Opening Kickoff

So far, I have compiled a list of characters that make some appearance or play some major role in the new book - all of them sorted into different avenues of thought and process. I have decided to go with the idea I presented a couple entries back and keep SOCA around, just in a minute different form. With the agency secured, I turned to the new bad guys for this book - organized religion.

Okay, maybe a little overboard.

Honestly, I have no real issue with organized religion other than the fact that it causes so much suffering in the world, whether it is meant to or not. I have many friends, good friends, that are devout in their belief and faith and that is perfectly fine with me. Doesn't change my perspective of them, nor do I think any different of them. But back on topic, since I have been playing Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions on my PSP here lately, remembering and harking back to how the story played out with the Church of Glabados being the main manipulators of the War of the Lions. However, behind that were the cunning and demonic beings known as the Lucavi. The Church, using a story in their masses called the Zodiac Braves, held onto different "auracite" that supposed held the soul of each of the Zodiac Braves in them. There were twelve in total, and twelve were number of Braves from the tale, ranging from Capricorn all the way to Sagittarius. However, the tale was found to be a total fake used by the church to control the masses, as found out Elder Simon Rakshu. However, despite knowing the truth and documenting it, he never brought it forward - knowing that the church would come down on him hard for revealing their truth. In essence, this game and story within tell a tale about how everyone, even churches, have their own intentions not known to anyone but a select few and those select few are quickly silenced if found out.

Yes, stuff like this actually happened if you were against the church back in medieval times.

Back on subject, I am looking at a similar plot line for this new writing of this church seeking to gain global power and perhaps bring the world under the iron fist of their religion, controlling the masses and manipulating them into making them the saviors of the world. In the background though, another force is looking to capitalize on the situation. Figuring out the details on it is something I will have to examine later on though, as the current outline is there, but I'll need to color it all in eventually. Hopefully it doesn't matter me too angry.

Let's face it, this is pretty fracking mad.

"Missions" for the book are still in alpha stages, but instead of the action orientated pace of the first book, I'm hoping to go for more of an espionage feel this time of around, or at least more of a Metal Gear Solid type.

Complete with sneaking around in boxes? Absolutely.

Going with that line of thought though, seeing as how we're looking at a two man team involving Travi Gladius and Bill Bishop now, it will be easier to manage personalities and keep the focus on the task at hand. Alternating between six characters during a firefight can be very tiring, especially when you take into account each character's differing ways of dealing with a situation and how they react under circumstances presented. Having only two combatants will make it a bit easier to keep up with, especially using the template I toyed with during the Alana/Zack "missions" in the original book.
The other storylines will encompass primarily the love interests of the two main characters, Allison who has embraced her wifely role, and Heather Greene who is working on it alongside Bill Bishop. The pair are still working a full time medical research experts within the agency, and they will wind up coming into play later on when an old nemesis returns from the dead.

Not this guy.

 

The old nemesis, along with the church elements will take up the other storylines, several of them intertwining at times. It wouldn't surprise me if a certain plot point from the first book doesn't make a return, under the guise of "God's wrath" to weed out the unbelievers and bring only the truth believers to the forefront. It would make perfect sense to someone to use it as a means to bring terror and control to the masses, or to play God in essence, and wipe out humanity as a whole. Two sides, two end points, two entirely different ways of getting there. Mutually assured destruction from one side of the equation? Why not. Travi and Bill need something to do, they have to be getting bored.

And what better way to kill time that to hit homeruns off of baseballs shot out of mortars? I sense a new sport in the making.

I'll have more put together by the next entry. For now, adieu.

Seven years

To the day, my friend has been gone. Bill Brock, a man who spent his entire life fighting the battle against cancer, the indiscriminate taker of life in our world. But if there was one thing he never did, it was that he never gave up and fought until he ultimately lost said battle. Never let it be said that he didn't fight to the bitter end though, because I personally watched him. Something akin to Zack Fair against the Shinra army, kept fighting until he just couldn't anymore.

This seems about right, standing there hands on hips and saying: "Bring it on!"

But, his memory and personality still lives on - partially in me, and partially in he writings of my book and the planned sequel. Bill Bishop was created by him, down to the personality and traits - including the signature eye roll that all of us in the circle of friends knew him for. Such was his calling card, and we knew he could counted on for that witty remark when the situation warranted one. Bishop in the story, takes the role of the second in command of Gladius's team, following him to the loyal end to wherever life takes him. A proverbial pillar of strength, and someone who is not afraid to put out the wrongs when they happen. Brock was the same way. He would let you know if you were out of line, and wasn't afraid to make sure you knew it. As such, that is among the many things that made him a great friend. My friend, you are sorely missed in this world and you were taken way too early from it. But as long as you live on in the heart and memories of those that loved you in various ways, you are never completely gone. My brother in everything but blood.

March 14th, 1986 - May 28th, 2008 Rest in Peace my friend.

I know I promised more in the way of story related stuff this post, but this needed to be done first. I did not get a chance to do anymore work toward it today due to the day. However, that will change tomorrow and I will get back to my routine. Heck, I didn't even hit the gym today. 

Adieu.

First look

As typical when starting a new writing project, you have to spend additional time seeing what characters will stay, which will go, which receive lesser roles, which receive larger roles etc. etc. Looking at the list in front of me has an incomplete at best set of names that will stay, and some receiving larger roles, which others may be more compact and defined. One thing I have wanted to do is incorporate more of the minor characters from the first book into this one and perhaps give them some measure of control over how the story flows. One, for instance, is Commander (Captain?) Benjamin Harris, the CO of Travi Gladius's former SEAL Team Seven. The man was like a mentor to the main character, and the penultimate father of the team in the opening prologue of my original book. Something akin to the way that Captain (later Major General) MacMillan was for Captain John Price in the "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare" series.

I would imagine he approves. Only he can say Oi Suzy.

As stated in the previous entry, the team of the Mavericks will be history as I am wanting to focus this go around more on a personal level for Travi Gladius and all related characters. The shadowy organization that led us to the ending of the first book will have a more prominent role this time around and the dealings of this organization versus SOCA and the world will bring about severe consequences. I've yet to figure out yet if this organization is something of a conspiracy theorists wet dream such as the Illuminati, or Freemasons, or something different. Though, I would imagine that if I were to include elements such as that, I would have people telling me to watch my back.

Because aliens.

My other idea has the organization associated with some sort of religious extremist. Looking at the story of "Final Fantasy Tactics" and seeing the control of the Church of Glabados over Ivalice and their manipulation of the war that would follow, using it to weaken both sides so they can broker a peace with the good will of the people and gain more control and power. Though these seems to be the norm for modern day religion anyhow, the actual ones pulling the strings behind the scenes are the Lucavi, demons looking to revive their master. Such a tale is obviously WAY too farfetched for my line of storytelling, but going with the original thought of this organization being some sort of religious organization has merit, and it could be something of a conglomerate of every major religion in the world all working toward one goal, complete control over the population of the Earth. SOCA would be the ones who are tasked with putting an end to this, albeit perhaps in a more secretive way as it may be one of those plot twists where they have to work independently. One assertion I was looking at was SOCA being completely disaffiliated with the government, said to have disbanded, and then work in complete secrecy, operating under their own jurisdiction. Many have said this would never happen as the government would never allow such a thing to go unsupervised, but it is not as far out in left field as they think. The activities of the CIA was largely unknown to anyone except the highest security clearance, and the President of the United States during this timeline has a backbone.

Yep, kind of like this former President.

Next update will probably have a closer look at the characters that will be front and center this go around. Laying out ideas and sorting as I sift, and tossing as I sort. Till next time folks.

I have returned

After a long hiatus, I am back and decided to reopen this little bastion of (in)sanity. From where I left off, the last book did exactly what I thought it would do, re: nothing. I've made a few sales on the copies, but nothing really worth writing home about. Oh well, set the bar low and there is no disappointment. Since then, life has taken me on a roller coaster ride of ups and downs, mainly downs, but that's the norm in my life.

One girlfriend lost, one set of friends gone, and one birthday later - this 2nd shifter 1st shifter 3rd shifter is now waiting on his time to go to work in approximately four hours time. Getting the moments together to visit friends has become a second job and the few I have left, I am really wanting to see. But due to work constraints, and with orders being what they are, I'm probably stuck in a cycle of work and sleep right now. However, the extra money will come in handy as I am looking to move here in the next month.

On the authoring front, I have begun jotting down ideas for the sequel, having thrown out many ideas already. So far, several characters have made an exit stage right due to unspecified reasons for now, but their exit has not been established in the story yet. I am working on this hurdle as we speak, trying to figure out believable, yet quick and painless, ways to have them not even worried about anymore. Working on replacing those characters with others than will play some pivotal role in the story. Since the story revolves primarily around the main character this time around instead of his team, the Mavericks are history in this book.

Plot wise, I've narrowed down a few ideas that have some merit, and may even cross into a bit of science fiction thinking. Not so much that it's too farfetched, but given that my book has crossed the lines of reality a few times already, I can allow a little bit of futuristic type thinking. Most of the main characters from the first book will make a return in some form, primarily Travi Gladius and Bill Bishop. Alana, Donovan, Gabriel, Zehara, Allison, and Heather all make appearances as well. Originally, I had Allison dying in this book - but she is too important of a character to lose. Ideas will continue to pour in as time allows. So far, it's looking like something that will expand on the ending of the first book dealing with the shadowy organization that was plotting. I'm looking at something involving them trying to gain power by manipulating the world into another huge war that will leave the people crying for salvation from it all.

As time draws on, I'll post more regularly as ideas develop and as other things come forward. Right now, as for the first re-entry into this world, I'll be pushing onward with life proper. Until next time.

Adieu.