Each week feels better than the previous the more I write and the further I go with my books. I am not sure what it is about this intense challenge, but every word only fuels my knowledge and drives me to be better with each passing day. It might not be an easy thing to improve, but I feel my hard work is not something I can ignore. Sure, a lot of people might not care because they feel I am not working too hard, but that is not for them to decide. I know what I do each and every week and that is all that matters.
The prior report can be found here: Ascension: Down and Dirty
- What I Did
Today I advanced the story as I built up the last main character aboard the Avenger while leading into the first conflict with Rainer. I admit that a lot of the work today was dialogue focused, but the best character creation comes from expert dialogue work.
Yet, after months of build up, the first time the reader gets a glimpse of Rainer comes in the work I did today and it feels special. It does not feel as if he is an overbearing presence and until today, I did not showcase anything of what he looked like. Rainer is an antagonist who relies more on his reputation preceding him to strike fear into the heart of his enemies.
Also of note of what I wrote today is how I portray Rainer. Before the reader even hears him speak for the first time to Kile, there is a sense of dread and that Rainer is more than a mere human. He is intelligent and cunning and it does not matter if the situation favours him. He will make anything work in his favour.
- Today’s Best Work
The best writing for today is the entire sequence leading into the presentation of Rainer. I continue to build Kile and her legacy through the commentary of others in order to provide a direct contrast to Rainer. While Rainer is trying to form his legacy, the previous actions of Kile ensure her name will remain etched in the annals of the New Expoletian Empire. It might not be the type of work promised by Ascension as a novel, but it is the precise work that the novel needs right now.
“It’s not anything interesting. For the past two years, I was an engineer for Kodekai Enterprises. Quite a step down from diplomatic security officer, I know, but it was a good change of pace. I served my term as Military Security, which is not something everyone here can do. I guess you can call it the elite of the elite, given the rigorous training one needs to undertake. Engineering was something I always wanted to do ever since I was a little girl. It’s soldiers like you that inspired me never to let any gender lines stand in the way of my goals. The academy trainers still speak words of praise about every female that goes through the ranks. They plastered your name on the walk of fame in the main hall. Did you know that?”
I shook my head and stared at Aleirra with a furrowed brow. I did not believe she was speaking the truth, but there was no way I could be certain. I did know I was one of the first females to enter active service after the non-stop efforts of Commander Flu’try. I did not think I left as much of an impression as she did.
“I’m not that important. All I do is my job. That’s all we should do,” I said.
“True enough, but you are an inspiration to an entire generation, Captain. People might not speak your name in the same sentence as the Commander, but you left your own indelible mark on our civilization. That’s something to be proud of. Brace yourself for our stop.”
Even though Aleirra warned me, the suddenness of the loss of momentum flung me against the wall with a thud. I rubbed my shoulder as the hatch opened into the area beneath the bridge. Aleirra pushed me into a nearby elevator and a few seconds later, we stepped out into the bridge.
“Captain, you’re here. There’s no time to waste. I’ve managed to prepare a basic course of action, but what we do comes down to you and the orders you have. The Breakwater keeps trying to open a hailing frequency. I hoped they did not spot us, but it seems I was wrong,” Or’ong’i said when I entered.
I made a firm nod and he led me to my console. The heads in the bridge all turned to me and I took a deep breath. My finger lingered over the button that opened our external communication channel. I released the air in my lungs as I pressed the button.
“Marshal Rainer. You’re smarter than your file gives you credit for. You seem to be a step ahead of us at all times. Perhaps that’s dumb luck though. You humans seem to rely on such a thing far too often,” I said.
A faint chuckle came from the other end of the communicator. It was not a nice thing to hear, due to the hoarseness and strain put into every syllable. My screen went static and an ugly human face appeared on my screen. A balding head with ears too large for the skull and a gaunt look about it stared at me with pale grey eyes. There was no doubt who was staring at me. I did not dare flinch.
- How Productive I Felt I Was
The delaying of Rainer paid off in a big way this week. Sure, he might only appear right at the very end of the work I did for today, that only makes his appearance that much stronger. Not only did I give Kile something to fight for (which is the chance to see her name in the history books of the Expoletian Military Academy), but I also began to showcase Rainer’s cold, calculating, sadistic personality. He is not someone to take lightly.
- What I Intend To Write Next Week
Rainer’s first appearance outside of the prologue will consist mostly of dialogue for next week, but that will lead into one of the most complex battle sequences I will ever attempt to write. I say that because the battle is an extended one that will occupy a large majority of the novel. Whenever the Avenger is not fleeing the Breakwater, the two vessels are locked in an almost perpetual fight. I hope I can pull it off…
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Fenrir's Lair 