Tag: imperium

“The Fallen” Ep/1

I think the Epilogue will be wrapped up in two parts. Well, maybe three, but the third will be really small. Allie gets the personal approval – and laying on hands – from anyone who matters on Earth, while at the same time trying to be older as to what her new role is.

I was pleased to learn Rome is back in Western hands. The loss of Italy some books ago bothered me. As an ethnic hodgepodge of the 1860s, I’d imagine the Imperial Danubian Federation creates a similar federal system of a recovered Italian peninsula, rather than a single nation-state.

We get to meet one of Empress Aurie’s grandchildren!

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“The Fallen” 5/14

Good place to pause, going into a weekend. There’s a bit more, but I’m not sure if it will be in Part 5 or the Epilogue. I’ll have to see where it best fits.

You have to admire the subtlety of what is being done to Allie. The Great Powers of the Polar Alliance cannot trust one another with the full ramifications of the discoveries she made, so it became a matter of “it’s your problem now! Good luck!”

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“The Fallen” 5/13

Thirteen days to go. Churning out about 1200 words per day (had to deck the damn tree yesterday; humbug). As you can see from the end of this segment, things are about to get very politically dangerous: a mention of the Jap spaceforce – as large as the Rus and imperium, combined (imaging me writing that on Pearl Harbor Day) followed by the elephant in the room; that is, the device behind the waterfall in the cavern. This is rather like the penultimate scene in “The Good, the Bad, the Ugly”: who shoots first?

As I have broken through my 50k word ceiling for this story, it’s a matter of wrapping it up and editing the crap out of it. That should leave me five months to write two more. I think at least one will be another collection but with a novella at its core. I’d like to write about the sorely neglected Habsburg Empire, but will do what I’m told.

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“The Fallen” 5/12

Interesting that, while I once had a character refer to a much younger Empress Faustina as “a tremendous bitch,” it seems that Aurie and Annie are right up there, too. Perhaps it is the years of stress of autocracy which lends to callous behavior? Or, does a person need a callous soul to accept the burden of rule?

I’m excited to see what the years have done with Reina. I’d best write that, now. I bet Allie looks cute with a band-aid over her nose after that fall. In the mean time, I need to look up the name of the Jap emperor; that was two books ago and I’ve forgotten. Sucks to get old.

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“The Fallen” 5/11

Another busy day for our hero, getting a bit more and more unsettled by the culture shock of Old Home, as she calls it. Politics continue to play a role and Aurie hints as something of a trial ahead for Allie. I was surprised that slightly chonky Annie from Part Three of Obligations of Rank has put Reina (and yes, that’s her on the cover) into her place; and more than once. Makes me wonder how many kids she and Pavel have now (recall we met part of her first son, Ivan, back in Part 3 of this MS, Tay being their adopted daughter).

I love road stories; it really makes writing so much simpler. The only thing easier are dinner scenes.

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“The Fallen” 5/10

Going into last weekend at a bit of a loss, I, per normal, went to Mass early to pray and listen. I now think I know the rest of Part 5, so it is just a matter of writing it down.

While an interplanetary war would be kind of interesting to write, it would also mean at least of month of research and I want this MS done now, not in January. So, maybe next time. Allie will be at the center of a political resolution to all of this – barring just blowing the damn shrine up – but does not know that yet. Demi she may be but is still fifteen, and Aurie, Reina, and others have plans and schemes she cannot imagine.

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“The Fallen” 4/15

Another interlude back on the surface, seeing how the rescue effort is developing. And, boy, is it. Even so, there’s much careful planning for phase two, the drone. Recall at this moment Kira has no idea how deep the hole is or how does it end. As she says, she is assuming the best for Allie and Zhukov and planning accordingly. I have Kira reflect a little on the political changes to Earth and Mars over the last thirty years.

The play on words of “A-Hole,” A for Alicia Alvarez, came to me before Mass yesterday, so I’m assuming the pun is divinely inspired.

Because there is a lot for me to learn in this second interlude, I may be back to a MWF posting this week. Apologies.

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“The Fallen” 3/11 (end pt3)

Here we close out Part 3. Each of these is longer than the previous, so I do wonder what kind of adventure Alicia will have.

For all of Anton Senior’s devotion to his wife, he’s still a guy and we guys will always look. Saras knows that full well, but chides him, anyway. It’s all in fun. I think her declaration at the end was a good way to wrap this up.

Next Monday: down the rabbit hole. Deus vult.

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“The Fallen” 3/10

Finally realized yesterday that I will not – cannot – force this story beyond where it wants to stop. If I did, then it becomes my story and not theirs. So, 35k words, 40, 50? Not worried anymore. It will be what it is.

Being in territory nominally claimed by the imperium, things are much more relaxed and open. We know Fussy and Aurelia would routinely strip and bathe in front of their troops, so it seems Saras is like that, as well. Morals were very strict after the Breakup/Change, but that was three, nearly four generations ago, now. And, demis are used to doing their own thing.

I’m not about to get drawn into another meeting and another dinner, so Part 3 may wrap up on the next installment.

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“The Fallen” 3/6

Bigger update with someone new to this story but introduced a few other places, especially in the epilogue of the 5-star reviewed “Ice Inundation Intelligence.”

“The Fallen” is gaining its own momentum. Part One was 3800 words; Part Two, 6400. To-date, Part Three is 6800 and not about to end for at least another 2500-5000. Maybe Part Four will just be, “rocks fall; everyone dies.”

*sigh* We all know that won’t be the case. I’ll keep on keeping on. I know I’m working toward the image of the girl in the swamp. It’s just a matter of getting there.

With all of these Russian demands, I realized I’d better put the map back up.

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