Author's Note

I'm uploading this here just to let those everyone who's been keeping up with this story know that there is a sequel. It is called Wind Blown Ashes. The reasoning behind that...well, it has to do with rebirth and phoenixes.

A note on some differences that will be seen in Wind Blown Ashes:

In the past, in particularly with COP, I just started writing whenever inspiration struck. It seems though that I no longer have that same type of inspiration. I just couldn’t think of how to start it off. So, I tried a different approach. I brainstormed for once, jotting ideas down on paper, and now I have a story. Hopefully this will prevent confusion and unrealistic occurrences as was noticeably a major problem for COP towards the end of the story. That said, this is a new strategy and I have no idea how well it would work for me. I can’t even guarantee that this sequel will end, although I will do my best to complete it, since in my planning, it has an ending. I just feel the motivational source is different than what drove me to write COP. With that said, I hope the returning readers find this story just as entertaining as COP if not more and that the new readers will enjoy it just the same.

This new story will also be formatted differently. There will no longer be mysterious speakers at the start of each chapter. Instead, a stated location and time will set the scene and if needed, provide any behind the scenes action. The story will also focus on the adventures of two characters, instead of one. The new character will be Nicole, an older COP graduate with quite an opposite personality. I was initially planning on writing two parallel stories, but realized that would be a bit difficult on my part. So hopefully I can find a way to merge the two stories well. A growing number of supporting characters (it’s possible that some may change to ‘main character’ status) will be seen as the story progresses, and hopefully the plot will become complex while adhering to some ounce of realism (I’m in favor of complex realistic plotlines).

Random Fact:

After writing the story, I was browsing through some sites this summer and found that there is indeed a college based on intelligence which is branched off the DIA, interesting enough. You can either earn a bachelors or a masters in one of their intelligence programs, haha. So I guess some assumptions weren't too far off...

Teasers

I have also taken some of the suggestions in the final reviews readers have left for COP and I have planned for some sub plots involving those ideas. So, expect some familiar faces to resurface. I can guarantee that Pat will return, as well as Alex. Noe may also have moments of homesickness, and rogue agents are always interesting...

Beyond Pat and Alex, I haven't quite decided who else I will bring back. If anyone has any preferences on who they’d like to see back…let me know! I know there was one request for Stephanie, so I'm looking into a plot where I could bring her back. Further requests welcomed.

On a final note, as I seem to have lost my impulse inspiration, I encourage reviewers to leave any ideas they may have (preferably in reviews of the new story, not this story). All will be taken into consideration and perhaps some will make it into the story. I apologize for this super long Author’s Note. It’s probably the longest one I’ve ever left. I hope you see some returning readers for my new adventure and I'm glad many of you have found COP great! If you've read this far into this long boring note, then I hope you found the explanations/teasers fulf