Stories and Plotting: A plot exercise

We are now working on Stories and Plotting. In this chapter we are taught that in its simplest form, a plot contains three steps: An initial problem, added complications that make the problem more difficult and interesting, and a resolution. We also learned that there are three basic ways to proceed when designing a plot:

•    Borrow a traditional story or anecdote from life’s experiences
•    Pick a climax and work backwards
•    Start with an initial situation and work forward.  For this exercise, we were assigned the middle method of working backwards

The exercise had us pick four numbers, from the range one through 10, and look up the corresponding values.  Each number represented characters, actions, settings, and climaxes. Mine were Police Officer, Taking Medicine, Space Ship and Survival.  I combined a very brief free write, or as Bonni Goldberg likes to refer, a Diving session. In that activity I quickly determined survival and space ship meant alien invasion. Taking Medicine would be the climax, and War of the Worlds immediately popped into my head.  Why not a common drug to play a role in defeating the aliens? The police officer was changed to security officer, and the fact he would suffer from headaches was explored.  I had my basic premise… Again, this is an exercise, so I have only gone through one set of revisions and rewrites.

The perimeter defense was failing. In what seemed like a lifetime, but in fact was only 20 minutes, the invading Mitogans were getting closer to launching space to ground weapons at Earth. While the Mitogens didn’t have vastly superior ship numbers, what they lacked in quantity they more than made up for in advanced weaponry that was devastatingly effective. They had a hypersonic weapon that rendered our shields useless. It wasn’t the lasers or photons or even the rumble bombs that knocked holes in our formation. It was this ‘pulse’ they had that somehow penetrated the forward shields and knocked everyone unconscious for about 60 seconds, allowing their ships to break through. Our back up Terra based Rumsfeld Rockets had managed to stop short these breakthroughs, but we were losing that capability as the Mitogans got closer to earth each wave. If they got much closer, we wouldn’t be able to stop their rumble bombs.

The Strategic Defensive Command, of which Weapons Officer Natalie Fensen was a Major, had managed to hold their own in the first three attack waves the Mitogans had launched. Fensen and her crew aboard the SDC Kyoto were momentarily knocked unconscious all three times, but suffered no critical damage from the more conventional weapons in the Mitogan’s arsenal. They were able to regain consciousness in time to evade another pulse. But they were bracing themselves for the fifth wave, and it was known to all the officers that this would be a final stand as the SDC had committed all the reserve ships.

Through the intercom came the Captain’s voice. “All hands, this is the Captain. We are maneuvering into defensive posture Zulu. We expect the next Mitogen wave to be within firing distance in eight minutes. Man your stations.”  Fensen was analyzing her tactical data when an alert popped on her monitor. “Captain, incoming transmission from SDC. Priority Alfa Una.”

Transmit that to my HUD Fensen (HUD was the Heads Up Display).

Roger Captain, SDC transmission Alfa Una has been transferred.

There was a long pause as the captain scanned the content. “According to biometrics readings, it seems that of the thousands of perimeter crew members engaged in this battle, there are seven who have not been affected by the Mitogen pulse. Roberto Chavez is one of them?”

Chavez was the Kyoto security officer. He was a recent transfer and only been on-board for four weeks. We knew he was sharp as he had recommended a new first engagement protocol to SDC six months ago that was quickly approved and now being rolled out to all ships. He was hard to read his few weeks, but then shocked all of us first officers with a dead pan impersonation of the Captain just a few days ago. We instantly knew then that he was going to fit in. And he always was having headaches. The doctor verified his fitness was top notch, and recommended more exercise. Stress was the doctor’s conclusion.

The captain barked over the All Comm frequency “Chavez, First Lieutenant Chavez; report to the Command Center pronto”  A response came within seconds “This is Chavez, on my way sir.”  Within a minute Chavez reported as directed.

“Chavez, it seems you have not suffered the debilitating consequences from the Mitogen pulse. Care to explain?” Chavez was nodding in agreement. “I am well aware of that sir, but I have no idea as to why.”

Hmmm, what about you is different?  I’ve already accessed your physical data, and there is nothing remarkable about you.” That got a chuckle in the command center.

No sir, I guess not.

Can you recall anything pro or post pulse soldier? Anything that would keep you awake?

Uh, no sir. I can’t really think of anything.

At that time Fensen noticed Roberto furrow his brow and massage his temple. Concerned she asked him “Roberto, how have your headaches been these past few hours?” He grinned. “Pretty intense Major.  I keep popping the ibuprofen like candy.  But I’ll be fine.”

When was last time you took some pills?

About 5 minutes ago.

And before that?

I’m not sure.  Probably right before that last wave…

The Captain pounded his console. “Conn, get me SDC. Pronto”  While he waited, he looked over at me and grinned. “Fensen, I suggest you take Chavez and head down to the infirmary. I’ll get the nurse on duty to be ready to give you all the ibuprofen we have on ship.”