Without expecting a reply the small woman continued and ticked off her fingers, “One: we can’t afford to lose more APES to some AMSF screw up. Two: right, wrong or indifferent, you’ve lost your first two commands in remarkably short order. The APES and I agree that’s not an attribute in a commander that we look for, however… however, the situation is so frakked up that we’re going to have to overlook and ignore this. We can’t demote or discharge someone for something that we deny ever happened.” Vaslov shook her head and said, “And three, because of our losses, now we have to promote you to fill Fourth Ottiamig’s position. Congratulations, Quad McPherson."
The End
Cast of Characters
Aardrmicksdottir, ‘Vark’ – 1392nd Joker Squad Second-Level Commander & Armor Repair Technician
Ammad - 1392nd Charlie Squad Trooper Seven & Expendables Clerk
Ammok, Amma - 1392nd Hotel Squad Trooper Six
Baily - 1392nd Hotel Squad Trooper Three
Bambi - Kilo Squad Trooper One (Battle of Guinjundst)
Bammorou - 1392nd Charlie Squad Trooper Ten & Skid Plate Repair Technician
Barrett - Spacer First Class, AMSF Kiirkegaard
Beaudry, Bennett - 1392nd Joker Squad Trooper Three & Skid Plate Repair Technician
Becker, ‘Dog Boy’ - 1392nd Foxtrot Squad Trooper Five
Bilideau, Rice ‘Beans’ - 1392nd Dawg Squad Second-Level Commander & General Supplies Clerk
Boozer - Kilo Squad Trooper Three (Battle of Guinjundst)
Britaine, William ‘Muffin’ Park - Lieutenant Colonel, Commander of the AMSF Spacecraft T/E-716 Kiirkegaard
Brown - 1392nd Joker Squad Trooper Ten & Weapons Technician
Brown, Elizabeth ‘Dead-eye’ - Chief Master Sergeant, NCOIC of Intelligence, AMSF Kiirkegaard
Bruce, Twiller – Master Sergeant, Steward, AMSF Kiirkegaard
Cans, Hamilton - 1392nd Third-Level Commander (retired), former Commander of the 1392nd
Cauton - 1392nd Kilo Squad Second-Level Commander
Chang - Dawg Squad Second-Level Commander (Battle of Guinjundst)
Chang, ‘Waterboy’ - Major, Second Watch Commander, AMSF Kiirkegaard
Clancy - Staff Sergeant, Intelligence, AMSF Kiirkegaard
Cochran, John – The Sixth (highest rank in the Allied Protective Expeditionary Services)
Cuffs - Sergeant, Intelligence, AMSF Kiirkegaard
Cutler, Bear - 1392nd Able Squad Trooper Seven & Medical Technician
Dallas - 1392nd Joker Squad Trooper Nine
Dashell - 1392nd Foxtrot Squad Trooper Three & Medical Technician
DeLaPax, Peace - 1392nd Able Squad Trooper Four & Armor Repair Technician
Deavereaux - 1392nd Charlie Squad Trooper Nine & Communications Technician
Dimms, Richard ‘Puke’ - Major, Doctor Flight Surgeon, AMSF Kiirkegaard
Donnellson, Sigget - 1392nd Foxtrot Squad Trooper One & Weapons Technician
Esteban, ‘Nuke’ - Major, First Watch Commander, AMSF Kiirkegaard
Everridge, ‘Tree’ – 1392nd Joker Squads Trooper Five, Intelligence Specialist
Forrester, Gan – Sergeant, Allied Marshal Service
Gaineretti - 1392nd Charlie Squad Trooper One & Intelligence Technician
Garcia – 1392nd Charlie Squad Trooper Six & Medical Technician
Geleann, ‘Gee’ – Civilian & Misha’s baby sister
Gubcza, Aric ‘Goober’ – Easy Squads Second-Level Commander (Battle of Guinjundst)
Gurand – General, AMSF Flight Wing Commander
Hassletanker – 1392nd Joker Squad Trooper Eleven & General Supplies Clerk
Ivanov – Spacer First Class
Jackson, Race – 1392nd Foxtrot Squad Second-Level Commander
Jackson, Richard – APES Third-Level Commander (Battle of Guinjundst)
Jacobis – Spacer Second Class, Fighter Maintenance Technician, AMSF Kiirkegaard
Janasovich, ‘Tinker’ – Junior Major, Second Watch Commander, AMSF Kiirkegaard
Juarez, Miguel – 1392nd Able Squad Trooper Five & Weapons Technician
Kelly, Ansel – Fifth-Level Commander, APES Attorney General
Kelly, Ethica – 1392nd Hotel Squad Trooper Eleven & Expendables Clerk
Kosimov – Hotel Squad Second-Level Commander (Battle of Guinjundst)
Krandiewsky, Hiero ‘Buzz’ – Junior Major, Officer in Charge of Intelligence, AMSF Kiirkegaard
Kranich – 1392nd Bravo Squad Trooper Five & Weapons Technician
Kranitchovich, Stanley - 1392nd Hotel Squad Second-Level Commander & General Supplies Clerk
Lamont – 1392nd India Squad Trooper Two & Quarter Master
Lamsa, ‘The Greek’ – 1392nd Joker Squad Trooper Seven & Communications Technician
Lorenzo – Kilo Squad Trooper Four (Battle of Guinjundst)
McPherson, Hamisha (Misha) Ann - 1392nd APES Third-Level Commander & Able Squad’s Intelligence Technician
Mendo – Kilo Squad Trooper Seven (Battle of Guinjundst)
Metzler, Oouta – 1392nd Able Squad Trooper Eleven & Power Specialist
Mill-Hooman – 1392nd Hotel Squad Trooper Nine
Molina, ‘Mo’ – Spacer First Class, Security, AMSF Kiirkegaard
Moraft, Theda – 1392nd Bravo Squad Second-Level Commander
Morin, Brianna – Spacer Second Class, Security on Heaven Three Space Station
N’Guakkano – Joker Squad Second-Level Commander (Battle of Guinjundst)
Na’aranna, Nana – 1392nd Golf Squad Trooper One & Weapons Technician
Ng - Hotel Squad Trooper Ten (Battle of Guinjundst)
Oberman - 1392nd Dawg Squad Trooper Six & Expendables Clerk
Ortiz – 1392nd Charlie Squad Trooper Five & Armor Repair Technician
Ortiz – Spacer Second Class, Spacer, AMSF Kiirkegaard
Ottiamig, Kema Wallace, 139th APES Fourth-Level Commander
Ottiamig, James ‘Jimmie’ – 1151st APES Second Level Commander
Ottiamig, Tuamma – 1392nd Able Squad Trooper Eight & General Supplies Clerk
Papadoropoulis, ‘Papa’ – Joker Squad Trooper Two (Battle of Guinjundst)
Paradise, ‘Digger’ – Major, Executive Officer (XO), AMSF Kiirkegaard
Park – Charlie Squad/Second-Level Commander (Battle of Guinjundst)
Park, Jem Li – 1392nd Able Squad Trooper Two & Skid Plate Repair Technician
Platzchewski, ‘Chewie’ – 1392nd Charlie Squad Trooper Six & Power Specialist
Portland – 1392nd Easy Squad Second-Level Commander
Portman, Clark – 1392nd Foxtrot Squad Trooper Eleven
Pushkin – Kilo Squad/Trooper Three & Medical Technician (Battle of Guinjundst)
Putinova, Greggoria – 1392nd Joker Squad Trooper Four & Medical Technician
Qualls, Tammie ‘Jigsaw’ – 1392nd Able Squad Trooper Ten & Communications Technician
Ramirez – 1392nd Dawg Squad Trooper Nine
Ramirez, Sheila – 1392nd Easy Squad Trooper Nine & Medical Technician
Raza, Aggie – 1392nd India Squad Trooper One & Skid Plate Repair Specialist
Rezzi, Jèsusa – Staff Sergeant, Medical Technician, AMSF Kiirkegaard
Rickie – Spacer Second Class, Intelligence, AMSF Kiirkegaard
Riffler, Amossitta – 1392nd Charlie Squad Trooper Three & Medical Technician
Rittenhaus – 1392nd Charlie Squad Trooper Eight & Quarter Master
Rodriguez, Juanita – Joker Squad Trooper Four (Battle of Guinjundst)
Rodriguez, Juanito – Joker Squad Trooper Six (Battle of Guinjundst)
Saheed – Second-Level Commander (retired) Misha’s former leader
Severin – Kilo Squad Trooper Six (Battle of Guinjundst)
Skeller, Packet – Civilian & Misha’s DropSix ex-fiancée
Sleza
k, Aimee – 1392nd Able Squad Trooper Six & Expendables Clerk
Smith – 1392nd Kilo Squad Trooper Eleven & Power Specialist
Spakney – 1392nd Joker Squad Trooper Eleven
Spaznitski, ‘Spaz’ – 1392nd Foxtrot Squad Trooper Four
Steinman, Israel – 1392nd Able Squad Trooper Nine & Cook
‘Sticks’ – Sergeant, Intelligence, AMSF Kiirkegaard
Suzuki – Bravo Squad Second-Level Commander (Battle of Guinjundst)
Suzuki – 1392nd Hotel Squad Trooper One
Takki-Homi, Suzuki ‘Taks’ – 1392nd Charlie Squad Second-Level Commander & Cook
Theress – 1392nd Hotel Squad Trooper Seven
Tingler, Sven – 1392nd Hotel Squad Trooper Eight
Toxix – 1392nd Charlie Squad Trooper Eleven & General Supplies Clerk
Trammler, ‘Peanut’– 1392nd Charlie Squad Trooper Four & Weapons Technician
Vaslov, IvanYetta – 13th APES Fifth-Level Commander
Wang – Spacer Second Class, AMSF Kiirkegaard
Wilderman – 1392nd Dawg Squad Trooper Five
Wilkins – Technical Sergeant, Security, AMSF Kiirkegaard
Williams, ‘Bill’ – Sergeant, Security, AMSF Kiirkegaard
Yamara – 1392nd Kilo Squad Trooper Eleven (Battle of Guinjundst)
YellowHorse – 1392nd Hotel Squad Trooper Four
Yorkvina – 1392nd Joker Squad Trooper Eight
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alan Black is a #1 bestselling author on Amazon and Kindle for Metal Boxes, a young adult science fiction military action adventure. He has published seven novels, with five still in print. Black is a self-published multi-genre writer. His main goal is to write story driven novels. His scifi novels are character and action driven rather than focused on science. His historical novels are story driven, not history lessons. His literary fiction is entertainment based.
Alan Black's vision statement: I want my readers amazed they missed sleep because they could not put down one of my books. I want my readers amazed I made them laugh on one page and cry on the next. I want to give my readers a pleasurable respite from the cares of the world for a few hours.
I want to offer stories I would want to read.
More information at
www.alanblackauthor.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Alan-Black-Paperback-Writer/259372705810
Books
By
Alan Black
Science Fiction
Steel Walls and Dirt Drops
Metal Boxes
Chewing Rocks
Titanium Texicans (coming soon)
Larry Goes to Space (coming soon)
A Planet with No Name (coming soon)
General Fiction
Chasing Harpo
An Ozark Mountain Series
With Bernice Knight
The Friendship Stones (Book One)
The Granite Heart (Book Two)
The Heaviest Rock (Book Three) (coming soon)
The Inconvienent Pebble (Book Four) (coming soon)
The Jasper’s Courage (Book Five) (coming soon)
Historical Action/Adventure
Eye on the Prize (coming soon)
Non-Fiction
How to Start, Write and Finish Your First Novel (coming soon)
PRAISE FOR OTHER BOOKS BY ALAN BLACK
METAL BOXES
The best of new space adventure!
One of the best books of the new breed of scifi writers. Have been a fan of space adventures for the past 40 years and this is by far one of the top ten reads! I cannot remember such a fun and memorable read…thank you!
By FD Chandler, January 4, 2014
Very good book
Great action. Fine characters. Rollicking adventure and great humor. Don't miss this one! I look forward to more from this writer.
By James P. Ruff, Jr. (Altos de Yerba Buena, San Jorge III, Casa 8, Chia, Cundinamarca, Colombia, South America), December 12, 2013
Great read, could not put it down!
A very riveting book! I could not put it down. The anticipation to see what was going to happen next was awesome. Great technical detail along with enjoyable entertainment. The story was easy to follow along with as well as having great detail and intrigue…
By Larry Wright, November 18, 2013
CHEWING ROCKS
A strong female character you can't help but love
Alan Black paints an out-of-this-world picture of young Sno busy outside her spacecraft in her EVA suit, by herself, mining asteroids for rock and hopefully, a rare metal or two. When she returns to her home base in Arizona City on a small planetoid called, Ceres, she gets in a barroom scrap with 4 fellow miners from a competing operation. Without harming so much as a fingernail, she puts them in their place and then shortly after blasts off into the asteroid belt again to work a claim.
It's what happens when they chase after her that makes Chewing Rocks so much fun to read. Great action, wonderful word visuals of the planetoid city, the spaceships and the mining operations along with a multitude of colorful characters made Chewing Rocks hard to walk away from…
By James Paddock, January 26, 2014 (author of Deserving of Death)
CHASING HARPO
CITYSunTimes, Scottsdale, Arizona at news.CITYSunTime.com
When an orangutan goes on the lam, anything can happen. Chasing Harpo, by Arizona author Alan Black hosts an intriguing cast of quirky characters you'd like to visit with longer. Including the star, Harpo -- an orangutan who believes humans are here purely for his entertainment and, of course, to deliver his food.
A fun ride and a great adventure for all ages, as Harpo and his trusty servant, Carl, try to outwit the zoo security team, the police, the attorney general and a gang of drug dealers.
By Melanie Tighe, October 1, 2013 (Anna Questerly author of The Minstrel’s Tale)
Clever humor
I found it thoroughly entertaining. The humor is of the bizarre or zany variety. Black has a way of creating a turn of phrase or a situation that made me chuckle many times. I found myself liking the characters, all of whom where colorful, exaggerated stereotypes (a way of actually challenging those stereotypes by making me laugh at them). They were individuals that were easy to keep apart. This book is entirely written tongue in cheek but with an underlying serious message about our treatment of the environment and animals, especially in zoos. The story itself was a rollicking romp that included a fair bit of suspense without ever taking itself too seriously.
Seeing the world from the point of view of Harpo, the orangutan in some chapters made for a hilarious outside look at us as humans and made for some of the funnier aspects...this was a fun book to read and I recommend it for when you need to look at life a little less seriously for a bit.
By Yvonne Hertzberger, January 2, 2014 (author of The Dreamt Child)
THE FRIENDSHIP STONES (BOOK ONE OF AN OZARK MOUNTAIN SERIES)
Growing up in the Ozarks in the 1920s
An engrossing coming of age story set in the Ozark Mountains right after World War I. The heroine, 12-year-old LillieBeth Hazkit, lives with her parents in a two-room rented cabin. Work is scarce in the mountains, and her father, who was gassed in World War I, has to take a job far away at a charcoal burning company and is able to come home only on the weekend. The work does his damaged lungs (no) good.
LillieBeth cheerfully does a round of chores that would make a grown man blanch today. She also “harvests” small game for dinner with the family’s .22 rifle. She can go to school in a one-room schoolhouse only once a week because it’s so far from home. She brings the rest of the week’s work home to do there. With her cozy home and her parents she feels rich. After all, doesn’t she have two dresses, one for work and one for Sunday?
From a Sunday sermon she learns that God wants everybody to love all people, even the unlovable ones, so she sets out to befriend an old recluse, Fletcher Hoffman, a man who rode with Quantrill’s Raiders the Civil Wa
r and did his share of killing afterwards. He just wants to be left alone.
The story revolves around LillieBeth’s attempts to befriend Hoffman and the actions of a pair of violence of a pair of louts who attack Lily Beth and are have enjoyed raping women in the neighborhood for years, destroying their lives and any possibility they could marry. It’s the women’s word against theirs. They always say the women wanted it.
In addition LillieBeth’s landlady orders them to leave their cabin so that her son and his wife and his family will have a place to live. This will leave the Hazkit family homeless, and LillieBeth will be forced to leave the only home she has ever known.
LillieBeth’s emotions are becoming more complex as she grows into womanhood. She is confused by her conflicting emotions, wanting to do the right thing—to follow Bible’s injunction to love her neighbors, but she finds it hard to love the men who attacked her and the landlord who is evicting her family.
Black gives us a vivid description of life in the Ozark Mountains in the 1920s. He also gives us believable characters which we can love or hate as the story requires. Highly recommended. And when you finish reading it, give it to your 12-year-old daughter to read.
By Marilynn Larew, November 25, 2013 (author of The Spider Catchers)
A great story - first in a series!
It follows the story of LillieBeth Hazkit and her family, in the 1920s mountains in Missouri. It's a hard-to-categorize book - young adult, Christian, historical fiction - but thoroughly enjoyable.
The book is very descriptive in the period detail - clothing and hairstyles, the one-room school house/church, the run-down cabin where LillieBeth and her family live, and the post-Civil War unemployment. The setting felt very familiar to me since I lived near the Ozarks years ago, and spent many summers camping in the hollers and picking up pebbles on the riverbanks. Because of some slightly mature subjects in the book, I wouldn't recommend it for anyone under about 12 years old, but there is nothing to offend anyone older than that. And even the mature parts are tastefully done.