Tag: writing

Annexation (5/4 End)

Strange week; much RealLife drama I do not need. Picking at another short story, but nothing really clicking yet. I shall be patient.

Most autocrats enjoy it when people stand up to them, just because it doesn’t happen very often. The imperium’s bureaucracy is very small, as Fussy can do the work of many humans and do it faster, but I’m sure they are rather obsequious. I doubt her legates are. Forewarned by Old Dysart, Stephen does not put up with her shit, either.

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Annexation (4/4?)

Stepping up posting a bit as it will force me to finish this. There will be a Part Five, a conclusion. My notes from last night are awful, so I’ll flog them together later today.

In RealLife, I had to do preliminary tax work this morning. Ours are complicated so we’ve used a CPA for twenty years. Since the Fed’s Magic Money Machine can just go brrr, brrr, filing taxes is nothing more than a humiliation ritual the Cloud People use to show how much they hate us.

Below, Stephen meets Fussy for the first time and, I think, likes what he sees. He is a cautious and reserved man, which I think is why I had to write a part 5; nothing happens quickly. In fact, from my notes, nothing really happens.

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Annexation (3/4?)

Now we get a look at the other side of the hill. Fussy is obviously up to something and we’ll have to see just how diplomatic Johnston can be once he arrives. Telling that he goes to his boss’ father for advice rather than the current president of the GSS.

Updates may take a hit as there are unwelcome RealWorld matters I’ll need to see to. Even so, I’d like to think I’ll have this story complete within a week.

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Annexation (2/4?)

Personal, back-channel diplomacy, is how the world works. Formal meetings are to sign treaties and look good for the cameras. You can get a lot more done over beer and bourbon.

I’m beginning to suspect that this will be five parts, not four. But, we’ll see. After this exchange, Johnston pays a visit to Douglas’ father, the former president of the GSS. That will be part three. Part four will be Stephen’s trip up north, to mirror Chesney’s down south.

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Annexation (1/4?)

Having ended Fusion on Monday, I mentioned it might be several days before another idea comes along. Turned out to be about fourteen hours. As a plurality – if not majority – of my books have a female lead, I quite deliberately wanted to avoid that. So, I went and looked at the Hartmann family tree I recently updated, and pondered.

He gets a few lines in Ice Inundation Intelligence, but I really do not know much about Stephen Johnston, Fussy’s second husband, other than that he was from the Gulf Shore States and something of a political maneuverer. So, here we are.

Don’t know how long this will go, so that’s the ? next to the “4” up there.

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Fusion (5/5 – End)

Fusion comes in at 4400 words and shall be a part of my next collection. Looking at the scrap of paper I made before Christmas, there were seven ideas on it. One was folded into Martian Wonderland and another here. As of this typing, no one in my head has given me the slightest idea as to what to do, next.

With Ash Wednesday, perhaps that’s why: I need a small break. No, of course I’ll not give up writing for Lent – that would kill me – but a little pause right now might be in order. My liver certainly thinks so.

As has so often happened before, be it music or images, the image at the end has been behind my eyes for much of this. I had no idea who she was; my oldest daughter explained it to me. Hope to see everyone no later than a week from today with a new story.

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Fusion (4/5)

Once again a longer segment going into the weekend. The dogs had me up at 0330 and in that half-asleep stage I saw the final part of this short story. It may be a little anti-climatic, as is my wont when it comes to exciting events, but it will wrap things up nicely. I’ll be introducing an new lifeform. As if my stories needed another.

This was – and is – a fun little story. Writing shorts makes for focus and discipline. I’ve known people who talk about their 300k MS they’ve been working on for five years…and I wonder: what the hell is wrong with you? Tell your story and move on to another.

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Fusion (3/5)

Something I thought of a few days ago is how much time I spend on the greater Hartmann clan. My future history, after all, is called Machine Civilization. I’m going to keep this story focused on Thinking Machines, even if it is being told by a human.

In that regard, we get a little expo on Tay, then back to Dorina. I just set myself two of their days to get this resolved, so I think I’m on track for getting this complete in five parts.

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Fusion (2/5)

It was, typically, just before Mass yesterday when I saw that horrible predicament Ildi is in: taking away access to the Void, her friends, family, would be no different – as Dorina says, below – than one of us losing their sight and hearing. Since I don’t want to spend time of Tam going shopping for Part 3, I think there will need to be a hearing of how Ildi is holding on by her metaphorical fingertips.

So: some exposition for the girl in a boy. Politics will next obviously be a factor. Then back to EAST, in an attempt to defuse the situation. God forgive me, that was an awful pun.

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Succession (3/5)

Aurie and Jimmy wrap up their conversation in the bath. He reminds her of her violent nature and that seems to steady her; she sets about plotting something.

So. That gives us two “Chekov’s Guns:” whoever arrived overnight and what actions Aurelia’s mother, Henge, might be able to do in an emergency. I’ll start blowing things up on Wednesday. This short story is already at 3,000 words and I don’t want it to get out of hand.

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