C James

I don't do this often enough, so I'll try and make up for it now I want to express my sincere and heartfelt thanks to all those who are part of the stories WE write. I say "We" and I mean it. This post is dedicated to Emoe, Shadowgod, Graeme, Bondwriter, and Captain Rick, for all that they do for the stories WE post My sincere thanks to you all. And remember, I often say that the stories that go out under my name are a team effort, and I mean it. The only think I won't share the credit for is any errors; those, as I say in the chapter footers, are mine, and mine alone. CJ

I wanted to thank everyone who has worked so hard on our Anthology; Graeme, TL The Writing Tiger, BeaStKid, Rose Strailo, Myk, and Joe! Thanks also to the authors, without whom we wouldn

Thanks guys! BTW, I moved this thread out of the Lounge becuase we've had other millennium threads lately, and I didn't want to add mine to the clutter there. This way it leaves the lounge for more important things. I also want to take the emphasis off numbers; there are concerns if it looks like a member is posting in order to just boost their count, and as the one with the highest count I sure didn't want to add to that dynamic, as its my job as an Admin and Moderator to put a halt to anything like that. Thanks!! CJ

Oh really? Well, here's your proof, in Steve's very own words. That was at the end of Chapter 17, where Steve is talking the guys into going rock-climbing. So As for me giving Shadowgod Evil ideas? I can think of no such occasions, sorry nothing to report there. CJ

I've got a question; How did Eric's prank on Brandon and Chase come across? Did anyone wonder just who was sneaking up on them, or what was happening when Brandon felt the first cold stab? This came right after Jerry was last seen strolling around, fingering the knife in his pocket.

Now that's not true! If it was, we'd end up with Cody and Eric in the same chapter, encountering some crazed killer. But, I say again, the rock-climbing thing was Steve's idea and I can prove it.

Aww, but Benji, Eric was on that cliff having fun! (You're refering to Chapter 19 and his rock climbing accident, right?) And don't forget WHO got him on that cliff, and WHO suggested the whole rock-climbing thing: Steve! (one of the many names of the dark one...) I'm not evil! Now, Shadowgod, he's evil... But what have I done that's evil? So far the only major problem the band has faced is that rock-climbing accident, where Eric fell of a cliff and hurt his ankle (and that was Steve's idea, not mine!). Ok, granted, they are not suspicious of Jerry and are disliking him, but having a dislike for the guy who handles your shipping is no big deal in buisness.

Well, yes, there is more tequila in Eric's future. But really, SPiCE is worried for nothing. Eric has been happy and unharmed so far in the story (Well, except for a busted ankle) and he (nor his band mates) are stressed out over the live nuclear warheads currently residing in their gear. (the fact that they don't know helps). Of course, if they DID know, they would probably be stressed out six thousand ways from Sunday, but they don't know, so all is well.

Wow, thanks one and all! I love the discussions! I am, however, constrained in what I can say, becuase unless I'm refering to just posted text, I could be giving spoilers. I can say this though; being an international arms dealer is a profitable, if risky, buisness. Even the second-tier players make millions. As an example, look into Viktor Bout , who brokered countless arms deals. The shipping is often the key, so an arms dealer often has a fleet of aircraft, or at least connections who do. More than one has fronted their operation as a legit shipping company, as The Scar has done. Victor Bout used this same route (air shipment in his case; he ran up to 50 large cargo aircraft). The Scar may not have been as successful as Bout, be he could have easily had a personal fortune pushing a hundred million. We know from the dealings with the Russian plutonium suppliers that he had to have had at least thirty million in cash at that point. HE got out of paying by having Dimitri bring down the airliner, but he had to have had the cash to get the swiss bank to go along, in order to consummate the plutonium purchase Vladimer arranged. We know he's only got five million left now, so we know he was running low on cash for an operation of this scope. One way to enhance his cash flow was to rope in money with his "charity" operation. A shindig like the one at his house (The party where we first see Eric on Tequila) could have easily netted a million or two. I didn't get into it in detail (perhaps I should have) but some of the special five-axis computer-contaolled lathes he had to buy for the Toowoomba Facility would have cost him close to two million each. The specialized gear for the clean room, the metallurgical facilities (including a neutral-gas atmosphere for some of it) would have cost million more. As a ballpark figure, his setup would run about 42 million in equipment and materials outlays. That does not count the cost of personell, or of renting the premises in Towwoomba or purchasing the Desert Compound, not any assundry other expenses. He's probably looking at at least ten million more in additional outlays, and that's not counting payments to Mario and other incidentals. As a ballpark guess, I'd say he went into this with about 80 million and has spent 75 million. As for Instinct, I've never specified their exact finances, but I have dropped a few clues. One would be the success of their album (it came close to setting records) and sell-out crowds in enormous venues. That is some major money, and that would put them on par with the top handful of groups in earning potential. The major income sources would be merchandising and concerts, BTW. As for Jerry, he took Helen's money out of his deep and abiding love of Irony. I told y'all we'd see Jerry's fun-loving side! BTW, I know the Austrailain chapters dragged a bit in places. They ended up being far more than I had anticipated. I originally estimated five Australian chapters, not ten! However, now their trip is over, I think y'all will find that the pace picks up a bit. The next chapter, BTW, is called "Full Circle". CJ

This comes from the entire moderation team, This thread was closed due to devolving into back-and forth chat-type chatter. We do have a games forum for that, and as we said in the forum etiquette announcement, disruptive posts are against the rules. One manner of disruptive posting in this case was back-and-forth one line, chat room type chatter. It is a severe hindrance to other members, because it makes threads almost impossible to follow, especially if off-topic. As we've mentioned before, for that, go to the games forum. For posting for the sake of posting, go to the games forum because that is the ONLY place it is allowed.

The chapter is up.

I was busy with the anthology, but I'll get the chapter announcement up and my sig edited within a few minutes.

Yes, it was you who made me do it, so as I have said all along, the devil made me do it! And yes, two weeks until the you-know-what. Lol... But Gary, in an action/adventure story, there are always little uncertanties (such as rouge nuclear projects) hanging over the thread. It's not as if I'm using nuclear-powered cliffhangers. :nuke: CJ

Maybe we get to see Jerry's fun-loving side? Ahh, but that wasn't due to Tequila! As for Eric and Jerry's tequila drinking, it's all in chapter 32. And BTW, in case Graeme thinks that is a spoiler, it's not, becuase Chapter 32 is a posted chapter.

But everyone knows I never use cliffhangers? Sacha? Help!!!

Well, all that happened is that Jerry and Eric are having a nice, friendly drink of tequila together. See? Eric is safe and sound, so SPiCE has nothing to worry about.

Now, now, oh evil one, that's not quite true... It is entirely possible that before LTMP is over, I might admit to a little cliffie in it. BTW, I've gotta say, "The Devil made me do it". Yep, it's Shadowgod's fault. I have been known to admit to, on rare occasion, and ever-so-slightly tense chapter ending. I think the last one was on Christmas Eve, LTMP 19. Tim, you're wrong! I most certainly can do that! In fact, I'll do so now: I do hereby admit that Tim used an evil cliffhanger! Uhoh! Don't give them ideas! CJ

btw, please forgive the all lower case, i'm still typing one handed due to the injury. I can't answer that, but chapter 33 will. who, me? jessiflash, beware, they are going to try and dell you all sorts of things about poor, quiet, innocent me. don't believe them. i'm not evil... showdowgod, well, he's clearly evil, no possible arguments there. ack, cliffhangers? or, worse, goathangers? oh no! surely i couldn't do that? if they are there, it must be shadowgod sneaking them in during the beta again. or possibly graeme. he's known to use cliffhangers, and he's evil, so it could be him.... eric and jerry are just sitting down for a friendly drink. and the end of the chapter shows things going well. surely thats not a cliffhanger... and then of course the photo of brandon and chase... who knows, maybe the tourist will keep it as a personal memento, never sharing it? come on, a friendly drink between pals and a snapshot on the beach aren't a cliffhanger... or a goathanger. oh, btw, as for eric, tequila, and guys, what is 18 plus 18 minus 2? the answer will be obvious, sooner or later.

It's an hour's drive each way on bad roads to a pharmacy, so I'll just have to make do with alchohol, hydrogen peroxide, etc. So far so good. As for including a frog... Hrmmm, we already had a cane toad... But a frog? Well, hrmmm, road kill perhaps? :devil: Congrats on post 1800 benji, you postaholic you! ok, to answer the question of wildes makeover. that was a great question. I did that becuase often, i've seen cosmetic surgury done to ease scarring coupled with a makeover if the scarring has been there a while. i do not know if this is normal, but it just made sense to me, and I could see eric taking things a bit further than needed so he did it. Now, a couple of questions...

But as a lurker, I was worried that my dissapearance would be unnoticed. But, cliffs? A goat would never have anything to do with a cliff! It hurt plenty last night. It was a small wound, the gaping part under an inch long, but deep. Long story short it became obvious it needed stitches so i gave it two. <Shudder> I've had to do that before but hate it, I'm squeamish. (yes, the goat is also chicken). Doing better today; no swelling, and more mobility. I always keep a close eye out for infections. Gee, thanks your froggyness!

sorry ive been gone, i had a deep gash on my right, um, frony hoof, lol, so typing onr handred. should be ok by tomorrow. i can read but not type much, lol.

It's 3am so I need to sleep, but i just wanted to say thank you all, and I'll join in tomorrow. BTW, of course this isn't a cliffhanger. It's just Eric sitting down with his old buddy Jerry for a few shots of tequila. What could possibly go wrong? CJ

Some posts have been removed. Apologies to those who only quoted. Please don't post obscene comments in French, or any other language, and try and keep at least somewhat on topic. CJ BTW, the thread has been re-opened.

Happy 21st, Woody!!!