C James

Don't blame me.. Yuri gave the order. If no one is saying there is a cliffhanger, that means this chapter gets an Amphibious Declaration of Cliffhanger-free, right? What makes you think all hell will break loose? Maybe they'll just go on with their vacation? ACK... But.. I didn't do it! Yuri and the ambush force did! I haven't been near the island in over a month! Thanks Steve!! You pegged it. The General's tirade is more against the US goiverment, past and present, than one particular administration. Now, as an exercise in tactical thinking, what could have been done about North Korea? In the Clinton and early Bush years, plenty, and relatively easily. The "Agreed framework" deal under Clinton (and followed by Bush)was a crock. I said that then, as did many others. There was no means of verification which made the whole thing meaningless. The NK's signed on because we were in effect paying them to do so; we gave them reactors (not the one at Yongbon, though), food, and fuel oil. The NK's were laughing themselves silly at our stupidity, and rightfully so. What could have been done? Definitely not an invasion, Iraq style. I'd oppose that for the same reason I opposed Iraq up until the day it started; it was not necessary and crippled our ability to act in other areas by tying down our military. Once it started, I became a supporter, because I recognize that war changes everything; pulling back after starting would be geopolitically catastrophic. (a fact neither party in the US seems to comprehend; they both flaunted it, from different angles). Prior to about four years ago, North Korea's Yongbon reactor contained its fuel rods, the ones they processed for the material for their current bombs. It was a sitting duck. One stealth bomber on a cloudy night, a few custom-made laser or GPS guided bombs, (custom made so they would NOT be easily traceable as to country of origin) and viola, North Korea's nuclear program has suffered a very severe, and very deniable, setback. Alternatively, they were warned not to attempt to reprocess the fuel rods into plutonium. Once they began moving them, and we knew where the processing plant was (we did), level the place with a cruise missile strike. No invasion, just hit the needed target. That brings us to today. The key now is China. They need to cut off North Korea's oil and other support. China tends to act in its own self-interest, which gives us golden openings. China has two hot-button issues; US arms sales to Taiwan, and Japan as a nuclear power. One of China's nightmares is the US setting up military bases in Taiwan. Offer them a choice; they chut of North Korea, or the US begins unrestricted weapons sales to Taiwan and opens basing talks. As for Japan, let China know that if Japan decides to become a nuclear power, not only won't we oppose it, we'll cheer them on. Then let China find out that we're leaning on Japan to do just that, and tell China that we'll be every bit as tolerant of Japan's nuclear ambitions as China is of North Korea's. (and Japan has strong reasons; North Korea is their enemy and NK has been committing acts of war against Japan for decades). For a carrot, recognize their dominion over Tibet. (we de facto have anyway, but they'd like the diplomatic cover). There are other options, all dependent upon intel data, but it will be far from easy. However, something has to be done. Time and time again we've drawn a line and North Korea has crossed it. Now, we've said their will be "consequences" if they sell nuclear weapons or technology to other nations or groups. No one, certainly not North Korea, takes that seriously. In fact, it's even more hollow than it sounds; the Syrian reactor that the Israelis thankfully annihilated a couple of years ago was almost certainly built with North Korean help. Also, the NK's were active in the AK Kahn nuclear ring. North Korea has always sold what it could, and its only exportable commodity is weapons. Now, they have the most valuable weapons of all. This cannot be allowed to continue. Just for a start, the Treasury department should immediately sanction any bank, anywhere (via cutting off their access to the US financial system), that does business with North Korea. Bush tried that, and it made the NK's howl, but he backed off. As for Iran... They are following in North Korea's footsteps. Iran, though, is if anything even easier to deal with, if done correctly. Obviously, an Iraq-style invasion and occupation is impossible. Iran has a larger population, and as we learned (it was incredibly obvious before the invasion, too, but they didn't listen) you need a large number of boots on the ground to occupy. We barely managed Iraq for that (Rest and retraining means you can't deploy, long term, more than about 1/3 of a military service, and even doing that puts it under great strain). Iran's larger area and population precludes that option, unless the US military doubles in size. It would also be bloody and take many years, like Iraq. So, given things as they are, even without America's commitment to Iraq, it's impossible. Its also unnecessary. We don't know where all of Iran's nuclear facilities are. Nor do we need to. All we need to do is take out enough of them to de-rail the program. The Isreilis, with far less to work with, recently took out a huge chunk of Syria's nuclear program, much as they did Iraq's, at Osirak, 20 years ago. They also launched, in the latter case, a sabotage effort for the second Iraqi reactor, wrecking its core before it ever left France. Diplomacy would be the ideal solution, but its prerequisite is international solidarity and a policy with teeth. Failing that, there are other ways. Air strikes would do, *IF* we don't wait too long. If we wait until their program reaches fruition, an air strike would only give a delay or a year or two, whereas today it would likely yield up to ten. Waiting, pussyfooting around, endless international jawing, etc, is how we ended up with a nuclear North Korea. A nuclear Iran would be even worse. They have threatened to wipe Israel off the map, and have been the leading international supporter of terror for decades, so certified by five consecutive US administrations (this is not a partisan issue). They not only fund Hezbollah, they founded it. That's far from their only terrorist arm. Israel can do the job alone, but only if is has logistic support; Iran is too far away and the air routes are problematic. Israel has shown an admirable knack for securing logistical support from Arab states when needed (It's well to remember that Iran is not Arab, it's Persian, and there's also the Sunni-Shia difference, so a nuclear Iran is almost as feared in some Arab states as it is in Israel) If Israel can secure logistic help (refueling bases) It will likely act within the year (their current, largest ever, nationwide civil defense and military exercises are a huge clue IMHO). If we were smart, we'd help, covertly perhaps, but we wouldn't stand in their way. What scares me is what if Isreil can't get the logistic support it needs? Then there's only one military option left to them; a nuclear strike on Iran's facilities. In my opinion, they'd do so (indeed, would be suicidal not to) of there was no other option to stop a nuclear Iran. The results would hellacious on many levels, but if survival is at stake, I think they'd do it. To prevent that, or worse, a nuclear Iran, I feel that we should either help Israel (clandestinely perhaps) or do the job ourselves. The latter would be far less destabilizing to the region. Most of the sites could be hit with precision munitions, including the deep underground ones. Follow up strikes are a necessity; unlike in the movies, you have to do bomb damage assessments, then often a follow-up. Take out the reactors and the three centerfuge sites, and you've knocked them back a decade or more. Take out subsidiary project sites as well, of course, but the reactors and the centerfuge sites, plus any reprocessing plants (they are also persuing a plutonium production capability) and you've solved the problem. Iran's reaction would be.. what? They already go out of their way to support terrorists. Send their army after US ground forces in Iraq? They would be insane; their army is large but poorly trained in the main, and also poorly equipped. They'd have to do approach marches on foot, across western Iran, and would be very, very vulnerable to air attack. Could they cause a lot of trouble? Heck yes, and they would, but far less than a nuclear Iran would. The thing about Iran that people (especially US politicians) don't seem to get; its nuclear program is driven by internal, not external, political considerations. That's why the gasoline issue is their achilies heel. OKay, I'm yapping far too much. Back to the story; you're right, I did basically concoct as fictional framework, but try to keep it reality based (real locations, installations, etc). Iran's nuclear program is a major concern of mine, so when I needed a source of nuclear weapons for the plot, it naturally, along with North Korea, came to mind. I did come close to setting the rescue mission in North Korea, but two things stopped me; it's too far from La Palma, and its nuclear program was further along, so I'd be dealing with possible major news events. There was also a technical issue; Iran's nuclear program is Uranium-based, while NK's main one (there may well be a secondary) is plutonium based. For the latter, you need an implosion core, and that cannot be triggered the way Wilhelm did in Iran. I suppose, in a way, I was trying my hand at writing a "future history" regarding some aspects of the the geopolitical side. LoL You're right about Helen, the General, and Felecia being in character in thinking that they should go to the US government. That, of course, does not mean that they were right. There are, of course, others that they could have turned to. BTW, I think we had confirmation from Bill, very early on, that Washington intended to leave Brian and Private Johnson to die. I'd have to check though (even I can't remember, which is rather embarrassing as I wrote it!) Okay, I checked, and it's in chapters 2 and 3. In 2, General Bradson dug for info, and in three, Bill confirms the game Washington was playing. I consider Iron Eagle to be one of the best comedies ever made. All the better because they didn't intend it to be one . The missile launch on the runway alone never fails to have me laughing out loud (for those that don't know, you can't do that). Its an utterly hilarious movie, outlandish in countless ways. Well, speaking of private rescue missions, I don't consider them far-fetched. The best known example was Ross Perot's (who then owned EDS a data processing company, and later became a candidate for President) rescue of several of his employees from Iran. Follets "on the wings of Eagles" is a great recount, though it does, by necessity, omit some of the larger violations of the law. Short version, Perot's team went in and got his people out of Iran, out of an Iranian jail in Teheran, to be exact, and then out of the country, overland. They succeeded, so therefor I don't see the idea of a private rescue missions to be far-fetched in and of themselves, though I'd sure agree that the holywood versions are. . Also, this is a good place to mention; Authors usually don't share all their character's values. I don't share all of General Bradson's. I don't share all of Jerry's, either. (I'll bet you're going to argue that latter, huh? )

I get called "Jackass", and worse, all the time.

Guys, Sorry, but I'm closing this thread. Discussing whether a relationship between a below-age-of-consent minor and an adult are okay is not appropriate (below age of consent means exactly that) for this board.

I've heard that plastic surgery is good for getting rid of Scars... So far, no one has caught a huge item in chapter 37. Helen made General Bradson a promise of an interview, merely to avoid offending him unnecessarily. At this point, I can guess that the interview would be.. brief. LoL Absolutely correct. LOl.. that would be a very tight fit... That was a big van, much akin to the ones used for airport shuttles, seating close to 20 people. It would still have been a very tight fit; most of the wedding party (including guests) are still at the resort. Thanks Kevin!! Okay, some reader e-mails have caused me to decide to explain some political aspects in the story. First, this story is set in the near future, just a few years (less than 5) as indicated by a few vague references (such as Mount Saint Helen's eruption being "over three decades ago". That eruption was on may 18th, 1980. Changing Lanes was plotted out well before last fall's election. The sections in the chapter were written long before North Korea's memorial day unsuccessful nuclear weapons test. I wasn't playing off current events. Also, I'd like to say that this chapter was written long before today. The fact that the General is slamming the US and the world for accepting Iran's nuclear program and the claim that it is "peaceful" in such strong terms has nothing to do with the fact that today, the current president in our world declared that "Iran has a right to a nuclear program", though specifying peaceful use, and thus echoing the Clinton and Bush administration's past similar pronouncements on North Korea. I did not write the political aspects of this story to slam the current administration and response to North Korea, and I certainly did not write chapter 39 today to slam today's comments by the current president. Is Changing Lanes political? Yes, in some ways. However, given its timeframe (near future, up to five years) the administration in the story was not intended to be the current one. Indeed, when this was plotted, the current one looked unlikely. The similarities, and there are many, between very recent events and some of the policies criticized in Changing Lanes are coincidental. I'll make no bones about it, I oppose the current administration, but Changing Lanes was not written for me to use as a soapbox, and as I've said, the plot was laid down long ago. I have strong opinions on nuclear proliferation (I consider it the single greatest threat for human extinction and thus take it seriously) and have often ranted regarding the bungling of this issue by this and prior administrations, but any matches between the current administration's actions and Changing Lanes are coincidental. I've tried to keep the facts in the story accurate, to the best of my knowledge. The gasoline-import issue sounds like a nonsensical claim, but its true. So too are the nuclear sites listed, (including the earlier links to satalite maps of the Kerman site, where the rescue mission took place) the refineries, etc, etc. If anyone wants to discuss the political aspects of the story, agree, disagree, or whatever, please feel free to do so in this thread or in this forum. At most, I might move the posts to a seperate thread if that discussion becomes very active. The only thing I ask (and due to GA rules that apply site wide, I must insist on) is that we keep it civil. Okay, have at it.

Well, the scene Graeme is referring to is this one; Okay, errr, yep, that's the relevant bit from a story... but can I say "no comment" on the rest?

Miketx, thank you. You made my day. Okay... I'll share some info. I won't reveal my legal name online, but... CJ is what I'm called, online and off. It's not on my birth certificate though. It's a nickname, or rather, the initials of one. I've had it since my early teens, and it stuck. I also like it. I used to surf, and it was a surfing nickname, based on something I was noted for doing. A way of getting into the water, (I even used that method for a character in once of my stories, but I won't say which one:P) and though I only did it a few times, down in Baja, mainly during storms and heavy seas (when paddling out through the breakers would have been impossible), some of the guys I was on safari with ragged me for it, said I was nuts (well, I've never denied that) and gave me a nickname. The two words of that nickname got shortened to their first letters, C J.

Chapter 39 is slightly late, becuas eI just got home and had to finish the HTML. It will be up, sometime within the next half hour.

Sorry for the slow reply! The old mentoring program was a collection of authors, who were available for beginning writers to ask questions of. We had a private forum for it, and it worked quite well IMHO. However, so few availed themselves of it that it died off. No one thinks more highly of Editors than I do, but for some aspects of writing, another author might have better insight than an editor. For example, plot structure and plot issues. We may, of course, have editors on the "expert" panel, but they will not comprise all of it. The first point you raise is an aspect of what we have in mind. (I'm not trying to be overy vauge or secretive here... we just haven't worked out all the details) The second two need doing, but it will more likely be done by others (though if the experts on the panel wanted to, we sure wouldn't stop them). The nucleus for the mentoring program would not be the editors and betas, but authors. Edit to add: We are, of course very open to all suggestions CJ

I can say, without fear of contradiction, that either it is, or, it isn't. Well, hrmmm... I can't give spoilers, but I can say that the words "Zeus Triumphant" appear in chapter 36, Prometheus, of Let the Music Play.

This was a great finish to a superb story! Drew did indeed figure things out. I'd suspected that he would, but the way it was done, with Drew talking to Rick as though he was someone else, was just superb IMHO. I'll be back later with more thoghts, but for now, I'd like to mention what constitutes a story. Generally, a story has a central premise, and in this case it was a very clear one; Rick was masquerading as gay in order to have friends. Once Drew and Rick had their talk, the central conflict was resolved, and that's where a story should end. I'll certainly add my calls to those for a sequel, becuase there are some loose ends (Dare I say.. cliffhangers?) that I'd love to see carried through (Brandon, in particular). Thank you Graeme, for this wonderful story!

ACK!!! Goat testicle stew?? ACK!!! Ummm, maybe I should mention the title of the next chapter: Zeus Triumphant

Good point. Brandon and Jim go back a long way, and they were close. Eric and Jim were close, too. Maybe The Scar will be in a more congenial mood, now he has one of the nuclear warheads he's been after? Thanks Kevin! Great point on shifting from the passenger side. I've done it, and found it easy, but that's perhaps because I'm used to driving from the right seat (right-hand-drive vehicles). Linda, though... she wasn't listed as having driving experiance in right hand drive vehicles, so it might have been a bit rough. Ack! Now, now, Eric... I didn't kill anyone, it was the Scar's henchmen who did. No need for goat-roasting!

Unfortunately, the mentoring program died out a couple of years ago, due to lack of use. If enough people are interested, I'll get it started again. If anyone is interested, please either reply here or PM me. CJ

OMG... a fanfic! Thanks Linxe, this made me smile. And Jane... yep, if she is upset about the volcano, how will she feel about Nukes?

Totally agreed, though in some cases I'd expand it a bit, to following chapters. It would IMHO depend on the story type and plot. If the story is largely plot-driven, IMHO it helps to have a clear picture of the plot in mind. In some cases, for complext sections of a novel, I've had to hold back on posting chapters until I get several chapters ahead, in order to make certain that details match, such as timeline. I learned that one on my first novel; my editor, Emoe, saved me from having a three day weekend-- Saturday, the next day, and then Sunday. I've largely abandoned writing chapters, per se. I now mainly write in a working file that usually contains several chapter's worth of scenes (I often write out of sequence), and when I am comfortable that the first 5k to 7k or words will form a chapter, I select a scene break to chop it out at, and paste it into a chapter file. I definitely agree with Graeme on this. I tend to write the ending first, though it usually requires a partial re-write when I get to the end of the story. In one story, I knew the final ending, but there was a critical series of events near the end which were very complex (plot driven story). I couldn't make up my mind how they would play out, so I just wrote five outlines for that section, and ended up with a fusion of two of them once I got to that point. On other occasions, I've started a story based on a situation, with no clue where it's going until I get a few chapters in. I'm fond of "on location" writing, too. I've set parts of stories in areas I haven't been to, and in those cases I rely on research and. if available, online friends who live there. However, there's just no substitute, IMHO, for going there yourself. In one novel, I had a couple of chapters set in Rome. Foe the first one, I relied on my memory of a visit ten years before. For the second chapter, I was lucky enough to be in Rome just prior to writing it, and as I walked around I was composing the chapter in my head, and at my hotel at night I wrote much of it. I liked the result. My current novel is set in large part on one of the Canary Islands. I've been there, but it was when I was very young and I don't remember much. I was fortunate enough to end up visiting (as a cruise port of call, so just for a day) an island 60 miles from the one where my novel is set, a few weeks ago. I found that gave me a better "feel" for the area. It helped.

Well, some goats do enjoy flailing away at a keyboard, so yes. From what I can see, they would have done better offering the roadside service package for the goat.

Thanks! It wasn't an easy chapter to write; Jim was one of my favorite characters. I'll miss him.

Well, umm, I've been hiding. Jim was one of my favorite characters. He's been in LTMP and Changing Lanes from the start; he's the guy who gave Brandon a place to stay when Brandon's parents kicked him out. I'll miss him. Unfortunately, nobody knows that The Scar and his henchmen are on the island, so they weren't expecting this sort of ambush. Thanks, Graeme. I'll be honest, the ambush wasn't easy to write. On a lighter note, I'll mention that in the chapter draft, the scene where Helen is putting the people in the vehicles read just a little different. Helen put Brian in both vehicles. At the same time. Graeme noticed the goof and pointed this out during beta. So, thanks to Graeme, we don't have Brian in two places at once. Now, now, Bondwriter... In stories, as in life, sometimes bad things happen to good people. When Yuri found out about he nuke, he sent his force in. As is so often the case, it's the small things that lead to major problems; had the pickup truck the nuke had been on been just a little more sturdy, they wouldn't have had to transfer it to the truck, which is when the observers spotted it. I'd have to say that Yuri is to blame for this one, even though he wasn't actually there. Great point on Brandon and Jim; Brandon and Jim go way back, to Brandon's Phoenix days. Eric and Jim were close too, though that's mainly occurred in Changing Lanes. The California earthquake alert, after the smaller quake, was a bit of a premature alarm. As in real life, there's still a danger of a massive quake, it's just not as imminent as the geologist first thought. I've been through quakes when I lived in SoCal, and it was a similar occurance (a geologist making a dire, imminent prediction after a quake) that inspired that part. There are no plans at all for a sequel to Changing Lanes or LTMP. Only one person heard the gunfire; the man in a nearby house. The terrian is hilly, with stone walls, etc, plus you've got the sound-deadening effect of the ash (it's much like snow in that sense). The mercs wouldn't hear the gunfire from indoors. All I can say is, there's a reason that Eric wasn't so bad the last time. If course (looks around nervously for the Echidna) I should qualify that by saying that the reason might be that not every time Eric is on tequila is he bad, just mostly.

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0...5013016,00.html Hrmm, Why would anyone go for the no-goat package?

Due to the fact I was late with the chapter, I thought I'd better start the thread. (Edit: Drewbie beat me. ) I do have a special request for this specific chapter thread; could the first three or four posts use spooler spoiler spaces (from the menu to the left when replying) or, if you don't know how, shoot me a PM telling me to add 'em for you. This would be for any specifics of major events within the chapter. Chapter 38, Fallen

Happy Birthday, Eric!!!!

Actually, the deal I have with Graeme is better stated as: I don't give spoilers, and he doesn't make me into a sieve with those sharp spines of his of giving spoilers... However... <looks around nervously> that does not seem to preclude him from going after me for other things... So, I live by a simple ethos: Fear the Echidna.

Thanks!!! Um, speaking of the ticking clock... (The goat glances nervously at his watch) It's tuesday, almost noon, and I regret to have to say that Chapter 38 is not ready for posting. I was horribly late with it, and also made a few last-second changes for continuity with coming chapters, and as a result didn't get it in to Bondwriter for zeta until a few hours ago. Now, Bondwriter is stuck dealing with a train delay. (He attempted to take over the train by blocking the track and charging everyone a 100-euro extra fee... you know how mercenary he can be.) I do not expect the chapter delay to be more than 24 hours. Sorry for the delay; but I do want to make sure all the details match up, and that means that in some cases I can't send off a chapter until a much later one is fully drafted. CJ

Oh no, I did ask.. they just told me to shove it, and even gave me directions as to where... (helpful, they are...) And, um, no goat-hunting! If I'm dead, I cannot flail away at the keyboard!

Yes, one of the sworn duties of our team is to protect the poor author from accusations of cliffhangers. I informed Talonrider of this when he joined. I'm just hoping that he doesn't think to confirm it with any other team members.