Tag: Blog

“The Enemy Within” – a thirty-day revision – Day 13

This book has also been written for some time, like The Document, and the manuscript was also sitting in a box with half a dozen others gathering dust and not quite as complete, so this month it is going to get the makeover, a first draft for the editor.

And so it begins…

…

It depends on your definition of guilty

…

From the aspect of the poor agent who walked into a maelstrom, it has to be the planners, or at the very least someone within the organisation.

Leaks are rarely considered to be from the outside.

But, it could be someone on the inside trusting the wrong person. It’s a matter that will merit more investigation, after …

Well, there are those on the inside who believe that it was the planners, and one in particular, Evelyn.

While the protagonist also believes this is the case, and despite her protestations, because of the unique relationship between them, it is about to land her in a world of pain.

Meanwhile, the protagonist has a funeral to attend.

Searching for locations: Mount Ngauruhoe, New Zealand

Mount Ngauruhoe is apparently still an active volcano, has been for 2,500 years or so, and last erupted on 19th February 1975, and reportedly has erupted around 70 times since 1839.

The mountain is usually climbed from the western side, from the Mangatepopo track.

This photo was taken in summer from the Chateau Tongariro carpark.

In late autumn, on one of our many visits to the area, the mountain was covered with a light sprinkling of snow and ice.

On our most recent visit, this year, in winter, it was fully covered in snow.

It can be a breathtaking sight from the distance.

“The Enemy Within” – a thirty-day revision – Day 13

This book has also been written for some time, like The Document, and the manuscript was also sitting in a box with half a dozen others gathering dust and not quite as complete, so this month it is going to get the makeover, a first draft for the editor.

And so it begins…

…

It depends on your definition of guilty

…

From the aspect of the poor agent who walked into a maelstrom, it has to be the planners, or at the very least someone within the organisation.

Leaks are rarely considered to be from the outside.

But, it could be someone on the inside trusting the wrong person. It’s a matter that will merit more investigation, after …

Well, there are those on the inside who believe that it was the planners, and one in particular, Evelyn.

While the protagonist also believes this is the case, and despite her protestations, because of the unique relationship between them, it is about to land her in a world of pain.

Meanwhile, the protagonist has a funeral to attend.

I always wanted to see the planets – Episode 25

Are we there yet?

…

Even being in the fastest ship we had in the fleet, it still felt like it would take a lifetime to catch up to the alien ship, and I had to wonder at the pioneers of space travel who had to hibernate for the better part of a year, and sometimes a lot longer, to get to the other planets.

For us, time versus distance was measured a lot less that it used to be, but it would still take a long time, and we were prepared for it. What the real problem was, how long it would take us to be in a position to rescue our crew members.

Or how they felt being prisoners on an alien space craft, and how they were being treated, or even whether the aliens were either willing or capable of looking after them.

It was going to be a very interesting conversation I would have with the captain if or when we finally found them.

But knowing we might be in a fruitless chase to rescue our crew members just added to the frustration. I divided my time between the day room and pacing the bridge, looking out into the inky blackness, at times wishing something, anything, would appear to break the monotony

The science department on the other hand had a plethora of data, and no shortage of theories, but little concrete evidence of what they were calling space corridors, which were much like elevators only horizontal.

Chalmers still stuck to his belief in what he called worm hole, but was unable to advance a theory of whether the pre existed, or whether the alien ships created them as a means if getting quickly from one part if the universe to the other.

My report to the Admiral was scant on facts, except for one, that we were not alone in the universe. It Waldo precipitated a meeting of the brightest scientific minds back on the planet on the subject of alien life, and the universe itself.

At least some people were happy.

Meanwhile, the question of the ship’s speed became another topic, and it was being suggested that with a little tinkering, we could push more out of the propulsion unit, ‘tinkering’ being the operative word.

The subject was quite technical and although I had some knowledge of the mechanics, it was not enough, and I felt a little out of my depth when included in the discussions, relying heavily on the expertise of the Chief Engineer and his staff.

It was quite daunting that they were mentioning speeds up to the speed of light, now that they knew the structural integrity of the ship was not affected by the higher speed. I was not aware that it could have been a factor, but then I hadn’t known the ship was made out of an alloy that some said came from alien technology found on our planet.

Like most I believed the story that the compound that enabled us to get onto space was a freak discovery, even despite the rumours. Now, within the confines of a select group on board the ship and back at space command, those rumours had become a reality.

It was a lot to take in and I had to wonder how much the previous captain knew, and whether he was ever going to tell me. Sometimes ignorance was bliss, or so the saying went.

We’d been hurtling through space for three days when the Chief Engineer called me. I was in the day room reading up on the protocols we were supposed to adopt if or when we met new entities, and at a point where I couldn’t believe some of what I was reading.

“Sir, we think we might be able the squeeze a little more out of the engines.”

I wondered how much that little more was.

“How so?”

“The technical explanation would probably take a week, but with a few adjustments we might get a hundred percent improvement.”

“Risk factor?”

“Nothing comes without a risk, sir, but more or less as it was explained at the last conference “

In other words, any risk was worth it.

“The downside being we could be stuck in space until someone could come and rescue us.”

“Provided life support remains up and running, yes. But I believe the risk is minimal. We all signed up knowing that in all likelihood it might be a one way trip.”

Stating the obvious didn’t make the decision Amy easier. That responsibility for over 2,000 others on board weighed heavily.

“OK. I’ll make an announcement to the crew. Be on the bridge in fifteen minutes.”

“Aye, sir.”

Fifteen minutes precisely, we were looking out into the inky blackness, everyone battened down. For the first time, I sat in the captains chair with the feeling that I should be there rather than just keeping the seat warm for when the real captain returned.

A strange phrase came into my head, just seconds before I gave the order, death or glory.

“Helmsman?”

He turned. “Sir?”

“Let’s go.”

…

© Charles Heath 2021

“The Enemy Within” – a thirty-day revision – Day 12

This book has also been written for some time, like The Document, and the manuscript was also sitting in a box with half a dozen others gathering dust and not quite as complete, so this month it is going to get the makeover, a first draft for the editor.

And so it begins…

…

Searching for who is guilty

…

And, while that sounds like it might be easy … just look at those who are accusing you of being the one who messed up …. Clearly it must go back to those who planned the operation, and the intelligence, or lack of it, behind it.

But here’s the rub, you can’t have a relationship with one of the researchers, and then start blaming the back-room personnel.

Especially when they’re adamant they’re not to blame, and indignant you would accuse them.

And equally indignant if they had something to hide, which our researcher does.

So what does our illustrious ex-agent decide to do?

Investigate.

But, first, he has to go home and complain to his father, a man in a rather unique position, and, now, new plot line, the sort of man who can offer help – not the sort that is the pat on the back, and you’ll get to the bottom of it help – but a few interesting people with ‘talents and skills’.

I hesitate to use the word thug, it sounds so, well, thuggish!

“The Enemy Within” – a thirty-day revision – Day 12

This book has also been written for some time, like The Document, and the manuscript was also sitting in a box with half a dozen others gathering dust and not quite as complete, so this month it is going to get the makeover, a first draft for the editor.

And so it begins…

…

Searching for who is guilty

…

And, while that sounds like it might be easy … just look at those who are accusing you of being the one who messed up …. Clearly it must go back to those who planned the operation, and the intelligence, or lack of it, behind it.

But here’s the rub, you can’t have a relationship with one of the researchers, and then start blaming the back-room personnel.

Especially when they’re adamant they’re not to blame, and indignant you would accuse them.

And equally indignant if they had something to hide, which our researcher does.

So what does our illustrious ex-agent decide to do?

Investigate.

But, first, he has to go home and complain to his father, a man in a rather unique position, and, now, new plot line, the sort of man who can offer help – not the sort that is the pat on the back, and you’ll get to the bottom of it help – but a few interesting people with ‘talents and skills’.

I hesitate to use the word thug, it sounds so, well, thuggish!

“The Enemy Within” – a thirty-day revision – Day 11

This book has also been written for some time, like The Document, and the manuscript was also sitting in a box with half a dozen others gathering dust and not quite as complete, so this month it is going to get the makeover, a first draft for the editor.

And so it begins…

…

Continuing on from yesterday…

…

The mentor is dead, the asset in the field is presumed dead, the agent sent in as backup has been shot at, shot up, and grazed, his baptism under fire.

Now he had to go back home and face the music. That music, of course, is the debriefing, a chore that can take many forms depending on what the interrogators are after.

But analysing the operation through each of the events causes our new agent to question what really happened because things just don’t add up. The line of questioning…

Well, that’s going to be a new part of the story, which feeds into later chapters.

Of course, debriefings are really another name for labelling blame, and you guessed it, who’s the sitting suck?

So much for the budding career in intelligence.

Searching for locations: Queenstown Gardens, Queenstown, New Zealand

Queenstown Gardens are not far from the center of Queenstown.  They are just down the hill from where we usually stay at Queenstown Mews.

More often than not we approach the Gardens from the lakeside during our morning walk from the apartment to the coffee shop.  You can walk alongside the lake, or walk through the Gardens, which, whether in summer or winter, is a very picturesque walk.

There’s a bowling club, and I’m afraid I will never be that sort of person to take it up (not enough patience) and an Ice Arena, where, in winter I have heard players practicing ice hockey.

I’m sure, at times, ice skating can also be done.

There is a stone bridge to walk across, and in Autumn/Winter the trees can add a splash of color.

There is a large water feature with fountain, and plenty of seating around the edge of the lake, to sit and absorb the tranquility, or to have a picnic.

There are ducks in the pond

and out of the pond

and plenty of grassed areas with flower beds which are more colorful in summer.  I have also seen the lawns covered in snow, and the fir trees that line the lake side of the gardens hang heavy with icicles.

“The Enemy Within” – a thirty-day revision – Day 11

This book has also been written for some time, like The Document, and the manuscript was also sitting in a box with half a dozen others gathering dust and not quite as complete, so this month it is going to get the makeover, a first draft for the editor.

And so it begins…

…

Continuing on from yesterday…

…

The mentor is dead, the asset in the field is presumed dead, the agent sent in as backup has been shot at, shot up, and grazed, his baptism under fire.

Now he had to go back home and face the music. That music, of course, is the debriefing, a chore that can take many forms depending on what the interrogators are after.

But analysing the operation through each of the events causes our new agent to question what really happened because things just don’t add up. The line of questioning…

Well, that’s going to be a new part of the story, which feeds into later chapters.

Of course, debriefings are really another name for labelling blame, and you guessed it, who’s the sitting suck?

So much for the budding career in intelligence.

“The Enemy Within” – a thirty-day revision – Day 10

This book has also been written for some time, like The Document, and the manuscript was also sitting in a box with half a dozen others gathering dust and not quite as complete, so this month it is going to get the makeover, a first draft for the editor.

And so it begins…

…

Like I said, Day 8 was going to come back and bite

…

And, did it ever.

It’s got a lot to do with this fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants thing. It’s fine writing a story making it up as you go, without an official plan. If the ideas keep flowing.

But when revising it’s easy to see the plot holes or potholes maybe, and I just fell in one.

So, going back to the start…

Were in Venice … did I tell you I love Venice … where the story starts.

It’s that age-old premise, a mission that’s blown before the agent left home base.

The mission is simple: a retired agent is pulled back into the field for one last job at the request of a very important asset in the field, to bring them out of the cold.

Our new agent, whose mentor is being recalled, is assigned to back his mentor up, without his knowledge, as a precaution. Why the secrecy is not explained.

That’s the premise, and only became clear when I reached Day 10.

Day 11 promises to be a lot more interesting now.