Stories by @ltathena

Hartman: Portrait of Madness

Taking inspiration from Doctor Sleep in this prequel to Full Metal Jacket, Stanley Kubrick's visceral adaptation of Gustav Hasford's Vietnam War novel The Short-Timers; we can now paint a picture of what can turn a good man cruel even before the institution of the Marine Corps. Born as the fourth child and middle between his six sisters, Earle "Crazy Earl" Gerheim Hartman refuses to be made a plaything for his sisters as he enacts his malicious revenge against them. Drafted into the military to better himself, Hartman further loses himself to darkness in late World War II, Korea and early Vietnam as he maneuvers his way to becoming Parris Island's most tyrannical and sadistic Senior Drill Instructor. The film ends as the first act of Full Metal Jacket ends with Private Leonard Pratt "Gomer Pyle" Lawrence killing Hartman in the latrine on the night before Platoon 3092 graduates from Parris Island.

Mobile Suit Gundam: Castaway Souls

The year is 6119 S.D. (Solar Deuteronomy), and teenage Aubrey Zuleger is a girl who few in her public secondary high school like - and who lives on the dilapidated side of the Neo Aoteroa Newtype colony on the Saturnian moon of Titan with her abusive family. Aubrey has been dealing with bullying in her school and abuse from her family all her life which has left her chronically depressed and suicidal. But when the breakaway Imperium of Callisto launches an attack on the United Solar Commonwealth's Titan base, Aubrey escapes in the new RX-2000 series mobile suit - Gundam Valkyrie Yulong. Returning the Gundam to the Commonwealth with nowhere else to go after her abusive family was killed in the attack by the Imperium, Aubrey is given the chance to become an agent of CDEF while training with them in secret. She now finds herself going out on a quest to find fifteen more Newtypes like her able to sync with all fifteen of the other RX-2000 Gundams to battle Zaldivar and restore peace to the Solar System.

Live Fire

In this new reboot James Bond adventure to be co-produced by Danjaq and Eon Productions, the story is taken from a few of the Raymond Benson-era short stories as well as the novel The Facts Of Death. Britain's best secret agent - 007 - returns to help a Russian figure skating champion defect to NATO and throw off her Russian Mafia backers. Tracing a clue of theirs, James Bond heads out west to California to infiltrate the former Playboy Mansion where stolen Ministry of Defense data housed on compact discs could be sold to the Russian Mafia. It turns out they have clients in the Union and Decada who are set to inherit the thrones of SPECTRE and SMERSH in aiming for world domination. Bond teams up with Greek NATO agent Niki Mirakos to uncover what resources the Russian Mafia have been supplying the Union and Decada with. This culminates in a manhunt for Hera Volopoulos who hopes to start nuclear war over Greece and Turkey.

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Motion Picture

Long ago in the age of dinosaurs and man, the ancient wizard Zordon of Eltar helped to battle the evil sorceress Queen Bandora turned Rita Repulsa. After many losses, he managed to defeat her using five magical power medallions. As punishment for her loss, she was sealed in a canister on the roaming planet of Nemesis. However, before being sealed away, Rita trapped Zordon in a time warp. 170 million years later, Rita and her minions have escaped their prison and are out to destroy the Earth. Zordon, desperate to stop her, has his assistant Alpha 5 recruit five "teenagers with attitude": Jason, Trini, Kimberly, Zack, and Billy who are in fact reincarnated forms of the five warriors who helped defeat Rita before dying. Granted the powers of the sentient prehistoric animal gods of long ago in the form of the Power Coins, they undertake a quest to become the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers who use their sentient Guardian Beast "Dinozords" to battle Rita's army of giant monsters.

Doppelgänger (Remake)

Set in the year 2069, a joint European-NASA mission is launched to investigate a newly discovered planet which lies directly opposite Earth on the far side of the Sun. The mission ends in disaster and the death of one of the astronauts, following which his colleague realizes that the planet is a mirror image of Earth in every detail, with a parallel and duplicate timeline. It turns out that the two Earths' respective discoveries of each other have been facilitated by a pair of spontaneous Einstein-Rosen bridge wormholes into parallel timelines. In our Earth where there is a 6 to 5 ratio of men to women, Col. Glenn Ross finds his parallel timeline counterpart is househusband to his astronaut wife Col. Sharon Ross who has crossed the wormhole into his own timeline from a world where the ratio flips around and it is 6 women to 5 men as the exploration of the cosmos going hand in hand with gender roles and historical prejudices could get innocent people killed.

Fantastic Actions Bureau

Alongside her butler/chauffeur/bodyguard Aloysius "Nosey" Parker, Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward receives a call from her former employer - Her Majesty's Federal Agents Bureau (FAB - an amalgamation of all British Military Intelligence) telling her the time to make a move against the Mysteron agents in the Shadow Syndicate, Aquaphibians and Subterrains now under the leadership of Masterspy and the "Mysteronized" Captain Black. Fireball XL5, Stingray and Supercar are put under the joint operational influences of SHADO and Spectrum where they are joined by WIN Unit Joe 90 and International Rescue in preparing to launch an offensive to destroy the Mysteron Alliance's military strength. Before the bigger battle can unfold, the joint interstellar task force is joined by Mimas and the survivors of Starbase Alpha in taking the fight to Enigmas and the armadas of Captain Black. Escaping, the Mysterons leave an eerie clue behind.

UFO: Invasion

Now knowing that there will be more invaders coming from the Mysteron Alliance, attacks by UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects) will become more frequent. Approved by the World Government for operation, a new organization dedicated to combating and covering up the alien encounters/attacks is established and headquartered both under Harlington-Straker Film Studios in England and from MoonBase on the Earth's Moon. Under the joint command of Commander Edward Straker and Lieutenant Gay Ellis, their new Supreme Headquarters Alien Defense Organization (SHADO) has launched several Space Intruder Detector satellites to track UFO vessels. From there, SHADO Interceptors and SkyDivers (submarines with mounted fighter jets) can be launched to destroy the invading crafts. But they find that this new enemy sent by the Mysterons is neither Aquaphibian nor Subterrain - as the planets of the Meta system are now dying.

Fireball XL5

Having salvaged the FTL hyperdrive that Supercar recovered, the World Space Patrol (WSP) sees fit to install the drive on their latest manned galactic exploration probe ships to be launched from Space City on an uncharted tropical island in the Atlantic Ocean. The ships are called the Fireball XL series - and their most recent assignment is the galactic sector 25 where the Mysterons and other invaders appear to be coming from. Colonel Steve Zodiac and Doctor Erica Venus are tasked with leading the crew of Fireball XL5 alongside Robert the Robot, Prof. Matthew Matic and little Jonathan Zero. Rescuing a Lazoon named Zoonie from the planet Colevio, Zodiac and Venus know their FTL-equipped ship is the only one close enough to save Fireball XL7 when it it captured by the Subterrains of planet Phi 46. Taking up arms, the Fireball XL5 crew lead a revolt of Phi 46 against the Subterrains and discover more secrets about the Mysteron Alliance.

Supercar

World Air Force (WAF) test pilot Michael Mercury comes to the rescue of Bill and Jimmy Gibson along with their pet monkey Mitch. For his valiant efforts, Mercury is tasked to meet Professors Rudolph Popkiss and Horatio Beaker in the Nevada desert where they are assisted by WIN Agent Felicity Beaker (Horatio's cousin) in building the fantastic Supercar. It is an energy-efficient all-terrain VTOL craft with the ability to travel over land on a cushion of air while using jets and retractable wings for travel through the air or underwater. Partnered with Felicity, Mercury prepares to take on the Masterspy (really General Draco Strond of the Russian Mafia) and his associate Zarrin Bron as they seek to recover alien technology to use in their own plots to counter the Hood and his Shadow Syndicate for world domination. Among the most valuable is a reverse-engineered faster-than-light (FTL) drive which will give Earth a leg up and save Starbase Alpha.

Thunderbirds

The Shadow Syndicate of Public Enemy No. 1 - "The Hood" - has lost a prominent ally with the loss of Hudatvia to WIN and seeks to become the richest and most powerful army in the Solar System. The Hood's younger, nobler half-brother Kyrano Belangant and his family have found sanctuary with billionaire industrialist and ex-ISC astronaut Jeff Tracy and his own family. Accompanied by Hiram K. "Brains" Hackenbacker and his son Fermat; Jeff and Kyrano take their families including Jeff's sons (Scott, John, Virgil, Gordon and Alan) and mother Ruth along with Kyrano's wife (Onaha) and daughter (Tin-Tin) to an uncharted tropical archipelago in the South Pacific. It is here they build the secret headquarters of International Rescue, dedicated to helping those in need whenever disasters strike. Along with Lady Penelope and Parker in England, International Rescue is known by their machines to counter the Hood's operations - the Thunderbirds.

Joe 90

The revelations about invaders from beyond and within infiltrating troubled blocs of the World Government, the World Intelligence Network (WIN) needs a new type of asset to counter enemy movements from the most unlikely of agents - children. Widowed computer expert Professor Ian "Mac" MacLaine has developed a device called Brain Impulse Galvanoscope Record And Transfer (BIG RAT) able to record a person's knowledge and transfer it into another person. With his friends Elizabeth, Howie, Maggie, Seymour, Dianne, Luis, Chen and Edward joining him; nine-year-old schoolboy Joe MacLaine (Ian's son) forms the Joe 90 unit of WIN Agents who use BIG RAT to take on the brain patterns of expert adults - gaining the skills needed to undertake varied and dangerous missions, while their youth helps them to avoid arousing enemy suspicion. Their first task is to launch and support a democratic revolution in the Middle East nation of Hudatvia.

Stingray

With the loss of Starbase Alpha and the cause still unknown, new organizations are established by the new democratically-elected World Government of Earth (the United Blocs of the Solar System) to protect the Earth from invaders and terrorists within and without. One of these is the World Aquanaut Security Patrol (WASP) headquartered in the self-contained metropolis of Marineville, California. Forced out of the woodwork and into an accelerated evolution to humanoid form, the Pacifican merpeople are forced to contend with a thrall race of the Mysterons called the Aquaphibians of Aquos under the tyrannical rule of Emperor Titan V. Seeking the aid of the human world, Pacifican King Aphony sends his daughter Marina to rescue the WASP's top submarine Stingray from the Terror Fish of Titan. Joining the crew alongside Troy Tempest, John Fisher, George Sheridan and Atlanta Shore; Marina leads Stingray to victory over Titan and his Agent X-20.

Space: 2099

An advanced probe of the alien energy beings known as the Mysterons from the planet Meta begins causing havoc with magnetic radiation on the Saturnian moon of Mimas. The moon of Mimas is home to the International Space Commission (ISC)'s advanced research and defense outpost of Starbase Alpha fueled and powered by recycled nuclear waste launched up from Earth. A plague or virus infection among the astronauts set to launch a manned probe from the Solar System to Meta is only the cover for magnetic radiation killing them and the fact that Nuclear Waste Processing Area 2 in the crater Herschel is set to go up. And on September 13th, 2099, the unthinkable happens - it explodes and a wormhole created by the Mysterons blasts the entire moon of Mimas out of its orbit around Saturn and through the wormhole becomes unstuck in space and time. For the 311 men and women of Starbase Alpha, survival takes top priority.

Tramway Engines

Dear Friends, Thomas has been pestering me to write about his Branch Line. “After all,” he said, “we are the importantest part of the whole railway.” “What can I write about?” I asked. “Oh, lots of things - Percy's Woolly Bear, Toby's Tightrope and...” “...your Ghost,” I added. “Don't put that silly story in,” said Thomas crossly. I will, all the same. Thomas has been much too cocky lately. It will serve him right! The Author

Technovoyagers (USA English Dub)

NOTE: Only cast for an English dub by Sentai Filmworks, Funimation, VIZ Media or Central Park Media. The series takes place in 2086 and chronicles the adventures of Technovoyager (a portmanteau of "Technology" and "Voyager"), a rescue team part of a vast organization with numerous branches controlled by the Federation - equivalent of the United Nations. The series has most episodes revolving around a natural or man-made disaster that the Technovoyager must investigate and help resolve. The team's headquarters is an island in the Pacific. Its main building is a huge pyramid containing an entire city inside known as the Arcology. A space station in orbit is maintained to monitor mayday calls. TV-6 is the space station in this series. Both Arcology and TV-6 are a home to thousands of people.

Gatchaman: Battle of the Planets - Volume I

In the near future, dark forces once driven back into the shadows by all soldiers of democracy and peace have regrouped under an alien intelligence known as Leader X. Numerous attacks upon bastions of life upon the Earth and her numerous space colonies by the alien terrorist empire of the planets Spectra and Selectol in the faraway Andromeda Galaxy known as Galactor have reached a breaking point. Needing to find a solution fast, the Intergalactic Science Organization of the Galactic Federation assembles fives youths to unite as a Science Ninja Team or G-Force named Gatchaman to help the United Nations take the fight to Galactor. Using their new bird-themed superpowers and arsenal; Ken, Joe, Jun, Jinpei and Ryu become the Red Eagle G-1, Blue Condor G-2, Pink Swan G-3, Yellow Swallow G-4 and Green Owl G-5 battling against the Startroops and Iron Beast Mechas which threaten the ISO's Mantle Project designed to help terraform distant colonies and supply sustainable life resources. All the while, they have to learn to work as a team in order to track down Galactor's secret base and destroy its leadership before more people are killed.

When All Is Said And Done

This is a story of the vulgar, shocking, politically incorrect and media-literate late night British stand-up comedienne and chat show host of "When All is Said and Done", Yvette Newell. Starting in her hometown of Manchester with the comedy clubs as venues for her routines and one-woman shows, Yvette shocks and awes her growing fan base at the clubs and on her video podcasts with her Carlinesque breed of observational, vulgar, language-minded, character-based and situational humor. Yvette proves to be popular enough to get a late night streaming, cable and broadcast chat show on ITV Granada which she titles "When All is Said and Done". Presenting a simple and plain-speaking outlook, she cuts down all of her critics and far-Right guests' worldviews with evidence.

Duke the Lost Engine

Dear Friends, An engine lost in the South American jungle was found after 30 years. A tree had grown through its smokestack and hornets nested in its firebox. When mended, it gave good service for 30 more years. "The Duke" was lost too; not in the jungle, but in his own shed which a landslide had buried. Not long ago, he was dug out and mended. His own railway had been pulled up, so he is now at the Thin Controller's. The Author

Dork Diaries 15: Tales from a Not-So-Posh Paris Adventure

Finally, Nikki Maxwell is set to take her dream vacation to the city of Paris! And she's invited her friends Zoey and Chloe to come along with her. But trouble looms when Brandon finds out the Fuzzy Friends Animal Shelter is in danger of closing forever. Will Nikki FINALLY make it to Paris?! Or will she and her BFFs plan a Paris-themed fundraiser to help her crush, Brandon, raise money for the Shelter?!

Clickbait from the Mountaintop

While ignoring the events of Season 4... In the Digital Age, here comes Nancy Drew and The Fugitive crossed with The Maltese Falcon and The Man With The Golden Gun. Set in the grimy and seedy world of Neptune, California; Veronica Mars is back and on the case of her life. Mac is accused of stealing a golden hard drive from Kane Software with sensitive information pertaining to everyone in Neptune, and Veronica owes Mac for bailing her out of tech trouble big time - so she decides to repay the favor by clearing her friend's name. But nothing is ever as it seems in Neptune, for the case Veronica has gotten herself into is going to bring her back on a collision course with the people who really own and run their world. With the Castle around and on the prowl, every one of Veronica's family is going to be a target of their wrath most likely. But one of this secret society's major players has wrapped the Castle and Neptune around his finger for his own psychotic plans. Whoever it is has quite a nasty grudge against Veronica and her now missing ex-boyfriend Duncan Kane over the disappearance of his and Meg Manning's baby daughter Lilly. With Mac and Madison Sinclair's families intertwined and becoming convenient scapegoats, Veronica is going to have to be willing to put up the fight of her life to uncover the madman responsible. It all comes down in a showdown at the Neptune Grand hotel...