The Trench Rats: The Beginning Front

INTRODUCTION: The full existing text of the unfinished novel, The Trench Rats: The Beginning. At least, I have to assume that's what the title was meant to be, as it's undergone several different ideas, and I think the most recent is called Genesis. Though I can't be sure.

You've already seen the very first (available) version of the original Trench Rats. That novel itself underwent at least a couple more versions, including the existing, unfinished one currently posted to the Web. There was long meant to be a prequel story which described how the Trench Rats Battalion was formed, and that's what Beginning/Genesis was meant to be. As far as I know, only one version was ever produced, and this is it. This story was meant to explain the origins of such characters as Sergeant Camo Rat and Corporal Drake, who are long gone by the time of The Trench Rats.

This story is outdated by now as I've since come up with several more ideas for characters and their interactions, and how they've changed since this story; for example, I think Burgundy Rat started out kind of like a badass (at least, as much as Burgundy Rat CAN be a badass!), and the Battalion itself was meant more for humanitarian efforts, like the Red Cross, rather than for rescues. I picture the Rats all dressing in their typical capes and helmets, yet all wearing little cross symbols as well--something which they no longer do by the time of TR. I haven't devoted much time or concern at all to this series, however, so it's all on hold until I should build up the interest.

This is retyped from a hardcopy printout entitled "tratbgin.wri." (Beware typos.) Formatting such as italics may be missing, so please keep that in mind when reading. The date of this writing is uncertain. I would guess, at the vaguest, that it's from the late Nineties. It likely predates 2000 (since it's from the old computer, I think), though not by much.

Front, Prologue, Chapter 1

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LIVES DESTINED TO COLLIDE...

The Trench Rats were America's most elite force, created solely for the purpose of freeing the Jews from captivity in war-torn Germany. Highly respected, these elites were chosen for their prowess and cunning in battle, for they would also have to fight to get their job done. Every soldier's wish was to be recruited into this special battalion.

But beneath the glorious veneer of the Trench Rats much more than being elite was brewing. Word spreads through the troops of a Nazi experiment known as Project Doomsday which concerns an American civilian. [Note--yes--THAT Doomsday.] Plans start for his release and possible joining of the Trench Rats, for the experiment, if successful, is for heightening strength and intelligence. And just when things start to settle back down, there's a new addition to the troops--and this person happens to be female. [Note--yes--THAT female.]

Before long the Trench Rats are nearly torn apart by inward power struggles and rivalries. But as they are soon to find out, even the most elite have to stick together in order to make it through such a terrible war.