Minor Updates

Good Evening, and welcome back!

Just wanted to let you know that I should have some concept art rolling in this weekend. Pretty usual stuff, though the actual novel most likely consist of sketches rather than full up CGs.

In terms of the writing, I'm at 20ish pages and am still in the Prologue section. It's going to be interesting to use this to develop the characters, seeing as how MC will be pretty much on his own for a large portion of the story. I'll post a sample of the dialogue below - let me know what you think!

“You know [MC], you don’t really seem like you fit up here with the rest of us”

I set my book on my lap, careful to replace the bookmark on the last page I read.

“Why is that?”

“Well, you heard it this morning. Most of us come from pretty shitty families. If anything, you seem more up there with Lieutenant [blank] than us”

“Doesn’t really quite matter though, draft is a draft. I’m here just like you guys are”

I smiled and drew from the cigarette. I wasn’t much older than [Friend of MC], but if anything he was much more seasoned than I was in all respects of the military. Still, it was nice to talk to someone similar to my age.

“What was it like back at home for you?”

“Trying to get sentimental already [Friend of MC]? I hope this doesn’t mean I die tomorrow.

I laughed as he gently punched me. I stared towards the worn wooden floors with their dark pits.

“Well, I was back in college before I got called up. Parents were pretty busy traveling so I’m used to coming home to an empty house. I mean, what do you want to know about?”

[Friend of MC] thought for a brief moment and responded.

“I signed up pretty damn early, sort of the escape from home. Love of country is great and doesn’t beat you like my pop did. Mom ran away with another man, so things at home were always messed up”

He blew smoke before continuing again.

“I guess about that normal life? Life back on the homefront? The older guys always describe it as something they always want to go back to, but it’s not something I’d want to return to”

I thought about some of his previous comments with the other members in our squad. Guess he played the joke even though he had no desire to go home.

I really didn’t know what to say.

“It all depends. Some of the guys have people waiting for them at home - some want to get back to doing what they want to do. As we’ve said before, freezing your ass off isn’t exactly everyone’s idea of a good time. For me, getting drafted was just another chapter of my life”

I dodged the question. I didn’t think I had the answer he was looking for. [Friend of MC] stared at the floor boards beside his boot.

Progress

Good Evening!

Just wanted to let you guys know that I'm making some progress - though I am in need of an editor. Here is another quick blurb for your SA!

We were a diverse group - some who looked fresh from training, others had spent many months on the field - tell tale signs being the dirt and salt on their skin and uniform. Combining units wasn’t common, though it always carried omens of bad luck - they wouldn’t be here unless the rest were dead.

As for myself, I most likely confused most who saw me - I was a corporal, yet hadn’t done more than six months in garrison after training. It was mainly attributed to the time I had gotten drafted, with three years of university studies completed. I couldn’t complain, as the raise in pay and rank held its privileges, though minor compared to officership.

Yet I could feel some of the gazes I received while waiting in front of Lieutenant [blank]’s tent. Regardless of how I earned my rank, I would be judged on the same scale by my peers. One of them seemed particularly interested, as he fidgeted and would momentarily look my way.

“Don’t mind him, it’s the first time he’s been away from home for more than 7 months”

The eldest of the group motioned toward me, then gave a hearty smile. He wore a winter trench coat over his uniform, his helmet held in his hand. He was an older gentleman, the dirt and grime highlighting the ridges and lines on his face. Unshaven and with matted hair, it looked like he had spent many more days traveling than we did. His eyes were bright, in contrast to his worn out appearance.

“No worries, I’m sure it’s the case for most people, myself included”

I returned the smile. I looked over towards his collar - a sergeant. Most likely a replacement section commander for our platoon. I couldn’t help but wonder how many times he had gone through the process of switching platoons.

“[MC], you arrived from the reserve garrison right? Hear any stories about here?”

“Not in particular - other than the frontline updates. Judging by how many trains were behind me, and how they pushed us into the carts I’m guessing you guys are really hurting for bodies?”

I chuckled. Of course they were, which is why we were condensing people from the 11-2 and 11-3 instead of sending them on leave. Even though the 13th was on leave, these guys were still here.

“Hah, no war stories? I guess that’s good, better a quiet war than one like the one last time around”

He strummed his fingers along his helmet. Quiet war as in low publicity? There was plenty of coverage back home in terms of our progress on the front. Parades were still held for the victors that returned home, and memorial services held for those who didn’t. I couldn’t recall the last conflict, but nothing in particular stood up.

“Well, at least you’ll have something to talk about when you get home. With someone as young as you, you probably have someone waiting for you back home right?”

I thought briefly. I had friends in college, but they weren’t close enough to send me off when I left at first. The old lady at the store I worked simply smiled and gave me bread for the trip. There was [girl who represents life before war] that I corresponded with, though she most likely kept contact to ensure I returned her books.

“Hell, I’d rather be at home than where I was with the fucking 11th Company”

Someone else chimed in. There was agreement with amongst the augmentees that apparently their last assigned company was less than optimal. Perhaps that was why we were called here, though that wouldn’t explain my presence.

“I’m sure we would all rather be home [friend of MC]. There are better places than here where there are no women and you freeze your ass off on a constant basis”

Sergeant [Mentor] quipped. The fellow he was addressing looked similar to my age, however bore one less stripe than me. [Friend of MC] smiled brightly and clicked his tongue. Dressed similarly as his older counterpart, he lacked some of the grime and salt. He wore a large knife on his leather belt.

“Only good thing about the fun one-one was the fact that they didn’t mind leaving us in the shit. Whether that shit was village clearing or sitting in a hole…”

[Friend of MC] laughed. He dusted some snow off his jacket and continued.

“Though I have to say, every time we did take fire I never did see those fuckers. Like ghosts I tell you. Burlap colored fucking ghosts”

Ghosts. At this point they might as well be, those combatants from [Country B]. I had never seen them in person, however all I knew is that they are what prevented from [Country A] from having a stable future. If traditional ghosts haunted houses, these ones withered away at our nationhood.

“You sign up for the suck  [MC]?”

[Friend of MC] looked at me inquisitively. He was a strange one amongst the 11th augmentees, as everyone almost seemed emotionally and physically tired. I wonder if he drew some sense of glee from his time in the 11th, despite his complaints.

“I got lost on the way to college”

I smirked. He quickly picked up on my joke.

“Yeah bullshit, you seem like a bookie. Hey, at least you got picked up with some school time for the extra rank.”

I laughed at the nickname and knew what [MC’s Friend] was spot on. Sergeant [Mentor] followed up with the response.

“Hey, don’t be bitter you signed up for this shit. Just think of it as working harder to earn rank”

“But then I’d end up like you Sarn’t. Work all those damn years and still make less than Lieutenant [blank]. Hell, I’d be like you and fight in every war we have haha”

“You’ll never end up like me, [MC’s friend]. You hopefully have enough common sense left to get out after this one”

[Mentor]’s face subtly grew sullen. I didn’t catch it at first, but when I think back to this moment it always seemed to stick out to me.

Our conversation was interrupted by Lieutenant [Blank] emerging from his tent. Garbed in thermals and suspenders, he was leaning on comfort rather than formality. Cigarette between his lips, he addressed us.

“Folks from one-one, I’ll chat with you some other time. You guys already know the basic schpiel here. Corporal [MC], I’ll make this quick so you at least get some sleep”

The former members of the 11th stood at attention and saluted, then returned to their tent. Meanwhile, I followed Lieutenant [blank] into his tent - assuming he valued his time rather than military protocol.

Writing Sample

Good Evening! I've been slowly working the writing and have a bit of a sample for you. First of all, here's a more defined and segmented story of the project:

General Plot

1. Main character (heretofore referred as MC) lives in a small developing country during an alternate interwar period. He is balancing school work and a part-time job until he is drafted into the latest conflict between his country and one of its neighbors.
2. MC is shipped off to the frontlines where he meets numerous characters and lives the daily life of war. Bonds develop and he observes and plays a part in the conflict. He spends his days fighting a villainized, relatively unknown enemy while watching some of his fellow in arms hypocritically perpetuating the same war crimes.
3. During a large scale defense, he is knocked unconscious from a nearby artillery round - only to wake up a day later with his allies nowhere to be scene. With limited supplies he attempts to head home.
4. Unbeknownst to him, the frontline in which he left from rapidly moves further away as he embarks on his journey home. As a solo traveler, MC will encounter not only the people directly affected by the war, but also the enemy that he had only fired at and never conversed with.
5. Arcs will focus on individual areas or people - story is mostly character development with the emphasis of returning home.
6. Overall, this is a Military Adventure/Drama VN.

These is the framework that I am operating off of, with each arc pretty much set with the series of events. Currently working on the prologue - sample below:

I awoke, my body protesting the awkward position I had slept in. There were no more rays of light in the car. With the night brought the wintery chill as the soft breeze came through the cabin.

While gingerly rubbing my ears, I nudged the gentleman next to me.

“We stop recently yet?”

“It’s been 5 hours since the last one, probably going to call it soon. Pretty sure most of us have gone through all of our food for the day”

I nodded then proceeded to open my pack. Several books, some crackers, empty tins, web gear, and some clothing peered back at me. Being too dark for reading, the crackers were the prime choice.

How much longer were we going to be on this train? There was no reply.

I munched on the stale crackers. They clung to the roof of my mouth, yet were satisfying enough. From my flask I had some water, metallic but refreshingly cold. The days had been mundane, from going from train to train.

It made sense though, they needed more reinforcements. To keep the momentum of our lines, a steady flux of bodies was necessary. If only we hadn’t been called up from the garrison and instead already there it’d make the trip much bearable.

The military wasn’t a terrible gig. I had been in school before, though not quite sure what I was going to do. The days were monotonous, but safe . However, they lacked the spice of adventure that I had been escaping to in literature.

I had gone to class, came home and studied. Rinse and repeat. Seen friends and talked about insignificant things as grasping small talk. Again, safe but not truly living.

I didn’t hate it, and I wasn’t terrible at it. It just felt like my life was going down a predictable path that would be leave me asking, “What if?”.

Which is why I didn’t particularly mind when I was drafted. Whisked from regularity I joined the nearest regiment, processed in, went through training , and was now aboard this train heading out as a unit.

Would I have been more upset if I had people to say farewell to? I’ll never know. These opportunities were common in the last 10 years, with sporadic conflicts and then temporary ceasefires.

Coming from a small country with a similarly sized neighbor tended to do that, especially if you’re both around much bigger players. Taking a quick guess, I would assume that we were now pretty far into that other neighbor with the front line.

Let me know what you think!