Preview of Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven, Part 4

Last month I posted an Extended Preview of Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven, Part 3, which described the numerous ways the game could lead into Part 4. Your group could have established alliances with multiple groups in area, remained neutral with others, or even made enemies with them. You have established relationships with the many survivors living at the top junkyard and may have lost some along the way. The end of Part 3 as the outbreak continues, and a time of post-apocalyptic survival commences. In this preview of Part 4, I will provide an overview of chapter 13, provide some insight into the major storyline facing the MC and the group, and give some hints to where the narrative will lead you into what could possibly be the 5th part of the series.

Chapter 13

This chapter sets up some of the major storylines of this part of the series, and it all starts with an attack on the Junkyard. You will soon learn that Sam and Peter Makarov are indeed in the area and have been taken in by the Payne gang, led by Delores and Cliff Payne. As the chapter starts, a fire fight breaks out at the front of the Junkyard, and in the ensuing battle, the Payne Gang takes Kevin hostage. The PC, Jamie, Tommy, Woody, and one other survivor chosen by the MC hop into vehicles and follow after them. This leads to a car chase and gunfight. The chase leads you to an amusement park where the Red Mamba Biker Club (Thelma’s gang) has turned into their safe haven. Depending on your relationship with Thelma’s gang, they may help you against the Payne gang. As the firefight continues, Sam and Peter Makarov flee the scene. If both Cliff and Dee survive, they follow the Makarovs.

After leaving the amusement park, you chase them into the mountains. Due to the steep incline and rocky terrain, everyone has to ditch their vehicles. If Woody is present, he mentions you’re traveling through Ute territory. The rest of this encounter will resolve several storylines:

• Woody meeting up with a Native American tribe.
• Tommy dealing with the Makarovs.
• The MC dealing with the Payne gang.
• The Junkyard group rescuing Kevin.

River Raiders

On the way back to the Junkyard, the MC notices a barge with supplies on the highway side of the river. The barge appears to be abandoned, and as they move closer to investigate, they are surrounded by the River Raiders, a split off group from the River Dogs. This will introduce yet another major faction in the area. Depending on how long this encounter goes, the River Dogs may come along to either help the main group or fight the River Raiders.

If the Junkyard group has an alliance with the River Dogs, you may follow them back to their warehouse for conversation and trading. You can fill them in on your dealings with the other factions in the area, and they can do the same. They also share information on the zombie exodus (the player may already know about this from the hacker mission). News has been spreading of this major event in which the infected from major cities migrate into the surrounding areas looking for humans to infect.

Chapters 14 and Beyond

Chapter 14 introduces the first time skip of two months. Chapters 15 and 16 will have time skips of one month each. At the start of chapter 14, you learn of the group’s survival since the end of the last chapter. If you are at war with any other factions, raids and fighting may have weakened the Junkyard group. Zombie attacks and rating by minor groups in the area may have occurred. Sickness may have set in. It’s also possible that relationships between members of the main group have strengthened, with some romantic partnerships leading to pregnancy.

At this stage you will also find out that all teenagers have turned 18 or greater. Chapter 14 begins with birthdays for Madison and Brody.

You will also learn at this stage that some characters may have elected to leave the Junkyard and join other factions, including the River Dogs, the Silverthorne Militia, or the River Raiders. You’ll also learn that any surviving members of the Payne gang have joined the River Raiders.

Part 4 will present several major missions that have all been developed with input from my patrons through polls over the past two years. These missions include the following:

Teenager’s mission— the MC learns that their parents are alive. Through a series of steps throughout Parts 3 and 4, you will find out they have joined the Silverthornes and help lead them as part of a council.

Road rally/Helping hands – the MC leads a team to a small community that was being developed prior to the start of the outbreak. Only a few houses were occupied, though now they are all abandoned. After splitting up and searching the houses, one of the teams misses the rendezvous time. Your group has to decide on searching for them or leaving.

Airport mission — you lead a group from the Junkyard to search it minor airport in the area. You soon learn that most of the airport has already been picked clean by other looters. While you're in the control room, a plane radios in for an emergency landing, and it appears to be teens joyriding. The airplane crashes, despite any efforts the player makes. The explosion draws zombies to the site. It will take a while for the zombies to get there, giving the MC's group time to react and scavenge. Fire from the explosion spreads to other planes, threatening more explosions and setting the terminal on fire. A group of survivors can be seen through large windows overlooking the airport runway. They appear to be trapped inside an airport lounge as the fire spreads, and there are zombies inside the fire, too.

Hotel mission — the Junkyard has been communicating with a group of survivors using a hotel as a safe haven. While they’ve been managing since the outbreak, they have recently been trapped inside the upper floors. Infected have moved in to the lobby and first floor, blocking their escape. They ask for assistance from the Junkyard group to save them.

These missions will take up most of Part 4. During several of the missions, you will also interact with other factions that may come by along the way.

The hacker, science, and military missions will also continue.

New Army

Part 4 will also see a greater presence by the New Army and the organization known as OMNUS. The New Army has taken over parts of Colorado and surrounding states and has instituted martial law. Well-equipped with hundreds of soldiers, they send out units to find supplies and draft soldiers. They rule with an iron fist and claim they have full authority of the government. While the Junkyard group may be at odds with the Silverthornes, River Raiders, and other factions, everyone views the New Army as a common threat. This will lead to one of the major decisions of Part 4. Will you rally all of the other groups to fight against the New Army, use diplomacy to remain neutral, infiltrate the New Army and destroy them from within, or wage war against them alone?

Zombie Exodus

The backdrop of this entire part of the story involves zombie exodus, the migration of the infected out the major cities. As they move across Colorado, they consume everyone in their path. With knowledge of this threat, you will have to decide on a number of strategies to survive. You also have to determine if you will help other groups in the area or hinder their reaction to the zombie exodus.

Part 4 has been greenlit for production, but I am not sure on whether or not this series will continue with Part 5. I’m hoping that the support of my patrons will continue into next year, and I will be able to advance the series to Part 5 and maybe even beyond.