[Mikester92]

{UFP} Short Story Competition
Voting Period Open from the 2nd of February to the 18th of February.

The {UFP} Short Story Competition has once again officially ended. Please read over the following two stories and cast your vote in favor of the story you feel deserves the winning prize. The winner of the competition will obviously go to the person with the most votes, and his/her name will be announced shortly after the voting period ends.

To all those who are competing: good luck, and happy voting to all!

**The stories produced below are all unique works from various members in the fleet, they are therefore not allowed to be reproduced or copied without direct authorization from the writer himself.

[Mikester92]

Observing mites
Author: deuZige

What a wonder to behold....

An observer out in space would have oddly apposing impressions depending on weather he observed the sound or the view... In the absolute vacuum of space silence rules sovereign. There is no sound as there's no medium to vibrate to create or transport sound. So the listener would hear nothing. Complete peace and order..

A viewer however would receive an altogether different impression. The peaceful darkness of space was disturbed rudely, sometimes subtly, by a spectrum of colors ranging from beyond to beyond most humanoid's abilities to see. Swirls of yellow gasses flowed on unseen currents of unknown origin and purpose to entwine with purple colored particle streams to form tornado like structures of vast magnitude. Through that spectacle of epic proportions, Grey clouds of miscellaneous matter sparkled with glistening light from unknown sources and cut through by straight jets of matter colored in crimson hued plasma flows emanating from an as unknowable source as the destination it had. As Nebulae went this one, dubbed “N993873” by some Federation astronomer at some point, was visually evocative of Hell as much as it was of some form of heaven. Awe inspiring in either case, anyone would agree.

All this wonderful or terrible display of the magnitude of power and scale which exists in this Galaxy and trillions of others like ours was absolutely and completely lost to the individuals traveling through the nebula on their little metallic bubbles of atmosphere which they called “Star-ships”. So much involved were they in their petty little conflict they fought out and they were both trying to come out of alive very much.

In any other time, place or reality the puny creatures, their petty battle and even the whole Nebula would have been unobserved. No one would care for it all or be aware for it all. This wasn't any other time, place or even reality. The only reason the puny critters in their laughable metal bubbles they relied on to travel through space kept the infinitesimal slither of conscious attention of the ancient entity now graced them with was the incomprehensible arrogance of the little mites on their ships with which they traveled through their insignificantly short existence they called their lives.

Even though they traversed the unfathomable depths of space, witness to it's comparative complexity and vastness, they perceive their reality, their experiences and their future (they actually live only in linear time... how ridiculous) to be the most significant in existence and act accordingly. Few among the startlingly numerous creatures among the life forms they themselves would classify as humanoid understood the existence of even their reality's most abundant form of matter, calling it dark matter, let alone comprehend the importance of what their select few “scientists” named dark energy. No one had even considered what would become essential for their universe's survival and develop ways to control that dark energy before it ripped their universe apart. Absolutely incomprehensible, and therefore in need of study.

For the first time in what by linear time standards would be hundreds of thousands of millennium the entity experienced something it feared it would never feel again: Ignorance. Something it could not comprehend. As with all else with the entity the perceptions of the humanoid lifeforms were too limited to even begin to describe how great the joy the entity experienced because of that feeling.

=-=-=-=-=-

“Asking permission to set visual and passive sensors to scan for disturbances in the gas flows and energy streams of the Nebula instead of actually scanning for the enemy vessel Sir” Fred spoke from his tactical console, hiding his anxiety with effort. The response from the science station was immediate and, as it would take science's sensors it was appropriate. “An interesting suggestion. I agree the current method of detection are proving... ineffective” Lt. Tumarco told the Captain. Christ stopped narrowing his eyes and staring at the view screen as if willing the enemy to come into view was an option. “Granted. Whatever you think it might take. FIND THEM!” the Captain snapped. They'd been playing this game of hide and seek with their, as yet unknown, attacker for hours now. After having attacked the USS Herold without warning, seemingly out of nowhere, without warning the Herald had been damaged severely and had gratefully taken shelter in the sensor and shield disrupting reaches of the nebula.

“Running passive sweep. Got them sir. Superimposing sensor data on the main viewer” Lt. (jg) Fred Janssen, a small and thin human recently promoted and on one of his first shifts at the bridge's tactical station, reported with an almost wicked grin. The viewer switched to show the particle clouds, flows and currents of the Nebula in false color. Through it, as clearly as they had been in an ocean and their vessel were an ancient ship sailing on it, a swath was cutting through the swirling, flowing and seemingly random chaos that was the Nebula as straight as an arrow and cutting trough all of it without effort. It looked as if it was cut by nothing but everyone knew that at it's point their enemy was cutting that swath. “Quantum torpedoes and Phaser banks targeting manually and ready to fire.” Fred proudly announced.

“Standby Lt. Janssen.” the Captain ordered. If anyone noticed the annoyed frown which flashed in Fred's features no one commented on it. The captain looked at the young officer and told him “Open fire if they make any sudden course change or shoot at us...” and Fred nodded to confirm.

“Open hailing frequencies, all languages and channels. All modes of communication” Captain van Silfhout ordered. When the channel was open Christ looked up, as if the audio pickups were located there.

“This is Captain Christ van Silfhout of the USS Herold, representing the United Federation of Planets. We have a weapons lock on your vessel. Do not change course or take any other action whatsoever. We will open fire if you do so.” he started, wanting to make absolutely clear he had no intention of allowing any more threat from his opponent.

When after seconds the vessel hadn't even changed course following a standard search pattern he felt confident they'd heard and understood him. “You have attacked our vessel unprovoked and without warning. Identify yourself and your purpose. We have no wish for conflict, but will defend ourselves. Please respond.” he said, hoping their enemies would take this opening to establish communication instead of battle as it was intended and not as weakness.

“They've launched something!” Fred almost shouted. “Three... small vessels... Look like fighters captain.” he reported. The swath and the overlay on the main viewer disappeared instantly and was replaced by that of normal space. In the center of the screen three little pinpricks of light flared up for a second which was the only visible sign of the three small fighting vessels existence firing their impulse drives. Then the gasses of the Nebula obscured the view so even that would’ve been invisible were it to occur again.

Captain van Silfhout shoulders dropped ever so slightly betraying the disappointment he felt at having to give the order he knew he had no option but to give now. It lasted for no more than half a second though before he straightened his posture, lifted his chin and said “Fire to disable their main vessel”.

From tactical Lt. Janssen ever so quietly uttered “Disable?” in surprise before three more stabs at his controls re-set his targeting and he could report “Firing phasers” and hit the “fire” button.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Out in the vacuum of space, hidden from this reality's reality inside the dimensional equivalent of subspace, the entity decided that for the first time in an unfathomable amount of time the entity realized it was surprised. As it observed it not merely did so visually of course. Being an interdimentional, non-corporal and near omnipotent its observations went a lot deeper. As the humanoids go about their conflict it knew the thoughts of each of them, felt their emotions. And that's where the surprise rose from. It felt the anger and hatred from the one called Captain for the ones that attacked his ship, his fellow humanoids and himself. This was a shared emotion among many of the humanoids in his metal bubble. But when this Captain gave the order to fire, it felt sadness, regret. It gave the entity thought, and memories.

The captain did not feel the satisfaction and sense of accomplishment the entity had sensed in humanoids he had studied before in similar situations. This was eons ago of course, in this linear universe. Some bunch of tiny creatures calling themselves Iconians or something fighting with the other tiny creatures in their universe. Come to think of it, that was this universe. It's a small Multiverse. The entity continued to observer while it pondered coincidence.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

From the front of the USS Herold Sharp and angry beams of deadly phased energy erupted. The beams crossed the distance between the Herold and it's foe instantly, unleashing it's destructive power upon the unprotected hull of the alien ship, drilling into the ship until it hit its propulsion systems.

“Direct hit! They're dead in the water captain. All propulsion offline” Fred reported proudly. Though the order to disable had surprised him he'd adapted quickly enough for him to be able to comply with it. The ship was disabled. “Sir. They're launching something.” Lt. Sum Body reported from Ops.

“confirmed. Three small vessels. Armed with energy weapons and small projectile weapons.” Fred quickly added. “Evasive maneuvers! Full Impulse! Get us away from the main vessel!” the Captain shouted. “Engineering, report!”

The reply took a few seconds before it came but when It did it was back-grounded by the noise of chaos above which the somber and to the point report from the chief could barely be heard.

“We're doing the best we can to maintain the systems we've got running but that prevents us from doing any meaningful repairs captain. Warp drive's still out and so is everything but the essentials. Weapons are starting to show signs of stress. Impulse engines are still up to spec though. I suggest running sir. Running like hell. Engineering out”

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--

The entity had become so intrigued with this developing situation he'd stopped to observe, even knowing the eventual outcome, that he decided to leave his non-linear realm of existence to join the tiny creatures in their experiencing of time. What was about to happen would surely be more exciting experiencing it second by second.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

The Captain was beginning to get worried. On the screen of his captains chair's armrest he could see the sensors sketchy readings of the three ships the enemy launched. In the gaps between the Nebula's clouds the sensors could sometimes penetrate and get a partial reading. Combining those lead to an almost complete picture. They had small matter/antimatter power plants and the projectile weapons carried a thermonuclear warhead. Even without shields they weren't a problem for the Herold. But if the little ships were no threat, why had they launched. “Open all hailing frequencies.” he ordered as he stood from his chair.

-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=

Amazing! Thought the entity. Even now the Captain one is trying to communicate with his attackers? The entity knew the Captain realized how small the chance was talking would do any good. And yet he wasted time he could have used to destroy the threat to his ship and crew by attempting just that. Wonderfully odd these... humans, as that particular branch of humanoids called themselves. The entity left his fold in dimensional space and crossed into the material realm of the universe and reality he had watched so far. Then he positioned himself on the bridge of this tiny metal bubble designated USS Herold.

=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

“This is Captain Christ van Silfhout of the USS Herold. Your ship is disabled. The ships you launched do not have the capability to do any damage to our vessel. Please stand down and reply. We can end this now without any further bloodshed. Please identify yourself and.... “ the Captain was saying, as Fred interrupted him. “Sir, the three ships are on a direct intercept course. They're faster sir.” he said. The significance of that statement didn't sink in at once, and Christ looked at Fred questioningly. “We're well in their weapons range, and they're not shooting.” Fred explained. “They're using their ships as missiles!” Christ exclaimed wide eyed. “Target and fire!” Christ ordered.

Fred frantically stabbed at his controls to comply. Phaser beams crisscrossed the Nebula hitting nothing but clouds and dust as those same clouds and dust of the Nebula obscured the little craft from the targeting screens at the worst possible times. Gritting his teeth he squeezed his eyes and focused. Firing again he was rewarded with a satisfying explosion when the beams slammed into one of the little fighters. The other two were untouched however.

“They're closing! 500 kilometers........ 450....” someone on the bridge nervously counted down.

“Torpedoes, wide spread. Set to exploded .5 seconds after release!” the Captain ordered, hoping to catch them in the blast.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--

Again the entity was surprised. Even now, near the end of this conflict, the Captain felt regret at having to fire his weapons and kill his enemies. The entity knew the Captain was aware that if he did not kill them, he and his crew would die. Amazing, these humans.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

From the rear of the USS Herold three orbs of orange light, bright as a star, flashed into space, and almost immediately erupted in a frenzy of matter/antimatter annihilation as the torpedoes detonated. One of the fighters was caught in the blast, the other was past the blast before it went of. On the bridge silence erupted. “Shoot them Fred!” Captain van Silfhout shouted, looking at his friend and tactical officer wide eyed. Fred just nodded. It was no use. The fighter was now to close to the Herold to be able to fire at it. They were doomed.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=---=-=-=-=-=-

Just before the fighter hit the main engineering section of the Federation vessel the entity moved itself out into space so it'd have a nice 'birds-eye' view. It looked on as the small antimatter drive of the little fighter exploded just after the fighter had impacted the large ship's engineering section. He saw the explosion rip into the larger vessel until it touched the large warp drive of the USS Herold and its massive amounts of antimatter was released. The entity 'hung' there for a while, as the shock wave from the explosion expanded outward, driving the Nebula's gasses and clouds before it. It knew the energy release here just now would, eventually, in a few million years give birth to a new star, but it didn't really care about that. It had felt the feelings of each and every one of the tiny beings and it was baffled at the thoughts of some of them.

It then knew it had to talk with the one entity who knew more than any of his kind about these “humans”. With a thought the entity was back 'home'. It found the one it was looking for. It spoke to it.

“Hey Q! You've had experience with “Humans” haven't you?” it asked. “Hi there Q! Yes I have. Wonderfully intriguing bunch, for a lower lifeforms of course. Why do you ask?” was the reply.

[Mikester92]

Silent Chapter
Author: HyderusCymraeg

The sun was coming in through the window brightly, the birds singing in the distance. Paul woke up with a smile on his face and then he turned to his Wife lying next to him, He kissed Her softly on the forehead. He got out of bed and slipped on his slippers, opened the bedroom door and across the landing passed the spare bedroom. He stopped and looked in at the empty room. A single bed in the corner of the room and an old wardrobe made out of oak and a bedside table made from the same oak as the wardrobe.

Paul continued to the bathroom for his morning break, as he entered the bathroom he could smell something, something odd but didn't take much notice. Paul opened the Blinds to let the sun shine into the bathroom, The light hit the white tiles on the walls and the floor. After Paul had his break he turned the taps on to have a wash but there was no water, as he does every day Paul kicked the pipes underneath the sink. Water started coming out from the taps. After his wash he went back into the bedroom to change out of his pyjamas.

He turned around after changing and seen his Wife watching him. “Hey there Sweetheart. How did you sleep” he asked Angelienna. “I slept very well thank you Paul, Thanks for asking. Did you sleep well too?” “I did thanks Sweetheart” Paul replied

Paul and Angelienna both huged and after Angelienna got changed both went down the Oak spiral staircase and into the living room. It was bright in the kitchen with the big Windows letting the sun pour in. The windows was so big they came from the top of the room and touched the bottom of the room, Angelienna picked two glasses from the cuboard and placed them ontop of the Pine worktop when Paul go the carton of Orange juice out from the fridge. Poured some into each glass and they both went outside to sit in the hot weather.

It was a good job it was just a Sunday as they would be rather late for work being 9:31am. Both didn't mind if they needed to work as Paul was the boss. Angelienna said to Paul 'What would you like to eat today Paul?' 'How about scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, baked beans, hash browns.' Paul said. Apon hearing the long list Angelienna then said 'Who's turn is it to cook?' Paul not knowing who's turn it was said 'I don't know, I think I'll go and make it, Are you having the same?' 'Sure' said Angelienna.

[Stormy]

Are we to reply with our choice? PM you with our choice? or will a poll be set up to record our choices?

[Sharpkiller]

Are we to reply with our choice? PM you with our choice? or will a poll be set up to record our choices?

There should be a poll at the top of the thread.

[Stormy]

Riiiiiight! You just have to be smart enough to see it! Duuuuuuh... which way did he go???? George is my friend... Aincha, George????

[deuZige]

Chills of excitement but also pangs of disappointment. I can't wait to see who's won but i was also hoping for a couple more entries. Petty.... I can't wait for the next competition either.. i think it was going to be themed... NICE!

[deuZige]

*Jumps up and down, runs around the room waving his arms like a loonatic and then drops to his knees and raises his hands to the heavens*

YEEEEEEEEEES!!! I am so happy right now. Thanks voters!!
i am 2 for 2 now. 2 entries, 2 wins!

Cant wait for next competition. Hopefully more entries will make it into voting!

[Mikester92]

Indeed congratulations to deuZige for winning the competition! Many thanks to HyderusCymraeg for also contributing his story!

[deuZige]

I don't want to come across greedy or something but do you have an idea when i can expect the prizes? ie. when is the new Herald coming out and when will i receive the cryptic points mentioned in the opening post for the contest's entry thread?

[Sharpkiller]

I don't want to come across greedy or something but do you have an idea when i can expect the prizes? ie. when is the new Herald coming out and when will i receive the cryptic points mentioned in the opening post for the contest's entry thread?

Sorry, deuZige, it looks like this got overlooked. I greatly apologize for any inconvenience. I'll see about getting your Cryptic Points prize as soon as possible.

As for the Herald, I realize it's long overdue, but it's still in the works. Unfortunately, things haven't exactly gone like clockwork for the Herald recently, but we're looking at some time after the anniversary week is over before it gets released. Rest assured, when it's finally released, your short story entry will still be featured.