Suppressive fire Options

[Axl]

During a game a few days ago, my GM decided to use suppressive fire to see how it works. My character was in the suppressed area and my GM told me that I could immediately drop prone or I would risk being hit. I assumed that if I took the hit, I would be able to move out of the suppressed area on my action phase. I took the hit and then attempted to move out during my action. My GM told me that I was going to be shot again, which I wasn't expecting. Because I had already been shot once, there seemed little point in now going prone. I took the risk and was shot again.

I thought that it was a bit odd that my character would be hit twice while attempting to move out of the suppressive fire zone. Indeed I assumed that I would only be hit once, allowing me to get to cover.

I had a look at the rules and my GM right. When in the suppressive fire zone, or when moving into or out of the zone, the target risks being hit. I suppose that this is my own fault for not knowing the suppressive fire rules.

The rule states: "Any character who is in the suppressed area (but not behind cover or prone), or who moves into or out of the area before the end of the suppressive fire, risks catching some flying lead."

The implication is that this risk occurs for anyone who is in the area at the start of the suppressive fire (and not behind cover/prone), and also occurs at unspecified times after that; a character must remain in the area for a period of time, not for just an instant. Perhaps "any character who is in the suppressed area" refers to anyone who is in the area at the start of their action phase? But if so, why include a statement about moving out of the suppressed area? In which case perhaps being "in the suppressed area" refers only to the initial moment of firing? However this allows characters to move around within the area with impunity after that initial moment.

Consider two characters who stand and do nothing in the suppressed area. The first character has one initiative pass, while the second character has three initiative passes. Does the first character get hit twice while the second character is hit four times?

I had a look at the fourth edition rules and the wording is similar.