Vanessa Ravencroft: Blog

A Word about McElligott

Two recent comments compelled me to expand a little on McElligott, the character. Please keep in mind that Roy's story is chronologically before Eric Olafson's story and while I have greatly expanded on my original story, the core remains the same. At its very center, like a red thread throughout all my stories is the fall of the Old Dark One and his resurrection as the 'New Dark One'.

All stories occur in the "same Universe" and all stories are supposed to be puzzle pieces in a larger whole picture.

The Prophecy of a previous universe, the upper and lower realms, the Arth, and the rise of the Nnnth to become the Narth. The Brothers of Sateer and the First Empire and the Cosmic Elders...all are parts of this, my Space-Opera. While the stories of some of my heroes are self-contained, their actions and reactions and their legacies might be important to the whole puzzle.

Eric's saga is at one end, and Xeno Activities at the other, but Eric's story is not complete as per se. There are many questions and conditions that have their answers in previous stories.

So are the 200 Immortals of which Stahl and McElligott are part off. But who was the Guardian? Why did he come to Earth? Why are there so many humanoid and human species in the M-0 Galaxy? Did the Guardian select and elect Rex Schwartz or Hector Vargas? Who or what selected Cherubim and what is her real task?

These questions are all answered in my "Blueprint" and now I am using an imaginary chisel to carve that blueprint into detailed pieces and stories.

The Guardian selected among other people, an old British Officer. A former Submariner and an Admiral. Unlike Stahl, who was indeed just a United States Marine Lieutenant (that is not exactly a very advanced high rank by all measures of things), McElligott was an Admiral and an "old man" before the Guardian picked him, for the specific task to be the Administrator to build the United Earth Fleet.

Imagine for a moment, an old British officer that went through the rigorous training of HMS Raleigh, went to fine War Academies and has risen to become an Admiral is confronted with a "simple" United States Marine Lieutenant and an alien entity no one really understood at that time made them "equals".

That caused a certain amount of frustration and anger from the very start.

While over the centuries the two men have come to a working understanding there has not been a real friendship.

Things are not helped when the daring-do gung-ho marine hogs much of the limelight. It is a very real thing by the way. Everyone is able to name sports, pop and movie stars, but most are hard-pressed to name three scientists. History books remember war heroes (and villains) but hardly record or recall the ones that built the tanks, ships, armies, and navies those heroes used to gain that fame.

McElligott is not stupid, quite the contrary. He grew up in a world where East and West fought a Cold war with spies and espionage. Where the dirtiest tricks were used by both sides to gain the upper hand. This is what he was thought in his Academy and this was part of his training as a Submarine commandant.

That means he relies much more on intelligence and clandestine tools than Stahl does. This does not mean that he has not the best of the Union's interests at heart, but unlike Stahl who sees everything in Black and White. McElligott sees many shades of Gray (Hence the "Gray" Ghosts, they too see more than one shade).

So, with all this said, McElligott is no angel and has more than one very established character trait, but he is not a "mindless villain" for the sake of it. Yes, he thinks of Stahl as a Buffon and an upstart... and he secretly envies the man. All of which culminates in the "Hearing" btw.

I wanted to shine a little light on McElligott, as this method of Chapter by chapter telling of a story, is not the same as telling it Novel by Novel and in this context, some of his motivation is quite explainable and natural. However, some of it might not be entirely his own and that is a mystery and plot that will be revealed eventually.

Ad Astra

Vanessa Ravencroft

Dear Friends and Readers,

A Word about Roy Masters and the Adventures of a Greenie

As you know I first started with "Adventures of a Greenie" and then continued it with Galaxy at War. Due to the format or the way I told the story (with flashbacks) it was, let's say a mixed success.

After a Poll and asking your opinion I switched to linear storytelling, splitting the story into two parts:

Adventures of a Greenie, Off Planet
followed by

Adventures of a Greenie, Galaxy at War

Well, that was the plan. But by splitting the story. "I gained much space" and Roy decided to tell me much more than just a filler story so I can continue with Galaxy at War.

New Characters appeared: Geha and Sister for example. Both weren't planned to be more than "sideline characters" to advance the narrative, but as these things go with me, my characters take on a life of their own. Just like that certain worm character that really came out of nowhere and basically stole the thunder of the Dark One himself.

So very recently I completed that second volume of Roy's story and instead of advancing to GAW ...a new volume sneaked in.

Sister threatened to bite my face off if I didn't go into more detail about 'the Forbidden Experiment'. Geha also wanted to say some things while Tanya and her father would have been quite happy with me NOT listening in on their schemes.

A major reason for this new Volume, of course, is Roy who wanted to tell you guys that there is a difference between Union Navy and Union Marines.

So I hope you bear with me for an additional unplanned volume of Roy before I conclude Roy's tale in Galaxy at War.

Ad Astra,

Vanessa

Dear Friends,

thank you for all your kind words and messages regarding the conclusion of: "Adventures of a Greenie, Off Planet".
I already started writing and posting the next installment of Roy's story: "Adventures of a Greenie, Green Marine."
But it will be on Patereon first, I hope you all understand. As they pay for the privilege to read it first.
You can, of course, join my Patrons on Patreon for as little as a dollar a month.
And as always if you liked what you have read, and if you want you can (totally optional as I appreciate all my readers very much) go to my GoFundme page and leave a little donation.

Thank you,

Vanessa

For anyone interested there is a map of the Galactic Chronicles Milky Way to be found here
It is on my Patreon site, but open to all.

I am Vanessa Ravencroft and I am the author of the Galactic Chronicles series. Due to recent health problems. I lost the money and funds to pay and hire a professional editor.

I do have a very dedicated, still small reader and fan community.

I am encouraged by their comments to seek professional publishing.

They say there is a 60% chance to get a second Heart attack within a month of the first one. Well, I am not one of the 40 percent I had a second one.

I received a bypass surgery (no more bikinis for me).

If you can or want you can assist with the massive medical bills

https://www.gofundme.com/f/galactic-chronicles-needs-editing