Establish Facts

Hello again!

Here are some details to the story - general direction is there, what is left is to start the actual writing and we'll be on our way. 

Premise: MC is drafted into a war which seems to re-erupt in cycles. Faced with bitter enemies, his homeland fights numerous battles to shape the borders - hoping to encompass the resources that these countries depend on for survival. Stuck in a monotonous, never ending cycle of conflicts, MC is eventually shifted from the rear to the frontlines.

He spends a couple of a weeks in conflict, bonding with his fellow comrades and learning that war and the military is a fickle thing. After a pivotal and devastating loss, his wakes up on the battlefield, finding that his cherished comrades nowhere to be seen. Desperate to reunite with his comrades and to return home, he travels behind enemy lines to an ever furthering frontline, while in the process learning about himself and those he fought so viciously against. A story about growth, adventure, and one man’s journey through war.

So basically it's a military slice of life, then after the prologue transitions into a straight adventure as he heads back home. Pretty simple with plenty of room to grow in my opinion. As I layout the story, here are some of the plot points that I'm marching to:

1. Prologue - MC sets the scene (showing but not firehosing facts). He gets to know his comrades, and sets some of the tone for the story.
2. Him bonding with his platoon and comrade in arms. Most likely the battle phases, trading stories, killing time.
3. First battle - excitement, however starting to see some of the chaos of war.
4. Series of battles/leadership screw ups - starting to lose some of his buddies. If this were an a 26 episode series, would be episode 3/4
5. Separation from the rest of the army, start of the bulk of the story. (ACT 1)
6. First set of travels, encountering local populace/surviving. Potentially fellow comrades who were also left behind. Ends with him getting captured by enemy forces.
7. Prison/Interrogation (ACT 2)
8. Escape/disenchantment with war, just wants to go home.
9. Meeting someone similar views from other side, fellow traveler. Deserter. Potentially frees him?
10. Reach the city gates, arrested (ACT 3)
11. Court Martial, Penal battalion experiences. Experiences war after learning that both sides are wrong in their own right.
12. Attempt to search for companion as tide of war changes (ACT 4)
13. Escape, on the run again. Ceasefire called - realizes he can never return home.
14. Epilogue - Settles down, reflects on his experiences and how it changed him from a naive youngster to the person he is now.

Let me know what you guys think - and be advised, this will all be tweaked as the bulk of the writing starts soon.