Fed Strategy - Forward Operating air base

Another thought on adapting federation strategy. At present the skyhawks appear to be only deployed off the 19 wagon trains the federation uses. It would seem to be much more effective to have small squadrons also deployed at the outer most way stations. There they could conduct long range strike missions into plainfolk territory.

Alternatively the Federation could setup a small number of basic firebases - forward operating airbases supported by small combat wagon train configurations mentioned two posts ago close to or inside plainfolk territory - perhaps only in the spring and summer months intially but quickly building up enough infrastructure for basic year round operations. This would enable continuous strikes against the mutes, and faster expansion of the Federation. The firebases could also operate as resupply and staging posts for single and multiple wagon-train strike missions deep into mute territory.

This change in tactics to year round, continuous combat operations would greatly increase the rate that the Federation would take back the Overground.

Book 7 updates

Does anyone have publication date news on book 7?? Are there any rumours on when it will be released....... Any comment(s) from Patrick??

Federation strategy updates

Thanks to those that have commented so far. Some further thoughts on potential Federation strategy:
1) go after the entire yama-shita river boat fleet with aerial bombardment (similar to attack on river boat in book4). This has 2 main objectives - 1) eliminates or stops the flow of new crossbow bolts and other weapons to the mutes 2) and reduces the ability of the yama-shita clan to project any maritime influence around the great lakes region

2) Use smaller wagon-train configurations to soften up the easier mute clans and leave the main wagon-train fleet for deeper strike raids. Or support the main trains with a couple of smaller trains (that only have say 50 combat troops - and no skyhawks) that can provide multi-prong attacks, back-up points, rescue operations etc. Similar in the way that a modern aircraft carrier battle group is organised with a variety of support ships, or the the smaller aircraft carriers and assualt ships that the marine corps use.

Wagon Train - ultra cool tech

From my first reading of the series, through to today some 20 years later I am still wowed by the concept of the wagon-trains. Most of my favourite sections of the series are those that take place with some involvement with the wagon trains.

I love big tech ideas - and in the Amtrak Federation there is nothing bigger than a wagon train. Patrick did such an amazing job of desribing their presence, operation and impact on the mutes, that those scenes throughout the series are memorable. This is not just limited to the combat scenes, but also the brief sections say like in Book 4 when 'The Lady' is making its high speed run to search for Steve and co, showed brief glimpses into the tracker world and how the trains are used.

As outlined in my earlier post, it would be great to see even bigger versions of the trains, or multi-train operations, something presented at the close of Book 5 when the federation finally takes out the McCalls once and for all with a 4 train attack. Think about that change in strategy - what would it mean for future wagon-train operations now that the Federation has seen how effective it has been.

Keen to hear thoughts.

Movie or mini-series for Amtrak Wars

Two things here:
1) Does anyone know what has happened to the movie version of Coud Warrior that was being developed by an Australian firm. I think there rights to the project were supposed to expire last year?
2) Who would you like to see play the main characters in an amtrak-wars movie or mini-series? The Dark Visions illustrated guide had great depictions of the characters - who do you think looks similar enough and could pull off the role?

Book 7 - What do we know

So the proposed book 7 - what do we know:
- proposed title - Ghost Rider
- Steve is apparently alive and has been brainwashed into being a loyal agent of the Federation, somehow he survived being shot by John Chisum at the end of book 6
- as the post below shows, Fran also survived the Amexico bombing of the first family train towards the end of book 6

What do people think could happen next?

Patricks forum response - Fran alive. & story teases

For a while in 2001 Patrick Tilley operated a forum on his site. The board was growing in popularity, and then alas it was closed. One message that I saved was this from Patrick below in relation to Fran Jefferson:

Fran Alive – Response from Patrick on forum 2001
Dear Neil - Re Fran. No. she didn't die. In book 7 readers were to discover she'd been seriously injured and badly disfigured. First Family medics had patched her body back together but the traumatic experience had left her with an even more unpleasant and psychotic personality - and Karlstrom was in the frame because she wanted to be the first ever female PG.

Does anyone else have any details that PT may have divulged over the years?