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Salamander Six
The island of St. Martin is the glittering jewel of the French Caribbean. When fire threatens its narrow streets and skyscraper-studded waterfronts, the daring airborne firemen of Marin-Pyronef answer the call. Their remotely piloted drones can suffocate flames before conventional fire engines could even roll out of the station, while their jumpcraft can drop rescuers onto the roofs of buildings that no ladder could reach. This is the vision that the company's founder, veteran smoke jumper Florian Archambeault, has spent the last 20 years building into a model of firefighting excellence.
Now, in a single afternoon, 70 years of domination by St. Martin's corrupt Colonial Administration comes crashing down. In haste to evacuate after a stunning military defeat, four people are trapped atop the administration headquarters by a raging fire. Locked in a safe room with their air supply running low, only one fire company has a chance to save them. This is the rescue that would make Marin-Pyronef's reputation on the world stage, and finally vindicate what Florian has spent a lifetime trying to prove.
But there's a problem.
Among those trapped is despised colonial commissioner Pascal Beaulieu, the man who ruined and exiled Florian two decades ago. Will Florian's sense of duty trump his thirst for revenge? Can he afford to save the most hated man on the island?
Now, in a single afternoon, 70 years of domination by St. Martin's corrupt Colonial Administration comes crashing down. In haste to evacuate after a stunning military defeat, four people are trapped atop the administration headquarters by a raging fire. Locked in a safe room with their air supply running low, only one fire company has a chance to save them. This is the rescue that would make Marin-Pyronef's reputation on the world stage, and finally vindicate what Florian has spent a lifetime trying to prove.
But there's a problem.
Among those trapped is despised colonial commissioner Pascal Beaulieu, the man who ruined and exiled Florian two decades ago. Will Florian's sense of duty trump his thirst for revenge? Can he afford to save the most hated man on the island?
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First published March 3, 2015
9 people want to read
About the author
Michael DiBaggio
8 books20 followersMichael is the co-creator (along with wife, Shell) of the Ascension Epoch, an open content, collaborative fiction project. In this setting, the re-emergence of superpowers and the invasion of H.G. Wells' Martians in the 19th century have led to a radically transformed present. Their work draws heavily upon public domain literature and comic books.
His most recent work, The Dismal Tide, follows the adventures, romances, and ethical conflicts of the East End Irregulars, a teenage superhero team from Pittsburgh. Other published Ascension Epoch books include After Dark, the first book in the East End Irregulars series; Salamander Six, a sci-fi short story about airborne firefighters; Population of Loss, a collection of four short stories set during the Martian Invasion; Copper Knights and Granite Men, a superhero/occult adventure story based on the King in Yellow mythos; and House of Refuge, a tale of ocean rescue service Atlantic Littoral, which won second place in the 2014 LFA/SFA Libertarian Short Story Contest.
His most recent work, The Dismal Tide, follows the adventures, romances, and ethical conflicts of the East End Irregulars, a teenage superhero team from Pittsburgh. Other published Ascension Epoch books include After Dark, the first book in the East End Irregulars series; Salamander Six, a sci-fi short story about airborne firefighters; Population of Loss, a collection of four short stories set during the Martian Invasion; Copper Knights and Granite Men, a superhero/occult adventure story based on the King in Yellow mythos; and House of Refuge, a tale of ocean rescue service Atlantic Littoral, which won second place in the 2014 LFA/SFA Libertarian Short Story Contest.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 10, 2016
I am so glad I was lead to read this short story SALAMANDER SIX, by Michael A. DiBaggio. It gives me a whole other universe to explore. A universe that comes from the creative minds of Micheal and Shell “Presto” DiBaggio, a husband and wife writing team. I love the clean cut writing, and that they provide full explanations of this new universe in the Appendix.
The protagonist, Florian Archambeault, is a fire fighter, owner of a fire fighting company called Marin-Pyronef. His method of airborne fighting enables him to get to the scene faster than land locked methods such as trucks and boats. The Salamander Six is a jumpcraft, command central so to speak, used in concert with raw vacuum drones called LV20 pyronefs that can swarm in close and dowse the fire to make way for the larger airborne fighting vessel. (Way cool!)
The story begins with chaos and mayhem on the island of St. Martin. The island Florian Archambeault was exiled to a decade ago by his nemesis, Commissioner Beaulieu, and that by a lucky turn of events, his nemesis is now evacuating the island because The French Colonial Authority, under Commissioner Beaulieu’s command, had been “abruptly and unceremoniously thrown off” the island. Florian pours himself a glass of Chambord to celebrate but is abruptly interrupted when notified that there is a fire on the 28th floor of the Tour de l’Uniteˋ building, and Commissioner Beaulieu is trapped inside. During all the intense firefighting action, with all the strapping on the “ceramic-and-steel struts of his exo-frame”, and “the hopper banking hard left”, and the “LV20 pyronefs remotely piloted firefighting ‘digs “delivering their flame-suffocating payload with maximum effect”, right in the middle of all that action there is a backstory that fully develops the characters and their relationships, all knit together producing an action packed, wham-bam, huge short story! Whew!!!!!!
After finishing this short story the question is posed “Looking for More?”, and my answer is yes.
The protagonist, Florian Archambeault, is a fire fighter, owner of a fire fighting company called Marin-Pyronef. His method of airborne fighting enables him to get to the scene faster than land locked methods such as trucks and boats. The Salamander Six is a jumpcraft, command central so to speak, used in concert with raw vacuum drones called LV20 pyronefs that can swarm in close and dowse the fire to make way for the larger airborne fighting vessel. (Way cool!)
The story begins with chaos and mayhem on the island of St. Martin. The island Florian Archambeault was exiled to a decade ago by his nemesis, Commissioner Beaulieu, and that by a lucky turn of events, his nemesis is now evacuating the island because The French Colonial Authority, under Commissioner Beaulieu’s command, had been “abruptly and unceremoniously thrown off” the island. Florian pours himself a glass of Chambord to celebrate but is abruptly interrupted when notified that there is a fire on the 28th floor of the Tour de l’Uniteˋ building, and Commissioner Beaulieu is trapped inside. During all the intense firefighting action, with all the strapping on the “ceramic-and-steel struts of his exo-frame”, and “the hopper banking hard left”, and the “LV20 pyronefs remotely piloted firefighting ‘digs “delivering their flame-suffocating payload with maximum effect”, right in the middle of all that action there is a backstory that fully develops the characters and their relationships, all knit together producing an action packed, wham-bam, huge short story! Whew!!!!!!
After finishing this short story the question is posed “Looking for More?”, and my answer is yes.
May 31, 2016
Very interesting short. Florian Archambeault, a fire jumper, is called in to save a vicious dictator, Beaulieu, who ruined his. Talk about a predicament. Would you answer the call and put your life in peril or let him and his crony’s burn? This is the premise of the story.
The island of St. Martin is in revolt. The despised French government is being overthrown and those who can are attempting to evacuate the island by any means possible. Sound familiar? Think of Cuba when Castro took control and you can form an excellent picture.
Florian and his company are called to perform a rescue at the Tour de l’Unite. Access to the burning town isn’t possible from the ground. Rioters have blocked the streets. The only access to the towering inferno is through the air.
The vehicles used, to perform this feat are LV20 pyronefs. While this isn’t a sci-fi story per say, the firefighting technology rivals any Jules Verne novel. It might not exist right now, but its author, Michael A. DiBaggio who has planted plant a seed that could have engineers working late into the night trying to figure out how it can become a reality.
The description of Florian and his men going into the maelstrom is superb! I appreciate an author who can tell a solid story, mix in technology and provide a moral and keep the reader’s attention.
A solid four star work!
The island of St. Martin is in revolt. The despised French government is being overthrown and those who can are attempting to evacuate the island by any means possible. Sound familiar? Think of Cuba when Castro took control and you can form an excellent picture.
Florian and his company are called to perform a rescue at the Tour de l’Unite. Access to the burning town isn’t possible from the ground. Rioters have blocked the streets. The only access to the towering inferno is through the air.
The vehicles used, to perform this feat are LV20 pyronefs. While this isn’t a sci-fi story per say, the firefighting technology rivals any Jules Verne novel. It might not exist right now, but its author, Michael A. DiBaggio who has planted plant a seed that could have engineers working late into the night trying to figure out how it can become a reality.
The description of Florian and his men going into the maelstrom is superb! I appreciate an author who can tell a solid story, mix in technology and provide a moral and keep the reader’s attention.
A solid four star work!
June 12, 2016
Salamander Six is a wonderful sojourn into the alternate history that Michael and Shell have created...additionally, this work showcases just how versatile this writer is. The rules and physics and character of this universe remain constant, and yet the characters are completely unique, and have a depth that is refreshing. The moral dilemma presented to the protagonist is a delicious one, and while it underscores all that happens - the journey to the moral high ground is well written and not preachy - in fact it flows organically as the hero experiences each step of his journey. He is a Firefighter, who is also fighting a raging fire within his very heart and soul - with a once in a lifetime opportunity to deliver karmic retribution to someone who wronged him. The other characters are well written and not simply one dimensional foils for an internal struggle. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to more.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews