Tony, aka Rouiancet

I'm afraid I can't consider this entry because it's not in the first person. If you'd like to rewrite it so it is and resubmit it by tonight, I'd be happy to consider it :-)

I wouldn't worry about it, and I'll go ahead ahead and post it to the OGW contest for you!

Yep, and I wouldn't necessarily want to read six dozen twenty-page entries.... But this time, the limit's theirs, and -- hey, just call me the messenger!

For Challenges, the format in general is completely up to you. For this one, the only requirement is that it's first person, so you could do regular simming format or some sort of script format or a novel format, or whatever. Perhaps something new entirely? It's up to you!

Salutations, wonderful writers and regular readers, and welcome to this special Writing Challenge for the month of July! Please peruse this post with proper prudence, as it contains the guidelines, rules, and other important bits regarding entering your submission, which are a little different than usual for this unique Challenge. For this month only, we'll be drawing our inspiration from Ongoing Worlds's First Person Fortnight competition. This Challenge will not have a standard theme; instead, all stories must be written as a first person narrative. To participate in the Challenge, please create a new thread. From the "Topic Prefix" selection list, choose "Jul/Aug" -- don't forget to do this, because without it your story won't be considered for this round! You may denote your story as a "Work in Progress," but please do so at the beginning of the story (not in the thread topic), and remember to finish it before the deadline, as any story noted as a work in progress will not be considered. The deadline for this challenge is July 21st! That means you have just under three weeks to get your entries in, so begin thinking now! All entries in this Challenge will be judged by our panel in the usual way, but entries will also have the option of entry into Ongoing Worlds's contest. If you'd like to also enter there, please do the following: After you've posted your entry, post a reply to the entry stating that you plan to enter on your own; that you would only like to enter the 118 Challenge, not the Ongoing Worlds contest; or that you would like your entry entered into the Ongoing Worlds contest for you. Regardless of which of the three options you choose, remember to create a reply to your entry and let us know! Some standard rules and guidelines apply: *Your story should not be any longer than 5000 words. *Your story must be written in first person perspective. *Your work must be completely original. *You must be the sole author of the work. *Your story must take place in the Star Trek universe, but may not center upon canon characters. *Sign your final draft as you would a post on your ship. As of today, Monday, July 2nd, this Challenge is open! The very last day to enter is Saturday, July 21st, so submit your entry soon! For any questions regarding our Challenge, remember that you can always visit the Writing Challenge website. For questions relating to the Ongoing Worlds contest, please see the contest link above, or post a reply to this topic asking your questions. Good luck!

Time is... by Kalianna Nicholotti reviewed by Alleran Tan --------------------------------------------- This story had me from "My name is Commander Stewart, and I am from the future.". I have to admit I really liked this entry, and I think it captured the topic choice perfectly. There was a use of the metaphorical clock, along with the literal one, seemed like a deliberate attempt to show that this story was paying attention; it wasn't just "a story with a clock", it was a story that was *about* a clock. This was very good to see. I had a lot of trouble finding something wrong with this story since it was executed expertly, articulately written and quite philosophical. I thought it was perfectly crafted and, despite some serious competition from the other entries, I would be surprised if this one didn't win. Well done, Commander.

To live a memory best left in the past by Tal Tel-ar reviewed by Arden Cain --------------------------------------------- Once again Commander Tal Tel-ar has written a wonderfully detailed story. The rich details used to create the planet and local tribe produced the desired atmosphere flawlessly. Giving the reader the basic history of the planet and its people is also awesome as it allows one to speculate further toward the end of the story. This is honestly one of the hardest themes that I have had to judge. As always the entries are all great but the theme, a broken clock, isn't the easiest thing to represent both in a literal or metaphorical sense. The one thing that this story really lacked, in my opinion, is a more definitive use of the competition's theme. Overall though I honestly did enjoy reading this piece. There was just the right moment of action in the fight scene so not to make it the focus of the piece. The way you place the emphasis on the timing of the fight was also a great touch. The suspense and drama you packed into that fight just like the rest of the story was remarkable. I look forward to seeing more.

The Broken Clock - Time for a Last Stand by Eyas Wulfantine reviewed by Toni Turner --------------------------------------------- If ever a title fit, Eyas certainly named his manuscript correctly. And with that in mind as I began reading, masterfully crafted words began to set up the scenario, putting me smack dab in the middle of the of Lieutenant Weyland's malnourished, cold, fearful, yet brave squad. At no time did Eyas give an inkling of hope for the squad, but truthfully, I found myself rooting for them to be victorious despite their adversaries, and Eyas delivered on that too. The entire squad made their last stand, and in doing so, they fulfilled their mission. Their deaths allowed others of their kind to live. Eyas entry was the total package. A fast moving drama of the hardships of war. I was impressed with his story telling, and his ability to leave the reader with hope. It was a truly inspired "Last Stand." Excellent work, Eyas!

"A Broken Clock - Nine Lives" by S'Acul Aveunallliv reviewed by Aron Kells --------------------------------------------- The first thing that I appreciate about this story is that it made me work! It presents two apparently unrelated narratives sequentially, tied together only by a reference to Kilratha, and without tripping over any clunky explanations insists that its readers connect the two together. It's also written in a loping, easy style that helps carry the reader through the future captain's hellish [...]pit to the surface of Cait. The choice of Cait and the Caitians should be no surprise, given the author's primary character, but it's always welcome to see a little-known race from the Trek universe examined well in a short story, as is done here. My principal suggestion for this story is to look at the work the dialogue is doing. Trek dialogue has become, over the years of shows, movies, and books, almost a standard dialect, from the basic computer responses to the "dammit!" fists on the table. How can you break the mold? How can you make what these characters say different than what's gone before? How can you invent the next step in the evolution of Trek writing? I don't just ask these questions of the writer of this story, but of all the writers participating in this challenge. You're creating the future! But, in regard to this story, I was very impressed, and I thoroughly enjoyed the read. Thank you!

Greetings, everyone, and thanks for your patience! I'm pleased to announce that the judges for this round -- Fleet Captain Toni Turner, Lieutenant Commander Arden Cain, Lieutenant Alleran Tan, and Commander Aron Kells -- have conferred and selected a winner and a runner-up from the entries. The winner of the May & June Writing Challenge, with her story, "Time Is...," is Kali Nicholotti! Our runner-up, with his entry into his ongoing saga, "The Broken Clock - Time for a Last Stand," is Eyas Wulfantine! Congratulations to you both! The May & June stories and rules, save this response thread, have been moved to the 2012 Hall of Fame. Stay tuned for news today regarding July's special contest....

Greetings, my friends, and thank you to everyone who submitted an entry. The May/June Contest is now officially closed, and judging will occur over the next week. We'll have the announcement of the winner and the runner-up and some feedback for every story soon, so stay tuned!

((Sickbay, Deck 8, USS Mercury)) ::He had never encountered the Borg before, yet even without doing so they were an anathema to him. To one trained to protect and fortify one’s mind to any outside incursion, the idea that one could be overrun by nanites and one’s consciousness irresistibly subverted to the greater Collective was abhorrent.:: ::Avoiding or ignoring the issue would, however, have been illogical. And so he had studied the Borg, as he studied any fascinating alien species. Not that they were truly a species, rather a disease caused by these nanites, and as a doctor he studied them as such. Unfortunately there was no easy cure. Yes, if an individual could be separated from the Collective it was possible to restore both physical and mental function and individuality, to a greater or lesser extent generally dependant on the length of their time as a part of the Collective. But it was difficult and time consuming and not applicable in the case of a mass infection.:: ::So he had pondered the problem, and resolved that, as in all things medical, prevention was better than cure. The question that was the focus of Saveron’s current research was whether it was possible to prevent assimilation. Infecting nanites did provoke an immune response, that had been proven, but the response was far too slow. The situation was similar to many old infective illnesses, against which now most Federation humanoids were vaccinated. Thus, he wondered, was it possible to create a vaccine against Borg nanites? The donation of a sample of Lt. Wulfantine’s adapted nanites had given him new material to work with.:: ::That was what he had been doing, until the red alert klaxon sounded. The Vulcan quickly shut down the analyser he was using, secured his samples, straightened his blue doctor's coat and walked quickly from the Medical Science laboratory to Sickbay proper. Staff were already moving to their stations, efficiently taking Sickbay to full alert. The CMO nodded silently to Dr Del Vedova, who was on duty.:: Kells: =/\= Kells to medical, emergency on the bridge. =/\= Del Vedova: =/\= Responding. =/\= ::As Dr Del Vedova left for the bridge, Saveron stepped quietly to the fore, grey eyes meeting those of his staff with that impenetrable calm that all Vulcans portrayed. There were few things in the galaxy more frightening and more implacable than the Borg.:: ::The ship rocked suddenly, inertial dampners failing to compensate for what was clearly an impact. The logical deduction was that they were under attack. That was regrettable, but not unexpected. However a few moments later faces blanched as the intruder alarm sounded. They had been boarded.:: Saveron: Orderlies, arm yourself from the emergency weapons locker. ::Which would now be unlocked.:: ::As staff normally dedicated to the healing of injured beings acquired weaponry, Saveron’s thin lips pressed into a thinner line, the only outward sign of the intense emotions that he suppressed beneath his calm exterior. This was a scenario out of his worst nightmares.:: ::The fact of the matter was that Borg were known to adapt to Federation phasers within a few shots. The few hand phasers that the orderlies had would not serve them for long. He made a mental note to recommend to Security that they acquire some projectile weapons. Against physical weaponry the Borg had only their body armour. Unfortunately his lirpa was in the armoury.:: ::Moving to the medical equipment replicator, Saveron overrode it’s normal menu limits with a few quick keys and his CMO’s authorisation code.:: Saveron: Anyone with experience with hand-to-hand combat has permission to replicate and arm themselves with their accustomed weapon. ::He said curtly, and put words to actions.:: Anyone: Response ::Vulcans were pacifists, and Saveron found weaponry and violence disagreeable. His people were not, however, unskilled. Something that Commander Parker had been slow to understand was that a pacifist was not someone who could not fight, for they had no choice in the matter. A pacifist was someone who could fight, and chose not to do so unless all other acceptable options had been exhausted. The doctor who normally refused to handle a phaser now hefted the traditional Vulcan polearm, crushing weight at one end, disembowelling blade at the other. Violence was always abhorrent; occaisionally it was necessary.:: ::It wasn’t long until there was a whine and green sparkles hung in the air, coalescing into three Borg drones.:: Saveron: =/\= Saveron to Bridge, intruders in Sickbay. =/\= ::He said in the same bland tones that he might convey the arrival of expected supplies or the discharge of a patient.:: Bridge: =/\= Response =/\= ::As the Borg drones started to lurch towards them, Saveron hefted his weapon and regarded them expressionlessly.:: Saveron: Remove yourselves from this ship, or you will be removed. Borg: Response Saveron: Resistance is not futile. Borg: Response? TAG/TBC Lt. Commander Saveron Chief Medical Officer USS Mercury

Hello, lovely writers and dutiful readers, and welcome to the third Writing Challenge of 2012! Please peruse this post with proper prudence, as it contains the guidelines, rules, and other important bits regarding entering your submission. Alleran Tan, winner of the March/April Challenge, joins your esteemed panel of judges for this round, and has also chosen the challenge topic, "A Broken Clock." Certainly time travel has been an important part of the Trek world for many years, from 2009's movie to the finales of TNG and Voyager, but how will your entry interpret the theme? I and the other judges can't wait to find out! To participate in the challenge, please create a new thread. From the "Topic Prefix" selection list, choose "May/Jun" -- don't forget to do this, because without it your story won't be considered for this round! You may denote your story as a "Work in Progress," but please do so at the beginning of the story (not in the thread topic), and remember to finish it before the deadline, as any story noted as a work in progress will not be considered. As always, please remember: *Your work must be completely original. *You must be the sole author of the work. *Your story must take place in the Star Trek universe, but may not center upon canon characters. *Sign your final draft as you would a post on your ship. *Your story must be between 300 and 3000 words. As of today, Friday, May 4th, this Challenge is open! The very last day to enter is Friday, June 22nd, so get in your entry before then! For any questions you might have, remember that you can always visit the Writing Challenge website. Good luck!

"Lost Feelings of Sand and Rain" by Danica Valyn reviewed by Velana --------------------------------------------------- Evoking a place with only words is notoriously difficult, but you absolutely nailed a beach in Florida after a summer storm; I felt like I was back home. I also loved the emotion between these two characters which you showed us through their actions as well as their dialogue. Understanding that this was just a moment in time in their long relationship, I still feel like I wanted more meat to the conversation, more conflict. What drove these two people apart in the first place? You left me wanting more, always a good thing. As it is, though, it's a beautiful scene full of nostalgia, love and maybe even a touch of regret.

"The Tempest" by Alleran Tan reviewed by Aron Kells --------------------------------------------------- This made me laugh straight off, and with so many dark and heavy responses to this challenge, that approach was an unexpected but welcome turn. I was more impressed, though, by the idea of the universe's worst Klingon in hell, and this story would have rated highly simply for that idea. But what makes this a poignant story is that it doesn't just rely on that first disjoint of Vaala in Grethor to make its points. It's deeper than that: It's a story about faith. Is what happened to Vaala real, or isn't it? And by "real," does the reader want to believe in the truth of sensation or the truth of the character? This story could benefit from some redrafts to tighten it up, as it feels slightly rushed, especially toward the end. Let it breathe and take its time in the telling and it'll be a masterpiece. Regardless, "The Tempest" was a very strong showing with the Trek background, the strong characters, and the thoughtful examination of big ideas combining to make it into the strong story it is.

"Hollow Scream" by Damian Fleming reviewed by Aron Kells --------------------------------------------------- This story begins immediately with a clear image of what's going on and runs with it, from the bridge to the runabout, thanks to the shared knowledge of Trek reader and author bring to the table. To the writer I give mad props for combining the normal Trek "magic technology" (aka technobabble) with real science (sound waves won't travel in space, but maybe the nebular gases are substantial enough to serve as a propagating medium). There's a lovely build-up of tension to finding the freighter that plays with the closed-in response the reader will likely have to the image of the nebular fog. Finally, zombie Bolians were not what I expected, so great job making me jump in the end! I'd recommend a slower pace, especially toward the end of this story, to allow the horrifying imagery really do its job instead of relying upon simple surprise. Where does this story really end? Whose story was it, in the end? All in all, "Hollow Scream" was an unexpectedly dark story that results from a beginning in the bright Trek universe, and that's a lovely clash. Well done!

"More than just a storm" by Tal Tel-ar reviewed by Arden Cain --------------------------------------------------- What would shoreleave be without a little choas? Well the answer would be, it a pretty boring time despite the persons original intent. Even with this common theme being used throughout most fiction, I deeply enjoyed this story because it kept me on the edge of my seat. I couldn't wait to find out what would happen next and at no point did I find the encounter describe stereotypical. This story was very detailed and well planned. With that in mind I would have liked to get a more background to explain why an assassination squad would want to kill Tal Tel-ar. It seemed that aspect of the story wasn't given as much attention. This particular conflict also takes place during a severe storm but as soon as the fighting starts the details about the storm and its impact upon the fight seem neglected. While such details aren't necessary it would have been interesting to see how the weather affected or aided the combatants. This story was certainly a thrill ride for me, the likes of which I generally find in action based novels. The story also featured some interesting insights to the main character. Going from a serious and/or stress outlook to one of determination and final to a more distinctly relaxed individual during the course of the night away. I hope to see more of this character and his exploits.

"The Gathering Storm" by Eyas Wulfantine reviewed by Eden Redstone --------------------------------------------------- The author is good with description and there are nice touches that bring the moments alive (monolith against the tempest, chasing nemesis at their heels, etc.). Nicely done. However, I think the story loses a lot of its impact by the use of flashbacks. If you had removed the boarding scene and started instead with the Graven and Sala as prisoners then moved to the clifftop, I think it would have had greater emotional impact and just ended with the body washing up on shore, and maybe a finger twitching or some such so that the reader realizes for his/herself that Graven isn't dead. Even still, its an emotionally compelling story and I felt for Graven, could understand the depths of his grief and how that led to his decision to jump. Nicely done.

"Standfast... The Tempest has Arrived!" by Viktor Lanius reviewed by Toni Turner --------------------------------------------------- This was definitely an original story carved from the writer's creativity. It was a story of fears, and reaching out for someone to calm them - Someone to see the cause of nightmarish dreams, when Ensign Jameson could not. A story of being lost and needing a guide. And that guide was the ship's counselor. To me, Lanius brought the essence of what a counselor can do to help those in need of his service, and that's something we tend to miss in our daily sims. Other than a few spelling errors, this story was well-written, giving it an easy flow from one scene to another. I find Lanius' easy writing style pleasing, and the more I read the more I want to read. Excellent work, Mr. Lanius!

"Tentacle Storms" by Zinna reviewed by Toni Turner --------------------------------------------------- "Tentacle Storms" was a well-written fast paced piece with plenty of action. Lt. JG Zinna did a very nice job with descriptions and dialog. In reading this story of the ultimate sacrifice the crew made, was a side story of and entire a family that was compelling. I kept getting flashes of the last Star Trek movie when Kirk was born. So much so that it was distracting to picture anything except the tentacles of the Romulan ship. What was surprising, was that after keying up for the wife and baby to survive as per movie, Zinna did an about face, and they all perished, which to me was a more realistic approach, considering the devastating effects of the attack. Well done, Lt. Zinna!

"In the Shadow of a New Alliance" by Kalianna Nicholotti reviewed by Karynn Ehlanii Brice --------------------------------------------------- I'd like to start off by saying "well done." This is a very well-written piece of writing and one that I really enjoyed. I loved your characterizations and descriptions of Ili'kai and Kital Creena. You did a great job at bringing both to life and I love the foil they made for each other. Additionally the pace was great and kept me interested and the story was without any glaring spelling/grammar mistakes which made it easy to read. My one criticism is that in my opinion the overall plot felt a little recycled. For me, it was too reminiscent of Pocahontas, Avatar, and Insurrection with a twist thrown in of the TNG episode "Who Watches the Watchers." While it had the twist in the middle, I found myself more or less expecting the ending, and I didn't feel as though it brought anything unique to the general plot of "great civilization conquering a weaker, more earth-connected civilization." I felt like it just made the same points that others have already done and would have liked to see a new take on the theme. That being said, I did love the twist in the middle and the move away from the "kill the natives" motif. I also loved that the ending left it all ambiguous. I love that it stops short of resolving the problem and that, unlike the other previously mentioned stories, we don't know if good will conquer in the end - and that brought some of that element of "the unexpected" that I was hoping for. When it was done I wanted more, and that's always a great mark of a good story.

Greetings, folks! As you may know, with the retirement of Captain Tallis, I've taken over as facilitator for the Writing Challenges, and I'm pleased to say that I was extremely pleased by the turnout for the March & April round! Please also remember to give your thanks to our fantastic panel of judges -- Karynn Ehlanii Brice, Toni Turner, Eden Redstone, Arden Cain, and last round's winner Velana -- who read and ran every entry and provide the feedback you'll see here shortly. Without further ado, the winner of the March & April challenge, with his story "The Tempest," is Alleran Tan! Please also congratulate this round's runner-up, Kalianna Nicholotti, with her story, "In the Shadow of a New Alliance." Alleran, I'll be sending you a message shortly to set up the subject of the next challenge, for May and June, which should begin in the next couple of days!

((Dense Jungle, 3 kilometres from the Laurel Celestia, Saksenna Impact +12 minutes, Unnamed Planet)) :: The thick coppery taste of blood filled his mouth again as Oliver dragged himself through the mud on his stomach. As quietly as possible he spit it out and dragged himself further along the game trail and away from the monstrously heavy and laboured breathing behind him. At this point the Laurel Celestia was a dream, and the only real focus he had left was the breathing in the jungle behind him, and his desire to get as far from it as possible. The deep rhythmic breathing that sounded more like a combustion engine turning over than anything organic. One hand in front of the other, that's all that mattered anymore. A long trench stretched out behind his body, a clear trail for anyone to follow, made all the clearer by the long trail of blood at the centre of the furrow. His face was pale and spattered with blood, mostly his, and mud, his hair caked with both. Oliver Weston had definitely looked better. One hand in front of the other. He froze as another gods [...]ed roar tore through the jungle behind him. Whale's Fat [...] still frustrated at losing his kill and the nasty fall he'd taken earlier. The ground shivered again, this time for longer than the last. Oliver counted eight seconds until the shaking stopped and Rexy screamed again in frustration. One hand in front of the other. He could hear the foliage and branches being snapped and crushed off behind him somewhere as the [...] hunted. He spit again and tried to bite back a scream as he dragged his ragged leg over something sharp in the mud. His belt tunicate caught on it and yanked slightly down his torn thigh, causing waves of pain and nausea to wash over him, threatening his vision with black. One hand in front of the other. He tugged up and over and free and his next aimless grope in the dark rewarded him with the tough, knotted root of some ancient alien tree. :: :: Oliver clawed his way around it to the other side and propped himself upright against trunk, trying desperately to put something substantial between him and the Rex. Using both mud caked hands he managed to drag his broken left leg out in front of him and get a clear look at the belt he'd cinched tight above the wound. He'd cut it free from his ISARAS vest before he tossed the dead weight away. That must have been...forty minutes ago, maybe an hour. But it felt like last week. That was long before the quakes started as well, those only started ten minutes ago, and the first of them had saved his life. He could hear the [...] now, chuffing in the jungle behind him. Sniffing roughly at the air and trying to catch Oliver's scent in the pouring rain and amid the other smells of the jungle. The rain came suddenly and hurricane strong shortly after the earthquakes had started. The sky above the canopy filled with clouds and blotted out the stars and breath taking particle stream in minutes and a hard hot rain followed after. The earth turned to mud, the jungle was soup in its driest places, and Oliver had been running, walking, limping, crawling and finally dragging himself through it towards where he hoped to find the Laurel Celestia. The ancient and ruined hulk of a Federation Oberth class, that crashed here before he had even been born. :: :: Fighting back tears and half spitting, half sobbing blood he readjusted and tightened his tunicate, trying not to scream. The chuffing was getting closer now, definitely in the clearing he'd just spent four minutes crawling across. Trembling he reached down to his boot and drew the combat knife he'd stuck there after discarding his vest. Slowly he pulled it free and clutched it tightly to his chest as he listened to the ten ton thoropod step into clearing, and dip its nose to sniff loudly at his bloody trail. :: :: How did I get here? :: ((Dense Jungle, 11 kilometres from the Laurel Celestia, Saksenna Impact - 45 minutes, Unnamed Planet)) :: Their hump through the jungle was about half over when Whale ordered them to freeze. There was a terrible drawn out moment where everything was still as the grave, before it was shattered by the painfully slow appearance of Fat [...]s snout, head and neck as he caught our scents. :: SHELLEY: That's...that's a Tyrannosaurus Rex WHALE: Fat [...]. We meet again. WESTON: :: His voice was just above a whisper. :: Doesn't it only see movement? Shouldn’t we stay still? :: Tarallo didn't even look over at the Intelligence Officer as he responded. :: TARALLO: Common misconception. Excellent vision. WHALE: Response? WESTON: Well that's something at least. TARALLO: And sense of smell. :: Oliver looked at him. :: Excellent sense of smell. WESTON: Thank you Niner, shut up. TARALLO: Sir. WESTON: Game pla- :: They all took an involuntary step backwards as the Rex roared in their direction. Nothing could have been louder. The wave of noise hit them like a punch in the face and the [...] lowered his head as it stormed forwards. Oliver didn't see who shot first, but the burst of phaser fire went high as Rexy went low. It roared again as it closed the distance between them in short order. Oliver reached sideways and shoved Niner hard in the chest while his other hand went up and grabbed Fi roughly by the back of her ISARAS vest. Out of the corner of his eye he saw another bright burst of fire before Whale or Shelley broke ranks to scatter. :: WESTON: MOVE!!!! :: Niner tucked into a crouch and sprinted off low and steady towards the treeline, while Oliver hauled Jan in front of him and pushed her forward until she found her feet. Massive foot falls were slamming out a fast pace behind him as they both broke into a sprint. Oliver kept his hand locked on the back of Jan’s vest, and his arm straight, as he was certain the sniper was thinking of turning to squeeze off a shot, and every time she hesitated he pushed harder. The Rex was definitely on their trail now as they broke into the treeline, its roars were deafening and Oliver could hear its breathing as it gained on them. Somewhere behind him there was more phaserfire, Whale, Shelley or Alton trying to interrupt the pursuit, but this hunter was persistent. Ducking and weaving through the trees, it was only a second too late that he saw the shadow loom over them. With one final shove he sent Jan sprawling on her face as he felt the gut wrenching jerk at the back of his neck. :: :: A moment later and Oliver was floating. Violently floating. Violently thrashing from side to side as the Rex worried at his tactical vest. Eight feet off the ground and the world was a dark blur as he was whipped around like a ragdoll by the Rex, its teeth holding tight to the vest. And then, after the sharp sound of tearing fabric filled his ears, Oliver was flying. Leaves slapped against his face, forcing his eyes shut, leaving him only able to feel the sharp impact of a heavy branch that split his lip. His eyes opened with a start as the sturdy branch reoriented his flight into a downward descent and blood filled his mouth. :: :: Crawling through the brush, it took him a moment to find his feet and pull himself upright. The jungle was full of shouting and shooting. Jan's tungsten shot was easy to hear alongside the more common phaser burst, and the Rex's roars dominated all. :: FI/WHALE/SHELLEY: Response? :: A rustle of movement had Oliver reaching for the hand phaser that was no longer there. His vest was in tatters, and hung around his waist by a single strap. Defenceless, save for a combat knife that hung upside down near his crotch, Oliver crouched to run when Doctor Shelley appeared. :: SHELLEY: Response? WESTON: Doctor! Are you alright? :: Oliver was staring pointedly at her stomach. :: SHELLEY: Response? WESTON: What? :: He looked around for the first time and saw the cliff a few meters behind him. :: :: More thrashing nearby and the loud crack bang of Jan's weapon brought them back to the fight, and the Marine raced into sight, stopping several meters away and further along the cliff. :: FI: Response? :: Oliver never had the chance to reply, all he heard was Shelley screaming as the massive jaws exploded out of the trees in front of him. A branch caught him hard in the shoulder, forcing him backwards, but it was nothing compared to the teeth of the Rex closing around his upper left leg. Oliver folded around the creatures head and came eye to eye with his attacker for one brief, horrifying moment before the ground gave out underneath them both. He was dimly aware of screaming in pain as the others shouted things he couldn't understand. :: FI/WHALE/SHELLEY: Response? :: The Rex let go of him as they hit the river below and went under the rapids. :: ((Dense Jungle, 3 kilometres from the Laurel Celestia, Saksenna Impact +12 minutes, Unnamed Planet)) :: The rapids had given him a good distance on the [...]. On the shore he used his small homemade medical kit to stop the majority of the bleeding and shoot himself full of pain killers. The meds allowed him to half stumble half, jog through the jungle towards the Oberth. That lasted fifteen minutes, tops, then he had to use the tunicate, toss the vest and walk/stumble the rest of the way. It was only after the incredibly foreboding message that burst through his waterlogged commbadge that the earthquakes started. Then, the rain. By that point he was crawling. And bleeding. And being hunted again. :: ANYONE: Response? LtJG Oliver Weston Intelligence Officer USS Drake

Yeah, this sounds like a good solution -- it's not as much work as having a panel for every round, but it still allows panel representation for the last round! True, very true! It's not really fair to an active crew that they should be accused of anything when they're just on the forums a lot. There's nothing wrong with that. But how about a relatively simple addition to the general contests? I know someone suggested something similar already, but: In order for a sim to win any Top Sim round (save the final), the sim must receive at least one vote from a person who doesn't sim aboard that ship.

I agree, too. I don't think folks intentionally "stuffed the ballots," but I know that if my vote had to go to one of two sims, of a quality I judged to be relatively equal, but one was from the Drake and one wasn't, I'd probably go subconsciously for the Drake -- because I know the backstories of the characters involved, I know the writers, and my character has interacted with the other Drakelings in a way that he hasn't with the writers of the other sim. I also think the best way to get around this would be to have a panel, like in the writing challenges. A couple of high-ranking members could serve (or rotate) as permanent judges, and the winner or winners of the previous challenge could also judge. Whenever I participated in the writing challenges, both as a judge and as a contestant, I found the judging format was not only really fair but also something folks paid attention to.