Not sure if I mentioned but in my latter teenage years back in the UK I was working on a USCM novel.

I was reading the books based after the movies at the time and was really into story telling etc.
Anyway, when I stareted travelling it all fell by the wayside. And when I emigrated a lot of my computer files etc went missing. Not sure if they were thrown out or just misplaced, but they were gone.
This included all of the book I'd done so far, all the research, character profiles - everything!!!

Late last year I started writing again, mostly from memory but it wasn't the same.
The other night I was flicking through some old OLD CD/R's I'd bought with me from the UK - I found a folder 'book'
Everything was there, even stuff I'd forgotten about.

Needless to say it's going to take a while to get back into the frame of mind I was in when writing the story, but its a start.

Again I was going for USCM combat with Aliens (not vise versa like the other books and movies).
I also started this before getting into costuming or the Legacy, so this is raw untamed Tony
But let me know what you think....

"WE GOT COMPANY" shouted Dallas. "PUNCH IT".
Aaron hit the thrusters as the incoming Navaho fired.
The rocket flew past the starboard bow just as he banked left ready to return fire.
The gatling tracked and locked, but did not fire.
Aaron hit the fire controls, "jammed, SHIT" Aaron said aloud.
The Navaho tracked the target; Aaron knew what the drill was with the Navaho. He had trained in them and he knew what was happening before it even happened.
He pulled at the controls and the ship rocketed straight up out of the canyon. He cleared the rock walls and was immediately hailed with AA fire from all sides.
The rounds from the enemy vessel flew past his cockpit like sparks from a bonfire. He knew his back end was full of holes but nothing was ruptured, he'd survive - these ships could take a lot of shit and still fly forever.
Aaron fought with the controls, swinging from left to right to avoid the enemy fire and the strong cross winds which seemed to have come from nowhere - he swooped down left. The Navaho followed; Aaron banked, swung to port, locked a TSAM and fired. "Adios". The trail of smoke from the starboard pylon streamed across the black sky and struck the enemy port engine. Aaron could see the enemy missile fire from the pylon and the sight of it being caught in the blast before it left the chamber, 'close one.'
The left side of the Navaho exploded and it fell to the left towards the rocky walls. The craggy rocks collided with the port pylon and the ship was pivoted into the rocks and fell apart like a cardboard model before detonating and falling deep into the canyon.

"Objective complete" came the lieutenant's voice over the com. "'Ordinates 34 - 73480, we're gonna' need immediate evac. Air one confirm?"
The message was weak but Aaron got the message. "359 - Understood, ETA 3 minutes - stand by."
Aaron raised the outer rock face and nose-dived into the canyon being careful to avoid the AA fire. The APC was standing by for retrieval partially hidden in the canyon wall. The camera homed in and Aaron could see half of one side partially melted and dented beyond belief, but she was intact.
Two tanks became fireballs as the surrounding threats were cleared by the computer before landing. The Cheyenne thumped to the ground more than Aaron would have liked, but it couldn't be helped, a fellow dropship flew overhead and dusted off less than 100 metres to his right. Their APC was abandoned and the remaining troops ran for the safety of their dropship.
Aaron felt the rumble in his feet as the APC ascended the ramp as the locks engaged and the hydraulics whined the ramp closed.
"Locks engaged, lets go" came a voice.
The heavy ship whined and lifted clear of the ground just as a line of smoke slammed into the still grounded dropship exploding into a ball of fire. The gatling tracked the target, but it was too late. The blast hit Aaron before he had a chance to react. The ship slewed to the left as, it was quickly corrected but damage to the port side was significant.
"And were out of here" Aaron yelled to Dallas who had gone very quiet in the seat opposite.
The ship lurched forward as the AA guns detonated literally millimeters from the rear of the craft.
The canyon walls cleared and the battle plain spread out on all sides. The burning debris littered the ground like a refuse site. The remaining dropships were like birds in the sky preying on the insects below, very few were left.
"Ram jet set - ready" said Dallas.
"Three, two one…"
The rear section of the ship exploded as the TSAM missile struck the tail fin.
The ship swung to the left as the starboard engine died and the ship plummeted to the ground.
"Oh SHIT, we got problems. All personnel, prep for evac - hold on!"
Aaron wrestled the controls to try and level the vessel to the ground intact with one operational engine.
The veins in Aaron's neck stood out like an Iguana as he groaned and strained the ship towards the ground with all his strength.
The crosswinds pushed Aaron closer to the rocks, but he fought. The port pylon, stuck only half closed from the blast broke against the rocks and spiraled backward denting the heavy armour.
The ship swung from left to right only centimeters from the ground.
"EMERGANCY BREAKAWAY" shouted Dallas.
The hydraulics whined and the ramp fell to the ground below.
The APC bounced to the ground and nearly toppled over but rocked back and crashed to the ground.
Aaron strained at the helm and managed to ascend a few feet while moving forward into the air before the port engine died and the ship fell.

"EVAC NOW" shouted Aaron to Dallas. He nodded, gave him the thumbs up and 'the smile.' The smile gave Aaron all the right feelings that Dallas was thinking. Thanks for being there for me when times were hard. You've been like a brother to me. . Good luck on the surface and I'll see you soon.
There was a rush of air, the upper screen disappeared and Dallas was gone. Aaron found his cord, pulled with all his might as he felt the stream of gas and the rush of air. The controls flashed before him and the black sky loomed large in his vision. He closed his eyes and prayed to whatever god there was that he came through this alive. The last thing he remembered was the grey dusty surface screaming up at him as it all went black.

If I ever get it done (Yeah right!!) I may self publish through lulu.com and send out signed copies
It's only been about 8 years so far though

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I like it so far! It needs a bit of fleshing out (up?) I'd say, or maybe you just dumped us in the middle of the action and some things would be explained more clearly with bits from before! :p But you certainly have the feel for a hairy situation reading this, and I think that's the main thing.

More!

Oh yeah, this is just the meat, the bone is A LOT longer.
That didn't sound too good, but you get the idea

Thanks

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How much d'you have so far?

About 8-9 chapters, but they aren't really in order if I recall.
5 at the start, 2 in the middle and one towards the end.

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here's a snippet of the novel i wrote a couple of years ago, its not finished by a long shot and i keep going back to it, may add it to my website at a later date..hope you like it

Slowly the marine edged forward, his flattened shape sliding effortlessly through the undergrowth, his eyes alert, his mind focused. The rain lashed his face and the night wind was cutting but such was his deliberation that he noticed neither. In front of him some fifty yards ahead the abomination crouched. The ebony silhouette had stopped as if frozen in time, the marine followed suit, his breath almost apnoeic, his form innate, he watched silently. Seconds passed, neither stirred. He could see clearly the Aliens skin glistening as the rain mixed saliva fell from it’s torso, The form that was earlier over seven feet tall now condensed stealthily into the vista. Slowly, so very slowly it scanned from left to right almost tasting the air around, it’s Jowls opening to reveal razor edged teeth perspiring with saliva. The counter on the side of his Pulse rifle displayed fifteen; no way could he reload now and stay concealed, he prayed that his aim would be true. The marine repositioned the weapon to his eye and lined the black shape up in its sites, exhaling, without a sound he turned the safety off, squeezed the trigger and the Pulse rifle erupted into song.

Not sure if it's a good thing (the more the merrier) or not (hey, he's hijacked my thread!), but I once wrote a tale based on a force very much like the Colonial Marines. Back in the early 90s, I even did a few illustrations for it but couldn't do the full-on comic strip thing. Nothing to do with Aliens, but the same military-against-enemy idea.
So long ago that I'm not sure if I can find it anymore. Maybe I'll post a link if there's any interest with the other stories.
No Aliens, but lots of other stuff.

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Quote by Mark Twain goes here.

hey forgot to say in ny last post Love the novel and would like to read more

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Life is pleasent, death is peaceful but it is the transition which disturbs