Very obvious statement I suppose saying ‘I like writing’,
but it’s very true. I am immensely
enjoying writing.
The 2nd Draft of the 2nd Novel has
been printed off and I am reviewing and editing all 86 pages. Still a lot of scenes to fill in and fill out
but definitely on the right track and more importantly, on schedule!
Likewise, big news this week is I have signed up with the
author and readers website Authonomy.com run by Harper & Collins
publishers. This website allows authors
to upload their books, get them reviewed and if enough positive comments are
passed on about the book, the editors at Harper & Collins may take an
interest in it. You never know.
So I’m going to make at least a few of the chapters of the
first book available on Authonomy and if there is enough interest maybe the
whole book depending. You can only view
the book on the authonomy website, not download or otherwise, so it should be
ok. We’ll see.
The book will of course still be available for purchase on
Kindle.
I also have plans to make the book available on Kobo, Google
Play and WHSmith but I need to investigate just how their own upload processes
work. This will happen sometime in May
as I’m still tied in with Amazon Kindle till then.
Finally, as usual, a little short story for you all. It’s another Infinity the game themed story,
part based on the campaign we are running at the wargaming club. For those familiar with the infinity
background, this doesn’t tie in with the official background but was a nice
little experiment in character interaction in a Sci-fi setting. Hope you enjoy, even those who may not be
familiar with the infinity background and setting.
Till next time.
* * * * *
The clear windowed doors of the plush high rise office slide
open soundlessly, and Chandra Spec-Ops commander Jane Halliday marched in. Clad in the full battle uniform of the
Assault Sub Section, Jane looked out of place amongst the sickeningly peaceful
setting. Her sharp silver eyes told of a
battle hardened warrior woman, her short blond hair pulled back in a ponytail
and her face hawk like. She had a bored
disinterested expression already prepared.
Here we go.
“Jane! How lovely to
see you.” beamed Diane Kildra, standing up from behind her expansive office
desk and walking round to meet her colleague.
The two women could not have been more different. Diane was dressed in a figure hugging light
grey dress, trimmed in the traditional ALEPH purple. It was designed to perfectly emphasis her
curvaous figure, in stark contrast to the angular battle armour Jane was clad
in. She had high cheek bones, a wide
friendly (if false) grin and bright, captivating blue eyes. Her face was framed by short brown hair, and
her long eyelashes and expertly applied eye-liner spoke of a woman used to
being obeyed without question and swooned over without argument.
Jane rolled her eyes.
“I see you’ve gained a few pounds since last we met.”
Diane stopped mid stride.
She burst into laughter.
“We are witty today.” She said, rolling her own eyes in mock
annoyance. The remark, after all,
referred to an impossible situation.
Both of them were installed into the latest L-hosts; the very best
synthetic bodies ALEPH could provide.
Diane was crafted within the most advanced civilian diplomatic model,
built as the perfect unit to conduct business with; particularly for men. Jane, meanwhile, was in the female variant of
the special operations combat L-host.
Immensely strong, formidably well engineered and battle tested in a
dozen different war-zones. One to kill,
the other to captivate; two different styles of warfare, at least as far as
ALEPH was concerned.
“I’m in the mood.” Jane remarked. “At least for now. That is unless the reason you’ve brought me
here turns out to be another one of your pointless little face-to-face
visits. In which case, I fear, my mood
will darken.”
Diane pouted.
“Touché.” she remarked, spinning on her heel and swaying her hips as she
returned to her table.
Hasn’t she ever heard
of jeans and T-shirt? Thought Jane inwardly
“I would offer you a seat but you never accept one.” Diane
said over her shoulder
“Yeah, I’m that kind of girl.”
Jane approached the table, allowing Diane to activate the
holo-imager attached to it.
“What do you want Diane?”
“Patience Jane, patience.” From a desk drawer Diane
retrieved a small paper packet. From the
plain none-descript packet she retrieved a cigarette.
“You don’t mind?” she asked Jane. Jane raised an eyebrow.
“Is there really any point?”
Dianne shrugged, lighting the cigarette with a small golden
lighter she had taken from the same drawer.
“It’s a good question.” She took a puff, letting the smoke
waft from her mouth and nostrils. “The
tobacco and nicotine don’t affect my synthetic body in the slightest. The various chemicals in this pointless smoke
stick are completely nullified by my built-in scrubber and detoxification
systems. I can neither taste nor smell
the smoke, and neither can you, as your automatic systems phase out the
horrible chemical taste.”
She regarded the cigarette for a moment, before taking
another puff.
“And yet…”
“You know I can come back if you and the cigarette need a
moment alone.” Said Jane, deadpan.
Diane smiled without looking up.
“Actually, it illustrates a point rather well.”
She turned toward Jane, the smile on her face now changed;
to one that suggested that at last, she was getting to her point.
“Mankind, indeed woman kind, has a terrible tendency to
continue doing things that are either bad for them or pointless. Or both.
Take for example our current situation on Paradiso.”
She waved a hand at the holo-imager. The gesture recognition systems activated,
uploading and displaying the pre-programmed video holographic replays. Suddenly across the front of the table
various security camera video feeds appeared, suspended in mid-air as if by
invisible threads. Visions of war played
out in front of Jane.
“They’ve been busy then.” Remarked Jane, her built-in comlog
already downloading the video sequences and attached intelligence notes for
later analysis.
“Indeed. That’s why
you’re here.”
“In-fighting isn’t something new.”
“The reason for this in-fighting is.” Said Diane, her
expression now much more serious as she set the cigarette in an ash tray that
had rose up from the innards of the table, and started to pace.
“Let me tell you a tale.” She said next, clasping her hands
behind her, tone now businesslike.
“Approximately a week ago an unknown data source was detected by several
of our allies, originating within the Combined Armies zone of control. Being the good little co-operators that they
are, they immediately scrambled a variety of emergency retrieval teams. Characteristically they then set upon each
other like ravenous dogs. At the various
detected data sites, they tore each other apart in order to acquire the data
source for themselves. Some succeeded,
some did not.”
She turned on her heel, retracing her steps as she
continued. Jane tracked her movements.
“The data source lead to another site not far away. Once again, retrieval teams descended,
proceeded to kill each other and eventually, it was the Yu Jing who acquired
something very valuable.”
She gestured to one of the replaying videos. It grew in size and sharpness before
stopping, magnifying on a Yu Jing Hackers data sleeve. The enhanced holographic image focused and
sharpened on what looked like a holographic representation of an organic,
pillar like structure projecting from the hacker’s comlog.
“Cosmolite. So far,
so usual-business.”
“Yes, we thought the same.
But then we realised…this ones transmitting.”
Jane frowned.
“Go on.”
Diane, relishing her story telling, did just that.
“Unfortunately for the Yu Jing, the Old Man of the Mountain
got wind of their little discovery. He
beat them too it and acquired, as far as we can tell, some kind of alien black
box. Even after a carefully executed
ambush, the Japanese did not retrieve the alien artefact and the Bahram
assassins escaped with it.”
Diane gestured to the display again. A new video emerged from the background
gaggle, melting through the first. This
one showed what appeared to be the inside of a building and Ariadna forces
moving stealthy through the corridors.
“Our story gets better.
The Nomads retrieved vital data on the alien artefact even if they could
not acquire it directly. Two of their
research sites on Paradiso, which happened to house the information, then
suffered almost simultaneous biological alerts.
During one of those biological alerts, Ariadna and Pan Oceania forces
infiltrated the research positions. They
acquired a great deal data.”
Diane chuckled for a moment.
“As well as providing me great amusement.”
Jane turned her frown toward Diane.
“I’m serious, watch the feedback. Never have I seen a Black Ops operation turn
into a comedy show so quickly. I
recommend watching the scene where the Pan Oceania hacker meets the Ariadnian
Chasseur. The two of them just don’t
know what to do.”
Jane’s deadpan expression did not change.
“Anyway.” Continued Diane, taking the hint. “The second infiltration will be of greater
interest to you.”
By her command, the display now showed another video
playback. In holographic detail, it
showed Nomad forces exchanging fire with figures in the distance. A zoom in on a stilled image and a quick
enhance…and the identity of the figures was suddenly apparent.
“Tohaa.” Growled Jane, crossing her arms. “I thought first contact had not been
officially confirmed with them?”
“It hasn’t.” said Diane, freeze framing the image of a Tohaa
soldier in mid firing position. “They
shouldn’t be on Paradiso. And they
certainly shouldn’t be attacking their allies.”
Diane flicked her wrist and the display melted away before
the two women. At the same time, Jane’s
comlog chimed internally, indicating that her download of the intelligence data
was complete.
“Command wants you on standby, 24 hour notice.”
“For what?” queried Jane, eyeing her colleague
“For war, if necessary.
It has been decided that whatever that alien tech is, it is not to be
left in the hands of one human faction or another. And certainly not in the hands of the Tohaa.”
“When you say alien, you mean this tech is neither Combined
Army nor Tohaa?”
“Yes, that is our assumption.” Confirmed Diane, taking a
seat again and reaching for her still smouldering cigarette. “Combined army have tried to retrieve the
data and artefacts without successful.
Likewise, the Tohaa attack on the Nomad research station indicates that
they, too, want that technology. This is
alien in the truest use of word. Alien
tech being pursued by other Aliens, as well as us.”
“I’ll assemble a team.” Acknowledged Jane, activating her
comlog. In her background vision,
various veteran Assault section personnel profiles floated, ready for analysis.
“It’ll be rapid deployment on short notice I take it?”
“Yes. Be ready Jane.”
With a curt nod Jane turned and strode from the office.
“Diane.” She said over her shoulder as she entered the
buildings lift.
“Yes?”
Jane turned just inside the lift doors, the barest hint of a
smirk on her features. She paused for
effect.
“Purples not your colour.”
The lift doors shut, just as Diane was opening her
mouth. She made a face as she flicked
ash from her cigarette.
“I hate it when a Chandra grows a sense of humour.” She
muttered to herself.
