SCBM

Vanguard Word Update

2k words

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“I know just the place,” Samiha replied with a grin.

-xXx-

“Welcome back, miss Samiha!” Jim called, hurrying over to the reception desk and holding out an arm. “And mister Cadell, Sir, always a pleasure. What’s it been, two months,...

Vanguard Word Update

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Eleanor faced the door, her palms open and floating by her sides. There, she awaited her fate.

-xXx-

“Rise and shine, elevens!” Lieutenant Marek said, his grizzled body framed against the lights in the hallway outside.

Cadell blinked...

Vanguard Word Update

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Chapter 5: First Strike

The importance of the Cordon Incident degraded aboard the shipyard like a discarded apple core. The minimalistic crew would force excitement out of anything – rumours always circulated that the shipyard was haunted, interpersonal affairs w...

Vanguard Word Update

2k words (It's a little less but that's because this is the end of the chapter)

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“You think a farmhand like me could afford to hire out a ship?” Cadell chuckled. “I suppose if I saved up I could have picked up an old rigger, but after spending my whole teens hearing about how...

Vanguard Word Update

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They made their way downspin to the recreation centre, the gentle mutterings of voices and the faint scents of cigarette smoke welcoming them as the team moved inside. Cadell always appreciated how less sterile this place was compared to the torus – the soft carpets and...

Vanguard Word Update

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Kazlu copied her movements on the flank, Cadell finding himself surrounded by hard light energy. The shields weren’t quite big enough to meet at the sides and form a complete circle, small gaps of exposure leaving their east and west faces open, but it was the best they...

Vanguard Word Update

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“Alright people,” Cadell announced, pulling back the loading bolt of his weapon. “You all know what to expect, but don’t get comfortable. The Lieutenant’s probably moved things around to try and surprise us. Let’s not give him the satisfaction. Got it?”

Vanguard Word Update

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Her abdominals were like rocks beneath his knuckles, but as much as it hurt his hand, the attack sent Samiha reeling. She only tumbled maybe two small steps backward, but the alien looked like she’d just seen a ghost, a hand creeping to her stomach as she gave Cadell an...

Panthea/Battle of the Folium Nebula Audiobooks

Making audiobooks for my works has always interested me. However, the process is not too easy, and hiring/finding good voice actors is an expensive endevour, so the idea kinda faded into obscurity.

However, amazon selected me to be a part of their audiobook beta, which reads out a whole ebo...

Vanguard Word Update

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“On the contrary, our influence only expanded, with dozens of smaller Clans flocking to our borders with water in droves. My parents described it as a time of prosperity for the Kaalesh Clan, allowing us to set sail to the stars. I wonder if they have any idea what has ...

Vanguard Word Update

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These were nothing much to make note of, but in that month leading up to their rerun of the sim (weeks now, time was flying by), there was one particular exchange that sat above the rest. They had returned to the range along with some of the other squads to brush up on th...

Vanguard Word Update

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“I’d better not, cause if I see you at the bottom of that board again…” He let that bit hang in the air, turning his gaze to Samiha. “Not even the Kith’sla’s words will save you. Take my advice and can whatever issues you two have, for your own sakes.”

Vanguard Word Update

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“I take back what I said,” Samiha said, heaving her hammer from one shoulder to the other. “This is a lot of fun. I needed this.”

“Told you,” Cadell said, leaning on the wall as he took deep, hard breaths.

“Cadell? Are you well?”...

Vanguard Word Update

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“I think you’ll appreciate the surprise,” he said. “Come on, it’s this way.”

The two of them proceeded downspin for a ways, coming upon an arch that curved over the main street, held aloft by two pillars that were capped at the tops with scantily-clad wo...

Vanguard Word Update

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“A pragmatic outlook,” Samiha mused. “Perhaps there’s a shred of a Kith’sla in you after all.”

Cadell felt like they’d reached a level of understanding, however brief it might be. They were both at fault for ending up out here, potentially kicked off t...

Vanguard Remake

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“This is the best I have on hand, ma’am,” Jim informed, setting the Ottoman down and wiping his brow. “Hope it’s to your satisfaction.”

“It will do.”

Samiha, undeterred, turned and planted her butt on the footstool, cocking her head as Cadell ...

Am back

Like a protoss dragoon, I have returned and will get back on the horse shortly

Vanguard Word Update

2k words. I wanted it to be more but I'm late for work. I'll see you guys next week!

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“When do we go?” he sighed.

“You can leave right away. I’ll send word to the gate and tell them you’re expected. Unless you have any more protests, I suggest you both see yourselve...

Me Update

Two things. The first, is that I'm leaving town for a little trip, and wont be able to work on word updates until I get back, which should be on Monday. Couple thousand words later today will be the last update till then.

Secondly: want to thank each and every one of you for your generosity...

Vanguard Word Update

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-xXx-

The administration building was only accessible by elevator or staircase, its façade extruding from one of the steep walls that flanked the Hub. From the torus it resembled a tower, stretching maybe a third of the way up the wall, but this wa...

Vanguard Word Update

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Cadell motioned them all on, knowing now was the time not to test the Lieutenant further. They placed their simulation equipment back in the cavity, and left. The Lieutenant did not follow them out.

They all got a better look at the scoreboard in the hallway outside...

Vanguard Word Update

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“Got it,” Kazlu said. “Stay close, little guys.”

The Balokarid turned into the hallway, the humans using her as mobile cover as the three of them pushed up towards the entrenched holograms. Cadell took a couple potshots at the targets, still trying to get us...

Vanguard Word Update

2k words. Things were pretty crazy over here, had my first cyclone ever (yay?) pass over, and I was a little busier than usual with some other stuff, so I apologise for the delay.

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Its shape was not unlike an armband, and Cadell was proven right as Kazlu slipped her arm through the...

Vanguard Word Update

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“No, Sir,” Cadell replied, knowing it was better to take it on the chin than try and find an excuse. He tried to ignore the gloating Samiha, watching him be tutored by the Lieutenant while she went about her own task without any visible difficulty, but he felt embarra...

Vanguard Word Update

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He flicked off the safety, then squeezed off a shot. There was a loud, electronic crack as the muzzle of the gun rocked, Cadell swearing he could hear the hiss of a static chasing after. The paper target flittered as a hole punched through the lower corner. Marek wasn’t...

Vanguard Word Update

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It was a needle.

-xXx-

Over the next week the exercise drills and study sessions blended together for Cadell. This wasn’t to say he was inattentive or hated fitness, however. He had gone through a similar routine back home, all of them had, ...

Vanguard Word Update

2k words. I made a mistake naming Kazlu and Kurtis - the first initials shouldn't be the same - and I'm going to rename one of them in the revisions phase. But for simplicity I'll keep their names as is for now.

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“Just cause you can fly don’t make you any better,” Cadell poi...

Vanguard Word Update

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With that, he turned and marched off, his gait made odd by his magnetic boots, soon disappearing behind a sloped panel. Cadell’s perception was all wrong, and with no frame of reference it looked as though the Lieutenant had crossed a vast distance in a matter of moments...

Vanguard Word Update

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“We could do a lot better than you,” Samiha snarled, whirling on him. Her elbow hit her locker and the door slammed shut with a bang as loud as a gunshot. “Some of us have shed blood fighting the Confederacy, and the biggest danger you’ve ever faced are predators ...

Vanguard Word Update

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“I did warn you,” Kazlu chuckled, watching as the substance made a mess of his uniform. “You’ve nothing to worry about,” she clarified. “We’ve been exposed to it all our lives, we’d know if it was toxic.”

Hunter reached over with his dusty finger t...