C.E. Martin's Blog, page 21
May 9, 2014
TERRORCOTA (Stone Soldiers #8)
TERRORCOTA
New to Kindle today, the eighth installment in the Stone Soldiers supernatural military thriller series;
A rogue Chinese General with dreams of world domination has stolen an ancient alchemical weapon--the Nlai Wan--a bomb capable of turning human flesh to brittle clay. Bringing his weapon to America, the General hopes to unleash it on an unsuspecting populace and trigger a war he thinks only he can win. But even armed with the weapons of the Legendary Eight Immortals, General Zuo Zheng Duan is not as invincible as he thinks. America is ready for his invasion, and the Stone Soldiers are headed to Colorado for a showdown of epic proportions as East meets West at the brink of World War III.
May 4, 2014
Stone Soldiers: Pirate Approved
In the grand scheme of things, it's good to know something's worth stealing. Imitation may be a sincere form of flattery, but knowing pirates think your work is worth the effort to steal has got be better.
It's now official: Stone Soldiers is a treasure. Book pirate Voldizard http://kickass.to/user/Voldizard has given the series two hooks up, by posting it over at Kickass.to.
True, Captain V has stolen a lot of literary booty (check out his hundreds of uploaded books), but that just means he's well'versed in sailing the seven servers in search of loot.
So there you go, better than a review. Hackers, Pirates and readers agree--Stone Soldiers kicks ass.
(Note, a takedown notice has been sent to Kickass.to, so for those looking to deal with scurvy servers and publishing pirates act quick, or chek out Stone Soldiers on Kindle where your purchases will keep the series going)
It's now official: Stone Soldiers is a treasure. Book pirate Voldizard http://kickass.to/user/Voldizard has given the series two hooks up, by posting it over at Kickass.to.
True, Captain V has stolen a lot of literary booty (check out his hundreds of uploaded books), but that just means he's well'versed in sailing the seven servers in search of loot.
So there you go, better than a review. Hackers, Pirates and readers agree--Stone Soldiers kicks ass.
(Note, a takedown notice has been sent to Kickass.to, so for those looking to deal with scurvy servers and publishing pirates act quick, or chek out Stone Soldiers on Kindle where your purchases will keep the series going)
April 30, 2014
Zombies!
For April, Stone Soldiers.info is celebrating the A to Z Blog Challenge with daily letter-themed entries. A separate page with a list of all these entries, plus Character Profiles and Book Synopses will appear on the right hand side of the page in coming weeks, detailing the people, places and things of the Stone Soldiers universe.
Book of Stone: Zombies(A Stone Soldiers Encyclopedia Entry)
What would a world of magic and monsters be without the inclusion of the greatest film monster of all time, the zombie? While the undeadis a term normally reserved for Vampires in the Stone Soldiers universe, in late 2013, readers experienced the reanimated in Armageddon Z as an undead apocalypse almost destroyed the world.
A First Born monster, possibly a nature spirit (Decklaa), hatched a scheme to destroy mankind by unleashing a fungal plague on mankind. Her dark spores had the ability to first kill, then reanimate human bodies (so far, testing has shown only humans are affected). Thankfully, the scheme was discovered thanks to a precognitive psychic named Kenji Nakayama, and the dark spores were seized before they could be dispersed. The Nature Spirit was hunted down and killed. It is presumed no further spores exist.
In his post-incident report, Mr. Nakayama explained the fungal zombies in great detail, as he had experienced a number of life-like visions of the apocalypse succeeding and the undead taking over most, if not all, of North America.
In this bleak, apocalyptic future, the spores were released on an unsuspecting crowd at a football stadium days after Thanksgiving. These infected were called Stage One Infected (S1I) by the Army.
Returning home, the S1Is became ill as spores spread throughout their bodies. Within several hours, higher brain function ceased, and the subjects were classified as Stage Two Rage-Infected (S2R), exhibiting behavior similar to rabies. Several hours following this, subjects died, then reanimated as Stage Three Zombies (S3Z), slow-moving subjects, with the brain and nervous system replaced by a fungal-mold colony within the body. These S3Zs seemed to possess an almost psychic hive mind, sensing each other, but possessing no visual senses.
The final stage in the infection occurred after an S2R or S3Z was terminated. The bodies were then fully consumed, forming a mold colony known as a Stage Four Colony, which began to emit more spores.
The Fungal Infection in these cases relied on water and lifeforce energy to continue its lifecycle. Behavior from the infected included hyperviolence in S2Rs and a desire to spread fungal infection through physical contact in the S3Z stage.
Samples of the initial spores collected in Missouri by Detachment 1039 were seized and have either been destroyed or locked away at an undisclosed, secure location.
Enjoy the Stone Soldiers series? There are only a few more days left to show your support at Indiegogo. If contributions aren't an option, consider spreading the word. More readers will equal more books!
Book of Stone: Zombies(A Stone Soldiers Encyclopedia Entry)
What would a world of magic and monsters be without the inclusion of the greatest film monster of all time, the zombie? While the undeadis a term normally reserved for Vampires in the Stone Soldiers universe, in late 2013, readers experienced the reanimated in Armageddon Z as an undead apocalypse almost destroyed the world.
A First Born monster, possibly a nature spirit (Decklaa), hatched a scheme to destroy mankind by unleashing a fungal plague on mankind. Her dark spores had the ability to first kill, then reanimate human bodies (so far, testing has shown only humans are affected). Thankfully, the scheme was discovered thanks to a precognitive psychic named Kenji Nakayama, and the dark spores were seized before they could be dispersed. The Nature Spirit was hunted down and killed. It is presumed no further spores exist.
In his post-incident report, Mr. Nakayama explained the fungal zombies in great detail, as he had experienced a number of life-like visions of the apocalypse succeeding and the undead taking over most, if not all, of North America.
In this bleak, apocalyptic future, the spores were released on an unsuspecting crowd at a football stadium days after Thanksgiving. These infected were called Stage One Infected (S1I) by the Army.
Returning home, the S1Is became ill as spores spread throughout their bodies. Within several hours, higher brain function ceased, and the subjects were classified as Stage Two Rage-Infected (S2R), exhibiting behavior similar to rabies. Several hours following this, subjects died, then reanimated as Stage Three Zombies (S3Z), slow-moving subjects, with the brain and nervous system replaced by a fungal-mold colony within the body. These S3Zs seemed to possess an almost psychic hive mind, sensing each other, but possessing no visual senses.
The final stage in the infection occurred after an S2R or S3Z was terminated. The bodies were then fully consumed, forming a mold colony known as a Stage Four Colony, which began to emit more spores.
The Fungal Infection in these cases relied on water and lifeforce energy to continue its lifecycle. Behavior from the infected included hyperviolence in S2Rs and a desire to spread fungal infection through physical contact in the S3Z stage.
Samples of the initial spores collected in Missouri by Detachment 1039 were seized and have either been destroyed or locked away at an undisclosed, secure location.
Enjoy the Stone Soldiers series? There are only a few more days left to show your support at Indiegogo. If contributions aren't an option, consider spreading the word. More readers will equal more books!
Yo-Ahyuwatt
For April, Stone Soldiers.info is celebrating the A to Z Blog Challenge with daily letter-themed entries. A separate page with a list of all these entries, plus Character Profiles and Book Synopses will appear on the right hand side of the page in coming weeks, detailing the people, places and things of the Stone Soldiers universe.
Character Profile: Yo-Ahyuwatt(A Stone Soldiers Encyclopedia Entry)
In 2013, a coven of witches conspired and successfully brought down a prehistoric satellite of unknown origins, the Black Knight. The witches believed the satellite contained powerful demons they would bend to their will to make themselves even more rich and powerful in the modern era.
But they were wrong. The Black Knight contained something far worse. The Titans.
As it turns out, the Titans of Greek mythology were quite different from what mankind had been led to believe. Even the demi-god Hercules (Father Lee Schuler in the modern era) had been told tall tales about the Titans by his father Zeus.
The Titans were in fact, the First Born offspring of Fallen Angels. Humanoid beings of great power. And among them was Yo-Ahyuwatt.
This human-looking woman, with four-arms possessed an uncanny, powerful psychic ability to make anyone do what she said. A combination of telepathy and mind control. It worked on even the Stone Soldiers, when they first encountered Yo-Ahyuwatt and her brothers and sisters in Oklahoma, after the Black Knight was opened. But for all her power, Yo-Ahyuwatt was not immortal, or even bulletproof. Colonel Mark Kenslir killed the millennia old Titan with a simple gunshot to the head.
After the defeat of the Titans, Detachment 1039 learned that they were ancient Fallen beings who had foreseen the Flood, and so created a craft they could sleep in for millenia, until mankind had repopulated the Earth and turned wicked once more. Absent from Earth for so long, they left behind a legacy, carved in stone, that soon became nothing more than myth and legend, with mortals creating tales to go along with the images they found scattered around what is now Asia.
Yo-Ahyuwatt was pale-skinned, unlike her sister, who bore four arms and was blue-skinned. She wore elaborate red robes and ornate jewelry and was the most beautiful of the Titans. Her body was recovered after the battle in Oklahoma and has presumably been autopsied and catalogued, her First Born DNA shipped away for study and evaluation for possible military applications.
Character Profile: Yo-Ahyuwatt(A Stone Soldiers Encyclopedia Entry)
In 2013, a coven of witches conspired and successfully brought down a prehistoric satellite of unknown origins, the Black Knight. The witches believed the satellite contained powerful demons they would bend to their will to make themselves even more rich and powerful in the modern era.
But they were wrong. The Black Knight contained something far worse. The Titans.
As it turns out, the Titans of Greek mythology were quite different from what mankind had been led to believe. Even the demi-god Hercules (Father Lee Schuler in the modern era) had been told tall tales about the Titans by his father Zeus.
The Titans were in fact, the First Born offspring of Fallen Angels. Humanoid beings of great power. And among them was Yo-Ahyuwatt.
This human-looking woman, with four-arms possessed an uncanny, powerful psychic ability to make anyone do what she said. A combination of telepathy and mind control. It worked on even the Stone Soldiers, when they first encountered Yo-Ahyuwatt and her brothers and sisters in Oklahoma, after the Black Knight was opened. But for all her power, Yo-Ahyuwatt was not immortal, or even bulletproof. Colonel Mark Kenslir killed the millennia old Titan with a simple gunshot to the head.
After the defeat of the Titans, Detachment 1039 learned that they were ancient Fallen beings who had foreseen the Flood, and so created a craft they could sleep in for millenia, until mankind had repopulated the Earth and turned wicked once more. Absent from Earth for so long, they left behind a legacy, carved in stone, that soon became nothing more than myth and legend, with mortals creating tales to go along with the images they found scattered around what is now Asia.
Yo-Ahyuwatt was pale-skinned, unlike her sister, who bore four arms and was blue-skinned. She wore elaborate red robes and ornate jewelry and was the most beautiful of the Titans. Her body was recovered after the battle in Oklahoma and has presumably been autopsied and catalogued, her First Born DNA shipped away for study and evaluation for possible military applications.
April 28, 2014
X-Ponent!
For April, Stone Soldiers.info is celebrating the A to Z Blog Challenge with daily letter-themed entries. A separate page with a list of all these entries, plus Character Profiles and Book Synopses will appear on the right hand side of the page in coming weeks, detailing the people, places and things of the Stone Soldiers universe.
X-Ponent
Monsters, parahumans, super soldiers--it's a dark world the Stone Soldiers live in. But not all the monsters they face are mythical or legendary. Some are much newer.
In 1995, Mark Kenslir, the last of Detachment 1039's supersoldiers undertook a mission to stop a new dark threat: super terrorists. Tracking the group behind a series of paranormal attacks on US soil, Kenslir encountered former para vigilantes, ex-supernatural spies and one very insane hero.
X-ponent is the story of Clint Kerrick, the first of the costumed parahumans,before he met his end and returned for vengeance as a wrathful spirit in Shades of War . Coming soon, the full story of the sunset of the superhero in the Stone Soldiers universe and the dark group X-Ponent.
Enjoy the Stone Soldiers series? Consider supporting it at Indiegogo, or by spreading the word!
X-Ponent
Monsters, parahumans, super soldiers--it's a dark world the Stone Soldiers live in. But not all the monsters they face are mythical or legendary. Some are much newer.
In 1995, Mark Kenslir, the last of Detachment 1039's supersoldiers undertook a mission to stop a new dark threat: super terrorists. Tracking the group behind a series of paranormal attacks on US soil, Kenslir encountered former para vigilantes, ex-supernatural spies and one very insane hero.
X-ponent is the story of Clint Kerrick, the first of the costumed parahumans,before he met his end and returned for vengeance as a wrathful spirit in Shades of War . Coming soon, the full story of the sunset of the superhero in the Stone Soldiers universe and the dark group X-Ponent.
Enjoy the Stone Soldiers series? Consider supporting it at Indiegogo, or by spreading the word!
April 27, 2014
Josie Winters
For April, Stone Soldiers.info is celebrating the A to Z Blog Challenge with daily letter-themed entries. A separate page with a list of all these entries, plus Character Profiles and Book Synopses will appear on the right hand side of the page in coming weeks, detailing the people, places and things of the Stone Soldiers universe.
Character Profiles: Josie Winters(A Stone Soldiers Encyclopedia Entry)
While she may not be a petrified stone soldier, one could argue that Josie Winters is the most important member of Detachment 1039. But who is this young women with constantly-growing psychokinetic abilities?
Josie Winters began life innocently enough, the daughter of a fireman and an every day, average housewife. Orphaned when her father died in a house fire, Josie grew up with her mother, spending most of her time with her best friend, Jimmy Kane. A honor roll student, the quiet girl with jet black hair and piercing green eyes easily won a scholarship to college. She just decided not to go.
Following a chance meeting in the Arizona desert with an amnesiac super soldier, Josie's life was turned upside down as she learned that dark beings roamed the earth, doing their very best to kill humans in a never-ending dark war. The children of Fallen Angels, these supernatural monsters, and even parahuman mortals possessed great abilities far beyond those of normal men and women. Powers that Josie soon learned she possessed as well.
As she learned, Josie was herself a descendant of a Fellish being, possessing dormant DNA that could lead her children to unlock dark powers. But with the help of the US Military, Josie's dangerous DNA was unlocked in her--giving her the ability to track down a prehistoric shapeshifter rampaging in the modern era. But tracking wasn't all she could do. Josie's unlocked DNA soon revealed itself and the young girl discovered she possessed the power of cryokinesis--the ability to freeze matter with her mind.
Over the course of the Stone Soldiers series, Josie's powers have continued to grow. Thermokinesis revealed itself, a more volatile, uncontrollable ability to cause matter to heat to dangerous levels, particularly when Josie became frustrated or angry.
Super powers are not the only mysterious, incredible aspect of Josie Winters' life. As it turns out, the world isn't as big as one would think. While Josie's father had believed himself an orphan, it turned out the elder Mr. Winters was in fact the cloned offpsring of Colonel Mark Kenslir, the leader of Detachment 1039--the same supersoldier Josie found wandering in the desert in Mythical.
This shocking revelation that Josie was for all intents and purposes the Colonel's granddaughter didn't sit well with either of them. But blodo is thicker than water, and as the series progresses, Josie and the Colonel become closer, building a strange familial relationship neither ever expected.
As of Book 7, Seven Deadly Sons, Josie Winters fights on, alongside her grandfather and her best friend Jimmy Kane, a teenager-turned-stone soldier-turned-werewolf. Learning to be a soldier and to contain her powers as they grow stronger, Josie Winters believes that her place in the world has finally been found, battlign the forces of darkness for as long as she can.
Character Profiles: Josie Winters(A Stone Soldiers Encyclopedia Entry)
While she may not be a petrified stone soldier, one could argue that Josie Winters is the most important member of Detachment 1039. But who is this young women with constantly-growing psychokinetic abilities?
Josie Winters began life innocently enough, the daughter of a fireman and an every day, average housewife. Orphaned when her father died in a house fire, Josie grew up with her mother, spending most of her time with her best friend, Jimmy Kane. A honor roll student, the quiet girl with jet black hair and piercing green eyes easily won a scholarship to college. She just decided not to go.
Following a chance meeting in the Arizona desert with an amnesiac super soldier, Josie's life was turned upside down as she learned that dark beings roamed the earth, doing their very best to kill humans in a never-ending dark war. The children of Fallen Angels, these supernatural monsters, and even parahuman mortals possessed great abilities far beyond those of normal men and women. Powers that Josie soon learned she possessed as well.
As she learned, Josie was herself a descendant of a Fellish being, possessing dormant DNA that could lead her children to unlock dark powers. But with the help of the US Military, Josie's dangerous DNA was unlocked in her--giving her the ability to track down a prehistoric shapeshifter rampaging in the modern era. But tracking wasn't all she could do. Josie's unlocked DNA soon revealed itself and the young girl discovered she possessed the power of cryokinesis--the ability to freeze matter with her mind.
Over the course of the Stone Soldiers series, Josie's powers have continued to grow. Thermokinesis revealed itself, a more volatile, uncontrollable ability to cause matter to heat to dangerous levels, particularly when Josie became frustrated or angry.
Super powers are not the only mysterious, incredible aspect of Josie Winters' life. As it turns out, the world isn't as big as one would think. While Josie's father had believed himself an orphan, it turned out the elder Mr. Winters was in fact the cloned offpsring of Colonel Mark Kenslir, the leader of Detachment 1039--the same supersoldier Josie found wandering in the desert in Mythical.
This shocking revelation that Josie was for all intents and purposes the Colonel's granddaughter didn't sit well with either of them. But blodo is thicker than water, and as the series progresses, Josie and the Colonel become closer, building a strange familial relationship neither ever expected.
As of Book 7, Seven Deadly Sons, Josie Winters fights on, alongside her grandfather and her best friend Jimmy Kane, a teenager-turned-stone soldier-turned-werewolf. Learning to be a soldier and to contain her powers as they grow stronger, Josie Winters believes that her place in the world has finally been found, battlign the forces of darkness for as long as she can.
VIST
For April, Stone Soldiers.info is celebrating the A to Z Blog Challenge with daily letter-themed entries. A separate page with a list of all these entries, plus Character Profiles and Book Synopses will appear on the right hand side of the page in coming weeks, detailing the people, places and things of the Stone Soldiers universe.
Book of Stone: VIST(A Stone Soldiers Encyclopedia Entry)
After two years in publication, one thing that has been missing from the Stone Soldiers series are supersoldiers of other countries. In Shades of War readers learned of an albino scientist from East Germany. In Seven Deadly Sons, readers met a Mossad agent and Nazi super werewolves. But where are the organizations that must surely exist in a supernatural world?
In the upcoming novella, X-ponent, readers will see the whole story behind the insane parahuman Sentinel of Liberty and his homegrown, super-terrorist organization. Among those following the mentally ill parahuman's call to arms was one Professor Upsilon, the telepathic mastermind behind East Germany's VST--the Veranderungstaffel fur Shrecken und Todd. Or in English, the mutant squad for terror and death. An offshoot of the KGB, operating out of East Germany, the VST worked against allied forces in Europe, conducting clandestine missions and spying by paranormal and supernatural means.
By 1995, the VST was no more--its members scattered over Europe as the two Germanys reunited. But the legacy of this parahuman spy agency lived on, in the form of Professor Upsilon, and many other dangerous Cold War agents.
Like so many heavies in modern action movies, don't be surprised if a cold war supernatural being shows up in a future installment of Stone Soldiers, ready to resurrect VIST and bring chaos to the modern world.
Book of Stone: VIST(A Stone Soldiers Encyclopedia Entry)
After two years in publication, one thing that has been missing from the Stone Soldiers series are supersoldiers of other countries. In Shades of War readers learned of an albino scientist from East Germany. In Seven Deadly Sons, readers met a Mossad agent and Nazi super werewolves. But where are the organizations that must surely exist in a supernatural world?
In the upcoming novella, X-ponent, readers will see the whole story behind the insane parahuman Sentinel of Liberty and his homegrown, super-terrorist organization. Among those following the mentally ill parahuman's call to arms was one Professor Upsilon, the telepathic mastermind behind East Germany's VST--the Veranderungstaffel fur Shrecken und Todd. Or in English, the mutant squad for terror and death. An offshoot of the KGB, operating out of East Germany, the VST worked against allied forces in Europe, conducting clandestine missions and spying by paranormal and supernatural means.
By 1995, the VST was no more--its members scattered over Europe as the two Germanys reunited. But the legacy of this parahuman spy agency lived on, in the form of Professor Upsilon, and many other dangerous Cold War agents.
Like so many heavies in modern action movies, don't be surprised if a cold war supernatural being shows up in a future installment of Stone Soldiers, ready to resurrect VIST and bring chaos to the modern world.
April 24, 2014
Überwolves
For April, Stone Soldiers.info is celebrating the A to Z Blog Challenge with daily letter-themed entries. A separate page with a list of all these entries, plus Character Profiles and Book Synopses will appear on the right hand side of the page in coming weeks, detailing the people, places and things of the Stone Soldiers universe.
Book of Stone: Überwolves(A Stone Soldiers Encyclopedia Entry)
In 2013, the Stone Soldiers encountered one of their deadliest foes yet: the Überwolves. Bigger, stronger and faster than any werewolf yet seen, these artificially-created monsters proved more than a match for the petrified men of Detachment 1039.
A post WWII project to create super soldiers for the impending 4th Reich, the Überwolves were the result of a project to hybridize vampires and werewolves. The monsters were created at a secret base in Neu Schwabenland, Antarctica, under the supervision of the Ahnenerbe well after the conclusion of World War II. Dubbed "Überwolves" by Dr. William King, the creatures possessed superior strength and speed to either vampires or werewolves, and none of their traditional weaknesses such as a stake through the heart or an allergy to silver. The Überwolves were genetically-modified clones of Heinrich Himmler, with blond hair and blue eyes and were taller and generally more fit. The Überwolves could assume human form at will, a vampire-humanoid form or the form of the Überwolf, a larger, more muscular form of a werewolf, over eight feet tall with white-blonde hair they could turn black at will.
They remained in hiding until late 2013, when the last of the scientists who created them had passed away. Unsupervised, the seven clones decided to strike out against those they felt had led to their creation and terrible existence at the South Pole: the Nazi Hunters of the 20th Century. The Überwolves began murdering retired Nazi Hunters around the world from their Antarctic base, revealing their existence in the process. ( Seven Deadly Sons )
The Überwolves were alphabeticallty named; Bernhard, Carl, Dietrich, Ekhart, Friedrich, Gerhart, Heinrich, Imre, with Bernhard being the pack leader. All seven of the Überwolves were killed in Antarctica, their bodies and DNA locked away for further research in the future.
Enjoy the Stone Soldiers series? Consider supporting it at Indiegogo, or by spreading the word!
Book of Stone: Überwolves(A Stone Soldiers Encyclopedia Entry)
In 2013, the Stone Soldiers encountered one of their deadliest foes yet: the Überwolves. Bigger, stronger and faster than any werewolf yet seen, these artificially-created monsters proved more than a match for the petrified men of Detachment 1039.
A post WWII project to create super soldiers for the impending 4th Reich, the Überwolves were the result of a project to hybridize vampires and werewolves. The monsters were created at a secret base in Neu Schwabenland, Antarctica, under the supervision of the Ahnenerbe well after the conclusion of World War II. Dubbed "Überwolves" by Dr. William King, the creatures possessed superior strength and speed to either vampires or werewolves, and none of their traditional weaknesses such as a stake through the heart or an allergy to silver. The Überwolves were genetically-modified clones of Heinrich Himmler, with blond hair and blue eyes and were taller and generally more fit. The Überwolves could assume human form at will, a vampire-humanoid form or the form of the Überwolf, a larger, more muscular form of a werewolf, over eight feet tall with white-blonde hair they could turn black at will.
They remained in hiding until late 2013, when the last of the scientists who created them had passed away. Unsupervised, the seven clones decided to strike out against those they felt had led to their creation and terrible existence at the South Pole: the Nazi Hunters of the 20th Century. The Überwolves began murdering retired Nazi Hunters around the world from their Antarctic base, revealing their existence in the process. ( Seven Deadly Sons )
The Überwolves were alphabeticallty named; Bernhard, Carl, Dietrich, Ekhart, Friedrich, Gerhart, Heinrich, Imre, with Bernhard being the pack leader. All seven of the Überwolves were killed in Antarctica, their bodies and DNA locked away for further research in the future.
Enjoy the Stone Soldiers series? Consider supporting it at Indiegogo, or by spreading the word!
April 23, 2014
Tactical Targeting Visor (TTV)
For April, Stone Soldiers.info is celebrating the A to Z Blog Challenge with daily letter-themed entries. A separate page with a list of all these entries, plus Character Profiles and Book Synopses will appear on the right hand side of the page in coming weeks, detailing the people, places and things of the Stone Soldiers universe.
Book of Stone: Tactical Targeting Visor (TTV)(A Stone Soldiers Encyclopedia Entry)
One of the most important pieces of equipment in the Stone Soldiers arsenal is also their most powerful: the Tactical Targeting Visor. Consisting of a head-up graphical display and head-mounted camera system, coupled with a telemitter, the device allows members of Detachment 1039 to receive real-time information from their command center in Miami, as well as allowing the command center to see what every deployed Stone Soldiers sees.
In 2003, the United States Army called for a modernized warrior, the Future Force Warrior, to provide soldiers in the field a technological advantage over their enemies. Unknown by most of those involved in the project, the much of the technology used in the FFA had already been constructed as prototypes and tested by Detachment 1039.
The modern HUD Tactical Goggle system combines variable-spectrum, micro-CCD cameras with microphones, speakers and cybernetic feedback sensors in a waterproof package that creates an augmented reality view of the world for the wearer. High resolution lenses can display any amount of data required by a soldier in the field. Hands free interaction is achieved by monitoring the eyes of the wearer, creating an optical mouse that is triggered by feedback from sensors around the rim of the goggles. (NOTE: A smaller, tactical glasses version of the HUD system has been issued to the Detachment for operations in urban environments where the wearing of full tactical goggles would be suspicious). The HUD component of the TTV is connected to its external telemitter by means of a fiberoptic cable.
Audio and visual displays are only half of the TTV system. In the 1970s, it was decided a non-electromagnetic means of communication was needed for agents operating deep within enemy territory, where transmissions could be monitored or blocked. The telemitter was developed in answer to this need.
Using matched cuttings from the cloned brain tissue of a telepath, telemitters share data across any distance, instantaneously by means of the empathic resonance effect, similar to the Twin Effect reported in human twins. In essence, cellular tissue is stimulated electrically, its cuttings sensing this stimulation and responding. Frozen in liquid nitrogen, these tiny pieces of artificial tissue can transmit data back and forth.
In 2013, it was discovered that stimulation of a tissue cutting also produces a feedback that can be detected by telepathic and empathic creatures--allowing them to mentally "hear" a telemitter in use. Otherwise, telemitters operate in complete secrecy, undetected and unblocked by any conventional means.
Modern telemitter units are slightly larger than the average smartphone, encased in a durable, waterproof shell, and contain micro computers, GPS sensors and a multifrequency transmitter and receiver that operate on conventional electromagnetic frequencies. External connectors allow a telemitter to be connected to standard electronics, such as computers or conventional radio trasnmitters.
The TTV system has been in use by Detachment 1039 since the early 1990s, but has grown in complexity and function, while shrinking in size. By 2014, telemitters have been assigned to the Detachment that resemble traditional smartphones for use in urban settings.
All TTV systems are equipped with a self-destruct charge that will incinerate the tissue cutting, preventing unauthorized access of America's most secure means of communications.
Enjoy the Stone Soldiers series? Consider supporting it at Indiegogo, or by spreading the word!
Book of Stone: Tactical Targeting Visor (TTV)(A Stone Soldiers Encyclopedia Entry)
One of the most important pieces of equipment in the Stone Soldiers arsenal is also their most powerful: the Tactical Targeting Visor. Consisting of a head-up graphical display and head-mounted camera system, coupled with a telemitter, the device allows members of Detachment 1039 to receive real-time information from their command center in Miami, as well as allowing the command center to see what every deployed Stone Soldiers sees.
In 2003, the United States Army called for a modernized warrior, the Future Force Warrior, to provide soldiers in the field a technological advantage over their enemies. Unknown by most of those involved in the project, the much of the technology used in the FFA had already been constructed as prototypes and tested by Detachment 1039.
The modern HUD Tactical Goggle system combines variable-spectrum, micro-CCD cameras with microphones, speakers and cybernetic feedback sensors in a waterproof package that creates an augmented reality view of the world for the wearer. High resolution lenses can display any amount of data required by a soldier in the field. Hands free interaction is achieved by monitoring the eyes of the wearer, creating an optical mouse that is triggered by feedback from sensors around the rim of the goggles. (NOTE: A smaller, tactical glasses version of the HUD system has been issued to the Detachment for operations in urban environments where the wearing of full tactical goggles would be suspicious). The HUD component of the TTV is connected to its external telemitter by means of a fiberoptic cable.
Audio and visual displays are only half of the TTV system. In the 1970s, it was decided a non-electromagnetic means of communication was needed for agents operating deep within enemy territory, where transmissions could be monitored or blocked. The telemitter was developed in answer to this need.
Using matched cuttings from the cloned brain tissue of a telepath, telemitters share data across any distance, instantaneously by means of the empathic resonance effect, similar to the Twin Effect reported in human twins. In essence, cellular tissue is stimulated electrically, its cuttings sensing this stimulation and responding. Frozen in liquid nitrogen, these tiny pieces of artificial tissue can transmit data back and forth.
In 2013, it was discovered that stimulation of a tissue cutting also produces a feedback that can be detected by telepathic and empathic creatures--allowing them to mentally "hear" a telemitter in use. Otherwise, telemitters operate in complete secrecy, undetected and unblocked by any conventional means.
Modern telemitter units are slightly larger than the average smartphone, encased in a durable, waterproof shell, and contain micro computers, GPS sensors and a multifrequency transmitter and receiver that operate on conventional electromagnetic frequencies. External connectors allow a telemitter to be connected to standard electronics, such as computers or conventional radio trasnmitters.
The TTV system has been in use by Detachment 1039 since the early 1990s, but has grown in complexity and function, while shrinking in size. By 2014, telemitters have been assigned to the Detachment that resemble traditional smartphones for use in urban settings.
All TTV systems are equipped with a self-destruct charge that will incinerate the tissue cutting, preventing unauthorized access of America's most secure means of communications.
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April 22, 2014
Daniel Smith
For April, Stone Soldiers.info is celebrating the A to Z Blog Challenge with daily letter-themed entries. A separate page with a list of all these entries, plus Character Profiles and Book Synopses will appear on the right hand side of the page in coming weeks, detailing the people, places and things of the Stone Soldiers universe.
Character Profile: Daniel Smith(A Stone Soldiers Encyclopedia Entry)
Lt. Commander Daniel Smith made the ultimate sacrifice for his country, and his men, in 2008, when he dove onto a grenade thrown into his sniper nest. While the blast killed Smith, he soon learned it was not the end of his military career. Resurrected in the Fountain of Youth, Smith was recruited into Detachment 1039 to serve as the first Stone Soldier ( Stone Soldiers: Catching Fire ).
At first reluctant to believe there really was a hidden, dark world full of supernatural threats to America and all of mankind, Smith has readily adapted to his new, petrified role. In 2013, he died for his country again—killed by the prehistoric shapeshifting giant Ketzkahtel ( Mythical ). But once more, Smith was resurrected and petrified, and now helps train other Stone Soldiers, leading them against the forces of darkness whenever and wherever needed.
Smith was given the code-name ATLAS by Dr. William King, signifying the importance of his role as the first field-tested stone soldier: his success enabled the program to continue and led to the creation of more petrified soldiers.
Only thirty three years old at the time of his first death, Smith shares a Western upbringing with his commander, Colonel Mark Kenslir. Of African-American ancestry, the quiet, no-nonsense SEAL looks past the origin and cultural beliefs of those he meets, focusing instead on the kind of person they are, or could be. He believes in hard training and discipline to complete his missions and stands by military tradition and rituals, and is quick to commend those he serves alongside. A talented artist, Smith has even designed a challenge coin for the Detachment, which he has begun to hand out to those members of the unit who die in combat but return to duty.
As a stone soldier, Smith is impervious to most physical injury. His petrified body does not need food, water or even air. And while he no longer needs to physically train, his body being locked in the same state it was when he was petrified, Smith falls back to his many years of long distance running and regularly goes through the motions of exercise. Smith rarely complains about anything, striving to lead by example. Of all the Stone Soldiers, Daniel Smith appears to have adjusted to his new petrified state of being better than anyone else.
As of 2014, Smith has been promoted to a position commanding the Bravo team of Stone Soldiers, to be stationed at Hickam Field, Hawaii, for Pacific Theater deployments.
Character Profile: Daniel Smith(A Stone Soldiers Encyclopedia Entry)
Lt. Commander Daniel Smith made the ultimate sacrifice for his country, and his men, in 2008, when he dove onto a grenade thrown into his sniper nest. While the blast killed Smith, he soon learned it was not the end of his military career. Resurrected in the Fountain of Youth, Smith was recruited into Detachment 1039 to serve as the first Stone Soldier ( Stone Soldiers: Catching Fire ).
At first reluctant to believe there really was a hidden, dark world full of supernatural threats to America and all of mankind, Smith has readily adapted to his new, petrified role. In 2013, he died for his country again—killed by the prehistoric shapeshifting giant Ketzkahtel ( Mythical ). But once more, Smith was resurrected and petrified, and now helps train other Stone Soldiers, leading them against the forces of darkness whenever and wherever needed.
Smith was given the code-name ATLAS by Dr. William King, signifying the importance of his role as the first field-tested stone soldier: his success enabled the program to continue and led to the creation of more petrified soldiers.
Only thirty three years old at the time of his first death, Smith shares a Western upbringing with his commander, Colonel Mark Kenslir. Of African-American ancestry, the quiet, no-nonsense SEAL looks past the origin and cultural beliefs of those he meets, focusing instead on the kind of person they are, or could be. He believes in hard training and discipline to complete his missions and stands by military tradition and rituals, and is quick to commend those he serves alongside. A talented artist, Smith has even designed a challenge coin for the Detachment, which he has begun to hand out to those members of the unit who die in combat but return to duty.
As a stone soldier, Smith is impervious to most physical injury. His petrified body does not need food, water or even air. And while he no longer needs to physically train, his body being locked in the same state it was when he was petrified, Smith falls back to his many years of long distance running and regularly goes through the motions of exercise. Smith rarely complains about anything, striving to lead by example. Of all the Stone Soldiers, Daniel Smith appears to have adjusted to his new petrified state of being better than anyone else.
As of 2014, Smith has been promoted to a position commanding the Bravo team of Stone Soldiers, to be stationed at Hickam Field, Hawaii, for Pacific Theater deployments.
