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Ficlet Prompts for March
M1795537OCVirn
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Posted on 03-03-2025 15:10
Travisina says "Here some ficlet challenge topics for March:

March is named for the Roman god of war, Mars. Obviously, there's the Andromedan and the Galactic War (or wars - and let's not get into how long it/they lasted), but perhaps there are distant skirmishes taking place in other parts of the B7 universe that have nothing to do with Blake or the Federation?

March's birthstones are aquamarine and bloodstone, which symbolise courage.

March is also Women's History Month in various countries. Let's hear it for the women of Blake's 7!"
"You're not sulking, I hope?"
 
Hugbot
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Posted on 09-03-2025 11:16
The Butterfly Wars

The high plains were lush with vegetation. Only where the river cut its way through the land the red rock beneath was exposed, giving the banks the appearance of bloodstone inlaid with a trail of aquamarine.

On the northern shore lived the Ee. They resembled butterflies but grew as tall as humans. Fluttering over the meadows and savannahs of the northern plain like gaudy harlequins, they did not seem to be capable of violence. And yet they fought a bloody war with the inhabitants of the forests on the southern shore.

Humans couldn’t even try to speak their high-pitched language, but Jenna and Cally had learned to distinguish the most common words while the Elders of the Ee were able to understand some basic English.

“Our traditional birthing caves lie on the southern shore,” one of the Elders explained. “That’s were we lay our eggs, and that is where we hatch. But the Southerners permanently try to intrude! When we put up guards, they even kill them to get into our caves.”

Getting mixed up in the interior struggles of this planet was not part of their mission, and yet the two women went to investigate.

“You are very courageous,” the Elder said. “Just be careful! The Southerners stop at nothing!”

As flying insects, the Ee had never invented boats or even bridges, but a few miles upstream was a natural ford where Jenna and Cally could pass.

After several hours of walking, they finally arrived at the caves. The first thing they saw were the gruesome signs of war. The dead bodies of the Ee guards littered the ground at the cave entrance, their claws still clutching their halberds. But many of their enemies had also fallen in the skirmish – giant caterpillars, still looking strong and muscular in death.

Nonetheless Jenna and Cally ventured deeper into the cave where they finally found what they had suspected all along: there were the shiny, white eggs of the Ee, but there were also the rough and hairy pupae of the caterpillars.

The butterflies laid their eggs in the cave as the Elder had said, but they were mistaken about hatching from them. In reality, they hatched from the pupae. The caterpillars probably believed that their next generation hatched from the pupae in an endless cycle of rebirth.

“We have to tell them,” Cally demanded. “They have to learn that they are one species; otherwise, they will destroy themselves.”

“Good luck with that,” Jenna said bitterly. “Have we humans ever learned that ourselves?”
 
BlueyH
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Posted on 11-03-2025 04:03
Him

I learned soon after the event it wasn't the war that brought an end to my idyllic childhood, it was Him.

He set in motion the chain of events leading to the betrayal of humanity. Even if his antithesis had not chosen to betray his own kind first, He would still have found a way to destroy the only thing holding together the fabric of our peaceful life. He was a fanatic, a self-possessed monster.

Kyrena had been a wonderful world and home. From the beautiful ice caves at the poles, to the sparkling diamond-sand deserts at the equator, there was no part of the world in which peace and belonging could not be found. A world where everyone strived for a common good.

The first sign something was amiss was the failure of the weekly rains, about 2 days after the destruction of Star One. For eight hours of three nights of every week, for over 100 years the rains had fallen without fail, feeding the crops and the life-giving aera-trees, without which the atmosphere would revert to a poisonous mix of methane and Sulphur. Next came the rise in temperature. A comfortable, constant 24 degrees soon rose into the forties and beyond.

Calls for help from the Federation were made, and efforts were made, but with the bulk of the fleet engaged in the war (or indeed one of the many that broke out around that time), they were ultimately futile. I remember the tears in the eyes of the System Administrator and garrison commander as I was led to the final evacuation ship. Death and destruction on an unprecedented scale, brought about by the selfish actions of two men in their hatred of each other.

Millions died, my parents and sisters amongst them. Now, I have no home, no connection, no purpose. The Galaxy lies in ruins, cruel warlord against cruel warlord each fighting for their own small sliver of power.

But maybe there is hope. I hear of a woman named Sleer, weaving together the broken fabric of the cosmos where she can, a wave of peace and contentment following in her wake. If I ever meet her, I'll join her. Someone has to raise us again, maybe she's the one.

As I write I'm heading to His grave on Gauda Prime, to spit on it, for everything he took from me. Only then can I move forward.
Edited by BlueyH on 11-03-2025 06:01
I look exactly as Avon reasoned I would.
 
Lorna
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Posted on 11-03-2025 07:50
Wow that is really good. BlueyH
I look behind me, what do I see? A pair of golden wings seem to be attached to me.
 
BlueyH
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Posted on 18-03-2025 22:40
Thanks Lorna. Probably the first creative writing I've done for over 30 years!
I'll throw this in too, on the theme of Distant Skirmishes. (And I hope it's not something that's been done to death already on this forum....)

Adrift

Part 1

@##DSV3 > SYS CONTROL**# >
-UPDATE
-ALIEN CRAFT UNIDENTIFIED#THREAT PRESENT#FURTHER ASSESMENT REQUIRED
-DATA SENT
-DSV2 DISABLED#THREAT ATTACK#AUTO-REPAIR PROGRESSES#EVACUATED
-DSV2 LOC N54/8#SUB-PLANETOID BODY#TOWED#STABLE#TETHERED#HIDDEN
-DSV2 INT DEFENCE ACTIVE#INTRUDER AWARE#LETHAL
-DSV2 NOT LIFE COMPATIBLE#RETURN WHEN POSSIBLE
-DSV2 REPAIR EST 100
-DSV3 ENGAGING UNIDENTIFIED THREAT
##(file 3alpha78.000059)@#

@##SYS CONTROL > DSV3**# >
-DATA RECEIVED
-THREAT ASSESS TYPE 2 CIV#TECH EQUIVALENCE
-DESIGNATE THREAT#THR/103a
-ENGAGE#CAUTION#ENGAGE
##(file 3alpha78.000060)@#

@##SYS CONTROL > DSV2**# >
-NEG RETURN
-NEG RETURN
##(file 3alpha78.000061)@#

@##DSV3 > SYS CONTROL**# >
-UPDATE
-DAMAGE#EQUILIBRIUM MAINTAINED
-THR/103a COMPROMISED
##(file 3alpha78.000062)@#

@##SYS CONTROL > DSV3**# >
-THREAT ASSESS#OUTCOME PREDICT#STALEMATE
-CAUTION#CAUTION
-DESTRUCT MUTUAL#CAUTION
##(file 3alpha78.000063)@#

@##DSV3 > SYS CONTROL**# >
-UPDATE
-THR/103a MINES DEPLOYED#N54/8 SUB-PLANETOID DAMAGE#DEBRIS
-DSV3 SHIELDS DEPLETED#POWER DRAIN#CONTINUED AGGRESSION ONLY OPTION
-DSV3 TELEPORT NON-FUNCTIONAL
-N54/8 SUB-PLANETOID BODY COMPROMISED#TETHER BROKEN
-DSV2 MOMENTUM IMPARTED#ADRIFT#PROTECT#DENY
-THR/103a UNKNOWN WEAPON DEPLOYED#ANALYSE#DATA SENT
##(file 3alpha78.000064)@#

@##SYS CONTROL > DSV3**# >
-DATA RECEIVED
-THREAT ASSESS ORGANIC#UNKNOWN COMP#DANGER#DANGER
##(file 3alpha78.000065)@#

@##DSV3 > SYS CONTROL**# >
-UPDATE
-DSV3 HULL BREACH#INTEGRITY COMPROMISE
-DSV3 ORGANIC AGENT#ADHERINING#CORODES
-DSV3 SYSTEMS FAIL#WIDE
##(file 3alpha78.000066)@#

@##SYS CONTROL > DSV3**# >
-UNACCEPTABLE RISK#REVEAL OF SYSTEM LOCATION#CAPABILITY
-ADVISE FULL DISCHARGE#SACRAFICE#STERILISE
##(file 3alpha78.000067)@#

@##DSV3 > SYS CONTROL**# >
-COMPLY
-DSV2 OUT OF RANGE#RECOVERY URGED
-DSV3 FULL DISCHARGE INITIATED#COUNTDOWN
-THR/103a WITHIN RADUIS
-DSV3 END
-FAREWELL
##(file 3alpha78.000068)@#

Part 2

"We have power back sir."

"About time." responded Captain Leylan. He glanced to the flight engineers position.

"We have normal functions on all systems." Artix reported "They're phasing them in now."

"Have we got scan yet?" asked Leylan

"Not yet."

"Get me a blind reading on that echo." ordered the Captain

Artix studied the returns "It's very close."

"These readings have got to be wrong!" added First Officer Raiker, struggling to make sense of the readout.

"We've got the scan back.

"Right," said Leylan "get me a picture."

"I don't believe it!" exclaimed Raiker.
I look exactly as Avon reasoned I would.
 
littlesue
Top  #6 Print Post
Posted on 27-03-2025 10:15
Well now, this month’s prompts are tricky ones, thank you Travisina, but I’ve given it go...phew.
A two parter, again.....

A Helping Hand


“Oh dear”, Vila murmured, “This doesn’t look good.”
From his vantage point he stared down at the sight of both Blake and Avon face down on the rough ground, with the young woman aiming her rather powerful looking weapon at them.

On the Liberator, Cally and Jenna heard Vila’s hoarse whisper as he described the scene unfolding in front of him.
“I think you two had better come down here.”
“Why can’t you...?” Jenna began.
“Look, she doesn’t look the sort to listen to little old me asking her to put the weapon down and we can talk about it.”
Cally sighed.
Gan stepped forward, “Maybe I should go.”
“If this young lady has taken a dislike to those two, then maybe it would be a good idea to find out what it is she wants,” Jenna suggested, “Shall we Cally?”
“And me?” Gan asked.
“I think it would be better for you to stay here by the teleport,” Cally said, “But be ready to come to our aid if we need it.”
Gan smiled, “You can rely on me.”
“I know we can,” Jenna replied.

“Is there a problem?”
The young woman spun round upon hearing Jenna’s question.
“Who are you?”
“More to the point, who are you?” Cally asked.
“I am Commander Fern and these two are my prisoners. I have demanded that they hand over their ship...”
“And I’ve told you,” Blake began, “I can’t do that.”
“I did not permit you to speak.”
“He’s right...he can’t do that,” Jenna confirmed,”After all, it’s not his ship to give.”
“I did mention that,” Avon put in, but then found himself staring down the business end of the woman’s gun.
“Why do you need his ship?”Cally enquired.
“To return to the fleet and continue the struggle. I crash landed on this desolate planet and I need a ship. Now where is it?”
“Can’t you repair your ship? It doesn’t look too badly damaged.” Jenna pointed out.
“And what do you know about ships?”
“A little bit. And if anyone can repair any damage, then your two..um..prisoners can.”
“Is this true?”
“As I was trying to explain,” Blake said, mindful that the highly agitated woman had now shifted the weapon in his direction, “Avon and I can at least get you on your way and back to your own repair facility...where ever that is.”

Fern sat on her haunches watching as the two men busied themselves with trying to make the damaged one person ship space worthy.
She seemed relaxed in Jenna and Cally’s company as she explained how she had found herself in this predicament.
“My planet is in a slight disagreement with those who wish to help themselves to our riches; namely these.”
She pointed to the two brooches on her uniform.
“They’re beautiful!” Jenna exclaimed.
“Beautiful and precious. Our enemies want both these minerals.”.

Part Two


Vila had gratefully accepted Jenna’s offer for him to return to the Liberator and he was now now fully alert as Zen warned of an approaching ship.
He quickly depressed the communicator...

...”What is it?” asked Jenna.
”It looks as though you’ve got company. Coming in fast to your location.”
“They’ve found me,” Fern sighed.

The ship swooped down and began a low level run.
“They’re out to kill me,” Fern warned.
“We’ll see about that, “Jenna replied, “ Take that weapon of yours and follow Cally and I!””
Fern didn’t need to be asked twice, as Jenna and Cally, their guns inhand, let loose a deadly fusillade.

“That was just a little too close for comfort,” Blake said, looking at the black smoke in the distance.
“It would have been polite to warn both Blake and I,” Avon pointed out.
“There wasn’t time, was there Jenna?” Cally countered.
Avon wasn’t convinced about that.
Blake smiled, “At least your ship can get you home, where ever that is. It may take some time, but it should make it if you’re careful.”
“Thank you,” Fern said, “And please accept these two brooches as a thank you for helping me.”
“You’re welcome.”

They watched as Fern’s ship rose from the planet’s surface and sped away.
“We could have taken her back home on the Liberator,” Jenna pointed out.
“We have our own battles to fight, we can’t get involved with someone else’s War.”
“For once I agree with you Blake,” Avon said,”now what exactly are those brooches?”

“So, according to Zen, these are Aquamarine and Bloodstone,” Avon announced.
“Both mean bravery according to the Old Earth records,” Jenna said.
“Very apt.”
“And very rare now,” Blake explained.
Vila’s ears pricked up, “Does that mean valuable?”
“The Federation might think so,” Gan pointed out.
“And that could be dangerous for Fern and her people if that was made known, “Cally surmised.
“So it’s just as well we don’t know exactly where Fern’s planet is, isn’t it Avon?”
Avon was about to reply when he saw the looks being aimed at him by Jenna and Cally.
“No, I suppose not.”
Cold! You don't know the meaning of the word cold!
Cold is when you have ice on the INSIDE of your window!!


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