Help writing a story

[filmguy]

APOLOGIES: I should have posted this in 'Off Topic' but made a mistake.

Hi
I am writing a story and I need some information for a small part of it. A few pages happen in a UAV control centre (say at Creech) between a young female pilot (piloting the UAV), her payload guy and...? I'm willing to pay for some research on this subject as long as you are knowlegeable and legit. I do not, repeat do not need or want anything that would be considered 'sensitive'. I just want some good decent info. Who would actually be in a small GCS? What would be their ranks/descriptions? Who would they liase with outside of the GCS (on the ground say in Afgahnistan?) by comms? I just want to be able to use this info to create an authentic scenario and not some dumbass guesstimate. I also need examples of what the comms chatter would actually be during an operation like this-a UAV strike on a target in Afghanistan. Get in touch if you are interested. Again, positively I do not need or want any info that could be regarded as sensitive...that is I'm not after anything that would make anyone feel uncomfortable in sharing the information and/or would make them feel insecure in their current positions, absolutely nothing infringing on OPSEC. If you need to know more about me just PM me and I'd be happy to answer anything you want. Thanks!

[Royal]

Some contact details would help - your email address is less than enlightening.

No matter how many times you insist that you don't want sensitive information (whatever that means) no one in that line of work is going to talk to you without clearance/putting their balls on the block.

[Proudgrandson]

You might consider putting any future such request in Off Topic.

[filmguy]

Some contact details would help - your email address is less than enlightening.

No matter how many times you insist that you don't want sensitive information (whatever that means) no one in that line of work is going to talk to you without clearance/putting their balls on the block.

Ok, well I had no clue about that, I'm just a civilian. I guess I assumed because I can see a video on Youtube about what the inside of a GCS looks like and have heard comms chatter freely used on some TV series/films (but pure army not UAV) that this kind of info wouldn't be a risk to anyone-it's just that I don't know the right people to get in touch with. The authenticity is what I'm going for. I guess I have misjudged this. Thanks for the update.

[SoSo]

About UAVs I know practically nothing, although I'm a supporter of any technoloogy which helps us to avoid risking the lives of our servicemen. In any case, I wish you the best of luck with your story.

[filmguy]

Thank you - it's hard to get any military 'people' to help, for understandable reasons I guess, but I am legit and happy to correspond with anyone via PM if they want to help.

[ErikM]

Tom Clancy's first novel was absolutely awful when it came to research. He went on to have a pretty good career.

I don't think your average techno-thriller reader is going to have any idea what a UAV control centre looks like, or what the procedures are, or what the radio chatter is like. I've read thrillers that have been extremely well researched, but that didn't necessarily make them exciting.

[Zoomie]

Do some of your own research. It isn't that hard, the info is out there.

[filmguy]

Tom Clancy's first novel was absolutely awful when it came to research. He went on to have a pretty good career.

I don't think your average techno-thriller reader is going to have any idea what a UAV control centre looks like, or what the procedures are, or what the radio chatter is like. I've read thrillers that have been extremely well researched, but that didn't necessarily make them exciting.

You make a good point and as what I'm doing is 'fiction' I've considered it but part of me wants to get the details right so I don't do a disservice to the military. Thanks for your comment.

[James]

Say things like "Target in sight", "Weapons Free" and "Roger". Or watch Syriana.

[Get_It]

Here's just a quick suggestion since people won't be able to help for the reasons given above:
1. Contact the USAF (don't they actually have people in PR for this kind of stuff?)
2. Contact the companies that develop the UAVs or the ground control station. Even if they don't help you out you might get some kind of information of the brochures of their equipment.

Cheers,

[Vici VII]

Also as a suggestion, don't give too much information away, authors who spew out pages and pages of technical information tend to bore readers. Be specific enough, but vague enough to allow the reader to build the scene in their own minds. A reader wants to be involved in the story.

This is based on a recommendation by a seasoned author (unfortunately not me)... perhaps Stephen King?

[deagle]

if its fiction, just make up any uber cool sounding rank or organization

sons of liberty and upper echelon are taken

[Sootan]

Try John Ringo, if you haven't already.