secret-project/Baseline.md

Book Outline:

Working Title: *The Difference Between an Idiot and a Moron*

Step I -- the 'Big Idea':

'Adir's spectacularly mediocre lifestyle is unsuprisingly jeopardised
when he's drafted into *nature's dumbest animal --* the military'

Step II -- Plot Outline:

I. The Big Idea

*\"Adir proudly leads a nice, coushined life: he's chosen his future
profession, he hangs out at his friend's house every now and then, and
he kinda likes serving coffee to nice strangers. Obviously ready for an
outstanding grown-up life, he's drafted into the military like everyone
else his age, perfectly prepared to complete his civil duty and achieve
the 'Meaningful Service'."*

II\. Structure:

I. The Naivete

\"Yes, I'm just going to tell them I'll do whatever. I like hard work.
It's going to be so cool!"

II\. First Contact with The Beast

\"No, I never jaywalked. Should I have said I had to get a good role?"

III\. I'm Not Scared; I'm Amused!

\"Hey, look! The're giving us guns! It's so cold! Cool! I don't need
that much sleep!"

IV\. Big Things Are Coming

\"Yes, I'm learning computers. It's very difficult, because we'll be the
center of the universe."

**V. \...Big Things** ***Are*** **Coming, Right?**

\"This is just a temporary stopgap. It doesn't stay *this* boring.
Right?"

VI\. Of Course I Have A Say! I'm Just Being Civil.

\"Now that we smoothed things out and compromised, that big role is
coming!"

**VII. I'm Starting To Think It's Best We Seperate. \['Bleakest
Moment'\]**

\"I'm just going to Uni real quick. You guys don't mind, right?"

VIII\. Nature's Dumbest Animal

\"You have got to be kidding me."

IX\. How Is This Still Going On?

\"I have no shame, nothing to prove, and will never get up from this
beanbag"

X. Your Maw Stinks But So Does Mine

\"So long, and thanks for -- um, nevermind"

Summarized:

Act I-IV -- The Naivete

Act V-VII -- The Helplesness

Act VII-X -- Belly of the Beast

III\. Characters:

-   The Protagonist:

    What does the character want/need? Why?

    Just like everyone twice his age, Adir just wants things to line up
    nicely, and to be left in relative peace in his comfort zone.

    What/Who is preventing that?

    The country's sacred tax that all citizens go through three years of
    stupid, and it's enforcers insistince that you see how awesome it
    is, too.

    What personal flaws does this reveal? How does it hinder?

    Appearently, Adir's gentle mediocre soul is of an idealist mule, and
    Adir is a smug, selfish idiot.

    What will be done to accomplish the goals?

    Every loop hole, mental shortcut, and all stages of depression will
    desperately attempt to seize control of the situation.

    What qualities emerge?

    The smug, selfish idiot idealist mule becomes an extremely smug,
    passively selfish, sobered up idiot idealist.

IV\. Plot:

Adir is quite the standard, mild and boring teenager/young adult -- he's
just finished highschool, awaiting his drafting into the military, just
like everyone else. He's lined up a suprisingly good role in the
military because he eagerly told the Human Resources Commander Who Is
Not An Officer he likes assembling computers to play video games on, and
because he went to those prep things. He won't have as much time to play
it now, but it's okay, because afterwards he's scheduled himself to go
forth, earn lots of money, fund his Biotech degree and go about saving
the world.

Here comes the Sacred Cow, and that *'Meaningful Service'* everyone's on
about. What could go wrong?

V. Setting:

The story takes place in a series of ridicolous army bases -- the Spring
Buds Rookie Base, the Defense Force Cyber Academy of Computing
Proffessions, the Hutspace Base Cluster, The Borough, and finally, Job
Field Airbase. While fundamentally different, each is a manifestation of
a trait of the army -- the pointlesness, the false hopes, the neglect,
the arrogance, and a mix of all.

VI\. Main Characters:

Adir -- a soft, unwisened but optimist teen who seeks to lead a
meaningful life, and do so fairly comfortably. He sees himself as an
iron wall -- whatever he decides comes to be -- but that doesn't mean
he's looking for confrontation. Or does it.

Gilad Ben David -- while they share a core, Gilad is Adir's military
opposite -- he's wisened up and pragmatic, held fairly high -- but not
too high -- by his commanders, and always willing to just keep his head
down until everyone just shuts up -- his greatest wish. He is just as
bitter, and though he'll never admit it -- just as passionate.

Yoav -- upbeat, brilliant, sensetive, fiercy loyal and ill-lucked, Yoav
is constantly trampled by the military's worst, who take advantage of
his non-confronting nature. He's almost helpless -- but he always sticks
up for his friends despite his own real troubles and self doubts.

Max - severely depressed and hit worst by the army's blaring
insensitivity, max has a soul like no other -- rife with wit, cynicism,
unbeliveable resillience and lots of great memes. He is the greatest
passive-agressor known to man.

Ana - A periphery girl in all her heart, Ana has grown up in the
military and can't see what all the bad fuss is about. She is incredibly
fair, reasonable and welcoming, which throws absolutely everyone off
guard -- to her confused dismay. Life absolutely refuses to give her a
break.

Gilad Henessee -- A recently promoted officer who believes in
discipline, values of service and properly shined shoes, which naturally
makes him Adir's archnemessis and generally dislikeable to all. Gilad
has taken a sacred vow to educate Adir to the greatness of the military,
while Adir has taken a sacred vow to make Gilad at least as miserable as
he is at all times.s

Ronen -- a salt of the earth, blindly positive and very highly
self-esteemed NCO in command of Adir's Job Field Squad. Ron sees himself
as the penultimate educator, and his soldiers as gooselings to take
under his wings. Ron is absolutely fantastic and very kind, so long as
you lead your life and service exactly as he graciously envisions them
for you.

Johnny -- if the army's a game, then Johnny is the MVP -- and he's
stayed here so long because he knows how to put out fires. Just keep it
down, and he'll cut you a deal -- so long as you remember he sets the
price. His ultimate goal is to retire early to a fat pension -- help,
and you're a friend. Hinder, and you'll find out who *really* is the
commander.

Current Outline

The book will constantly go back and forth between the three acts --
Naivete, Helplesness, and the Belly of The Beast. Within each part, the
plot will be somewhat linear -- but events will reference each other
across acts.

Opener \[4\]-- Adir wakes up particularly grumpy after a Job Field
Saturday, desperate for peace, when a drill -- the absolutely worst day
-- starts.

Link: Character Contrast

Chapter I \[An Elephant Tranquiliser To Remenber\]-- Undrafted Adir is
working the afternoon at the coffeeshop and chatting with his coworker.
They reminecse about this peaceful time against his upcoming drafting.
He folds it up at the end of the day feeling satisfied with a day's
work, and excited for the future.

Chapter I \[Go Home, Kid\] -- Adir goes through the transition from a
CFDS to a rookie in a turbulent day -- his very first contact with the
beast.

Link: ~~Needle bruise in Adir's shoulder~~

Chapter II \[The New Cyber\] -- Adir writes his first stupid poem in
service -- one of many -- about the new Cyber coursemates which everyone
seems to hate. He is struggling to keep his initial optimism, and the
course's intensity wears him down despite support from his coursemates.

Link:

Chapter III \[The Grand Computing Conference Room\] -- In the midst of a
surprise drill, Adir rallies up his squadmates and then his
platoonmates, where they try to escape the amok of the commanders. These
encounters bring to light Adir's troubled relationship with his
commanders.

Link:

Chapter IV \[Machine Is Perfect\] -- Adir is at the gunrange, at a day
which encompasses the quintessential rookie experience. He starts coming
into grips with the incident, from which begins his slow sinking.

Link: Miserable Dinner

Chapter V \[Cat Fall Break Ceiling Again\] -- Adir is eating a late
miserable supper with a few of his coursemates, reminescing about the
gunrange, how stupid it's been and how it's all about to get better. He
is reminescing about this from the Pit, writing a stupid poem.

Link: From Pit to Post-Exile

Chapter VI \[Tears of the CSU\] -- Adir returns from a long exile into
his first day at Job Field airbase. Wounded and solitary, he establishes
a relationship of trust with his squadmates and his commanders -- only
one of which will last.

Link: New Beginnings -- first and last stop.

Chapter VII \[Touchscreen Showers\] - Day old rookies at the Spring Buds
Rookie Base are awaiting their promised transfer out to INBA City, where
they'll enjoy touch screen showers and waffles. The days go by until
they realise that bus isn't coming.

Link: Wretched Bus.

Chapter VIII \[Line 6\] -- Adir goes through the ordeal of getting to
the wretched Hutspace base complex, only to arrive and realise no one
noticed his absence. He stays the weekend in comfort at the 'office',
only for everything to sink in when he makes his way home, bleeding
randomly.