Death of a President - Civil War Chapter Eleven

    The Operations room was a hive of activity as they tried to contact Starfleet One. They were having no luck.
    “It’s no use Captain.” said Ivanova. “I can’t get through! All the channels are being jammed!”
    “What about the Gold channels?” said Sheridan.
    “No luck there either.”
    Sheridan thought quickly. He had to do something.
    “Do we still have the I.S.N. feed?” he asked.
    “Yes.” replied Ivanova. “But what use will that do?”
    “Put it on the screen.”
    The image of the newscaster appeared on the screen.
    “And we are still awaiting the start of the President’s speech from Io. There has been no indication as to the reason for the delay.”
    The image changed to an outside shot of Starfleet One nearing the moon of Io. The newscaster continued to speak as these pictures were relayed all over the Federation. Then there was a feeling of shock and a feeling of horror as millions of people watched as Starfleet One exploded. I.S.N. quickly cut back to the newscaster.
    “There appears to have been an accident aboard Starfleet One.” she said, holding her ear-piece. “I’m being told that hospital ships are being despatched from the Jupiter station…..but there are reports of no survivors. We will….”
    “Shut it off.” Sheridan ordered. “Shut it off!”
    “I don’t understand!” said Ivanova, a tear in her eye. “How can he be dead?”

Death of a President - Civil War Chapter Ten

    The search for Deveraux had proved fruitless. He could be found nowhere aboard the station. So Garibaldi decided to try another lead. He stood on the cargo bay searching through some packing crates when Burton entered.
    “You wanted to see me Chief?”
    “Yeah, any word about our missing person?”
    “We can’t find him anywhere. It’s like he just vanished!”
    Burton looked down at Garibaldi as he searched through the crates.
    “What are you doing Chief?”
    “This cargo belongs to Deveraux. It was meant to go out on a freighter yesterday but it had engine trouble. I was hoping I’d be able to get some lead from here. They say you can always tell what a man is like by his luggage.”
    Garibaldi continued to search through the crates, taking out several small packages.
    “What does the manifest say these things are?”
    Burton looked down at the records.
    “Medical supplies.” he replied.
    Garibaldi took one of the small packages and opened it. He took out a small box covered in something that looked like clear plastic. Inside circuits could be seen.
    “Medical supplies huh?” he said, examining the object. “Looks like some sort of jamming device.”
    He began to take a closer look at the object.
    “There’s some numbers on the side here. I can just make them out. One-oh-one-oh-one-oh-five. That’s the gold channel for Starfleet One. Who would want to jam their transmissions?”
    Meanwhile, Burton opened another of the packages. This one was slightly larger than the one Garibaldi had opened. Opening the box he took out a circular device which seemed to have some sort of aerial in it.
    “What’s this?” he said.
    “Looks like some sort of triangulation system.”
    “There’s some numbers on the side here. Can’t make them out though.”
    Garibaldi took the device and examined it.
    “It’s set to detonate from a distance. These numbers are the coordinates.”
    He began to look more closely.
    “Oh-oh-one-five-nine. That would put it just off the jump-point near Io.”
    His mind began to work overtime. Then it suddenly hit him like a ton of bricks.
    “Oh my god! It can’t be!”
    He quickly activated his communicator.
    “Garibaldi to Sheridan! We’ve got a problem!”
    “What is it Chief?”
    “Not over the line Captain. Meet me in my quarters, ultraviolet priority!”
    “Understood. Sheridan out.”
    Garibaldi then turned to Burton.
    “Stay here. Keep an eye on this cargo!”
    He then raced off into the distance. Once he was out of sight Burton activated his communicator.
    “This is Burton. He has found out.”
    Garibaldi had only gone down two corridors before someone stopped him - Deveraux.
    “I tried to warn you Mister Garibaldi.” he said. “You don’t know what you’re getting into. You’re in too deep!”
    Suddenly Deveraux’s men appeared behind him. Each were carrying phasers. Garibaldi went for his phaser but it was too late. Suddenly a blast ripped into him - from behind. There was nothing he could do. He slumped to the ground and rolled over to his back. It was then he saw the man who had shot him. It was Burton. The next thing he felt was dizziness. He looked down at the gaping wound caused by the phaser blast. He then lost consciousness.

Death of a President - Civil War Chapter Nine

    Garibaldi walked into one of the many restaurants on the station looking for the man named Devereux. He soon found him. The man in question was sitting at a table eating a meal with two of his companions. When Garibaldi walked over to the table they put down their napkins.
    “Which one if you is Deveraux?”
    The bearded man responded.
    “I am. So what is it to you?”
    “I’m investigating the murder of Stephen Petrov, a lurker from Down Below. During my investigations your name has come up. I’d like to talk to you in Security.”
    “That will not be necessary. I have not killed anyone.”
    “I didn’t say you did, and if that’s the case you wouldn’t mind coming down to Security then, would you?”
    Deveraux put down his napkin, and he and his two friends were escorted to Security.

Death of a President - Civil War Chapter Eight

    Ambassador Mollari sat in his quarters rather an unhappy man. At a nearby table his attaché, Vir, sat looking at a computer terminal screen, doing what he does most of the time - eating. Even though he seemed intent in his work he still found time to speak to his master.
    “Tell me, Vir.” said Mollari. “How may Centauri gods are there now? Ever since the last emperor was elevated to god-hood I’ve lost count!”
    “Err…forty-seven…no, forty-eight…wait…forty-nine, but there are some I don’t count as gods!”
    “How many, Vir?”
    “Fifty, give or take a few!”
    “And how many of them do you think I have offended to warrant G’Kar’s teeth so close to my throat?”
    Vir raised his finger as if he were counting. He then gave his answer.
    “Err..all of them?”
    “Exactly!”
    Mollari then got to his feet and went to pour himself a drink. As he did the terminal sounded. There was an incoming communication.
    “Ambassador Mollari please.”
    “I’m afraid Ambassador Mollari isn’t taking any calls at the moment.” said Vir.
    Mollari, glass of alcohol in hand, walked over to Vir.
    “Wait! Let me see who it is!”
    Mollari pushed Vir to one side so he could get a good look at the screen. He smiled when he saw who was calling him. It was a smartly-dressed young man.
    “Ah, it is you! My friend!”
    “How are you Ambassador? I trust the Eye is alright?”
    “If not for you I would have lost it! So tell me, to what do I owe this pleasure?”
    “My sources tell me you’re having problems with the Narns over Quadrant Thirty-Seven. I can help you with that problem.”
    “Help me? How?”
    “Not over the channels. I will speak to you personally. What saw we meet in the gardens, in one hour perhaps?”
    “Certainly. One hour it is.”
    “Good. I’ll see you soon Ambassador.”
    “Oh, before you go, what is your name? I never did catch it.”
    “My name? You can call me Morgan Ambassador. Again, in one hour!”
    The screen went blank. Mollari then sat down in his comfortable chair again. He then took a sup from his drink.
    “Who was that, Ambassador?” asked Vir.
    “No one to concern you, Vir.” Mollari replied. “Take the rest of the day off!”
    Vir could not believe his ears. Mollari hadn’t given him a day off in months! Still, he knew that he should not look a gift horse in the mouth. He took his chance for the time off. He didn’t want to wait for the Ambassador to change his mind.

Death of a President - Civil War Chapter Seven

    With Starfleet One in orbit around Venus the President’s party walked through the caverns underneath the planet’s surface. To most of the party the air seemed very thin, and some of them had difficulty breathing and had to be helped by oxygen masks. Watt was not one of those people. Many times he had flown through space, the cold vacuum having no effect on him.
    Shortly afterwards the party was greeted by Federation Director Banks, who had been on Venus on a fact-finding mission. Banks was your usual politician-type person, with a public face for his voters and a private face for everyone else. Watt had seen both faces.
    “It’s good to see you again Mister President.” said Banks.
    “Likewise, Mister Banks.” You know Senators Servalan and Santiago, of course.”
    Banks shook both of them by the hand. He then showed them to the office that he had been given.
    “Your reports haven’t been too good Mister Banks.” said Watt.
    “You’re damn right they haven’t been.” Banks replied, now with his private face. “The trouble here has been getting worse during the past few weeks. They’ve heard about the recent troubles on Mars and think they can do the same thing. It’s going to get very ugly here if we don’t do something soon. Conditions here are getting worse by the minute!”
    “With all due respect Mister President.” said Servalan. “Perhaps a show of some force is required here.”
    “I don’t think so Senator.” said Watt. “There is always a peaceful solution to all problems.”
    `”That sounds like Sarek of Vulcan talking.” said Banks. “But I have to admit I have a tendency to agree with the Senator. Force may be our only option.”
    “When will your report be completed?” asked Santiago.
    “Not for another month.” replied Banks.
    “Then it may be best to wait until then.” said Santiago. “Things may get better within the next month.”
    “I agree.” said Watt. “A lot can happen in four weeks.”

Death of a President - Civil War Chapter Six

    In San Francisco Senator Servalan hurriedly walked around the quarters that had been assigned to her. She was busy packing her case as she prepared to join President Watt on his five planet goodwill tour aboard Starfleet One, a tour that would encompass the colonies on Mars and Venus as well as the station near Jupiter’s moon Io. She was annoyed when her communications console was activated. She did not want to receive any call at the moment, but then she thought the call could be from the President himself. Walking over to the table she sat herself down in front of the terminal and activated the view-screen. It was not the President calling. Instead it was a smartly-dressed young man with black hair and wearing a smart grey suit. Although this man was smiling Servalan was not happy to see him.
    “Morgan, I told you not to contact me here.”
    “Do not worry Senator. I am on a secure channel. We are not being monitored. We can both speak freely.”
    “Good. I trust no recordings are being made of this conversation.”
    “Of course.”
    “Then give your report if you must. And be quick, I’m due on Starfleet One in a few moments. Are you on Babylon 5 yet?”
    “I just arrived, and everything is as you said. Captain Sheridan is due to arrive any time now, and he’s going to gave trouble on his hands as soon as he arrives. Mollari and G’Kar are at each other’s throats over the Quadrant Thirty-Seven problem. It seems that there is no solution to this problem. Neither side can agree to anything!”
    “Then perhaps you can provide a solution, Morgan. You have the device?”
    “I’ve been able to make a few copies of the prototype. If we are needed the Narn won’t know what hit them!”
    “And Londo Mollari will seem like a hero to his government.”
    “Or a fool, depending on how you look at it.”
    “When is the council due to meet?”
    “Commander Ivanova will chair a meeting this afternoon so Captain Sheridan can settle in. With luck I will speak to Ambassador Mollari this evening about his ‘problem’.”
    Servalan smiled.
    “I wish you luck Morgan.”
    “And the same to you, Senator. Morgan out.”

The Frankenstein Factor - Civil War Chapter Five

    Frankenstein’s power draining  device was soon removed, and power levels all around the station were back to normal in under an hour. Soon afterwards Lieutenant Keffer took out a fighter and flew into the atmosphere of Epsilon 3. He was in constant contact with Sinclair in Ops.
    “Have you found anything yet Warren?”
    “I’ve flown around this rock three times already Commander. I can’t find a thing!”
    “Maybe it went inside.” said Ivanova.
    “No.” said Sinclair. “I saw it crash on the surface, it has to be there. We’ll have to send down more fighters.”
    “You can send down fifty fighters, but I think you’ll get the same result! It’s just gone, Frankenstein, creature, and all!”
    Sinclair knew that any further search would probably be like flogging a dead horse. He pressed a button on the communication panel.
    “Okay Warren, come on home.”

The Frankenstein Factor - Civil War Chapter Four

    The creature stood motionless for a few minutes, as if it were trying to take in it’s surroundings.
    “What’s it doing?” asked Franklin.
    Frankenstein did not reply. All he could do was look at his creation. Then the creature lurched forward, not towards either of the doctors but towards Frankenstein’s assistant. The small man could not move fast enough. The creature managed to grab hold of him, a huge hand gripping him around his neck. Then, with just one clench, he squeezed the life out of his body. He then dropped him like he was a piece of rubbish. He then looked at Franklin and Frankenstein, but instead of attacking them he went to the door he had scrapped earlier and moved into the corridor.

The Frankenstein Factor - Civil War Chapter Three

    Doctor Franklin sat in his office. The last two days or so had been pretty hectic, what with one thing after another. Then, just as he was about to take a sip of his coffee someone entered. Franklin did not recognise the tall man that was visiting him.
    “Good morning. How can I help you?”
    “Good morning Doctor Franklin. My name is Doctor Hector Frankenstein.”
    “Doctor Frankenstein. I heard you were on B5. I heard you had a bit of trouble in the cargo bay.”
    “It was nothing. Just a misunderstanding. I came here to talk to you about a most urgent matter. As a fellow scientist I felt that you were the only one on the station who I would be able to talk to about my work.”
    “Your work? I understand you’re a geneticist. Genetics isn’t really my field Doctor Frankenstein.”
    “Please, call me Hector.”
    “Well, Hector, I’m not really sure I can help you.”
    “Oh, I believe you can Doctor Franklin. You see, the word around the station is that I am here on a stopover, whilst on my way to the Deneb sector. The truth of the matter is that I am here on Babylon 5 to carry out research. I have worked for years on this project, and I came to Babylon 5 because I knew that this was the only place I could carry out my work.”
    “What is your work exactly?”
    “If you come with me I will show you.”
    Franklin took another sip out of his cup.
    “I am rather busy at the moment Doctor.”
    “Come now. You can spare thirty minutes for me. I would be very grateful if you could.”
    Franklin paused for a moment.
    “Alright then Doctor. I’ll have a look at your files.”
    “Files? I don’t have any files here Doctor Franklin! My work is here, on the station!”
    “Your work? Is that why you were against letting your cargo go through customs?”
    “In a manner of speaking…yes! Now come, Doctor. We don’t have much time. I want you to witness the end of my experiment!”
    Reluctantly Franklin left the office with Frankenstein.

The Frankenstein Factor - Civil War Chapter Two

    MedLab and the morgue were soon full of security teams, scanning and investigating the area, looking for any clue, anything that could have told them where the body had gone. Sinclair had arrived to see Garibaldi and Franklin look very puzzled.
    “Anything yet?” Sinclair asked.
    “Nothing.” replied Franklin. “In all my time as a doctor I’ve never had a body stolen from my morgue before!”
    Then one of the team approached them.
    “I think I’ve found something.”
    They followed him to the morgue entrance.
    “It looks like someone tampered with the lock.”
    Garibaldi kneeled down and examined the lock. His keen eye could tell that there was something wrong.
    “Well Doctor, looks like someone used something to break into the morgue. Whatever it was he used gave the proper access code.”
    “Who could do that?” asked Sinclair. “And who would want the body of a stabbing victim?”
    “Beats the hell out of me!” said Garibaldi. “Unless we have any medical student son board and they can’t afford to buy a body.”
    Sinclair began to rub his chin. He had hoped his last few hours as commanding officer of B5 would be uneventful.
    “I want a full sensor sweep of this area. Try to find some traces of his DNA. If you can find that you may get a trail of some kind.”
    Sinclair then left them to their work. He hoped they could handle it without him. He still had a lot of business to take of before he left.

The Frankenstein Factor - Civil War Chapter One

    Jeffrey Sinclair was a very busy man. Two days previously he had been notified by Starfleet Command of something he had been told about by James Watt. In one month’s time he would take command of the U.S.S. Lohengrin, the third ship to bare that name and the sister ship of the Valkyrie. The past forty-eight hours had been spent planning his move, and a few hours earlier he had just received his new uniform, coloured red and black and with four rank insignia, showing that he was the commanding officer of his own ship.
    As he packed his personal belongings the door buzzer sounded. A few seconds later Lieutenant Michael Garibaldi, the security chief of Babylon 5, entered. He looked around at the mess that once was Sinclair’s quarters.
    “So you’ve decided to take the Lohengrin.” said Garibaldi.
    “It’s a chance I can’t refuse. I’d be a fool to turn this down.”
    “Any word on who is going to replace you?”
    “They say Captain John Sheridan. I’ve heard he’s a more than capable officer.”
    Garibaldi looked around at the quarters, as if he was trying to find the right thing to say in a tense moment.”
    “What does Miss Sakai have to say about this?”
    “She’s away on a survey, but once she’s finished I’m hoping she’ll join me on the Lohengrin. I’m hoping to pull a few strings to get her into the geology department.”
    “You may have a problem because she hasn’t been to the Academy.”
    Garibaldi, fed up with this politeness, suddenly lost his rag.
    “Damn it Jeff, why do you have to do this? You made this station!”
    “This station will exist long after I’m gone. Babylon 5 is the sum of it’s parts, it’s not just one man. I need to get out of here Michael before I go mad!”
    “Well I hope you know what you’re doing. This place won’t seem the same without you. I just hope Captain Sheridan is up to the job.”
    Sinclair smiled at his old friend.
    “Well, if he isn’t, you and Ivanova will just have to house train him!”
    Laughter filled the air, but the sound was interrupted with Sinclair’s communicator sounded. The call came from the cargo bay area.
    “Sinclair here.”
    “Commander, we’ve got a problem down here. A shipment just came in from Earth, and it’s owner won’t let it go through!”
    Sinclair let out a huge sigh.
    “Do you want me to see to this?” asked Garibaldi.
    “No.” said Sinclair. “I’m still commanding officer of this station, for a few days anyway. Oh well! Let’s get this over with!”

What is "Civil War"? (Originally written January 25th, 1996)

 

    You are holding in your hand Book One of the saga that is known as “Civil War”, although the war doesn’t actually start until Book Two. However, that is not the point. The reason for the war starting is chronicled in this volume.

    But first, something else - the reason for writing this story. A couple of years ago I began to think that the Star Trek universe seemed a little too perfect, because everyone seemed to get on famously. This was, of course, Gene Roddenberry’s dream, of man living in harmony with each other. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not knocking The Great Bird of the Galaxy in any way, because if it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t be writing this piece now, but things always seemed too perfect.

    Shortly afterwards the satellite station U.K. Gold began showing Blake’s 7, a series I had heard a great deal about but had never seen. The premise was simple, a band of freedom fighters fighting against a tyrannical power, the Federation. After watching a few episodes I began to think of how I could integrate these characters into this universe I had created.

    My first idea was the perennial favourite, the mirror universe, used in Classic Star Trek and later revived for Deep Space Nine. The story would have been one of the U.S.S. Valkyrie entering a mirror universe and encountering Blake and the Liberator crew. After seeing the second DS9 instalment of this saga I began to think that Blake et al would have fitted perfectly with the Terran Rebellion against the Alliance.

    But that wouldn’t have solved a problem. The Babylon 5 universe was far from perfect, and since I had moved Babylon 5 a hundred years into the future I began to think “why should my universe be so perfect?”

    Then it hit me. I came up with the idea. Using the main villain of the Blake’s 7 universe I could turn my universe upside down, on it’s head, by having the Federation become a tyrannical power, forming alliances with other evil powers in the galaxy and having characters like Picard, Sisko, Sheridan and Blake fight for what they believed was right.

    But one thing stood in the way - President James Watt, the nearly immortal hero of this universe. Because of the way I had written him I couldn’t have him turn evil overnight as it were. Instead I had to get rid of him somehow. I had to find a way of getting rid of Watt and installing Servalan as Federation President, where she could slowly undermine everything the Federation stood for, form alliances with evil, mighty powers such as the Sontarrans, the Dominion and the Galactic Empire, and become virtual ruler of the universe, forcing the likes of Picard, Sisko, Sheridan and Blake to fight for what they believed in - freedom.

    And so it began. Taking a Babylon 5 story which would have been Commander Jeffrey Sinclair’s swansong on the station, and taking another Babylon 5 story, the “Civil War” sage began. Because of very welcome work commitments the first part of the saga has taken over a year to write. Before I found work the first part would have probably been completed in about six months. However, beggars can’t be choosers, and I’m grateful for the work I have now. 

    This saga will probably span many more volumes, as more and more characters, places and situations come into this universe. In fact it may not even be finished when the next millennium starts!

Julian Radbourne
25th January, 1996.

The Madness Returns: The Final Anglo-Force Story

In case you haven't noticed I've added a few new chapters to the blog over the past week or so.

"The Madness Returns" is the 21st and final story from the last incarnations of Anglo-Force, written before I gave my full intention to my vast and never actually finished Civil War project.

I normally dated my stories so I knew when I finished them, but I forgot to do that this time around, which is why all the posts have recent dates on them.

Anyway, back to the matter at hand. "The Madness Returns" sees the return of Woodwose. Now completely driven by rage, the man-beast has only one thing on his mind, revenge, revenge on those who imprisoned him and those who defeated him before.

You can now read the story by clicking on the links below:

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

 

The Madness Returns - Chapter Six

    Magus hovered above the battle site for a few seconds. He began to think. He could still change history now. He could stop what was about to happen. But he knew there would be a price for his actions if he were to follow this course. After all, billions could be affected if he changed history.
    He swooped down, getting closer and closer. He now had a clear view of Woodwose, huge hands around Watt’s neck, trying to snap it like a twig. The only thing stopping Watt’s demise was his power.
    Magus now hovered behind Woodwose. He was as quiet as a mouse, making no noise as he slowly approached the powerful man-beast. He then extended his arms, and with lightning-quick reflexes clasped Woodwose’s head. There was a blinding flash as slowly Magus used his powers to pull Woodwose’s very life energy from him.
    Woodwose cried out in pain and dropped Watt to the ground. Red Sun rushed over to him and could tell that he was in a bad way.
    Magus continued to draw the energy and dispersed it around him. The wizard had tapped directly into Woodwose’s mind, and all of his thoughts, his primitive, base-like thoughts, now flowed into Magus’ mind. As he drew off the energy he knew what Woodwose was thinking, his reason for the attack. Magus felt something he hadn’t felt for centuries, rage, pure rage. Those were the only thoughts coming from Woodwose’s mind.

The Madness Returns - Chapter Five

    With his arms wrapped tightly around the neck of the man-beast T’Chuka squeezed and squeezed as hard as he could. But not even the strength of a Tiger was enough to stop Woodwose. For a few moments he flailed about wildly, not knowing how to counter T’Chuka’s attack, but he soon found a way. Using nothing more than sheer brute force he reached around, grabbed T’Chuka’s head and threw him high into the air. He then looked around at his shoulder and could see a few droplets of blood. This only served to fuel his anger.
    Ultare Amarus flew ahead, his hands smouldering, about to unleash his power on Woodwose when his attack finished before it started. The flying form of T’Chuka crashed into him sending both of them crashing to the ground, sending T’Chuka into unconsciousness and Amarus into dizziness.
    Above the battle site White Knight sat on his steed Galador. The path of destruction caused by Woodwose was easy to see, but it was hard to look upon his fallen comrades. Only Amarus was on his feet, and he was staggering around as if he’d been turning in circles for an hour. He was worse than useless.
    White Knight commanded Galador to land in a nearby clearing and then sent him away, not wanting his old friend to get hurt in the upcoming battle. White Knight then took Excalibur in his hand and marched towards Woodwose.
    Immediately his thoughts turned to their last encounter. Master swordsman that he was he could not overcome Woodwose. Not even mighty Excalibur could penetrate his skin. Woodwose just tossed him away like he was a piece of rubbish.
    But now was different. White Knight was wiser. He wouldn’t make the same mistakes this time around. Or so he thought.
    This time he ran towards Woodwose, sword held high. This time he was faced by an oncoming flying three. He only just ducked out of the way in time.
    But now he was lying on the ground. He turned over only to find Woodwose standing over him. His huge frame blocked out the sun entirely. In the darkness White Knight found it difficult to see. But he could see Woodwose raise one of his huge legs. White Knight could tell what was coming next. He was about to become the man-beast equivalent of road kill.
    But it never happened. The mighty foot stopped in mid-air. He could see Woodwose turn his head, looking behind him. He couldn’t see much else. The sun was now shining in his eyes. But he heard something. A familiar and welcome voice.
    “Hey! Fur-face! Why don’t you come and play with the big boys?”
    Woodwose turned around. He knew that voice. He knew it well. It was the one he was looking for. The one who beat him before. The one who sent him to that place. The once who made him suffer. The man.

The Madness Returns - Chapter Four

    At a speed of nearly three hundred miles per hour John Clark was having the time of his life. The man known as Jet was busy searching for the man-beast Woodwose, the win blowing past his red mask and costume. Clark had forgotten what it was like to work as part of the Anglo-Force team, and in the past few weeks he had wondered why he ever turned his back on them in the first place.
    Now he flew high over the New Forest in Hampshire. Circling around several times he soon saw his prey. The sighting was simple enough. Woodwose had left a path of destruction even the most stupid could follow.
    Jet reached down to his belt and activated his communicator.
    “Jet to White Knight. I’ve found out boy! In the New Forest!”
    “Keep an eye on him.” White Knight replied. “Do not engage him in combat. Even with your speed he’ll be too powerful for you.”
    “I’ve only ever seen one man match my speed before and he’s back at Raven Manor. Let me try to stop him Arthur!”
    “No! He’s too powerful! Just observe! We’ll be along in a few moments!”
    “Okay! Okay! Keep your sword belt on!”
    The communications channel went quiet. He then gave Galador a gentle nudge in an effort to get his steed to move faster.
    “You could have given me a little warning!” said Tiger, almost falling off as Galador picked up speed.
    “We have to get there as quickly as possible!” said White Knight. “Clarkie’s a hot head and won’t take no for an answer!”
    “You mean he’ll try to take Woodwose on?” asked Tiger.
    “You’re damn right he will!”

The Madness Returns - Chapter Three

    Magus had lied. He had no intention of staying behind and trying to find a way of tapping into Woodwose’s mind. He knew what was going to happen, and he also knew that the events of today would have a far reaching effect not only on him but on all his friends around him.
    Standing up he left a bemused Chief Jackson alone as he strode off purposefully. I can’t let it happen he began to think to himself. I must stop him. I must stop Woodwose. If I do none of it will happen.
    Magus knew that he had the power to stop the mighty man-beast, and stop him before he caused pain and destruction. He had seen something that told him that he would be saving the lives of many in the years to come by stopping Woodwose now. He knew what he had to do.
    He then launched himself into the sky and headed into the direction his comrades had headed moments earlier. They had no chance of stopping Woodwose, he knew that. Only he could. Only an Istarian could halt him.
    But this Istarian never had the chance to. Just as he was nearing full speed something stopped him, some sort of invisible barrier. Magus crashed into it and plummeted down onto the ground, crashing into the earth, except that he wasn’t on Earth any longer.

The Madness Returns - Chapter Two

    Governor Corkindale sat in his office at Dentonville Prison, getting ready the end the long working day that had just finished. Security was now at maximum, several new inmates having arrived in the past few days. However, he was not expecting what was about to happen.
    In the main control room the alarm suddenly sounded. Jackson, the chief of security, looked at the main screen. The infra-red cameras showed something moving towards the perimeter wall, something huge. Jackson called Corkindale, but before he cold get to the control room the image was gone.
    “I tell you sir, it was there!” Jackson said. “The infra-red showed it! It was huge! Like some kind of monster!”
    “Are you sure these things aren’t on the fritz?” asked Corkindale. “Maybe that General Billiar did something to the sensors when he got Theophilus out!”
    Then, as they spoke, the ground began to shake, and once again the alarms sounded. One of the guards raced into the room.
    “Chief! You’re not going to believe this bloody thing! Something’s trying to break into the prison!”
    Jackson and Corkindale ran out of the room as the guard led them to the other side of the compound. The first thing they saw was the guards firing on something, the intruder. Corkindale couldn’t see anything at first, but then he got a clear view, a clear view of the intruder. It was someone he had not expected to see again, let alone someone who would try and break into the prison.
    “It can’t be! Woodwose!”
The man-beast had returned to the place where he was held after his defeat at the hands of James Watt. Now he was tearing up the place like it was nothing more than a piece of paper.
    Then, in the middle of his rampage, Woodwose suddenly stopped and stared at Corkindale, eye to eye. It was as if he knew the governor of this prison. It was as if Woodwose blamed Corkindale for keeping him here. Breaking off from his mindless assault he lunged towards Corkindale and soon had a hold of him. He picked him up like he was a piece of rubbish and placed a huge furred had around his neck. With one gentle bit of pressure he snapped Corkindale’s neck like a twig and then threw him to the ground with such force that the impact carried him six foot into the concrete. Then, feeling that his work was done, Woodwose leapt into the air, not even looking around as the guards continued to fire at him. Seconds later the guards could no longer see him.
    Jackson walked over to the crater that had been created in Woodwose’s attack. He looked down and could tell that Corkindale was dead. Sorrow and sadness filled him for but a moment as he knew what he had to do.
    “Someone contact the Anglo-Force mansion! Get someone out here!”

The Madness Returns - Chapter One

    The last thought, the last sentient thought, that had passed through the mind of Woodwose was why? Up until recently he had been a refugee from a distant planet, driven out of his home, off his planet by the tyrant known only as the High Wolfman. Even then, when he had made a home on Earth and found friends in humans was his safety at risk from his own kind. Colonel Chaney had come across the galaxy seeking revenge on his old enemy, driving him insane, causing pain and destruction wherever he went. Still, even after the Q had cured him of his madness all was not right. Freed by the disgraced General Billiar the madness returned after an encounter with one Armand Theophilus.
    Now his every waking thought consisted of one thing, rage. Pure, primal, animal rage. The madness had reverted Woodwose back to his animal instincts. All intelligent thoughts were gone. He lived on animal instincts alone. He had no memories of his previous life. His only memories were those of his last fight against a man who didn’t look like he would have a chance against this mighty man-beast. This man stood more than a chance against the mighty Woodwose. He matched him power for pure raw power. This man had captured Woodwose after an epic battle. Now Woodwose, free, away from the cage he had been kept in after he was captured, now had the chance for revenge, revenge against the human who had beaten him, and revenge against those who had tried to stop him before.

New Fiction Addition: Anglo-Force - Corporation

As the fallout from the Cyberdine incident continues James Watt recieves an offer from a man who wants to put his company's seedy reputation behind them. Is it a genuine offer? 

Originally written in 1995, the 20th Anglo-Force story, Corporation, is now online for the first time and can be read by clicking on the links below!

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four