Update on The Battle of Svalbard story

I have decided that I will write the story The Battle of Svalbard over a period of time, but hopefully not too long.  I had already started writing, but I fell behind with the times and I have sort of reboot my writing of it.  The story's plot and main characters will be the same, but there will be a few changes to some things here and there, but hopefully not too many. 


The main plot is set in a timeframe similar to ours from the Napoleonic Wars to our present day, but with the countries similar to as they were pre-First World War, the League of Nations (our fore-runner of the United Nations) will be in place in this story's world.  The story will begin at the end of a nine year war against the Scandinavian Pirates and will tell how the wars ends. 


Link to a description of the hero's ship, the HMS Triumph: http://chriswriting2014.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/the-hms-triumph.html


Link to the first battle of The Battle of Svalbard: http://chriswriting2014.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/battle-of-svalbard-death-of-hms-steel.html


Hope that you will enjoy the story once I have finished it. 

Runcorn Organisation's Task Team - Jaguar's Beginning

I hope to expand this piece into a series of a team tasked with commando-espionage in the story.  This story is set just before the team I’m hoping to write is formed. 

 

The flying craft was high in the clouds, silent as a tiger hunting in the moonlight. 

“Approaching the drop-zone.”  The Chief Pilot reported on the COM.  “ETA: five minutes.”

“Thanks Chief.”  Lion, the leader of the team, a man of about early thirties, replied.  “Give us the right spot and I may buy a bottle of red wine for your fiancée.” 

“A bottle? She’ll want a case!” The pilot reacted with a both men laughing their joke. 

“OK, everyone listen up!” Lion ordered his team, who were all wearing black commando uniforms.  “The vessel is called Upturn.  She is a passenger ship taken by Somali pirates just five hours ago.” 

“How many hostages?” Tiger, the team’s second in command, a lady of about mid-twenties, asked. 

“As far as we know, about fifteen hostages.”  Lion answered. 

“How many pirates?” Jaguar, a young man of about early twenties member of the team asked. 

“At least twenty,” Lion answered.  “According to a member of the hostages who escaped custody of the pirates, the captain is in the bridge with two of his best men, seven are in the engine room, five watching the hostages, and the rest are patrolling the ship.” 

“I take it that we won’t have time for sightseeing round the ship.”  Jaguar commented. 

“Afraid not,” Lion replied, “The pirates have issued a ransom for two million pounds to be delivered, with their captured drug lord.  The deadline ends in two hours.” 

“Let’s get going.”  Leopold, a man of about late twenties, piped. 

All of the team got up and started to collect their equipment and weapons. 

“Any plans for tonight?” Tiger asked Jaguar. 

“Apart from my uncle’s birthday, no.”  Jaguar smiled. 

“Wish him the best for us.”

“Will do.” 

The side door of the craft was opened.  “Final approach to the drop-zone Lion.”  The Chief Pilot reported. 

“OK everyone,” Lion spoke as his team finished fastening their parachutes on, “Let’s go.”  And with that, one by one, the team followed Lion out of the craft and into the windy night air with only the lights of the target vessel to guide their decent. 

 

The team glided with their parachutes towards the stern deck of the Upturn.  Jaguar, having the sharpest eyes, took his sniper rifle and picked off the pirates on guard on the deck.  All of the seven team members landed without a sound to their feet. 

Once on the deck, the team took off their parachutes and stuffed them back into the bags and tossed them into the shadows, Jaguar being the team patrol, watching out for pirates coming. 

Lion issued his orders: “Jaguar, secure the deck, then get your sights on the pirate captain.”  Jaguar quickly moved along the deck, checking every shadow possible the length of the ship. 

“Cheetah, find the hostages and let me know when you.” 

“On it Lion.”  Cheetah, the quickest lady of about mid-twenties member of the team, took off. 

“Leopard, Cougar, secure the engine room.” 

Leopard and Cougar disappeared into the depths of the ship. 

“Cheetah finds the hostages, we’ll take out the rest of the pirates.”  Lion order Tiger and Snow Leopard as Lion checked his pistol. 

 

Jaguar was at the bow of the ship within seven minutes and five kills.  He kept to the shadows as he spied the pirate captain through his sniper rifle’s scope.  “I’ve got the pirate captain in my sight Lion.”  He reported over the team radio. 

“Wait for my word.”  Lion replied back. 

“Copy that.”  Jaguar responded. 

 

Leopard and Cougar entered the engine room without the slightest sound.  Leopard was the first to dare a look inside.  He could see three of the seven reported pirates.  He nodded to Cougar. 

“Lion, we’re at the side door for the engine room.”  Cougar radioed his report. 

“Copy that, wait for my command.” 

“Roger that.” 

Leopard and Cougar tightened their grips on their assault rifles. 

 

Cheetah walked down the maze of corridors in the ship.  She has already found two pirates on his way, both of whom she took out without a sound.  She slowly opened a door into the great hall of the ship and looked in. 

“Lion,” she radioed, “I’ve found the hostages, no more than ten pirates in there.” 

“Can you take them out?” Lion asked over the radio. 

“Easy.”  Cheetah snorted. 

“OK everyone,” Lion called on the radio, “Ready.”  Everyone held their breaths, “NOW!”

 

Jaguar has never missed a shot in the nearly five years in serving the Runcorn Organisation.  His shot made its mark between the pirate captain’s eyes.  The captain’s best men were quick to follow by Jaguar’s shots.

Leopard and Cougar swiped through the engine room with their firepower and their infamous flying knifes, leaving seven of the pirates dead within two minutes. 

Cheetah entered the great hall from one door while Lion, Tiger and Snow Leopard burst from another and within ten shots, the hostages were no longer hostages.  And within the next fifteen minutes, the ship was free. 

“How can we thank you?” The ship’s true captain asked Lion as the flying craft had its final approach beside the ship. 

“You don’t need to thank us.”  Lion answered.  “Just avoid this part of the world in future.” 

“Will do.”  The captain shook Lion’s hand before Lion lead his team back onto the craft. 

“Well done everyone.”  Lion said to his team has the craft flew homewards. Lion checked his watch, “Looks like we have completed our last mission with a new record, by one minute.”  Lion looked at Jaguar as he placed his rifle back in its place. 

“I hear that you are staying an agent.”  Lion spoke to Jaguar. 

“Yes, sir,” Jaguar answered, “I feel better doing the fieldwork than being an office worker.” 

“Well then,” Lion held out his gloved hand, “On behalf of this good team, I wish you the very best of luck with your new team.” 

Jaguar took and shook Lion’s hand.  “Thank you, Lion.” 

 

I hope that you will find this piece interesting to read. 

10th Writing Blog - Description of Davidina

I'm hoping to include this piece in the story Louisa Todd and the Lost Gems. 


I would like the reader to note that the characters are animals, just like with the description of Captain Martin Nelson.  Mind that this piece might be rewritten. 


     Lady Todd entered the room and saw her.  The vixen Davidina was sitting beside a table in the office, playing an Irish fiddle.  The tune was sadly mournful, but what took, Todd's breath away as the fact that Davidina showed the looks of an experienced violinist, despite looking of about ten years. 
     "How long she been like this?" Louisa asked Officer Chang. 
     "Ever since we brought her here."  The mouse answered the vixen lady.  "After she saw her father's body, she just took her violin and started playing."  He and Louisa looked at the player, "And I must say, she is good." 
     Louisa watched as the violinist went from mournful tune to ceilidh tune (the song Granuaile's Dance Louisa was sure), her right foot tapping the floor for a moment before she got up and started dancing around the room, waving her long black wild hair in her wake.  The sight took Louisa's breath away again as she watched Davidina play till the end of the song, turned to face her audience and bowed. 
     "Unbelievable."  Louisa said under her breath. 


I hope that you like this piece and hear what you think of it. 

Battle of Svalbard - Death of the HMS Steel

This extract is from the Battle of Svalbard I'm writing so this extract will be subject of change. 

The Bergen's firepower from her 15-ich guns was intense upon the Triumph and the Steel.  The Bergen's crew certainly knew what they were doing that was for certain. 

     "Her crew must have received special training!" Nelson shouted over the whistling shells has they splashed into the sea with white columns marking their landing spots. 

     "Port five degrees!" Captain Upturn commanded.  "Range?"

     "Twenty-four thousand yards sir!" Came the reply. 

     "Tell the guns to rain all they've got!" Upturn ordered Nelson. 

     "Aye sir."  Nelson replied before heading for the phone room behind the ship's bridge. 


     Upon the HMS Steel, things weren't so good, a shell narrowly missed the bow my metres, quickly followed by another three. 
     "It looks like they've got their range on us sir."  Captain Jameson, a mouse of sixteen years service, commented to Admiral Goodall.  It was to be the last comment he ever made, and no-one knew. 

     "That's too close for my comfort.  Fifteen to starboard!" Admiral Goodall, a fox of forty years service, ordered his captain.  It was to be his last order. 

     The order to shoot was sent to the guns followed by columns of smoke.  No hits except for the sea.  There will be no more shots from the Steel. 

     The Bergen fired back full.  There was the reigning sound of whistling falling shells. 

     From the HMS Triumph's view it happened so quick.  There was the shell's whistle, then a small column of smoke upon the Steel's port side, before it was engulfed by an inferno of fire and a column of smoke.  HMS Steel is dead.  

     All upon the Triumph looked on in surprise and horror, none more so than Commander Theodore Nelson who saw history being repeated before his very eyes.  His captain brought him back to attention. 

     "Nelson, make to Admiralty, tell them-" Upturn's words blocked up in his throat, but Nelson understood in a low voice, "Aye sir."  Nelson headed for the radio, looking away as the black smoke from the Steel rose higher into the air. 

I hope that you enjoy this extract of the Battle of Svalbard and I hope to continue and complete the story soon. 


The first picture is that the Bismarck, representing the Bergen, and the second is that of HMS Pathfinder, representing HMS Steel.