Dark Open Sea

In the Open Sea find our Ark Angel be
Her sails torn from powerful typhoons,
Omnihood-- An Eye, Our Flag,
Proudly flies for all to see,

Across the world, we've journeyed
Countless times Sol rose and fell,
In veiled centers of learning ventured,
Hidden, Our Forces gathered from all ends,

Here we be once more testing,
For the myriad time see where Enemies be
We pass almost stern to stern kiss,
A moment locked in an eternity,

In this heart know, 'tis not the moment
Our Forces Fly like Coriolis Storm,

With our solemn whispered command,
Angel's Sail embrace the wind,
She Flies into the Deep Ocean 'n Night!
'tis not the proper moment fight,

As Luna shine brightly,
As our Forces in production
Fill the Armory grows,
We grin 'n whisper “Soon”,

Couriered news from Land
Under Luna's watchful gaze,
They dock with our Flag---
“Come home,” well meant,

Many times those words writ
Many more times we sought
Return from this journey took,
If only for a brief respite,

Our Heart, we hardened
Our Mind, resolved,
Our Will, absolute,
Bloodlust! To war we must go!

History's words seemingly forgotten,
What unceasing campaigns bring,
What heavy toll home carry,
the price the battlefield sting,

For Contemporaries journeyed with,
Once and Always be Allies,
For those we share common blood,
We share deep affection,

What news could they bring,
In the darkest of the night,
When even Luna took flight,
Wrapping a blanket about her,

We hear someone very dear,
Will journey to land of honey,
Where her home now be,
Happiness I pray for her,

all logic, all wisdom says,
such road is rightly hers,
what else can there be?

Rolling waves drench Angel's deck
Rough sea challenge pounding her keel,
Our hand grips Angel's wheel
We rise to the occasion!

Poseidon's realm calm,
We both catch our breath,
Calm waters 'n gentle breeze,

Angel's sail's take respite in battle,

We read under Luna's light,
Words from Old Dear Friends,
One, Her words echo from text,
A Dear Friend meaning well,

Is there more to life than Campaign?

As the waves slowly rock the Angel
We find a moment of peace,
Can she understand what battle is?
Can we make her see from our eyes?

Imagine clash of vibrant blades,
The Frustration when men fall,
Elation of Victory as Armies march forth?
We be drunk with blood,

'Tis not a noble thing we do,
'Tis a horrible thing that must transpire,
We gamble alliances, friendships, lives,
In these veiled Campaigns,

How can it not be?
This quest scarce believed!
Perhaps pipe dream, perhaps real,
What heavy toll, what heavy price,

Who can understand Madness?
Who can construe Darkness?
Who can wield Opportunity?
Win or Lose, 'tis worth the effort?

'Tis not a noble thing we do,
'Tis not about redemption,

Milton's words echo in this empty seas,
“They also serve, who stand and wait”

'twas the Chiroptera's Way,
'twas Revan's Way,
Leave those Loves, behind,
Surely their destruction can't you see,
In these secret Dark Empty Places we be?

Alone here in the Dark Open Sea,
Journeying, gathering knowing,
From places of hidden learning,
What Gift, what Opportunity!

Shall we cast it all away?

The wind fills once more these sails,
Black and Red, Omnihood flies a top,
Angel moves forward,
Into the Horizon we venture,

We stand between Wheel and Mast,
Where Praenuntius Excessum sheathed kept,
Her hilt shining under Luna's Light,

Shall we cast it all asunder?

There is wisdom in Reven's Way,
Weapons below continue made,
Campaigns are ceaseless,
Dogs of War are ready,

Coming to the light, there is wisdom too,
Praenuntius Excessum make us remember,
This be but a short respite,
We do not cast it asunder,

With Pan's words echoing in our mind,
Our hand, Angel turns to that second star,
Our dark cloak flying with our sails,
The Angel flies, straight on 'till Sol Rise!

Prelude

Darkness wraped itself around a hidden flotilla of ships moored to their staryards, slowly being built. Aboard a light attack freighter, watching from a distance, a shadowy figure, in black armor, a mask and hooded cloak was observing their their construction.

Was this the right moment? the question raced through his mind. It had been five years since he started this journey. It had been five years now since he has returned from across the galaxy... his mastery has grown, learning from many along the way and still continuing to learn from many of them. It was the way of all things, learning.

Was he ready? Caden Sol allowed a moment to doubt himself, to be unsure. He knows better of course--- nothing is ever certain, not in this work. It was time for him to take flight. Already he part of his fleet ready--- the first of many, he hopes: War Hammer. And beyond her half built, Ark Angel, and two unnamed, partially built vessels of war. They will not be complete for many months more. Yet it was a start, thats whats important.

Around the Dark Warrior, various relay traffic were being displayed. Orders were being carried out. Campaigns won, lost and others now being waged being monitored, being watched even here in the Unknown Territories, his duty must never be abandoned. His ears listen to various comm chatter and his eyes dart from screen to screen. From time to time, he would issue orders--- as if he was where he was supposed to be--- at the heart of the Empire. He is responsible for those men and women in the field, is held accountable to them just as he answers to those more powerful than he is and just as he is responsible to himself to do his duty properly. It was a failing, some would say.

But this was his--- those ships hidden from preying eyes. And this newly made banner--- was his. They... are but a beginning. If he failed, then his name shall echo into the darkness and fade away. If not, its not much a different fate that awaits him but he will fade into the darkness knowing a difference was made.

A comm chatter boomed in the small command center. “Command, this is Squadron Five-Zero-Niner, enemy ships out number us, five to one. We need reinforcements! Repeat we need---” Static. Standard Jamming, Sol determined.

Sol scanned the tactical displays--- they were seriously out gunned and out maneuvered. He was close enough to make a direct jump. It wouldn't make a difference, but at least he could bring back a few more live ones and some ships to salvage.

A dark gloved hand reached over to a Command Panel and his fingers plotted the course. Slowly at first, the small light freighter turned to port, its computers accepting orders blindly and executing perfectly as its superstructure pointed away from the nearby star's gravity field and the ships being built. The stars became but tiny dots as his ship was and crossed the bounderies of space and time, into battle.

open horizons

I was at the Shang, a few minutes ago. I walked into Starbucks and was ordering my grande mocha frap and i noticed this girl sitting behind me talking to these people.

Man, she was gorgeous!

I got my order and sat two tables away from her table--- there was no other place to sit and waiting for the rest of our people to meet. That span of time, which was really just two minutes or something like that, really tempted to walk up to her table. She was obviously in a meeting herself.

Man, how I wished it was any other time.

Our people slowly arrived in--- the top dogs of our little consortium (I was the youngest by a good thirty years difference between all of them). And we began our meeting, After reporting to our big guns that our previous campaigns were going no where--- since the target was now in the business of reorganizing and talks of merging with similar institutions in the region was in the works. The risks of moving forward with the deal was just way up high.

As we moved forward with our agenda--- I couldn't help but pan my eyes towards her. Its crazy really, half my mind was processing the information being delivered by our finance guy in relation to our new proposal--- to divert our funds to a new acquisition. Today is one good reason to be thankful at having the mental capacity to process two things at the same time. Its hard to be diverted from the real money we were talking about, but half my mind was glad it was towards this woman I don't even know.

In between the lull of business talk, we had a moment of joking around talking about last week's success of our university basketball team (go La Salle!) because half the people in the meeting were Alums from our bitter rivals (the Ateneo) and half from my alma mater. Even then, my attention was still in the direction of that woman.

I wished today was a Sunday and I was sitting alone drinking coffee and that she was sitting alone doing the same thing so I could walk up to her and strike up a conversation.

Lesson of the day? The adrenaline rush of business means nothing sometimes, even business such as ours. And like what an old buddy said, this may mean, open horizons.

The Stash

I had for forgotten how it felt like. For two months now, I have been getting comics once a month. (Kudos to Druid's Keep for keeping my stash that long--- great guy, Felix, who owns the place).

I just spent a good hour reading through fifteen issues of comics--- from OMAC to War Crimes to 'Tech to Supergirl #1 and JSA Classified 1 and toping it all off--- this month's installment of All Star Batman and Robin!

Its just wow.

the stories--- the waive they make! Man! blew me away. Brother MK I, just activated all the OMACs (One Man Army Corps) from B-13 virus that turn ordinary humans to biological-cybernetic lifeforms that give the Borg a bad name. I'm mixing metaphors here--- but its just amazing what the DCU is turning into!

But I was kind of disappointed that Sasha was turned into an Omac. OK i was hoping she wasn't given the obvious clues a few issues back. I mean, wasn't being in jail for Bruce Wayne enough for her already? I guess Rucka did create her and Rucka is writing OMAC--- maybe this will keep her around for another sixty years, don't you think?

The plot threads stretch in just about every book--- the JLA, the JSA, Supergirl, the Teen Titans, shattering relationships and realignment everywhere.

The Batbooks this year is kind of keeping it quiet--- but the conclusion to War Crimes is Amazing--- a four partner that crossed Detective and Batman. They wrapped things up in the most unexpected way!

Steph Brown shouldn't have died. But with her death the repercussions went just everywhere--- a reformed Cluemaster! Black Mask! Joker! And Leslie Tompkins! Man. And Bruce returning to his "Detective" side, uncovering clues all by himself.

wow. Just wow.

one question. In the near future, will we see Steph's daughter? And what will her place be in the Bat-mythology?

The Birds of Prey and Batgirl are just amazing. Black Canary is training to be Shiva's apprentice? Will she in turn teach Cassie those moves? And what is this--- Shiva can be Batgirl's mother? It would be anticlimactic if she was. Remember what happened the last time, someone thought Shiva was their mum?

wow. Just wow.

All Stars Batman and Robin. I left it to be the last of the fifteen titles to be read. And it didn't disappoint. It was amazing! This reimagining of Robin's origin is one hell of a ride!

Can't wait for next month's installment of comics!

if wishes were true

don't you sometimes wish
you had force lightning?
just release all that pent up anger,
lash out in the darkeness,
where no one can get hurt,
where there are no consequences,
no responsibility just the darkness?

don't you sometimes wish
to just surrender everything?
when the weight of the world
becomes unbearable,
when every avenue--- blocked,
when every action--- hindered,
when every patience--- tested?

don't you sometimes wish
to burn, to lay waste,
when plans can never be shared
when action and success in secrets
held in darknes--- none trusted,
can contemporaries construe
this road we traverse?
as the darkside entices seduces
Jedi our hand can not let this go,
its price--- friends and family
held at arms length constantly,