C.E. Martin's Blog, page 14
April 26, 2015
One Dark Step
Newly released!
They have waged an unending war on mankind for milennia, harassing the helpless in hit and run raids, capturing slaves and murdering those who stood against them. From their base on the Moon, these dark forces have enjoyed a safe and secure base from which to launch their campaigns of terror, confident no mortal could ever reach them. Until now.
The men and women of Detachment 1039 are taking the fight to those monsters hiding in the heavens. A crack team of supernatural supersoldiers are ready to to continue their battle against evil off-world. But are they ready to face the true mastermind of darkness?
Available on Kindle Unlimited until July 26th.
They have waged an unending war on mankind for milennia, harassing the helpless in hit and run raids, capturing slaves and murdering those who stood against them. From their base on the Moon, these dark forces have enjoyed a safe and secure base from which to launch their campaigns of terror, confident no mortal could ever reach them. Until now.
The men and women of Detachment 1039 are taking the fight to those monsters hiding in the heavens. A crack team of supernatural supersoldiers are ready to to continue their battle against evil off-world. But are they ready to face the true mastermind of darkness?
Available on Kindle Unlimited until July 26th.
April 24, 2015
Book of Stone: Um Yang Kwon
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.
An ancient martial art from the Korean kingdom of Shilla, Um Yang Kwon has been reported as the predecessor for Tae Kwon Do. Legends say that a scholar developed this martial art as a way to create soldiers for the Shilla Kingdon to use against its enemies. These soldiers were known as the Hwa Rang and were not merely adept at hand-to-hand combat, but also were capable of inhuman feats of strength, and possessed mental powers, the Shin Gong, developed through intense study and practice.
By the 20th Century, Um Yang Kwon was an almost-forgotten art, the Hwa Rang having been disbanded centuries early. During the Japanese occupation of the peninsula, all symbols of Korean history were outlawed. Those still practicing Um Yang Kwon went into hiding or fled the country.
Colonel Mark Kenslir was among a group of special operations soldiers sent to study the art in the late 1950s, following the Korean War. Trained by Mast Pin Lee, Kenslir may not only be some of the first Westerners to learn the art, but the last in the world to practice it.
Kenslir's mastery of Um Yang Kwon was first identified in Stone Soldiers #08 Terrorcota when he fought against an agent of the People's Republic of China. Kenslir identified his Master and confirmed that he practices at least some of the Shin Gong. In particular, Kenslir utilizes Shin Kyun Sul to see into the mind's eye of subjects, and Un Shin Bop to cloud the minds of others for stealthy movement. As of Book #11, the full extent of Kenslir's training has yet to be revealed. It has been revealed that the Colonel has been training other members of Detachment 1039 in the martial art, possibly for decades.
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An ancient martial art from the Korean kingdom of Shilla, Um Yang Kwon has been reported as the predecessor for Tae Kwon Do. Legends say that a scholar developed this martial art as a way to create soldiers for the Shilla Kingdon to use against its enemies. These soldiers were known as the Hwa Rang and were not merely adept at hand-to-hand combat, but also were capable of inhuman feats of strength, and possessed mental powers, the Shin Gong, developed through intense study and practice.
By the 20th Century, Um Yang Kwon was an almost-forgotten art, the Hwa Rang having been disbanded centuries early. During the Japanese occupation of the peninsula, all symbols of Korean history were outlawed. Those still practicing Um Yang Kwon went into hiding or fled the country.
Colonel Mark Kenslir was among a group of special operations soldiers sent to study the art in the late 1950s, following the Korean War. Trained by Mast Pin Lee, Kenslir may not only be some of the first Westerners to learn the art, but the last in the world to practice it.
Kenslir's mastery of Um Yang Kwon was first identified in Stone Soldiers #08 Terrorcota when he fought against an agent of the People's Republic of China. Kenslir identified his Master and confirmed that he practices at least some of the Shin Gong. In particular, Kenslir utilizes Shin Kyun Sul to see into the mind's eye of subjects, and Un Shin Bop to cloud the minds of others for stealthy movement. As of Book #11, the full extent of Kenslir's training has yet to be revealed. It has been revealed that the Colonel has been training other members of Detachment 1039 in the martial art, possibly for decades.
April 23, 2015
Book of Stone: Jason Trumball
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.
When the costumed vigilante Sentinel of Liberty went insane in the 1990s and had to be killed, his secret stronghold in the Arctic Circle was discovered to contain twelve clones being grown. Each potentially possessed the same abilities as the Sentinel--that is, enhanced psychokinetic powers fueled by etheric energy siphned from external sources. Rather than kill the clones, they were given false identities, placed in foster hmes around the country and kept drugged to prevent their powers from manifesting.
In 2013, one such clone travelled to the Northpole, working as an engineer, unaware of his origins (SS04: Shades of War ). Killed then possessed by the vengeful spirit of the Sentinel, unlocking the clone body's powers. The resurrected Sentinel returned to the United States and killed a second clone, harvesting the body for his use. This Clone, #5, had also grown up an adopted child, marrying and in turn starting his own family. A family that included his son, Jason.
On the night both his parents were killed, Jason Trumball faced off against the resurrected Sentinel, inadvertantly triggering his dormant abilities and weakening the Sentinel.
Jason was soon recruited by Detachment 1039 and assisted their investigation into Sentinel's return. Fifteen year old Jason assisted the Stone Soldiers in defeating the Sentinel and was taken into protective custody--spirited away to the Fox Island research facility.
Today, Jason serves as an assistant to Dr. William King while simultaneously learning how to safely absorb etheric energy and channel it into psychokinetic abilities ranging from enhanced strength, healing, pyrokinesis and clairvoyance.
When the costumed vigilante Sentinel of Liberty went insane in the 1990s and had to be killed, his secret stronghold in the Arctic Circle was discovered to contain twelve clones being grown. Each potentially possessed the same abilities as the Sentinel--that is, enhanced psychokinetic powers fueled by etheric energy siphned from external sources. Rather than kill the clones, they were given false identities, placed in foster hmes around the country and kept drugged to prevent their powers from manifesting.
In 2013, one such clone travelled to the Northpole, working as an engineer, unaware of his origins (SS04: Shades of War ). Killed then possessed by the vengeful spirit of the Sentinel, unlocking the clone body's powers. The resurrected Sentinel returned to the United States and killed a second clone, harvesting the body for his use. This Clone, #5, had also grown up an adopted child, marrying and in turn starting his own family. A family that included his son, Jason.
On the night both his parents were killed, Jason Trumball faced off against the resurrected Sentinel, inadvertantly triggering his dormant abilities and weakening the Sentinel.
Jason was soon recruited by Detachment 1039 and assisted their investigation into Sentinel's return. Fifteen year old Jason assisted the Stone Soldiers in defeating the Sentinel and was taken into protective custody--spirited away to the Fox Island research facility.
Today, Jason serves as an assistant to Dr. William King while simultaneously learning how to safely absorb etheric energy and channel it into psychokinetic abilities ranging from enhanced strength, healing, pyrokinesis and clairvoyance.
April 20, 2015
Book of Stone: Wayne Stevens
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.
In 2014, after over a year of successful counter-Dark operations by the Stone Soldiers, the Pentagon directed that a second team of soldiers be petrified. Copying the success of Daniel Smith, a former Navy SEAL, it was ordered that four more SEALs be recruited into the program: Wayne Stevens, Paul Briones, Isaac Jacobson and Dean Johnson (SS 05:
Black Knight Down
)
Stevens was eventually assigned to Bravo Team, under Captain Smith (call sign Tex). Stevens is a level-headed, quiet soldier, who often hangs back to size up a situation before charging in. Stevens is close friends with his former SEAL teammate, Dean Johnson.
In 2014, after over a year of successful counter-Dark operations by the Stone Soldiers, the Pentagon directed that a second team of soldiers be petrified. Copying the success of Daniel Smith, a former Navy SEAL, it was ordered that four more SEALs be recruited into the program: Wayne Stevens, Paul Briones, Isaac Jacobson and Dean Johnson (SS 05:
Black Knight Down
)Stevens was eventually assigned to Bravo Team, under Captain Smith (call sign Tex). Stevens is a level-headed, quiet soldier, who often hangs back to size up a situation before charging in. Stevens is close friends with his former SEAL teammate, Dean Johnson.
April 18, 2015
Book of Stone: Resurrection, MN
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.
Hidden in a remote corner of Montana, this small, unassuming one-street town is actually a classified U.S. DoD retreat. Originally constructed in the 1950s for members of various bloack projects to meet and strategize, the town is completely inaccessible, save by air.
Construction first centered around a short runway, which later would become the town's single road. At one end lies a fortified, concrete bunker complex disguised as the town hall, leading down into an underground complex. The other end of the street is large concrete parking area used for helicopter landing.
Along the sides of the main street, buildings were constructed, creating the illusion of a small town. No structure is higher than two stories and some are in fact disguised garages and warehouses for equipment.
In 2014, after successful testing at Fox Island, Project Medusa began moving de-petrified subjects to the site, renaming the town Resurrection. New arrivals are slowly introduced to modern technology, residing in the 1950s-styled town until they have successfully passed psychological screening are and ready to return to the general population.
Very few individuals know of the site's location, and access to it is heavily restricted and monitored by Detachment 1039 and Project Ghostwind.
At present, the population numbers under 100 individuals, including former Project Medusa scientists Dr. Maria Guerrero and Dr. Andrea Crone (SS10: A Lucky Day to Die ).
Hidden in a remote corner of Montana, this small, unassuming one-street town is actually a classified U.S. DoD retreat. Originally constructed in the 1950s for members of various bloack projects to meet and strategize, the town is completely inaccessible, save by air.
Construction first centered around a short runway, which later would become the town's single road. At one end lies a fortified, concrete bunker complex disguised as the town hall, leading down into an underground complex. The other end of the street is large concrete parking area used for helicopter landing.
Along the sides of the main street, buildings were constructed, creating the illusion of a small town. No structure is higher than two stories and some are in fact disguised garages and warehouses for equipment.
In 2014, after successful testing at Fox Island, Project Medusa began moving de-petrified subjects to the site, renaming the town Resurrection. New arrivals are slowly introduced to modern technology, residing in the 1950s-styled town until they have successfully passed psychological screening are and ready to return to the general population.
Very few individuals know of the site's location, and access to it is heavily restricted and monitored by Detachment 1039 and Project Ghostwind.
At present, the population numbers under 100 individuals, including former Project Medusa scientists Dr. Maria Guerrero and Dr. Andrea Crone (SS10: A Lucky Day to Die ).
April 17, 2015
Book of Stone: QLZ87
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.
The QLZ87 is a 35 mm automatic grenade launcher used by the People's Liberation Army of China. An air-cooled, gas operated fully automatic weapon capable of being transported by hand, it fires a variety of 35 mm grenades from a 6-, 9-, or 12-round drum. Anti-armor rounds can penetrate armour up to 80 mm thick. Anti personnel rounds produce fragments to kill or wound targets within 10 meters of impact. The weapon can be fired from a tripod or bipod or mounted on vehicles. It is reportedly capable of attacking low-flying air targets as well.
In 2014, renegade troops of the PLA under General Zou Zheng Duan used QLZ87s with Nlai Wan-equipped rounds during their siege in Colorado (SS08: Terrorcota ).
The QLZ87 is a 35 mm automatic grenade launcher used by the People's Liberation Army of China. An air-cooled, gas operated fully automatic weapon capable of being transported by hand, it fires a variety of 35 mm grenades from a 6-, 9-, or 12-round drum. Anti-armor rounds can penetrate armour up to 80 mm thick. Anti personnel rounds produce fragments to kill or wound targets within 10 meters of impact. The weapon can be fired from a tripod or bipod or mounted on vehicles. It is reportedly capable of attacking low-flying air targets as well.
In 2014, renegade troops of the PLA under General Zou Zheng Duan used QLZ87s with Nlai Wan-equipped rounds during their siege in Colorado (SS08: Terrorcota ).
April 16, 2015
Book of Stone: Colonel Chadwick Phillips
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.
A former member of the Black Sabers until 1979, Chadwick Phillips retired from active duty, marrying and raising a family. Following the death of his wife, he had a stroke in 2003 and was paralyzed from the waist down. In 2013, he was recruited back into the Detachment and was regenerated and petrified as a Stone Soldier (SS03: Blood and Stone ).
Phillips, in addition to being a stone soldier, is an electrokinetic, able to generate and control electrical fields around him. This power was the reason for his inclusion in the Detachment in the 1960s, serving as a parahuman trained in unconventional warfare and counter-Dark operations, serving alongside Colonel Kenslir for two decades.
Beyond the near-invulnerability of his petrified status, Phillips' new enhanced endurance allows him unlimited use of his electrokinesis. In his youth, the supersoldier had to rest between electrical discharges and be careful to not injure himself. As a stone soldier he has no such limitations.
Phillips' experience and rank led to his assignment as leader of Alpha team, with his former operational call-sign Zeus reinstated.
A former member of the Black Sabers until 1979, Chadwick Phillips retired from active duty, marrying and raising a family. Following the death of his wife, he had a stroke in 2003 and was paralyzed from the waist down. In 2013, he was recruited back into the Detachment and was regenerated and petrified as a Stone Soldier (SS03: Blood and Stone ).
Phillips, in addition to being a stone soldier, is an electrokinetic, able to generate and control electrical fields around him. This power was the reason for his inclusion in the Detachment in the 1960s, serving as a parahuman trained in unconventional warfare and counter-Dark operations, serving alongside Colonel Kenslir for two decades.
Beyond the near-invulnerability of his petrified status, Phillips' new enhanced endurance allows him unlimited use of his electrokinesis. In his youth, the supersoldier had to rest between electrical discharges and be careful to not injure himself. As a stone soldier he has no such limitations.
Phillips' experience and rank led to his assignment as leader of Alpha team, with his former operational call-sign Zeus reinstated.
April 15, 2015
Book of Stone: Doctor Laura Olson
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.
Laura Olson was a medical student in the early 1970s, about to start her residency when she was attacked and turned by a vampire. Mark Kenslir spared Olson’s life and enlisted her in the fight against vampires. Olson was imprisoned in Alcatraz providing intelligence on vampire movements by means of her empathic connection with the undead. In the summer of 2013, a prehistoric shapeshifter raided Alcatraz, killing the inmates and staff, but failing to kill Dr. Olson (SS03: Blood and Stone ).
Olson joined Detachment 1039 in tracking down and defeating the monster then remained with the team for several months until she was killed in Greece in the fall of 2013 (SS05: Black Knight Down ).
Several months after her death, Olson was resurrected again, this time by the Fountain of Youth, to help investigate the appearance of hybrid vampires (SS 07: Seven Deadly Sons ).
Prior to this second resurrection, Olson possessed the powers of a top echelon vampire: super strength, accelerated healing, superhuman speed, otherworldly senses, the ability to drain the lifeforce from others and the ability to grow her teeth and nails to monstrous proportions. Following her rebirth in the Fountain, Olson is able to transform into a hideous, gargoyle-like creature, with gray skin, short horns on her head, yellow eyes and large, bat-like wings. In this towering form, Olson is superior in combat to most supernatural beings.
In her human form, Olson can draw the lifeforce from subjects, pulling it up and out of their mouth. She uses this energy to enhance her strength and tap into her vampiric powers. Without lifeforce, she remains human, of average strength, but can transform into her Gargoyle form, no longer needing lifeforce to be superhuman. Olson has also learned how to heal with stolen lifeforce, even undoing fatal injuries that appear to have killed victims.
While Olson can turn a human into a vampire--by draining them to death, then resurrecting them--she is forbidden from doing so on penalty of being re-imprisoned.
In addition to her supernatural healing powers and combat skills, Dr. Olson is an intelligent scientist. A promising medical student before her turning, she continued her studies, pursuing her medical career behind bars, studying both parahuman inmates and her own vampiric condition. She quickly came to be considered the foremost expert on vampirism and is frequently called upon for her unique perspective in identifying and studying the supernatural.
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Laura Olson was a medical student in the early 1970s, about to start her residency when she was attacked and turned by a vampire. Mark Kenslir spared Olson’s life and enlisted her in the fight against vampires. Olson was imprisoned in Alcatraz providing intelligence on vampire movements by means of her empathic connection with the undead. In the summer of 2013, a prehistoric shapeshifter raided Alcatraz, killing the inmates and staff, but failing to kill Dr. Olson (SS03: Blood and Stone ).
Olson joined Detachment 1039 in tracking down and defeating the monster then remained with the team for several months until she was killed in Greece in the fall of 2013 (SS05: Black Knight Down ).
Several months after her death, Olson was resurrected again, this time by the Fountain of Youth, to help investigate the appearance of hybrid vampires (SS 07: Seven Deadly Sons ).
Prior to this second resurrection, Olson possessed the powers of a top echelon vampire: super strength, accelerated healing, superhuman speed, otherworldly senses, the ability to drain the lifeforce from others and the ability to grow her teeth and nails to monstrous proportions. Following her rebirth in the Fountain, Olson is able to transform into a hideous, gargoyle-like creature, with gray skin, short horns on her head, yellow eyes and large, bat-like wings. In this towering form, Olson is superior in combat to most supernatural beings.
In her human form, Olson can draw the lifeforce from subjects, pulling it up and out of their mouth. She uses this energy to enhance her strength and tap into her vampiric powers. Without lifeforce, she remains human, of average strength, but can transform into her Gargoyle form, no longer needing lifeforce to be superhuman. Olson has also learned how to heal with stolen lifeforce, even undoing fatal injuries that appear to have killed victims.
While Olson can turn a human into a vampire--by draining them to death, then resurrecting them--she is forbidden from doing so on penalty of being re-imprisoned.
In addition to her supernatural healing powers and combat skills, Dr. Olson is an intelligent scientist. A promising medical student before her turning, she continued her studies, pursuing her medical career behind bars, studying both parahuman inmates and her own vampiric condition. She quickly came to be considered the foremost expert on vampirism and is frequently called upon for her unique perspective in identifying and studying the supernatural.
April 14, 2015
Book of Stone: Nlai Wan
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.
Translated as the "Clay Cloud", Nlai Wan was an ancient alchemical solution created by Chinese Imperial alchemists many centuries ago. The weapon was a liquid that when heated expanded to a gaseous, cloud-like state. Upon touching living beings, the gas would absorb their lifeforce energy and convert them into clay, killing them.
The weapon was ultimately deemed too terrible to use by the Emperor and locked away in a secret vault far beneath the Forbidden City.
In 2014, the Rogue General Zou Zheng Duan stole the Nlai Wan sample and a number of other dark artifacts, intent on using them to start a World War by attacking America (SS08: Terrorcota ).
In liquid form, Nlai Wan can be delivered in multiple ways. General Zhou was preparing to use it in missiles, but also successfully used weapon-launched and thrown grenades.
Translated as the "Clay Cloud", Nlai Wan was an ancient alchemical solution created by Chinese Imperial alchemists many centuries ago. The weapon was a liquid that when heated expanded to a gaseous, cloud-like state. Upon touching living beings, the gas would absorb their lifeforce energy and convert them into clay, killing them.
The weapon was ultimately deemed too terrible to use by the Emperor and locked away in a secret vault far beneath the Forbidden City.
In 2014, the Rogue General Zou Zheng Duan stole the Nlai Wan sample and a number of other dark artifacts, intent on using them to start a World War by attacking America (SS08: Terrorcota ).
In liquid form, Nlai Wan can be delivered in multiple ways. General Zhou was preparing to use it in missiles, but also successfully used weapon-launched and thrown grenades.
April 13, 2015
Book of Stone: Murphy and Mullaney
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.
An aging, psychic detective in L.A., Richard Murphy has the ability to see the dead, but generally resists, requiring him to drink alcohol and numb himself to the encounter. He is haunted by the ghost of his former apprentice-partner, Murray Mullaney, who somewhat assists Murphy in his investigations, but more often metely aggravates the older man.
In 2014, Murphy inadvertantly witnessed a supernatural murder and was recruited by Det. 1039 in tracking down a possessed centaur (SS 09: Pale Horseman ).
Murphy declined an invitation to become petrified and join the Stone Soldiers, opting to return to LA and resume his private investigations.
Murphy drives a Kia, which he calls his "killya". Murphy is an avid chess player, competing online with opponents around the world.
Murray Mullaney possesses poltergeist like abilities and is fiercely protective of Murpy, who he claims owes him a sensational case before he is at rest--an impossibility as that now he is dead, any case resolution would be attributed to Murphy.
An aging, psychic detective in L.A., Richard Murphy has the ability to see the dead, but generally resists, requiring him to drink alcohol and numb himself to the encounter. He is haunted by the ghost of his former apprentice-partner, Murray Mullaney, who somewhat assists Murphy in his investigations, but more often metely aggravates the older man.
In 2014, Murphy inadvertantly witnessed a supernatural murder and was recruited by Det. 1039 in tracking down a possessed centaur (SS 09: Pale Horseman ).
Murphy declined an invitation to become petrified and join the Stone Soldiers, opting to return to LA and resume his private investigations.
Murphy drives a Kia, which he calls his "killya". Murphy is an avid chess player, competing online with opponents around the world.
Murray Mullaney possesses poltergeist like abilities and is fiercely protective of Murpy, who he claims owes him a sensational case before he is at rest--an impossibility as that now he is dead, any case resolution would be attributed to Murphy.
