Edit one is done...

Operation Earth. The aliens are coming!

I've passed one more milestone on my to-do list for this spring: I've gone through and returned edit one of Operation Earth (will be released in August). I'm sure edit two will be back in no time, but that one is usually much easier than the first one. =)

I have a wonderful editor. She makes my thoughts seem coherent and my writing brilliant. I am also fortunate to work with some fantastic cover artists. Hopefully, I can reveal the cover for Operation Earth in not too awfully long.

Here's an excerpt from my draft. =)


Up on the ship, Peter followed yet another line of men. He did his best not to think as he stepped into the mission room along with all the other ground commanders. They had a job to do, and it wasn't his place to question the fleet's methods. The man next to him murmured, "Same drill as last time."

"Same drill as every time."

June stood in the center of the room and lifted her arms to bid for silence.

"Global EMP has been deployed. Nuclear power plants are enclosed, and the risk for radiation flooding the surface is deemed minimal. We have some unrest, but nothing unusual."

Peter tuned out. The planet's ground forces would try to strike back, they usually did. His brain-tip informed him people here were feisty and prone to war. Great. Skirmishes would only delay the inevitable. The first days on a new planet were always intense, but gave some spice to the job.

The man next to him nudged him.

"Is it true that you and the Commander... well..."

"It was a long time ago."

"What happened? Did she ditch you?"

Strange how even the most informal words in the new language sounded natural.

"She wanted to go through the ceremony. I would not put my fate in her hands."

The man chuckled.

"I bet she was good in bed though."

Peter shrugged.

If you want to know, find out for yourself.

June talked about ID cards, building health centers, sorting out the nutrition and infrastructure, but he couldn't pay attention.

It's all the same, over and over again.

A man whispered, "Maybe they won't struggle."

There were worlds where re-assimilation went easy, where they were welcomed, but this would not be one of them.

"Are you kidding? Did you see the amount of junk they had floating in orbit?"

June's voice rang loud and clear.

"We're behind schedule, and everyone knows what to do. Gather your troops and move out."