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The Ticket Out

A science fiction story by Roger Bourke White Jr., copyright April 2005

Intro Chapter 01 . 02 . 03 . 04 . 05 . 06 . 07 . 08 . 09 . 10 . 11 . 12 . 13 . 14 . 15 . 16 . 17 . 18 . 19 . 20 . 21 . 22 . 23 . 24 . 25 . 26 . 27

Introduction:

Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlien was the first science fiction story I ever read, way back in 7th grade or so (1960). That book was the first inspiring book I read myself, and started me on a years-long devotion to reading science fiction.

In 1990 I reread Starship Troopers, and it wasn't the same story. My impression the second time was of a Sands of Iwo Jima in Space. Either way, the heart of the story was power armor, how to use it, and how it's presence affected people's thoughts.

In 1999 I saw the Starship Troopers movie, and saw that the director had missed the point of the story entirely by taking out the power armor. Without power armor, the soldiers were transformed into World War One "over the top" infantry who would be discouraged from asking "Why?", and because of that, they lost any reason to be "responsible for the community" in the sense that Heinlien was emphasizing in his book version of the story.

These changes in what I read, and misinterpretations in what I saw depicted in the movie, inspired me to write my own version of the power armor story...

The Cast

Space Invaders

The Mercenaries (and their suits): Frank (Mary Mayking), Chin (Se-jong), Al (Jessie), Gunter (Panther), Johanne (Stuka)

Azzeed O' Malley -- arms dealer

General Nolentov -- invader

On the ground

Sean "Flyboy" Bourke Rufus -- wing commander and liason

Simon Algers -- governor of medium-size province

Condordia -- biggest country

Gontal -- mainstream religion

Danago -- xenophobic religious sect in Gontal

Jackov Marlet -- head of Danago

Gorge Haslet -- second in command of Danago

Markov Smalet -- business backer of Danago

Gonjiha -- diety

Ka-sharma -- ritual

 

Intro Chapter 01 . 02 . 03 . 04 . 05 . 06 . 07 . 08 . 09 . 10 . 11 . 12 . 13 . 14 . 15 . 16 . 17 . 18 . 19 . 20 . 21 . 22 . 23 . 24 . 25 . 26 . 27