Part 1 - A Light in the Darkness: Dials? Set the Timer Now!

Seaman Donald Galliford (Keith): Equipment Operator [Grease Monkey, Weird Science, Resourceful]; Insane DEX.

Pharmacist Mate Lewis Baker (Matt): Corpsman [Egghead, Hardened, Quick Study]; Insane Accuracy.

Petty Officer 3^rd Class Eric Jones (Brian): Engineering Aide [Hard Boiled, Heavy Hitter, Gadget Repair], Cynical – violent, Afraid of dogs.

Seaman Horace Beatty (Denny): Craftsman [Hard Boiled, Scary, Handy]

Late August, 1944: Donald, Lewis, and Eric spent over 2 weeks E&Eing thru the French countryside before finding the Allied lines for repatriation. Hospitalization in London (Donald and Lewis in the mental ward for a few weeks) before ship passage back to the states. Two days leave to visit family before boarding the train to the west-coast where they were shipped out to Hawaii for training in a new theater of operation.

Lewis was able to keep the tome hidden. Rare chances to translate the French scrawling titled The Traveler’s Teachings. Drawn into the mystic teachings. Trying to learn…and keep his sanity. The book always safely secured in his backpack.

Six months in Hawaii before deployment to Tinian Island in the Marianas island chain, jumping from one hot landing to another for rapid repairs and construction.

June 17, 1945: Seaman Donald wipes the sweat off his brow, “Garland Island. Hey Eric, where’s you say this island is? Jap’s backyard yet? This runway we’ve been laboring on ain’t long enough for those B-29 beauties. Damn 18 hours straight, what’s their rush?” Petty Officer Eric quipping, “Quit your belly-aching. It was only a 2-day sail north of Tinian. We ain’t that closer. Just a string of smaller islands, like that last one 20 miles back. Why a runway here? I don’t get paid to think. Just to crack the whip.”

The newest Seabee Horace pauses to reflect, “Did anyone else notice most of the marines already packed up in the Higgins and left? Just us, that squad of MPs, and that squad of marines that went inland with that M3 Stuart tank to wipe out the last Japs. I swear I can still hear rifle fire out in those trees. Who said this island is secured? Speaking of MPs…”

The jeep slams to a stop with a sergeant jumping out, “We’re here to secure the area; a plane’s about to land. Beat it and take a break until the plane takes off again.” Donald already jumping off the dozer in compliance while Horace quibbles, “We’ll be done in less than an hour.” The sergeant insisting, “Our orders are for you to clear out. I’d suggest you get shade under that outcropping.” Some kind of stone monument 300 yards north. Donald gathering what’s left of palm fronds (after the initial bombing to take the island) to make a comfortable bed. Horace and Lewis going for the shade, while Eric paces.

Everyone hearing the familiar drone of a C-47 Gooney-bird on landing approach. Horace having 2^nd thoughts and thus sitting up to look, “What’s so important about one plane?”  Landing runway 290, directed to park on the north end. Marines already at the cargo door unloading a large crate onto a handcart and rolling it to the Bomb Pit on the east end of the runway. Unloaded, the plane already turning for takeoff. “Look at the white-coated passengers.” Now that catches Eric’s attention as he swings his binoculars [Hard Spot]. But what catches HIS eyes are flashes out on the eastern horizon under a squall-line. Followed by splashes and smoke rising from the American fleet just offshore. Explosions and machine-gun fire. Damn Close! The buzz of Jap planes (‘Jake’ float-planes) strafing the runway.

Everyone diving for cover behind the monument as the few marines valiantly try to defend the runway. The C-47 revving its engines and on takeoff roll when it explodes in a ball of fire. “Damn it, there goes our ride!” Horace up and running, “Maybe there’s an anti-aircraft battery in the crate.” Lewis and Eric also running, but serpentining from one bomb crater to the next as they aim for the clutch of marines. Donald, unarmed, dives into the surf [Extreme Swim] hoping to reach the runway out of harms-way. Catching a wave and body-surfing all the way. The first to arrive and thus tending the wounded. Soon followed by the real corpsman Lewis and Eric.

Meanwhile, Horace runs straight for the crate abandoned 2/3rds down the runway. The MPs who WERE pushing it, dead. Another Jake lined up has Horace jumping behind the crate as two rows of bullet strikes pave a path either side of the crate. Donald and Eric take parting shots as the plane streaks overhead before turning toward their ships. 

Horace already prying the 4x4x6ft crate open, peeling back the packing material. “What the hell? All those dials. Some kind of bomb.” A quick analysis before he turns the dials setting 4 hours and flips a switch. As a rhythmic clicking begins, he removes the dials, “No one can tamper with it now.”

Meanwhile, Donald and Eric are drawn toward another tent sounding static, “Garland Island airstrip, come in, this is Commander Webster of the USS Hutchins. Report status!” Donald pushes the dead radio operator out of the way and grabs the bloody mic to answer, “Seaman Galliford reporting. Most dead, plane destroyed.” Commander Webster interrupting, “Is the DAYBREAK device safe?! Listen son, hide it until rescue can arrive. Keep it from falling into Japanese hands, at all costs. That’s an order!”

Meanwhile, Eric sees the radio operator stir so he bends down to treat his wounds and give morphine. Sudden recognition, “Gregory Evans? I thought you died in that French castle?” The American spy finally revealed. He feebly reaches into his shirt and with last breath, “This might help explain.” 

A TOP SECRET page with a lot of scientific gibberish that basically says Garland Island is to be a test site for a new bomb. Greg was responsible for bringing back info about the German scientist who developed the new device. An American rush to grab Dr. Alfred Förster before the Russians could.

Donald, Eric, and Lewis run down the runway as Horace runs toward them. All talking at once, “A bomb. Navy’s outmatched and running. We’re to fend for ourselves till rescue arrives. Hide the damn thing. Keep it out of Japs hands…all cost.” Horace pissed, “That plane was already departing. How were we to get off the island before this attack?” Donald estimating the device weight, “Maybe 120lbs if we unpack it. Unless someone is willing to strap it on their back or us drag it. Let me go see if that bulldozer is still operational [Hard Operate Heavy Machinery].” Delayed as another Jake arrives. The 4 of them quickly rolling the crate to the safety of the bomb pit.

Obvious more Jap planes circle the island but for now, the immediate threat gone. The battle adrenaline rush gone, returning their 18-hour labor exhaustion. [CON failure] Donald already displaying paranoia, jumping at every sound. Horace tries to estimate the Japanese fleet advance, “With our navy hi-tailing it, I’d guess the Japs could be landing 2-10 hours from now. I say bury the bomb as a present for their arrival. But how the hell do WE get off the island and out of range?” With the bulldozer now idling beside the bomb pit, Eric orders, “Let’s load it and get it into the woods for now. Maybe we can join-up with that squad of marines and their tank.”

They follow the articulated tank tracks through the forest, covered by the thick jungle canopy which provides some cover from the overhead Jakes. An eerie foreboding from the dark and shadowy canopy and its rotting jungle smell and oppressive, overwhelming heat. Even with the thrumming of the bulldozer, they can still hear the normal sounds of the forest - frogs, birds, lots of animal sounds follow them. Then suddenly, silence except for the dozer. Shattered by an unearthly loud noise, cross between a very loud frog croak and monkey howling!

If Donald wasn’t already jumping from the howling, a dark shape, moving at incredible speed, flies out of the shadows and glances off his shoulder before disappearing back into the jungle. And just as quickly, normal jungle sounds return. [Sanity failure] “Holy shit, did you see that?! It, it, it had a glowing head and flailing limbs.” The others [failed Spot Hidden] scoff at their paranoid brother-in-arms. They continue to rumble up the island mountainside in search of the marine patrol.

Almost 45 minutes since they left the runway when they come upon a deep gorge cutting across their path. A portable US Army bridge spans the gorge. Dead marines both sides of the gorge with the Stuart tank motionless on the other side. Scorch marks across the landscape tell the story how the tank’s flamethrower was used against the enemy. More dead marines mixed with dead Japs litter the area in front of a Japanese pillbox. With pistol in hand, Horace jumps down intending to inspect the pillbox. Lewis and Eric to checkout the tank. Donald staying on the dozer with blade raised and his rifle aimed to give cover. At the bridge and inching across when Lewis calls out, “STOP. Trip wire. Booby-trap.” Indeed, a wire inches in front of Horace tied to Jap grenades. Eric calls everyone back as he goes forward to disarm. [Fumble! Luck burn to make it just a failure.] “Boom!” Only Eric slightly wounded.

Horace rushes forward to the sandbag berm in front of the pillbox to peer inside. Nothing. Eric climbs the tank finding its commander slumped over its top hatch. [Sanity failure, at 20% threshold meaning Bout-of-Madness] Eric reeling (unable to focus) at the sight of black fungus growing on the body. Lewis climbing up to examine the fungus [Medicine], realizing it only grows on small slash marks or puncture holes. No bullet wounds as expected from combat. In fact, all the tank crewmembers inside also have the same fungus growth. And that’s when a shot rings out, followed by a yell, “BONZAI!”

Eric reels from the gunshot wound. Already aiming in that direction, Donald spots the Jap coming out of cover atop the pillbox. “BLAM!” Wounded, the Jap tumbles down the slope but is up on his feet charging at Eric with his bayonet. Unaware of Horace behind the berm. Blindsided by the brass-knuckles, the Jap slumps dead. Horace uses the Jap rifle to stab with the bayonet for good measure. Giving Lewis time to exit the tank to treat Eric. Donald drives the dozer, parking it perpendicular to the bridge to block passage. Just as another frog croak/monkey howling erupts.

This time, everyone can see the huge centipedes flying out of the pillbox [Sanity check]. One buzzing around Horace [Regular Brawl versus Hard fight-back with the butt of the rifle stock]. The other zipping past to attack Lewis still bent over treating Eric. Enough forewarning for Lewis to roll and swing a knife but the creature too fast. Horace swings again at his foe [Regular versus Hard fight-back] but is slashed across his arm in the process. Meanwhile, Donald trying to drive across the bridge. [Failed/Push] Almost knocking the bridge into the gorge before he raises the blade to then drive across and then jump down to join the fight.

The 18-inch centipedes too fast; Lewis and Eric miss. Horace, on the other hand, is able to fight off his attacker and grab it in passing. Slamming it on a rock. [Critical 01 bite versus Hard fight-back] But enough life for the centipede to twist in the grasp and bite Horace before being splattered on the rock. It’s a combined effort from all to kill the last centipede. Donald reeling from more Sanity loss, seeing up close the actual centipede. Lewis taking a medical look at the black fungus trying to analyze its origin, “Sure ain’t jungle toe-rot. Ain’t seen this kind of fungus before. But the fact it’s already growing on these marines who were only recently killed is concerning.”

Horace shows off his own slash and bite wounds that Lewis treats with alcohol and anti-fungal cream. Horace questioning the treatment, “How long should I wait till I just pour gunpowder from a bullet to cauterize the wounds?” 

Donald speaking up, “Someone say cauterize? That tank has a Ronson flamethrower we can remove and carry if needed.” Which prompts others to search the tank for useful gear. And enough open clearing atop the island mountain to see the Japanese fleet closer than expected.