Of history, warfare, leadership, and alcohol
Ian pushed aside the stunned pilot as he entered the nose of the shuttle where the controls were. His medics hauled the pilot and co-pilot back out of the now-exposed cabin, since the main window had been smashed through. “Looper, get me the f**k up on comms!” he yelled back, as the young man frantically …
Continue reading "Finding Space – Chapter Ten"
There had been little fuss when he’d told the troop of their mission. The leadership seemed to understand the gravity of the situation in a way that Ian hadn’t expected. Maybe he was the only one naive enough to think that their logistical issues were all being handled. The briefing went quickly, the platoons conducted …
Continue reading "Finding Space – Chapter Nine"
Ian gazed out the window. Around him, he could hear the familiar ship-board sounds: the dull hum of voices, the clank and clash of mechanics at work, the intercom buzzing with announcements. They had been a part of his life as far back as he could remember and were now as comforting and familiar to …
Continue reading "Finding Space – Chapter Eight"
3rd Platoon blasted another hole. The suns shone down. Ian got his last caffeine injection. These were all truths, as best as he could put them together. And they were about all that his brain could actually handle at the moment. He was sitting on the rear slope of a ridge-line, trying to write his …
Continue reading "Finding Space – Chapter Seven"
It was a warm summer's morning as I stood hesitantly in the door of the church, removing my service cap and tucking it under my arm. I adjusted my tie and cast a glance at my uniform before stepping inside. Seeing a tall man in a black suit, I asked if this is where the …
Continue reading "On Rendering Honor"
Sustainment. It’s always the elephant in the room; the thing that “warfighters” don’t want to talk about. Neglect it, however, and maneuver suddenly ceases, combat support can’t support, and the whole operation collapses. So how do we get that elephant from the brigade support area to the front lines? Let me start, right off the …
Continue reading "Getting the Elephant in the Room to the Front Lines: Engineer Sustainment at JRTC"
There had been dancing that night. The room had shimmered with the glorious hues of the dress uniforms, the stunning jewels flashing when ladies turned with their partners -- the colorful dresses flaring. It was a warm night, he recollected. Warm and seasonable for Reon at that time of year. That was where they had …
Continue reading "Finding Space – Chapter Six"
In 1862, the King of Siam offered President Lincoln war elephants for the Civil War. Lincoln politely declined. But what if he hadn't? Artist rendering of guidons and equipment of the 1st Ohio Volunteer Pachyderms, by Dr. Nyri A. Bakkalian, @riversidewings The long, low lines of white pup tents, punctuated by the larger A-frame and …
Continue reading "If the U.S. Army had Elephants at Gettysburg"
Energy blasts arced across the sky, blue hints against the permanent dark yellow. Someone was apparently fighting someone. Ian was laying on his back, gazing upwards. He briefly shut his eyes, yearning for some blessed relief from the ever-present light. Space is supposed to be dark he argued to himself. They'd moved far more than …
Continue reading "Finding Space – Chapter Five"
The fighting had gone on for hours. The platoon had formed a cordon, had exhausted all their ammunition, and had ended up using the weapons of their fallen enemies -- to good effect, thought Ian. He went into the fight with twenty-three troopers. He could count twelve relatively uninjured ones around him right now, sprawled …
Continue reading "Finding Space – Chapter Four"
The Angry Staff Officer 
You must be logged in to post a comment.