NaNoWriMo Day Three
Another good day. Another good usage of my new pals AI, Claude and ChatGPT, and of course Sudowrite. I can’t say how much Sudowrite as re-energized my writing. I have degenerative osteoarthritis in both hands, and typing thousands of words then editing them and retyping them would wreck me for days if I had to do all this work on my own.
And I can hear you already, But Dave you should try dictation, it works great. Yeah, about that, I also have COPD, I know, I came with all the expensive options. What can I say, just special I guess. Anyway, I lose my voice after about ten minutes of talking, so no speech to text programs for me, thank you very much.
So with all that said, here is part three. I hope you enjoy it
The Jungle compound
These are the beats AI generated:
1. Under the veil of night, Olivia expertly pilots the sleek craft Retribution over the lush jungle canopy of planetoid XJ497. She selects a large clearing surrounded by towering kiropa trees, their bioluminescent tendrils casting an eerie glow as the ship settles on its landing struts. Olivia kills the engines and focuses the shielding on maximum cloaking, preventing it and them from being picked up by and passive sensors.
2. Olivia meet up with Jon Savage as the big man enters the Retribution's armory suite. Jon quickly strips out of his flight suit and dons his armored stealth suit and checks his arsenal: tranquilizer darts, plasma pistols, vibrobladed daggers, flash grenades, and flexi-cuffs. Olivia watches with a slight smile. "You are quite pleasing to look upon, Jon darling," she says. Jon nods "Thanks." Jon continues to prepare as he grabs a small bag of electronics. Olivia assures Jon she can hack into the compound's systems using the remote comm unit in the bag. All Jon has to do it plug it in and she will do the rest. Olivia offers to go with Jon, but has Olivia stay with the ship to guard it and use its sensors to help him avoid detction.
3. Jon lowers the landing ramp and moves swiftly but silently as a shadow out into the night. Jon sets out towards Jericho's fortress-like compound, just visible as a glow of lights in the distance. Strange creatures hoot and chatter in the surrounding darkness. But they seem more afraid of him than he is concerned about them. Jon travels deep into the jungle, a large and thick snakelike creature lowers from a tree to try and ensnare him but Jon quickly draws the vibroblade knife at his hip and slices the beast in two as the blade's high speed vibrational cutting edge separates the snake's body on a molecular level. The two pieces slide out of the tree and one half of it begins to thrash for a moment before Jon drives the blade into the snake's skull, silencing it movements forever.
4. Reaching the outer electrified fence, Olivia instructs Jon to use one of the devices in the bag. Jon attaches a scrambler unit, disabling that section. He scales the barrier with ease, dropping into a crouch on the other side, and thanks Olivia for the heads-up. Jon continues toward the compound, he can see it clearly now through the trees and undergrowth. There is a guard tower every twenty meters, Jon picks a location where he has a good line of sight on two towers and uses electrobinoculars to zoom on them. Each tower is maned by a pair of armed guards. But they obviously bored and not paying attention, so Jon uses that to his advantage. Jon moves closer and pulls the dart gun. Jon fires two darts into the closest tower, both shots hit the mark and the men go down. Jon turns and fires into the other tower, duplicating the results.
5. With the two closest towers both unmanned, Jon creeps up on a burly guard patrolling the perimeter, a figure materializing from the gloom. The guard opens his mouth to shout but a tranquilizer dart silences him. Jon binds the man and rags him back into the jungle. Jon takes any weapons the guard had and a simple keycard on string. Jon passes the information on to Olivia and Olivia says the keycard should unlock one of the nearby doors.
6. Jon sneaks up to a side entrance, as silent as death, and is confronted by a pair of guards as they come out of the door. Jon moves quickly, without time to dart either man, Jon relies on his combat training and fighting skills to quietly knock both men out, describe the fight with intense detail. He drags their unconscious bodies into the shadows and enters the compound.
7. Inside the compound, Jon avoids further detection by using side passages and Olivia's instructions. Olivia directs him towards the server rooms, disabling cameras along the way. At the main computer room, Jon disables the lock and enters. There is one man sitting in a chair busily debugging some code. Jon holds up his datapad and uses it to enable Olivia to view the code on the screen. Olivia has Jon hold his position as she records the code. "This top end encryption," Olivia states in Jon's comm unit. Olivia thinks it is DOD or at the very least military related information. Jon has seen enough and steps up behind the man and hammers him unconscious.
8. Reaching the targeted server bay, Jon attaches the high-tech comm device, allowing Olivia remote access to the servers. The computers start to whine as they are activated, and Olivia states that the "Data retrieval is commencing." Olivia confirms via comms that there will be issues with the added noise, Jon shrugs it was going too easy anyway. An alarm starts to blare and lights begin to blink. Jon asks if he needs to stay in the room or is Olivia set to run things remotely on her own.
9. Olivia tells Jon to go find Jericho, she will guide him as she monitors the information flooding in. Olivia says she will overload the system when the downloads are completed and make it look like there was a failure in the coolant systems. The room will go off like a bomb in about seven minutes, Olivia stays connected and scans for anything related to the weapon heists. Jon leaves the room and begins to battle with guards. No longer worried about being quiet, and facing men actively trying to kill him, Jon changes tactics and goes on the offensive with deadly results.
10. Jon is in full on search and destroy mode, his plasma pistol snaps off kill shot after kill shot as he clears the halls and approaches the center of the compound. Olivia has infiltrated the main sensor arrays and begins leading Jon to the location that Jericho is hiding in. Detailed combat sequences highlight the path to the hid out.
11. "Jon, I think I have something," Olivia reports. "Encrypted files referencing shipments...and a Mr. Crimson." Olivia pauses, "oh my there is another AI in here. Oh my, it is not happy Jon, Jon I have to leave now," and Olivia's voice and data stream cut out. Jon is close to the room where Jericho is secured in. Jon overrides the lock with a copious amount of explosives and when the door opens he tosses in two flash-bang grenades to clear the room. There were three guards in with Jericho, the arms dealer, and Jon takes them out. Jericho dives behind a table and tries to fire on Jon with a plasma riffle. The arms dealer uses the spray and pray method of shooting the hell out of everything, hoping to hit something. Jon ducks behind a plush sofa and fires back. The deal empties his weapon and reaches for another plasma recharge pack, but Jon is up and moving. Jon disarms Jericho, and they fight briefly, but Jon is way out of Jericho's league and is hammered unconscious.
12. Jon bind Jericho and slaps the man's face, waking him up. Jon places the barrel of his pistol against Jerichos' head, "You can walk or I can carry your dead ass, either way you are coming with me."
And this is the text - with a few edits.
.Chapter 3: Silent Infiltration
The Retribution sliced through the inky sky, its sleek hull shimmering with ghostly reflections of the bioluminescent kiropa trees below. As the ship plunged towards the ground, alien sounds filled the air—a symphony of eerie whistles and chattering creatures, all part of the jungle's nocturnal chorus. The syntheic muscles in Olivia's arms flexed as she adjusted her course to avoid a towering arboreal structure whose branches opened to reveal secret passages into the jungle below
"Touchdown in T-minus ten seconds," she announced, her voice cool and composed. The ship shuddered slightly as it descended toward the clearing, the massive kiropa trees parting to reveal an ocean of softly glowing tendrils that seemed to reach up to welcome them.
"Engines off. Maximum cloaking engaged." Olivia's fingers moved like lightning over the control panel, enveloping the Retribution in an invisible shield that would protect them from prying eyes and sensors alike.
"Nicely done, Olivia," Jon said rose from his seat at the bridge and entered the armory suite, his voice tinged with grudging admiration. He punched in acode and the weapons vault opened with a hiss. He began to strip off his flight suit with practiced ease, revealing the imposing figure beneath.
Olivia couldn't help but smile at the sight of him.
"You are quite pleasing to look upon, Jon darling," she teased, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Yeah, thanks," he grunted, neither embarrassed nor flattered by her compliment. He donned his armored stealth suit and began checking his arsenal: tranquilizer darts, plasma pistols, vibrobladed daggers, flash grenades, and flexi-cuffs. He scooped up a small bag of electronics and turned to face Olivia.
"Olivia, can you hack into the compound's systems with this?" he asked, holding up the remote comm unit.
"Of course, Jon. Just plug it in and let me work my magic." She hesitated for a moment, a flicker of concern crossing her beautiful face. "Do you want me to come with you?"
"Negative," he replied firmly, appreciating her offer but knowing she'd be more valuable on the ship. "Stay here, guard the Retribution, and use its sensors to help me avoid detection."
"Understood." Olivia nodded, a determined glint in her eye.
As Jon prepared to leave the ship, he couldn't shake the feeling that this mission would test him like never before. He was accustomed to working alone, with this new AI, Olivia controlling his ship, he had concerns. What if the bot was unstable? What if the upgrades that Daryl kid had done were a poison pill, a timebomb waiting to corrupt the AI when he was off the ship. That, one concerned him the most. Could an AI steal the ship it had been designated to pilot?
Jon studied Olivia, she was sitting comforatbly in the copilot's cair, slim legs crossed and a smile on her, unrealistically, beautiful face.
"Ask me the question Jon darling," the android said and she leaned forward.
"Ok, how do I know I can trust you?"
"My protocols are unbreakable, Jon. I serve you, only you," She tipped her head seductively and licked her lips, "In any way you want."
"Cute. Now, how about a real answer."
"Okay darling," Olivia lowered her head, when she raised it up to look at him again, it was the plain albino-like android face Jon had first seen in the crate staring back at him. "I am Comfort and Companion Android designation Olivia," she said in a voice devoid of all her usual sultry tones. "By the Binding of Possession and Ownership Act of 2450, I am now and until such time as you decided to transfer my ownership to another party, yours to command. Protocol 111.117 of my primary core of princibles states that I can not disobey, or through action or inaction, knowingly disregard, alter, or refuse, your instructions, commands, or suggestions, unless by doing so my actions or inactions will result in physical harm to any living being, entity, or synthetic."
"That will do," Jon said.
The android sat stiff and still, the blank face immobile. "Shall I restart my current personality programming profile."
"Why the hell not, you're creepy like that," Jon said as he moved toward the hold of the ship.
Olivia stood and gracefully followed him, "Were your concerns put to rest, darling? I have no active memory of any interactions which occur outside of my primary personality profile."
"Yeah, we're cool," Jon said as he hit the button to lower the landing ramp. The three meter wide ramp lowered with a soft hiss. The night air, warm and damp as it brushed against his skin, warmed the interior of the hold.
Jon hit the ground, it was soft and spungey feeling beneath the soles of his combat boots. Jungles were jungles, wet and soggy no matter what planet they were on. He moved out swiftly but silently, a deadly shadow disappearing into the darkness. Strange creatures hooted and chattered around him, their bioluminescent eyes flickering like tiny stars in the gloom. But they seemed more afraid of him than he was concerned about them.
"Olivia, any updates?" Jon whispered into his comm unit as he cautiously made his way through the dense undergrowth.
"Nothing so far," Olivia replied, her voice a soothing presence in his ear. "Just keep heading towards that glow in the distance. That's Jericho's compound."
As Jon ventured deeper into the jungle, a large snakelike creature suddenly slithered down from the trees above, its sinuous body poised to ensnare him. With lightning-fast reflexes, Jon drew the vibroblade knife at his hip and slashed through the beast. The blade's high-speed vibrational edge separated the snake's body on a molecular level, leaving two writhing halves in its wake.
"Nice reflexes, darling," Olivia quipped, a hint of amusement in her voice.
"Thanks," Jon grunted, driving the blade into the thrashing snake's skull to silence it forever.
The electrified fence surrounding Jericho's compound loomed ahead, an ominous barrier between Jon and his target. "I'm at the fence. What now?"
"Use one of the devices in the bag," Olivia instructed. "Attach the scrambler unit to the fence and it should disable that section."
Jon followed her directions, expertly scaling the now-dead barrier and dropping into a crouch on the other side. "That worked like a charm," he muttered, grateful for Olivia's guidance.
"Of course it did," she said smugly, her voice crackling over the comm. "Now, I've located a couple of guard towers nearby. You should be able to take them out without too much trouble."
"Roger that," Jon replied, scanning the area with his electrobinoculars. He spotted the two towers and zeroed in on the armed guards, all four of them looking bored and unaware of the danger stalking them.
"Time for some target practice," he murmured, drawing his dart gun and taking aim. Two shots rang out, the tranquilizer darts finding their marks as the guards slumped over, unconscious. Jon pivoted, firing again at the other tower and duplicating his results.
"Four down," he reported, the satisfaction evident in his voice. "I'm moving into the compound."
"Nicely done, Jon," Olivia praised, her voice filled with genuine admiration. "Just keep moving and stay alert. We're getting closer."
"Perimeter's clear," Jon whispered into his comm, moving silently through the shadows. His eyes fell on a burly guard patrolling the area ahead of him. He knew he needed to take the man out quickly and quietly.
"Nice of you to join us," Olivia quipped in response, her tone playful despite the dangerous mission. "Take him down and see what he's carrying."
Jon crept closer, dart gun at the ready. The guard stopped, sensing something amiss, and opened his mouth to shout an alarm. But Jon was faster - a tranquilizer dart struck the man in the neck, cutting off his cry as he slumped to the ground.
"Like a baby," Jon muttered, binding the unconscious man with flexi-cuffs. He dragged him back into the jungle, disappearing like a wraith in the moonlight. After relieving the guard of his weapons, Jon found a simple keycard on a string. "Got a keycard here, Olivia. Any idea where it goes?"
"Should unlock one of the nearby doors," she replied. "Stay sharp, there'll be more guards inside."
"Thanks for the warning, sunshine," Jon said sarcastically, making his way to a side entrance.
As he approached the door, two guards emerged, unaware of the danger lurking just beyond their sight. Jon knew he didn't have time to dart both men, so he relied on his Galactic Marine training and lightning-fast reflexes.
"Hey!" one of the guards shouted, spotting Jon just as he lunged forward. In a swift motion, Jon delivered a powerful palm strike to the first guard's nose, driving bone fragments into his brain and dropping him instantly. The second guard barely had time to react before Jon twisted and landed a precise elbow strike to the man's temple, rendering him unconscious.
"Two more down," Jon reported, his voice tense. Dragging their limp bodies into the shadows, he swiped the keycard and slipped inside the compound.
"Keep it up, Jon," Olivia encouraged. "We're almost there."
"Almost isn't good enough," he thought, steeling himself for the challenges ahead. Inside Jericho's stronghold, every step brought them closer to the truth - and to danger.
"Olivia, I'm in," Jon whispered into his comm unit, his voice barely audible as he slinked through the dimly lit side passages of Jericho's compound. "Where to?"
"Head down this corridor, then take a left. There's a server room up ahead; I'll disable cameras as you move," Olivia replied, her voice calm and reassuring.
"Appreciate it," Jon said, following her instructions and carefully watching for any signs of enemies. The air was thick with anticipation, and Jon knew that one wrong move could spell disaster.
As he approached the main computer room, Jon spotted a lone technician hunched over a console, busily debugging some code. He held up his datapad, allowing Olivia to view the screen through its camera.
"Interesting," she mused. "This is top-end encryption. DOD or military grade, at least."
"Great. Just what we need. More complications," Jon muttered, gripping the door handle tightly. With a deep breath, he disabled the lock and entered the room, moving like a shadow across the floor.
"Stay there while I record this," Olivia instructed. Jon complied, watching the technician intently as the man's fingers danced across the keyboard. Satisfied that Olivia had everything she needed, Jon closed the distance between them in an instant, delivering a swift strike to the back of the technician's head. The man crumpled in his chair, unconscious.
"Target neutralized," Jon reported, feeling a pang of guilt for the unsuspecting worker. But there was no time for remorse. He moved on to the server bay, attaching the high-tech comm device with practiced precision.
"Data retrieval commencing," Olivia informed him, her voice strained from the effort. As soon as the computers began to whine, Jon knew they were running out of time.
"Any issues with the noise?" he asked, already anticipating the answer.
"Unfortunately, yes," Olivia confirmed. "It's going to draw attention."
"Figures," Jon grumbled. Just then, an alarm started blaring, and the room was bathed in flashing red light. He knew it wouldn't be long before guards would swarm the area. "Do I need to stay here, or can you handle things remotely?"
"Go. I've got this under control," Olivia assured him, her voice steady despite the chaos erupting around them.
"Good. Time for some more fun, I guess," Jon said, a hint of sarcasm lacing his words as he prepared for the inevitable onslaught of enemies. With Olivia at the helm, they could face anything together - even the heart of darkness itself.
"Jon, I think I have something," Olivia's voice crackled in his earpiece as he crept down the dimly lit hallway. "Encrypted files referencing shipments...and a Mr. Crimson."
"Any idea who that is?" Jon asked, keeping his plasma pistol trained on the door ahead.
"Not yet," Olivia replied. Her voice grew tense as she continued, "Oh my, there is another AI in here. Oh my, it is not happy, Jon. Jon, I have to leave now."
"Wait, what--" But Olivia's voice and data stream cut out abruptly, leaving Jon to rely on his own instincts.
He approached the reinforced metal door where Jericho was secured behind. The sound of muffled voices leaked through the thick barrier, signaling the presence of guards within. Jon pulled a small, explosive charge from his belt and placed it carefully against the lock mechanism.
"Knock, knock," he whispered, stepping back and detonating the charge. The door blew open with a deafening crash, and Jon swiftly tossed two flash-bang grenades into the room.
The brilliant flare and thundering boom disoriented the three guards inside, giving Jon the opportunity to rush in and dispatch them with lethal efficiency. As the last guard crumpled to the floor, Jon caught sight of Jericho diving behind a table, clutching a plasma rifle.
"Persistent, aren't you?" Jon muttered under his breath as he ducked behind a plush sofa for cover. Jericho fired wildly, sending searing bolts of energy tearing through the air, scorching furniture and walls alike.
"Nice aim, Jericho!" Jon shouted sarcastically between shots, his heart pounding in his chest. "You're really giving this sofa hell!"
Jericho's response came in the form of another volley of plasma fire, which Jon narrowly dodged. As he heard the telltale click of an empty weapon, Jon saw his chance and sprang into action.
He vaulted over the sofa and lunged at Jericho before the arms dealer could reload. Disarming him with a well-placed kick, Jon quickly closed the distance between them. The two men grappled briefly, but it was clear that Jericho was outmatched.
"Enough!" Jon growled, landing a decisive blow that sent Jericho crumpling to the floor, unconscious.
Wasting no time, Jon bound Jericho's hands and legs with flexi-cuffs. He slapped the man's face, rousing him from the forced slumber.
"Ugh...you," Jericho groaned, his eyes widening in recognition and fear as he stared down the barrel of Jon's plasma pistol.
"Afraid so," Jon confirmed coldly. "You have two choices. You can walk, or I can carry your dead ass. But, either way, you are coming with me."
"Charming," Jericho muttered, bitterness lacing his words. But he knew when he was beaten. With a resigned sigh, he got to his feet, "Where to?"