However, the Rockies are more than just the wotld's largest road hazard. They are also a place of unsurpassed natural beauty. No other part of the country boasts as many scenic mountains, canyons, rivers and highland lakes as the states of the Mountain West. As America becomes safer, tourists are once again traveling in huge numbers to this wonderful mountain haven.

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The AADA Road Atlas

TBI AIDA ROAD ATLAS AID SURVIV&Ir-IUIDI: TBE UNITED STATES MOUlT All WIST

Driving Customs

It is almost impossible to summarize driving conditions in the Mountain West. The variety of driving habits and customs mirrors the variety of people and circumstances in this section of North America. Road duels in Deseret and Colorado tend to be relatively civil affairs, usually ending in honorable surrender. Seldom is anyone killed in such a confrontation. In Wyoming and southern Idaho, where the Code of the New West is respected as law, vehicular weapons are considered a defense against cycle gangs, not toys. All keep in mind the Code of the West! In Montana and the Idaho panhandle, however, highway duels are rowdy, violent affairs, easily provoked and often quite destructive and fatal. Entries in this atlas describe the general duelling climate in each state; any city-specific conditions or regulations are listed in the city entries. Read this information carefully before driving through the Mountain West.

The Police Legal enforcement agencies also vary from state to state and city to city. In Wyoming, for example, there is effectively no state police force, but Deseret's highways are scrupulously patrolled by the honest and competent Deseret Patrol. Check the atlas entry on each area you will travel through for more complete information.

Speed Limits and Traffic Laws Outside of city limits, there are no legal speed limits in any of the Mountain West states. Recommended speeds are posted on many mountain highways, however, and the AADA strongly suggests observing these limits. Mountain roads can be extremely treacherous, especially in winter. State patrols in Deseret, Colorado and Idaho are authorized

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Hospital Airport AADA Office Bunkers and Fortifications

1he AADA Road Atlas

to issue citations for "exceeding a safe speed for current road conditions." The safe speed for a given road is usually about what is recommended on road signs, but police have been known to use this law to harass or detain unsavory motorists.

Weapon Laws In general, it is legal to own and openly carry firearms throughout the Mountain West. A few towns in the region require adult residents to carry weapons. Some cities have regulations against concealed firearms. Vehicular weaponry is legal in all states, though Deseret and Colorado require vehicular weapons permits. These permits cost $35, and may be obtained in advance, by writing the Deseret Patrol in Salt Lake City or the Colorado Highway Patrol in Denver, or in person at any state patrol office. Duellists stopped without a permit within 25 miles of the state border are usually issued a warning and directions to the nearest state patrol office, unless they have engaged in vehicular combat. Discharging unlicensed vehicular weapons in either state is a serious offense, and may result in a jail term of up to six months.

Weapon Courtesy Customs and etiquette vary from region to region, but the first rule of the Code of the New West applies throughout the Mountain West: Don't point a weapon at someone unless you intend to shoot; if someone takes aim at you, assume he intends to kill you, and shoot him first. To avoid offending Westerners, simply observe this rule and mind your own business.

Road Conditions Roads in the Mountain West range from excellent to nonexistent. Interstates through the region range from excellent to poor, though most are at least fair. The highways in Deseret and Colorado's Federal Corridor are the best maintained, all rating good or excellent. Wyoming's highways, on the other hand, have had little or no maintenance in over 30 years, and are in poor condition. Interstates in Idaho and Montana average a fair rating, though some sections drop to poor. State highways, farm-to-market roads, rural routes and mountain roads, are even more varied. The two-lane roads in Colorado's ski country are better-maintained than many

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of the state's larger highways, but mountain roads elsewhere are best left to off-road vehicles. Weather is also an extremely important factor when driving through the Rocky Mountains. Though the mountains are usually quite pleasant during the summer, with "shirt-sleeve" weather at least during daylight hours, nighttime temperatures are often 30° cooler than afternoon highs. Severe rain or snow storms can occur with little warning, even in summertime. The traditional "Christmas in August'' celebration at Yellowstone Park originated in the early 20th century, when the guests at the Old Faithful Inn were cut off by a heavy snowstorm! When traveling through the Mountain West, carry a detailed road map and listen closely to weather reports. Inquire of locals as to road conditions ahead. If you'll be driving through the higher elevations, carry snow chains year-round, or better yet, use an off-road vehicle equipped with snow tires. If you plan to visit a national or state park during the summer, be Sure to bring a shovel, a water bucket, and an axe or machete; the various park services require these tools due to the forest flre hazard.

Washington pumps over a quarter-billion dollars' worth of aid into Colorado, most of which is spent to maintain, improve and defend the Corridor. Both the Colorado State Patrol and the Colorado National Guard defend I-25, making it one of the safest non-toll roads in the country today.The Denver area serves as the center of the U.S. government in the western half of the nation. The Outlands include all of Colorado except the Federal Corridor, from the snow-capped Rockies along the Deseret border to the Great Plains along the Kansas and Nebraska borders. While the Corridor resembles the East or West Coast, the Colorado Outlands are classically Mountain West- wide open spaces dotted with small, independent towns. The typical Outlander is a tough, self-reliant farmer, rancher or miner, earning his living by the sweat of his brow, and defending his life against marauding cycle gangs. These pioneers scorn the soft lifestyle of city-folk who live in the Corridor. They prefer to live- and dieby the Code of the New West.

COLORADO AADA ADVISORY: According to state law, dropped weapons are prohibited on Colorado's highways. This Is espedally important to remember on Interstate 25, between Denver and Pueblo, which Is heavily patrolled. Undoubtedly the most familiar of the Rocky Mountain states, Colorado is also the most populous and, in many ways, the most important. Not only is the state popular with vacationers, but it has vital commercial and political aspects as well. Colorado can be divided into two distinct regions - the small but populous Federal Corridor, and the ''Outlands,'' the more sparsely-populated remainder of the state. As the most heavily-populated state in the Mountain West, Colorado felt the ravages of the food riots more violently than her neighbors. The state government had difficulty dealing with the escalating food shortage, and began to lose control. In 2016, when the civil unrest began to seriously threaten the operations of the U.S. government in Colorado, the President declared martial law throoghout the state for the second time since the turn of the century. (Martial law had been declared briefly in 2005, immediately after the fall of Grand Junction during the Deseret secession.) It remained in effect until after algae products brooght an end to the food riots. The government of Colorado was turned back over to the state in 2020, once the White House was confldent that the situation had stabilized. The Federal Corridor - which was known as the Front Range in the previous century - lies in the eastern foothills of the Rocky Mountains, on the edge of the great plains. It follows Interstate 25, beginning just north of Denver and extending southward to Pueblo, and derives its name from the incredible number of federal agencies, officCs and military installatioos in the area. As the industrial and governmental center of the Mountain West, about twothirds of Colorado's population - and one-third of the population of the Mountain West as a whole - live within the Corridor.

Government: Like the state itself, Colorado's government has two faces - one within the Corridor, and one outside it. Within the Corridor, the state government is strong and popular. Governor Walter Poncher, recently elected to his third term, has instituted a number of state programs providing for the welfare and security of the residents of the Corridor. Of course, all these programs are run on federal money. In the Outlands, however, the Colorado government is considered somewhat of a joke. Since the feds have little interest in what happens away from the Corridor and since the Outlanders lack the voting power to oust a governor popular within the Corridor, the state government offers little to the Outlands. When the Blight hit, farmers and ranchers were left on their own to contend with failing crops, starving stock and hungry mortgage companies. During the cycle-gang era, Outlanders received no protection from state police and military forces, all of whom had

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The AADA Road Atlas

been called in to defend the cities. Rare is the Outlander who bas anything nicer to say about the state government than, "Better off without 'em." Duelling Climate: Autoduelling is legal throughout Colorado and, like the government, there are two versions - one within the Corridor and one for the Outlands. Permits are required for vehicular weapons and the use of any dropped weapons is prohibited on Interstate highways (see Weapon Laws, p. 4). The government keeps a tight control on vehicular combat in the Corridor, therefore duels tend to be relatively honorable and legal, though not necessarily as squeaky-clean as Deseret confrontations. In the Outlands, though, anything you can get away with is fine. The permit requirement and dropped-weapon prohibition are usually enforced only when a lbcal sheriff needs an excuse to hold someone overnight. On Outlands highways, the only real law is the Code. Gang Activity: Regular patrols by the National Guard and State Patrol keep highway banditry by gangs or individuals virtually non-existent in the Corridor. Away from 1-25, however, outlaw cycle gangs are common. Travelers should exercise the same caution that they would in any other Rocky Mountain state: Travel in convoy when possible. If you must travel alone, go well-armed and travel only by day. A lone vehicle on a mountain road after sundown is easy prey for the outlaw gangs who cruise Colorado's highways.

BOULDER Population: 42,000 Description: This small city, 25 miles northwest of Denver, is a sterling example of the spirit of cooperation which bas arisen in many smaller communities during recent decades. That the population of Boulder should emerge from those years as united and intact as it bas is nothing short of amazing, considering the wide variety of opposing viewpoints and fringe philosophies that have found a haven in this university city. If you're looking for an alternate perspective, you'll find it here. Anarchists, Communists, survivalists, mercenaries, religious fanatics, environmentalists - even a few Southern Baptists - have made Boulder their home. Since the tum of the century, the citizens of Boulder have established a history of identifying problems and dealing with them together. When oil supplies began to diminish, Boulder constructed the first fully-electric masstransit system since the mid-1980s. When the grain blight erupted, Boulder quickly converted its parks and greenbelts into highly-efficient vegetable farms. Thus, Boulder managed to avoid the food riots which ravaged many nearby cities. Perhaps the most impressive example of the cooperation among Boulder's diverse citizenry is the Boulder Civilian Militia. The need for such an organization became apparent on March 15, 2014, when a large band of wellarmed bikers rolled into north Boulder along State Highway 119. The group, made up of several outlaw cycle gangs, including the Banditos, began to pillage the northem quarter of the city, killing hundreds of civilians before meeting any resistance. When the police were overwhelmed by the number and ferocity of the bikers, the

1he AADA Road Atlas

various radicals and reactionaries of Boulder appeared, armed with a variety of legal, quasi-legal and illegal weapons. The cycle gangs were routed. Boulder's defenders in the 2014 raid soon became the official Boulder Citizen's Militia. Today, the Militia maintains fortified checkpoints at the city limits on all major routes. Though no toll is required at these checkpoints, a city ordinance gives on-duty guards the right to tum away any non-resident the guard feels is potentially dangerous. All checkpoints are manned 24 hours a day, and are in constant radio contact with Militia Headquarters at 28th and Canyon. North Boulder was never reconstructed after the 2014 assault. Today, that section is sparsely populated by transients and dregs, who take shelter in the dark, burned-out buildings. Attractions: Two important annual events from the 1900s have recently been revived in Boulder - the summer Shakespeare Festival and the Cycle Concepts Bicycle Classic. The Shakespeare Festival is sponsored by the University of Colorado, and features professional actors as well as student thespians. When controversial movie star and rock singer Aqua Sueve (see The AADA Road Atlas and SurviWJl Guide: The West Coast) was cast as Rosalind in the 2038 production of As You Like It, the established theater community was shocked. After opening night, however, critics agreed that the androgynous teen idol turned in an inspired performance. The Cycle Concepts Bicycle Classic will be run in 2039, after a hiatus of over three decades. The route will begin in Grand Junction, Deseret, on July 24, and will fmish in Boulder on July 30. The race will cover over 400 miles of mountain road, passing through the popular fortressresorts of Aspen and Vail, and crossing the Rockies to Denver before concluding in Boulder. If you're in Boulder on the second Sunday of the month, you won't want to miss "Challenge Day," sponsored by the Citizen's Militia. Originally conceived to provide an outlet for the tension caused by Boulder's widely divergent social, political and philosophical organizations, Challenge Day is a friendly free-for-all open to all comers. It is hosted each month by a Boulder organization affiliated with the Militia. The host group determines the rules for the contests, with only two restrictions - they must be team events, and they must be non-lethal. Targeting laser autoduels and paint-pellet gunfights or showdowns are common, but a few Challenge Days have featured events such as log-rolling, pie-eating, even tricycle racing! Duelling Facilities: Boulder's only formal duelling facility is the Crossroads Autoduelling Arena, located at the comer of 28th Street (1-36) and Arapahoe. Closed during the off-season, it features a full schedule during the AADA season. Crossroads is most famous as the traditional site of the Colorado Cup; this unofficial Colorado state championship is the featured event on the last day of the regular AADA season- usually on or around September 10- and is broadcast throughout the Mountain West. Boulder's AADA headquarters is located on the Crossroads grounds, under the north grandstand. It is a small facility, but offers a full range of services to members. Several fully-equipped service stations are located around Boulder, although the nearest truckstop lies five miles south of town, towards Denver on 1-36.

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Other Facilities: The University of Colorado, the largest university in the Rockies, is also the largest employer in Boulder. Both local hospitals in this small city offer Gold Cross services. A well-armed ambulance service, staffed by paramedics trained in combat driving as well as first aid, can be reached on CB channel 9, or by dialling 911. Gang Activity: Ught within the city; heavy to the north of Boulder, and moderate in other directions. The largest and most obvious ''gang'' in the Boulder area is the White Demons Motorcycle Club. The Demons are popular with the Boulder citizenry, and frequently work with the Boulder Citizen's Militia to defend the city from gangs such as the Banditos. Though many Demons are difficult to distinguish from more typical bikers, all of them display the club's colors- three narrow black stripes on a white field - at all times. The Demons are also closely allied with the Paladins, the chivalric cycle society which roams the nation's highways. A Paladin clan can count on the Demons for hospitality. BLVD Presence: Like other fringe groups in Boulder, the BLUD chapter here is a relatively tame group. The group enjoys a refreshingly friendly rivalry with local AADA duellists, and often sets aside duelling association philosophy to cooperate with AADA members in the defense of the city, or even to come to the aid of an AADA vehicle under attack by cyclists. The featured event on the first Thursday of every month at the Crossroads Arena is an "AADA vs. the World" team duel, with the world invariably represented by local BLUDies.

COLORADO SPRINGS AADA ADVISORY: East of Interstate 25, Colorado is a dreg-infested ruin. The buildinp, onrepaired since the nuclear burst in 2012, are dangerously unstable. Caution should also be exercised on both sides of 1-25 when dealing with the inhabitants. While not well anned, they are desperate. Population: 6,000 (estimated). Description: Colorado Springs, once a thriving city popular with tourists, is the only nuclear ruin in the Rockies. During the brief Russo-American War, the city was struck by a 20-kiloton, air-detonated nuclear warhead, similar to the missile which destroyed Poughkeepsie, NY. The missile struck just east of Peterson AFB, near the intersection of Platte Avenue (U.S. 24) and Academy Boulevard (State Highway 83). The bomb levelled Peterson and most of eastern Colorado Springs, killing over 128,000 people. The area within a mile of ground zero is now a barren wasteland of broken concrete; all wood and other organic matter in this area was instantly consumed in the explosion. A mile further out, buildings were toppled and fire damage was extensive, though it is still possible to discern the streets and foundations of the buildings among the rubble. For another mile or so beyond this buildings were heavily damaged by the explosion and the resulting fires, though the burned-out skeletons of most structures remain standing. Immediately after the blast, the U.S. President declared Colorado Springs a ''nuclear disaster area,'' mandating immediate and permanent evacuation of the area, but making the refugees eligible ' for federal relocation aid. Colorado Springs became a nuclear ghost town. During the Blight years, however, many starving refugees made their way to the city in search of forgotten stores of food. While most of the people who came to the city eventually died of radiation sickness, a few have survived, particularly in the western neighborhoods. Today, an estimated 6,000 dregs are permanent residents of western Colorado Springs. These poor, desperate people normally avoid the more heavilytraveled routes, such as 1-25 through the city and U.S. 24 leading to Manitou Springs, but they have been known to attack vehicles and individuals away from these roads. Travelers are advised Spri~

Colorado Spr .lngs CO

not to leave these highways within Colorado Springs. Attractions: Before the War, Colorado Springs was

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The AADA Road Atlas

ooe of the most popular vacation cities in the country. It accessed several famous tourist attractions, including Pike's Peak, Cripple Creek, the Garden of the Gods, the Air Force Academy and NORAD, as well as three dozen museums and other exhibits within the city. Today, those museums are gone, but the attractions around Colorado Springs are visited by an ever-increasing number of tourists every summer. Most of these visitors base their vacation in Manitou Springs, which is bas become the fastest-growing resort town in the Rockies. See p. 11 for details on area attractions. There is, however, one tour which must be mentioned here: the Colorado Springs Nuclear Disaster Tour. Billed as "A Journey to Hell and Back Again," the Disaster Tour takes tourists on a bus or helicopter ride through the ravaged city. The four-hour bus tour, aboard the 60-foot long, heavily-armed Atomic Voyager, offers a unique view of a post-holocaust city. The Voyager first passes through the dreg-inhabited west city, allowing its passengers to see bow the scavenging denizens of modem Colorado Springs live. From time to time, the dregs have been known to attack the Voyager, though their homemade weapons are no match for the armorplas and lasers of the huge bus. Then the tour beads east, revealing the awesome destruction of a nuclear explosion. At its climax, the tour draws up to the "Zero Pole," a crude monument erected by long-dead refugees. The two-hour helicopter tour is able to fly directly over the Zero Pole, but cannot offer the same close-up view of the dregs' way of life. Facilities: None. Service stations, truck stops, hospitals, hotels and restaurants can be found in nearby Manitou Springs. Gang Activity: Heavy. The dregs of western Colorado Springs have banded into too many gangs to count, although the Disaster Tour claims to have identified at least 14 distinct groups with defined territories. The dreg gangs defer to the much better-armed outlaw cycle gangs which occasionally take refuge within the city, where they have little fear of pursuit. It is believed that several dreg gangs have allied themselves with certain cycle gangs, providing shelter and supplies when the bikers hide out in Colorado Springs in exchange for prestige and protection from other gangs. Despite the gang activity in the city, the dregs seldom interfere with passing vehicles on Interstate 25 and U.S. 24. Travelers are strongly advised not to stop on these routes within city limits, though. The dregs are constantly on the lookout for vulnerable targets. BLUD Presence: None.

DENVER AADA ADVISORY: BLUD is active in northern Denver. Vehicles displaying AADA colors are advised not to leave Interstate 25 between 1-70 and the town of Thornton. Surface streets in this area are regularly patrolled by BLUD duellists. AADA vehicles in the area will often be fired upon without warning. Population: 316,000 (426,000 with surrounding communities). Description: Despite the recent rise of Salt Lake City, Denver remains the economic, social and political center of the Mountain West. Denver serves as the headquarters of

The AADA Road Atlas

more federal agencies than any city except Washington, D.C.; and more of Denver's residents work for the U.S. government than any other employer, including the state government. Denver lost a significant portion of its population to riots and starvation during the Blight years. The impact of the Blight was doubly felt in Denver because of its food processing industry - especially grain and beef preparation. Unemployment during the Blight reached almost 70%. With the advent of food algae, however, Denver began to bounce back. Today, the city is the largest producer of food algae products between California and the Mississippi River. Denver is also the regional leader in high technology. Several major manufacturers in high tech industries Cycle Concepts, Excalibur Motors and Aerodrome Industries - are based or have manufacturing facilities in Denver. Nearly every national corporation uses the city as its distribution center for the Mountain West and Southwest, as well as parts of the Midwest and Free Oil States. Commercial convoys regularly enter and leave the city. Attractions: The U.S. Mint resumed operation in 2022, and offers regular tours. On display at the Mint is the largest cache of gold bullion in the country. (The cache at Fort Knox, Kentucky, was larger, but bas been gradually dispersed to various depositories in other states, due to secessionist sentiments running through Kentucky.) Denver's combat football team, the Broncos, play their home games at Mile High Stadium during the fall, and have been a city-wide obsession since their NFL days during the previous century. An insult to the Orange Crush, as fans call the team, is the easiest way to start a duel in and around Denver. Winter visitors are advised that the Annual Parade of Lights, traditionally held in December, bas been cancelled indeftnitely. Last year, the Banditos cycle gang claimed responsibility for "Santa's Surprise," a bombing which killed 15 people. In a note that began, "See, Colorado, reindeer really do know how to fly!'' the Anarchist Relief Front publicly announced that they would haw planted the bomb in the Santa Claus float, if they bad thought of it first. Duelling Facilities: Dueltrack events are especially popular in Denver, a city which bas long enjoyed auto and motorcycle racing. Both the Centennial Duel Track, in the southern Denver suburb of Littleton, and the Lakeside Speedway, at the Lakeside Amusement Park on the north edge of the city, offer a regular schedule of duel track events. More conventional duels are held at the Washington Park Arena throughout the year. Washington Park is a municipally-operated facility, opened in 2029 to provide jobs for Denver's unemployed. Challenge matches and small duels are held every Friday night during the spring and summer at Mile High Stadium, right up until the opening of the combat football season. Denver offers the most complete array of service stations, truck stops and vehicle and armament dealers in the Mountain West. The local AADA office serves as a Better Business Bureau to help visiting duellists ftnd the best and most reasonably priced service and equipment available. Other Facilities: Denver's Stapleton Aerodrome is the center of air transport in the Rocky Mountains, with regularly scheduled airships to and from Salt Lake City,

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keep the city relatively safe. Cycle gangs from Fort Collins and Greeley raid the northern suburbs of Commerce City, Arvada and north Denver. Denver's wealthy live in renovated historical neighborhoods near the heart of the city or in attractive new developments along the Federal Corridor, where gang activity is almost nil. BLUD Presence: Strong. Most of the BLUD duellists in the Denver area are from the poor northern sections of the city, and drive heavily-patched, early-model duelling vehicles. AADA members are advised not to take encounters with such vehicles lightly; many of Denver's BLUD drivers are highly skilled and very dangerous, despite the appearance of their vehicles. After all, a tOyear-old Piranha isn't much protection unless the driver knows what he's doing! After years of bloody conflict, relations between AADA and BLUD drivers are now governed by an unwritten pact between the two groups. According to this agreement, the AADA controls the roads south of Colfax Avenue, including Denver's downtown area and its better residential neighborhoods. BLUD has everything from Interstate 70

San Francisco, Seattle, New Tulsa, Arlington and Chicago. Lowry Air Force Base is a functioning military aerodrome. Denver is also the home of the United States Air Force Academy. When Colorado Springs was evacuated after the nuclear blast, the Air Force closed the Academy temporarily and stored the records at Lowry AFB in Denver. Eventually, they reopened the Academy on the grounds of the former Buckley Air National Guard Base. Approximately 1,000 cadets are currently in residence. Visitors can again thrill to the noontime parade of cadets. The grounds are open to the public during the daylight hours; a pamphlet outlining a self-guided tour is available at the main gate. Several hospitals and medical research facilities are located in Denver, many offering Gold Cross services. Denver also has two local television stations and four radio stations. The Blood Sports Entertainment satellite network is also headquartered here. Gang Activity: Moderate. Like most large cities, Denver's poorer sections have a certain amount of street gang activity. Well-funded and equipped Denver Police

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~ The AADA Road Atlas

north, including Arvada, Commerce City and Adams City. The area between 1-70 and Colfax is a neutral zone, where both groups may drive, though the streets in this area are occasionally the site of AADA-BLUD duels. Such conflicts are especially likely to erupt in the parking lot of Mile High Stadium, after AADA and BLUD drivers meet in exhibition duels in the arena. Though vehicles showing AADA colors are usually allowed to pass through north Denver along Interstate 25, AADA vehicles which leave the highway south of Thornton should expect trouble from BLUD duellists. In the neutral area, a confident but non-aggressive demeanor is usually enough to avoid conflict, though BLUD members looking for a duel have been known to follow AADA members for several blocks, hurling insults over the radio. When outgunned or crippled in a duel against Denver BLUD, head south. Only the most foolhardy BLUDie will pursue an AADA vehicle south of Colfax Avenue.

FORT COLLINS/GREELY AADA ADVISORY: The Fort Collins/Greeley area is largely populated by cycle gan~, criminals and other dangerous individuals. Local governments and law enforcement agencies are criminals themselves and should not be trusted. Avoid this area if possible; if you must pass through Greeley or Fort Collins, do It at the speed limit - and not above it - without stopping. Population: 24,000 (Fort Collins); 17,000 (Greeley). Description: The impact of the Deseret secession, Grain Blight, the Russo-American War and the cycle-gang era has been felt more keenly in the region including Fort Collins and Greeley than anywhere else in the Mountain West. In the late 1900s, the population of this region was well over 100,000; today, less than 50,000 people live in these lawless towns. Historically a conservative, religious region, Greeley saw a rapid growth among its Mormon community during the closing years of the 20th century. After the Deseret secession in 2004 and the fall of Grand Junction in 2005, the LOS populations of Fort Collins and Greeley emigrated across the Rockies almost en masse. In all, over 30,000 Mormons - nearly a quarter of the Fort Collins/Greeley population - left the area to relocate in and around Grand Junction, Deseret. Property values plummeted, wounding the local economy. The next blow came with the Grain Blight. Both towns had grown up on Colorado's Front Range as cattle and grain towns. Lacking Denver's strong government and technological industries, however, this area's economy ground to a complete halt when the Blight struck. Greeley, where unemployment quickly reached an incredible 87%, was the site of the first riot of the Blight era. When the local Unemployment Office closed its doors on July 19, 2012, angry mobs rolled through the streets, calling not for food, but for jobs. Stability in the area was further eroded in the fall of that year, when the federal government brought 40,000 refugees from the Colorado Springs disaster to relocation camps on the outskirts of Fort Collins. A government study had indicated that Fort Collins, with its low property values and readily-available property, would be an ideal location for the former residents of the bomt>ed city. In-

1he AADA Road Atlas

stead, the burden of 40,000 additional mouths to feed only hastened the escalation of the food problems. Between 2014 and 2016, when peacekeeping forces abandoned the Greeley area, 15,000 people died. By 2018, when algae products brought an end to the starvation, and National Guardsmen returned to the region, an estimated 36,000 people had died in Fort Collins and Greeley - almost 40% of the population. The cycle-gang era of the 2020s spelled the end of civilization in these cities. Still reeling from the first two blows, these cities were easy prey for roving bands of outlaw bikers. Although the Army, State Patrol and National Guard were able to tum back early raids, increasing gang activity to the south caused defense forces to be withdrawn from the area to protect the strategically vital cities of Denver and Pueblo. In 2023, the last State Patrol office in Fort Collins was closed; area residents were left on their own in the face of increasing gang activity. From 2023 to 2033, thousands of Fort Collins and Greeley residents were killed in cycle gang raids, and others left the area for the safer Federal Corridor or developing communities in Deseret. Today, these cities are dominated by cycle gangs, who make up about 30% of the area population. The city and county governments are a sadistic parody of democracy various cycle gangs have replaced the political parties, and elections often tum into small wars. The current mayor of both Fort Collins and Greeley is Tom "Great White" Whitney. Whitney, also the regional leader of the Banditos cycle gang, won a landslide victory in the 2035 elections. To assure this victory, Whitney's Bandito "election committee" stood guard over polling places, allowing only gang members into the voting booths. Attractions: None. It is doubtful that anyone could fmd anything about modem Fort Collins or Greeley attractive. Duelling Facilities: Owing to the violent nature of the residents of Fort Greeley, virtually any street or parking lot can become an autoduelling venue at any given moment. The closest thing the area has to regularly scheduled duel programs is found every Saturday afternoon at The Lot, the vast parking lot of the now-deserted Fossil Creek Square Mall, just west of 1-25 on the southern edge of Fort Collins. There, gang members gather to sit on their bikes and cars as their hotshots challenge one another. Spectator casualties are frequent at The Lot, and often precipitate bloody confrontations between gangs. A few charge stations remain in business in Fort Greeley, operated by gang locals. There are no commercial garages, vehicle or weapons dealerships, or full truck stops in the area, though; the traffic on I-25 provides a steady supply of new vehicles and equipment. Other Facilities: Greeley lacks hospitals, factories, economic centers or any of the other trappings of a healthy city. The few doctors in the area are generally unlicensed, the former defendants in malpractice or negligence suits. With their second-rate equipment and shaky credentials, they should be trusted with nothing more involved than stitches or a bullet-yanking, and that only if travel to Boulder or Cheyenne is impossible. Mayor Whitney is currently attr.mpting to put Fort Collins' one TV station back into operation. He has offered huge salaries to anyone experienced in the technical aspects of broadcasting. So far, none have accepted his offer.

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Gang Activity: Very heavy. The largest and most powerful gang in the area is the Banditos, which controls Greeley and Windsor, as well as parts of Fort Collins. The remainder of Fort Collins is divided between the Maniacs, the second largest gang in the region, and a branch of the War Dogs, currently allied with the Banditos. Tinmath is the turf of the Landsharks, but this group is under considerable pressure from the War Dogs to the west and the Banditos to the southeast. Kelim belongs to the Desperados, and the Happy Dragons hold Loveland. BLUD Presence: In the Fort Collins/Greeley area, BLUD is nothing more than a cycle gang in cars. They hold Severance as their turf, and are allied, at least for the present, with the War Dogs and the Banditos. The Severance BLUD are unconcerned with association loyalty, though, and are almost as likely to attack a visiting BLUD vehicle as they are to go after a car with AADA colors.

MANITOU SPRINGS Population: 5,100 Description: No Rocky Mountain vacation would be complete wi!hout a few days in Manitou Springs, the gateway to Pikes' Peak Country. The destruction of Colorado Springs has made Manitou Springs the fastest-growing resort town in the Mountain West. In fact, Manitou is one of the few towns in the region which is actually larger than it was before the Blight. Its location in the heart of Colorado's heavily patrolled Federal Corridor makes it one of the safest vacation spots in region, as well as one of the most popular. Attractions: From Manitou Springs, tourists can visit such natural wonders as Pike's Peak, the Garden of the Gods and the Cave of the Winds, as well as the man-made attractions of NORAD (see below). First-time visitors are often amazed that anyone has ever made it to the summit of Pike's Peak, but in fact, a winding toll road and a cog railroad both operate from May to October, and take visitors right to the top. If you are traveling by car, the steep, winding toll road is highly recommended, although forest rangers will require you to check all vehicular ammunition at the toll station at the foot of the mountain, where it will be kept safe until your return. Because of the fire hazard vehicles armed with lasers of any sort- including target: ing lasers- are not permitted on the Pike's Peak toll road. Tours of the North American Air Defence headquarters - NORAD - are available, although reservations must be made four weeks in advance, for security reasons. From its underground facility beneath Cheyenne Mountain, NORAD is ever-vigilant for incoming missiles or aircraft headed for the U.S. or Canada. It is ironic that NORAD's satellite defense system, which defended the country so well in the Russo-American War, failed to stop the warhead that struck nearby Colorado Springs. Well-armed, armored tour buses to all these attractions leave regularly from several points in Manitou Springs. Duelling Facilities: Vehicular oombat is illegal within the city limits of Manitou Springs and on the grounds of most of the attractions mentioned above. Manitou Springs does have several service stations, one full-service garage and an AADA office prominently located on U.S. 24 at the west edge of town. The nearest full-service truck stop is

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.; 4 the Security Charge and Restaurant, on I-25 south of Colorado Springs. Other Facilities: A resort town, Manitou Springs features 15 hotels and 23 restaurants, with prices to fit all budgets. The Manitou Mishap Mart has one armed ambunaught, and is staffed by a doctor and several nurses and paramedics. The Manitou Springs Police Department has several well-equipped cruisers, and strictly enforces the city's no-duelling ordinance. Gang Activity: Very light. Though Manitou Springs is a wealthy town, its police department regularly patrols the city limits, guaranteeing quick response to any gang attacks. Dregs from Colorado Springs have occasionally attempted to enter the town, but they have been turned back with a minimum amount of violence each time. BLUD Presence: None. The lack of duelling facilities in Manitou Springs, as well as the town's anti-duelling law, make Manitou Springs particularly disinteresting to this maverick society.

PUEBLO Population: 117,000. Description: Tagged "the Pittsburgh of the West" in the 1900s, Pueblo remains the most important metal-refming city west of the Mississippi. Iron, copper and a variety of other ores are brought to Pueblo from all across the state and refined into the steel and other metals for manufacturing plants in other cities. The proximity of metal-producing Pueblo is one of the reasons Denver has remained an important manufacturing city. The economic link between the two cities is one of the strongest reasons for the effort and expense put into the defense of the Federal Corridor. The people of Pueblo are largely hard-working, hardplaying blue-collar families. They enjoy rough sports, but have a strong sense of fair play. Pueblo has several duelling arenas, and is the smallest city in the country to boast a combat football team, the Pueblo Indians. The city is generally prosperous and peaceful today. While its population is nearly 20% greater than at the turn of the century, Pueblo has felt the events of recent decades just as much as any other city. The Pueblo food riots of 2015 were particularly vicious. As a result, the citizens of

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The AADA Road Atlas

Pueblo quickly armed themselves and learned, much to their own surprise, that an armed society is a polite society. A city ordinance was passed in 2019 making this adage law - today, it is illegal for any adult resident of the city not to own, carry and practice regularly with a handgun. Attractions: Pueblo is not much of tourist town, but it does make an excellent base of operations for a Rocky Mountain vacation due to its proximity to Pike's Peak, Royal Gorge and several other popular sites. Budgetminded tourists will fmd accommodations here much more reasonably priced than in resort towns such as Vail and Manitou Springs. Pueblo is the host city for the Colorado State Fair. Although the fair was suspended during the Blight years, it resumed in 2022, and is held during the last week of August and the first week of September. Duelling Facilities: Pueblo's rough-and-ready populace loves autoduelling almost as much as it loves combat football, largely due to the opportunity for amateur participation in the sport. Duelling is legal in most parts of the city; areas where it is prohibited are prominently marked. Duelling vehicles - mostly lightly-equipped models worth less than $10,000 - are common on the streets in and around Pueblo. Visiting duellists are advised that challenging a less-valuable vehicle to a duel will usually bring out enough native support to even the odds. Pueblo duels are usually honorable, closely following the Code of the New West. AADA and open duelling events are held year-round at the Colorado State Arena on the State Fairgrounds. Oneon-one "showdown" events are especially popular with

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Pueblo spectators. The Centennial Cup, a day-long roundrobin event open to the top AADA duellists registering a Colorado site as their home arena, is held at the end of the State Fair. The Centennial Cup is rapidly eclipsing Boulder's Colorado Cup as the most prestigious event in the state. Pueblo boasts a wide variety of duel support, including dozens of service stations and garages, six vehicle dealerships and Uncle Al's Rocky Mountain Headquarters. In general, Pueblo has the Mountain West's best prices on vehicles and equipment for Divisions S through 15. Other Facilities: Pueblo has one TV station, two radio stations and three hospitals - one offering Gold Cross facilities. The University of Southern Colorado has recently been re-opened. Pueblo Memorial Aerodrome is located just east of the city. Gang Activity: Light. Nomadic cycle gangs generally know better than to mess with Pueblo's well-armed residents, although homes, businesses and vehicles on the outskirts of town are not entirely immune to raids. Within the city, most duellists gravitate to one "car club" or another. Each of the city' s bars which caters to duellists sponsors a car club, which consists of that establishment's regular patrons. Rivalries between car clubs are basically friendly, and tensions are released in team matches at the fairgrounds arena every Saturday afternoon. BLUD Presence: Many of Pueblo's tougher car clubs call themselves BLUD chapters, though most of them honor the same code of conduct as the local AADA-affiliated and independent clubs. Members of the BLUD clubs seldom single out AADA clubs or vehicles to harass, however; they are just as likely to pick duels with independents or other BLUD groups. If a BLUD duellist decides he really wants to humiliate an AADA member, he won't just start a conflict on the streets. Instead, he'll provoke a challenge, then tell his opponent, "I'll see you on Saturday." Failure to appear at the fairgrounds that weekend for the duel is considered a sign of base cowardice by all Pueblo duellists.

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DESERET AUTONOMOUS REGION

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AADA Advisory: Because of the religious doctrine of the LDS Churdl, which etTectively rules Deseret, wholebody hwnan cloning Is illegal within the Deseret Autonomous Region. When entering a duel in Deseret, remember that death Is for keeps in the Region. Deseret (pronounced dez:-er-ette) is more peaceful, prosperous and safe than any of the Mountain West states, and possibly the rest of the country as well. This, coupled with the numerous interesting and enjoyable parks, monuments, museums and other attractions, makes the Region one of the most popular vacation destinations in the U.S. The reasons for this good fortune are many, but two of the state's unique characteristics have contributed more than any others. First, the Mormon spirit of communalism has kept the people of Deseret working together through the crises of the last three decades, see 1M Rise ofDeseret, p. 30.

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Second, as an autonomous region, Deseret enjoyed greater freedom to deal with its problems as it saw fit than did nearby states. For example, the Army of Deseret renamed the Deseret Patrol - remained under the control of the governor of Deseret, not the president of the United State. With these advantages, Deseret has weathered the storms of the 21st century remarkably well. Like their home Region, the people of Deseret have come through the troubled early years of this century amazingly unaffected. The first thing that impresses visitors about the people of Deseret is how nice they are. No matter how grim the situation, a Desereter is always ready with a kind word, a warm smile, a helping hand even for a stranger. If you break down on a Deseret highway, don't worry. No Desereter would leave a motorist stranded in the wilderness. Don't make the mistake of judging Deseret as a region full of victims waiting to be taken, though. Those who breach honor, good faith or politeness will see the friendliness and openness of the people of Deseret dry and wither like a flower on the desert. Those who transgress the law in Deseret can look forward to a speedy trial and a stem punishment. Govenunent: Under the Treaty of Denver, the Deseret Autonomous Region retained its bicameral democractic form that it carried over from statehood. A Governor heads the executive branch of government; there is a Senate as well as a House of Representatives; and the judicial branch is composed of numerous district courts, headed by a seven-judge Supreme Court. In practice, there is considerable influence exerted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. (see 1M Rise ofDeseret, p. 30) Also according to the Treaty, all lands within Deseret formerly owned by the federal government - except certain specified federal office complexes in major cities are now the property of the Regional government. This includes all former national parks, forests, and monuments, which are now administered by the Regional Forest Service, as well as all military installations, now bases of the Deseret Patrol. Since Deseret is a possession of the United States, rather than an independent nation, the federal government is responsible for such matters as foreign policy and coinage. (The Deseret Patrol does maintain an intelligence division, however, which occasionally engages in espionage and counter-espionage activities.) Deseret has one non-voting member in both houses of the U.S. Congress. In matters of internal government, however, Deseret is left strictly to itself, restricted only by the U.S. Constitution and the "recommendations" of the LDS Church. Duelling Climate: In Deseret, autoduelling is considered an important form of public and private defense as well as a sport. Desereters view practice - in the form of the highway duel - as one of the duties of a responsible citizen. Deseret duellists believe in non-lethal duelling, fair matches and honorable surrender. Strong laws against whole-body cloning in the Region no doubt contribute to the cautious nature of Deseret duels. One of the first rules a Deseret duellist is taught is never to duel out of anger - only in practice or in the defense of oneself or others. It is next to impossible to start a duel in Deseret through insults, no matter how vile. When you want a duel in Deseret, hail a likely opponent on the radio

and ask him, "Care to trade a few rounds?" If he agrees, you and he will establish the rules and boundaries of the duel before a shot is fired. If he declines, respect his reply, and don't push for a duel. If you insist on firing, you won't get a duel ... you'll get a fight. A fight on the Deseret highway is entirely different from a duel. A duel is a friendly practice session; a fight is self-defense. H there is anyone else within radio range when such a fight begins, he'll rush to the victim's aid. According to Deseret law, anyone who fires on a vehicle that has refused a duel is guilty of assault with a deadly weapon. /fhe survives the ensuing fight, he can expect to be prosecuted and incarcerated. Gang Adivity: Thanks to the efforts of the Deseret Patrol, the Region is one of the least gang-infested areas in the country. This is especially true in the heavily-populated and well-patrolled northern section of the Region, from Idaho Falls to Provo, where there has not been a significant gang raid since 2023. In the more sparsely-populated southern half of Deseret, a handful of cycle gangs eke out a nomadic existence, raiding small towns and struggling to stay one step ahead of the Patrol. The largest of these gangs, the Gadianton Robbers, originated in the mountains east of Salt Lake City, but has been driven south by the Patrol. When traveling anywhere in Deseret south of Provo, duellists are strongly advised to travel in convoy. Though there are fewer cycle gangs here than in the wilder areas of neighboring states, those that exist are usually hungry enough to take on any vehicle traveling alone.

GRAND -JUNCTION Population: 19,800. Description: In April, 2006, Grand Junction became the site of the only major battle of the Deseret secession. The Battle of Grand Junction lasted from April 17 to 24, when the U.S. forces withdrew from the city and retreated across the mountains to Denver. The Mormon population of Grand Junction still considers the battle their finest hour. A statue has been erected on the lawn of the City Hall honoring local hero Ephram Strunk, who gave his life to blow up a U.S. tank. Today, Grand Junction is incredibly lively for a Deseret town. The Strunk Memorial Auto Arena sponsors a full schedule of AADA and open events during the spring and summer. Televised autoduelling is also popular in Grand Junction; UBN's Live from the Armadillo autoduelling program remains the city's favorite TV show. In the fall, the Strunk Arena is the site of all the games in the EDACFL - the East Deseret Amateur Combat Football League. A significant minority of the population of Grand Junction are non-Mormons who feel Deseret stole its territories in western Colorado, and would like to see those territories returned. Two groups in the city are working to bring this about - the Western Counties Association and the Rocky Mountain Rebels. The WCA is a group of lobbyists active in Salt Lake City, Denver and Washington, D.C. The Rocky Mountain Rebels are an underground organization using vandalism and minor acts of terrorism to frustrate the pro-Deseret establishment in Grand Junction. They have burned several Mormon-owned businesses over

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1he AADA Road Atlas

the years, and regularly paint rude slogans and cartoons on the Strunk statue. Last year, an armed pickup marked "Rebel Yell" attacked the limousine carrying Deseret Governor Frank Hooper. The driver of the limousine was killed, but the governor suffered only minor injuries in the attack. AUractiom: There are so many rodeos, drag racing, cycle and autoduelling as well as balloon rallies in Grand Junction in the summertime that the Chamber of Commerce publishes a complete calendar (write them for a free copy). Open year-round in Grand Junction is the Museum of Eastern Deseret (formerly the Museum of Western Colorado), which offers exhibits and displays tracing the area's geological and cultural history. Rimrock Drive, through the nearby Eliah Petersen Regional Monument (formerly the Colorado National Monument), offers a beautiful variety of geological formations. The first leg of Cycle Concepts' Bicycle Classic (see Boultkr, p. 6), called the Tour of the Moon, takes contenders through these oddly eroded cliffs and ridges. Duelling Facilities: The citizens of Grand Junction are enthusiastic duellists and duelling fans. In fact, Grand Junction is the only city in Deseret in which duelling is legal within the city limits; it is prohibited only in residential areas and school zones. Grand Junction duellists especially enjoy the game "King of the Road" (seep. 40). Grand Junction has 13 charge stations, six garages and two auto dealerships. An Uncle Al's store supplies local duellists with weapons and ammo. The AADA office is located on the grounds of the Strunk Arena, and is open year-round. Travelers are advised that prices in service stations and garages on the Interstate run S to I 0% higher than those in town. Other Facilities: Grand Junction has a TV station, two radio stations, a hospital and a small aerodrome that receives weekly flights from Denver and Salt Lake City. Gang Activity: Moderate. Grand Junction is occasionally raided by cycle gangs based across the Colorado border. Due to provisions in the Treaty of Denver, the Deseret Patrol is unable to pursue these gangs into Colorado. Leading Grand Junction businessman Noah Sharp has personally offered a $10,000 reward for the apprehension of Jeb Cannon, leader of the notorious Dead Indians gang. This is in addition to the $5,000 reward offered by the Deseret Patrol. The Indians are believed to be based somewhere between Montrose and Gunnison. BLUD Presence: Moderate. Most of the BLUD drivers in the Grand Junction area- about 30% of the active duellists - are non-Mormons, while most of the AADA members are LOS. A strong rivalry exists between the two groups, and duels between them occasionally tum ugly. It is widely believed that most of the local BLUDies are members of the Rocky Mountain Rebels.

Today, Idaho Falls is a beautiful, peaceful city, with many lovely parks, schools and shopping centers. The people of Idaho Falls seem to have a knack for turning a tragedy into a blessing. When a large portion of the city was burned to the ground in a 2023 raid by a Wyoming cycle gang, the citizens of Idaho Falls converted the ravaged neighborhoods into a green area. The product of their efforts, the Sharlene Wells Municipal Park, is one of the largest municipal parks in the country. AUractiom: Though not as famous as other ski resorts, the Taylor Mountain and the Kelly Canyon Ski Areas, both just east of Idaho Falls, offer fme skiing in a secure environment. Taylor Mountain offers a shuttle service- in Grenadier armed taxis - from the luxurious Snake River Hotel in downtown Idaho Falls. The Kelly Canyon Lodge is a plush but well-fortified hostelry. Duelling Climate: There is little interest in amateur duelling in Idaho Falls; less than 20% of the vehicles in the city carry offensive weaponry. The city has several service stations and garages, but only one autoduelling weaponand-supply house. Idaho Falls has one autoduelling arena, Snake River Stadium, which offers Friday and Saturday night programs throughout the regular AADA season. The local AADA office is located downtown. Gang Activity: None. The 2023 raid was the last serious incursion into northern Deseret by a large cycle gang. Potato pirates occasionally pass through the city, trucking stolen vegetables from Idaho to Montana and Wyoming, but they seldom cause problems in Idaho Falls. The Deseret Patrol normally cooperates fully with the Idaho Farm Guard in apprehending such criminals. BLUD Presence: Minimal. The overwhelming majority of Idaho Falls' amateur duellists are card-carrying members of the AADA. Those that call themselves BLUD usually only do so in the company of their close friends.

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IDAHO FALLS Population: 37,650. Description: During the Deseret secession (see p. 30), the General Assembly of the LDS Church suggested that all members of the Church in Idaho relocate to the eastern third of the state. Most chose Idaho Falls as their new home, largely because of the significant Mormon population and the LOS temple in the city.

1he AADA Road Atlas

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u

Sunnyside Rd. Parkvlew

Hospital

Idaho Falls, DS

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POCATELLO Population: 40,600. Description: Like Idaho Falls, Pocatello became part of the Deseret Autonomous Region in 2008. While Idaho Falls has become a major spiritual center for Mormons in Idaho, Montana and northern Deseret, Pocatello is known primarily as a commercial city, serving as a !JlMicet place and shipping point for area agriculture. All of the potatoes, barley and beef grown in northern Deseret, and much of that grown in eastern Idaho, move through Pocatello. Just over half the residents of Pocatello are non-Mormons - a figure that keeps the Deseret regional government on its toes. With such a significant portion of the population of a major city potentially hostile to their theocracy, the legislature goes out of its way to keep Pocatello happy. In 2017, when food shortages forced Patrol-monitored rationing, the non-Mormons were carried on the LOS welfare rolls. Pocatello has come to enjoy its privileged status, and frequently makes demands on the Regional government for additional Patrol units, highway funds and municipal aid. Attractions: Visitors to the Pocatello area enjoy hiking, camping, fishing and hunting in the Caribou Regional Forest and the Pocatello Game Preserve. A replica of Old Fort Hall, a 19th-century Army post, is open from late spring until Labor Day. The Fort Hall Indian Reservation, home of the Shoshone and Bannock Indians, celebrates the Shoshone-Bannock Festival in August. The Festival includes intertribal pow-wows, a coming of age ceremony, a variety of traditional Indian games and the All-Indian Rodeo. Duelling Facilities: The Bannock County Fairgrounds Arena is an AADA-sanctioned facility that begins preseason duelling in March, and ends its season in late September. It is the home of the North Deseret 30, the Mountain West's most prestigious Division 30 event which is held early in the duelling season, usually in June. Pocatello has two dozen service stations, over a dozen garages and four truck stops. Most local service stations also offer gasohol at $24 per gallon. Pocatello has two AADA offices- one at the Arena, which deals primarily with pro-duelling administration in Idaho and northern Deseret, and one downtown, which caters to the amateur duellists and travelers. Other Facilities: Pocatello is a major medical center, serving patients from all over northern Deseret, Idaho, western Montana and Wyoming. Both the Bannock Regional Medical Center and the Pocatello Regional Medical Center offer limb- and organ-cloning facilities. Pocatello is also the home of Idaho State University. Pocatello has one television station, three radio stations and a small aerodrome. Gang Activity: Minimal. A few street-gang style groups have formed recently in city's high schools, composed of youths who bully Mormon teens. One group, the Cookie Monsters, has taken to spray-painting Mormonowned downtown businesses. These gangs seldom pose a threat to a well-equipped vacationer. BLUD Presence: Moderate. About 40% of the active duellists in the Pocatello area have BLUD insignia painted on their vehicles. BLUD and AADA duellists manage to coexist in Pocatello simply by ignoring one another.

AADA members in the area typically use CB channel 19, while BLUD sticks to 21. Each group has its own hangouts and garages; most businesses prominently display the logo of their regular clientele. By keeping to themselves, the two associations manage to avoid unnecessary confrontations that could lead to ugly conflicts. Treat a BLUD vehicle in Pocatello as you would a bear in nearby Yellowstone Park: don't bother it, and it won't bother you.

LOGAN Population: 21,420. Description: The small city of Logan is devoted almost entirely to higher education. Its largest employer is Brigham Young University, the crowningjewel in the LOS Church's educational system. BYU's student population23,000- exceeds Logan's permanent population, making this one of the youngest towns in the West. Logan had been the home of Utah State University since 1888 while BYU was originally established in Provo (see next entry). In 2018, as Deseret recovered from the Blightinduced food shortages, the Regional Board of Education consolidated Utah State and the University of Utah, moving all personnel and facilities to U of U's Salt Lake City campus. Three years later, in August, 2023, the Gadianton Robbers sacked BYU's Provo campus while it was between school sessions. BYU closed temporarily, abandoning the Provo campns as indefensible. The university reopened in the spring of 2024, having acquired Utah State's old Logan campus. Attractions: With over 20,000 university students to entertain, Logan is a hotbed of nightlife - Mormon style. The city features dozens of trendy restaurants, theaters and

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The AADA Road Atlas

clubs - none of which serve alcohol. During late May, August, and December, when the University is not in session, Logan tends to "roll up its streets" so that most of its citizens can take a few days off. Duelling Fadlides: Amateur duelling is a very popular activity in Logan, with students making up the overwhelming majority of the local duelling community. Intramural team duelling is popular among the students as well. Most duellists, both student and local, are AADA members; the University Arena is AADA-sanctioned, and features both professional and collegiate duelling throughout the season. The local AADA office is located under the east grandstand of the University Arena. Several garages and auto supply houses offer a full line of supplies and services for duelling enthusiasts. Other Fadlides: Logan has one hospital, three radio stations, and a public television station operated by BYU. Gang Activity: Minimal. Some of the more conservative locals complain of "student gangs," referring to intramural teams who occasionally celebrate their victories in the arena with minor street duels. Seldom is any serious property damage caused by these celebrations. More sinister gang activity, such as looting, pillaging and burning, hasn't been heard of in years. BLUD Presence: Minimal. One of BYU's intramural teams- made up of members of the University's combat football team - regularly registers as "BLUD." This team has a reputation as one of the most ruthlessly competitive, but its members hold no special enmity for AADA duellists.

PROVO Population: 64,050. Description: Located between the 11,000-foot Provo Peak and Utah Lake, the largest body of fresh water in Deseret, Provo is an important industrial city. Large quantities of steel and other industrial metals are refmed here for Deseret's factories. The people of Provo are honest, hardworking Mormons - model citizens of the Deseret Autonomous Region. As mentioned in Logan's entry, Provo was the home of Brigham Young University until 2023, when the campus was sacked during the Gadianton Robbers' raid. There was concern for awhile that the whole city might be vulnerable to cycle gang attack. Patrol presence in the city was doubled, and local Militiamen padded the ranks during their spare time. The Robbers attempted another raid, in the spring of 2024, but were easily turned back. Since that time, worries about Provo's vulnerability have dissipated. The destroyed campus of BYU remained forgotten for a number of years. A Japanese corporation, Tanaka, offered to buy the property in 2(1}.7, but the LOS Church rejected the offer. Recently, a group of non-Mormon investors from California has expressed an interest in the property, and is considering constructing an amusement park on the site. Attractions: Provo's beautiful streets and architecture, along with its safe highways and prime location, make it an ideal base for a vacation which includes mountain, lake and city activities. The Uinta Regional Forest offers hiking, camping and hunting, and nearby Sundance is a popular ski resort established over half a century ago by the famous

7he AADA Road Atlas

20th-century actor-director, Robert Redford. Utah Lake offers boating, fishing and swimming. The Provo Hydroduel Stadium, south of the city, offers a full day of boat duelling events on Utah Lake every Saturday from March to September. Licensed drivers can rent machinegun equipped craft and try their own hand at this exciting water sport. Duelling Facilities: In addition to the Hydroduel Stadium, Provo boasts its own AADA-sanctioned arena, the Pioneer AutoCombat Arena. Thursday night is Amateur Night at the Pioneer. Provo also has a complete array of duelling-support facilities, including service stations, garages, truck stops and gunnery shops. Other Facilities: Provo boasts a Mormon temple, the Deseret Pioneer Museum, the Utah Valley Medical Hospital, and the Deseret Regional Hospital for the Mentally Challenged. Gang Activity: None. The fme citizens of Provo would never tolerate such shenanigans. BLUD Presence: Minimal. The overwhelming majority of local duellists are AADA members; Provo's few BLUD duellists maintain a very low profile.

SALT LAKE CITY Population: 146,000 (329,000 with surrounding communities).

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Description: The capital of Deseret and the spiritual

center of the LDS Church, Salt Lake City is easily one of the most popular vacation destinations in the world. The rise of Deseret over recent years has also enhanced the city's importance as a commer~ial and industrial center, though it has yet to displace Denver as the heart of the Rockies. Salt Lake City is famous for its luxurious hotels and attractive shopping centers, as well as its incredible Mormon Tabernacle. In fact, the only flaw in the jewel of Deseret is Millcreek, the only fortress town ever constructed to keep a cycle gang not out, but in. On March 26, 2019, while the Deseret Patrol was spread out over the Region, keeping border communities safe from outlaw bands, the Rabid Shepherd clan of the War Dogs cycle gang roared into the eastern sections of Salt Lake City along Interstate 80. Area police attempted to turn the bikers back, but the huge gang - estimated at 400 vehicles and over 700 gang members - rolled over the defenses. Within two days, the Rabid Shepherds controlled half of Salt Lake City. Leader Kelley "Sic'em.. Hickum declared himself ''Lord Mayor of the Great Salt Lake City .. on March 28, setting himself up a temporary court in the Millcreek City Hall. The bikers spent the next three days looting, pillaging and burning eastern Salt Lake City. Meanwhile, Governor Wilford Woodruff recalled three brigades of the Patrol to combat the Rabid Shepherds. The Patrol forces rolled into Salt Lake City on the evening of March 30. The next morning, they deployed for the famous April Foots• Offensive- a two-month long battle pitting 700 bikers against almost 6,000 patrolmen. By midApril, the Patrol had herded the Rabid Shepherds into Millcreek. From then on, however, they made little progress. The Shepherds had dug in for an extended siege.

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By early May, it was apparent that it would be impossible to remove the bikers without extensive loss of life and property. On May lS, Governor Woodruff issued the order to accept the loss of Millcreek, and to improve the fortifications that had been built around the community. A continuous wall was erected around Millcreek; the town became a prison for the Rabid Shepherds, who remain there to this day. They receive regular supplies of food, clothing and other essential goods, but no one may enter or leave Millcreek. Recently. a humanitarian movement has sprung up to free the Shepherds. Supporters of the movement claim that the Rabid Shepherds have been held for 20 years without trial, in direct violation of the U.S. Constitution. The group claims to have negotiated with the Shepherds by

radio, and assures that they will tum themselves over to the Patrol immediately upon their release from Millcreek. Conservatives maintain that the Shepherds are too dangerous to be freed, and that by their actions, they have given up the right to trial. Still, it looks as though the fortress will soon be breached. Attractions: Located in downtown Salt Lake is the famous Temple Square area, which includes the Mormon Temple and Tabernacle, as well as a museum. Other attractions in town include the Hansen Planetarium and the Hogle Zoo. Trolley Square, a large shopping center in a converted trolley station, was destroyed in the Shepherds' raid, but is finally being restored. The Great Salt Lake, northwest of the city, is an awesome sight; bathers easily float on the waters, which are almost five times as salty as any ocean. The only macroscopic organism in the lake is the tiny brine shrimp, a free-swimming crustacean less than an inch in length. The mountains to the east of Salt Lake City offer excellent skiing conditions. Both Snowbird and Alta offer fme accomodations in fortified ski lodges. Duelling Facilities: Salt Lake City has two AADAsanctioned arenas - the famous Deseret Duelodrome, at the Regional Fairgrounds, and the newly-opened Seagull Stadium. The Deseret Regional Championships - not to be confused with the Deseret Mountain Circuit championships - are held each September at the Deulodrome, as part of the Regional Fair. Seagull Stadium is also the new home of the Salt Lake City Seagulls, a strong combat football team. Salt Lake City also offers an excellent array of service stations, garages, truck stops and weapon shops. The city has more vehicle dealerships than any other city in the Mountain West except Denver. Its two AADA offices are located downtown and at Seagull Stadium. Other Facilities: Salt Lake City has five hospitals, including the prestigious University of Utah Hospital Medical Center, a leader in cloned-organ and -limb transplant surgery. The city also has two television stations (one of which is a satellite network, owned by the LDS Church), four radio stations and an aerodrome. Fort Brigham Young, on the northeastern edge of Salt Lake City, is the headquarters of the Deseret Patrol. Gang Activity: Minimal. The only genuine threat is Wyoming gangs which may approach the city along 1-80. However, that road is now heavily patrolled by the Patrol. BLUD Presence: Moderate. Salt Lake City's BLUD are rather different from the stereotypical BLUD duellist. While most BLUD are from poorer neighborhoods, and drive old-model, badly-used cars, Salt Lake BLUD are among the best-equipped duellists in the city. They have rejected the AADA because of its Divisional system. Salt Lake BLUD - mostly upper-class youths - feel that a duellist is a fool to drive anything less than the best car he - or his father - can afford. The rest of Salt Lake's duelling community considers these young hot-shots a genuine danger. Their lack of respect for the authority of the AADA, and for the fairplay tradition of Deseret duelling, is a serious threat to the safety of Deseret's highways. Fortunately, BLUD duellists in the Salt Lake Area are seldom as good as their cars, and can usually be dealt with by a competent duellist in a considerably more modest vehicle.

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1he AADA Road Atlas

North Salt Lake

Deseret Dueldrome

•

Seagutte Stadium

South Salt Lake

West Valley City

Salt Lake City, DS

1he AADA Road Atlas

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IDAHO Before the turn of the century, Idaho's most famous and important industry was potato farming. Over a quarter of the nation's potato crop was grown on the irrigated farms of the productive Snake River Plain. Although the upper reaches of this important plain were lost to the Republic of Deseret in 2008, the potato crop of central Idaho remained one of the state's most important sources of revenue, until and especially after the Grain Blight. For this region, the Blight was as much a boon as a curse. The loss of grain crops across the country created a great demand for flour, alcohol, fuel and other products made from Idaho's rich potato crop. The cities of central and southern Idaho - as well as Idaho Falls and Pocatello, by then part of Deseret - were relatively free of food riots throughout the Blight Years. In comparison with the rest of the country, employment in Idaho remained high, and more than a few potato farmers became millionaires. All this prosperity was not without its price, however. Throughout the Blight years, there were frequent assaults on potato farms and on truck convoys carrying the valuable vegetables. Most of these attacks were by cycle gangs, who would transport their loot to starving cities in neighboring states, where potatoes sold for incredible black market prices. One gang - the Buccaneers, out of Oregon - was so active in this trade that it is now known almost exclusively as the Potato Pirates. To combat these raids, the Idaho state legislature levied a windfall profits tax on potatoes, plowing this revenue back into a branch of the state police that became the Farm Guard. The Farm Guard organized potato-laden semis into large convoys, which ·heavily-armed Guard cruisers escorted to market. This system, which is still in effect, appears to have been more efficient in protecting Idaho's commercial traffic than random patrols over all the state's highways. Idaho's northern panhandle, without the rich potato crop of the southern region, suffered somewhat more during the Blight years. Though the panhandle is dominated by the Rocky Mountains, the farms around Coeur d'Alene and Lewiston produced an important wheat crop prior to the blight, as well as barley and beef cattle. When the Blight hit, the wheat crop died in the field; the Idaho panhandle became known as the Dust Bowl of the Rockies. Though the Dust Bowl name remains, it is no longer accurate. Today, beef ranching in the area is as strong as ever, and a rich barley crop has taken the place of the vanished wheat. This new crop serves not only as a food source, but also as winter feed for the area's cattle. Govenunent: The state government remains strong in the southern half of the state, due largely to the presence and continued importance of the Farm Guard. Cities and towns in the panhandle, however, are generally on their own. The nature and disposition of northern Idaho's many small towns is as varied as in Wyoming. One town may be a conservative, religious farming community, surviving outside threats by turning the other cheek, while the next town up the highway may be a lawless ranch town or a corporate-administered mining community. Duelling Climate: Most of southern Idaho's communities frown upon duelling, though it is not illegal on

the open highway. Duellists should be cautioned, however, that gunplay within sight or radio range of a Farm Guard cruiser or convoy is likely to be interpreted as an attack and met with extreme prejudice. In the panhandle, however, duelling is quite common. All of the area's ranching concerns maintain fleets of wellarmed off-road pickups and cycles, and skilled 21st-century cowboys to operate them. These vehicles are used not only to control the herds, but also to defend them from rustlers. Range wars are frequent, and duellists with rough-terrain experience can usually fmd work in northern Idaho. Gang Activity: Because it has fared better in recent decades than most of the country, Idaho has seen little of the gang activity common in the Midwest or along the coasts. Idaho's cities have seldom been raided; criminal raids in the state have been almost invariably directed at the state's farms and herds. For the most part, Idaho's highways are relatively safe for anyone not trucking potatoes or herding cattle.

BOISE Population: 78,000 Description: As Idaho's capital and its largest city, Boise is the economic and political heart of this large agricultural state. Food processing factories, including potato-flour mills and processing plants, beet-sugar refineries, canning and freezing factories, and vodka distilleries, have kept unemployment in Boise relatively low throughout this century. In fact, life for the average Boise resident is little different than it was before the turn of the century. The fuel alcohol distilleries in Boise are the most productive in the country; a quarter of the nation's fuel alcohol is distilled here. Fuel alcohol is available throughout central Idaho for $17.50 a gallon -less than half the price in most . areas. Gasohol is only slightly more expensive. Meridian Motors, recently established in the town of Meridian, just west of Boise, plans to produce a full line of combustion-engine vehicles in the very near future. Boise's large and well-armed police force strictly enforces the city's no-duelling ordinance, but the cops have little trouble with the locals. Visitors caught duelling within the city limits generally receive the stiffest fmes and jail sentences possible, though. Sentences of $2,000-$5,000 and/or six months in jail are not uncommon. Attractions: The quiet, even boring character of this small city make it the butt of a variety of jokes throughout the Mountain West. One of the most common- "A great place to live, but I wouldn't want to visit there"- is really quite accurate, and even something of a compliment in these violent times. Boise is short on tourist attractions, but long on peaceful, friendly, well-adjusted people; many tourists visit the city simply to find out what life without excitement is like! Duelling Faclllties: Boise has several service stations, but most of them cater to the gasohol-powered vehicles the locals drive. A few charge stations and garages servicing electric vehicles can be found along Interstate 84. In addition to duelling, city regulations prohibit the sale of vehicular weapons and ammunition within the city limits. A small Uncle Al's store is located a mile outside of town,

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'Ihe AADA Road Atlas

next to a full-service truckstop, and carries most types of ammunition and a small supply of weapons and replacement parts. An AADA branch office- serving primarily as a travel information office - is located next to the Chamber of Commerce in downtown Boise. Though Boise residents have little interest in duelling themselves, at least some of the population enjoy a good arena duel. The Sawtooth AutoCombat Arena, two miles east of town on I-84, is a small AADA-sanctioned arena featuring five-event programs every Friday and Saturday night during the duelling season, and once a month in the off-season. Other Facilities: Boise has a television station, a university and a fairground. The regional service center of the IRS was relocated to Boise from Ogden, Deseret, during the Region's independence, and remains here today. Boise has two hospitals - St. Alphonsus Hospital, and a U.S. Veterans' Hospital and Soldiers' Home. St. Alphonsus is the only hospital in Idaho offering full Gold Cross services. Gang Activity: None. The city has not been raided since the early days of the Blight. Some potato piracy occurs near Boise, but the Farm Guard keeps these activities in check, and private travelers have little to fear. BLUD Presence: None. For most of Boise's residents, BLUD is nothing more than a fringe group that occasionally causes trouble in other, more violent states.

Boise, ID

COEUR D'ALENE Population: 17,000 Description: A small but busy mining and lumber city, Coeur d' Alene is also the access point for some of the best · g and recreation areas in the Mountain West. AI-

MDA Road Atlas

though tourism is a rapidly growing concern in the panhandle area, Coeur d'Alene thrives by supporting the many mining operations in the area. Panhandle mines produce large quantities of several valuable minerals, including copper, lead and especially silver. Also important to the panhandle economy is the lumber industry; much of Idaho's respectable timber harvest comes from this area. As might be expected in a town of miners, refmery workers and lumbermen, Coeur d'Alene is a rowdy, friendly town. The frequent brawls which erupt in area drinking establishments remain fairly civil; weapons in such confrontations are usually limited to fists, beer mugs and, occasionally, furniture. Most of the residents own hunting weapons, but few carry them. No act is counted more cowardly in Coeur d' Alene than to draw a gun in a fist fight. Coeur d'Alene was raided by one gang - the Grizzlies -during the cycle gang era. On August 8, 2023, "Bear" Bonners led his gang against a silver refinery on the edge of town. The raid, which was executed with surgical precision, was very successful. The Grizzlies were able to hit the refmery, gather all the silver bars they could carry, and disappear within 25 minutes- long before any significant resistance could be mustered. Deciding that Coeur d'Alene was an easy mark, Bonners ordered another refinery raid for the next night. This time, the residents were ready. Armed with their own hunting rifles, the refiners, miners and lumbermen allowed the gang to motor onto the refinery grounds unopposed ... then opened fire upon them at point-blank range. When the smoke cleared, all but two of the Grizzlies were dead. The refmery's defenders let the two survivors live long enough to lead them to the previous night's loot, then hung them as thieves and murderers. Though the residents of Coeur d'Alene are hesitant to talk of the Grizzly raid, they have never since been troubled by cycle gangs. Attractions: There are several fine deer, elk and bear hunting areas near Coeur d'Alene, and little or no radical environmentalist presence. The panhandle's three large lakes - the Priest, Pend Oreille and Coeur d'Alene- and dozens of smaller lakes provide excellent fishing and canoeing. The Grove of Ancient Cedars, a forest on the west side of Priest Lake, boasts many 150-foot-tall trees with 12-foot trunks. Cataldo Mission, overlooking I-90 east of town, is the oldest structure in Idaho. Also known as the Old Mission of the Sacred Heart, the building was begun in the 1840s by Indians under the direction of Catholic missionaries. The Sierra Mine, off I-90 near the Montana border, offers underground tours of a silver mine that is nearly two centuries old. The annual Miner-Lumberman combat football match, held every year on Labor Day, is an unorthodox donnybrook between the rival groups in Coeur d'Alene. Famous for high scores and unique plays, last year's game was featured on BSE. Duelling Facilities: Next to none. Area residents are more interested in manly pursuits such as hunting and brawling than in autoduelling. As a result, most local vehicles are weaponless jeeps and pickups. Hunting weapons and ammunition, however, are readily available, especially during the hunting season. Most of the area's armed vehicles are the off-road pickups and cycles owned

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by ranc~g concerns, and are not usually involved in highway duelling. Other Facllitles: Coeur d'Alene boasts two radio stations, one small hospital, a heliport, and several lodges and campgrounds. Gang Activity: None. Rivalry between mining and logging companies, and miners and loggers in general, is the closest Coeur d'Alene bas to gangs. BLUD Presence: None. Though BLUD's philosophy of competition is not incompatible with the outlook of most area residents, bow do you autoduel without vehicular

weaponry?

MONTANA AADA Advisory: Due to the degree of resentment towards Japanese in Montana, persons of any Oriental extraction or appearance are strongly discouraged from traveling In this state. Montana, a state so strongly associated with the American frontier, bas come to be owned almost entirely by foreign nationals. Primarily an agricultural state in the early years of this century, Montana was bit bard by the Grain Blight. After the tremendous expenditures necessitated by the Oil crisis, the Second Civil War and the Deseret secession, the federal government was in no position to bail out the farmers and ranchers who were the backbone of the state's economy. Throughout 2015 and 2016, bankrupt ranches and farms were repossessed at the alarming rate of 25 properties a day. However, the financial institutions who foreclosed on these farms bad neither the interest nor the expertise to manage them in good times, let alone during the Blight. Property values on Montana's plains plummeted as banks and mortgage companies frantically sought buyers for the farms lying fallow and the businesses that supported them. Eventually, they found buyers . . . in the boardrooms of Japan! Although property values were depressed all across America, Japanese corporations and businessmen decided to concentrate their purchases in Montana, in order to become the major landholders in the state. By the year 2020, over half of the land in Montana, including 78% of the farmland on Montana's eastern plains, was owned by Japanese concerns. Today, the Japanese have expanded those holdings to include over 60% of Montana in addition to farm and mining properties in Wyoming, Colorado, Idaho and the Dakotas. The next largest landholder in Montana - the federal government - owns just under 30% of the state's land, which leaves only about 10% in the bands of private U.S. citizens. As the major landholders in Montana, the Japanese have economic control over the state. "The Big Four"- Mitsui, Tanaka, American Nippon (AN) and Aso-Sbima - as well as about a dozen minor companies control Montana's farming, ranching, services and petroleum industries. Only . metal mining and logging, conducted in Rockies of the western parts of the state, remain under domestic control. Although the Japanese takeover restored economic stability and created jobs, the people of Montana still harbor an underlying resentment. The reasons behind the

resentment have to do with that fact that the Japanese control so much property and have no intention of releasing any of it to public ownership again. The Japanese executives who control Montana's corporations live in fabulous fortress-estates, guarded by their corporate armies. While aware of the resentment the average Montanan holds for them, the executives are more concerned with corporate espionage and the terrorist activities associated with it. Therefore, they rarely appear in public. When they must appear, they wear improved body armor and surround themselves with an ''honor guard.'' Government: Montana retains its executive, legislative and judicial branches of government. However, like Deseret, the government isn't the real power. Here in Montana, the government is the corporations. In 2019, the State Legislature voted almost unanimously to create the Corporate Advisory Committee, which is made up of 20 individuals. The five largest corporations The Big Four and the American-owned Phelps-Montana Mining - each appoint two representatives to tl\e council. The remaining seats belong to the next ten largest corporations, who each appoint a member. The Governor casts the deciding 21st vote in the case of a tie. Samuel Ackerman was elected governor of Montana in the state's last gubernatorial election. Soon after his election, the CAC moved to change the length of the governor's term from four years to life. Ackerman's unpopularity bas doubled every year since his election. Montanans have referred to him as "Akira-san" for so long that the press and the CAC members call him that openly. Duelling Climate: Duelling is tremendously popular in Montana, possibly due to the rowdy nature of the state's natives, and the immense frustration they feel in the grip of their Japanese economic overlords. There is little AADA duelling in the state, however. The very active Montana Duelling Association is a league of professional corporate duelling teams. MDA teams compete in bead-to-bead competition every Sunday from late April until August, when the top four teams enter post-season play to determine the state champion. The Montana teams are full of very talented and well-paid duellists - strong competitors in any team event. The taste of the Montana duellist and spectator for blood bas made the state a hotbed of BLUD activity. Most individual arena duels are openly held as BLUD events, and nearly all of Montana's active amateur duelling community consider themselves BLUDies. Gang Activity: Bandit cycle gangs are not so common in Montana as in lawless Wyoming, but the ones that do exist are larger and more effective than their counterparts to the south. This is due to necessity - Wyoming gangs face nothing more than small civil defense forces and autoduelling associations. The Montana bikers, on the other band, have bad to face or outsmart the well-equipped professionals of the Japanese corporate armies. Yet while the defenders in Montana are tougher, the profits from raiding are richer. Montana cycle gangs either get rich or dead very quickly - one often follows the other. Since the cycle gangs prey upon the corporations, rather than upon private citizens, there is a kind of Robin-Hood reverence for them. Civilians seldom put up any sort of resistance in a raid and have been known to bide gang members from corporate investigators.

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The AADA Road Atlas

Also worth mentioning here is the Big Sky Liberation Army, better known as the BSLA. This radical underground group is devoted to the toppling of the corporate government of Montana through violent means. The BSLA frequently makes assassination attempts against important corporate and government officials, destroys corporate facilities using bombs and arson, and disrupts intercity commerce by highway raid and ambush. Governor Akirasan was assassinated by the BSLA in 2034; the current governor is a clone. Though the BSLA tries not to harm the native Montanans, bystanders have occasionally been injured or killed by BSLA actions.

BILLINGS AADA ADVISORY: BLUD has a very strong presence in Billinp, and is extremely hostile to the AADA. Members, especially known professionals, are advised to keep a low profile In the area, and to avoid confrontation with BLUD members. Population: 43,500. Description: Billings is the industrial center for agricultural and petroleum production in south central Montana. Mitsui Corporation's largest petroleum refinery is located here, and several American Nippon (AN) plants process meat, barley and beet sugar in Billings. Between them, the two corporations effectively run the city. Each maintains a fortress compound in the city, which includes corporate headquarters, executive homes and indoor Japanese tea gardens. The Mitsui compound is located in the heart of the city, while the AN fortress is located in Billings Heights, east of Billings proper. Attractions: Both the Mitsui Maulers and the American Nippon Apaches autoduelling teams are based in Billings, and count Yellowstone River Stadium as their home arena. The Apaches are the reigning Montana state champions, and finished last season with an impressive 13-3 record. Southeast of Billings is the vast Crow Indian Reservation, which features the Custer Battlefield National Monument. A visitors' center - with maps, photos, dioramas and displays of artifacts from General George Custer's famous last stand against the Sioux and Cheyenne Indians

- is open during through the summer. Locals reenact the battle each July. Duelling Facilities: The MDA sponsors team events every Sunday afternoon, and offers a full schedule of individual competitions on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon. BLUD duellists consider the arena their own on these days. AADA duellists are not prohibited from entering events at the Stadium, but they can expect to be doubleor triple-teamed by BLUD entrants. The Yellowstone arena is not AADA sanctioned - spectators should be aware that the clear armorplas protecting the north bleachers does not meet AADA standards for strength or thickness. Billings boasts an unusually high number of service stations and garages for a town of its size. Several truck stops are located along 1-90. The AADA bas attempted on two occasions to open a branch office in Billings, but both locations were heavily vandalized by BLUD members. AADA members should be advised that they are on their own in this city. Other Facilities: Billings bas three hospitals - two corporate and one public. Only the Mitsui and AN hospitals offer Gold Cross. The city also boasts two radio/television stations, one Mitsui and one AN. Two colleges are located in Billings. Gang Activity: The Innocents, a cycle gang named for a 19th-<:entury outlaw band, is based somewhere on the Crow reservation, although the precise location of their base or bases is unknown. The Innocents have been especially successful at hijacking the well-protected Mitsui petroleum trucks on 1-90. They have never been known to harass private citizens on the Interstate or the reservation, though. The BSLA claimed responsibility for a fire which leveled an American Nippon warehouse block last year, but bas not been active in the area since. BLUD Presence: Virtually all of Billing's active autoduellists call themselves BLUD drivers, and have a keen sense of rivalry with the AADA. They will go out of their way to provoke a duel with a known AADA duellist. The AADA regrets to advise its members to remove or cover any AADA insignia or colors on their vehicles before entering the Billings area.

BUTTE

Billings , WY 71le AADA Road Atlas

Population: 26,000. Description: Dubbed the ''richest bill on earth,' • Butte bas been a prospering mining town for almost two centuries. Almost 30% of the copper and zinc mined in the United States comes from mines in and around Butte. The Japanese conglomerates have bad little success in penetrating Butte's property or economy. Phelps-Montana, the largest employer in city, is considered by most Butte residents to be their knight-in-shining-armor, defending them against the evil economic assault of the Japanese. The people of Butte are almost fanatically loyal to Phelps, which they call simply The Company. In fact, Phelps is the only major corporation in Montana which can count on its civilian employees to aid its corporate army in defending company holdings against raiders. Not surprisingly, Phelps is very low-keyed about their cooperation with The Big Four. Despite the fact that Butte is a mining town, its people

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bear little resemblance to the rowdy, open miners of Coeur d'Alene or similar towns. Instead, they are dedicated, hard-working, even serious; they see their town as the last American fortress in an economic war with Japan, and they are determined not to lose their struggle. Attractions: H you want to find out about mining, past, present or future, Butte is the place to go. Visitors can visit the Berkley open pit mines, vast man-made craters which were begun in the 1900s. The Kelley Mines offer tours of a copper smelting operation, and the exhibits at the Museum of Mining show the development of the industry, from its beginnings in the 1800s. Perhaps the most awe-inspiring attraction, however, is the Phelps Mine Tour, which takes visitors on a two-hour, three-mile underground trek through the mine shafts and tunnels which honeycomb the hill beneath the city. Duelling Facilities: The Phelps-Montana Miners, the Company's very popular autoduel team, call Butte's Copper Mountain Arena home. On Saturday evenings, Copper Mountain presents a program of five to seven individual events. Although the arena does not declare them BLUD events, many of the entrants list BLUD as their club affiliation. The management at Copper Mountain does not appear interested in AADA sanction, although the arena does appear to meet Association standards for duellist and spectator safety. An AADA travel office is scheduled to open in the spring of next year in Butte, to assist members traveling through the area. Because of the BLUD presence in the area, the office will not be authorized to arrange, intervene in, or otherwise become involved in duels or matters pertaining to them. Butte has an adequate array of service stations and weapons dealers, and one vehicle dealership, though prices run 10-25% above what you might expect to pay in a larger city or on the coasts. Other Facilities: Butte has one radio station, a microwave relay station for TV and one college - the Montana College of Mineral Science and Technology. Its only hospital is operated by Phelps, but is open to nonemployees, for an additional 10% surcharge. Gold Cross facilities are available. Gang Activity: Light. In 2027, the Slavering Sioux Braves, a new and hungry cycle gang, attacked a PhelpsMontana truck convoy heading out of Butte. Though the raid was successful, the people of Butte - including nonPhelps employees - were outraged by this assault on "their" corporation. They formed a 350-person posse to assist the Company's army in tracking down the cyclists. After a devastating firefight, the Sioux Braves fled across the Deseret panhandle and into Idaho, where the last of them were fmally killed by the Farm Guard in 2032. Needless to say, Butte has had little trouble with cycle gangs since. The BSLA similarly avoids harassing PhelpsMontana. BLVD Presence: Though Butte BLUD are not as hostile or as numerous as their counterparts in Billings, AADA members should be cautious when traveling through the area. Butte-area BLUD do not pick duels lightly, but they ask no quarter, and offer none. It is often a good idea to cover AADA insignia in the Butte area; it doesn't fool the local BLUD duellists, but it does indicate that you'd rather pass peacefully than fight.

GREAT FALLS Population: 46,200. Description: Great Falls is the center of the Tanaka Corporation holdings in Montana. Though Tanaka food processing plants are the largest single employer in the city, Aso-Shima and Mitsui also own factories here. Unlike most of the other Japanese corporations in Montana, which have Japanese personnel in only top executive positions, most of Tanaka's middle managers are also Japanese nationals. As a result, Great Falls has the largest Japanese population of any Montana city. They have created New Kyoto, a walled neighborhood in downtown Great Falls. Within the walls, the architecture and landscape are purely traditional Japanese - wooden buildings surrounded by carefully manicured gardens, quiet walkways among large and peaceful koi pools, stone Buddhas beneath trained-hedge canopies. The Shinto shrine at New Kyoto is the largest in Montana, and is open to all Japanese, regardless of their employer. The restaurants in New Kyoto serve traditional Japanese cuisine, modified only slightly to use the fish and other foods available locally. The corporate headquarters for Tanaka are also located within New Kyoto. Attractions: Giant Springs, near the Missouri River on the northeast edge of town, is one of the largest natural springs in the country. Discovered by Lewis and Clark in 1805, it discharges an incredible 270,000 gallons of water per minute. The Great Falls of the Missouri - from which the city draws its name - lie only a few miles downstream. The Montana State Fair and Rodeo is held every August at the fairgrounds in Great Falls. The Fairgrounds Duelodrome is the site of the Montana Challenge, the most prestigious individual event in Montana Duelling.

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'!he AADA Road Atlas

DuelUng Facilities: The Warden Park Arena is the home stadium of Tanaka's Road Wranglers autoduelling team. During the MDA season, the Wranglers duel at home twice a month. On the weekends when the Wranglers are out of town, individual events are held at the Fairgrounds Duelodrome. Known for its daring ramp-andbmnel layout, the Fairgrounds arena has been the end of several duellists' careers. Great Falls has several service stations and garages, most of which deal with the general public (a few are open only to Tanaka employees). The independent garages tend to be rather anti-AADA, though, so expect to pay high prices for unenthusiastic work. AADA members should avoid having repair work done in Great Falls if possible. There is no AADA branch in Great Falls. Other Fadlities: Great Falls has two hospitals Tanaka-Columbus, which treats only Tanaka employees, and County Hospital, which is open to the public. Both offer Gold Cross. The Great Falls Aerodrome calls itself "International" because one airship a week flies the round trip to Calgary, Alberta. Tanaka operates the only television station. Gang Activity: Tanaka's private army recently dispersed the Bloodwolves cycle gang. However, another group, the Range Riders, moved into Great Falls from Havre to fill the gap. Since their arrival in the area, the Range Riders have made several small but successful raids on nearby Tanaka farms. Rumor has it that the Riders may be a branch of the BSLA working with locals for a major strike against Tanaka in the near future. BLUD Presence: About half of Great Fall's local duellists have stencilled the BLUD logo on the side of their vehicles, but AADA members should be cautious whenever approaching an unidentified vehicle in the Great Falls area. Like Butte-area BLUD, Great Falls BLUDies probably won't go out of their way to provoke a duel with

MT Giant Springs

1he AADA Road Atlas

a stranger, but they will react swiftly to any perceived insult or threat. AADA members are advised to be especially cautious during the month of August, when BLUD duellists from all over the state gather in Great Falls for the Montana Challenge. Helena's AADA duellists avoid this event, realizing the danger of appearing in such a crowd.

HELENA Population: 15,800. Description: The capital of Montana is also a commercial center for nearby mining and agricultural operations. Aso-Shima is the leading corporation in Helena, though Phelps-Montana has considerable holdings here as well. On March 28, 2026, Helena became the site of the only serious armed rebellion by the BSLA against the Japanese corporations. The natives stormed the state Capitol, the governor's mansion and the Aso-Shima headquarters, all of which were well-fortified. The State Guard and Helena police were quickly overwhelmed at the Capitol and the governor's mansion, but Aso-Shima forces held strong. On the third day of the rebellion, the governor placed Helena under martial law, to be administered by Aso-Shima. When additional help from Tanaka arrived from Great Falls the next day, the tide of the battle turned. The rebels were beaten back from the Aso-Shima fortress and put on the defensive; they dug in at the mansion and the Capitol and prepared for an extended siege. The corporate forces requested aid from Phelps-Montana, but the American-run company refused to take sides in the incident. The governor's mansion was retaken within the week, but the defenders at the Capitol lasted until May 15, when their water and food supplies ran out. Attractions: Under' original corporate law, tourists were prevented from visiting Helena for about a year. Helena's tourist industry suffered but has recovered quickly. Attractions include the Montana State Historical Museum and "The Last Chancer," an authentic steam train named for the mining camp that became Helena, Last Chance Gulch. The train passes through historic sections of town, including the State Capitol fortress. The Historical Museum also features exhibits depicting Montana's frontier days, and has the world's largest collection of paintings by 20th-century artist Charlie Russell. The Cowboys, Aso-Shima's duelling team, are based in Helena's Last Chance Arena. The Cowboys are consistently the bottom finishers in the league, and are worth watching only when they face a strong team like American Nippon or Phelps-Montana. Duelling Facilities: Helena's Verdun Downs is the only AADA-sanctioned arena in Montana, but is famous for its many pedestrian and cycle events. The best-known of these, the Montana Mountain War, is held monthly, and is occasionally televised on network duelling programs. The Mountain War pits six teams, each consisting of five peds and a cyclist, against one another in an arena broken by trenches and bunkers. Verdun's body-counts are frequently well above the levels normally acceptable to the AADA; the arena retains its sanction largely because it is the only Association stadium in the state and there are no complaints. For a town of its size, Helena has a fairly large number

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of service stations, garages and dealerships. Like Butte, however, prices tend to be a bit inflated, running 10-20% above national averages. Other Facilities: Helena's aerodrome, television station, and one of its two hospitals are administered by AsoShima, as is A~arroll College. Gold Cross is available. Gang Activity: Although cycle gangs seldom trouble the city, Helena has seen more terrorism by the BSLA than any other city. · The liberation army's bombs have destroyed several Aso-Shima facilities, as well as various state and municipal properties. On June 12, 2035, the BSLA committed its most violent act of terrorism of the corporate era, by bombing City Hall during a meeting of the Aso-Shima City Administration Board. 17 people were killed, including five of the seven board members, and Helena's historic City Hall was destroyed. CAB meetings are now held within the Aso-Shima citadel, under the protection of the corporate walls and army. BLUD Presence: While Helena is the only city in Montana with a significant AADA presence, BLUD is nonetheless an important force in the area's autoduelling. Only about a third of Helena's duellists cpe AADA members, and most of the independents claim to be BLUD. Still, a large number of the AADA duellists in Helena are professionals, competing regularly at Verdun, so BLUD members in the city accord vehicles with Association colors respect. There is an unwritten cease-fire agreement between BLUD and AADA members. Travelers observing it should have little trouble in Helena.

WYOMING The events of the 21st century have changed Wyoming into a wild and lawless state. Although many of its small towns are proud, tough and fiercely independent communities, the state government is all but powerless. Right on the open range is usually determined by the biggest or fastest guns and outlaw gangs are common on the highways. Travelers should avoid the temptation to cruise the state's unpatrolled highways at top speed. Many cycle gangs lie in ambush for such cruisers. The beginning of the end for Wyoming came early, during the oil crisis at the tum of the century. After the nation's petroleum reserves were nationalized and the Free Oil States seceded, Wyoming's oil was pumped out of the ground at an unprecedented rate. By 2010, the state's once vast reserves were vitually depleted. Petroleum companies abandoned the state to exploit Alaska's remaining oil, leaving entire towns unemployed and bankrupt. The state government, which had quickly grown accustomed to large revenues from oil and income taxes, was powerless to stem a statewide recession. The Blight years were particularly brutal in Wyoming. Food riots rocked the larger cities, and small towns raided one another for their meager food supplies. Just as algae products began to replace the lost grain supplies and social and economic recovery became a possibility, the cyclegang era began. With its vast, wide-open spaces, small scattered population and weak state government, Wyoming was an ideal environment for the outlaw bikers, who all but ruled the state for over a decade.

Through the 2020s, however, Wyoming's towns and cities gradually became stronger and better able to defend themselves against the cycle gangs. As autoduelling became popular, most citizens armed their vehicles for use in defense against the gangs. Gradually, as Wyoming duellists became more competent and confident, the residents of small towns began to band together into posses to actually hunt down the cycle gangs. These posses did not come close to ridding the state of outlaw bikers - Wyoming remains a stronghold for cycle gangs to this day. However, they did manage to gain enough control and trim the territory of the gangs to a point where residents could live cautiously, but safely. Today, Wyoming is much like it was in frontier days. The state is slowly rebuilding its cattle herds, which were nearly depleted by food raiders. Cattle rustling and range wars are still common problems in the state. Cowboy duellists in off-road cycles, jeeps and pickups herd and protect the cattle. Government: Although some cities and counties actually help maintain the charade that Wyoming has a state government by turning out for gubernatorial and legislative elections, most abstain. The state government of Wyoming has been powerless and bankrupt for decades, and is unlikely to recover within the foreseeable future without significant federal intervention. Town and city governments are as varied today as they were 200 years ago. Some towns are agricultural cooperatives. Some are all but owned by a single rancher, and others are ruled by coal- or metal-mining companies. The nature of legal enforcement agencies in these towns is also variable, ranging from selfless and dedicated sheriffs through incompetent to utterly corrupt ones. Check with the AADA offices for current updates. Under the Code of the New West, status sometimes changes quickly. Duelling Climate: The people of Wyoming's small towns are friendly and polite to travelers in cars or trucks, but they have learned to be distrustful of cyclists. When they meet on the highway, Wyoming drivers seldom attempt to provoke a duel. Instead, they are far more likely to trade information about road conditions, if they're headed in opposite directions, or "ride together" if they're going the same way. Wyoming folk seldom offer personal information about themselves, though, and it is considered impolite to ask more than is volunteered. In general, road companions can be trusted; the Code of the New West is followed closely on Wyoming's highways. Because Wyoming's duellists must use their weapons so frequently to defend themselves from outlaws, they consider lethal recreational duelling rather offensive. Autoduelling events in Wyoming are more like rodeos than death sports - opportunities to show prowess with vehicular arms without risking the lives of honest citizens. High-speed target shooting, slalom courses and targetinglaser duels are more common than actual live-ammo, vehicle-against-vehicle arena events. Where local court systems exist, arena killings are considered manslaughter. Gang Activity: Although they no longer hold the state in an iron grip, as they did in the '20s, Wyoming's cycle gangs are still larger, more active, and more dangerous than those in other parts of the country. With the close of the "cycle-gang era" across the nation, many biker groups moved to this sparsely populated state. Large groups of

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The AADA Road Atlas

War Dogs, from the Midwest, and Banditos, from Texas and New Mexico, are among the gangs that have moved to Wyoming in recent years. . In addition, many smaller outlaw bands plague Wyoming. Rather than raiding entire towns, these gangs follow the tradition of the Western cutlaw, robbing banks and truck convoys (which have replaced trains), rustling cattle, and serving as hired guns for unscrupulous ranching or mining concerns. Operating in groups of less than a dozen, these criminals are generally more competent than the average biker. Many hard men in Wyoming make a living as bounty hunters, pursuing these notorious outlaws.

CASPER Population: 24,100. Description: In the year 2000, Casper was a prosperous agricultural and petroleum refining city, and the largest community in Wyoming. The economic disasters which plagued Wyoming hit Casper harder than any other large city in the state. After Wyoming's oil ran out, the city's economy quickly soured. People began to leave the city in large numbers, most moving to other states. Between 2008 and 2012, Casper's population dropped from just over 60,000 to less than 35,000. The ranching and beef-processing industries, to which the remaining residents of Casper clung, held on when the Blight struck. Ranchers let their cattle graze on the tough range grass that survived the Blight. Those who could afford to leave Casper did; those who remained faced the Blight in an impoverished city with 6S% unemployment. Food riots came early and finished the ranchers' stock. By 2020, the city's population had dropped - through emigration, starvation and violence - to just under 20,000. Today, almost 20 years later, Casper is fmally beginning to recover. Coal mines to the east of the city and cattle ranching throughout the Casper area are returning industry and employment to the city. Tourism is also a growing enterprise in Casper, as visitors come to enjoy the Laramie Mountain Range south of the city, and to see the "New Old West." Attractions: In addition to the beautiful Laramie Moun-

tains, which offer camping, hiking, hunting, fishing and skiing, Casper boasts several interesting museums. Among them are the Nicolayson Art Museum, the Tate Mineralogical Museum and the Werner Wildlife Museum. The Old Fort Casper Museum, an authentic recreation of a 19th century frontier army post, was destroyed during the cycle-gang years, but is now under reconstruction. Around the first of August, Casper hosts the Central Wyoming Rodeo and Fair. Several rodeo-style autoduelling events are held at the Fair. Duelling enthusiasts will be impressed by the fancy maneuvers and precise shooting of Wyoming's best rodeo drivers. Duelling Facilities: Casper has an adequate array of service stations, several garages, an AADA office and a few weapons and vehicle dealers. However, it lacks a fulltime duelling arena. An investors' group attempted to open a full-season arena for the 2032 AADA season, but the venture folded within three months for lack of spectators. The Casper Arena now stands vacant and forgotten on the north bank of the North Platte River. Duelling is illegal within the city limits of Casper. Other Facilities: Casper has several parks, a countryand-western radio station, and a municipal golf course. The Natrona County Hospital in Casper is small but complete, although it does not have Gold Cross facilities. A small, unfortified heliport is located two-and-a-half miles northwest of town on U.S. 20. Gang Activity: Moderate. During the cycle-gang years, the Casper area was plagued by several gangs, including the Ravening Carnivores, the Lords of Death and the Zitts. When the cycle-gang years came to a close, a large contingent of War Dogs entered central Wyoming and became the dominant outlaw force in the region. The Carnivores allied themselves with the War Dogs soon after their arrival, and have since been absorbed into that gang; the Lords dispersed after a disastrous territorial battle against the War Dogs, and the Zitts moved north, to the Buffalo, Wyoming, area. BLUD Presence: Small but offensive. Casper's active recreational duelling community is small - less than 200 vehicles- and exclusively BLUD. For the most part, the BLUD duellists in Casper drive small, ill-equipped, and heavily-repaired vehicles, obviously held together by chewing gum and baling wire. Most have the BLUD insignia painted on the doors, but they can almost invariably be recognized by their radio chatter, which is arrogant, insulting and off-color. The rest of Casper considers these duellists a bunch of hooligans, and with good reason. Big sport for Casper BLUD consists of ripping up and down McKinley Street in the middle of the night, taking potshots at the AADA office as they pass, then breaking into the Casper Arena and holding "arena events" until the police arrive. AADA drivers in the area should also be advised that local BLUDies are likely to follow and harass Association vehicles until they can provoke a duel, or are run off by a larger force of armed vehicles or police.

CHEYENNE

Casper, WY 7he AADA Road Atlas

Population: 32,000. Description: The largest city and the state capital of Wyoming, Cheyenne is located in southeastern comer of

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the state, just north of the Colorado border. Its proximity to the prosperous Federal Corridor in Colorado makes it an important commercial and industrial center, since it provides the heavily populated Denver area with beef and other food products. The police in Cheyenne have been officially replaced by the Cheyenne Vigilance Committees, agencies empowered to arrest criminals and pass judgement and sentence on the spot. The Vigilance Committee system was originally instituted in 2022, after a series of raids by the Happy Jacks cycle gang. The Jacks, who took their name from the road which they used to approach the city on their first raid, hit Cheyenne several times in the spring of that year. Police response bad been late and ineffectual, and most townsfolk complained that they could do a better job of defending their homes and neighborhoods than the police bad done. When a newspaper report revealed that over half the Cheyenne Police Department bad accepted at least one bribe from the Happy Jacks, the public was outraged. Within a week, a special session of the city council bad disbanded the police department and laid down the groundwork for the Vigilance Committee system. The city is divided into 12 districts, each of which elects the Chairman of its Vigilance Committee. The Chairmen - who serve one-year terms - appoint 12 to 25 members to the committee, who serve their district as both policemen and municipal judges. In times of emergency, a Chairman may appoint additional committee members for short periods, or grant the members of neighboring districts temporary jurisdiction in his own territory. The mayor bas authority over the Vigilance Committee Chairmen. No member of the Vigilance Committees is paid, although the city does provide weapons, equipment and vehicles. Persons may be appointed to the Vigilance Committee only in the district in which they reside. Cheyenne bas found the Vigilance Committees both cheaper and more efficient than its old, conventional police force. Attractions: Despite the fact that a trip to Cheyenne requires a drive through the dangerous Fort Collins/Greeley

area, many people - especially from Colorado's Federal Corridor- are choosing Wyoming's capital as a vacation destination. This is no doubt due to the many attractions the city bas to offer, including Old Town Plaza, where modem cowboys reenact gunfights; the Union Pacific Railroad Frontier Railroad Museum, located in the century-and-a-half old Union Pacific Depot; and Hereford Ranch, a cattle ranch in continuous operation since 1883. The beautiful Wyoming state capitol is also open to the public, and free tours of the building are available in the summer. The gold-leafed dome and beautiful view from the building are popular attractions. In 2031, Cheyenne revived a tradition which began in the 1890s: Frontier Days, a carnival, fair and rodeo lasting nine days in late July. The Frontier Days parade will be of special interest to AADA members. Its theme is "The Evolution of Transportation," and it features vehicles ranging from Conestoga wagons and stagecoaches through early bicycles and horseless carriages to the latest autoduelling vehicles. The collection of late-20th century combustion-engine cars is most impressive. Duelling Facilities: Cheyenne is the only city in Wyoming with a significant interest in sport autoduelling. The Holiday Park Arena is Cheyenne's AADA-sanctioned stadium, and the home of the Hell-on-Wheels Derby. The Derby takes its name from the frontier nickname for Cheyenne, and is a traditional arena-style event generally accepted as the most prestigious event in Wyoming autoduelling. It is held in conjunction with Frontier Days. Also part of the Frontier Days festivities is the Wyoming Auto Rodeo, a series of driving events designed to test the skills of autoduellists without combat. Events are similar to those held at Casper's Central Wyoming Rodeo. For travelers and amateur duellists, Cheyenne bas several service stations, auto and weapons dealers, and garages. The local AADA office is located downtown, near the state capitol. Gang Activity: Although Cheyenne is occasionally troubled by Wyoming gangs from the north, the Banditos and other gangs from Fort Collins/Greeley, Colorado, are a much more serious problem. As a result, most buildings and neighborhoods on the south side of the city are heavily fortified. Vigilance Committees in southern Cheyenne often deputize local autoduellists to help repulse gangs who ride in on I-25. BLUD Presence: Because Cheyenne's attitude toward duelling is a bit more tolerant than that of the rest of Wyoming, and because the AADA presence in the city is rather small, there is a significant BLUD contingent in the Cheyenne duelling community. Typically, the wealthier duellists in Cheyenne join the AADA, while the less-welloff duel enthusiasts declare themselves BLUD members. Although there are more professed BLUDies in Cheyenne than Association members, the AADA duellists tend to have better-equipped and -maintained vehicles. This balance of power prevents the rivalry between the two groups from erupting into warfare in the streets.

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1he AADA Road Atlas

AIDA SPECIAL: VAGI TIOI IIIERIGI Over the past several years, North America has become a safer, more economically stable place than it bad been for decades. With this trend toward peace and prosperity, the family vacation is once again becoming a reality. Of course, America is no longer the open playground it was in the previous century, despite progress. Only a fool would simply pack the luggage, kids and dog into the station wagon and hit the highway. However, with care, common sense and a little forethought, anyone can plan a vacation adventure that the family can enjoy - and survive!

Transportation Getting there may be half the fun, but in this era, it's 90% of the challenge. Because of the dangers inherent in traveling the highways of America, the vacation motorist must make his travel plans carefully. First, check to see what sort of public or commercial transportation reaches your destination - violence involving armed buses, ships and zeppelins, is considerably less common than that targetting private vehicles. If commercial transportation is unavailable or, as is often the case, prohibitively expensive, find out what escort or convoy services are available for your route. Your local AADA office will have full details regarding escorts and convoys. If there is no other alternative, fmd out why no buses, escorts or convoys serve the route you have selected before leaving. Nine times out of ten, there is no service because the area is too dangerous for even a large, well-armed party to cross safely. Pick another vacation spot.

Commercial Transportation The Whippet and Highways Bus Lines serve every major and most minor cities in the Mountain West, as well as the most popular vacation destinations. These lines offer comfortable seating, reliable service and well-armed busnaughts crewed by expert drivers and gunners. For destinations along major routes, fares run roughly $30 per person per 200 miles, with a luggage allowance of 50 lbs. More remote vacation areas, or destinations that cross badlands, cost about $50 per 200 miles. Air travel is considerably less common and more expensive than bus transportation. Only the largest cities in the Mountain West -- Boise, Denver, Salt Lake City - offer frequent airship flights. To reach other vacation spots by air, it is usually necessary to charter a helicopter. Fares for chartered chopper flights run about $400 per person per 200 miles, although rates are often much higher in areas where few helicopters are available. Most pilots charge for all the seats in the helicopter, regardless of how many are occupied. Also, if the party is to be dropped off and picked up on different days, the pilot will usually charge for two round trips - unless there is a party ready to return. Some travel agents provide this scheduling for a small fee.

~orts

and Convoys

For the vacationer who wants to travel in his own vehicle, the AADA emphatically recommends the many escort and convoy services that are available in most areas. Escorts are individual duellists who hire out as highway guides, guards and escorts for private citizens, truckers and corporations. Commercial convoy services coordinate large groups of travelers, arranging vacation routes and armed escorts. Non-commercial convoys are large groups of vehicles traveling together for safety, organized by the AADA and other tourist associations. Hiring an escort is expensive, but allows the traveler the maximum possible freedom. In addition to acting as an armed guard, escorts can also serve as tour guides. Their knowledge of local sights, services and accommodations, as well as regional hazards, is often invaluable. The AADA certifies regional escort-couriers, assuring their competence, knowledge and honesty. A typical certified escort with a good, $15,000 to $20,000 vehicle will charge roughly $75 a day, plus expenses (charges, repairs, ammunition, accommodations, etc.). Escorts with better vehicles, excellent reputations or gunners charge more. Persons seeking a career as an AADA accredited escortcourier must meet the qualifications for a cross-country courier (seep. Al8), and also possess Area Knowledge (a large region)-12 or better. Commercial convoys are considerably less expensive than private escorts, but offer less freedom for the traveler. To compensate, convoys often provide a complete tour package, including accommodations, admission to several attractions, and a tour guide who narrates the drive over the radio. Commercial convoys usually provide about one well-armed escort vehicle for every three to five vacationer vehicles. Convoys which offer a complete tour package usually charge $100 per day per vehicle, with double occupancy in tourist-class accommodations. The third and subsequent passengers are charged $25 per day. Convoys which offer nothing but group escort service charge $25 to $50 per day per vehicle, depending on the length of the trip and the danger of the roads. Convoy rates do not include charges or repairs. Some convoys offer a 10% discount to armed vehicles. Non-commercial convoys are usually arranged by the AADA or travel agents. A typical non-commercial convoy will consist of 10 to 15 private vehicles, most of which will carry limited vehicular weaponry. Occasionally, the members of a convoy will agree to hire an escort or two, especially if the group is low on firepower. While most travel agents charge a $10 to $25 fee per vehicle for arraning convoys, the AADA does not charge its members. Local AADA offices and travel agents usually have information on convoys, both commercial and noncommercial, serving their area. AADA-certified couriers may also be hired through the AADA.

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AADA Special: Vacation America

Vacation Destinations

biker gangs rule most of northern Arizona, which is not patrolled at all.

Arches and Canyonlonds Regional Parks, Deseret

Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Both of these little-known but fascinating parks are within daily driving distance of Moab, Deseret and combine to make an excellent vacation. Arches Park features dozens of beautiful sandstone arches, towers and bridges. At 291 feet, Landscape Arch is the longest natural bridge in the world. Canyonlands Park includes a variety of unusual formations in and around rugged canyons. The Maze is a series of small, winding canyons within the park, much of which is still being explored. Accommodations: The Sixshooter Lodge is a cozy but well-fortified inn at the foot of North Sixshooter Peak on Highway 211 in Canyonlands. Both parks offer camping, but park rangers close the campgrounds when the Deseret Patrol reports cycle-gang activity in the area. Nearby Moab has several motels and restaurants as well as an AADA office. Duelling fans staying in Moab will also want to check out the action at the Arches Autoduel Park, a unique arena featuring 35 partial and complete arches. Transportation: Moab has a small heliport, but is not equipped to receive airships. Buses arrive daily from Salt Lake City and Grand Junction. Several commercial convoys visit the parks during the tourist season - March to October - offering a variety of itineraries and prices. Noncommercial convoys to Moab leave from Grand Junction and Salt Lake about once a week during the summer. Hazards: Despite the efforts of the Deseret Patrol, a few small, unnamed cycle gangs make their living on the empty highways of southern Deseret. Most of these outfits have fewer than 25 cycles, though, and are not of concern to bus passengers and convoy members. The only large gang known in the area is the Colorado-based Dead Indians, who also harass traffic near Grand Junction.

Rocky Mountain National Parle includes 260,000 acres of the highest and most beautiful mountain country in the U.S. During the summer season- which runs from early May to mid-September - the whole park is open; during the winter, only a small section of the park is open. This includes the famous Hidden Valley ski area. Rocky Mountain National Park is known for its wide variety of animal life, including deer, elk, bighorn sheep and black bear. Accommodations: Estes Park, on the eastern edge of Rocky Mountain National Park, is a small fortress town offering food and lodging to fit every budget. The Deer Park Lodge, near Hidden Valley in the park, is plush, well-defended and correspondingly expensive. Parle roads are regularly patrolled by armed Parle Service vehicles, and several guarded campgrounds are available. Transportation: Because of its proximity to the Federal Corridor, Rocky Mountain is one of the safest, easiest parks to visit. Buses and convoys leave daily for Estes Parle from both Denver and Boulder. For the wealthy, both Estes Parle and Deer Parle offer helipads. Hazards: The park is safe from gang activity in the winter due to the tremendous snow storms which regularly block roads to the park. Snow tires are an absolute must between October and April. During the summer, Estes Park is occasionally bothered by raiders from Fort Greeley. Still, these miscreants must fight past Loveland, a tough, defiant fortress city, to reach Estes. Therefore, surprise attacks are virtually non-existent.

Grand Canyon Regional Park, Deseret and Arizona Though Arizona still calls itself the Grand Canyon State, most of Grand Canyon Regional Park lies north of the Colorado River, which has been the Deseret border since 2025. Well over 100 miles in length, the Grand Canyon is the largest canyon in the world. The park features incredible views from both the north and south rims, and is full of fascinating geological formations and wild life. Park rangers lead donkey-back camping expeditions into the canyon. Rafting expeditions on the Colorado offer a unique opportunity to view otherwise inaccessible sights. Accommodations: The North Rim Inn, on Deseret Route 67, is the only permanent hostel north of the canyon. It is small and only lightly fortified; reservations are a must. The town of Grand Canyon, on the south side of the canyon in Arizona, has three hotels and several fortified campgrounds. Desert View, Arizona, was burned to the ground by bikers in 2032 and is now a ghost town. Transportation: The Grand Canyon Aerodrome, south of Grand Canyon, Arizona, receives weekly airships from Las Vegas, Salt Lake City and Los Angeles. Regular commercial convoys visit the park from those cities, as well as from Flagstaff, Arizona. Provo-based Canyon Convoys offers a three-week excursion taking in Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion, Arches and Canyonlands Regional Parks. Hazards: If you plan to venture south of the Colorado River, even within the park, travel in convoy. Outlaw

AADA Special: Vacation America

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming The first and most famous of the U.S. national parks, Yellowstone has fmally recovered from the forest fires of the late 20th century. The most famous and compelling sight in Yellowstone is still Old Faithful, spouting water and steam with punctuality. Although Yellowstone is most famous for its bears, animals such as deer, moose, elk and buffalo are more common in the park. Yellowstone is open in both the summer and winter, closing briefly in the spring and fall. During the winter season, however, only a small section of the park- around Old Faithful Inn- is open. Wheeled vehicles are prohibited during the winter season. Entrance is by snowcat. Accommodations: Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, Old Faithful Inn at Old Faithful Geyser and Lake Yellowstone Hotel, each of which is over 100 years old, offer comfortable accommodations. Campgrounds, both guarded and unguarded, can be found throughout the park. Transportation: The shortest, safest route to Yellowstone is along Deseret/U.S. 20, from Idaho Falls to West Yellowstone, Montana. The Deseret Patrol watches all but the last section of the route, which is in Montana. Commercial convoys travel this route regularly during the summer months. Convoys also approach the park over the more dangerous highways of Montana and Wyoming, from Butte, Bozeman, Cheyenne and Casper. Hazards: The Park Service heavily patrols the major routes through the park, keeping outlaw activity to a minimum. Occasionally, a Wyoming gang will move into Yellowstone, and the rangers will call upon the Deseret Patrol to help repel the invasion.

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TBB RISB OF DBSBRBT The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints is often informally called the LOS Church. Members are often Mormons, because of their belief in The Book of Mormon, or simply LaJter-day SaiiiiS, using the word "saint" in its Bibilical sense, to designate any member of Christ's church. According to LOS doctrine, Christ's church did not survive in its original form. It was restored to its original state in the early 1800s through revelations to the prophet Joseph Smith. Smith claimed that God and Jesus Christ appeared to him in 1820, near Palmyra, NY, cautioning him not to join any existing churches, and to prepare himself for an important task. Three years later, Smith said, the Angel Moroni directed him to a set of golden plates. Upon these plates, a history of early peoples of the Western Hemisphere was recorded, including an appearance before these peoples by Jesus Christ after the Ascension. The Book of Mormon (Smith's translation of the text of the plates), the Bible, Doctri11es a11d Covemvats (more of Smith's revelations) and The Pearl of Great Price (translations and writings by Smith), along with the doctrinal pronouncements of the First Presidency, make up the scriptures of the LOS Church. Mormons believe not only in life after death, but in the continuation of family life after death. Thus, a marriage performed in an LOS temple is not just for this life, but for eternity. The Saints also believe in the physical resurrection of the body. After death, a spirit awaiting resurrection retains its intelligence and awareness. Thus, if a spirit failed to come to know the gospel in life, it may accept it after death. Mormons frequently baptize living Church members on behalf of the dead, including relatives on behalf of ancestors who lived before the establishment of the LOS Church. For this reason, the Church has established the world's most extensive genealogical library in Salt Lake City.

Deseret

The magestic scenery, vast expanses of empty wilderness and geographic location are about all that the Deseret Autonomous Region has in common with her wild and wooly neighbors. In the Region, the roads are safe, the duels are friendly, and the towns are happy and secure. The reasons for these differences are cultural, political and - most importantly - religious. The force that has preserved Deseret as one of the safest, most stable parts of the United States, despite the upheavals of the early 21st century, is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (see sidebar). Although Deseret has exhibited an uniqueness since the early days of her settlement, the differences between Deseret and the states around her became obvious in 2004. At that time, the Region - then the state of Utah - seceded from the United States and established an independent government overseen by the LOS Church.

The History of Utah Though trappers and explorers had entered the area that would become Deseret decades earlier, the Latter-day Saints were the first group that came to stay. Fleeing persecution in the east, they were led west by Brigham Young, to build their own homeland with a united religious and political government. In 1847, Young settled his followers on the edge of the Great Salt Lake. In 1849, the Mormons applied for admission to the Union as the state of Deseret, an area that would include all of Utah, Nevada and Arizona, as well as parts of Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado and California. Instead, Congress created the territory of Utah, appointing Young as territorial governor. The Mormons enjoyed a few years of isolation in which to formalize their unique religious and social philosophy, which included classic Christian doctrines, as well as such "radical" elements as polygamy, theocracy, women's suffrage and economic communalism. However, the growing nation soon caught up with the LOS in Salt Lake City. Polygamy became the rallying point for antiMormon groups. Acting on an erroneous report that the Mormons were rebelling, President James Buchanan dispatched a new, non-Mormon territorial governor, along with 3,000 troops, to bring the territory back into line. A series of unfortunate confrontations, called the Utah War, followed, ending in 1858 when Brigham Young accepted the new governor. Buchanan then pardoned all involved in the war. Under pressure from Congress, the Church outlawed polygamy in 1890. Utah was admitted to the Union as a state in 1896. During the 20th century, Utah enjoyed considerable prosperity from a diverse economy, based on agriculture, mining and tourism. The LOS Church grew into a major worldwide religion through the extensive missionary efforts of its members. Utah gained a reputation as an island of conservative stability even in times when liberal politicians dominated the federal government.

The Deseret Secession When the world oil supply was exhausted in the 1990s, Utah did what all conservative areas do when times get tough - it became more conservative. Several prominent churchmen begin to speak out about how the nation's economic troubles were due to the selfish, un-Christian attitudes of oil company executives and the American public in general. In the mid '90s, a Provo-area stake president (see sidebar) by the name of Eliah Petersen became a front-running conservative candidate for the Utah State

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Senate. Petersen's campaign platform centered on the importance of church and family, the dangers of religious apathy, the inability of the current liberal administration to combat the nation's economic difficulties, and the power of the traditional Mormon spirit of community to see Utah through the hard times ahead. His message was right on the mark. Petersen was elected to the State Senate in 1996, and elected governor of Utah in 2000. The same year, Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana responded to the nationalization of remaining oil reserves by seceding from the Union. Utah watched the Second Civil War, in which the new Free Oil States fought for their independence, with great interest. While there was a strong feeling in Utah that the rebellious states had abandoned their fellow states, there was also an admiration for the Free Oil States' courage and commitment to self-determination. As public sentiment in Utah grew apart from that of the rest of the nation, a single dream began to grow in the collective mind of the Latter-day Saints - an independent Deseret. Anticipating the wishes of his constituency, Governor Petersen began to work with a few of the General Authorities in secret. On January 15, 2005, three days after the U.S. government acknowleged the sovereignty of the Free Oil States, Petersen revealed his secret project: The Articles of Secession of Utah and Constitution of the Republic of Deseret. Public support for secession was immediate and enthusiastic. In their final act, the Utah State Legislature approved the Articles of Secession. In doing so, the legislature called a temporary recess while a vote of ratification was taken. When next they convened, it was as the Deseret Legislature.

The Third Civil War Petersen chose the moment to announce the Articles of Secession carefully and well. After a long, costly and demoralizing struggle against the Free Oil States, the U.S. was in no position to fight a third civil war. Deseret volunteers - many of whom had served in the National Guard or reserves - had little trouble seizing the understaffed and undersupplied U.S. military posts in Deseret. By March, all U.S. military goods and equipment in Utah at the time of secession were in the hands of the newly-formed Deseret Army. Although Federal and Deseret forces met in several small skirmishes through the summer of 2005, no major battles were undertaken. This was due largely to the United States'occupation of the more economically-important oil

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The General Authorities The General Authorities, the 38-man body which heads the LDS Church, consist of: The President (or Prophet), the head of the LDS Church, and his two Counselors; The Quorum of Twelve Apostles, and their twelve Assistants; The seven-man First Council of the Seventies, which also serves as Deseret's supreme judicial body; The three-member Presiding Bishopric; And the Patriarch of the Church. While the Church doesn't interfere with the government directly, it has a significant impact on the government. The members of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles and First Council of Seventies are all elected members of the Deseret Senate. Often when a bill is introduced, an editorial in the Church News will appear discwsi11g the issue. Many bills have been passed or defeated after such an article. One resident of Deseret remarked, "When the Church sneezes, Deseret catches a cold."

The Law in Deseret Deseret has two statutes which set it apart from the rest of this area. They are:

Prohibitio11: Both liquor and tobacco are forbidden by the Doctri11e a11d CoveoofiiS. The government of Deseret, however, has not made it illegal to buy or sell them (the tourist trade is much too important). Instead, they tax them! The Patrol places a seal on all alcohol containers and tobacco products entering Deseret. and the consumer pays a whopping 14% value added tax (VAT) for the pleasure of consuming these products. Between the interdiction by the Church and the VAT tax, there isn't a great market for these items except among the tourists. Duelli11g: It is illegal to fire upon a person or vehicle without first receiving his verbal or written permission to do so. It is also illegal to fire upon a person or vehicle which has verbally refused permission. Firing upon a person who has not agreed to a duel is considered an assault with a deadly weapon; killing him is invariably considered murder.

Deseret

The Treaty of Denver To many people, it is amazing that either Deseret or the United States signed the Treaty of Denver. In signing the Treaty, Deseret handed her sovereignty to another nation before that nation had even threaJened war,let alone fired a shot. The United States, on the other hand, signed an agreement allowing unprecedented freedom to the government of a possession, and received little commitment in return. In actuality, each side signed the Treaty because it believed it faced a war which it would lose. Deseret - surrounded and dependent on neighboring states for food and power - could not hope to win an extended confrontation; the U.S. - recovering from a failed attempt to put down one rebellion, and spread thin trying to prevent more- could not commit fully to a war on Deseret, and might well lose more territory if such a war broke out.

The Provisions of the Treaty Under the provisions of the Treaty, the Deseret Autonomous Region would have the following unique rights and privileges: - To be bound by no federal laws except those set down in the Constitution and its Amendments. -To maintain its own Patrol, to serve as the sole military defense force of the Region. - To refuse access and authority to federal police and military agencies. - To receive moneys from the federal government equivalent to those given to the States, to administer Regional programs in place of federal ones. - To retain all federal lands and property seized during the secession, except for liaison offices necessary to promote the smooth interaction of Regional and federal governments. -To sever itself from the United States if any of the provisions of the Treaty are broken by that government. - To hold a free, public election at least every two years, in order to ascertain that the population of Deseret is satisfied with the governing bodies of the Region. A majority vote in the House of Representatives may call this vote before the two years maximum, if they deem it necessary.

producing states, preventing their loss in the "rash of secessionism" that was sweeping the nation. Another factor in the relative quiet of early 2005 was the lack of ambition on the part of the Deseret government - thus far, Governor Petersen was content to maintain the traditional borders of Utah. In the fall of2005, this changed. Encouraged by the lack of opposition from the Union, Petersen felt confident to pursue Brigham Young's vision of a vast Mormon nation. He realized that the overwhelming majority of Federal forces were on the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado and would have difficulty crossing the range in winter. Therefore, Petersen set his sights on western Colorado. Gradually, Deseret forces began to push across the border, meeting only token resistance from a few local police forces. The U.S. did nothing to stop the Mormon advance until spring of2006. In late March, a convoy of U.S. troops and armor set out from Denver, headed west along Interstate 70. Deseret learned of the convoy, and diverted a large force to meet it. The two forces met in Grand Junction on April 17, in the only significant battle of the Deseret secession. After fighting to a standstill in the center of town, Deseret Col. Sam Whitney withdrew his troops to the western edge of the city on April21. As Whitney hoped they would, the U.S. forces advanced along the highway to occupy the territory he had abandoned. Two days later, however, U.S . commander Lt. Col. Robert Foxx was surprised to find his troops being attacked from the flanks by the civilians he was supposed to defend! Surrounded by the Deseret Army and the largely Mormon population of Grand Junction, Foxx surrendered. Although the U.S. still did not recognize the sovereignty of the Republic of Deseret, the Battle of Grand Junction marked the end of any serious effort to recover ''Utah'' militarily.

The Fall of Idaho The Deseret secession put some Mormon residents of other states in a very difficult position. In many U.S . cities, Mormons faced persecution to a degree unknown since the 19th century. Newspaper and television editorials spoke of the danger posed by the Mormons and their church. Mormon-owned homes and businesses were vandalized, and LDS temples in six cities were burned. The resourceful Governor Petersen and the Congress turned this hardship into a blessing, and shaped it into a tool that furthered Deseret's designs. In the summer of2006, Church President Zebediah Reynolds suggested that Mormons throughout Idaho, Montana and Wyoming relocate to the Pocatello-Idaho Falls area, which already had a significant Mormon population. As the Mormons from neighboring areas began to move in, non-Mormons began to emigrate. By the winter of2007-2008, the population in the southeastern third ofldaho was over 70% LDS. On May 27, 2008, the Deseret Army rolled across the border into Idaho, establishing a front along a north-south line twenty miles west of Pocatello. The next day Petersen announced that the territory defined between the Army's boundary on the West and the Montana and Wyoming state lines was now part of the Republic of Deseret. Petersen gave non-Mormons the option to stay on or leave. If they stayed, they would retain their property as well as becoming full citizens of Deseret. If they left, they would receive 75% of the most recent tax assessment on their property. About half of the non-Mormons left the newly acquired territory.

The Treaty of Denver After the Battle of Grand Junction, Governor Petersen campaigned hard for U.S. recognition ofDeseret. Operating primarily through canadian diplomats, Petersen tried every approach imaginable. He cited Grand Junction and later Idaho as evidence of Deseret's legitimacy, but Washington continued to put off recognition. As the decade progressed, the reason became evident.

.Deseret

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Once interest in the Free Oil States' successful rebellion had faded, the domestic situation began to ease. Secessionist sentiments in the oil-producing states still belonging to the U. S. began to dissipate, gradually freeing the U.S. military for other tasks. In 2009, it was apparent that the U.S. would be able to launch a serious offensive against Deseret soon. Although Deseret might be able to withstand such an offensive, it was clear to the Deseret Congress that the cost in life and property would be far too dear. Speaking for the Authorities, Elder Frank Hooper of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles laid it out for Petersen- secure recognition from Washington by the end of the year, or face the reality that Deseret would become Utah once again. Washington had no intention of recognizing Deseret, but did not relish the idea of war, especially considering the outcome of the Second Civil War. In October of2009, U.S. Secretary of State Wilson Kirk met with Petersen to lay the groundwork for an agreement that would return Deseret to the Union. The agreement would clearly define Deseret as a territory of the United States while allowing Deseret to retain considerable autonomy, especially regarding internal affairs. At the conclusion of the summit, Kirk and Petersen took the agreement back to their respective governments for approval. On January 1, 2010, Petersen and Kirk met in Denver to sign the essentially unchanged agreement, now known as the Treaty of Denver (see sidebar p. 32). Under the treaty, the United States recognized the brief sovereignty of the Republic of Deseret, and accepted that nation's petition to become a part of the United States as an autonomous region. Although there was considerably more latitude for self-government than for a normal state, a provision of the treaty stated that Petersen would step down as the Governor of Deseret.

The Deseret Autonomous Region Actually, the Treaty of Denver did little to change things in Deseret. The legislature remained in place as did the governor and judicial branch. In practice, however, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints exerts a considerable amount of influence, primarily because 90% of the Region's citizens (and 98% of the Senate and House) are members of the Church. While the Church does not interfere directly in the workings of the Deseret government, the members of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles as well as the members of the First Council of the Seventies have been elected to the Senate since 2006. All federal properties seized during the secession were officially transferred to the Regional government. Agencies, answerable to the Region and not Washington, were established to administer such programs as urban development, agriculture and many others. The Army ofDeseret became the Deseret Patrol, retaining all its personnel, facilities and equipment- including that taken from the U.S. military during the secession. Under the Treaty, the Patrol would handle police and military functions within the state. Federal agencies, such as the FBI and the U.S. Army, would have no authority within the Region, except when granted special jurisdiction by the Governor of the Region.

The Blight Years When the Blight struck in 2012, Deseret was somewhat better off than the rest of the country. Grain farming, the only agricultural product seriously affected by the Blight, accounted for less than 5% of Deseret's gross regional product. Thus, the loss of employment and tax revenue caused by the Blight was hardly devastating. Deseret was further buffered against the Blight by the practice of Mormon families of storing a two-year supply of non-perishable food. In 2014, when certain food items became scarce, the Church advised members to ease the coming food shortage by using their reserves for 10% of their families' food. Thus,

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The Vote of Confidence The Constitution "guarantee[s] to every State in this Union a republican form of government.'' This clause has given rise to debate as to whether Deseret's Churchappointed government is truly "republican." Originally, the General Authorities attempted to head off this question by stressing that Deseret is an autonomous region, not a state. But during negotiation for the Treaty of Denver, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Deseret was "equivalent to a state," and therefore subject to this provision of the Constitution. To satisfy the Court, the governing bodies instituted the biennial Vote of Confidence, a popular vote to reaffirm public approval ofDeseret's government. Should a majority ofDeseret's citizens so vote, the current Legislature must relinquish control of the Region to the Federal government, which will establish a replacement government. Since over 80% of the population of Deseret is Mormon, however, the chances of the government losing a Vote of Confidence are slim.

Deseret

Local Government Oeseret is divided into stokes geographic areas having a population between 2,000 and 10,000. Each stake is governed by a president and two counselors. Stakes in sparsely-populated areas may cover several hundred square miles; big-city stakes may be a few blocks wide. A city is a collection of adjacent stakes officially united into a single body. Cities are governed by city councils made up of the presidents of the component stakes. The city council appoints a city manager to oversee the city's day-to-day operations.

Non-Monnons in Deseret Roughly 10% of Deseret's population does Ml belong to the LOS Church. NonMormons - usually called gentiles by Desereters - are technically full citizens of the .Region, with all the rights and privileges pertaining thereto. In practice, however, the Region's LOS population tends to look down upon the gentiles. Charges of religious discrimination by employers, government agents, merchants and educators , while not common, are voiced regularly within the Region. The reasons for resentment between Mormons and gentiles within Deseret are many. Among them are the LOS doctrine that the Saints are God's chosen people, and that all other faiths are imperfect; the territorial expansion of the Region beyond Utah's historic borders; the immunity of gentiles to the LOS tithe; and the miniscule representation of the gentile population in Deseret's government. Religious tensions in Deseret have occasionally led to violence; over 300 Mormons and gentiles have died in creed-related violence since 2010. The situation is relaxing somewhat, however, as the legislature attempts to attract gentileowned businesses to Deseret, and to encourage tourism within the region. The legislature is currently considering a commission to study ways to ease tensions and satisfy the gentile population's resentment.

Deseret

while the rest of the nation began to feel food shortages, Deseret grocery stores felt only the inconvenience in foods that were trucked in from other states. Several news stories on the food situation in the Region appeared in early 2015 . Many non-Mormons in other parts of the country decided to avoid food rationing in their native states by moving to Deseret, where the networks claimed food was plentiful. This massive immigration greatly increased pressure on Deseret's already-stretched food supply. By mid-2015, food shortages in Deseret's cities were nearly as bad as elsewhere around the country. To ease the situation, the Church encouraged members to increase the portion of their families' food taken from their stockpiles to 25%. The extensive welfare program that helped members through difficult periods had been severely taxed by looking after Mormons who had been unable to put up the suggested two-year supply of food. Pressure on this system increased dramatically in the summer of 2015, when Deseret's non-Mormon immigrants began to convert to the Mormon faith en masse, in order to become eligible for Church welfare. Though longtime Church members derogatorily called the new converts "Mealtime Mormons," the Church did try to provide for its rapidly increasing flock. When the Church's own food supplies were depleted in October of2015, President Zeb Reynolds asked members to donate another 10% of their own food stockpiles to help feed their hungry brethren. Although there was grumbling, the overwhelming majority complied. Throughout the next year, Deseret tried to ignore the Blight. However, in 2017, the Food Riots became real to Deseret. On January 5, television news reporter Marvin Harris delivered an editorial praising the Desereters' calm, despite the fact that the Region's food supplyincluding private reserves - would be exhausted within three months. This was especially impressive, Harris said, when compared to nearby Denver. It had fallen into total chaos two years ago, although that city had over nine months worth of food left. Desereters, especially those in Salt Lake City, where food supplies would run out even earlier, were to be congratulated for their courage and steadiness in the face of disaster. Salt Lake City wasted no time patting itself on the back for its admirable courage before it panicked. Within two hours of Harris' broadcast, the citizens

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of Salt Lake had pushed their way through a foot and a half of snow to break down the doors and windows of every grocery and convenience store in the city. When the food was gone from the stores, the mobs raided schools, restaurants almost anyplace that might have food. The orange glow of burning buildings lit the city through the night, as one of the ugliest food riots in history boiled through the streets of the nation's most peaceful city. By morning, the panic had reached Ogden and Provo, brought by still searching rioters from Salt Lake. In Provo, locals hastily erected barricades, from which they defended their grocery stores against the Salt Lake mobs. On the other hand, Ogdenites rushed to loot local stores before the Salt l..akers could clean them out. Chaos reigned up and down Interstate 15 for three days before the Deseret Patrol could regain control. The body count of the Salt Lake City riot reached 8,000 - the third highest total for a single food riot. That evening, President Reynolds delivered a special address to the people ofDeseret, carried on every radio and television station in the Region. Reynolds admonished them for their barbaric behavior, stressing that cooperation - not chaos- was the only way the Church, the Region, and the people could survive. He implored his people to bring the food they had stolen, along with any remaining from their own supplies, and tum it over to the Patrol. Reynolds asked that the Mormons follow the example of their pioneering forefathers, and share all that they had. Embarrassed and ashamed, the Mormons ofDeseret and their non-Mormon neighbors began to appear at Patrol offices across the Region the next morning, bringing stolen and stored food. Within a week, enough food had been turned over to the government to last the Region over six months, provided a strict rationing program was followed. Throughout 2017, the people ofDeseret peacefully and gratefully cooperated with the Patrol and the rationing program. When, in the fall, food supplies once again began to run short, the Desereters uncomplainingly switched their diet over to shrimp paste, a disgusting but nutritious concoction made from the tiny brine shrimp of the Great Salt Lake. Thus Deseret survived until the advent of food-algae, without a single additional violent death attributable to the food shortage.

Peacetime Expansion By 2023, when the Patrol was able to tum food distribution back over to private industry, the cycle-gang era was in full swing. The Patrol's light- and aircavatry·units busily patrolled the Region's highways for biker activity, while the heavy cavalry and infantry were stationed in vulnerable communities, defending them from attacks from across Deseret's borders. Though a few cycle gangs did manage to damage Deseret cities, the vigilance of the Patrol kept the Region one of the safest parts of the country throughout the '20s and '30s. Neighboring states, however, didn't fare so well. When Texas and the United Mexican States signed a peace treaty in 2020, the jefes turned their attention to Arizona, New Mexico and southern California. In response, the state police, National Guard and federal military in these states had to concentrate their forces near the southern border. This left the small communities of northem Arizona and New Mexico especially vulnerable to attack by cycle gangs. In Nevada, defense forces were concentrated near Las Vegas, Reno and Carson City, leaving the towns along the Deseret border similarly unprotected. After two years of raids, the beleaguered communities along the Deseret border in Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico asked Deseret's Governor to extend the Patrol's protection to include them. The Governor generously agreed, even offering to station garrison forces in several communities. Though the federal government realized the political powder keg that Deseret forces in other states presented, there was little it could do to stop them. Within a year, Mormon civilians began to move across the state lines into the towns now protected by the Patrol, to support the troops stationed there. AI-

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The Deseret Patrol The modern Deser et Patrol was originally formed during the Deseret secession, as the Army of Deseret. It serves Deseret as its regional police force and its military. Over 45 ,000 men and women make the Patrol their full-time career. Currently, Patrol forces break down as follows : Infantry (18 battalions) 14,000 troops. Ground troops, used in military actions and to assist local police in emergencies. Light Cavalry (23 battalions, 3,200 vehicles) 17,000 troops . Armorplas vehicles, like private duelc ars. Patrols Deseret's highways in peacetime. Heavy Cavalry (6 battalions, 450 vehicles) 4,000 troops. Large armor units - including tanks and APCs - used in major military actions. Air Cavalry (6 battalions, 227 vehicles) 3,500 troops. Air support for military and police actions. 156 armed helicopters, 40 larger transport helicopters and 3 zeppelins. Security (1 command) 1 ,250 troops. Guards important Church and Government personnel and facilities . Intelligence (1 command) 6,000 troops. Handles Deseret's espionage and counterespionage operations, and information gathering, recording and processing. The Patrol's central headquarters is in Salt Lake City. The Patrol is divided into five Corps - the 1st Patrol Corps, headquartered in Provo; the 2nd and largest. in Grand Junction; the 3rd, in Pocatello; the 4th, in Cedar City; and the newly-established 5th, in Ely. Each includes several battalions of infantry and cavalry. The Patrol Security Corps and the Deseret Intelligence Command both report directly to Patrol Headquarters in Salt Lake.

The Deseret Militia The Patrol also includes the Deseret Militia - reserve Patrolmen who serve five weeks a year. All Militiamen are enlisted; the Patrol requires full-time service of its officers. Militia personnel must be between the ages of 18 and 35. Though participation is technically voluntary, there is considerable social pressure- especially within the Church - on able-bodied men to serve. Many women volunteer, though it is not expected of them. Deseret law requires that employers of Militiamen hold their jobs while they serve. Roughly 20,000 Militiamen will be on active duty at any time, attached to infantry and cavalry units of the five Patrol Corps; Militiamen are rarely assigned to the Security Corps or Intelligence Command. In times of crisis, additional Militiamen may be activated. The total strength of the Militia exceeds 200,000 , though the peacetime Patrol couldn't equip so large a force.

Deseret

Deseret Patrolmen Players may wish to create characters who are members of the Deseret Patrol. In fact, it is possible to design an entire campaign around the patrol (see p. 43). PC patrolmen must have no attribute lower than a 9, and take the following advantages, disadvantages and skills:

Advantages: Patron: Patrol (very powerful organization, appears on 9 or less; 20 points); Reputation: Patrolman ( +2 from Desereters; 10 points). Disadvantages: Duty to Patrol (Demanded on 10 or less; -10 points). Skills: Guns (Submachine Guns) at OX+ 1 (2 points); Survival (Desert) and (Mountain) at IQ-1 (1 point each); Tactics at IQ-2 (2 points). Further skills are required of each Patrolman, depending on the type of unit to · which he is assigned, as follows : ltifantry and Security: Guns (Assault Rifle) at OX+ 2 ( + 2 points); Shield at OX (1 point) and Shortsword (for Baton) at OX (2 points), both used in riot control. Ughl and Heavy Cavalry: Driving at DX-1 (1 point); Gunner (Machine Gun), (Rocket Launcher) and (Assault Rifle) at DX-1 (1 point each); and one from Driving (DX+2), Gunner (DX+2) or Mechanic (IQ+2), costing 6 or 8 points. Air Cavalry: Pilot (Helicopter or Zeppelin) at IQ+ 1 (4 points) or Gunner (Machine Gun) and (Rocket Launcher) at ox+ 1 (8 points). ltllelligence: PCs in the Intelligence Corps should spend at least 20 points on skills such as Acting, Area Knowledge, Detect Lies, Disguise, Fast Talk, Interrogatio~. Languages, Professional Skill (Cryptography) and Stealth. The GM may require certain skills, depending on the PC's unit assignment.

though the Arizona and New Mexico state governments feebly attempted to block the Mormon immigration, the townspeople welcomed them and the protection and prosperity they represented. For the first time in decades, these badlands communities experienced economic growth. In 2024, anti-LOS politicians in Arizona and New Mexico began a campaign intended to rally public opinion against the "imperialist cult stealing our rightful territory." Though they were trying to prevent Deseret from annexing their territory, their movement backfired and actually precipitated the transfer of the borderlands. When the campaign supporters pointed out that Deseret might take the lands, it suddenly occurred to the bordertown residents that they could become part of the Deseret Autonomous Region, enjoying the protection of the Patrol forever. Working with the Deseret Congressional delegation, the residents of northern Arizona and northwestern New Mexico petitioned the federal government to be transferred to Deseret. Unable to oppose the well-organized Deseret petition, an otherwise apathetic Congress transferred large tracts of land to Deseret during the 2025 Congressional Session. When Deseret subsequently requested several thousand square miles of Nevada be added to the Region as well, one Nevada congressman commented that Deseret was welcome to it, his state was glad to get out of its commitment to defend those areas.

Any Patrolman assigned to a police unit

-all security units, and many intelligence, infantry and light cav units - must take the advantage Legal Enforcement Powers, at a cost of S points.

Military Rank within the Patrol Any Patrolman above the rank of Private must take the advantage Military Rmlk, which costs S points per level. The ranks are: Private (0); Corporal (1); Sergeant (2); Second or First Lieutenant (3); Captain (4); Major or Lieutenant Colonel (S); Colonel or Brigadier General (6); Major General or Lieutenant-General (7); General (8). Military Rank carries Social Status equal to the character's Rank, divided by 3 and rounded to the nearest whole number. Thus, a Lieutenant Colonel has an effective Status of 2, at no extra point cost.

Deseret

Deseret Today Today, Deseret is the largest of the Mountain West states in land area, and second only to Colorado in population. The Regional economy is healthier than that of any neighboring state, and Desereters enjoy one of the highest standards ofliving in the country. It remains one of the safest parts of the nation, with more miles of patrolled highway than any other three states combined. The safety of the Region's highways, along with Deseret's beautiful mountains, canyons and deserts, attract many of the tourists produced by America's healing economy. In recent years, the Deseret Legislature has implemented several successful plans to attract business and industry to Deseret. Many experts believe that by 2050, Salt Lake City will be one of the nation's top 10 industrial cities, with special emphasis on high-tech industry. Salt Lake is rapidly closing the commercial gap between itself and Denver, and may soon eclipse that city as the economic heart of the Mountain West.

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BLVD In the early '30s, Big League Unlimited Duelling- or BLUD- formed around a handful of pro duellists who felt AADA duelling had become overregulated and unnecessarily preoccupied with safety. Although several major prize duels held between 2032 and 2034 were tagged as BLUD events, the new association's strength was in its amateur and semi-pro membership.

BLUD OrganimtiDn

The History of BLUD BLUD has never been a formal organization in the sense that the AADA or the American Combat Football League is. Because of this, it is difficult to trace the precise origins ofBLUD. Some say that BLUD did not exist before Lauren Grey and Hamilton Burgess (seep. 39) left the AADA in 2032, but this is not the case. BLUD existed in the small towns of the Midwest. Grey, Burgess and their fellow AADA defectors simply brought the group into the national spotlight.

The Early Years of the AADA The development of BLUD is directly related to the development of the AADA. The American Autoduelling Association was formed in 2025, to serve all who "have cause to use vehicular weapons in a legal manner." This meant essentially two things - to provide information, support and instruction for travelers on America's increasingly dangerous highways, and to organize the growing sport of autoduelling into a national league. Of these two purposes, the latter was far more visible. Therefore, organizing and promoting the sport of autoduelling was the early AADA's main emphasis. These were the early days of death sports, when the viewing public was still more interested in slow-motion blood spatterings than in style or technique. The 2026 duelling season saw the first year of AADA circuit competition. By the next season, the AADA had established itself as the national governing body for professional autoduelling, and the first U.S. and Texas national championships were held. By 2028, national championships had also been organized in Canada, Oklahoma and Louisiana. The national champions met in October of that year, and fought the first AADA World Championship. The AADA gave the public what it wanted- four people died on television during the final round of the 2028 Worlds, including the reigning champions of Louisiana and Canada. The Arena Safety Code (ASC) In 2029, however, several humanitarian and religious organizations became very vocal in their concern over the increasing number of deaths in arena sports. Not only was there interest in the safety of the competitors; there was also a great deal of concern that spectators at death-sport arenas were endangered by the events. The AADA worried that these groups might pressure Washington into establishing a federal regulatory agency that might place severe restrictions on duelling or - even worse - re-criminalize arena killing. Therefore, they elected to establish a safety code for AADA-sanctioned events and arenas. The AADA Arena Safety Code (ASC) was put into effect for the 2030 duelling season. Among the ASC regulations were requirements for clear armorplas barriers protecting spectator, press and pit areas; prohibitions against firing vehicular weapons at pedestrians, except in specially-designated auto-ped events; heavy restrictions on deliberate collisions, including the prohibition of intentional head-on collisions; and a requirement that all vehicles, except cycles, carry automatic fire-fighting systems.

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BLUD organization is almost a contradiction in terms. Modem BLUD is a very loosely-knit fraternity of nonconformist duellists with little in common but a love for vehicular mayhem. The basic unit of BLUD is the local chapter. However, BLUD chapters have no clubhouse or headquarters, no officers and no regular meetings (see BLUD and the Law, below). Instead, a BLUD chapter usually claims a local drinking establishment as its base of operations, and meetings are held whenever enough BLUDies (as members call one anodler) show up to look like a quorum. Leadership is by popular approval, and changes as quickly as the moods of the chapter. Charisma, skill and reputation are all important factors for gaining clout within a BLUD chapter; fast talk and sure guns are the best way to keep it.

BLUD and the law State Supreme Court injunctions in Colorado, Wyoming and Idaho make it illegal for any group to assemble as an official function of Big League Unlimited Duelling (BLUD). The Deseret Autonomous Region has a similar injunction against BLUD, though Montana does not. These rulings prohibit any organization calling itself BLUD to hold meetings, duelling events or elections of officers. It is also forbidden to be an officer ofBLUD or any affiliated organization or firm. It is not, however, illegal to be a rankand-file member of BLUD, or to display the BLUD logo. Thus, when a BLUD chapter gathers at its favorite pub, it is "strictly by coincidence." The police are legally unable to interfere with the gathering. Some police forces have been known to show up at BLUD watering holes and try to get someone to admit that there is a BLUD meeting taking place. If anyone slips, the cops run the whole lot in. With no meetings and no officers, BLUD officially doesn't exist, making the often-troublesome group extremely difficult to fight. You can't strike vital spots when the law prevents BLUD from having them!

BLUD

BLUDColors The generally-accepted insignia of BLUD is a yellow circle, with a broad red border and a red stripe running diagonally across the center, from upper left to lower right. The device closely resembles the universal "no" symbol (a white circle with similar red markings), and many people believe that the resemblance is deliberate. Because BLUD has .no central organization regulating such things, there is considerable variation on this theme among BLUD chapters and members . Many BLUD groups, for example, print the name of their home city on the red stripe. Others add another design element in the center of the circle, on top of the red stripe. For example, Pueblo BLUD paints a black skull on their club insignia, Cheyenne BLUD add a bucking black stallion, and Great Falls BLUD outlines a white dagger in black.

Joining BLUD Becoming a member of BLUD is not difficult - just paint the colors on your car. In this way, you acquire most of the disadvanlages of being a member of the maverick duelling association - a bad reputation and any enemies local BLUD may have. Simply painting a logo on your car doesn't make you a functioning member of a local BLUD chapter, though . Most groups have traditional initiation tasks for prospective members. These range from comical (hanging underwear from the flagpole at the AADA office) to very dangerous (provoking and surviving a duel with the police or a local AADA champ). BLUD initiation rites can make an interesting adventure, testing the would-be BLUDies' skill, ingenuity and nerve. For example, the Billings, Montana, BLUD drop off applicants on 1-90 between Sheridan and Buffalo, Wyoming. Armed with a pistol per applicant and one LAW for the group, the initiates become BLUD if they can make it back to Billings within 24hours. Denver BLUDies collect drivers' licenses. A prospective member is assigned a license he must acquire - usually that of a city official, police officer or local AADA pro. How he gets the license is not critical. licenses have been stolen, bought, won in duels or taken from corpses. One gutsy BLUDie obtained a city councilman's license by appearing at the local driver's license bureau with a photo of the counciland bribing the clerk to order a replacement license with that photo on it.

BWD

Though the ASC regulations set down safety standards for most aspects of arena autoduelling, the actual practice of duels changed little. For the most part, the ASC rules were loosely enforced. Vehicle inspections were lax- a simple LED smoke indicator on the dashboard was usually accepted as an automatic fire-fighting device. Arenas with inadequate spectator shields were given waivers if they were "in the process of constructing appropriate safety measures." Still, the pro-safety groups seemed appeased.

The Candlestick Disaster The issue of arena safety arose again, however, after the greatest disaster in autoduelling history. During the 2031 Overdrive Circuit Championships, held that year in San Francisco's Candlestick Park, a flamethrower-armed, mid-sized vehicle crashed through the wall and into the bleachers. In the ensuing blast, 28 spectators were killed and another 43 were injured. Public reaction was tremendous - the explosion was featured on television news programs across the country for days. UBN's Nightlight news program devoted a week to the disaster, debating the moral, ethical, economic and legal aspects of the incident and of autoduelling in general. The AADA was harshly criticized by the media for failing to enforce its own safety regulations - Candlestick Park had been one of the arenas operating under a waiver for inadequate spectator protection. In response, the AADA immediately suspended all sanctioned events until they could be rescheduled for facilities that met the ASC standards.

The AADA Clamps Down The arena events of 2031 had been fast, bloody affairs, with frequent fatalities. The duels of the 2032 season were slower and more cautious. The AADA strictly enforced all aspects of the ASC regulations and introduced the Divisional system. Vehicles were separated into classes designated by their value, according to Detroit Standard Exchange Rates - an artificial set of "prices" for vehicle components, based on their relative effectiveness in the arena. (Duelling vehicles had previously been segregated according to size.)

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Several arenas lost their sanction due to inadequate safety measures, and a number of duellists were heavily fined, even suspended, for firing upon pedestrians or otherwise violating the ASC. A number of pro duellists became disgusted by the watered-down state of AADA duelling. In Kansas and Nebraska, a number of duellists, led by former U.S. champion Lauren "Laserbum" Grey and three-time Flashfire Circuit champ Hamilton "HR" Burgess, began to participate in non-AADA events which were unhampered by oppressive regulation. These events offered big prizes - as big as the risks - because the events had few safety regulations. No limits were placed on the value or size of vehicles, and drivers were fair targets, even after they had left their destroyed vehicles. No driver was obligated to accept the surrender of another vehicle, regardless of that vehicle's condition.

BLUD Emerges These non-sanctioned events were everything the early AADA competitions had been - exciting, fast-paced and often gory. They soon threatened to top AADA events for television ratings and spectator draw. The sports media dubbed the events, collectively, BLVD - Big League Unlimited Duelling. The name stuck as the popularity of the duels continued to grow. Though there was no central organization coordinating these duels, they began to look more and more like a real league. Part of BLVD's appeal was its accessibility. BLVD didn't require much of its members - not even a driver's license - and the leading BLVD duellists considered themselves just "guys in cars." Grey was one such BLVD driver. "To join the AADA circuit, you need at least $50,000 dollars in vehicles and equipment, so you're competitive in at least two or three divisions," she once remarked. "BLUD has no divisions, so anyone with a car and a machine gun can be a BLUD pro! All you have to do is paint the logo on your car."

The AADA Fights Back Before the 2033 season opened, Burgess retired from pro duelling to open Big League Promotions, a company that organized rough and bloody, BLVDstyle duels. He set up several dates around the country, particularly in the Midwest and Mountain West, where a significant portion of the amateur duelling community was declaring itself BLUD. It was apparent that the blossoming BLUD "league" posed a serious threat to AADA pro duelling. To defend its position, the AADA began to take strong measures against duellists and arenas who participated in BLUD events. AADA arenas which hosted events conducted not in accordance with the ASC - even in the off season - lost their AADA sanction, along with the duelling events and television contracts that sanction assured. AADA duellists who entered BLVD duels were indefinitely suspended from the AADA circuit. BLVD supporters claimed the AADA was violating the Sherman Anti-Trust Act, but the AADA assured the government that it was taking such a strong stand out of concern for the safety of duellists and spectators. After all, the AADA pointed out, BLUD events had an average mortality rate of25 to 40%- far higher than AADA duelling. Although Burgess and other promoters protested, almost all of the AADA arenas which had scheduled BLUD events cancelled them. Most of the big-name duellists slated to appear in the non-AADA events backed out as well, leaving a handful of unknown drivers to fill the BLVD programs. Burgess scrambled to reschedule his events in non-AADA arenas, but without name duellists, television networks soon lost interest. Burgess finally settled for regional coverage on the Denver-based Blood Sports Entertainment (BSE) network. Still, several BLUD events were held during 2033, including two separate U.S. national championships. Several rising young duellists made a name for themselves in BLUD events, where prizes were relatively high and the level of competition not particularly stiff.

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Hamilton 11 HR'' Burgess Age 3S; Sandy blond hair, brown eyes; 6' I", I90lbs. ST I2, DX I3, IQ I2, HT Il. Basic Speed 6; MoveS. DodgeS. Improved Body Armor (PO 6, DR 4); Light Encumbrance. Advantages: Appearance (Handsome); Charisma +3; Reputation ( +3 among BLUDies); Status 3; Wealth (Wealthy). Disadvantages: Enemy (FBI and most state police; appears on 9 or less); Overconfidence; Reputation (-3 from AADA members); Unluckiness. Quirks: Ladies' man; Likes reckless duelling; Resents Laserburn Grey. Skills: Area Knowledge (Mountain West)-I3, (Midwest)-I4; Armoury/TL7 (Vehicular Weaponry)-I2; Bard-IS ; Brawling-I2; Computer Operation-13; Driving (Cars)-I6; Fast Draw (Pistol)-12; Gunnery (Flamethrower)-IS, (Laser)-I4, (Machine Gun)-1S, (Rocket Launcher)-18; Guns (Bazookas)-I3, (Pistols)-I3, (SubMachine Guns)-I4; Heraldry (Vchicular Colors)-I4; Leadership-IS; Merchant-I3; Motorcycle-I4; Savoire-Faire-I4; Sex Appeal-I3; Tactics-IS. Language: English-I4. Weapons: .3S7 Magnum- 3d-I cr, SS IO, Ace 3, 'hD I8S, Max 2,000, RoF3"' , Rcl-2; Uzi- 3d-I, SS IO Ace 7, 'hD 160, Max I,OOO, RoF IO*, Rcl-1. As the AADA began to work to shut down all professional BLUD duelling, HR (for Heavy Rocket) Burgess and his Big League Promotions became the unofficial leaders · of the "league." It is widely believed that Burgess was one of the major organizers of the violence known as the BLUD War. Without question, he participated in several Chapter Meeting Raids, and is wanted by the FBI for his part in those events. Personally, Burgess was a charming, likeable fellow, quick with a joke and steady in a bad situation. Although he had a reputation as a ladies' man around the arenas, he was frequently seen in the company of Laserburn Grey. Friends of Burgess said he was deeply hurt when she returned to the AADA and abandoned BLUD. Whether he was sufficiently angered to stage the ambush in which Grey was killed is not clear. The FBI also wants him for questioning in this matter. On September 8, 203S, Burgess led his BLUD compatriots in a raid on the Denver AADA. The seven BLUD vehicles drove directly into an AADA ambush. All BLUD vehicles were destroyed, and II BLUD members were killed or captured. Although his vehicle caught fire and ex. ploded, Burgess escaped. • Fires single shots or automatic:; one tum to change from one to the other.

BLUD

The End of BLUD BLUDEvents Because of the sanctioning policies of the AADA and the court injunctions against BLUD assemblages, an "official" BLUD event is rare today. However, almost any "open" event - that is, one which may be entered by non-members of the AADA- held in the Mountain West is sure to become an unofficial BLUD duel. Especially popular with the BLUDies are No Division, to-the-death events. A No Division event is technically limited to vehicles worth $100,000, but most BLUDies drive cars worth less than $15,000. The BLUDies are fond of to-thedeath duels because they most closely resemble the no-holds-barred sort of duelling which attracted them to BLUD in the first place. Often, a BLUD chapter will agree to some form of non-arena group duel, held on a highway, dry lakebed or abandoned parking lot. Popular formats include: King of the Road - One vehicle defends a given territory against all comers, who try to immobilize or disarm the "King" and assume the title. It may or may not be legal to gang up on the King. 7he Gauntlet - All duellists but one spread out along opposite sides of the road, forming the "gauntlet." The last duellist - the "runner" - drives through the gauntlet at high speed, while all the other duellists fire at him. In some scenarios, the runner is allowed to return fire; in others, he must run the gauntlet without firing. Road Rally - All duellists must drive to a specified point and back along a highway, leaving exactly one minute apart. Duellists draw lots to see who leaves first; shortest elapsed time wins the event. Artillery Practice - Duellists select a non-BLUD (usually AADA) vehicle at which they fire from extreme range. Longest shot that hits usually wins, though sometimes individual targets -headlights, weapons, tires, license plates or AADA logos - are specified. Bkut Tag - One duellist is specified as "IT;" he chases the other vehicles, attempting to hit them with his laser, machine gun or other front-mounted weapon. If he hits another vehicle, that duellist then becomes IT. Dropped weapons may be used defensively, but do not count as a tag when used by IT. Part of the fun of the game is in getting as close to IT's vehicle as possible without being tagged.

BLUD

Sensing that BLUD was reeling, staying upright only because of the popularity of its few remaining stars, the AADA decided in 2034 to finish the job it had started the year before. With the beginning of the '34 season, the association offered amnesty to all duellists suspended from the AADA for entering BLUD events. Several BLUD stars were offered cash incentives to sign contracts binding them to AADA competition. Most of BLUD's best duellists, including Grey, accepted the AADA's offer. The defection of Grey and the other BLUD stars to the AADA was a staggering blow for Big League Promotions and other BLUD promoters. Without their own stars, BLUD events couldn't attract even regional television contracts. On the coasts, where the AADA was especially strong, BLUD was all but dead. Although Burgess began to promote local, semi-pro events in Colorado and Wyoming, "giving home-town boys their shot at stardom," he was still on the verge of bankruptcy by the close of the 2034 season. The resentment Burgess and the remaining BLUD duellists, both pro and amateur, felt towards the AADA grew steadily. By midsummer, attacks by amateur BLUDies on AADA vehicles on the open highway were becoming increasingly common and increasingly deadly. By the end of the year, 15 AADA duellists had been killed in duels against BLUD. Grey was one of the casualties. On the night of September 28, her lone Flamberge was ambushed by at least five BLUD cars a few miles south of Cheyenne. She managed to take out three of her assailants before she rolled and burned. It is widely rumored that Burgess was one of the BLUD drivers who escaped the encounter.

TheBLUDWar Using its considerable influence with the media, the AADA worked to tum public opinion against BLUD. To this end, the AADA financed the hour-long special, "In Cold BLUD," broadcast three times during February, 2035, on the RSVP network. This powerful documentary examined the road deaths of several AADA duellists, including Grey, as well as a variety of arena-related deaths in and ·around BLUD events. Reporter Jerry Rivers attempted, on live television, to interview Burgess, but the BLUD leader remained locked behind the door of his Big League Promotions office, refusing to appear on camera. Though the program was obviously slanted, the message of "In Cold BLUD" was clear BLUD was a dangerous and maliciously reckless group, and should be stopped. BLUD reaction to the broadcast was swift and emphatic. Beginning in March of2035, large packs ofBLUD vehicles began to strike AADA gatherings throughout the Midwest and Mountain West. At first, the attacks were limited to property - strafing runs past AADA offices or the parking lots at AADA arenas. Soon, however, the attacks grew more lethal. The homes of several AADA leaders were hit by BLUD vehicles passing at high speeds. By midsummer, the BLUDies began the notorious Chapter Meeting Raids. To execute one of these raids, a BLUD group would quietly approach a local AADA headquarters during its monthly meeting. First, the BLUDies would disable the vehicles parked outside the building, either with bombs or by firing on

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them with vehicular weapons. As soon as the AADA members began to pour out of the building to see what was the matter, the BLUD drivers would open fire on the surprised Association duellists. After hosing down the AADA members for a few seconds, the BLUD pack would then break away, disappearing into the distance before their victims could react. It didn't take the AADA long to fight back. Ambushes were set up at chapter meetings which BLUD packs were expected to hit. Although BLUD caught wind of some ambushes and cancelled several assaults, raiders motored directly into four of the ambushes in August and September (see sidebar p. 39). In each case, most of the BLUDies were killed or apprehended; those caught were eventually tried and incarcerated. Soon after, the BLUD raids began to drop off. Many BLUD groups had been seriously weakened by ambushed raids, while others simply quieted down after seeing their fellows in other regions dead or imprisoned. All total, the BLUD War claimed 65 AADA members and almost 40 BLUD. By the end of the year, AADA lawyers had obtained court injunctions in most states prohibiting duellists assembling under the name of BLUD, and making it illegal to hold office in any BLUD or BLUD-related organization. Most of BLUD's leaders had been apprehended in the chapter meeting raids, and were tried and sentenced in 2036. The backbone ofBLUD had been broken.

BLUDToday Although broken, BLUD did not die. It is, however, a very different "organization" than it was a few years ago. Gone are the "official" BLUD arena events, the pro duellists and the television coverage. What remains are maverick amateur and semi-pro duellists, who scoff at the AADA's "sissy safety rules" and "bogus championships." Although BLUD groups can be found throughout America, they are strongest and most common in the Mountain West. Groups vary in strength, skill, character and attitude. In Deseret and the Colorado Federal Corridor, BLUD is fairly tame, co-existing with the AADA on relatively peaceful terms. In Montana, where the AADA presence is especially weak, BLUD is active, strong and openly belligerent towards AADA members. Other regions exhibit a BLUD presence somewhere between these two extremes.

Encountering BLUD The Atlas section (seep. 4-27) discusses the BLUD presence in the various cities of the region, and how to handle encounters with BLUD vehicles and members in those communities. Be sure to review this information carefully when traveling, or check with local AADA offices regarding BLUD activity when arriving in any Mountain West town. If there isn't an AADA office in town, then assume BLUD runs the local duelling scene. On the highway, there are several facts to keep in mind when encountering a BLUD car: 1) If radio contact is established with a BLUD vehicle, it is advised not to mention either organization, directly or indirectly. Such mention is likely to be construed as an insult and will usually result in a duel. 2) Remember the Code of the West, especially article 1. Never aim your weapons at another person or vehicle, unless you intend to shoot ... In many areas, BLUD duellists cruise local highways, searching for AADA vehicles to harass or even attack. And finally, keep in mind that an AADA-BLUD duel is likely to be fatal it will certainly continue until one or both vehicles have lost both offensive weaponry and mobility. An AADA duellist in such areas is likely to face several opponents, at once or in rapid succession. BLUD duellists seldom have any compunction about gunning down a driver or gunner who has fled a damaged vehicle on foot. This is especially true in areas where that group is strong, such as Montana or north Denver.

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The Typical BLUDie Although BLUD is a tremendously diverse group, certain broad generalizations may be made. For example, most BLUD duellists are blue-collar, working types or welfare recipients, living in lower middle-class neighborhoods in the Mountain West and Midwest. Their level of skill ranges from rank amateur to wily veteran. BLUDies haibor a keen resentment for the AADA, with its state-of-the-art vehicles and equipment and its polished armotplas warriors. They scorn the AADA's safety regulations. Autoduelling is a death sport, they argue. What fun is a death sport in which nobody dies? Most BLUDies drive older cars in varying states of repair. Though many BLUD vehicles would total up to $15,000 or more for AADA Divisional purposes, few actually cost that much. Most are a hodge-podge of used and salvaged parts, held together by nuts and bolts, baling wire, amateur welds, rust and luck. For reasons of expense, an increasing JlUIDber of BLUD duellists are driving trikes and cycles. A "typical" BLUDie is statted below, for potential encounters.

GURPSStats ST 10, DX 11, IQ 10, HT 11 . Speed S.S; Move 4; Dodge 4. Body Armor (PD 4, DR 3); Light encumbrance. Advantages: Combat Reflexes, High Pain Threshhold or Toughness. Disadvantages: Overconfidence; Poverty (Struggling); Reputation: BLUD member (-2 reaction from non-violent citizens and AADA members). Quirks: Likes to duel; Thinks AADA is wimpy. Skills: Area Knowledge (Home town or local highways)-12; Armoury (Vehicular Weapons)-9; Brawling-tO; Driving (Cars)12 or Motorcycle-13; GunnerfrL7 (usually Machine Gun or Rocket Launcher)-13; Guns (Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun or SMG)-11 ; MechanicffL7 (Cars)-10; Streetwise-11. Vehicle: Joseph Special (Mid-sized); Outlander (Cycle); or Leo (Trike).

Car Wars Slats Driver or Cyclist, Gunner gunner, Mechanic.

+ 1, Hand-

BLUD

CAIIPAI81118 II TBIIIOUITAII WIST The Banditos The AADA has identified over 80 cycle gangs in the Mountain West. Though most have less than a hundred members, a small handful of gangs have up to several thousand members. The largest gang in the region is the Banditos, with an estimated 4,300. The War Dogs (in Wyoming and Montana) and the Dead Indians (in southwestern Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico) are the Banditos' closest rivals. The Banditos are one of the oldest gangs in the country, tracing their history back to Texas in the mid-1900s. When Texas seceded from the Union, the Banditos were already well-established in the state. However, during the Second Civil War, the Banditos allied themselves with the Republic and fought against U.S. forces on at least three occasions. After the war, the Banditots returned to their previous terrorist ways, and the Texas Rangers turned their peacetime attention to these ruffians. By 2006, the last of the Banditos had left the Republic, heading northwest. They lived a nomadic existence through the Blight years, preying on towns in the Mountain West and Southwest. In the mid 2020s, the Banditos settled in Fort Collins/ Greeley, Colorado, and today are the dominant gang there. Their leader, Tom "Great White" Whitney, is currently the mayor of both Greeley and Fort Collins. Although most of the Banditos live in the Greeley area, branches of the gang are often reported elsewhere. One Bandito clan is currently operating in Montana and another terrorizes northern Arizona. Raiding parties from Greeley often target nearby cities, such as Loveland, Boulder, Cheyenne and occasionally Denver. From time to time, they extend their raids into Wyoming. While the Banditos have no established colors or insignia, they can usually be recognized by their "uniforms" of denim and black leather. Some Banditos amlazon the gang's name on their jackets vehicles, though this is far from • ersal. Duellists should avoid the Ban- even lone individuals and small - if at all possible. The gang has a ·on for short tempers and swift,

This section outlines the various campaigns, as well as a few scenario suggestions, which may be set in each of the Mountain West states. Special attention is paid to the campaign types presented in GURPS Autoduel- Clubhouse Blues, Lone Wolf, the Western, On the Duel Circuit and Making a Living (see pp. Autotbul?0-72) - and how they may be set up in various areas or organizations in each state.

Colorado There are really two Colorados- the Federal Corridor and the Outlands. The Outlands are rough country, more like Wyoming than the Federal Corridor. For an Outlands campaign, follow the advice given for Wyoming (see p. 44). The Federal Corridor, however, is the most populous area in the Mountain West, providing an arena for the classic urban adventures described in the AADA Road Atlas and Survival Guides for the East and the West coasts. Many events on the AADA's Flashfire Circuit are held in the Corridor, providing an excellent backdrop for a campaign On 1he Circuit. A Clubhouse Blues campaign could be built around the State Police, who are concerned almost exclusively with keeping 1-25 safe for federal and corporate traffic. Duellists Making a Living can find work as couriers or escorts, running packages and passengers in the Corridor, as well as to other major cities, such as Salt Lake and Boise. The smaller towns on the edge of the Corridor - Boulder, Loveland, Littleton, Fountain - make an excellent setting for a Western campaign.

Suggested scenarios: North and South. Tensions between the BLUD forces in north Denver, and the AADA members in south Denver (seep. 9) erupted into a violent conflict in the parking lot of Mile High Stadium last weekend. Now, the PCs, either as State Police or corporate mercenaries, must defuse the situation before the largest city in the Rockies is paralyzed by street warfare. A Little Slice of Hell. The Atomic Voyager, a huge tour bus that takes hundreds of passengers on daily tours through the remnants of Colorado Springs, has broken down within that dreg-infested city. The PCs are State Police or a private force. Recruited by the tour company, they are sent to find the bus and its 60 passengers, and bring them home.

vengeance.

ountain West Campaign

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Deseret Autonomous Region With the exception of Colorado's Federal Corridor, Deseret is the most heavily patrolled, civilized area in the Mountain West. This degree of security did not come by accident - it came from the effort and self-sacrifice of the Deseret Patrol. The Patrol makes an excellent parent organization for a Clubhouse Blues campaign. With its many branches and duties, the Patrol offers an endless variety of adventures, ranging from covert operations through government and church security to the open combat of highway patrol duty. Patrolmen should use lethal force only to prevent loss of life or significant, life-threatening property damage. The Patrol frowns upon firing at fleeing criminals just to keep them from escaping; trigger-happy Patrolmen will usually find themselves behind a desk. Play the Patrol as straight arrows. They uphold the law, not bend it- even to defeat the bad guys.

Suggested &enarios: Clones on the Range. The Patrol learns that Gold Cross may be operating a secret clone base within the Region, in violation ofDeseret law (seep. 12). The PCs must find the base - if it exists - and apprehend those running it. 1he Gang's All Here. A cycle gang (a branch of The Banditos, Colorado's Dead Indians or Nevada's One-Armed Bandits) has moved into sparsely-populated southern Deseret and is raiding small towns. The PCs must track down and capture the bikers before they cross the border into Nevada, Arizona or Colorado, where the Patrol can't follow and state police are weak or non-existent.

Idaho Like Colorado, Idaho has two distinct regions, each with its own character. The Snake River plains, where the famous Idaho potatoes are grown, is a peaceful, prosperous farm region, well protected by the state's elite police force, the Farm Guard. The Panhandle, on the other hand, is a rowdy area populated by miners, cowboys and lumbermen. These two very different backdrops are suitable for very different campaigns. The ideal campaign for potato country would be Clubhouse Blues, involving members of the Farm Guard. The Guard is similar to Deseret's Patrol, but because of its limited resources, it is more concerned with results than with methods. This causes friction when the Farm Guard and the Patrol cooperate against potato pirates in border areas. The Panhandle is a much better place for the freelance duellist to find work. PCs interested in a Lone Wolf campaign can find employment escorting shipments of the precious metals mined in the region, running vital supplies to isolated lumber camps, and guarding - or raiding - geological survey expeditions in remote areas. Excellent Western campaigns can be set in the Panhandle as well. Range wars are common among the ranchers of the area, herds need protection against rustlers, and small-time prospectors are regularly troubled by the larger mining concerns.

Suggested &enarios: How Do You Spell Relief? The small town of Clark Fork (northeast of Coeur d'Alene) has radioed that it is under attack by an unknown cycle gang. The townsfolk have holed up in a fortified lumber camp. However, at the present rate of weapons exchange, they'll run out of ammo within three hours. The PCs answer the call, but they'll have to cover over 70 miles of poorly-maintained mountain roads to get there. Can they cover the distance in time to save the people of Clark Fork? Suggestion: The time of year in which this scenario plays will affect road conditions as well as what kind of vehicles the PCs use. A Friend in Need. While driving peacefully through Boise, one of the PCsor a Dependent- is fired upon by another out-of-towner, who is apparently un-

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The Powtkr River Boys The best known of all Wyoming's outlaw bands is the infamous Powder River Boys, led by Fred "Pirate" Roberts. With only 10 or 1S men, the Powder River boys are hardly a cycle gang; instead, they are the 21st-century version of the classic Western gang of bank robbers, highway bandits and hold-up men. Robert's exploits began in 2014 with the famous Casper National Bank robbery, a daring daylight job. Since then, the Powder River Boys have led bounty hunters and marshals on a merry, 25-year chase. Along the way, they have pulled over SO major jobs, including the notorious Gold Cross caper, in which several unactivated clones were "kidnapped" and held for ransom. Roberts himself was captured in Cheyenne in 2023, but his "boys" broke him loose in a firefight that cost the lives of a dozen Vigilance Committee members. Back in Powder River, Roberts is the town hero and local "living" legend. The Powder River Boys have never targeted any hometown business or individual, and have brought considerable life to the local economy. Roberts served as town sheriff from 2026 to 2034, when he was succeeded by his own right-hand man, Stan "Slinger" Sinclair. Roberts was elected mayor of Powder River in 203S.

Fred "Pirau" Roberts Age 47; Silver hair, blue eyes; S' 10", 165 lbs. ST 11, OX 12, IQ 14, HT 11. Advantages: Appearance (Attractive); Alertness +2; Combat Reflexes; Status 2; Wealth (Very Wealthy). Disadvantages: Enemy - most local Wyoming police forces; Reputation (-3 from Wyoming residents outside Powder River). Skills: Area Knowledge (Wyoming)1S; Detect Lies-14; Driving (Most types)14; Fast-Draw (Pistol)-14; Gunner (Most systems)-13; Guns (Pistols)-13; Interrogation-16; Knife-13; Strategy-13; Streetwise-IS; Tactics-16.

Stan "Slinger" Sinclalr Age 36; Brown hair and eyes; 6' 1", 1601bs. ST 11, OX 14, IQ 12, HT 10. Advantages: Combat Reflexes; Legal Enforcement Powers (10 points); Status 1; Wealth (Wealthy). Disadvantages: Enemy - Most local Wyoming police forces; Reputation (-1 from Wyoming residents outside Powder River). Skills: Area Knowledge (Powder River)-14, (Wyoming)-13; Driving (Most types)-lS; Fast-Draw (Pistol-16); Gunner (Most systems)-14; Guns (Most types)-16; Knifc-14; Tracking-13.

The Mountain West Campaign

aware of the city's strictly-enforced anti-duelling ordinance. A zealous cop picks up both parties. The trial is set for the next week; when the party finds out that the judge will be Walter "Hang'em" Highe, they must decide whether to trust in the system or attempt a jailbreak.

Montana

The Farm Guard Unlike most state patrol units, the Idaho Farm Guard is not charged with protecting citizens or keeping the highways safe for private traffic. Instead, this elite branch of the Idaho State Police is solely dedicated to combatting the road bandits who prey upon the state's vital potato crop. The Farm Guard usually performs three types of missions - highway cleansing, convoy escort and pre-emptive assaults. For a highway-cleansing mission, a squad of Guard vehicles are dispatched to patrol the road ahead of a potato convoy and remove any threats. An escort mission assigns one to three squads to protect a potato convoy as it passes through remote or dangerous territory. A pre-emptive assault is an offensive against a known band of potato pirates; it may involve any number of Farm Guard vehicles and personnel. Such an assault may be a direct attack on a pirate camp, or a dummy convoy intended to draw such a group into an ambush. A Farm Guard squad usually consists of six Guard cruisers and an armed troop carrier. Thus, a typical squad might include four Hudson Hammers, two Rothschild Laser Flamberges and a Republic Road Conqueror, with a full complement of four ground assault troops. (All of these vehicles are described in the Car Warriors character book.) Unlike highway patrol units of the Deseret Patrol, which are charged with similar responsibilities, the Farm Guard enjoys considerable latitude in executing its duties. Travelers should be extremely careful in encounters involving the Farm Guard. Any action that could be perceived as aggressive will be met quickly and violently by the Guard. Duellists captured by the Farm Guard almost invariably face trial for highway banditry and potato piracy; they are usually convicted and sentenced to several years in prison.

7he Mountain West Campaign

Controlled by a handful of very unpopular Japanese corporations, Montana offers wonderful opportunities for a campaign built around a rebel underground. At the heart of such a rebellion is the Big Sky Liberation Army -an army of anti-corporate terrorists. A campaign centering on the BSLA will be a sort of cross between Clubhouse Blues and Lone Wolf campaigns - the under-equipped, desperate PCs struggle to overthrow Montana's economic daimyos, and are always on the run from corporate armies. Because there is no legitimate aid for its struggle, the BSLA must find allies wherever it can. Often, the BSLA will coordinate operations with cycle gangs on the condition that the cycle gangs limit their targets to Japanese corporate holdings. Whether or not the gangs honor the condition is always a gamble.

Suggested Scenarios: Mo Can You Trust? The PCs are part of a BSLA raid on a Tanaka oil refinery. For extra manpower, they have recruited a segment of the Range Riders cycle gang. During the raid, the bikers open fire on the refinery workers. If the PCs tum on the Range Riders, they'll have to fight both the gang and the Tanaka security forces, dooming the mission. If they don't, dozens of civilians will die and the BSLA will suffer some very bad publicity. Ninjas in the Dark. The BSLA assigns the PCs to assassinate Aso-Shima CEO Fujiko Karika, and terminate his clone. To accomplish this, they must penetrate both Aso-Shima's Helena headquarters and its corporate hospital. Both will be heavily guarded, by Aso-Shima Security, and by deadly ninjas ...

Wyoming More than any other state, Wyoming is the new American west. Lacking a functioning state government, Wyoming's many small towns are very much on their own, isolated on the state's wide plains. Its once-vast oil reserves gone, Wyoming's only significant industry is cattle ranching. By far the best campaign for Wyoming is the Western. In it, the PCs are leading citizens of a small, remote town, who defend the town against roving cycle gangs, cattle rustlers and ruthless outlaws. Wyoming is also the best Mountain West setting for a Lone Wolf campaign- the wide open spaces, unpatrolled highways and vulnerable towns provide an ideal environment for these 21st-century scavengers. Lone Wolves will often find themselves facing the exact kinds of characters who would be PCs in a Western movie.

Suggested Scenarios: arcle Up 1he Wagons. The PCs must coordinate the defense of a town or convoy against one of Wyoming's many cycle gangs. The situation may be complicated by special circumstances. A convoy might be carrying vital medical supplies to a remote community. Outlaws within a town when the assault begins may side with the attacking gang. Stagecoach. A bus or small caravan has been captured by a cycle gang. On board are several prominent members of a Wyoming frontier town - the mayor, the town doctor, the school teacher, the rancher's daughter. The PCs, who are new to the area, are sent to rescue the prisoners. Do they stage a frontal assault, or use their local anonymity to pose as outlaws in order to infiltrate the gang?

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11111-SCBI ABIOS Going To The Sun Glacier National Park, Montalul Glacier National Park is perhaps the largest area of natural territory left in the contiguous United States. Unlike Yellowstone, Glacier has few roads accessing its craggy peaks, beautiful lakes, valleys and eerie glaciers. Only one road crosses the Park from east to west - the legendary Going-to-the-Sun Highway. Despite the park's strict anti-duelling regulations, Goingto-the-Sun Highway is one of the most popular autoduelling venues in the Rockies. BLUD duellists especially relish the challenge of this treacherous stretch of highway, widely considered the most dangerous paved road in the country. This narrow road, which crosses the Continental Divide through Logan Pass, was constructed in the mid-1900s for the smaller cars of that era. Twenty-feet wide, it runs for over 30 miles with only one exit along its route - a ranger station and visitor center on the Continental Divide. As if the twists and turns of the road weren't enough of a challenge, Going-to-theSun Highway is cut like a shelf from the side of a solid rock wall thousands of feet tall, called the Garden Wall escarpment. On the other side of the road is a sheer drop that not only ranges from hundreds to thousands of feet in depth but changes hazards as well, depending on which side of Logan Pass the duellists are on. Due to rainfall differences, the west side of the Continental Divide drops into thickly-forested valleys while the eastern drop is characterized by erosion-worn precipices. Heavy snows block the road in the winter and cannot be cleared until June. They return again in September or October. 1n this scenario for two players, a pair of duellists meet on Going-to-the-Sun Highway for the duel of their lives. Each player has $15,000 to spend on a vehicle and equipment. Each may take one 60-point character or two 40-point characters. No more than 30 points may spent on any single skill. Vehicles begin 2-12 inches apart, headed east at 35 miles per hour. Roll randomly to determine which vehicle is in the lead. The winner is the last mobile vehicle. To represent Going-to-the-Sun Highway, use regular Car Wars road sections. However, because this highway is sonarrow, only the center lane is paved. There is a ~ '' shoulder on

either side of the road; any maneuver performed while a vehicle is touching either shoulder takes an additional D 1. Beyond the quarter-inch shoulder on the south side of the highway is a solid rock wall which cannot be breached, and has an infinite number of DP. Beyond the shoulder to the north is a drop of at least several hundred feet - any vehicle going off the road to the north is out of the game. There is no guardrail. Set up the vehicles on a straight road section, headed east. To determine the type of road section and what road hazards that they encounter next, roll two dice on each of the following tables: Road Sections 2 90-degree curve to the left (use a four-way intersection road section). 3-4 Tight curve* to the left. 5-6 Regular curve to the left. 7 Straight (Roll one die: On a 1-3, use a regular straight section; on a 4-6, use a half-length straight). 8-9 Regular curve to the right. 10-11 Tight curve* to the right. 12 90-degree curve to the right.

* If you don't have tight curve road sections, use the insiJe

lane of a regular road section. Road Hazards 2 Unarmed non-player car (HC 2, 5,000 lbs.) heading east at 30 mph. 3 Roll two hazards. 4 3 obstacle counters are scattered randomly along the road. 5 3 debris counters are scattered randomly along the road. 6-8 No hazard. 9 Road is covered with gravel for 3 inches. (Adds D1 to all maneuvers on gravel.) 10 Road is wet for 3 inches. (Adds 02 to all maneuvers on wet pavement.) 11 Road is covered with ice for 1 inch. (Adds 04 to all maneuvers on ice.) 12 Unarmed non-player car (HC 2, 5,000 lbs.) heading west at 30 mph.

Obstacle and debris counters should be dropped from several inches above the center of the road section. If they land off the road, move them to edge of the road, even with the point where they landed. Other road hazards - ice, water or gravel on the road, or non-combatant vehicles - are placed in the center of the road section. Non-player vehicles will be in the right lane, as viewed by their drivers. Continue to roll for road sections until you roll any curve to the south (or right). Because of the cliff face on the south side of the road, any curve to the right blocks the duellists' view of the road beyond. Once the leading vehicle crosses the halfway point of the right curve, determine the next set of road sections, continuing until you hit the next curve to the right. Suggestion: If there is a referee present, write your acceleration/deceleration speeds on paper and show them to the referee to see who's in the lead. If there is no ref, write the speeds on a piece of paper and keep it face down. You can flip them up simultaneously at any given time.

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Mini-Scenarios

Variant #1. One player sets up both vehicles, as per the basic scenario. Each vehicle is assessed damage appropriate for three shots from the other. The other player controls Park Rangers attempting to apprehend the participants in this illegal duel. The Rangers get $35,000 to build two or more vehicles- pickups, cars or trikes - which must be off-road capable. The ranger player has as many 30-point characters as necessary to operate his vehicles. Set up as per the basic scenario - 2-12'' apart, headed east at 35 mph. The duellists are in front. The Ranger wins if he immobilizes or kills both duellists. The Duellists win if they immobilize or kill all Ranger vehicles, or increase their lead to 10 road sections. Variant #2. The Bloodwolves cycle gang has undertaken a raid into Glacier, and is attacking a lone vehicle on Going-tothe-Sun Highway. The Bloodwolf player has $30,000 with which he must build at least 5 cycles, and as many 30-point cyclists as necessary to operate them. The duellist player has $20,000 with which to build a single vehicle. He gets one 60point duellist, or two 40-point characters; no character may have more than 30 points in any skill. Autodutl Stats. Cash allowances for all scenarios are unchanged. Duellist vehicles are manned by one 50-point character or two 30-pointers. Rangers and Bloodwolves are 25-pointers.

mine - which is forbidden - and arresting as many of the participants as possible. The BLUD player begins with four to six vehicles, as described above. The Patrol player has $20,000 per BLUD vehicle to equip his force. The Patrol player has up to 10 characters, built on 50 points apiece. The BLUD vehicles begin on the floor of the mine; the Patrol vehicles begin on the road into the mine, at or above the BLUD finish line. The BLUD player gets one point for every BLUD vehicle that escapes the pit; the Patrol gets a point for each vehicle they keep in the pit. One last rule - the Patrol cannot fire on any vehicle which has not either fired on a Patrol vehicle or begun an approach to ram a Patrol vehicle. Nor may the Patrol fire on a pedestrian unless that ped is firing on a Patrolman outside of his vehicle. A ped must surrender if a Patrolman or vehicle is within 3 inches and is training a weapon upon him.

Out of Sight, Out of Mine NeQI' Salt Lake City, Deseret A two-mile wide, half-mile deep crater, the abandoned Bingham Canyon remains the largest open-pit copper mine in the world. Since mining operations at Bingham Canyon ceased over a decade ago, the mine has become a popular duelling site with the Salt Lake area BLUD duellists, who lack any official arena. The map shows only the center section of the mine; a map of the entire crater would be almost 20 yards across! The circular center of the mine is a flat open area; the roads spiraling up the sides of the crater are 2" wide. Each loop is one inch - 15 feet - above the next. Before play, drop 20 debris counters, 10 obstacle counters, and three wrecked vehicles from a height of 3 feet above the map - Salt Lake BLUD have duelled here a lot. The basic scenario may involve any number of players. Each has $30,000 with which to build a single duelling vehicle, which will be driven by one 30-point character, or two 20-point characters. (Salt Lake BLUD are rich, but not very experienced.) Vehicles begin anywhere within the flat area at the bottom of the pit, within 2'' of the wall. They may begin at any speed up to 40 mph, and headed in any direction that they could plausibly be heading at their beginning speed (obviously, a vehicle going 40 mph can't begin with its rear bumper against the wall). The object- to be the first car to reach the fmish line. The only restriction is that no vehicle may enter the road out of the mine until the beginning of the fourth tum. Variant #1. This scenario is for two players. Each player begins with a vehicle and character(s) as described above. One begins at the "fmish line," headed into the mine; the other, at the beginning of the road leading out of the mine. Both cars start at 40 mph. Like the above scenario, this is a race - the winner is the first vehicle to reach the other's starting point. Obviously, there is no restriction as to when any vehicle may begin its climb or descent. Variant #2. This scenario involves two sides, although any number of players may run vehicles on each side. One side takes the part of the BLUD duellists in the basic scenario; the other side is the Deseret Patrol, intent on breaking up the duel in the

Mini-Scenarios

Frontier Days Cheyenne, Wyoming Because the honest citizens of Wyoming spend so much of their time in vehicular combat against the bikers and outlaws that roam much of that state, they have little interest in recreational, vehicle-versus-vehicle autoduelling. This does not mean, however, that they do not enjoy regular practice in duelling skills. To hone their abilities, Wyoming duellists have developed a unique institution - the auto rodeo. One of the largest auto rodeos is the Wyoming Auto Rodeo, which is held as part of Cheyenne's Frontier Days festivities. This rodeo features a variety of events, ranging from drag races to slalom courses to high-speed target shooting. Individual awards are given in each event, and an All-Around Duellist award is presented to the entrant who places highest overall. For the two weekends of Frontier Days, Cheyenne's Holiday Park Arena is the Flashfire Circuit's designated arena; thus, the Wyoming Auto Rodeo's All-Around Duellist competition is an AADA points event. The Auto Rodeo is usually held on the first weekend of Frontier Days. The Hell-on-Wheels Derby, a more traditional arena event, is held on the second weekend. It also is an AADA points event.

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The Wyoming Auto Rodeo can involve any number of players. Each has $15,000 to spend on a vehicle, which is driven by a single 60-point character. There are no restrictions on the allocation of points to skills. Each duellist must drive the same vehicle in all events. Since the duellists never fire live ammo at each other, they will probably want to carry the minimum amount of armor allowed by the rodeo committee - S points on all sides, including top and underbody. The events: 1M Ba"el Race. In this event, two duellists compete simultaneously. Each duellist must maneuver through a tight course, marked by 10 barrels, as quickly as possible. Along the way, they must shoot three targets. One duellist starts from Gate 1, the other from Gate 2; they may begin at any speed up to 30 mph. Each must follow the outlined path through his own set of barrels. Their elapsed times will be compared against that of all entrants to determine the winner of the event. The barrels are fixed objects with 10 DP. Hitting or shooting a barrel adds a one second penalty to your elapsed time, as does colliding with or shooting the opponent's vehicle. Duellists may pass each barrel as tightly or widely as they wish, as long as they round them in order, on the proper side. The targets are man-sized cutouts (net -2 To Hit), indicated on the map with "T's." Duellists may fire on the target next to their starting gate only after rounding their final barrel and beginning their straightaway toward the gate. The other targets may be fired on at any time. The duellist has to hit each target only once, regardless of how much damage he does (even a Targeting Laser hit counts). For every target he misses, or every one of the opponent's targets he hits, a one-second penalty is added to his elapsed time.

Cycle Stopping. This event is the autoduel equivalent to calf roping. The object is to immobilize a radio-controlled cycle, using only tire shots. For this event, all barrels, debris and other non-permanent obstacles are removed from the arena. At the beginning of Turn 1, the cycle emerges from Gate 2 at 60 mph. The duellist emerges from Gate 1 at the beginning of Turn 2, at any speed up to 50 mph. Obviously, each duellist competes separately; the winner is the duellist who immobilizes his target cycle the fastest. The target is a radio-controlled cycle with a special dualwheeled suspension sYStem in back to enhance stability and compensate for the lack of a rider. It has 20 points of armor front and back, S points of component armor protecting its radio-control box (2 DP), and 10 points of component armor protec;ting its large power plant (4 DP). Its PR tires- one in front, two in back - are not protected in any way. It is Handling Class 2, Accel. 10, and weighs 1,250 lbs. The cycle should be played by the referee or another player. It is necessary to destroy only one of the tires - front or rear - to immobilize the cycle. Ramming the cycle or deliberately targeting any component other than the tires is grounds for immediate disqualification. Pursuit and Evasion. In this event, two duellists competeone in his own car, another in the arena's laser-pursuit vehicle. The vehicles enter through opposite gates- 1 and 3, or 2 and 4 -at 40 mph. The pursuer must hit the evading duellist's vehicle three times with the pursuit car's front-mounted Targeting Laser. When he has done so, the heat is over. Each duellist competes twice - once as pursuer, once as evader. Once all duellists have driven both parts, each duellist's time as a pursuer is subtracted from his time as an evader to find

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• final score. The duellist with the largest final score wins. The referee should arrange the heats so that no one meets the same opponent twice. The easiest way to do this is to set up a simple round-robin schedule like this: A pursues B, then B pursues C, and finally, C pursues A. This will work for any number of mtrants,

tion (YATSABA) - have chosen the theme for this month's challenge: Division 1 duelling! Each group may enter a team of up to 10 members, and may spend up to $10,000 to equip that group. YATSABA has established the Boulder Standard Exchange Rate to regulate the "purchase" of legal equipment: $1,000 Motorscooter $500 10-speed bicycle $250 Motocross bicycle $100 Tricycle $300 Bullet-proof vest $75 Pistol (fires paint pellets) $25 Grenade (cream pie or water balloon) as are larger prohibited, are armor or arms Heavier vehicles.

The pursuit vehicle is: Compact, med. chassis, med. power plant, hvy. suspension, 4 PR tires, TL front and back, driver. Armor: S points on all sides. Accel. 10, HC 2, 2,630 lbs., $4,790. Additional cargo capacity: 170 lbs., 8 spaces. Free-For-All. In this event, up to four duellists compete at once. Each drives one of the arena's pursuit vehicles, described above. Duellists enter through Gates 1 to 4, at 40 mph. The object is to stay "alive" longest; a duellist's vehicle is considered "destroyed" when it has taken three hits from opposing Targeting Lasers. When a duellist is eliminated, the current time is recorded, and he must leave the arena immediately, through the nearest gate. If there are more than four entrants, divide them as evenly as possible into preliminary heats. The winner of each preliminaty heat qualifies automatically for the fmal heat. If there were fewer than four preliminaries, take enough lower finishers - in order of elapsed time- to round out the field to four. Any deliberate collision with an obstacle or another vehicle will result in immediate disqualification. If the judges rule a collision accidental, all duellists involved will be assessed one hit towards the three that destroy a vehicle. All-Around Duellist. To determine the All-Around Duellist, add up each entrant's finish position in each event. If a contestant did not enter an event, or if he was disqualified, score him as if he placed last in that event. The lowest total score wins the All-Around Duellist title and prize of $25,000. If there is a tie, it is broken by a Showdown - a one-on-one duel, conducted exactly as the Free-For-All, above. Autotbul Stats. Players should create 50-point GURPS Autotbul characters for the Wyoming Auto Rodeo, and design a $15,000 vehicle for the event. All vehicles must have at least one unit of armor (PD 1, DR 4) in all locations. In the Ba"el Race, the barrels have DR 3, HT IS. There is no penalty to hit the targets. The target cycle in Cycle Stopping has Accel. 10, and weighs 1,250 lbs. Its operator drives it with a skill of 14. The laser pursuit vehicles in Pursuit and Evasion and Free-For-All look like this: Compact, med. chassis, med. power plant, improved suspension, 4 PR tires, driver, TL front. One unit of normal armor in all locations. Accel. 10, Driving Skill Modifier + 1, 2, 760 lbs.

Division 1 Duelling Boulder, Colortldo It's once again the second Sunday of the month in Boulder, lime for the Citizens' Militia Challenge Day. This month's -the Youth Anti-Terrorist Squad and Baseball Associa-

ini-Scenarios

Vehicles. A motorscooter is a very small motorcycle, with the following stats: Accel. 10; HC I; Max. Speed 40 mph; 300 lbs. It normally carries only one person, the driver; with a passenger, it has Accel. 5. A 10-speed is a man-powered bicycle, but treat it as a cycle with the following stats: Accel. 2.5 to 10 mph, 5 thereafter; HC 0; Max Speed 30 mph; 25 lbs. Treat a motocross bike as a cycle with these stats: Accel. 5; HC 1; Max Speed 20 mph; 30 lbs. A tricycle has the following stats: Accel. 2.5; HC 2; Max Speed 10 mph; 25 lbs. For every + 1 of Running a cyclist has, he may exceed the Max. Speed of a 10-speed or motocross bike by 2.5 mph. Thus, a character with Running +2 could ride his 10-speed as fast as 35 mph. All vehicles except the tricycle require the Cycling skill; a trike requires no skill at all. Weapons and armor. There are two legal weapons in this scenario- paint-pellet pistols and grenades. Treat a paint-pellet pistol as equivalent to a light pistol, except that it does no damage and has a maximum effective range of 8 inches. Paint pellets cost $1 and have no size or weight; a paint-pellet pistol holds eight shots, and will not fire regular ammunition. As grenades, YATSABA is using cream pies and water balloons. Both are treated exactly like grenades, except that they have a maximum effective range of 5 inches, and they explode upon impact rather than after a timed delay. Both cream pies and water balloons are burst effect weapons, splattering their contents on everything within one inch of their point of impact. In this scenario, a bullet-proof vest may be represented by a real kevlar jacket, or any coat or jacket marked with red electrical tape. A bullet-proof vest stops one hit from any weapon; it offers no protection against subsequent hits from the same or any other weapon. Winning and Dying. The last team with any living members wins the Challenge, and the right to lord their victory over other teams for the next month. But how do people die in this nonlethal contest? Any hit from either a pistol or a grenade is immediately fatal, regardless of range, hit location or any other factor. A hit which strikes your vehicle is similarly fatal. There are only two exceptions: First, any character wearing a bullet-proof vest is protected against a single hit. However, the next hit will •'kill'' him. Second, tricycles are considered "armored"; anyone on a trike is protected against a single shot, just as if he were wearing a bullet-proof vest. A second hit will kill the tricyclist, unless he has on a bullet-proof vest, in which case a second hit eliminates the protection of the vest and the third hit kills him. Setting Up. This scenario can be played on any map by any number of teams. It is more fun if there are lots of terrain features - the Midville map from Crash City represents the Boulder streets quite well.

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Each team consists of ten 40-point characters, who may have a maximum of 30 points in any one skill. Useful skills are Cyclist, Handgunner and Running. Each team may spend $tO,OOO, Boulder Standard Exchange Rate, on equipment. Money and equipment do not have to be divided evenly among team members. Each team should be allowed to choose its own base of operations, from which it begins play. All members of a team must begin within a 2-inch-square area. Teams should not set up too far apart, because the vehicles in this scenario are rather slow, and don't close large distances very quickly. Autoduel Stats. Each team gets ten 50-point characters and $t0,000 worth of equipment. A paint-pellet pistol has the following stats: SS t2, Ace +2. A water balloon or cream pie is thrown using DX-3 or Throwing skill. It splatters its contents over a 3-hex radius circle. The tO-speed and motocross bikes maneuver like cycles, except that they require the Bicycling skill. Skill rolls on the tOspeed are made at -t; there is no penalty for skill rolls made while riding a motocross bike. If a skill roll is required for a tricyclist, he rolls against Bicycling+2 or DX+2- it's pretty hard to wipe out on a trike! A character may exceed the maximum speed for a t 0-speed or motocross by an amount equal to his Running skill, divided by 2. Thus, a character with Running-tO could ride a motocross bike at up to 25 mph.

Truckin' Taters InterslllJe 84, Idaho Oregon's Buccaneers are by far the biggest thorn in the side of Idaho's Farm Guard. Their repeated raids on Idaho's potato farms and convoys cost the state several million dollars a year. Despite the efforts of the Farm Guard, the Buccaneers continue. In this scenario, a small contingent of the Farm Guard must protect a lone tractor-trailer rig, laden with the precious spuds, from a Buccaneer assault. The Buccs are trying to steal the rig and its cargo. This is essentially a straight road duel, although in epic proportions. The potato truck and Farm Guard are westbound on I-84, between Twin Falls and Mountain Home. Use regular 3lane road sections to represent I-84; if it becomes important, the eastbound lanes lie one inch away from the left-hand westbound lane, across a dirt median ( + 02 to all maneuvers performed in the median). As each new road section is encountered, roll one die. On a t, the new section is a left curve; on a 6, it is a right curve. On any other result, it is a straight. The Farm Guard player has $80,000 to spend on four to six vehicles, with no less than $t2,500, and no more than $22,500, on any single vehicle. All vehicles must be four- or sixwheelers. The Farm Guard vehicles are manned by up to eight 60-point characters, with no more than 40 points in any single skill. The Farm Guard is defending a Roughrider tractor pulling a Type Two trailer, filled to capacity with potatoes. The truck is crewed by two 40-point characters, with no more than 30 points in any single skill. The Buccaneers have $t25,000, which they may spend on any number of vehicles of any type, except helicopters. The Buccs have fifteen 40-point crewmen for this mission, each with no more than 30 points in any skill. To win, the Buccs must realize a profit. To insure this, they may wish to include a cargo vehicle or two in their force, in case the potato truck is wrecked. Setting Up. First, the Buccaneer player declares whether his forces will begin in front of the Farm Guard convoy, behind it,

or both. If he decides to split his force, he must decide at this time which vehicles go in front of the convoy, and which behind. In addition, he must inform the Farm Guard player which force - in front or behind - is larger, and by how much. With this information in mind, the Farm Guard deploys his convoy on the highway. He then sets the speed of the convoy anywhere from 50 to 80 mph. Finally, the Buccaneer player puts his forces on the map, remembering not to mix the forces assigned to the front and back of the convoy. The Buccaneer player may place his vehicles no closer than t2" from the nearest Farm Guard vehicle. He may set his forces at any speed. Victory. In order to win decisively, the Farm Guard player must get the truck away from the Buccaneers. He can accomplish this by immobilizing all Buccaneer vehicles, or by establishing a lead of 4 road sections between his rear guard and the leader of the Buccaneer force. The latter condition is effective only if no remaining Bucc vehicle has an acceleration greater than 5 (that of the semi). The Buccaneer player wins decisively if he realizes a profit on the mission - that is, if the value of potatoes and any other loot gained in the hijack is greater than the cost to repair the damage to his vehicles. The rig is hauling 75 spaces worth of potatoes, weighing t5,000 lbs., with a black market value of $75,000. (That comes out to 200 lbs. of spuds per space, with a value of $t ,000 per space, or $5 per pound.) If the rig is immobilized, but the Guard keeps the Buccs from looting it, consider this a narrow Farm Guard victory. If the Buccs manage to eliminate the Farm Guard forces and get away with at least a portion of the potatoes, but lose money on the mission, they score a narrow victory. Variant 1. This version requires a referee. One player takes the Farm Guard, and equips it as above. The other player lays a Buccaneer ambush for the potato caravan. The Buccaneer player in this scenario has $75,000, fifteen 40-point characters, and t2 hours to erect whatever sort of blockade or trap he wishes and to which the referee agrees. The Buccaneer player must, with his $75,000 allotment, build all vehicles he will use in the scenario, whether they will be used in combat, or were simply used to truck in equipment. Again, the Bucc player may include any sort of vehicle in his forces except helicopters. Variant 2. For a raid of mammoth proportions, get at least four players together for an assault on one of Idaho's biggest potato caravans. The Farm Guard team has $200,000 with which to build and equip 6 to tO escort vehicles. Up to two of the vehicles may be tO-wheeled assault vans or personnel carriers, worth up to $75,000 apiece. The rest must be built according to the restrictions listed above. The Farm Guard team may take up to twenty 60-point vehicular crewmen - provided he has a driver or gunner position for each - and up to t2 additional 40-point ground troops. The Guardsmen are escorting three Roughrider/Type Two rigs, as described above. The Buccs have $300,000 with which to equip themselves, and may take up to forty crewman, each worth 40 points. The Buccaneers may want to bring along their own tractor-trailer rig, to be sure they can get the potatoes home. Autoduel Stars. The same budgets and other restrictions on forces apply in GURPS Autoduel. Farm Guardsmen are 50point characters; truckers and Buccaneers are 30-pointers. The stats for the Roughrider and Type Two can be found on p. A41. The trailer contains 2,250 cubic feet of potatoes, weighing t5,000 lbs., and worth $75,000. That comes out to 7.5lbs. per cubic foot, with a value of $5 per pound.

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BLUD IIOIIIY WARNING: 1his information is for GM's eyes only! If you intend to play this adventure, read no further.

Behind the Scenes Lagging behind UBN and BGN in television ratings, the Denver-based Blood Sports Entertainment (BSE) has concocted a dangerous and illegal plan to stage the autoduelling bloodbath of the decade. To accomplish such an undertaking, BSE has contacted former BLUD hero Hamilton Burgess, who has been in hiding since 2035 (see p. 39). For a fee of $125,000, plus an additional $250,000 for prize money, Burgess agreed to organize the BLUD World Championships. The date and location would be kept secret until the last possible moment, thus avoiding legal difficulties and preventing rival networks from covering the event. Burgess covertly set up the duel, informing BSE of the arrangements, and circulating word through the BLUDdominated Mountain West duelling community. To attract interest, Burgess allowed his own name to be connected with some of the rumors.

During the summer duelling season, a rumor has circulated concerning the "duel of a lifetime." A huge cash prize is to be awarded to the winner of a special event to be held, not in an arena, but in a secret location somewhere in the Mountain West. Although the source of the prize money and organizer of this event has not been revealed, the AADA has flatly denied any knowledge or involvement. Word on the circuit is that this is to be the "2038 BLUD World Championship." Because of the explosive nature of a BLUD event, the location of this "championship" has been kept a secret. Its date - this coming Saturday, September 18- has been known around arenas for some time. The PCs have finally learned the site of this event: Deseret's Bonneviiie Speedway. Despite the AADA's assertion that anyone who participates in this iiiegal event wiii be expeiled from the AADA and barred from sanctioned competition, many duellists - mostly BLUD and independents - are making their way across the country to compete for the prize, rumored to exceed $200,000. Some hope to catch a glimpse of Hamilton Burgess, outlaw hero of BLUD, who is widely rumored to be the organizer of the event.

At Bonneville Arrange things so that the PCs arrive sometime Friday afternoon, as part of the hundreds of entrants and spectators who are gathering for the event. At the Bonneviiie Salt Flats, the PCs see a city of tents spread out before ·them. Among the tents, trailers and concession stands are over- a hundred duelling vehicles, from the latest in road-combat technology to scarred duelcars over a decade old. The people are just as varied - polished dueilists who might be at home in any AADA arena check their vehicles with precision testing equipment, while unwashed road warriors in denim and black leather trade insults, beers and, occasionaily, punches. The latter variety are in the majority. They are the low-budget amateurs and street toughs ~ that make up BLUD. Duellists with apc:::::::::.--j\t-~ propriate Heraldry or Area Knowledge skills recognize BLUD ensigns from across the country, although the Rockies are the most heavily represented. There is not one AADA "Road-In-Your-Sights" in evidence. The actual sight of the duel will be the Bonneville Speedway. There, the ground is salty, beige-white dirt, as smooth and hard as cement. This ideal duelling surface stretches for miles in ail directions, clear and lifeless, flat enough for even dueltrack vehicles. Beyond

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loom low mountains, brown and dotted with scrubby vegetation. Nnt a beautiful place, but one weii-suited for dueiling.

coming event. What information they want and how they gather it will depend on their reason for joining the duel (see sidebar Involving the PCs, p. 52). As they do these things, they will meet various persons and groups about camp. The precise order of these encounters is unimportant, so long as they occur before 10 p.m.

Hamilton Burgess

Command Central As part of their strategy for the race, the PCs check out the course for the race. Command Central- a 30-foot busnaught, guarded by four armed sentries is parked near the access road between the Salt Flats and the Speedway. Attached to the rear quarterpanel of the bus is a large printed sign that reads: Duellist Meeting, 10 p.m. Friday. In anticipation of the meeting, a clearing has been staked out to the west of the bus and an 8-foot high pile of wood stacked for a bonfire.

The Billings BLUD Rends Regardless of the site the PCs select for their camp, they will be interrupted by the Fiends, a BLUD chapter from Billings, Montana. Their leader, a particularly large and malodorous individual named Buzzsaw Baker, grabs one of the PCs, demands to know why they've appropriated the Fiends' campground, and how long it will take them to move their tents. Like all bullies, the Fiends are looking for a fight. If the PCs give right in, the Fiends will .ride them unmercifully as they pack, laughing and pointing. If they argue, Baker will point to the four beer cans which "clearly mark" the boundaries of the Fiends' chosen campsite, and ask "What do you have to say about that?" A PC with Fast-Talk can probably confuse Baker enough to convince him the "markers" are someone else's boundaries. Baker will sputter inane remarks as he tries to keep up with the PC's rapid-fire logic. However, he will eventually lead his group away, hurling insults such as "Oh yeah, well you just watch yourself tomorrow, scum.'' If the PCs oblige, they'll trade a few blows, although the Fiends are not really interested in hurting anyone. If the PCs pull weapons, the Fiends will back down quickly, preserving what dignity they can by threatening, "We'll see you on the field tomorrow, scum!"

Barbara Oliver

The Plot Thickens

The PCs will encounter Barbara "Crosshairs" Oliver (see sidebar, p. 53), perhaps at one of the concession trucks ..A BLUD duellist from Grand Junction, Oliver appears to be a vivacious, enthusiastic duellist. She will approach them if they don't strike up a conversation with her. However excited her banter comes across, the PCs will notice she asks a lot of questions. Actually, Oliver is a captain in the Deseret Patrol's Highway Enforcement Division. She is undercover, assigned to apprehend Hamilton Burgess. Although Oliver really is from Grand Junction, she hasn't lived there for some time. If a PC discusses the town with her, run a Quick Contest of Area Knowledge (Grand Junction). If the PC wins, he realizes that despite what she says, Oliver hasn't been to Grand Junction in several months.

The DueUist in Gray Within sight of the command bus, a duellist in polished gray body armor has set up camp. Few other duellists are as well-equipped. What sets this one apart even more, though, is his solitude. He's not interested in conversation and has no crew. If the PCs approach him, they will find him singularly unresponsive. He answers questions with uncooperative grunts, while looking very busy with his car. If pressed for a name, he says he is Lawrence Webber, and that he has a lotto do to get ready for tomorrow. The Duellist in Gray appears to spend most of his time tuning his silver '38 Laser Flamberge. If anyone watches him, though, they notice that he seldom turns his back on the command bus, and closely follows the activity around it.

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With the significant amount of unmarked dollars changing hands in this duet; someone is bound to get a little selfinterested. Arnie's All-Stars, a BLUD group from Pueblo, Colorado, has become involved in a plot to kidnap Burgess and steal the prize money. BLUD Mo11ey may be run two ways . Let the plot to nab Burgess and the money originate with the All-Stars. Their leader, Harv Ramsey, is a former ally of Burgess, and is aware of his deal with BSE. Thus, Burgess is a victim of his one-time friend, and will be willing to help the PCs. Burgess might reward the PCs for rescuing him, or they might tum him in for the rewards offered by the AADA, Deseret or the FBI. Alternatively, the adventure can be run with Burgess as the mastermind behind the kidnapping. He has hired the All-Stars to stage the abduction, in order to escape with aU the money. In this variation, Burgess is on the side of his "kidnappers," though he is not overly concerned with their safety.

BLUDMoney

Arnie's All-Stars

Involving the PCs There are several ways to involve the PCs in this adventure. Each carries its own motivations, goals and limitations, which may affect the PCs' actions throughout the adventure. It is possible - and certainly simpler - to allow all the PCs to become involved for the same reasons and as a group. However, the GM may want to have the PCs become involved for different reasons and come together accidentally. A few possibilities include:

Temporary FCC Operative The PCs are contacted by the FCC, who wishes to hire them to obtain evidence proving that BSE has sponsored an illegal BLUD event. Naturally, the best evidence would be a large sum of money changing hands between BSE and Burgess. Because federal agents have no authority in Deseret, PCs hired by the FCC must operate as private citizens. The FCC is willing to pay $1,000 per party per day, plus expenses, with a $10,000 per party reward if the necessary evidence is gathered.

Temporary FBI Operative Deseret has refused to allow FBI agents into the region to apprehend Burgess. Thus, the Bureau has hired one or more of the PCs to capture Burgess and bring him out of Deseret. The Bureau offers the PCs $2,500 in addition to their standing $25,000 reward, if Burgess is captured alive and turned over to the FBI. PCs working for them and the FCC may know of one another, but it is also possible that neither agency is aware of the other's operatives.

Dtseret PaJrolman The patrol has assigned one officer, Capt. Barbara Oliver, to apprehend Burgess, but may have sent in others as insurance. Oliver and any PC patrolmen may have been told of one another, or not, as the GM sees fit. Patrolmen will need to be careful, as the Patrol is a very "by-thebook" organization. Oliver will report any improprieties - as the PCs should, if they note inappropriate conduct on her part. All Patrolmen have been instructed not to reveal their own identities or those of other officers. For PC Patrolmen, this assignment is just part of the job.

Personal Motives Some PCs may simply be BLUD duellists, here to win the richest prize in BLUD history. Or they may be bounty hunters, out to bag one of the richest bounties in the country. Or perhaps they have personal reasons to like or dislike Hamilton Burgess, dating back to the Chapter Meeting Raids, the early days of BLUD or even Burgess' days on the AADA circuit, in the late '20s.

BLUDMoney

The PCs will notice one group of duellists erecting a rather large tent, somewhere between the command bus and the PCs' camp. Their vehicles- a halfdozen or so mid-sizes and luxuries - bear BLUD markings from Pueblo, Colorado, with the name "Arnie's All-Stars." After they set up, the All-Stars move one of the luxes into the tent, which is being used as a pit. Although they won't let anyone into the tent, they are an otherwise forgettable group, friendly enough but exclusive.

The Meeting As the sun sets, excitement in the Bonneville camp rises. By 9:30, the duellists, mechanics and other crew members have begun to gather in the clearing around the flaming bonfire. This unique event's mysterious benefactor is expected to appear at the meeting, and almost 500 people crowd for a better view of the man they are sure will be BLUD hero Hamilton Burgess. A few minutes before ten, four additional guards appear carrying a small platform. They set it up in the clearing between the bus and the bonfire. The door to the bus opens, and the crowd goes wild as the tall, slender Burgess steps out of the bus. "Hello, BLUD!" Burgess says. "It's nice to know you remember me! (Applause.) Welcome to the biggest event in BLUD history- the first true BLUD World Championships!" (More Applause.) ''This will be the first truly unlimited duel ever. There will be no arena walls to fence you in . .. no artificial limits on the 'value' of your vehicles ... no restrictions on the number of entries . . . no sissified safety rules. The BLUD World Championship will be the best big-league (cheers) ... the best unlimited duel ever!"(Roar of applause.) "There are only three rules: First, a half-mile-wide circle has been drawn around this compound; this area is off-limits during the duel. Second, all vehicles will begin the duel in the marked area located two miles due east of this camp. Third, vehicles participating in the duel must be in position by 11:50. The duel will begin promptly at 12 noon- the starting signal will be broadcast on CB Channel 14." Burgess looks over the enthusiastic crowd as he pauses for a moment to let the cheering die down. "As for the prize in this historic event," he continues, "A cash prize of $250,000 will be awarded to the last mobile vehicle on the field. There will be no runners up tomorrow- winner takes all!'' As the crowd howls its approval, Burgess waves for a minute, then dashes back into the van.

Into the Night The crowd around the command bus begins to break up, drifting off to campsites or cantina wagons. Ifthe PCs are interested, there is plenty of action in camp - mostly the drinking, bragging, insulting, fighting variety. Otherwise, allow them to head off to their campsite at a liesurely pace. One important encounter does occur after the meeting, however. As one of the PCs heads back from the meeting to the party's campsite, he notices activity in the Arnie's All-Stars tent. The tent flaps are closed, and a couple of the AllStars stand guard, but sounds of metal hammering on metal can be heard from within the tent. A roll against IQ will give the PC the distinct impression that the All-Stars did not attend the meeting, but have been hard at work here the whole time. (A PC with Intuition rolls at +5.) If the PC gets curious about what the All-Stars are up to, he can circle around to the back of the tent. There, have him make a Vision roll; if he succeeds, he spots a gap in one of the tent seams, through which he may peer at the scene described below. If he fails the roll, he won't be able to see what's going on inside, but he can hear two of the All-Stars speaking in hushed tones.

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Inside, one All-Star is hard at work on a lux, while another paces impatiently. The mechanic is banging with a mallet on some sort of shaft protruding from the top of the car. The PC should roll against IQ-3, Mechanic or Pilot to recognize the pole as a helicopter rotor shaft. The lux is a grasshopper! The pacing All-Star stops to look over the mechanic's shoulder. "Well?" he asks. "Can you fix it or not?" "I'm working on it," the mechanic protests. "It wasn't my hot-dogging that bent the damn thing, anyway. I'll get it working by tomorrow afternoon.'' "We don't have till tomorrow afternoon. HR says all three have to be ready to go at 12:03 tomorrow. That gives you 13 hours to get this egg beater going again." Suddenly, a noise from outside the tent distracts the PC. Glancing up, he sees a group of drunken duellists staggering his way. They haven't seen him behind the tent yet, but they will if he stays where he is. The best course is to flee; the All-Stars' guards will surely come around behind the tent to see what the drunkards are up to, discovering the spying PC at the same time. From this encounter, the PC should note the grasshopper and the time mentioned. The All-Star said the vehicle would have to be ready for 12:03 -not noon, and not ten till, the times a duellist in tomorrow's event would find important. The All-Stars have some other appointment to keep. Depending on the villain you've chosen, the "HR" mentioned might be "Heavy Rocket" Burgess, or Harv Ramsey, leader of the All-Stars.

Spattered BLUD Dawn comes early on the desert, but there is no reveille. Depending on how the PCs spent last night, they might not wake early. However, they are surrounded by enthusiastic duellists preparing for a major-prized duel. There will be plenty of noise. If the PCs don't have a strategy for the duel yet, they should be significantly impressed by the number and variety of competitors to devise one. They do have to survive the opening minutes of the duel.

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Capfllin Barbara Oliver of the Deseret Patrol Age 34; Brown hair and eyes; S' 1", 140lbs. ST 10, OX 12, IQ 12, HT 11. Basic Speed 5.15; Move 4. Dodge 4; Parry 6; Block 4. Improved Body Armor; Light encumbrance. Advantages: Legal Enforcement Powers; Military Rank 4 (Captain); Patron: Deseret Patrol; Reputation: Patrolperson ( + 2 from Desereters when in uniform). Disadvantages: Duty to Patrol; Honesty; Overconfidence. Quirks: Won't compromise cover except in emergency; Ambitious; Tries too hard. Skills: Acting-12; Area Knowledge (Deseret)-14, (Grand Junction)-11; Criminology-11; Driving (Car)-14; First Aid-12; Forensics-tO; Gunner (Rocket Launcher)-15, (Machine Gun)-13, (Laser)-12; Guns (Pistols)-11, (SubmachineGun)-14; Interrogation-11; Knife12; Law-10; Mechanic (Cars)-11 ; Shortsword-12 (for baton); Strategy-11 ; Tactics-12; Tracking-12. Weapons: Beretta- 2d+2, SS 10, Ace 3, lhD ISO, Max 1,867, RoF 3tv, Rcl-1; Uzi- 3d-1, SS 10, Ace 3, lhD 160 Max 1,900, RoF 10*, Rei -1; Baton -crushing, sw ld-2; Large Knife - cut ld-2, imp. ld-2. Vehicle: Stock Piranha (p. A38), with Targeting Computer ( + 1 to Gunner Skill). Captain Oliver is a rising young officer in the Highway Division of the Deseret Patrol Light Cavalry. She has also served in Infantry and Intelligence units, and her skills reflect this. Because of her skills, experience and resourcefulness, she has been chosen to infiltrate the BLUD event and apprehend Hamilton Burgess. Although she has some experience with covert operations from her Intelligence days, Oliver is an intense woman and a serious officer. Consequently, her intensity sometimes shows through her cover. She is currently attempting to pass herself off as a free-spirited BLUD duellist. Once she and the PCs have hit the trail in pursuit of Burgess and the kidnappers, she will make some comment or expression that may indicate that she's not just in the chase for the money. Run a Quick Contest Oliver's Acting vs. Detect Lies- for any nearby PC to catch this. Like most of the Patrol, Oliver is a straight arrow. She will not allow the PCs to engage in illegal activities, such as unlawful entry, etc., for even the most noble of reasons.

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The DueUist in Gray Age 27; Black hair, green eyes, tanned complexion; 5'9", 145lbs. ST 12, DX 13, IQ 10, HT 11. Basic Speed 6; Move 5. Dodge 5; Parry 7. Improved Body Armor; Light encumbrance. Advantages: Alertness +2; Danger Sense; Strong-Willed +2; Wealth (Comfortable). Disadvantages: Fanaticism (Vengence); Overconfidence; Stubbornness. Quirks: Wants Burgess to know who got him; Dresses in gray; Quiet; No time for distractions; Carefully maintains equi~ ment. Skills: Area Knowledge (Wyoming)-14, (Colorado)-15, (Mountain West)-13; Armoury (Guns)-11; Driving (Cars}-14; FastDraw (Pistol)-13; Electronics (Weapons )-11 ; Gunner (Recoilless )-13, (Laser)-15; Guns (Pistols)-14; Mechanic/TL7 (Cars}-12; Streetwise-12. Weapons: Glock 17- 2d+2, SS 10, Acc3, 1hD 150, Max 1,867, RoF3"', Rcl -3. Vehicle: '38 Laser Flamberge- Midsized, X-Hvy chassis, Hvy suspension, Large power plant, 4 PR Radials, driver only. RR front, Laser in med. turret. Armor (honeycombed): PD 0, DR 18 in all locations; DR 5 wheelguards on all wheels. Accel. 5, Top speed 100, Driving skill mod. +3, 5310 lbs. (450 left for crew and cargo), 1 cu. ft. remaining, $20,530. Though the name he is giving at Bonneville is Larry Webber, the Duellist in Gray is actually Lauren "Laserbum" Grey. Since her death, Grey's clone has devoted herself to hunting down the man she believes killed her - HR Burgess. Along the way, she has made ends meet by working as a courier, escort and mercenary. When she began this manhunt, she abandoned her arena duelling career to avoid attention. Although she is quiet and patient, Grey is completely determined to end Burgess' life in such a way that Burgess will know who ended it and why. Grey has been hunting the man for the better part of three years, without success. Burgess' appearance at the BLUD event is the first time she's seen the fugitive since he went underground. While Grey -doesn't seem psychotic, she'll have to be physically restrained to prevent her killing Burgess once she gets a chance. Even though Burgess is currently in Deseret, where whole body cloning is illegal, Grey is willing to waste a clone, if it will ensure Burgess' death.

BLUDMoney

Duellists who have staked out a particular position at the starting line leave early. Mass exodus from the camp begins about 11:15 a.m. PCs should leave camp at a time appropriate to their duelling strategy. As they move onto the duelling field, they notice and place most of the duellists they met on Friday- Crosshairs Oliver, in her blue '36 Piranha; the BLVD Fiends, in their jury-rigged vehicles; and the silver Flamberge of the Duellist in Gray. At least one of the PCs notices that none of Arnie's All-Stars .are among the entrants on the field. As the last minutes before noon tick away, the PCs notice three news choppers, from Blood Sports Entertainment, circling the starting line. 150 or more duellists jockey for positions within the quarter-mile starting square. The newer, better-equipped vehicles claim spots near the edge of the starting area, for maximum freedom and mobility. Smaller, older and more lightly-armed vehicles find themselves accepting the leftover spots. At 11:58, Hamilton Burgess' voice crackles across Channe114. "Welcome, duellists, to Bonneville and the first-ever BLUD World Championships. In just a few seconds, you'll make history by participating in the largest single autoduel · ever! Even BSE knows its great. They have arrived to record the event for posterity." "The duel will begin with a ten-second, red-yellow-green light sequence. After that, my friends, you are on your own! Official time is 11:59.30 right ... now. Good luck, and good duelling!" Twenty seconds later, Burgess begins the final countdown. "1 0 ... 9 ... 8 ... 7 ... 6 ... 5 ... 4 ... 3 ... 2(Red) ... 1(Yellow) . . . Go (Green)!" A cloud of dust quickly mounts around the starting area, as 150 vehicles accelerate in all directions. No one fires for a few seconds due to the point-blank range between the cars. Then, a single rocket is launched somewhere amid the crowd of vehicles. Suddenly, the air is alive with bullets, rockets, grenades and a few laser beams. Not surprisingly, motorcycles take the worst of the early damage, tumbling across the desert floor, their riders ripped from their seats. The only bikers to survive the first few seconds of the event are those with the acceleration to pull away from the crowd ... fast. Next to go are the small, older vehicles in the center. Because of an earlier mutual agreement, they do not fire on each other. The tight knot of vulnerable little cars is an inviting target for BLUD's black-humored duellists though. A crack about "Highway Darwinism" is heard over Channe114 as several larger vehicles tum about to finish duellists with even less sense than firepower. Within seconds, the buge duel has broken into a score of small encounters. For the most part, teams that stick together fare best; the only independents holding their own are the few in high-dollar cars. Crosshairs Oliver is doing all right, staying ahead of a pack of lesser vehicles. The silver Flamberge can be seen playing the edges nearest the command bus. Its laser rips across the grill of an Iron Horse. Two of the BSE choppers zip back and forth across the sky, following one duel and then another. (If anyone has time to look around, they will notice that the third chopper is nowhere in sight.) About three minutes into the duel, have each PC make a Vision-3 roll to notice a large fire billowing black smoke into the sky from the area of the nearly-deserted tent compound. Anyone making that roll by 2 or more will notice two small helicopters moving away from the compound, using the smoke to hide their escape from duellists on the field. Seconds later, a weak voice cuts through the constant chatter on channe114. "Intruders in the compound ... they've got HR ... the money ... " The voice fades, and doesn't return to the airwaves, but everyone is looking at the camp. They'll see the fire described above, which then bursts momentarily into a huge cloud of flame. Seconds later the sound of a large explosion reaches the duellists. As the duellists become aware of the problem, all combat on the field halts.

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After a moment's silence, several cars - including Oliver's and the silver Flamberge - tum towards the campground at maximum acceleration. The PCs will follow the pack headed back to camp, if they aren't already in the lead.

Running the Big Event

The Burning Bus When the duellists arrive, the command bus is still burning. Any experienced duellist can see that the bus caught fire, and blew open when its ammo exploded. Four bodies lie nearby. If the PCs were not among the first to arrive, Crosshairs Oliver will be there, trying to keep the crowd orderly and away from the scene of the crime. The Duellist in Gray can be seen walking slowly away from the bus. He takes up a watchful position but does nothing else for now. Standing near the bus is a BSE chopper. Despite heavy damage, it remains upright (indicating, to those who have Engineering, Piloting (Helicopters) or Mechanic (Helicopter) skill, that the helicopter was on the ground when it was attacked). On the ground near the chopper's cargo door lies a woman in a BSE jumpsuit; a video camera lies near her. She is dead. At the controls is the pilot -also quite dead. If anyone thinks to check, the chopper's magazines are fullwhatever hit it came in too fast for return fire, or from an unexpected source. Two of the command-bus guards lie near the bus. One is obviously dead, mangled by vehicular weaponry. The other, still clutching his walkie-talkie, lies about 30 feet from the bus and has been shot. He is unconscious, but not dead. Finally, in front of the door of the bus, is the still form of BSE correspondent Brett Muskberger, a well-known sports commentator. He was burned by the bus's explosion, and cut by its fragments . A Forensics or Physician-3 roll will reveal - by the direction of fragment penetration - that these injuries occurred after Muskberger was lying on the ground. The fatal wounds can be easily discovered by rolling his corpse over - three ~hots in the back, from a large-caliber handgun. After calling in one of the BSE choppers to rush the wounded guard to a Salt Lake City Hospital, Oliver briefly examines the corpses about the field. She then begins to examine nearby vehicle tracks. As she slowly moves about the area, she pauses briefly. If any PCs with Tracking are moving with her, have them make a Tracking roll as she pauses. If they succeed, they notice something odd -a set of car tracks enters the clearing in front of the bus, and then stops. Oliver glances at the gathering crowd, then heads off from the mysterious tracks without a word. Twenty yards away, she stops again, and addresses the crowd. "Here they are!" She points at several sets of tire tracks. "Three or four cars - mid-sizes or luxes - came in from the highway, circled around that way and headed back out through there." Any PC nearby who makes a Tracking roll will know that the tire marks Oliver is indicating are hours old. They couldn't have been made by the bus's attackers. Roll a Quick Contest of Skills between a PC's Detect Lies Skill and Oliver's Acting. If the PC's win, tell them Oliver is lying but don't reveal the reason or truth about the tracks. If they lose, it's a GM choice whether to lie to the PCs or tell them something nondescript - "You can't tell ... " "C'mon," someone yells . "You heard the radio! They've got Burgessand the prize money! Let's get 'em before they reach Salt Lake." Roaring their agreement, most of the BLUDies rush back to their cars, speeding out of camp towards I-80 in hot pursuit of the thieves. With a Hearing-2 or Vision-2 roll, the PC will recognize the duellist who shouted as the All-Star he saw in Arnie's tent last night. He will also notice that two of the All-Star vehicles lead the pack heading for I-80. The remaining BSE chopper heads out after the pack. The Duellist in Gray, if anyone looks for him, can be seen casually leaning against his car. He seems to be waiting and continues to observe the proceedings at the bus from behind the mirrored faceplate of his body armor.

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Obviously, there is no way to put the entire BLUD Championship - a duel involving over 150 vehicles - on a map and play it out. It is necessary, however, to give the players the feel of this huge duel. Fortunately, this can be done by playing only a small section of the duel. First, lay out a large map to represent the Bonneville Speedway. Because the vehicles will be moving at high speed over large areas, it is handy to use a map that has been cut into four pieces. That way, when the cars approach an edge of the map, their section of the map can be switched with another, so that the cars ue once again headed into the center of the total map. For the most part, the terrain at Bonneville is as smooth and hard as an asphalt arena. Scatter a few debris counters around the map, to represent the occasional rock or rut. Don't bother to play out the first few seconds of the duel. The reason behind the PCs participation as well as their strategy will determine exactly how the duel is played. For example, assume that the PCs are able to secure a good starting position on the edge of the pack, so that they have a clear field ahead of them as they pull away. Have the players set their vehicles up in the center of the map, heading away from the starting area (which will be off the map) at any speed between 40 and 60 mph. Once they've positioned their vehicles, place an assortment of NPC vehicles on the map; vehicles (or teams) should be positioned about 8-12" apart, headed in about the same direction, at about the same speed, as the PCs. If the PCs don't start shooting, someone else in their area will. Some NPCs will pick out PCs as their first targets, while others will shoot at other NPCs . Go through the appropriate combat mechanics for match-ups involving PCs, but don't bother to play out the NPC vs. NPC action in the area -just describe the general flow of the duel. Although several minutes of game time may pass before the duellists notice the assault on the bus in camp, there is no need to play out a few hundred combat turns during the duel. Point out to the players that there will be lulls in the action, when no opponents are in easy shooting range, when the Pes are maneuvering, etc. - 30 seconds or more may pass while the PCs' guns remain silent. As the duel progresses and the duellists thin out, these lulls will become more common and last longer.

BLUDMoney

Up, Up and Away The BLUD Fiends The Fiends, from Billings, Montana, ate particularly offensive, even for BLUD members. They're really little more than a four-wheeled cycle gang. The Fiends arc hardly a well-to-do outfit - most of the members work lowpaying factory jobs, or subsist on welfare. Their vehicles arc inexpensive models Sargasso, Joseph Special, Iron Horse old and in poor repair. Most of them will be missing some armor and weapons, and may be running on substandard tires. Often, the Fiends have replaced destroyed weapons with salvaged parts. Some of the Fiends' cars have been repaired so many times that they arc no longer recognizable as any particular model. Most BLUD Fiend vehicles will not perform up to normal standards, due to unskilled or negligent maintenance. For example, a Joseph Special, normally Driving skill modifier + 1 and top speed 100, might actually be capable of only 8S mph, with no Driving sldll modifier. Acceleration might also be reduced, and weapons sighting systems may take a penalty to hit. Buzzsaw Baker's Iron Horse is typical of the group's cars.

If the PCs start after the pack, Oliver will try to delay them in some way asking for help or suggesting that they work together and devise a chase strategy. If they still insist on following the pack, Oliver will quietly mention the All-Star information and that she thinks things are a bit odd. Oliver watches the pack depart, then turns to the PCs. "Now that the mob is gone," she says, "let's find out what really happened." If the players have figured out what Oliver has, let them lead the following discussion. If not, she will explain her theory as to what happened. Let the PCs take over as soon as they realize what she's talking about. "Whoever did this didn't come in from the highway," she begins. "As you probably realize, the tracks I pointed out to the crowd were made this morning or maybe even last night. Either they were here all night, or they came in by air." She walks to the first set of tracks. "Then there are these tracks." She points at the set of tire prints that come from the tents into the clearing around the bus and simply end. "Whoever left these either made his car disappear - or made it fly ... , Oliver looks at the PCs, her expression clearly questioning. If the PC with the All-Star knowledge hasn't brought it up, now would be a good time to speak up. Eventually, Oliver and the PCs will deduce - even if no one saw the fleeing grasshoppers - that the culprits must have flown out to the west, using the smoke from the burning bus as cover. Had they left in any other direction, they would surely have been spotted by duellists rushing to the bus. If no one else suggests it, Oliver says she plans to head out west after the grasshoppers.

Dead Bug Typical BLUD Fiend ST 12, DX 11, IQ 9, HT 10. Basic Speed 5.25; Move 5. Dodge 5; Parry 8 (Brawling), 6 (Knife). Kevlar vest; No encumbrance. Disadvantages: Bully; Overconfidence; Reputation- Obnoxious BLUD group (-2 from BLUD members and Billings residents).

Skills: Brawling-12; Driving (Cars)-12; Gunner (As appropriate)-11; Guns (Pis-

Three miles west, the investigators spot a black vehicle. As they close in, they recognize it as one of the luxes driven by Arnie's All-Stars. From a hatch in the roof protrudes a twisted metal shaft with two short rotors. Its rotor shaft is badly twisted; the third rotor, which must have broken off before the grasshopper impacted, is nowhere in sight. The vehicle landed hard. With a Mechanic or Pilot-3 roll, a PC can tell that the rotor assembly was destroyed by fatigue, not enemy fire. The PC can see hammer blows, from an attempt to bend the already-damaged rotor shaft back into shape.

tols)-12;RJrlfe-11;Stteetw~.

Weapons: Large knife - cut 1d, imp. 1d-1; .38 automatic- 2d+2, SS 10, Ace 3, 'hD 150, Max 1,800, Rof3"', Rcl-1.

Bur.zsaw BaJur The Fiends' leader earned his position by being the strongest, most obnoxious, sadistic, foul-smelling member of the group. He is as above, but with each attribute and skill one point higher, plus the disadvantages of Bad Temper and Sadism, and the skills Fast-Draw (Pistols)-12, Leadership-9, and Tactics-10. He drives a badly-used Iron Horse, with the following description: Mid, XHvy chassis, Hvy suspension, Large power plant, 2 PR tires front, 2 HD tires rear, driver only. RL front, MG right (-2 to Gunner skill), MML left, MD rear. Armor: F 4/16, L 3/10, R 4/16, B 4/14, T 3/11, U 3/12. Accel. 5, Top Speed 95, Driving skill mod. + 1.

Idaho

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Deseret

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Several yards from the damaged chopper are tracks left by a similar vehicle. · A Tracking roll will reveal that two men ran from the crashed vehicle to the second chopper, boarded and fled with their compatriots. A Tracking-2 roll reveals (Oliver fails hers) that this second vehicle attempted to lift off, skipping lightly across the surface for fifty yards. The extra weight must have been too much, though, because the vehicle continued on the ground.

The Long and Winding Road The PCs will no doubt follow the tracks, accompanied by Oliver. As they continue, each PC should make a Vision roll to spot a small cloud of dust on the desert behind them - one car, maybe two, following at a range of a mile or more. Anyone succeeding by 5 or more catches a glimpse of the pursuing vehicle - a silver car. (It is the Duellist in Gray, who is carefully maintaining his distance from the party. If they halt to wait for him, he will stop and wait until they move on. If they circle around or attempt to pursue him, he will move away, avoiding the encounter.) The grasshopper's tracks tum south. About a mile north of the tiny town of Wendover, another set set of tracks seems to appear from nowhere- a third grasshopper. The dual set of tracks lead to an abandoned bam. Recently-made tracks from the bam indicate that four vehicles -the two grasshoppers, plus a six-wheeled pickup or van and a large car which were both hidden in the bam- pulled onto Interstate 80 westbound, towards Nevada. If the PCs doubt the evidence, they can check with the townsfolk in Wendover. These people assure the PCs that no such vehicles have passed through town. With this testimony in mind, the PCs should tum west. If they insist on heading east, concoct an encounter that will change their minds.

Decision at Deseret 30 About 30 miles from the bam, I-80 intersects Deseret Highway 30. At this junction, the PCs face a decision - continue on to the Nevada state line, only 30 miles ahead; tum north on this little-used two lane highway; or perhaps divide the party, following both highways? There is no clue to the direction their quarry chose. I-80 would take the fugitives into Nevada and away from serious police pursuit, but to cross, they'd have to pass a Patrol border station. Deseret 30 is rarely travelled and lightly patrolled, but loops back to the northeast and into the Region. Regardless of which way they choose, about a mile down the highway, any vehicles travelling with Oliver hear her voice crackle across Channel14. "They've just passed Montello, on 30!" she says. If anyone asks how she knows, she explains that she has been monitoring Deseret Patrol frequencies on a police-band radio. A Patrolman reported a violent encounter with four vehicles -three cars and a van- two miles northeast of Montello on 30. If the party split, Oliver's group will have to radio the others, now just over two miles away- the limit ofCB range. No roll is required of the person sending the message, but each person in the receiving group must make an Electronics (Communications) roll to pick up the faint signal. If someone in the sending group has a long-range radio, no roll is necessary. Montello is a small desert ghost town, abandoned during the Blight years. Any inhabitants of the town today are up to the GM, though he might throw a small cycle gang at the PCs if they seem hungry for combat, or a crusty prospector, if they need information about the All-Stars' new vehicles.

Road Kill A two miles past Montello, the PCs find an overturned beige-and-white Deseret Patrol cruiser beside the road. The vehicle is badly shot-up by a variety of weapons. A Forensics roll will allow a PC to identify at least one or two of

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Arnie's AU-StilTS The group known as Arnie's All-stars is one of the many BLVD-affiliated car clubs from Pueblo, Colorado. They call Arnie's All-Nite Pub home. They arc obviously better-equipped than the average BLUD club out of Pueblo, though they seem even-tempered and not prone to random violence, as many BLUD outfits arc. Anyone with Area Knowledge (Pueblo) will have heard of the All-stars. With a successful skill roll, he will know that the All-Stars have a rep for being wellequipped but not dangerous, unless crossed. For every point by which he makes the skill roll, he will recall one additional fact, in the following order: the AllStars are a bit better than most of Pueblo's BLUD drivers; lately, the All.Stars have been relatively inactive on the highways, keeping to their garages; they arc supposed to have a secret backer, who has a lot of money; although All-Star leader Harv Ramsey is known as a model citizen, he is believed to have been involved in the BLUD War, and was once a friend of Hamilton Burgess; several of the All-stars have been practicing their piloting skills in small choppers lately. Regardless of who is leading the villains in this adventure, the All.Stars arc the muscle in the caper. They arc in it strictly for the money - they are in no way fanatic, and will surrender once they see that success and escape arc both impossible. They do not plan to return to Pueblo once the job is over - Arnie Stoke, proprietor of Arnie's and one of the AllStars, has sold the bar.

1)pical AU-Star ST 10, OX 12, IQ 11, HT 11. Basic Speed 5. 15; Move 4. Dodge 4; Parry 8 (Brawling). Improved Body Armor; Light En-

cumbrance. Disadvantage: Reputation: BLUD member (-2 reaction from non-violent citizens). Skills: Area Knowledge (Mountain West, Colorado, Federal Corridor, or Pueblo)-12; Armoury (Vehicular Weapons)-10; Brawling-11; Driving (Cars)-13; GunnerfrL7 (as appropriate for vehicle)-13; Guns (Pistol)-12, (SMG)-12; Mechanic/TL7 (Cars)-11; Piloting-12; Streetwise-11. Weapons: .45 automatic - 2d, SS 10, Ace 2, 'hD 175, Max 1,700, Rof3"-, Rcl -2; H&K MP5- 3d-1, SS 10, Ace 8, 'hD 160, Max 1,900, RoF 10*, Rcl-1. Various specialists within the groupmechanic, armourer, tactician- will have higher levels with appropriate skills. Harv Ramsey's attributes and skills are all coc point higher than those of the ~ ADStar.

BLUDMoney

Barbara Oliver

the weapons used against the vehicle, if anyone thinks to ask - a good clue as to what to expect up the road. The cruiser apparently lost control when its front tires were shot out from under it, rolling off the road and winding up on its roof in the ditch. In the cruiser, radio mike clutched in his hand, is a dead Patrolman. Judging from a blood-smeared trail leading to the vehicle, he was thrown from the car, and dragged himself back to radio for help. Along the road are several skid marks and bitS of debris, from armor fragments to fractured taillight lenses. A Tracking-3 roll by someone who investigated the tracks back at the bam will reveal that at least the six-wheeler and one of the grasshoppers were involved in the duel. Several pieces ofblack armorplas, with red and gold markings, are among the debris - one of the All-Stars took a good hit before the Patrolmen went down.

Snowjob at Snowville

Along Deseret 30 After the PCs leave the wrecked Patrol cruiser, the next 60 miles pass without incident Even in the 20th century, all this area had to offer was a few unpaved roads leading to reclusive areas of the mountains. PCs will find nothing but a faint trace of these old roads. The next town on Deseret 30 is Rosette, another ghost town. As expected, Rosette is a dead, looted town, once inhabited by about 250 people. Deseret 30 is also Rosette's main thoroughfare- the town's one stoplight is at an intersection on 30. Amazingly, the light is working, turning yellow and then red as the party approaches. If the party blows through the stoplight, nothing happens; if they stop, it turns green in a few seconds. (This is a roleplaying test for PCs with the Honesty disadvantage- if they're playing it right, their compulsive compliance with the law demands that they stop. If they fail to stop, penalize them a character point at the end of the adventure, and tell them where they lost it.)

BLUDMoney

The next hundred miles of Deseret 30 can pass uneventfully if the GM desires. See the sidebar for more information on the road and Rosette. As the PCs move through the deserted Park Valley, however, have each make a Vision-2 roll. Anyone making the roll will notice a glint of sunlight on chrome, coming from behind the half-closed doors of the filling station's one-car garage. Although there is no one in the town, build suspense as the PCs investigate the garage. Describe the town as quiet - almost too quiet. Perhaps opening the garage door disturbs a family of bats that explode into the face of a PC. Or maybe a PC hears motion behind the garage, finding only a feral cat, or perhaps nothing at all ... In the garage, the party finds one of the All-Stars' grasshoppers, its back armor and power plant badly damaged, apparently by the Patrol cruiser's recoilless rifle .. Searching the chopper will reveal maps of Deseret, Colorado and Wyoming and a vacation brochure on Bear Lake. After Park Valley, the only intersection is Deseret 42 which leads north to Strevell and the Idaho border. With the maps and brochure from the downed chopper, the PCs will assume that the fugitives are not headed in that direction. By the time the PCs reach Interstate 84, they have covered over 150 miles since departing Bonneville - they should be looking for a charge about now. The nearest station is at Snowville, three miles east of the point where Deseret 30 joins Interstate 84. Snowville is a tiny village, centering around its one charge station and minimart. A handful of homes spread thinly over miles of highway make up the rest of the town. The charge station- Nate and Elma's Spark Stop- is a small self-service facility, with hookups for two vehicles. The attendant is a 25-year-old man in a too-small uniform with the name "Nate" stitched on the pocket. Seeming a bit nervous, he waves to them to proceed with their charges. (An Empathy role on the man indicates that he is uncomfortable here, and up to no good.) When the PCs pay for their charges, the attendant fumbles about the counter, looking for credit slips, struggling with the cash register, etc. "I'm ... uh ... new here," he explains. The restrooms, around one side of the building, are locked. If anyone asks for a key, the attendant searches behind the counter for a moment, then produces the key to the men's room. If a woman made the request, the attendant says that the ladies' room isn't working. Obviously, things are not all as they should be at Nate and Elma's. The attendant isn't Nate - he's one of Arnie's All-Stars, left behind to throw the PCs off the trail. None of the PCs recognize him because he wasn't at the duel. He joined the fugitives at the bam near Wendover. If the PCs question him about the suspect vehicles, he will tell them that those

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vehicles headed northwest, towards the Idaho border. If asked about the kidnappers, he will describe their vehicles, and say that they mentioned Twin Falls. If the PCs don't ask about the kidnappers, the "attendant.. will warn them about a bunch of "rough customers .. that came through 20 minutes ago, heading north. The owners of the station, Nate and Elma Walker, have been bound, gagged and locked in the ladies• room. If anyone goes to the men's room- right next door- have him make a Hearing-2 roll to notice a faint tapping coming from the ladies• room. Unknown to the All-Star, the restrooms operate on the same key, so the men's room key will open the door. If the PC doesn't think to try this, he may attempt to break the door down; a single crushing blow - a kick, "punch.. or shoulder blow - doing 5 or more points of damage will pop the door open. Inside are Nate - in an old white T -shirt - and Elma - in a uniform that matches the one worn by the attendant/imposter. If the attendant thinks the PCs are onto him, he'll panic, grabbing the sawedoff shotgun stashed under the counter. Things likely to set him off include probing questions about the local area, sudden movements by the PCs, or the sound of the ladies • room door being broken down (give him a Hearing+ 2 roll to notice the noise). His only desire, once he has been found out, is escape. He will lay down covering fire, attempting to hit the PCs if possible, then try to slip out the back of the building to the Walker's piclQip. (The pickup is hardly a combat model, with an acceleration of 5 mph, no driving skill modifier, and a weight of 6,500 lbs. Its only weapons are linked spikedroppers to the right, left and rear.) Once the PCs capture him, they will no doubt question the false attendant and the very grateful Walkers. The All-Star will not be cooperative. On the other hand, the Walkers will tell them everything they know. Nate can describe the vehicles and their armaments and tells the PCs that the "hooligans .. headed · southeast on 1-84, towards Tremonton. Oliver won't allow the PCs to threaten or harm the All-Star to make him talk. She pulls out a pair of handcuffs, cuffs hiin to a post in the garage, and tells the Walkers to call the Patrol to pick him up. As the PCs head for their vehicles, Oliver speaks at length on her policeband radio. She warns the Patrol of the criminals heading towards Tremonton

The AU-Stars' Vehicles The most unusual - and expensive vehicles in the All-Star garage are their three grasshoppers. These vehicles are a sort of cross between a luxury car and a helicopter, combining most of the features of each, good and especially bad They are custom models, and have no manufacturer's name.

Grasshopper - Luxury, grasshopper modification, X-Hvy chassis, Hvy suspension, Sm. helicopter power plant, 4 PR radial tires, driver only. 2 linked MGs front, MML and FOJ rear. Honeycombed Armor: PD 0, DR 6 in all locations. Aced. S (ground or air), Top speed 100 (ground), 200 (air), Driving skill modifier +3, Piloting skill modifier 0, 624S.lbs. (3SS left for crew and cargo), 8 cu. ft. remaining, $41,125. Their van and luxury car are more conventional vehicles. The van is a Republic Motors Rearguard, and the lux is a classic Piranha Option II (seep. A38).

Rearguard- Van, X-Hvy chassis, Hvy suspension, Lg. power plant, 6 PR radial tires, driver and two gunners. VMG with extra magazine in med. turret, 2 linked RLs rear, FOJs left, rear and right, ramplate (HT 54). Honeycombed Armor. F 0/18, R 0/12, L 0/12, B 0/18, T 0/6, U 0/6. Accel. S, Top Speed 100, Driving skill modifier +2, 6405 lbs. (795 left for crew and cargo), 32 cu. ft. remaining in cargo area, $24,625.

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BLUDMoney

Complications Three things can happen during this final battle to frustrate the players, essentially at the discretion of the GM. They are:

014Rtn4s Early in the battle, the players are likely to think circumstances weigh heavily in their favor. This is not the case for long. Anytime after the third turn, the rearmost car in the Pes' group will take a hit from behind. "Ha, ha," comes Buzzsaw Baker's voice over the radio. "Thought you were rid of us? Thanks for softening them up a bit. Now, out of the way!" The BLUD Fiends are back, trying to blow their way through to the kidnappers. Set them up in the first curve behind the last PC - as far back as they could be and still have line of sight. Their speed is equal to the Pes'. (If the Pes already have their hands full with the All-Stars, feel free to leave the Fiends out of this fight.) Continued on next page ...

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and requests a roadblock there. She had not yet contacted the Patrol in case the kidnappers were monitoring police bands. Now that they threaten the citizens of Tremonton, however, she has decided to risk calling for help. Calling the Patrol is the last straw for the PCs. They demand to know who Oliver really is. She produces her ID and explains. She will try to enlist their aide and the PCs will agree. Depending on the reason they are chasing the fugitives, they may or may not reveal their background.

Closing In If the PCs are listening to commercial radio as they travel from Snowville to Tremonton, they hear the following news bulletin about ten minutes out: "According to Captain Orson Dwight of the Deseret Patrol, a band of dangerous criminals is headed eastbound on Interstate 84, between Snowville and Tremonton. The criminals are traveling in three armed cars - one black grasshopper, bearing BLUD markings; a mid-sized Piranha; and an armed van. Travelers are advised to avoid Interstate 84 west of Tremonton until further notice." Allow the players a few moments to consider this announcement as they head into Tremonton - will the kidnappers hear it, and change their route? Will any of the other BLUD vehicles, that had headed out for Salt Lake City, hear the message and head north? Will the Patrol be able to stop the fugitives?

Trashed at Tremonton A few minutes later, Oliver's voice comes over the radio. "They just blew through the roadblock in Tremonton! We've got to hurry!" On the western edge of Tremonton, the PCs encounter what's left of the roadblock. Badly damaged by a collision to their frontends, two Patrol cruisers lie at the end of sideways-spinning skid marks, one to each side of the road. Deseret Patrol officers stand beside the road, stopping and turning away each approaching vehicle. If a PC vehicle, rather than Oliver's, is in the lead when the party reaches the roadblock, one of the officers - a Light Cavalry lieutenant advises the driver that a dangerous band of outlaws has entered the Tremonton area ahead of them. Unfortunately, the officer says, he'll have to ask them to tum back, or to wait for word that the criminals have been apprehended. Allow the PC a few minutes to try to talk his way past the officer - with a good story and a Fast-Talk roll, he may convince the officer to let the party through. Otherwise, Oliver will emerge from her car and stride up to the officer. When she produces her Patrol ID, the lieutenant snaps to attention. Captain Oliver explains that she is pursuing the criminals, and that the PCs are working with her. The lieutenant takes her ID to his car to confirm her story and then returns. Handing Oliver her card, he briefly describes the incident at the roadblock- less than 15 minutes ago, a

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ramplated van doing 60 mph, followed closely by a red lux, hit the two cruisers set up across the road. A black grasshopper made a single strafing pass, then followed the other two vehicles towards town. While he was on the radio, Tremonton's police reported that the luxury and van had passed through town on Highway 30 without incident, leaving eastbound. These two cruisers- neither of which is operable- were the only Patrol vehicles in th-e immediate area when Oliver radioed from Snowville. Additional troops and cruisers are en route from Pocatello and Salt Lake City, but are still miles away. As the PCs return to their vehicles, one of the Patrol officers takes the gunner's seat in Oliver's car. The other remains with the wrecked cruisers. As the party begins to roll, Oliver calls over the radio. "I think we've got company, folks," she begins. "A band of BLUD vehicles just chewed up a Patrol cruiser northbound on I-15. Sounds like someone from Bonneville is headed this way.''

Uninvited Fiends Halfway from Tremonton to Logan, the PCs hear the following bulletin on the commercial radio: "This just in. The three outlaw vehicles reported in Tremonton have been sighted in the city of Logan. According to Logan police, the armed van and cars attacked a police car just minutes ago. The officer involved is reported as severely injured. Area residents are asked to remain indoors until further notice. The Deseret Patrol is currently moving in on these dangerous criminals.'' As the caravan rolls through Logan, the streets are empty. Nothing is moving - no people, no cars, even the dogs seem to be inside. Clearly, the people of Logan have heeded the advice of their police and radio. The duellists hear a siren approaching rapidly but can't place the direction. Have the driver of the lead vehicle make a Driving roll. Suddenly, an orange and white ambunaught bursts around a corner, swerving in front of the PCs. The lead driver barely avoids him, regardless of his roll. (If he blew it badly, tell him he had a plus for his low speed - the roll was intended to create the illusion of danger, not randomly destroy a PC's car.) The ambunaught roars past the party, heading west. A few blocks further on Deseret 30, the PCs spot the wrecked police car. Its nose rammed into the corner of a grocery store, the bullet-riddled car stands abandoned. As the party clears the eastern outskirts of Logan, the rear guard suddenly takes a hit to his back armor. "Hey, hey, Fiends!" a familiar voice explodes over the radio. "Looks like these sissies in their fancy cars are trying to steal our prize money!" A quick look in the mirror reveals the Billings BLUD Fiends, led by Buzzsaw Baker. In their assortment of motley duelling derelicts, the Fiends close from behind the party, guns blazing. Though their vehicles are rather old and run down, there are a lot of then - at least three for every two PC vehicles. The Fiends expect to quickly overwhelm the PCs' smaller party. Several turns into the duel, however, the tide turns seriously against the Fiends when the Duellist in Gray appears behind them and attacks. Once the Fiends have lost two or three vehicles, Buzzsaw will command his forces to fall back, allowing the PCs as well as the Duellist in Gray to proceed. As the caravan continues along Deseret 30 towards the Wyoming border, the PCs will have the opportunity to speak to their new ally. Somewhat vague about his background, the Duellist in Gray claims to be Larry Webber, an acquaintance of Burgess' from the early days ofBLUD. "I owe him for something he did for me a few years back," he explains. Webber refuses to talk further about his interest in the chase. When the PCs thank him, he gruffly replies, "I never did like uneven odds, especially from BLUD."

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Complicadons (continued) ENl of the Line Another difficulty looming on the horizon is the Wyoming state line. While crossing the border is likely to have little impact on the PCs, Deseret Patrol Captain Oliver cannot cross it. Once it's obvious that Burgess cannot be stopped in time, she will shift her attention to the BLUD Fiends, who are guilty of at least assaulting a police officer and assault by duelling without consent. If she must, she will stop them by blocking the road with her car. Unless someone has rather specific Area Knowledge for this obscure comer of Deseret, no one will know aaelly when they'll hit the state line. Thus, the OM can pull it out at the moment he feels will be most dramatic - probably as the battle is reaching a climax, when the sudden stop of Oliver's vehicle will cause the greatest confusion and inconvenience.

The Psycho in Gray The third difficulty is undoubtedly the least expected - the disparity between the goal of the PCs and that of their new ally, Larry Webber. He is actually Lauren Grey, clone of the slain AADA-tumedBLUD-turned-AADA duellist. She holds Burgess responsible for her death, and has sworn vengeance. The PCs want to ICSCUC or apprehend Burgess; Grey wants him dead. Grey is quite fanatic, though she is no fool. She's willing to waste a clone in order to ldll Burgess, but she wants him to see her first. So she won't throw her life away unless she's sure to get him.

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Bug Over Bear Lake Aftermath Once the PCs have subdued Arnie's All-Stars, either rescuing or apprehending Burgess in the process, they will have to decide what to do next. If Burgess is alive, they can hand him over to federal authorities, and collect their payments, ·i f that was their agreement at the beginning of the adventure. In addition to the sums offered by the FCC and the FBI, the AADA will pay a cash reward of$15,000 to the people who hand Burgess over to the law. If the Pes manage to capture him in Deseret, the Patrol has offered its own $11),000 reward for Burgess. While it is possible to collect the reward from the FCC for information incriminating BSE and either the Patrol's or the FBI's reward for Burgess, there is no way to collect both of the latter rewards. Only the agency which receives Burgess will pay up. Of course, Burgess will offer large sums of money to avoid being turned over to the authorities. There is the $250,000 cash which was to be the prize money in the BLUD event, plus a cash card (a credit card that is not keyed to any specific individual) representing a $125,000 numbered bank account - Burgess' payment from BSE. Burgess will certainly be able to outbid any government agency when bargaining for his freedom. If the Pes accept Burgess' offer, they will have aided and abetted a fugitive, and stolen evidence - the cash - in a federal crime. Thus, they become felons too. If Lauren Grey is alive and well, she won't stand for any bargain with Burgess. She'll consider any PC who suggests accepting Burgess' offer as contemptible as Burgess himself, and won't hesitate to use violence against him.

Co11tinued Ollllext page

East of Logan, Deseret 30 becomes a two-lane mountain road. It winds along the shore of Bear Lake for several miles before heading to the Wyoming border. As the PCs travel this scenic highway, have each make a Hearing roll. Each one who succeeds catches a brief snatch of CB conversation. What the PCs hear is the kidnappers' road talk, at the upper limit of CB range. A PC with Electronics (Communications) can make a roll to improve the reception. If he succeeds, he picks up: " ... 'nother 15 miles past Bear ... " before the signal is lost. If he succeeds by 5 or more, he gets a more complete message: "Well, state line's another 15 miles past Bear Lake. We'll be 'cross in " As the communications expert fiddles with his radio, have everyone else make a Vision roll. Anyone who succeeds will catch a glimpse of the grasshopper appearing suddenly from between the mountains that face the lake. This is, of course, the last of the All-Stars' grasshoppers. The pilot and anyone who spotted him fire in normal Speed order. If the driver of the second car in the caravan- the grasshopper's target- did not spot the attacker, the pilot gets a +2 to hit that vehicle (it's not stationary, but the driver is unaware he is being targeted). If no one sees it, the grasshopper gets one free shot; from that point on, proceed normally through the combat round. It is not necessary to put this brief combat on a map -just treat the cars as if they were stationary. The 'hopper appears to the south of the caravan. The pilot will make one pass over the group, concentrating his fire upon a single vehicle, then head.out over the lake, circle, and make a southbound pass. Just keep track of the range between the vehicles. After the second pass, he continues south until he is over a mile away. Then he'll bank around to the east and follow the road out of sight. After the encounter, give everyone who heard either the long .or short radio message an IQ roll. If you have chosen to make Burgess a villain, the voice was his, and will be recognized with a successful IQ roll. If he actually is a kidnap victim, then the voice was that ofHarv Ramsey, leader of the All-Stars (only PCs who have heard his voice will r~ognize it). They will realize, however, that being able to hear the message is an indication that the PCs are now no more than two miles behind the culprits.

Border Crossing Several minutes after the encounter, the PCs are able to pick up the end of a radio conversation among the villains. As they pick up the signal. the grasshop-

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per pilot reports the number, type and condition of the PCs' force . . The leader orders the 'hopper to stick close to the van, providing air cover. About 10 miles after the road leaves Bear Lake - five miles from the state line - the lead driver in the PC caravan catches a glimpse of the grasshopper, as the two-lane highway turns down a long, narrow valley. If the 'hopper is over the van, the fleeing criminals are no more than a mile ahead of the party. Once the gap between the groups has closed to a quarter mile about two miles from the border - the 'hopper begins to make passes at the PCs' caravan. Again, it's not necessary to map out this segment of the combat- just be aware of the speed and order of the PCs' vehicles. The 'hopper will pass over them from side to side three times, with the opportunity to fire - and be fired at - twice on each pass. By this time, the duel will have covered another mile, and the gap will have narrowed. At this point, play out the combat. The GM may want to put the battle on a map. Roll a die for every quarter mile- on a 1-2, it's a right curve; on a 3-4, a straight; on a 5-6, a left curve. . . Anyone may but curves time, any ·at grasshopper target - or be targeted by - the block line of sight along the road. Thus, you can fire through any number of consecutive straights, and into or out of a curve, but not past a curve. There is a quarter mile between the van and the leading PC car; the villains' lux is 4 car-lengths ahead of the van. The villains are moving 10 mph slower than the PCs. The grasshopper is to the right of the PC vehicles, moving at 1.5 x their speed, weaving back and forth over them.

Endgames This road duel and adventure is likely to end in one of three ways:

The Van Crashes Burgess is in the v~n. as are Harv Ramsey and another AU-Star. If Burgess is a prisoner, he'll be bound and gagged in the back of the ·van. If he's a villain, he'll be manning the rear-mounted weapons. If the van rolls, explodes, burns or is otherwise destroyed, killing or seriously wounding everyone within, the adventure is pretty much over right there. Even if Burgess' body is burned in an explosion, coroners will eventually identify it and, with Oliver's testimony regarding the character and intent of the PCs, they will eventually receive the reward for his apprehension posted by Deseret. No other agency or organization will be willing to cough up the reward they promised, because Burgess was killed rather than captured. Because his death occurred in Deseret, Burgess will not be able to activate a clone. If he has a clone in another state, Gold Cross will activate it as per his contract .. However, any memories, advantages, disadvantages or skills he has accumulated since his last update will disappear. If the vehicle crashes without exploding, the Duellist in Gray will jump from his car, run to the van and try to get Burgess out. PCs may try to assist him in order to get Burgess out alive for the reward. However, once out, the Duellist will unceremoniously dump Burgess in a sitting position. Then he draws his gun and take off his helmet. "Recognize me Burgess? It's Lauren. You left me to die, but I'm back. This time you're going to die!" she yells. The PCs will have to physically restrain Grey to stop her from shooting Burgess- talking won't help. After they have her under control, Oliver will take Burgess and Grey into custody. See the Aftermath sidebars for possibilities and payoff. ·

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Aftennath (Continued) If they hand the cash, Burgess' corpse and other evidence over to the authorities, the FCC will pay the reward it offered (the cash is sufficient evidence), but Deseret or the FBI pays only $5,000- only a portion of what it offered. The reason, the agent delivering the reward explains, is that Burgess was delivered dead, rendering him useless as an informant, and immune to trial. The AADA will, however, pay the $15,000 it offered. Taking off with the cash will have the same effects as accepting Burgess' bribe, above - it will make the PCs wanted men. The only difference is that Grey will not interfere with their flight. She already has what she wanted, and has no interest in what becomes of Burgess' money

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The Van is Stopped lntad

Distances on the Highway Much of this adventure takes place on the open highway of northern Deseret. To help keep track of the passage of distance and time, use the following table of locations on the All-Stars' route. The first column of distances indicates how far it is, in miles, to each loCation from the one before it; the second column gives the total distance covered since leaving the Bonneville Speedway just after noon on Saturday. From Previous LocaJio11

Total From Bon11eville

32 23 61

32

LocaJio11 Junction of 1-80 with Des. 30 Montello Rosette Park Valley Junction Des. 30 with 1-84 Snowville Tremonton Logan Garden City Wyoming state line Kemmerer, Wyoming

5

55

116 121

40

156 159 191 217 257

26

283

29

312

35 3 32 26

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In this scenario, the van - again containing Burgess, Ramsey and one other All-Star - is somehow brought to a halt without a crash. This conclusion will play differently, depending on whether Burgess is a villain. If Burgess is the mastermind, the red lux will swing around between the PCs and the fugitive. Burgess and his men will jump in the car and try to head for an abandoned cabin nearby. They will make their stand in the cabin. Once it is obvious that they cannot fight their way out of the situation, Burgess will attempt to buy his freedom and perhaps one of the PCs' vehicles. With over two hundred thousand in cash, he can make a much better offer than any government agency. He does not offer the cash card, though, and the All-Stars are unaware of its existence. If Burgess is a victim, Ramsey and his followers will use him as a bargaining chip to buy their freedom. They will offer the cash if they must, but are unaware of the cash card. Ramsey emerges from the van with Burgess at gunpoint, offering to trade the BLUD hero for the All-Stars' freedom. Meanwhile, Burgess offers huge cash rewards to anyone who can free him. To the amazement of all, the Duellist in Gray gets out of his car as soon as Burgess is exposed. Taking aim with his gun, he flings off his helmet and cries, "Recognize me Burgess? It's Lauren. You left me to die, but I'm back. This time you're going to die!" Grey squeezes off several shots at Burgess. As she fires, she is oblivious to events around her. If Burgess is killed, as he probably will be, Ramsey and his partner will find themselves with little left except the money. Again, over $200,000 is more than the agencies will pay, especially for a dead Burgess. The All-Stars may try to sweeten the deal with Burgess' dead body. After all Deseret will pay something for the body. See Aftermath sidebars, p. 62-63 for more options. If Oliver is still with them, she will not negotiate anything except unconditional surrender because the All-Stars are criminals in their own right. Therefore, the All-Stars will probably make a stand and fight it out. Once Burgess falls, Grey will go slack, her arms at her sides and her weapon held loosely in one hand. If she survives the firefight, she will walk slowly up to Burgess' corpse and kick him. Her mission of vengeance complete, she will not resist any attempt to subdue and/or arrest her. The Van EsCilpes

It's possible that, even after a long, drawn out duel, the AU-Stars may escape. This will no doubt begin an extended manhunt for Burgess and the AllStars. And the PCs will no longer be alone in their pursuit of the AU-Stars. With Burgess back in federal jurisdiction, the government no longer needs independent agents like the PCs; they will be payed their minimum fee and dismissed. If the PCs intend to pursue Burgess and the All-Stars further, it will be as private bounty hunters. And with word out about the vast sum of money Burgess is carrying, along with the rewards for his capture, the party will hardly be alone in their pursuit. If Burgess is a prisoner of the All-Stars, Ramsey will hide out in the wild country of Wyoming for a few weeks, until the heat blows over. By that point, he will have discovered Burgess' cash card. With that in hand, he won't bother to tum Burgess in for any petty reward. Instead, Ramsey will murder Burgess and attempt to disappear into Canada or Mexico. If Burgess is the mastermind, he will pay the remaining All-Stars the amount he promised them and split off on his own. His course will be similar to Ramsey's, above - to lay low for a short while, then move beyond the effective jurisdiction of any of the agencies searching for him. If the PCs do not apprehend him within a few days, they will probably never catch him ... unless he figures in a future adventure.

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The Mounlllin West is the seventh volume of an ambitious project by your American Autoduel Association. The AADA Road Allt.u and Survival Guide will tell you everything you need to know about each region, including the roads, politics, police, tourist attractions and even the best restaurants and truck stops.

The AADA RotuJ A1llll tilul SrU'viwll GuiM is more than just an atlas of the Mountain West. It also features: - Vacation America. Now that the bipways are safer, tourist attractions are becoming popular and profitable again; - Campaign guidelines for GUIU'S Autotlflll GMs, with advice for setting an adventure in any part of the Mountaill We.st; - Mini-adventures for C• Wtll'l or ~ each set in a different part of the region; - "BLUD Money, .. a complete adVcllture fOl G.lltlPS ArttoluL The duel of a lifetime BLUD's World Championship- is ~tit MJ Stars, who kidnap BLUD hero Hamilton Burgess and steal the prize money ls ~or the mastermind behind the DiisSieD despite the BLUD Fiends? caper? Who is the Duellist in Gray? And can the PCB

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The AADA R«Ml At111611114 SllrrlMl GuiM, V.,_ S..: ,_,_, tllbl Wat is a 64-page supplement for both GURPS Autoaelaad Qir Wtll'l. Written by Jeffrey D. George. Edited by Melinda Spray. Cover art by Guy Burchak.

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