Get Black and Blue

Black and Blue, a graphic novel by Diami Virgilio and Mark Cage, is a coming of age story set cross roads of the streets of the Bronx and the Las Vegas Octagon of Mixed Martial Arts.

The story begins in Las Vegas with the two fighters engaged bloody hand to hand combat.  I have read all four chapters.  It is all combat.  There is Violence, Mystery and Sex in just about every page of this book.  Mark Cage has chosen to illustrate this book in manner the way a prison artist, a detention junkie, an addict slacker or street derelict would giving the story authenticity and legitimacy.

I am not going to spoil this book.  I do recommend that you read it and buy it.  And here's why.  Diami Virgilio's writing is very good.  He understands the Aristotelian dramatic structure handed down to us from the ancients and practiced to this day by the likes of JJ Abrams and the boys.

Diami Virgilio does not write to be politically correct.  He writes to be real describing what it's like to grow up in the Section 8 world of the Bronx and yes, it does suck.  But he writes from the heart too.  Our hero gets punched in the heart - not from a physical body blow, but one of those punches from the meanest MMA fighters called LIFE.  But Diami Virgilio also does something at the end of each chapter that make you want to know the rest of this story.  He throws in twist that is like reacting to a baby with a live hand grenade.  You want to know what happens next.

As I mentioned, Mark Cage's illustrations are authentic to the street and the first four frames of Chapter Three were in my opinion the best.  He does some things in Chapter One that are clever.  His style is solid though I do think the characters sometimes look similar at least in the beginning they do.  I do wish the framing particularly in the fight scenes were more creative.  I understand that Mr. Cage was a London MMA fighter.  So I am looking forward to more installments.

This is a really good book.  It's cheap.  The first chapter is free.  The next three chapters are a buck a piece.  Check it out it is an insight into the mind of Diami Vigrilio and into the soul of Mark Cage.

For more information
http://www.mmacomic.com/index.html
Social Media:
https://twitter.com/MarkBlackBlue
https://twitter.com/BLACK_and_BLUE

Timeline of events

1990 Work Started

1992 Laid Down

1994 Commissioned










1999 Kursk carried out a successful reconnaissance mission in the Mediterranean, tracking the United States Sixth Fleet during the Kosovo War










12-Aug-00 Sunk

1128 hours 12-Aug-00 there was an explosion while preparing to fire

1130 hours 12-Aug-00 The second explosion ripped a 2-square-metre (22 sq ft) hole in the hull of the craft, which was designed to withstand depths of 1,000 metres (3,300 ft), and also ripped open the third and fourth compartments.The second was 45 to 50 times bigger than the first, suggesting that one or more of the Kursk's own torpedoes had exploded.

That appears to be confirmed by the extent of the damage to the forward part of the submarine, but the cause of the first explosion is still unknown. Water poured into these compartments at 90,000 litres (3,200 cu ft) per second killing all those in the compartments, including five officers from 7th SSGN Division Headquarters.

The fifth compartment contained the ship's two nuclear reactors, encased in 13 centimetres (5.1 in) of steel and resiliently mounted to absorb shocks in excess of 50g. The bulkheads of the fifth compartment withstood the explosion, allowing the two reactors to shut down automatically and preventing nuclear meltdown or contamination

Dmitry Koleznikov

12-Aug-00 Twenty-three men working in the sixth through ninth compartments survived the two blasts. They gathered in the ninth compartment, which contained the secondary escape hatch (the primary hatch having been in the destroyed second compartment).

Captain-lieutenant Dmitri Kolesnikov (one of three surviving officers of that rank) appears to have taken charge, writing down the names of those who were in the ninth compartment.

0840 hours 13-Aug-00 the rescue ship Rudnitsky carrying two submersible rescue vessels, AS-32 and the Priz (AS-34) reached the disaster area at around 8:40 AM the following morning.

14-Aug-00 CBS News reports that the Russian Navy is communicating with the sailors via Morse Code and that 2 Los Angeles class submarines

16-Aug-00 the Russian government accepted the British and Norwegian governments' assistance

17-Aug-00 a rescue ship was dispatched from Norway

18-Aug-00 Nadezhda Tylik, mother of Kursk submariner Lt. Sergei Tylik, produced an intense emotional outburst in the middle of an in-progress news briefing about Kursk's fate. After attempts to quiet her failed, a nurse injected her with a sedative by force from the back, and she was removed from the room, incapacitated. The event, caught on film, caused further criticism of the government's response to both the disaster, and how the government handled public criticism of said response.

19-Aug-00 Norwegian Rescue ship reaches the site

20-Aug-00 British and Norwegian deep-sea divers reached the ninth compartment escape hatch.  They were able to determine that the compartment was flooded, and all hope of finding survivors was lost.

Reviewed - Gonzo: A Graphic Biography of Hunter S. Thompson

The great American writer, the great American iconoclast, the great American hedonist—however you choose to view him, Thompson remains the high-water mark for all social commentators worldwide, and a truly fearless champion of individual liberties. 

“This diamond-sharp graphic biography is a witty, thoughtful book . . . Bingley and Hope-Smith’s portrait is brave and badass, taking the kind of chances Thompson would have appreciated.” 

—Publishers Weekly

Invariably a biography is a judgment about the man.  The foreword written by his former editor Alan Rinzler was more interesting and more honest than this pap about a confirmed degenerate who wasted his life on vanities and trivialities.  Someone wrote that Hunter S. Thompson is "a bum, a vandal, a thief, a liar, an addict, a freak, and a psychopath."  That is nothing to white wash or admire which is what this book does.  I cannot recommend this book.

My introduction to HST was Johnny Depp's awful movie "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas."  But I wanted to give this man a chance.  I had heard he was a good writer - a great artist.  This book is more of an overview of his life than a biography.  There is nothing glamourous about being a junkie which is what Hunter S. Thompson will be known for.   After reading this book and feeling very nonplussed about it, I went over his wikipedia entry and read the article he wrote about the gang rape of the 2 teenage girls by the Hells Angels.

I don't see much about this man that needs to be celebrated.  His article if anything seemed like a rambling justification of the destruction of innocence of two young women and how he maintained his friendship with Sonny Barger after his goons beat him within an inch of his life?  What a scoundrel.

And his fake rivalry with Nixon and Nixonism fell flat on its face.  There is nothing defensible about what Nixon did to Ellsberg or many of his critics.  But Thompson's scorn as portrayed by Will Bingley (Author), Anthony Hope-Smith (Illustrator), make Nixon seem larger than life and noble compared to this bum.

There was a lot wrong with this book and failing to find his voice was one of them.   He is allegedly a social critic and moralist.  He is a social engineer whose social architecture we suffer and as to his morals, it would be better to characterize him as an immoralist.  Good riddance to bad rubbish.

Daytripper Reviewed

The art is good and the location exotic.  I can see why it won the Eisner award.  The plotting of the story is at first novel but it quickly becomes passe and predictable.  The pacing is emotionally taxing and pretty soon, you just want the book to be over.

One reviewer wrote that he "found the writing itself laden with superficial self-importance that can only come when a writer writes about being a troubled writer, sort of Latino Indie Film existential bombast (if that’s possible) complete with lots of cigarette smoking and death. No new or original thoughts, no new insight, other than the well-worn brooding young man who has an overblown sense of self, sort of a simplistic “circle of life” presented in a somewhat clever format, artful and painstakingly arranged. All in all, good for youngsters who have yet to think too much about their mortality. I probably sound like the typical cynical old man offering nothing new of my own, and maybe younger reviewers feel differently. Three stars for good art and the clever manipulation of a well-worn story."

One reviewer wrote:  "Let's get this out of the way up front: Daytripper may be the best graphic novel I've ever had the pleasure to read. Consider yourselves warned."

Better than Kirkman's "Walking Dead?"  Vaughn's "Better than Y The Last Man" Or even "Satellite Sam?"  This same reviewer writes:  "Perhaps Daytripper's biggest success is that it saves itself from being cliche. "

I disagree.  The one word that resonates throughout his review is cliche of which it is rife.


The main character is whiny and the characters he surrounds himself are two dimensional and shallow.  He is annoying - selfish and self indulgent - not a warrior spirit - maybe a lesbian trapped in a man's body.  Which is itself a well worn aphorism which may delight the trite and unimaginative unless you like being a man and a strong man.  This character was not a strong man

Someone wrote:  "Someone stop Brás de Oliva Domingos. He's the obituary writer and he is writing about only himself on a fierce ego trip."

The character is definitely spoiled.

She continues by stating:  "I didn't give a fuck about the first chick with the big boobs he meets who is la di da (she didn't want to say she didn't have a job, actually. She never gets one) look at your best friend, Jorge, the photographer. Freedom this and freedom that let's have sex and everything will be free magic. That's fine for them, if they were real, but what is in it for me? I'm drowning in the headstone version of the greeting card. He sees the world through his camera lens, Jorge. Kill me now"

I completely agree.

So many reviewers admit that this piece of art made them cry.

My question is Why did you get teary eyed?  What did you see in the character  that was admirable or likable?  What made you connect or self identify with him?

I cried when I saw "Braveheart."  I cried during the Bette Midler film "Beaches."

Why? because the character did not have the nuts to fight for his woman?  or to kick her ass out when he was out line?  Or connect with his father?  What exactly was tragic about this young man's life?

You know what's tragic?  Child soldiers are tragic.  Human sex trafficking is tragic.  Men languishing in jail because they dared to say 2 words: 'I disagree'  That's tragic.  Some whiny twerp complaining about the brevity of his life and then wasting it away on self loathing is not tragic - it is all too common and maybe worthy of your tears but not mine.

I am glad I read it.  I would not read it again.  I cannot recommend this book unless you want to know what kind of stories win Eisner Awards.

Slawomir Nietupski

Graphic designer and European designer Sławomir Nietupski will finalize the cover design shortly.  For a look inside his portfolio, check out:

http://snietupski.deviantart.com/
https://www.facebook.com/slawomir.nietupski
http://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Nahald/74627
http://www.artserwis.pl/portfoliobrowser.php?gid=4489

Jason Canty of Angry Viking Press

This week we spoke to  Jason Canty of Angry Viking Press out of Boston, Massachusetts. He stated that he has a relationship with Diamond Comic Distributors.  Jason has relationships with artists in IDW which is one of the major publishers.  Jason has raised money on kickstarter before by taking out web ads to meet his goal.

What Jason explained was that the kids go to the comic store - typically on a Wednesday when Diamond makes their delivery. They sell the books to the retailer. We (the publisher - Jason and us) provide content retailer.  His book "Evil Diva" retails at $ 13.99 but for the sake of argument. Let's say the book retails at $ 10.00 flat so the numbers work out nicely. Diamond takes more than half which he splits with the retailer. That leaves less than half to us. The Publisher takes his cut leaves us with ours.

Diamond wants between 96 to 200 pages. They also want to know if there is plans to continue. With the big boys like DC and Marvel they put out 28 to 36 pages every month or twice a month. From the Indies, they would like to know if there will be a follow up book again 96 to 200 pages.

Jason is providing us some free publicity. In promoting his company at the San Diego Comic Con next week, he will be printing off 1000 flyers with the cover on one side and one of Andrea's pages on the other side with his logo and our social media next to it.  The flyers will be on a table that he is sharing. He will have the flyers on the table. He won't just hand them out to people. So if someone wants one, they have to pick one up.

We talked briefly about toys. He goes through an company that manufactures in China. That is happening as we speak so we will see if that business relationship will work out.

We talked briefly about translations. He pays a translator to translate English into Japanese at a discounted rate. There will be international versions of this book.

Thank you to Ari Agbabian

Special Thank you to Ari Agbabian for his generous contribution to our campaign.

Ari's contribution helps us as it puts us 1/5 the way toward our goal. Ari has been a faithful friend and supporter of my artistic endeavor. My friend for over two years, Ari is an accomplished New York City stage and a Los Angeles film actor.  Ari is a constant and loyal friend to the military by supporting military families and honoring the memory of fallen soldiers.  Ari is also a 9/11 survivor.  Please take a moment to thank Air as he has  has helped us achieve an important milestone today.


Help us make it happen! Discover a new world!

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/help-the-kursk-sail-again/x/268132?c=home

No donation to big or too small - $ 500, $ 100, $ 50, $ 25, $ 10, $ 5, $ 1

Submitted!

I submitted our graphic novel to the following publishers:

Image

Arcana

Avatar

Top Shelf Comix

SLG Comics

Action Lab

Acacus Comics

12 gauge

Off Shott Comics

NBM Publishing

Zeta Comics

Angry viking Press

215 ink

Ape Entertainment

Champion

Devil’s Due Digital

We got our first pro-forma response letter. It reads:

From: “Submissions@ape-entertainment.com”

To: XXXXXX@yahoo.com

Sent: Saturday, July 6, 2013 11:59 PM

Subject: Re: The Kursk by Sasha Janowicz

Dear Creator-

Thank you for your submission to Ape Entertainment. Your submission has been received and will be reviewed. Should we find interest in pursuing a publication offer for your property we will contact you directly via e-mail or by phone.

Please be advised that our review process can take from 4 to 6 week to complete depending on the convention season or the current time of the year. Thank you very much for your interest in pursuing a publishing agreement with Ape Entertainment.

Thank you

The Ape Entertainment Team

——– Original Message ——–

Comic Book Diplomacy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Tucson, Arizona – July 4, 2013 – In a time where Russo-American relations are closer to war since 1983, is Soft Power being flexed from Tucson, Arizona?  Independent Film Producer and Comic Book Publisher James A. Bretney hopes so.  With Putin publicly humiliating Obama in Syria, with Snowden and blocking US actions in Europe and Latin America, James A. Bretney is hoping to promote closer ties to the erstwhile cold war ties with a comic book? 

"It is not a comic book,"  Bretney snaps menacingly.  "It is a graphic novel."  Bretney's graphic novel is about the Russian submarine, K-141, the Kursk sunk in the Barents Sea 13 years ago in a mysterious accident in August 12, 2000.  "It was their 9/11," Bretney continues. 

Soft power is a concept developed in 1990 by Joseph Nye of Harvard University to describe the ability to attract and co-opt rather than coerce, use force or give money as a means of persuasion.  Bretney's international collaborators are hoping this cross cultural exchange will help others give peace a chance. 

"My own mother was born in the Philippines before she emigrated legally to the United States.  Sasha Janowicz was born in the Soviet Union.  He went to college in Poland.  He is now an Australian citizen.  He wrote the story.  Our illustrator Andrea Montano, she was born in Columbia.  She is an American. We have dedicated our lives to the idea that the pen is mightier than the sword and that the best thing you can do with your pen is to make great art."

Bretney has had his own experience wielding a sword as an Iraq War veteran.  "The Bible says 'There is a time for war and a time for peace.'  It also says "Blessed are the peacemakers.'  Look all I am saying is that there are things in war that I never want to see again.  War always hurts the civilians and the innocents and it robs us of our bravest and best men.  I grew up with nuclear bombs aimed at me.  If there's anything I can do to prevent from ever happening again, I will."

Bretney is crowdfunding for his graphic novel on IndieGoGo and has more information on his website and Facebook page. 

To Donate to this campaign:

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/help-the-kursk-sail-again/x/268132?c=home

For more information on this:

http://thekursk.wordpress.com/ 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kursk-by-Sasha-Janowicz/444388175655458  

Kursk Update

Author  Jane Monica Jones has broadcast 2 amazing videos about crowdfunding. 

She lists 3 rules: 1) start connecting 2) approach connectors to endorse and pass on your campaign 3) list of influencers start connecting:  I have contacted over 500 of my friends mostly family members, people in college and high school friends.  I have gotten some response. connectors to endorse: Don't really know what this means but I suspect it means get a hold of comic book reviewers and enthusiasts and get them to look at my book  list of influencers: I emailed the following people:

1.  Brian White - web content producer for KVOA
2. Craig Anderson Arizona Republic
3. Betty Beard - freelance reporter
4. Peter Corbett - Arizona Republic
5. David Morgan - Sierra Vista
6. Christina Leanard - Arizona Republic
7. Cecilia Chan - Arizona Republic
8. Carmen Duarte -
9. Andy Kavetz - Freelance Reporter Illinois
10. Jimmy Lovaas - Freelance Reporter Seattle
11. Editor, Eloy Enterprise
12. April Madison - KGUN 9
13. Obi Wan Kenobi - KNST
14. Jennifer Marries KOLD 13
15. Jenna Busch - ThinkHero.TV
16. Erin Christensen KGUN 9
17. Quinn Schuler - TV Minneapolis
18. Naomi Pescovitz - TV
19. Paul Westcott- White House Brief

Kim McLaughlin a Social media strategist helping established brands engage & retain consumers with Facebook, Twitter & LinkedIn has been helping me too. She advises the following:

"There's no magic bullet when it comes to success on social media James. You have to simply invest the time and the money (or time in lieu  of money.) 

Because you're creating a person brand, I'd advise you start working your twitter community more. Much much more. And follow James. Follow others. 

Every single day, log in and follow about 15 people. Careful here - if twitter feels you're 'aggressively following', they'll suspend you account. At the end of the month, unfollow those who haven't' followed back (not at once though b/c now you'll be 'aggressively unfollowing' as per Twitter) and start again. 

If you have money, get some tweets sponsored. You can certainly buy follows to boost you social credibility, however, it's easy enough for folks to figure that out and engaging robots will only get you so far. In the meantime, work with a freelance PR agent who can get you a bit of press and start building relationships with local media folks so they turn to you for commentary. Direct everybody to you social media feeds." I also contacted a few local publicists too: more to follow

    

The Kursk Sails Again

Draft Cover Art
provided by  Sławomir Nietupski

Tucson, Arizona – July 4, 2013 – The Russian submarine, K-141, the Kursk sunk in the Barents Sea 13 years ago in a mysterious accident in August 12, 2000.  But with the help of awarding winning Australian playwright Sasha Janowicz, illustrator Andrea Montano and film producer James A. Bretney, The Kursk Sails Again in a new graphic novel: The Kursk.

Bretney is raising money on IndieGoGo to make his dream a reality.  “I invite you to discover a new world, world of intrigue and honor, of danger and mystery.  By donating to our campaign, I guarantee you will have done good thing.  You will reinforce the health of your community and the world that is only good by the results of good men.”

Illustrations by Andrea Montano

Bretney is trying again after his campaign on Kickstarter failed. "I did not know what I was doing.  Failure can be a generous teacher.  But we are not quitting on the Kursk," says Bretney.    Bretney is revising his expectations.  His Kickstarter campaign was $ 2,500.  On IndieGoGo, Bretney hopes to raise just over $ 500.    “We are raising less not that we don't need less but because we have to start small.  I have 45 days to raise 500.  It works out to about $ 11 a day. “  IndieGoGo offers a flexible funding format where if project managers fall short of our goal they still get the money.  Kickstarter is all or nothing.

With collaboration with the author,
illustrator Andrea Montano designs
the characters of the novel

Actress Evelyne Bronwyn Werzowa raised over $ 30,000 from her crowdfunding campaign or $ 1,000 a day.  Her advice to Bretney was "just bug every body." Bretney responds , "That is what I am doing."

Bretney himself has paid for five pages out of his own pocket.  "We are building a fan base one fan at a time from our friends. To get our art out there. Once its out there strangers have joined us and are waiting to see what we come up with next."

Front man James A. Bretney. says “ I once asked a stranger what he felt when he saw someone die.  He said that though he did not know the man, he felt like he lost something great and valuable that he was not aware he had.” 

Author Sasha Janowicz spent 6 years researching the story by interviewing members of the very secretive Russian Navy. Sasha Janowicz’s play won the 2007 Bell Award for Best New Play, the Matilda award three times for Best New Australian Play, Best Direction, and Best Independent Production, Matilda Awards.  

Like a director's story boards, here
Andrea Montano provides Sasha
Janowicz a rough visualization
before proceeding to the finalized frames

Bretney continues, “This is a good story.  It raises questions about what really happened and the people deserve answers.  The families of those who died deserve answers to what happened and how their loved ones lived and died.”

Bretney hopes the visual medium of the graphic novel will resonate with younger viewers.  “Andrea Montano is in her twenties.  She is very young.  She has a youthful vitality in her portfolio.  She handles color and lighting very well.”  Comics books are a billion dollar market with more users not only going to the comic book stores but downloading them from websites and smart phones. 

The art of comic book making is a process.  Andrea Montano draws rough thumbnail sketches throughout the script. Sasha Janowicz approves each thumb then Andrea Montano proceeds with each frame. Image Comics requires 5 pages to pitch.  The play is 60 pages -  55 pages to go.  

“We want to bring this story to a world stage.”

To Donate to this campaign:

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/help-the-kursk-sail-again/x/268132?c=home

For more information on this:

http://thekursk.wordpress.com/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kursk-by-Sasha-Janowicz/444388175655458

TAGS:

The Kursk, Sasha Janowicz, Submarine, Russian Submarine, Russian Navy, Soviet Navy, Spies, James A. Bretney, Jimbo, Airborne Productions, Andrea Montano, Matilda award, Bell Award, Best New Australian Play, Best Direction, Best Independent, Best New Play, Graphic Novel,

The Kursk Sails Again

The Kursk

Tucson, Arizona – May 12, 2013 – The Submarine, The Kursk Sails Again.  The Russian submarine, K-141, the Kursk sunk in the Barents Sea 13 years ago in a mysterious accident in August 12, 2000.  But with the help of awarding winning Australian playwright Sasha Janowicz, illustrator Andrea Montano and film producer James A. Bretney, The Kursk Sails Again in a new graphic novel: The Kursk.

Andrea Montano's Art

Bretney is raising money on Kickstarter to make his dream a reality.  “I invite you to discover a new world, world of intrigue and honor, of danger and mystery.  By donating to our campaign, I guarantee you will have done good thing.  You will reinforce the health of your community and the world that is only good by the results of good men.”

Playwright Sasha Janowicz

“Sasha’s play won the 2007 Bell Award for Best New Play, the Matilda award three times for Best New Australian Play, Best Direction, and Best Independent Production, Matilda Awards,” said front man James A. Bretney.  “It is a good story about bravery and courage and it raises questions about what really happened and the people deserve answers.  The families of those who died deserve answers to what happened and how their loved ones lived and died.”

Bretney hopes the visual medium of the graphic novel will resonate with younger viewers.  “Andrea Montano is in her twenties.  She is very young.  She has a youthful vitality in her portfolio.  She handles color and lighting very well.  Comics books are a billion dollar market with more users not only going to the comic book stores but downloading them from websites and smart phones.  We want to bring this story to a world stage.”

To Donate to this campaign:

Mayday

Mayday

I.

Mission time:  Day 45, 0700 hours. The spaceship "SS Steel Joseph" is exploring the outer reaches of Alpha Centauri.

Inside the Captain's quarters, the Executive Officer, Lieutenant Commander  Theodore Black meets with the Skipper of the boat - Captain Thomas Pope.  

"So there it is.  No re-supply.  Where's the justice in that?" Pope says.

"There is no god, therefore there is no re-supply."  Seeing his joke, did not go over well, Black replies, "The Centre says, 'It's simply not possible.' At least not for a few days."

"They said that three days ago."

"We are behind schedule seven days, Skipper.  But they have emphasized with great emphasis the importance of the information you are sending back Captain."

"I will talk to them.  Is that it then, Ted?"  The Captain gets up

"No sir."  Black pulls out a manila folder.  "There's the Angel affair."

"We have been over this Commander."

"Sir, its a question of discipline.  We cannot have technicians missing movement especially in essential missions such as these.  Justice must be swift to be effective."

"This will be the last time.  We discuss this  Lieutenant Commander.  Pending a full Medical review, Space Technician Michael Angelides is on rear detachment at Roosevelt Flats."

"But he has no more leave saved up."

"No one in his chain of command supports your prosecution of Angelides.  Let me ask you something.  Angelides is a propulsion mechanic.  Do you want to entrust the ship's propulsion to twenty two year old kid who delivered his still son?  Do not bring this up again.  That is an order, do you understand Lieutenant Commander Black?"

II.

1000 hours.  Black enters the bridge.  

The Helio Physics Officer Ensign Bartholew Childers reports, "It's interspace phenomena that we do not have enough data to assess the danger."

"What is it?"  Black demands.

"As I was explaining to the Captain, Commander, the sensors are picking up highly magnetized particle nebula."

"Your science experiment have to do with our mission.  Proceed on present course."

The Chief of the Boat, a salty man vested into middle aged named Salvador Pike snapped, "That is not your decision."

Captain Pope interjects, "This particle nebula will intercept our current heading for Alpha Centauri Beta B."

Childers states, "We may have to abort the mission to avoid the particle nebula."

"We can't just wait it out?"

The Captain states flatly. "You know our supply situation better than any of us.  The Wilson Station 4 is 2 parsecs away.  It would take months to reach us."

"The Scientific consensus states Particle Nebulas will in no way harm satellites. It will not harm us especially with its double hull construction.  If we abort this mission the Centre will want more than answers.  We must proceed forward." 

Childers interrupted, "So what happened to the crew of the Stanislaw?"

"Do you always coat insubordination Ensign Childers with oddball conspiracy theories or is this improvised ejaculation a special indulgence?"

"That's enough!" Captain Pope bellows.  "The Uncle Joe is a good ship."  The words 'good ship' alarm the men on the bridge. "The Centre wants results."  The Captain eyes Black speciously.  "Compartment 9, ready the engines on course heading "227 degrees, angle 45 and sustain that heading at point double six parsecs at point sub-warp six."

The Helmsman, Petty Officer Third Class Sigmund Charon responds, "heading "227 degrees, angle 45 copy."

Over the intercom, Lieutenant Gaius Wheeler reports back, "Engines at point sub-warp six in 5, 4, 3, 2 . . . "

Collision.

The collision rattles the ship sending smoke on the bridge.  The Chief of the Boat takes over firefight responsibilities, he and two technicians squelch the fire.

Pope: "Charon reverse 180 degrees angle 225."

A second collision.

The intercom reports, "Damage to reactor one.  Shutting rector one down."

A third collision knocks out Commander Black.

III.

Black out.

Black wakes up in the infirmary.  He sees a pistol on the table.  Then the medic, Petty Officer Second Class Donald Reed patches him up.

"XO, you have  a mild concussion."

"Where are we?  Where is everyone?"

"You have been out for a few days."

"Answer my question Petty Officer!"

Petty Officer Second Class Donald Reed looks at the the XO, Lieutenant Commander Black.  Then Captain Pope's voice comes over the intercom, "Petty Officer Reed, we need you in the bridge."

"Excuse me Commander."

The XO, Lieutenant Commander Black sees the pistol is no longer there.  He waits and waits but the doctor doesn't come back.  He steps out of the infirmary and searches the ship.  No one is onboard. Every compartment he enters he sees the pistol and when he confirms its there, it's gone.  He tries hailing Headquarters dubbed "the Centre."  No luck.  He tries to control the ship by himself but the meteors have damaged the thrusters. The ship is adrift.

He hears a voice of some of the crew in whispers.  The Captain calls the XO, Lieutenant Commander Black and asks for a report over the intercom.  the XO, Lieutenant Commander Black checks in but the Captain can't hear him report.  the XO, Lieutenant Commander Black sees the gun.  This time he picks it up.

He hears the InterSat radio break squelch and he moves to the communications console.  The SS Vladimir is hailing.  the XO, Lieutenant Commander Black returns the greeting.  But the Vladimir can't hear him but they report that she and the SS Catherine Parr are 0.1 parsecs away and closing to the Steel Joseph's Keplar coordinates.  He is happy then a hand grasps his shoulder, firm and hard.  He turns and a corpse falls at his feet.  It is the emaciated corpse of the Chief of the Boat, Master Chief Pike.  He cannot recognize the corpse except by his nameplate.  

He looks across the bridge and the technicians at the stations are all dead much by the same means.  He screams and then he hears the Captain hailing him on the intercom.  The Captain is yelling him and telling he has to get a hold of himself.  the XO, Lieutenant Commander Black asks the Captain if he can hear him.  He says of course, he can hear him.  the XO, Lieutenant Commander Black asks what happened to the crew and why are they all dead, what did they die of?  The Captain refutes that and that they are all fine and healthy.  When the XO, Lieutenant Commander Black looks again, the corpses are gone.  He asks where are the men?  The Captain says they are all in the ward room celebrating their scientific conquest and invites him to join them.

The XO, Lieutenant Commander Black enters the ward room and sure enough the crew is there gorging itself on food and drink.  Everyone appears in good spirits and happy.  The captain congratulates the XO, Lieutenant Commander Black and informs him that he is recommending for a commendation and early promotion for recommending his bold action.  Hr eats and enjoys himself and everyone is toasting to him and back slapping him.  He says weakly that he is just happy to see the crew, alive and happy.  Then he sees the medic  eat raw meat like a dog.  Then men start fighting amongst themselves for portions.  The food is the corpse of the young ensign.  The crew are no longer healthy men anymore but zombie starving to death.  He shoots his pistol at them.  After 3 shots, they are all dead.  He leaves the ward room and hears.  "We're coming to get you. We're coming to get you."

Finally he sees with open eyes.  The crew all of the crew is dead and died at their battle stations having starved to death.  He sees the air lock.  Light.

IV.

The Captain of the Vladimir asks the investigating officer what happened to the Steel Joseph.  The Investigating Officer states that the ship had been adrift for 3 years having been damaged by meteors from the Storm Nebula.  Without the ability to move or communicate, with the crew died of starvation.  the XO, Lieutenant Commander Black came out of a coma and shot himself.

The Captain of the Vladimir tells him to finish his report and have it on his desk by close of business today.

Call Me Robby

Preface:  I have written a short story about some things I remember during the war. Some of it is fictionalized but most of it is true. Some of it is very obscene.

Call Me Robby.  Robby Brantly.

One alibi, don't believe everything I say.  I am a liar.  What I say, I say for me.  Language gets me what I want.  That's what it was invented.   The sooner you learn that . . .

The first time I pointed shot a man was on coming off Irish and into the MSR into the Green Zone.  I hated those convoys.  Small and light package, always carrying some VIP.  Why don't you just take a chopper and spare us the trouble?  Anyway, we are out there and this guy comes into our convoy.  The first shot was into the ground.  He stopped cold.  The guy was older, lumpy, mustache, not an engineer or lawyer.  I could see him pucker up and quiver.  There must have been 20 other people in the van he was driving.  We have the right way pal.  I felt two things - power and guilt.  Guilt because I was destroying something beautiful, the way a rose or a sunset and I felt power.  There's nothing like dominating a man in the way prisoner rapes a man in jail or the way a man smears his dog's nose in the filth and the excreta that came from his bowels.  Those two emotions never leave you.  You can amplify the one and filter the other but you always feel both.

We had this puppy that my sergeant was sweet one.  We would feed it.  He was cute a thing.  He had white fur, fluffy, big feet was going to be a big dog someday.  Fatso, he would always feed it. I forgot what Fatso called it.   Didn't matter how many times I kicked it.  I only kicked it once.    That dog loved me.  I kept looking at this dog and thinking, if you were born in the Colorado, or Georgia or even my home of Rock Hill, South Carolina, you would have had a chance.  It's the first time I ever wanted something that was born over here to be over there.  First Sergeant wanted all the dogs gone.  He said they carried diseases.  Top detailed the two cooks to kill all animals or pets that we had.  But I didn't want Van Damme to kill my dog.  So I took the dog outside the compound away toward the main gate.  The first shot isn't kill him.  It wounded him.  I finished him off with a rock.  It took a couple of time, but he was dead.

There's really only two things I am good at.  I am good with women.  It's really not that hard, once you do it as long as I have and I have been doing it for a while.  Myrtle Beach is an easy place to get laid. And I was very young the first time - too young.  But to be honest with you.  I like men.  I like being with another man.  I like both giving and receiving.  It's different but when you have a man in your mouth.  He is receiving pleasure because you are giving it to him.  He is giving the best parts of him to you and you have a position of trust.  I don't tell many people about that part of me.  I have a reputation to maintain.  What would Janice think?  And Amanda?  And Christine?  And Julie?  But I said it, if you believe it.

It's like this.  I like to cuddle with these guys after I am done.  But I don't want them over.  I usually go to their house or they come and they go.  No sleep overs.  I just don't want to deal with it.  A woman she can sleep over if she wants to and if they are with me you better believe they want to.

You now I watched a lot of porn there.  I shared a hooch with Fatso before the Fat piece of garbage choked me.  I should have killed him when I had the chance.  When I did have some privacy.  I'd watch a lot of gang bangs.  Before she went to jail this pornographic actress, Paula Denton, held the record of most guys ejaculating inside her.  I wish I could have been there for that.  Sometimes I wish I was that pornographic actress taking in all that filth my soul commingling with all of theirs.  And I would be there acting, "Yes!  Yes!  Give it to me."

Don't judge me.  I saw a lot strange things over there.  I remember walking into the Motor Pool.  Everyone in the motor pool lived in a connex.  Don't ask me why they wanted to live there.  Saddam built these stone palaces and these guys are all living in an open bay and every one o them has their lap tops out either looking at porn.  Jared showed me a woman a pool sucking off a dog.  I might be gay sometimes but I have my limits.  Jared's boss Amos is talking to his wife not five feet away.  I wonder why Jared is not talking to his wife.  I guess if he caught her in bed with Weeblo, I wouldn't call her either.  I am just glad he hasn't caught me.

I am not very good at fighting but the idea of dying especially having my neck opened up with a blunt knife keeps me up late at night.  You know I have been criss crossing being home and being over there and back and forth, I loose my sense of what is real.  I make love to Janice.  I pound Amanda. have sex with Julie and I let Christine take me but I make love with Janice.  She loves me.  She is the only one that writes to me and sends me things.  Where was I?

A lot of times we would run out to these outposts to re-supply the guys and the guys would lets alone a lot.  You would think that would be a good thing to have your freedom but I am 6'4 blonde 24 year old who weighs maybe 180 lbs?  I haven't been running.  So we see these guys hanging out at the hajji shops.  I don't know if they are one of them has a cellphone with my number on it.  One thing I do know, they won't have the jump on me so I spray the hajji shop.

Jared says to me, "Are you ok Robby?"

"I felt threatened."  I told him.

It happened so many times he stopped asking.  This was long after Fatso left.  He couldn't soldier anymore.  Not after his wife left him.  You know he got me promoted.  This was after he found out about me and his old lady.  Get off my case will you?  This was before they were married.  Fatso wouldn't have tolerated that of course, he wasn't afraid to die.

Don't ask me how this happened but I running a patrol right before 15 minutes curfew.  I see this Muslim bitch and her kid.  She is talking trash and I am talking back to her.  I can't understand her and she me.  Suddenly I have to equalize this conversation so I pull out my 45 and level it to her head.  She must be about twenty feet away from me.  She is holding her kid's hand.  She just wouldn't shut up and she shouldn't have been on the street.  So I shoot her.  Bitch that she was.  I am a horrible shot but this bullet gets her between the eyes.  Her kid's crying.  He's holding his mother.  Blood is bleeding out her mouth.  I think she is cursing me in Persian.  Go figure, the Arabs have to speak Persian to let a real insult go.  This kid's a problem.  I don't need any witnesses so I take care of him too.

The guys aren't going to rat me out.  I have seen them do a lot worse.  But you know?  It doesn't matter how much bonus money they offer me, like it matters all of it is gone and gone within weeks of me having it, sooner or later, my number will come up.  So I got out.  I got out on a medical, but whatever.  I get a check, drugs (some of it legal - and free to me) some of it not which I sell.  I am still young - a kid at 33.  I am on that street next to the mosque and the kid and his Mom are both bleeding out and I am alone.  I have never been alone - not in a combat zone.  The kid gets up and I empty my mag into the kid.  Pieces of him are ripped away by the metal like a chainsaw to a teddy bear.  Then his bitch Muslim mother bloody chador and all gets up starts walking toward me.  I drop my 45 and pick up my M4 slung over my shoulder but it jams.  I have beat this thing with my bare hands.  She she is hissing and growling at me snapping at me and I am basing her in the face and choking her so that she turns blue.  Only its not that Muslim bitch, it's Janice.  I have woken up in my bed next to Janice and she has turned blue and isn't moving.

She coughs.

She doesn't sleep over anymore.  No one does its just me.  Me and my drugs, my Jim Bean and my check. Call me Robby and I am liar.