So Others May Live is the motto of many search and rescue units.
After coming across photos of my time in the United States Navy, I
decided to write a short story based on some of my
experiences.
Most of my stories begin life as short stories, or perhaps
novelettes, and a few of these demand expansion to novel length,
and this is one of them. I began outlining a story that was based
on the evacuation of Dunkirk, but as science fiction, and set on
habitable moons orbiting a gas giant. The story morphed, and I
realized I could include my experiences as a search and rescue crew
chief on helicopters (the Huey, or UH-1N for those who care) into
the story. The perspective I can bring to military science fiction
will be in the minority, as I was enlisted. Most novels, movies,
and television show events from the officer’s point of view with
the enlisted guys as sidekicks, or secondary characters.
I am currently in the outlining and world building stages. I’m
guessing the story will end up around 100k words or so.
