Tommy Tuckernocker: Shadow Warrior

Table of Contents

Title Page

Tommy Tuckernocker: Shadow Warrior

by L. E. Doggett

copyright:

Reviews:

Other works by L. E. Doggett

Preface :

Foreward:

Section One:

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Section Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Section Three

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Section Four:

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Section Five:

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

About L. E. Doggett

Thank You for reading this and I ask you to make a review on the site where you bought it form

and if you liked it even a little, tell other readers.

Tommy Tuckernocker: Shadow Warrior

by L. E. Doggett

copyright:

Tommy Tuckernocker: Shadow Warrior

By L. E. Doggett

Published by Louis Doggett

Copyright 2015 Louis Doggett

Reviews:

[email protected].

Author of Greenstar: What happens when you mix Buck Rogers, Star Trek, and a generous dollop of humor? Where to find this one and others by David

https://davidjhiggins.wordpress.com/opus/

Normally, freezing to death in deep space is pretty permanent. But Engineer Josie Stein just woke up a thousand years in the future, aboard the U.F.S. Greenstar, a recycled spaceship on a mission to stop the self-destructive aliens of the galaxy from wiping themselves out.

Quote for Tommy Tuckerknocker: Shadow Warrior:

Decidedly gritty action set in a world not unlike our own. Filled with small unit tactics and airship combat, and without a single convention-defying young lady in sight, Doggett's novel is firmly military steampunk.

Christian Freed author of Where Have All The Elves Gone A good solid adventure This one and more books here http://christianfreed.wix.com/christianwarrenfreed#!books/cnec

While I don't profess to any knowledge of the steam punk genre I immediately felt comfortable after only a few pages of jumping into Louis Doggett's Tommy Tuckerknocker. Being a former soldier myself, I easily followed the flow and pacing of the story as Tommy took his team through a series of life and death situations that were not only action packed, but realistic in terms of how they play out. This book was not only enjoyable, but easily read. I found myself at the end much faster than I was prepared for. Kudos to Mr. Doggett for writing an enjoyable tale.

Other works by L. E. Doggett

A Taste of Spam in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Ten. Voyager’s computer gets infested with alien spam.

At the usual sites.

Indie published:

Above My Pay GradeX2 Urban Fantasy tale with deadly encounters, a mystery, mythical animals and a mage with emotional baggage who has to do stop a deadly event from happening and killing many people including her friends.

At smashwords

And other sites.

Flying Eagle: Seven Fantasy Stories. Dragons, advancing armies with an innocent mother between them, a hungry giant, more adventure and humor.

Flying Eagle: Long And Short Stories Presents 5 SF Stories. Aliens, starfighter pilots, a special forest, friendly competition between human man and alien sports fan. Find these at the same sites.

Preface :

Two, maybe three and a half years ago, I discovered steampunk. I read a couple of short stories and my first steampunk novel-The Janus Affair by Pip Ballantine and Tee Morris, which I loved. Since then I have read the Mammoth book of Steampunk edited by Sean Wallace along with a few stories online and in other anthologies. That includes, the book The Clockwork Dagger by Beth Cato and one or two others. Since I am a writer(more about what I have written later), somewhere along the way my muse decided I wanted to write steampunk. Besides this novel you have in your hands or on your screen, I have written half a dozen steampunk stories. One is a steampunk and alchemy fusion-one is a flash romance, one has Tinkerbell type fairies in a steampunk setting, one takes place in orbit around the Earth.

One day I started what I thought would be a humorous flash story. Nope; it’s neither humorous nor flash. I hope there are some fun parts and some sections with humor, but over all it’s serious and it is long-short novel length. At the time I didn’t think of writing a total of five rather long--one very long--tales about my hero Lieutenant Tommy Tuckerknocker, but I don’t mind that I have. It was fun. None of the adventures here were planned, even though I must say that I knew one would be in his hometown and I knew that the final tale would be war, but that was about it for the planning. I hope you enjoy these stories and to tell your friends who like Steampunk, stories of war, adventure and Special Ops.

Foreward:

I wanted to leave you with a word about the world Tommy lives in, but I was advised by someone who has written and sold steampunk novels that I shouldn’t say too much. That I should let you find out how this world is shaped, however I still feel the need to do some explaining. It takes place alternate earth, very close to ours, but with a couple of significant twists. Which isn’t all that unusual for Steampunk.

Anyway, among many other situations and events, in these stories the Kaiser rules Deutschland Zwei with an iron hand and wants to take over various countries around his. One of the countries he wants badly is New Devon-the homeland of Tommy and Team-even though it is a couple of countries over from his.

With the stories there are tidbits here and there about the land, local politics and how people live. Some Native Americans do live mixed in with the citizens of some of the countries but a few tribes have their own lands.

In future stories Tommy will be going on a couple of longer trips to one or three of the countries just mentioned in these tales. And as a side note he just may find a young woman he likes. I haven’t decide who, but probably not one of the women in any of these tales. Warning: I said probably-that isn’t set in stone so…

I want to thank the Cover Artist—Paul Potiki. Web site: http://bookcoverwhisperer.net He did a great job on the cover. Much better than what I imagined. One thing is that the Hindy Jr. in the story is even smaller and has a gasbag that less like a football than this one and it’s armed but as a whole it so well done and I am well pleased with it. I hope my story is up to the cover. Only you can decide that. I worked on doing the best job I can do.

Finally I want to thank Steve Turnbull the writer who advised me with this forward and with the blurb. His web page is here: He gave me some advice on the blurb and forward as I said already. If you have not heard of him or checked him out, do so. He is a good writer and has some very good tales.

**

I worked on the editing myself, so even though I tried hard and went over it more than twice, some sections three and four times-after some stuff was pointed out by an early reader-I believe the misspelled words, bad commas and typos are few. I have corrected quite a few, nitpicks, but some no doubt got pass me, and I apologize for that. Most copy editors charge more than I was willing to pay. But whatever you think of the editing remember I tried.

That’s it for this foreword. The time period might seem a little mixed up as well as the societies-New Devon is almost a twin to the US-but this all fits with what my muse wanted. This is an alternate world after all.

So do enjoy yourself and Happy Reading.

Section One:

Clockwork Rocket Factory: heat, chases, battle against time.

Chapter One

Sabotage the Factory-Run

Tommy Tuckernocker pulled the lever. The pressure started to build: a steam whistle went off. He covered his ears and grimaced, as did three other members of his team who stood with him in the stack of pipes and converters. The loudness indicated how much back pressure had built in just a second. The pressure released by the whistle would not be enough, however.

Five men--even if two were female--waited thirty paces back in an intersection made up of large and small pipes. Water surged through some, while steam flowed inside others, some pipes neither gurgled, or hissed. Those sounded empty when tapped. He could smell the heated metal in some pipes and decided he didn’t need to warn his men not to touch them-they were adults even though very young. Not that he was much older. Sweat dripped off his forehead-the water back at the airship would be good, right before some of the cold beer they carried.

As members of the Ministry of Clandestine Affairs and Shadow Warriors of New Devon each member of the team wore thick all black clothes; pants, high collars on the jackets and a bandana over their mouths and googles for their eyes. The last helped them see as well as disguise their looks. The passageways they now headed back down wove between multiple layers of pipes-a low, grey tin roof spread out over head.

Tommy looked around: certain pipes looked a dull red while others had a gray metal color and a few green. They needed to get a move on, before this huge boiler exploded which would set off the one next to it and at least one more. This factor had to go.

More sweat dripped under his arms, he couldn’t wait until they made it back outside: their clothes made them hot and sweaty in here. The thick shirt-like a fireman’s-with its many buckles on his sleeves was hot. They had practiced in hot buildings, which let them know they would survive, even while uncomfortable.

Black framed goggles over the eyes and a skin-tight cap helped to hide what they looked like. The goggles also helped them to see at night, or in steam.  

A white cloud formed above the large boiler and rose up. The boiler, ugly with uneven welds and a shape that was off, appeared even larger than most hot air balloons used for transport. And it was going to blow-in minutes.

Pain grew in his ears, but he forced his hand to reach into his jacket into a pocket and drew out a piece of long, very thick wire. He placed it under the lever and with the help one of the team members he twisted the wire many times around it. Even through his insulated gloves two fingers burned, he knew from the others sudden hiss that he also received a burn. The needed the heat to accomplish their mission though. They had to blow up this factor. The Kaiser had designed his new clockwork rockets here and he planned to build them here too. He has seen one in a demonstration. The cigar shaped device was larger than a horse and carriage. It could carry 500 pounds of TNT over a hundred miles and strike the correct target. The one he saw, was much smaller but the idea was the same. A small gear was turned by a key place in a hole on its side. That gear turned a larger one that set a pulley and chain into motion, much like the gear and chains in a Cuckoo clock.

    Once done he stepped back, pulled out a hand weapon. A black weapon, with a long barrel with a narrow handgrip. Darken silver ran down each side, peaked at where the handgrip started. What looked like tiny hinges covered the bullet cylinder. Thick wires covered an extension on the end of the barrel. 

     He held the hard smooth surface of the grip with an professional hold. The scent of hot metal grew and spread. The white cloud spread out, lighter edges flouted down. An intake of breath brought warm moisture with a copper flavor. Time to leave.

      Tommy motioned for the others to head out. He watched one man tap another, who kept watch down the hallway on the shoulder. They knew the plan, so Tommy headed away from the device as quick as he could move his legs.  

     A movement in a doorway, he brought his weapon up, a grey covered arm came through the door. Tommy aimed his gun. A face, appeared, a body followed. The face looked worried, then froze, fear grew on it when he saw the men in black. One of Tommy’s team stood to one side as the solider brought his weapon up, Tommy aimed his gun, but the man on the side took one step and punched the solider in the stomach. When he bent over in pain, Tommy took two quick steps forward grabbed the rifle, pulled it away. The solider tried to grab it back, but as he straightened up Tommy punched him in the chin. His eyes rolled up, and he collapsed like a broken flexible steam pipe.  

     Tommy gave his man a quick smile, before he motioned his men forward. They went through the door one at a time, spread out on the other side. Tommy closed the door, locked it. The man inside might be able to make it out in time, or he still might survive where he lay.

     A burnt rubber smell grew as he closed the door, they needed to get going so they would survive. He made two hand motions to tell his men to hurry and to follow.  

     Half way to the other door a hand on his sleeve told him he needed to pay attention to something. He glanced at the face of the person who wanted his attention. She wore her hair short-cut like a man’s to disguise her gender-with the same bandana, goggles and black face paint like all of them but he still knew her.

     She pointed to a side door, motioned to her ear. So she had heard something in that doorway. It probably led to an office. He moved over to it. Indeed voices could be heard from inside. Sounded like two voices-no three, but the third one sounded faint and fuzzy. Some type of radio or tele-device; maybe a voice tube to another office. 

     He listened for a moment, it sounded like the one of the two men present talked to someone in another part of the complex. After a moment his eyebrows rose. A unit of enemy soldiers stood near the meeting place. Time for an alternate plan. 

     Damn, they never work. The main plan had been developed  through hours of brainstorming and discussion by various  veterans. Everything had been planned out to get them in and out before the enemy weapon blew-if not they were as good as dead.   Many veterans had advised Tommy that even the most well laid plan falls apart when it meets the enemy, but he knew men who claimed it always worked out better when you had a plan to work through. Most of the officers he had served under always planned. 

     It looked like this one would go by the way side though. He waved his men back from the doorway, reviewed a map he had memorized. There were alternate routes, but which one would be better. He didn’t have time to think about it, they had to go now. Tommy made a hand motion for a huddle. Two men would keep watch while he told them they would go a different route. He didn’t have time to explain, but hoped they would trust him.

      As they moved on he noticed this part of the base smelled clean, like they had just scrubbed it. Since this area looked like offices, maybe they had. 

     He stopped when a thought formed to mind. He shook his head, he would get the hang of this. He motioned Conrad forward. He had the best hearing so he would be point. Conrad knew his job, he hurried forward, stopped ten yards in front. 

     Tommy glanced behind him to make sure everyone was present. Once he saw his whole team stood near him he motioned the men forward. He picked up the pace. Noises: metal against metal, hiss of steam pressure building, angry voices, came from behind.

     The air became hotter, but that could be his imagination. A booming sound indicated that the base personal were attempting to bash the door open. The door was all metal and the frame looked well made so he didn’t think they could succeed. Outside where they could have room to swing better or to bring up a larger ram, they might do it, but not inside.

     They came to a door with an alarm. That came as a surprise but he got busy at it. The alarm was simple so it took him only a moment. The door however had a better lock. It took him a very long moment to unlock it. He had to hold one of his tools in his mouth as he used both hands. The new style plastic coating on the screwdriver tasted burnt and like a massive glob of overused bad gum--yecch. At least the door’s lock was only mechanical and not steam-driven though.

     A click caused his heart rate to go up, a second one made him want to shout. He turned the handle and the door swung open. The team went in and he made sure the door was locked. Once they found the correct hallway, he made the symbol for running. The building pressure sounded louder even though it came through at least three walls. He caught a scent of excessively hot metal. It must come from the air ducts, or they had come around in a circle. He refused to believe the last though. 

     The point man waved, everyone froze. A worker came around a corner, he wore a grey coveralls. He smelled of cigarette smoke. Must have been on break when he got a call. He zipped around the corner, looked at the uniforms, blinked. To Tommy it looked like it took him a second to decide they were not on his side. He raised his hands, tried to backpedal. He must not have noticed the point man who clipped behind one ear. He dropped. Another member of the unit pulled the unconscious man into a room. They went on.

     Tommy halted them at spot where two corridors branched away. He pictured the map, he had memorized, motioned his men down one of the branches. The point man went first. Tommy nodded to himself, his men moved with quick, efficient, and silent movements. A motion up ahead caught his attention. The point man rushed forward to grab someone about to use a speaking tube. Tommy didn’t know where it led, but it probably would not be good for them. Samuelson rushed to join him. Both quickly subdued the man--no woman this time. They used duck tape to try her hands behind her, gagged her with her own scarf, placed her in a room. 

     A moment later though they stopped. Tommy blinked, tried to not let puzzlement show on his face. The corridor ended in a wall-one that did not belong there. A moment of panic, Plan B also failed. A quick review of the map in his memory, this was the right hallway. 

Chapter Two

The Map Is Wrong

An alarm went off. Time had run out. He stood for a second frozen-damn someone must have done some remodeling without telling the map maker. The noise blared, he smelled his own sweat, or of his men but it didn’t matter; tasted bile. His men would be killed or worse captured. It would be his fault as their leader. Up until this moment he had depended on the plan and map, but he would need to amend his plan.

He had seconds to decide. Wait-according to the map an office had an outside window. Three hallways over. 

In a whisper he said, This way, as he went through the group.

On the way he saw looks of puzzlement on some of the faces, but they came with him--they still trusted him. He wanted to shake his head in wonderment. 

He started off as an easy run. He didn’t glance behind him, to see if they ran at the same speed, but he wanted to badly. 

Tommy passed through one intersection, ran harder, slowed as he reached the last corridor. He hoped that office with windows was still there. A peak around the corner, three men in suits standing around. They looked confused like they didn’t know what to do. 

No time to wait for them to move. No help for it then. He motioned his men to follow him and spun around the corner. He ran by the first man who looked even more confused before fear crossed his face. Tommy ignored him, ran on. He knocked the second man out of his way. He thought he caught a whiff of urine, one of the men might of wet his pants, or they were close to one of the new style bathrooms. A smack told him that someone, probably Samuelson, had punched one of the three. A slight thud indicated the guy hit the wall. Probably had been aiming for the speaking tube Tommy had noticed set in a wall.

       He read the numbers and names on the doors, stopped at the right one. A turn of the doorknob found it locked, of course. No need for quiet now-he made a hand sign for the largest guy to break it open. One kick by Rogers sent the door flying open. It bounded back when it hit the side wall, but sunlight met his eyes. He wanted to smile. Instead he waved his men into the office, locked the door. They only had maybe two minutes before one of those men sounded the alarm. By the time soldiers got here they would be gone. The soldiers didn’t matter however because they had only a two minutes at most before the generator blew.

      Once inside he picked up a chair, threw it through one window. The crash sounded good. Samuelson picked up a larger easy chair and slammed it through the other window. That one exploded outward with enough force to take all the