In a post apocalyptic world, there are no cellphones, and likely no radio communication. Few people will have the power for the transmitters. Communication will be set back by over a hundred years. But wandering groups and occupied bases will still need to communicate with friendly forces and strangers. Whilst semaphore and morse code are viable options, few people have the skills to read them anymore. So here are a few systems that could be used and adopted by everyone on the ZSDW.

Travelling groups

6 simple flags that will convey the most common meanings. The basic colours are common clothing colours, so can be as simple as waving a T-shirt. For scouting parties, they can be equipped with 6 proper flags with the borders included.

RED - with orange border
We are in danger

BLUE - with white border
Affirmative

YELLOW - with grey border
Uninfected

ORANGE - with black border
Negative

WHITE - with red border
Medic needed

GREY - with blue border
Shelter needed

BLACK - with yellow border
Infected

The borders are so that the main colours will stand out even if the surrounding area is that colour. You could still spot a white flag in the snow, for example, because it would have a red border.

Green is absent because it would blend too easily with trees and grass.

White and grey are used for "Help me" signals because of the convention to use white as a surrender flag.

Maritime / Zombitime base flags

The current system has 26 flags labelled A-Z, and 10 from 0-9.

Each of the lettered flags has a current meaning that I have slightly modified to relate to Z-Day circumstances. I have kept them as close to the original meaning as possible so that anyone who knows the maritime system will have a good chance at guessing the new meanings. These are intended to be flown from a base, not carried around.

Letter	Picture	Current Meaning	Z-Day Meaning
A		Diver down. Keep clear and slow speed.	Scout in field. Aproach with caution.
B		Taking in, carrying or discharging dangerous goods.	Currently disposing of corpses.
C		Affirmative.	Yes, Affirmative.
D		Keep clear.	Keep clear.
E		Altering course to starboard.	Safe passage to the left side of base. (Left facing out of base)
F		I am disabled. Communicate with me.	Perimeter breached, requesting assistance.
G		I require a pilot.	Local guide needed.
H		I have a pilot on board.	Camp has local guide.
I		Altering course to port.	Safe passage to the right side of base. (Right facing out of base)
J		I am on fire and/or have dangerous cargo. Keep clear.	Dangerous situation in base. Keep clear. (Uncontrolled fire, etc)
K		I wish to communicate.	I wish to communicate.
L		Under quarantine.	Camp infected. (Non-Z diseases such as influenza, etc.)
M		My vessel is stopped.	We have ceased fire.
N		Negative.	No, Negative.
O		Man overboard.	Lost communication with scouting party. Report in.
P		All crew should return to the ship.	Return signal for scouting party.
Q		Crew uninfected.	Camp uninfected. (Non-Z diseases such as influenza, etc.)
R		Used to denote distance.	Used to denote distance.
S		Engine working.	We have power. (Generator, etc)
T		Used to denote time.	Used to denote time.
U		You are running into danger.	You are in danger. (Zack nearby, booby trapped area, etc)
V		I require assistance.	Survivors wanted.
W		I require medical assistance.	Medic needed.
X		Stop and watch for signals.	Stop and watch for signals.
Y		Dragging anchor.	Base secure.
Z		Require towing.	Request transportation.

Number	Square	Pennant
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Some of these are direct translations from the maritime system. Others have been modified for Z-Day situations. B is used to explain a controlled fire (corpse burning to prevent infection) whilst J would be used for an uncontrolled fire. Yes, if you were running a sizable base, you would need a flag for that. If your base is on fire, why would you not just cut and run? One building on fire is no reason to leave a well fortified compund. However, you might need to explain the smoke to your scouting party, and tell them to hang back until the situation is under control.

E and I may seem counter-intuitive, but not if you think about the original use. Two ships on a head-on collision course. One responds, I am turning to port (my left). The other responds with the same message. They pass each other safely. This is why the Z-Day meanings are the way they are. Any survivors that you send to your left are turning to their right.

Using this system a base can communicate detailed instructions to both scouts and survivors. For example, P T 1 6 0 0 means "Scouts return to base at 4pm." And V H S Y K means "Survivors wanted. We have a local guide, power and a secure base. Signal us."

One member suggested a date system so that you can tell if the signal is old, and on an abandoned base. I would recommend using the Pennant numbers for the day of the month, and the Square numbers for the month. This will eliminate confusion as to which date system is in use if just square flags are used. (dd/mm or mm/dd. You aproach a base flying X, with a date marker using all square flags, 14. Is that January 4th, 1st of April, 14th of something because the other flags blew away weeks ago? If it is Pennant 1, Square 4, then its a safe bet that it was set on 1st of April.)

Don't forget that common symbols can and will still be in use:





Radiation, Biohazard and Chemical Weapon symbols.