Welcome to the universe's longest running Elite Dangerous Drabble contest where glorious commanders battle it out to become the supreme Drabbler.
We need your help and ask that you vote for 3 drabbles from this selection of treats. Choose wisely, choose carefully and choose the 3 and only the 3 you think are the best. The winner will be awarded the crown of drabbles and will proudly wear this imaginary item for a whole week whilst they bask in complete isolation (as no-one is likely to talk to them wearing that monstrosity).
What's a drabble? A drabble is a short story of exactly 100 words and this week's topic was chosen by last week's winner <Missileman> who won with an excellent drabble. The drabbles must be set in the Elite Dangerous universe and have to be based on the topic stated. There, that's the rules done, now on with the show.
To help make your mind up we strongly suggest that you listen to the wonderful Psykokow who streams a live Drabble show every Friday featuring all of this week's drabbles. Simply head to www.twitch.tv/psykokow Friday's at 7pm UK time and join in the fun.
If you fancy having a go next week then check back from Monday each week in the main drabble thread https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=5777[/COLOR] and jump to the end pages to join in the fun.
We need your help and ask that you vote for 3 drabbles from this selection of treats. Choose wisely, choose carefully and choose the 3 and only the 3 you think are the best. The winner will be awarded the crown of drabbles and will proudly wear this imaginary item for a whole week whilst they bask in complete isolation (as no-one is likely to talk to them wearing that monstrosity).
What's a drabble? A drabble is a short story of exactly 100 words and this week's topic was chosen by last week's winner <Missileman> who won with an excellent drabble. The drabbles must be set in the Elite Dangerous universe and have to be based on the topic stated. There, that's the rules done, now on with the show.
To help make your mind up we strongly suggest that you listen to the wonderful Psykokow who streams a live Drabble show every Friday featuring all of this week's drabbles. Simply head to www.twitch.tv/psykokow Friday's at 7pm UK time and join in the fun.
If you fancy having a go next week then check back from Monday each week in the main drabble thread https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=5777[/COLOR] and jump to the end pages to join in the fun.
01 - Alien - Bat L (See what I did there? Bat L - Battle ... I'll get my coat)
Another week over, and another drabble topic to write for.
Darks Town knew he'd be mocked on Fry Day and decided to stay away.
Cycle Cow was furiously peddling, trying to keep his head above water.
The twin names Cy-Mon and Cy-mooph conspired to out-do each other with ty in-you-end-o
Phrank submitted another winning drabble, much to the annoyance of A-Leon, who was still struggling to beat Two-Votes-Tee-Jay
All of them wondering if they could be the best at that week's topic, as chosen by Batty Lemon, or Bat L to his friends.
And that, was when they killed Cy-mooph.
02 - Frank - The Fandabeedozie Mystery Potato
They were a vast array of warships, almost like snowflakes in a black night if they weren't fixed in such a regimented pattern. They faced a similarly impressive fleet.
On the bridge of a ship, the admiral's command crackled over the comms "Let battle commence."
Tears streaked down the young helmsman's face as he engaged thrusters. He bleated "HULL!"
The captain not wanting to disturb the helmsman, pointed to the back of his head and mouthed "Is he from Hull?"
An officer explained "He's trying to say 'hell' but he's not very good at it. It's his bad 'hell' cry."
03 - AliJax - “First Battle Last”
At 75 earth years the commander of “The Glorious Shoelace” laden with a cargo of beer was winding through the Pilates Nebula with the nimbleness of a teenager removing his girlfriend’s bra, she was however unimpressed.
The Viper had followed the payload as soon as the sidewinder left the Faulcon DeLacey showroom “all too easy for me” said the Pirate, “I’ve seen this fumbling before” she mused.
As the Interdiction took hold of its pray the Commander furious at his inability, submitted and faced the low life scum. They exchanged lasers, cannon fire and met head on - only one escaped.
04 - moose666- Battle kows
"Arrrr, alright ye filthy Hutton trucker, yer onionhead or yer life."
The pirate looked on at the Type 9 sitting pretty in space.
The commlink cracked to life; "I'm afraid you picked the wrong trucker to rob, Ensign, you know what to do"
"Aye sir"
He raised an eyebrow, suddenly, 6 eagles jumped in.
"Battle Cattle have has deployed sir" the ensign's voice came through
Six eagles, each with a Psykokow clone going moooo!
Eighteen pulse lasers began hammering the pirate's ship.
"Curse ye, and ye battle cattle, i'll be back for me onionhead!"
The pirate jumped out, suitably chastised.
05 - Rascon - The Real Battle of Hutton
The Battle of Hutton is still talked about, not proudly but in hushed whispers in the hangers, in the storage areas and around the gin dispensers.
They speak of sacrifice, emotions and the horrible violence that descended on this once quiet outpost.
These tales are not of pirates being sent packing by heroic truckers determined to make their deliveries at all costs nor of ships fighting until their bulkheads come apart and were lost into the atmosphere of Eden.
The Real battle of Hutton where the most blood was shed was the broadcasting room where the radio playlists were decided.
06 - Edith_The_Hutton_Mug - Assault on Prospect 13
Daniel's scarab boosted towards the reactor as the base defenses ignited with muzzle flare. Overhead, a dozen Vipers strafed the enemy; anti-aircraft fire sending one plummeting into the refinery with a crimson bloom.
A pursuing skimmer pounded a bullet staccato on Daniel's cockpit. He fired, gambling on long-range volleys as the drone whittled his hull away. His shots hit home and the AA guns deactivated. The scarab's wheels jammed. As the skimmer closed in for the kill a Dimondback raced overhead turning the drone into warm scrap.
Daniel smiled, the battle was over, the enemy just didn’t know it yet.
07 - Erik Marcaigh - The Ground Pounders of Eden
As the CODE and Trucker ships were blown up one by one, the pilots in their RemLock masks gravitated towards Eden, eventually landing on the inhospitable planet. Freeing their sidearms, they continued the fight on the ground, laser fire lighting up the grisly landscape.
Sidearms were never meant for extended trench warfare though and soon their energy ran out. They reached for the only things they had left at their disposal.
Mugs.
The CODE's inferior ceramic mugs made in China shattered easily, but the Trucker's metal mugs rang with victory with nary a dent. Thus ended the Battle of Eden.
08 - Galactic Midden - A mind at war
Walls covered opulently with cushioned silk fabric, Roy sat imperiously as his audience filtered in. Noticing their alabaster gowns, a match for his own pristine jacket he smiled, "my loyal subjects, please deliver your petition".
One of the group sniggered "subjects? He really is Bat Crazy Roy"
"Shush" the leader whispered, "not crazy, ill. A fly-boy from our beta programme, he became destructive during gamma-ray testing".
Arms crossed immobile, Roy rattled his chains of office angrily. "Impudence! I'll have your heads".
"Our apologies Roy..."
"LORD!"
"Huh?"
"I'm Battalion Commander Roy, your LORD!"
The doctor faced his students. "OK, he's nuts"
09 - Darkoba - "Law or Justice? (or revenge?)"
Ten years and hundreds of light-years finally led Dar'koba to his parents' killer.
He'd found their ship, crudely altered; followed it through nine jumps, asking everywhere about its pilot. Clearly, pilot and killer were one.
In a bar, Dar'koba eyed the murderer in the mirror. The pirate returned a questioning stare.
"Yer wantin' sump'n?" he growled.
"You murdered my family. I'm arresting you."
"An' if'n I won't go?". He stood, menacing.
In an inner battle between Law and Justice, Law lost. Dar'koba's katana, Kaze-no-Uta flashed out and struck the murderer, once.
Dar'koba finally allowed the tears of mourning to flow.
10 - Ian Phillips - The jump into battle
You try not to show it but everyone can still see, if they bother to look up from their own preoccupations that is.
Outwardly calm, performing the familiar routines whilst a whining animal tries to claw its way out of the darkness inside you.
Sweat beads your scalp as you deny it and try to ignore the noise that only you can hear.
Countdown.
Together the fleet jumps into hyperspace, spooky voices calling to the wimpering animal, evoking a chill across your back.
Then the THUMP as the ship emerges racing towards the star and other ships waiting for battle.
11 - sykokow - The Strain
White Knuckles, fingers locked hard on the controls, beads of sweat forming, pooling then running down his hands and on the console below.
The light from the nearby star, was heating the cockpit beyond all comfortable levels and the Senator’s thirst for blood was only heightened.
His pain intensified as they hunted the enemy, his bones creaking, his stomach tightened, sweat became more intensive. He daren’t move from his station for fear of the Senators wrath.
The Explosion was mighty, crew members ran sobbing to the escape pods, the senator lay unconscious, the battle to hold it in was lost.
12 - kelgrath - Decisions, decisions
Station Commander Rich was in a difficult negotiation: York Outpost was the only base in Rainbow sector which hadn't taken heavy losses. He had to be seen to be supporting the other commanders without weakening his own defensive position too much. If he didn't give enough, it would go to Fleet Command for arbitration and his own armada would surely be decimated.
"I'll give them FIREBIRD, EXCALIBUR, and ENDURANCE. Just to tip the balance, I'll throw in BATTLE for good measure."
That final ship wasn't necessary though. He had offered enough without it. Richard of York gave Battle in vain.
13 - Listeri69 - Forcing it in...
'Oui your highness it is so large and bushy'
'yes we may need to trim it to fit'
'it's not going to fit your excellency'
'oh come on Michelle force it in there, easy now I don't want it broken'
'It looks great once it's in, maybe we could throw a few mugs in there your highness'
'great idea, now insert the shiny ball things too'
'are you sure thats a good idea do you not want to wait till it's erect?'
'it's been a battle to get the tree in mianus, nothing but the best for my Christmas Tree'
14 - Sneevus - Another day on the front
The battle was over. I wait with only my memories for company.
---
"We'll walk over them, eh, Sarge?"
"Quiet Wilkins 47, we land in 3."
"Sorry, Sarge."
---
I think that body bag was 47, it was difficult to tell.
---
"We'll win this one for the Emperor, won't we Sarge?"
"Your face will be smiling over their surrender, Wilkins 32"
"Looking forward to it, Sarge"
"Right lads, go, go, go!"
---
The rescue boat was a welcome distraction.
"Wilkins 89 reporting, Sergeant. Here to take you to the front."
"Good to see a familiar face."
"Happy to serve, Sarge."
They always were.
15 - MrMogadon - Guilt Edged Luck
Scunner sitting in the darkness, checked his blaster was fully charged and strained to hear the voice of his approaching enemies.
His squad mates were all dead, ripped apart by laser fire from a defence grid supposedly inoperable.
He alone, although seriously wounded, had managed to escape the carnage.
Voices from the darkness, grew closer.
Finger tightening on the trigger, he raised the pistol, holding his breath, ready to fire.
Images of his daughter flashed through his mind.
For her, he must continue to fight.
Trembling, he returned the pistol to the drawer, trying to reconcile himself to his "luck".
16 - Missy Lemon - TITLE: War...What is it good for?
'FIRE'
'Power supply has been hit'
'He's running, boost and get after them'
'hyperspace signal detected he's trying to jump out'
'Target his drive we can still win this battle....'
'oh he's not jumping his friends are joining him we have an anaconda incoming'
'TURN AROUND we can't take on a fully kitted out anaconda in this ship'
'It's too late sir we'll never turn around before he can hit us'
INCOMING MISSILE
'All hands brace for impact...'
Canopy compromised Remlocks deployed..
'We have 7 mins of air left sir'
'We'll never make it, damn this battle in alpha centurai'
17 - Simoof - The Prisoner Division
"I'm not a fighter. I am a racer."
"The ability to go fast will come in handy then"
"No I race, not go fast. Race"
"Doesn't matter. As you are a prisoner I get to assign you anywhere I want. You are front-line"
"You punt. I will race you and your family."
"I dont gamble or race! Why are you in prison anyway."
"I told you, I am a racist"
"Solitary confinement is a very harsh punishment for that. You must have offended the wrong person"
"Wait a minute, I see the croblem, Somebodys swacced two letters on the keyboard"
18 - insanephoton - After the battle..
The Crow family have been associated with war and conflict for as long as anyone can remember. You name a major battle and we were probably there. Not fighting, mind. We're not that daft. Most of the famous fighting families are lucky to last a century. Just like the bird that shares our name we follow the battle and clean up afterwards. Our family business is salvage. We're loved and hated in equal measure, but everyone respects us. We rescue the survivors and recover the dead. We're not a charity though, pay us enough and we'll make things disappear forever.
Fly safe and thanks for voting
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