1st roll of the dice

For the first installment of this story follow this link... http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2008/02/post-apocolyptic-fantasy.html

For the previous installment of this story follow this link ... http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2008/02/daily-update-8.html

Today's installment.

Walking into the meeting room he was determined not to let his trepidation show, but when he looked around he saw that he needn’t have bothered. The other officers were clearly worried about what the oncoming night would bring. Some of them were seated at small tables; others stood waiting to present their list of available parts to the Colonel. Jacob joined the small line of Officers and when he deposited his list he sat at one of the small tables. When the last of the lists had been presented, the Colonel and the engineer reviewed them. The Officers watched them, the slightest shift of body language would be enough. The slight droop of the shoulders and a more apparent stiffening of the spine, they would have to fight. Without a word being uttered they knew what the outcome had been. The parts needed were not available, they would not be returning to the ship come nightfall.

For the next installment .... coming soon

Daily update 8

Another update, but just a small one tonight cause I'm a bit tired and couldn't really be bothered. This is just a bit of a transition between scenes and a bit more character development for Jacob.

Here we go...

First ... http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2008/02/post-apocolyptic-fantasy.html

Previous ... http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2008/02/daily-update-7.html

For the next ten minutes Angus went over their plane while Jacob followed him taking notes of all the parts they could go without and still make the flight back to the ship in safety. Jacob was amazed at how many parts they had to spare, but he still couldn’t help feel that none of it was going to make any difference. The soldier mentality was good for many things and one of them was maintaining a façade of indifference when feeling overwhelming pessimism. Jacob was not ashamed of being pessimistic; he had often credited it for his survival. If you always expected the worst you always prepared for it. Amy had often teased him by saying that he should have been a boy scout with his “always be prepared” attitude. As much she might tease him it was an attitude that had served him well, until now.

Next... http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2008/03/1st-roll-of-dice.html

Daily update 7

Another day, another 300 words... what, it's only supposed to be 100? Wow, well does that mean I can take 3 days off? No? Ok well... here's your special large post anyway! I really wish there was someone reading this, I'm starting to feel like a bit of a tool.

First ... http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2008/02/post-apocolyptic-fantasy.html

Previous ... http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2008/02/daily-update-6.html

Note
Before Jacob departs the plane his Company of troops march out the rear of the carrier and secure the perimeter with the other troops, change “As soon as the plane touched the ground” to “As soon as the perimeter was secure” and change “The four of them went over the plane” to “It was an anxious wait as Angus and the pilot went over the plane”

With the news of his own plane Jacob went to the centre of the secured area to join the other Captains and the Colonel in a debrief in the centre of the secured area.
“Captain, what’s your condition report?”
“She has a few dents and scratches sir but she’s airworthy.”
“Good news then”
“Yes sir”
“Have your engineer items all of your spare and expendable parts, including fuel reserves. Not all of our planes had your luck unfortunately.”
“Yes sir”

Captain Bonham of D company approached then accompanied by a Swiss Guardsman, “Sir, the perimeter is secure and they’ve set up a meeting room for our use.”
“Excellent, Captain Clark see to that list we’ll have a full situation report in approximately 30mins at 1300 hrs.”
“Yes Sir”

Jacob marched back to his plane where his Lieutenant, Kyte, and Engineer, Angus, were waiting for him. There was none of the friendly camaraderie of the night before, today it was all serious and all business.
“Some of the other planes were damaged we need to keep the perimeter secure and establish exactly what we have on hand that can be used to get other planes back up in the air.”
“Yes Sir” both of the other men answered
“Lieutenant Peterson, see to the company and ensure the security of the perimeter.”
“Yes sir” Kyte didn’t wait for anything further, he had his orders and he knew what to do.
“Captain Marsden, I’ll need your services as Company Engineer. We need to establish exactly what this plane can do without, including any fuel reserves we may have that could be spared. We have half an hour.”
“Yes sir”

Next .... http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2008/02/daily-update-8.html

Daily update 6

Here I am again and despite the fact that NO-ONE is reading this and the fact that I went to my sisters house for dinner tonight, I have STILL kept my promise and written another 100+ words tonight! Yes, thankyou, I think I'm bloody brilliant too!

First ... http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2008/02/post-apocolyptic-fantasy.html

Previous ... http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2008/02/daily-update-53.html

But Jacob couldn’t let his shock overcome him for long. Why they’d decided to open was irrelevant now, all that was important now was getting to the ground as quickly as possible, assessing the damage and hoping to god that it wasn’t bad enough to prevent them from getting back to the ship before nightfall. As soon as the plane touched the ground Jacob was out the door and on the ground the pilot, Kyte and Angus not far behind him. The four of them went over the plane, checking the engines, the armour, the intake valves, landing gear, everything. When everything checked out ok, there was a moment of relief so strong that Jacob was sure he wasn’t the only one there who could taste it, but it was short lived. Before there could be any real relief they needed to make sure the other planes were ok as well.

Next ... http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2008/02/daily-update-7.html

Daily update 5.3

Well look at that! I was able to make up for it after all! Behold my three missing days of 100+ and todays 100+ words aswell! Yes I know, I rock dem house... :-)

On with the show...

First ... http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2008/02/post-apocolyptic-fantasy.html

Previous ... http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2008/02/daily-update-4.html

As they crossed the river and these thoughts occurred to him Jacob couldn’t help the feeling of doom that settled in his stomach. So far, everything was going brilliantly, they had left on time at first light without a hitch. Their flight had been completely uneventful and the countryside and city had been completely clear of any threats. But he knew there was a threat here, someone had destroyed that reconnaissance squad and someone must be attacking this city or they wouldn’t be wanting out so badly that they’d be willing to re-locate to the other side of the world. It was the absence of any threat where he knew there should be one that had him so on edge and it must have been playing on the minds of the other officers too because they were all so busy looking for danger outside the Vatican, none of them thought to look from danger within it.

That was how the machine gunners running to their posts failed to attract their attention, even when they took their positions behind their guns and loaded and aimed them they all failed to notice. It wasn’t until the bullets started to ping off the sides of the air craft that they finally noticed. Jacob snapped back to attention with the very first one and almost before a second bullet could find its mark he was up and running to the cockpit for the radio. He didn’t know what those bloody Italians were up to but he knew of only one way to find out, just as he knew that despite the multi-cultural nature of Melbourne and its guards he was the only one among them that spoke the language with any fluency.

He reached the cockpit in record time and snatched up the radio transmitter,
“Stop firing, we’re from Melbourne, we’re here to evacuate the Pope, Stop firing!” He yelled in somewhat broken Italian.
“Da Melbourne? Abbiamo pensato che non steste venendo!” was the reply that came back.
Jacob struggled for a moment to translate the words in his mind, “Not coming!” He screamed in English before switching back to Italian again.
“We are here to help, we came! Cease fire!”
There was no reply but silence as the machine gunners stopped firing.

Jacob dropped the radio transmitter and stumbled back out to the cabin. Why they had thought no-one was coming he couldn’t imagine, and thankfully these plans were heavily armoured so there would probably be no deaths from this. But if something happened to one of these planes they might find getting back to the ship tonight to be beyond their means. If that happened and they had to spend a night in Vatican city, then Jacob didn’t like to think how many deaths might actually end up being caused by this.

Next ... http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2008/02/daily-update-6.html

Daily update 4

Hello there! I'm here again! Happy Valentines Day to you all! Just so you all know, I happen to have the best husband ever. :-)

Well on with the show!

First ... http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2008/02/post-apocolyptic-fantasy.html

Previous ... http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2008/02/daily-update-3.html

As they crossed the Tiber River, Vatican city came into view on the horizon. While it didn’t gleam in the sunlight, it was the only whole structure anywhere it sight and that alone made it special. After weeks away from home, away from the civilisation of buildings and roads and crowds of people it was a relief to finally see something that was at all like it. Jacob took in every interesting detail of it, the smooth high walls, the columns of marble, the statues, all still marvellously intact. All this beauty hidden behind fortifications but from the air they could see clearly. Beyond the high walls, beyond the barbed wire, beyond the ant-nuclear shield, beyond the barbed wire, and beyond the machine gun towers lay a small city that had survived the worst the wars could throw at them. Jacob couldn’t help but wonder what on earth had made them decide to evacuate now.

Next ... http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2008/02/daily-update-53.html

Daily update 3

Yay! Three days in a row now I've updated daily! I'm so happy with my progress, for all I know it's all utter crap but it's being written and at this point that's the main thing.

Just on a personal note I want to say, I'm Sorry. If anyone reads this (at all) and knows anything about Australian Politics, they'll know what this is about. If not... google it.

First... http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2008/02/post-apocolyptic-fantasy.html

Previous... http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2008/02/daily-update-2.html

Now back to our regularly scheduled programing.

Before the wars Rome was distinctive from other modern cities because it existed amongst the ruins of it’s glorious past; now it was all ruin. Jacob remembered his mother talking about her honeymoon there. She’d talked about how beautiful it was but how depressing it must be to live there, with ancient crumbling buildings on every side. It occurred to Jacob that he knew how those Romans must have felt.

They flew over the city, the Pantheon, the Coliseum, The Imperial palace; even the lesser known but no less important sites of Rome, the Piazza Novona, the little twisting streets with their coffee houses. It was all gone. It wasn’t even a crater it was just rubble, less than rubble. Jacob didn’t know what had happened here, it must have taken place towards the end when Melbourne was too far embroiled in its own affairs to know what was happening elsewhere. Communication became so difficult towards the end that there was no-way of even knowing what was and wasn’t real.

Jacob focused his eyes and his thoughts on the horizon, waiting for Vatican city to appear. He understood that the small city had a defence system every bit as advanced as the one that had protected Melbourne, apparently the coffers of the Catholic Church had been drained. Their resources clearly hadn’t been enough to extend the protection they purchased for themselves to the larger city around them.

Next ... http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2008/02/daily-update-4.html

Daily update 2

Well, I've got nearly 3 times my promised minimum for you tonight! Typing during add breaks of "The Sarah Connor Cronicles" and "Burn Notice". I don't know how good it is, but it seems ok to me. It's just a bit of exposition tonight but it's important to set the scene sometimes, it can't be all action and drama. Still I'm very proud of myself for today's effort, I was really tired today and it was only the thought that "I only have to do 100 words" that got me to write at all. As usual though, once I got going it just seemed to flow. I hope that you enjoy it!

First ... http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2008/02/post-apocolyptic-fantasy.html

Previous ... http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2008/02/daily-update-number-1.html

Here we go....

The deployment the next morning went as smooth as clockwork and Jacob convinced himself, as he boarded the plane with his company of troops, that it was a good sign. A day that started well was more likely to end the same way, at least that’s what he hoped for. The planes rose as one entity and headed out in formation the short distance over the Italian countryside towards Rome and Vatican City. Like an oversized flock of crows they swooped over the countryside but the type of countryside they were flying over, Jacob thought that the only kind of birds that would flourish here would be carrion.

He’d seen pictures of Rome and Italy, from before the wars, and so he knew what this area should look like. At this time of year everything should be in bloom, hills should be covered with spring green grass and wild flowers. This was wine growing country, in the valleys should be full of row upon row of vines bulging with grapes. The rivers should flow with sparkling water and the people here should be plump, happy, and full of life. Instead there was nothing.

The hills were sand dunes and the rivers a mere trickle and the people, if there were any, were no-where to be seen. Everything looked as though it had very recently been set on fire but it was a fire so deep that seeds and roots had burned too so no new life was possible. Yet somehow despite all of this devastation in the countryside the city was even worse.

Next ... http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2008/02/daily-update-3.html

Daily update number 1

I think that this is actually going to be the final part of chapter 1. Of course as previously stated this is an un-revised 1st draft so who knows what will happen in the final draft. Anyway I promised daily updates and here I have delivered! The first of many! See you all againg tomorrow!

Previous... http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2008/02/post-apocolyptic-fantasy.html

“That can’t be everything!”
“I’m sure he’d tell us more if he could Kyte.” Angus said quietly
“There isn’t any more to tell.”
Angus and Kyte both just looked at him silently, their looks more expressive than any word.
“Alright, I know your not stupid. There is more to it but I can’t tell you, you know I could be court marshalled if I went against orders like that.”
“You can tell us!” Kyte insisted at the same time as Angus re-assured him, “We understand Jake”
“Look, I would love to tell you guys everything. You know I would. I just can’t guys.”
“It’s okay Jake, we know. We trust you.” Angus said with a significant look to Kyte.
The look was supposed to silence their outspoken friend, but if there was anything on this earth that could silence Kyte when he had something to say, then neither Jacob nor Angus had yet met with it.
“If you get us killed I will come back and haunt you.”
Jacob smiled in spite of himself, “I know mate, and if you get yourself killed, you’ll come back and haunt me anyway right.”
Kyte grinned in return “Right”
“I’ll keep that in mind”

After the two men had left Jacob lay down on his bed and tried to sleep. In the morning they would leave for Vatican city and if all went well they would be back on board the ship by this time tomorrow night. The pope and all the most important works of the city on board and heading back home to Melbourne. As much as he tried to think positively Jacob found himself very aware that the success of the plan was so heavily reliant on “all being well”. He didn’t want to think about what might happen if all did not go well.

Next ... http://the-writings-of-lady-laughalot.blogspot.com/2008/02/daily-update-2.html