Community Event / Creation Abraka Drabble The Old Official Drabble THIS IS AN EX THREAD IT IS DEADED

[Ian Phillips]

No signs of life

The SRV rested, parked on a cliff edge, heat radiating from the engine. Needle hard pinpoints of light pierced the utter black of the sky, stars unsoftened by atmospheric blurring.

Underneath the SRV the ground, warmed by the engine, began to move, humping itself up attracted by the source of heat. Once the highest tendril touched the cover, it rapidly spread over the vehicle, absorbing the surface as it went.

In an amazingly short amount of time the engine was compromised. Inside, a warning light flashed, illuminating a life scanner set to detect Carbon based life.

Silicon life is rare!

 

[Frank]

Noble Cockroach

The scene was desolation, piles of rubble where there used to be houses.

The wind whistles around a small girl as she pokes and tugs at a pile. She starts bawling, holding aloft a dismembered plastic arm as a sign of her failure to free a doll trapped in the debris.

Adults were too busy to attend to her, scurrying over the rubble and checking their infra-red drones. They turn to where they hear a yelp of success, and everyone runs there to help.

If it is the aim of the Thargoids to wipe out humanity, they are not succeeding.

 

[Alien]

The Alien Chronicles: Part 6

The Equinox left the planet Eden, and headed for a stricken Cobra MkIII. Captain Ferbus ordered a scan of The Domino as they approached it. The canopy was iced over.

"There appears to be no signs of life ... wait .. I am picking up a faint remlock signal". Ferbus decided to bring the Cobra aboard.

As the hatch was cut open with a plasma torch, they found a female pilot in cryo-sleep with a ginger cat.

At that moment, the tactical station asked Ferbus what to do about the planet
"Nuke it from orbit ... it's the only way to be sure."

 

[Edith_The_Hutt]

Operation Colossus

Freelance commanders are the deniable assets of the 34rd century. Not bound by traditional oaths of allegiance they work as occasional contractors with a security clearance corresponding to a rank in whichever navy is paying.

"Admiral" Turing was no stranger to military dirty work, but this target he would have worked for free. His Asp swooped low and fast over the rocky terrain, towards the pirate base. Racing through air defenses he released the physics package. A double-flash behind him confirmed detonation and he yawed round to survey the destruction.

His contract was very clear: Eliminate all signs of life.

 

[Darkoba]

Awww! Now I need 4 votes!


I mean to be able to place 4 votes, of course.

 

[Darkoba]

Parasite Elimination

She lay unmoving, slumped over in the pilot's seat.
The noise of the hatch being forced helped her to concentrate. Her heart slowed, her breathing stilled.

The intruder entered the cockpit, glancing at the recumbent pilot.
Seeing no signs of life, he turned his attention to the system status board.

"All secure," he reported, "Head back to base. I'll follow with this ship."

The three pirate ships jumped

He sat in the co-pilot's seat and rebooted systems.
He reached for a switch over the pilot.

She moved. Her knife found its mark.

"One less space-rat" she muttered, setting course home.

 

[moose666]

Simoof's visit to hell

Simoof exited the elevator, into a corridor made of flame. To his left, was a series of doors

Peeking through the first one. He saw himself being shot by Psykokow with a handheld plasma accelerator , the head of his simulacrum reduced to a carbon stump.
The next door, he saw himself choking while multiple halon jets discharged from above.
Third door: He was melting into a pool of molten steel.
Before he could proceed, he felt a tingle across his chest, and his vision brightening.
An echoy voice - "We've got life signs!".

And thats when Simoof came back to life.

 

[Simoof]

Nice twist - thats got My vote!!

 

[Ian Phillips]

This is going to be a difficult week to choose just 3!

 

[Alien]

This is going to be a difficult week to choose just 3!

No it won't ...
I'll get one vote
Kow, Simoof & Mr Winnard will write amusing drabbles that finish in the middle as far as votes go
Frank, Insanephoton and Edith_The_Hutt will finish near the top or even win.

It's too prdictable with how people vote ... and then they complain if someone makes it a bit more interesting when the opportunity arises.

EDIT: And yes, I voted for myself and made it a 9-way tie on purpose. I could have some interesting topic titles, but we'll never know because the same people keep voting for the same people

 

[Darkoba]

It's too predictable how people vote ... the same people keep voting for the same people

How can you tell who votes for whom? Or am I being naive??

 

[Ian Phillips]

I was praising the quality of the drabbles submitted so far.... (can we please get a <facepalm> smilie on this forum).

 

[Ian Phillips]

How can you tell who votes for whom? Or am I being naive??

You cannot, unless the poll is set to being 'open', which the drabble polls are not.

 

[Darkoba]

You cannot, unless the poll is set to being 'open', which the drabble polls are not.

Thanks for that. Ian

I was praising the quality of the drabbles submitted so far.... (can we please get a <facepalm> smilie on this forum).

Please see above, and also my previous post, and enjoy the smilies

And I agree with you... the drabbles presented thus far are very good (except for mine, of course <blush>). Choosing three is already difficult (see my previous previous previous post)

 

[Alien]

How can you tell who votes for whom? Or am I being naive??

You cannot, unless the poll is set to being 'open', which the drabble polls are not.

I can't tell who is voting for who ... it's an opinion.

 

[MrMogadon]

The Waiting Roon

The outpost's basement section. A dismal place forgotten and abandoned by all. Almost.

Amidst the detritus, a store-room, scrupulously clean with bright overhead lights shining over a gowned figure.

Also, an operating table. On it, a body, once recognisably human. Once, now no more.

Gutted. Splayed like a lab specimen. Thorax gaping; internal organs, removed: intact, still attached. Still functioning. Pinned and labelled textbook style. Limbs broken and twisted at obscene angles. The face an abomination: flayed, peeled and infinitely ruined. Only the eyes remain untouched. In them exist the faintest signs of life. There, eternity waits for an end.

 

[Edith_The_Hutt]

Without wanting to get involved in anything acrimonious on this I though it might be informative if I went back through the polls and collected some anonymous statistics on my previous votes:

Of the last 17 polls I've voted in 16. Over those 16 polls I've voted for 26 different drabble writers broken down as follows:

Voted for Once:	15
Voted for Twice	5
Voted for Three Times:	3
Voted for Four Times:	1
Voted for Five Fives:	2

 

[Darkoba]

I can't tell who is voting for who ... it's an opinion.

Opinion based on an apparent pattern? I know what you mean... There does occasionally appear to be a certain (alleged) pattern, but I suppose that's to be expected within a fairly small group of drabblers and a fairly small group of voters. There may (allegedly) be a mild form of literary 'griefing' going on and / or 'friendly politics', but if there is it's all moot. I just read the drabbles, enjoy the enjoyable ones, vote for the most enjoyable (in my subjective opinion) then forget them unless, like one of mine that actually won (YES! ), they are unforgettable

It's all good fun and I for one hope it stays that way, otherwise I shall hold my breath and go red in the face and throw my rattle out of the pram.

PS. Edith, I admire your patience, to go back and check those numbers. Respect!

 

[Simoof]

I never vote until after they have been read out. Sometimes you can miss stuff and what you think is a bad drabble is actually very good. I think the crown should come back. It would add some gravitas to the votes too. it did get fixed I believe.

 

[cleonymus]

Weak Signal Source


It took two commanders to move the outer door.

They exchanged nervous glances as they brushed aside dust, cobwebs and used fast food cartons.

The light switch was already on, the bulb burned out long ago. Their torches illuminated a grisly scene, as they carefully picked their way onto the bridge. The smell was overpowering.

A hunched figure sat, slumped in front of a flickering screen. It looked like they were too late. More cobwebs wreathed the body and hands, seemingly locking the hands in a death grip around the hotas controls.

Then it moved!

“Are you the fuel rats?”