An Update.

As a reward for meeting my Nano goal of 50k words in one month, there's been some releases.

Chapters 3 and 4 have been updated with versions that have fewer boneheaded typos.

And chapters 5 and 6 have been posted.

Crossposted

Backup Procedures chapter 6

Transiting a Lock was itself functionally instantaneous. However on a given planet, few Locks are near each other. This requires crossing oceans and depending on topography can add several days to a full week to the journey. Airplanes provide an alternative to shorten the travel time, but the infrastructure requirements are considerable.

           An airport and seaport are required near either Lock where passengers and cargo can deplane and enter a submarine for the Lock transit. Another issues is how close the Lock is to land. Most are in open ocean which can negate any travel advantages given how far the nearest base could be.

            Fuel, maintenance personnel, and supplies for the planes also have to be maintained. If the planes have insufficient range, waystations have to be constructed, manned, and fueled. Finally, the planes themselves have to be shipped and then assembled after being delivered.

           Due to their industry and populations, the Inner Colonies and much of the Consolidation had intra-planet air service. Though, tickets came at a premium. However, it was still cheaper than the military transports the outer colonies used.

           Due to the desire to expedite their return, the Recon team rated being airlifted across Piratucu. However, that still yielded them nearly two days being traveling by transport submarine.

            Agent Hans "Fritz" O'Donnell looked up at the curving grey ceiling. Pain flashed down his leg and he shifted the weight as much as he could. The room was small, cramped, and shared with the rest of the team. It had tiny bunks and a bathroom that even the Descended thought had too little personal space, but they had it to themselves. He sat at a small table that seemed over-full with just three people.

Backup Procedures chapter 5

Large pictures of landscapes, comfortable chairs, and pastel tablecloths helped warm up the Company's commissary, but they did little to avert the reality of a concrete-walled, windowless room built atop the air-base's bunker complex.

            Looking at his companions, Higgs picked at his breakfast. "So, how'd you two get drawn into this?"

            Franklin glanced at the amused Shelia and then back to Higgs. The red-eyed pilot drank his coffee. "Well... I'll blame the diversity card."

            "It is a bit-" Shelia tapped one of her horns. "-on the nose."

            "And why am I here?" Higgs asked.

            "Well Sir, you are Mr. Norton's biggest fan." Shelia grinned and picked up a piece of bacon.

            Higgs sighed.

            "Biggest fan on the planet, Rookie. It is your dossier that we all read," Franklin clarified. "Though, really I think it's because you round out our little diversity trio."

            Stirring his cereal, Higgs snorted. "I'm male, human, white, and straight. Sure I'm modded but all us Pilots are that."

            "Sir, you do realize you're an alien, " Shelia said.

Backup Procedures ch 4

            The door to the hospital room opened and Specialist Richard Weiss pulled himself so he sat up on the bed. He watched the Descended silently, smoothly enter. Bright green eyes flickered between mirth and trepidation.

            Wearing the body-hugging Kevlar composite that was her inner armor, and carrying her hulking carbine, Sergeant Cavina Somerset took a chair. She had taken off the outer layer of armor that contained her ballistic plates and fingered her short if heavy rifle. Tiny black horns poked out of dark green hair. Her hair was pulled back in a short ponytail with a simple band. Keeping the muzzle pointed up, she leaned the carbine on the floor where it thudded against the tile.

            Weiss lowered his head in a short bow. Somerset returned the gesture. "How's the wound, Mr. Wizard?" she asked.

            "I'll be okay. Ramirez did good work, but you know that." Weiss's hand went to his stomach. He looked at the glint of his thumbnail. It was about do for a replacement.

            Somerset tilted her head. "Of course."

             "And Sarge, you know why I want to talk to you."

            "I wouldn't presume, but I have an idea." Somerset smiled minutely.

            Weiss flopped back, his head hitting the pillow. "How're Cat and Fritz doing?"

            "Catilina's fine, Sandra's helping her recover, and Fritz is okay. It'll be longer for him. He'll need work for his leg." Somerset's lips curled further. "But his wife will help him recuperate, and I'm sure he'll enjoy having time to spend with his children."

            "That's why you never pushed him?"

            Somerset raised an eyebrow. "I haven't pushed any of you," she said a bit stiffly. "Allow me that much respect."

Backup Procedures ch3

Consciousness returned. As he opened his eyes, Higgs looked straight down. He flexed his fingers. Nodding, he looked around the room. The others were giving similarly relieved self-checks.

           "Yes, yes, you're all fine." Ford looked away to check her display. "You can go whenever you want."

           Stretching his neck, Higgs leisurely undid the straps and removed the cables from behind his ears. Standing up, he saw Rawlings approach.

           The larger grey-skinned man looked at Higgs and the chair. He smirked. "Sorry for that." He leaned in. "From the footage I saw that was pretty good work. A bit flashy with using your wings like that."

           "Nothing about Sue?" Higgs asked standing up.

           Rawlings looked down. "Nah, that's just luck. You had a bit of bad luck, then some good. Hell, I know how that goes." He gestured at his own grey features.

           "I should have kept better tabs on them. I've got the damn info piped right into my mind."

           Watching the other pilots shuffle out of the dubbing room, Rawlings nodded. "Yeah you should have, but you are green. It takes time to get your instincts tuned up to your true capabilities."

           Higgs crossed his arms.

           "Look, that's not to tease you. You've got it. Otherwise you wouldn't be here. And I'm not talking about the knack. If you just had that you'd be testing mods and other tech in some nice N1 Inner colony base." Rawlings looked at the shorter man. "Nah, you've got it, you just need some seasoning... if you're lucky to live long enough."

           "Thanks," Higgs dryly said.

Schedule and Revisions

I don't have a set release schedule, I'll need to consider one.  May do a couple chapters ever week.  Or less.

Due to Nano I have 10 chapters written up, with more building.  But as with ch1 and 2 there's a level of correction and completion.

Do plan to do more correcting on the chapters to get typos and the like.

But I figured that it was the 2/3 through the month and I had yet to put anything up.

Backup Procedures chapter 1

            The ocean rolled and swelled. Unobscured by clouds, the sun sat fat and orange as it eased towards setting. Twin sonic booms cracked over the water. The silence returned. Far above the waves, a pair of planes raced ahead of their shockwaves. The two delta-shaped Northrop F56 Badgers fell into place several kilometers behind the long gull-winged General Atomics SurveyHawk. Sleek, the mottled grey fighters were a stark contest to the blue-grey utilitarian reconnaissance plane. Exhaust petals restricted as the engines shifted to cruise configuration.

            "SurveyHawk Susan-Three this is Lanius Four," Capitan Morgan Graeme, the pilot of the lead Badger transmitted.

            "Hey Sue, good to see you," Captain William Higgs transmitting his own encrypted laser pulse to SurveyHawk.

            "Captains," the recon plane's controller said in a slightly amused female voice.

            "Sir, don't tease the plane," Lieutenant Charles Sanders said via Sue's satellite uplink.

            Adjusting his Heads Up Display, Higgs sighed. "Yes, fine."

            "Yeah Bill, I don't think your charms will work on this one." Morgan laughed.

Backup Procedures chapter 2

            Drawn by plumes of thin black smoke, twin helicopters flew towards the beachside encampment. On the lee side of a natural cove, the camp was aflame. The few primitive buildings were burning merrily, while the beached speedboats had their engines ripped out and then set ablaze. Out in the cove a larger ten meter fishing vessel had been split in two, both halves resting in the clear shallow water.

            As the elderly, but refurbished, Blackhawks neared, movement became clearer. About a dozen soldiers in body armor were moving about the camp. Their camouflage obscured things, but it became clear that half of them were moving crates towards what had to be a landing zone. Bodies filled the pathways between the buildings and were left in place. Most were in too many pieces to easily move anyway. The other half of the team were clearing debris out of the landing zone and standing guard with the wounded.

            "Even when recon screws up, they try to make a good show of it," Captain Torada, the pilot, said, radioing the recon team.

            "Just as long as we didn't interrupt their lunch," Lieutenant Pierce said from the copilot's seat.

            Spraying dust, the helicopters descended on the impromptu landing zone. Still holding their bulky carbines, the recon team ran towards the transports and boarded. A couple formed a line and heaved a few of the crates onboard where they were secured. Torada turned back and saw one of the recon troops leaning towards him.

Watch this place.

Chapter 1 of Backup Procedures will be put up soon.