Book of Stone: General Zou Zheng Duan

For April, Stone Soldiers.info is celebrating the A to Z Blog Challenge with daily letter-themed entries. A separate page with a list of all these entries, plus Character Profiles and Book Synopses will appear on the right hand side of the page in coming weeks, detailing the people, places and things of the Stone Soldiers universe.

A Rogue Chinese General, and commander of the Lanzhou District, Zuo was a student in the Temple of Perfection as a child, but was expelled for his aggressive, warlike demeanor. Zou entered the People’s Army and rose through the ranks, never forgetting his lessons in the Temple. Through political maneuvering, Zou became the District Commander for Lanzhou District, where he knew the Lost City of Shamballa to be located. 


In 2013, Zuo launched a secret raid of Shamballa, uncovering its wonders and a Ring Portal into the heart of the Forbidden City and the vault of magical artifacts beneath it. Stealing the artifacts, Zuo used them to try and trigger a war between the US and People’s Republic, hoping that in the aftermath, he could install himself as the First Emperor of the World, and restore China to what he felt was its rightful place. (SS08: Terrorcota).

Zou's plans fell apart however when Detachment 1039 responded, eliminating his forces in Colorado and pursuing him back to Shamballa, where he was killed.

Book of Stone: Ymir

For April, Stone Soldiers.info is celebrating the A to Z Blog Challenge with daily letter-themed entries. A separate page with a list of all these entries, plus Character Profiles and Book Synopses will appear on the right hand side of the page in coming weeks, detailing the people, places and things of the Stone Soldiers universe.

Ymir, also known as Aurgelmir, Brimir, or Bláinn, is a being from Norse mythology--the ancestor of all Jötnar. Mentioned in the Poetic Edda, he is described as a primeval being who was born from venom that dripped from the icy rivers Élivágar and lived in the grassless void of Ginnungagap. Ymir is credited with creating the Norse gods themselves:  Odin, Vili, and Vé. He is also claimed to have created the Earth, the oceans, the clouds, the heavens, and  the middle realm in which mankind lives, Midgard. In addition, one stanza relates that the dwarfs were given life by the gods from Ymir's flesh and blood (or the Earth and sea).

Ymir was purportedly betrayed by his offspring--the brothers Odin, Vili, and Vé, who conspired to kill him.


More modern legends of Ymir depict him as the father of the Frost Giants--those terrible monsters fought by Odin and the Aesir. Whatever origins, if Ymir had survived to the modern era, he would surely be one of the most dangerous opponents yet for Detachment 1039.

Book of Stone: XAH-1X Eclipse helicopter

For April, Stone Soldiers.info is celebrating the A to Z Blog Challenge with daily letter-themed entries. A separate page with a list of all these entries, plus Character Profiles and Book Synopses will appear on the right hand side of the page in coming weeks, detailing the people, places and things of the Stone Soldiers universe.

The XAH-1X experimental attack helicopter was more a testing platform for advanced concept helicopter systems than an actual pre-prototype aircraft. Consisting of several modified, surplus Supercobra AH-1J dual-engine attack helos, the program began at Groom Lake Air Force Base.

Initially, the helos were fitted with an experimental, sustained EMP system designed to blind or damage enemy electronics to prevent detection of non-Stealth aircraft. The system was dubbed the Eclipse--a name given to the test platform helicopters to distinguish them from standard Supercobras. While the jamming systems proved effective it was decded that a Stealth aircraft like the F-117 or RAH-66 would be better suited, allowing for surgical strikes of hostile installations, rather than the unfocused, electronics-damaging XAH-1X.

Chosen for its dual engines--required for the heavy generators required for EMP bursts, the Eclipse helos saw new life in the late 1980s as test plarforms for experimental plasma-shell anti-armor guns. 

By 1995, the Eclipse program had been discontinued and the remaining aircraft were consigned to storage at Groom Lake. However, when the costumed parahuman Sentinel began a series of terrorist attacks an emergency refit of one Eclipse gunship was ordered, the plasma-filled projectiles its vulcan cannon could fire believed to be capable of injuring the Sentinel. The helicopter was successful in injuring Sentinel and driving him out of U.S. airspace. (SS04: Shades of War). 

It is presumed any Eclipse helicopters have been returned to storage at Groom Lake.