This is a work of fiction. All of the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental. Additional text in the middle of the paragraph. All rights are reserved by the author, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form.


Product names, brands, and other trademarks referred to within this book are the property of their respective trademark holders. Unless otherwise specified there is no association between the author and any trademark holder, nor are any expressed or implied. Nor does it express any endorsement by them, or of them. Use of a term in this book should not be regarded as affecting the validity of any trademark, service mark, or registered trademark. Addition to the end of the paragraph.


Cover Art


The background images are Batlow by Leigh Blackall (top) and Looking East over the Murrumbidgee River near Gumly Gumly by Bidgee (bottom). Both are copyrighted by their creators and their use is allowed by the Creative Commons Attribution - Share Alike Licence and terms. The cropping, size adjustment, and text are by Ernest Bywater. All rights to the cover images are reserved. Four words deleted and replaced with this text.



Also by Ernest Bywater


Clan Amir of Berant

Now in one large anthology this series is a mix of forty-five short stories, novellas, and novels which follows the important events in the post World War 2 life of a small country with a strong warrior tradition. It covers the significant modern heroes of the country, with a focus on four generations of a family who dedicate their lives to the welfare and protection of their people. Gordon Mannheim is a direct descendant of both Berant Royal lines. Born to a clan of warriors, born in a warrior society. Born to be a protector of his people, destined to protect his people and his country. Watch as he grows up to develops his skills and abilities he'll need to protect his people as he helps his country grow. Follow him from a child to a young man as he learns what he's capable of, and how to use his skills and abilities to defend his people and his country from many enemies, both within and without. Courage, concern, determination, is it enough to protect the people? They can but try, and do their best as they try. 370,100 words. Numeric value changed and this text added.


Star Performance

Sixteen, added in text to replace numerals, year old Hal Smith is a quiet, unassuming teen boy with a bad knee and no dreams. Taught to help people, he does so without thinking before acting. In Year Ten in a new city and school it's a year of living in interesting times as he's often in the wrong place at the wrong time doing the right thing. He'd once dreamed of being an International athlete and he had the skills to make the dreams come true, but lost them helping a stranger. In the process he delivers a Star Performance greater than most athletes can ever do. Lower case i changed to capital I within the original text and this sentence added.


The Contagion

There's a deadly virus sweeping the world bringing the recent dead back to life. A Think Tank Group is visiting the Cheyenne Mountain Complex when the problem is recognised and the alert issued. The senior members of the Think Tank are called into an emergency conference with all the senior military of the area where the Commander of the United States Northern Command lays out the problem and relays their orders from the Pentagon. Maximilian 'Mad Max' Milton, the second in charge of the Think Tank Group demonstrates the reason for his nickname, and then the war is on with the dangerous dead afflicted with The Contagion. Will they win the war, can they win the war? 12,600 words.


Same Sex Marriage Debacle

Gary, the brother of Pastor James visits his brother after many years away from him, and gives him advice on how to deal with the Same Sex Marriage Debate. He follows the advice and things happen that upsets a lot of people. 8,100 words.


Zombie / Hell Hound - 2 novellas

Zombie: An Australian soldier is killed in Afghanistan. Years later a young girl is abducted near her school in a rural Australian town. A strange man in worn Army desert camos discovers the girl, but she has a rare blood group and is bleeding to death. It's a race against time. The local community pulls together to help by donating blood; neighbours and strangers are determined to help her. A nearby Army base also helps this daughter of a well respected officer who died in Afghanistan. On the first days of her stay in the hospital there are some mysterious incidents, and some interesting revelations.


Hell Hound: 'Once a Marine, always a Marine.' was the code he lived by. His dictionary had no definition for 'impossible:' an exceptional man who wouldn't let his superiors stop him from doing what he saw as his duty, even if it's by himself after being retired. The story is told by his niece who's concerned about how the authorities are trying to rewrite his life for their own purposes.


Survivor: Moving On

Pat has survived life on the ranch and high school, but it's now time to go to university. He has lots of plans and intentions when he leaves home, but life and events change some of them for him. Life away from the ranch exposes Pat to a lot of different problems and dangers which he must steer a safe course through. It's time for him to move on with his life, and he does. 54,200 words.


Damsels in Distress Universe Rules

This book has the main rules for the Damsels in Distress Universe as approved by the universe creator, Lazlo Zalezac. Although not needed to enjoy the stories written in the universe it does help readers of the stories in the series to better understand the details of the operation of the universe, Chaos, and Crossroads and often they get more out of the story because of the knowledge in this book. It is accurate at the time of writing and only includes the approved canon of the universe. There are a few stories where the authors have deviated from these rules, but have still provided an interesting story. 9,600 words.


Chaos Calls: Learning Visit

Al Adams is recruited to be a Hero to work on Chaos. He’s taken on an orientation visit as a Hero Companion. Al, being the person he is, can’t help but look to change how things are done to change them for the better.


Chaos Calls: First Rescue

Al Adams makes his first visit to Chaos as a Hero. He must first prepare for the trip. A rescue is chosen and plans made. However, the plans must change to suit the developing situation he meets on the ground. He does push ahead in establishing himself on Chaos.


Chaos Calls: Dragon Dilemma

Al Adams is on his way back to Chaos for another rescue, and to do more about setting up his base of operations. This time he has a problem, he's being asked to make a rescue that all the other Heroes have knocked back as a fancy form of suicide! The Damsels are captives of Dragons, a protected species he's not allowed to harm. The Dragons are big, and dangerous. What can he do? He's the Damsels' last hope, dare he refuse, like the others have?


Chaos Calls: Behind the Lines

Al is asked to take on another special mission, but this time it’s well into enemy held lands where he can’t get any of the Chaos helpers to go with him. He has along a few of his people from Earth who are training to be Heroes or wish to leave Earth society for a life on Chaos. There are surprises for all on Chaos.


Chaos Calls: Island Girl

The rebels on Cassandra have tricked the system into sending an important person to Chaos when they didn’t want to go. Al is asked to rescue her then return her to Crossroads with two Damsels on the same island off the enemy held coast. He must arrive on Chaos too far from his usual helpers to involve them in freeing the islands from his enemies.


Chaos Calls: Into the Heartland

Some remnants of the Slaver War are rebuilding in the lands south of King Sid's area, so Al decides to stop them before they grow too big. The nearest safe entry on Chaos is the Rider Citadel well across the continent from Al's helpers, so he must again recruit help from the locals.


Shiloh

Shiloh is a land of plains, forests, and mountains on the planet Chaos. Two of the planet's most powerful Heroes are dead, and the Crossroads Bureaucracy is more of a hindrance than a help, due to treachery in their ranks. Kyle Alexander is the heir to Jonas, the Lord of Shiloh, he must now take up his inheritance due to Jonas' unexpected death, and solve many problems while fighting enemies and protect his people on both Earth and Chaos. 271,500 words.


Changes to the file


Addition at end of file after saving as 'example_file_2.odt' to show the differences being discussed. Changes will be made to the middle of the first 5 paragraphs, then saved as an .odt file then saved as a html file.