Welcome to the universe's longest running Elite Dangerous Drabble contest. 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 the glory of success.
A drabble is a short story of exactly 100 words and this week's topic was chosen by Simoof who won last week 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 (or 6pm Galactic Midden Time) and join in the fun.
If you fancy having a go next week then check back on Monday in the main drabble thread https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=5777 and jump to the end pages to join in the fun. Or, thanks to the Powers of Simoof you could simply click abrakadrabble.com/new
01 - Erik Marcaigh - High Horse
"You're clear for landing, Commander."
Simoof swung his Anaconda around to the front of the Coriolis Station and aligned himself with the slot. He grinned as his ship slipped easily into Winnard's Hole.
"Like throwing a hot dog down a hallway," he laughed to himself. He slammed his big ship down on the landing pad.
"Oi, Andy! David! She needs a cleaning and a re-fuel." Simoof pulled up a chair and sat near the tank.
"Whacha doin' there, Commander?"
"Writing a story. I'm a great writer, you know!"
Andy looked at David and whispered, "He's been sniffing the fuel again."
02 - Ian Phillips - Always Re-fuel
The universe was made wholly from searing orange fire.
Well, not quite. Sparks and smoke spat out of the console in front of him.
"Taking Heat damage", the omminous warning boomed through the cabin speakers.
"Noooooooo, damn, damn, damn" he swore whilst desperately trying to reach the pilots chair. "I'll never go to the crapper whilst re-fueling again!".
"Eject, Eject."
He dived for the escape capsule as the ship disintegrated in flame. Fire became his universe as the ship exploded around him.
Silence followed as the capsule tumbled through the stars outer layers.
A warning light blinked. 'Out of fuel'.
03 - Commander Fantasticon- The Good King
The lights flickering dimmed slightly, it wouldn't be long till they flickered off for good.
He sat still hypnotised by the dancing flames, staring through them deep into some distant memory.
His age was beginning to show and his body needed a serious overhaul. Creaks from bones almost echoing in the silence over the soft crackle of burning.
The lights dimmed again, it was time to act, time to get more fuel.. at this time of year it would be cold and crisp outside so he put his spacesuit on and headed out.
Commander Wenceslas needed to collect fuel quickly.
04 - Simoof - The Leg End of Long Haul Silver
Commander Silver hopped upto the bar.
The stump where a leg had previously resided seeped through the bandages. He knew he stunk.
Fortunately this bar was used to Hutton Truckers.
He chuckled at the irony - Explode a fuel rat, get stranded in the middle of nowhere.
A small voice piped up "What happened to your leg mister?"
"Follow me - I'll show you littleun" Silver replied to the 45kg lump of child.
....
"What is it?"
"Hop in, its state of the art is what it is"
"What does it do?" The door closed.
"Oh, it converts anything containing carbon into fuel"
05 - Thirstybadger - Fuel
You can’t scoop from a T-Tauri. Yet he had and filled up quick too. But something was wrong with it. His baby wasn't right. Banging sounds deep in the ship.
“Gotta dump this fuel. Call the rats” he said, swinging round to his co-pilot.
Empty, How long had the chair been empty? He checked comms, nothing, the panel was dead, no calling the rats either.
Floating down the corridor to quarters the lights and engine died. In his dark glide liquid collected on his suit and face. He recognised the taste, the acidic burn of an H2 leak and blood.
06 - moose666- Its getting hot in here
"FIRE!"
"Where?"
A finger pointed out of the observation window.
"F@&$!"
Pad 25 was merrily blazing away, with a cloud of firefighting limpets coming down upon it.
A hologram of the station was called up, a red line extending from the docking bay down into the bowels of the station
"Christ, that's the primary fuel supply line damaged, did we get an impatient buckyballer in an Anaconda taking off before the line was detached?"
"Sir, I've issued an evacuation order for the lower quadrant, shall I advice docking control to deny all incoming?"
"Do it, then call the station overseer."
07 - Frank- Yo Ho Ho And a Bottle of Hydrogen
The Anaconda Galleon loomed over the stricken Sidewinder, and then... nothing.
In the bridge the high-pitched voice of the Captain broke the inky silence, "What the hell happened!?"
Safe in the knowledge the captain wouldn't recognise him, a sarcastic voice squeaked "From the sounds of things I'd guess a fuel leak."
"I've got a cigar lighter here. At least we'll be able to see what we're doing."
A bridge-full of squeaky voices yelled in unison "No! Don't!.."
The Sidewinder pilot was blinded by the blast. He watched the billowing cloud of burning hydrogen dissolve the massive ship. Oh the humanity!
08 - cleonymus - Theres no fuel like an old fuel.
Cleonymus was confused. The last thing he had expected was to pick up a weak signal source this far out. His senses and sensors on high alert he approached with weapons deployed and his finger on the run-away button.
The sensors confirmed a non metallic object, and he stared in disbelief as it grew to fill the view in his forward canopy.
"It's a spaceship" But the material it's made of looks like.... wood. How can that be? Then, as the impossible ship slowly rotated, he got his first glimpse of the chimneys that were powering it through the void.
09 - T.j - Why U.....U..... Colonial U!!!!
The ship sat silently except for the steaming pile of resentment boiling over in the cockpit.
Kow stared at Erik's shamefaced expression with a contempt that was encompassing in it's withering exasperation.
'So......... The next time I ask you to message the crew to refuel the ship, what are you going to do?
Eric mumbled a sullen reply. Don't remove the U in all the words.' he paused then spoke again enthusiastically 'I sppose yo cold call the fel rats to resce s?
Kow's brain flipped out, ripping the ships toilet U bend he brandished it menacingly.
'COME HERE U!!!!!'
10 - CMDR Texas Stu - Fuel For Thought
My mission allowed too much time to think. Thoughts morphed into ideologies and comparative assessments.
It occurred to me how much different we are now compared to how we were in the past.
As a people we inhabited terra firma and we gazed to the stars and dreamed of traveling to the stars.
Now many of us inhabit space and gaze at the worlds and dream of settling down but never quite make the transition.
It used to be that water was free and fuel was at a premium.
Now fuel is essentially free and water is at a premium.
11 - Listeri69 - The Lonely Planet...
My fuel ran out in orbit around an earthlike
a thousand suns or more from home
I let my momentum pull me towards the atmosphere
the leaves fell with my ship as it burnt down the trees
some strange looking creatures ran in panic
some stayed never seeing a human life before
and probably will never see one again
it took me a week to walk to the rocky shore
surviving on depleting food cartridges and strange blue fruit
that grew carefree on an unpopulated world.
and I cried into the oceans waves knowing I would never see home again.
12 - Missileman - A rude jester
'You're an idiot' Gareth pointed at his crewmate as if he needed to ascertain who was the idiot
'well you should be more clear with your instructions then' Dennis looked hurt
'How could I be any clearer I said I'll get the cargo you get the fuels and fill the hold to the brim'
Gareth took another look in the hold. He shook his head
'and now we're stranded here waiting for the fuel rats because of your blind incompetence'
'look i'm sorry ok'
'Only you Dennis could go to a cargo market and fill the cargo with 100 fools'
13 - insanephoton - Oh Be A Fine Girl...
Not another brown dwarf. I've got enough fuel for one more jump but that's it. If I don't find a scoopable star I'm stuffed. Better check before jumping. If I get it wrong even the fuel rats won't be able to save me.
The old mnemonic from flight school was 'Oh Be A Fine Girl and Kiss Me' for all of the scoopable classes of star. I'm in luck There's a B class just in range.
Exiting hyperspace I hear the 'Main fuel tank drained' warning followed by the sound of my fuel scoop engaging. That was a close call.
14 - Rascon - Hydrogen, Treason and Plot
He had been at Grabe Orbital for weeks collecting food, medicines and fuel for what he claimed would be a long distance exploration trip.
The Pirates running the station asked no questions as long as he kept them in booze from his cargo runs.
He activated the timer, above him he could hear the sound of drunken laughter and the voice of the man who had killed his brother for failing to drop his cargo.
His Asp boosted away, 2 minutes later 100 tonnes of fuel ignited and turned the station into worthless scrap.
"Thanks for the idea Mr Fawkes".
15 - Darkoba - An Old Conundrum
The Anaconda "Dear_Liza" settled onto the cradle.
"How can we be out of fuel?" the Commander yelled.
"There's a hole in the fuel-tank" said First-Mate Henry.
"Then fix it, Henry."
"With what?"
"With a patch."
"The patches are too large."
"Then CUT one!"
"How shall I cut it?"
"With a plasma-blade, Henry!"
"Its battery is too low."
"Charge it!"
"With wha..."
"Try the generator!!!" the Commander interrupted.
"There's no fuel in the Genny!"
"Then RE-FUEL it!!!"
"Where'll I get the fuel?"
"From the fuel-tank!"
"But the fuel-tank is empty."
"Then fill it, Henry!"
"But there's a hole in the fuel-tank."
16 - Sneevus - Some Men Just Want To Watch The Galaxy Burn
I knock and wait outside the Imperial hospitality suite.
The door opens and I wheel the trolley inside.
"Senator, there's a problem with your order I'm afraid."
"Oh?"
"Seems it includes an attempt on your life."
The shocked look on his face is made permanent by two shots to the heart.
Removing the gun's owner from the bottom of the trolley, I arrange the late Federation
agent into a suitable pose, and return it to him.
The firearm responsible for his death I place gently in the senator's hand.
They'll be found by the morning, more fuel for the fire.
17 - Goose4291 - Rookie Mistakes
The Sidewinder, badly beaten and clearly second hand was parked at pad one on Al-Din Prospect, and visible from the outposts small convenience store’s viewport where it’s young pilot approached the counter clutching some small snacks.
The clerk scanned the sugary treats and worked the till, making small talk as she did “So, where are you headed?”
The rookie pilot smiled nervously “Hutton Orbital, there’s a lot of call for that new mug they’re selling within high Imperial society.”
The Clerk wished him well, beginning to snicker once the Sidewinder left for it’s destination: The pilot hadn’t bothered to refuel.
18 - Alien - Few L
Each week we do this show
This week a poem read by Kow
I can't say what I want to say
The words in my brain won't go away
Shinrarta Dezhra is my home
I'm not anywhere, that's where I've gone
The Founders are there, you can see
It suits me fine and they serve tea
No Cymraeg are there, something is banned
Twenty five characters, but one is canned
I've defended my home and seen it pure
To make this rhyme there is no cure
Many things we are, but never cruel
in this drabble there are few L
19 - Galactic Midden - No Fuel for a Fool
The security officer tapped into his armscreen before carefully opening the door, "so commander" he said heavy with sarcasm, "just how was this an accident".
Looking over the inspector's shoulder Commander Dumtucker stared at the carnage inside his Type-7's hold where high over head a mangled eagle dangled bum exposed between the bulkheads.
"Well I was in need of fuel you see, so I called for help on my rat phone and when the refueller arrived I fuel scooped it up. The idiot was incompetent though. Three scoops and still no fuel."
"Uh, ok sir, mind blowing into this tube?"
20 - MrMogadon - A Totally Transparent and Obvious Tale
In a booth, a conversation was becoming heated.
Commander Silver, caught the words “You ain't gonna get me scooping no sun” as one of the booth's quartet rose, heading for the bar.
Silver noted the man's muscled physique. Mmmm 105kg he estimated, smiling inwardly, waiting.
The inevitable question soon came.
Silver and the stranger left to see Silver's matter convertor.
After several minutes, there was the sound of screaming which stopped too suddenly to be good news.
The stranger re-entered, shrugging his crumpled jacket straight, heading boothwards, mumbling
“A pity the man who tries to make a fuel outta me”.
21 - Edith_The_Hutt - It keeps me going
Hydrogen raced into the reaction chamber, accelerated to speeds where time almost lost meaning, it collided with a burst of ionized matter traveling in the opposite direction. Fused and transformed it was struck again, whereupon it became Helium, again and it formed an alpha particle before being ejected as waste gas.
Energy released by the fusion pushed through a hundred thousand conduits for a myriad of uses: Propulsion, avionics, air scrubbing, boiling water...
Commander Grey cradled his tea cup with a satisfied sigh and turned to his first officer,
"It's the simple things I really enjoy out here," he smiled
22 - psykokow - The little Engine that Would
The anaconda paraded out of Zolanda dock, it’s crew of 40 fresh faced officers tasked to make sure this experimental bio-drive power plant succeeded.
Designed to break down organic matter into energy, it needed thorough testing to iron out issues.
A crew of 40 meant a lot of organic waste ideal to keep her running, well until they reached 3500ly.
One after another a crew member headed to engineering, never returning but succeeding in getting a little more power. But now no one would volunteer to go.
“We’ve run out of fools”, the Captain grimaced “time to make some sacrifices”
23 - azdour - A different Type of Fuel:
Cmdr Rossan was running low on fuel, he had been all day. He struggled on hour after hour hoping to get to his destination or find a place to refuel.
But time caught up. Out of fuel he found himself in the middle of no where.
In desperation, with time running out, he hit the distress button.
With the call to the Rats transmitted, all he could do was wait.
Minutes later his saviours arrived. Refuelled, he thanked them for saving him.
Satisfied he left, allowing the Gruel Rats to leave and help another poor Cmdr who forgotten their breakfast.
Fly safe and thanks for voting
A drabble is a short story of exactly 100 words and this week's topic was chosen by Simoof who won last week 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 (or 6pm Galactic Midden Time) and join in the fun.
If you fancy having a go next week then check back on Monday in the main drabble thread https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=5777 and jump to the end pages to join in the fun. Or, thanks to the Powers of Simoof you could simply click abrakadrabble.com/new
01 - Erik Marcaigh - High Horse
"You're clear for landing, Commander."
Simoof swung his Anaconda around to the front of the Coriolis Station and aligned himself with the slot. He grinned as his ship slipped easily into Winnard's Hole.
"Like throwing a hot dog down a hallway," he laughed to himself. He slammed his big ship down on the landing pad.
"Oi, Andy! David! She needs a cleaning and a re-fuel." Simoof pulled up a chair and sat near the tank.
"Whacha doin' there, Commander?"
"Writing a story. I'm a great writer, you know!"
Andy looked at David and whispered, "He's been sniffing the fuel again."
02 - Ian Phillips - Always Re-fuel
The universe was made wholly from searing orange fire.
Well, not quite. Sparks and smoke spat out of the console in front of him.
"Taking Heat damage", the omminous warning boomed through the cabin speakers.
"Noooooooo, damn, damn, damn" he swore whilst desperately trying to reach the pilots chair. "I'll never go to the crapper whilst re-fueling again!".
"Eject, Eject."
He dived for the escape capsule as the ship disintegrated in flame. Fire became his universe as the ship exploded around him.
Silence followed as the capsule tumbled through the stars outer layers.
A warning light blinked. 'Out of fuel'.
03 - Commander Fantasticon- The Good King
The lights flickering dimmed slightly, it wouldn't be long till they flickered off for good.
He sat still hypnotised by the dancing flames, staring through them deep into some distant memory.
His age was beginning to show and his body needed a serious overhaul. Creaks from bones almost echoing in the silence over the soft crackle of burning.
The lights dimmed again, it was time to act, time to get more fuel.. at this time of year it would be cold and crisp outside so he put his spacesuit on and headed out.
Commander Wenceslas needed to collect fuel quickly.
04 - Simoof - The Leg End of Long Haul Silver
Commander Silver hopped upto the bar.
The stump where a leg had previously resided seeped through the bandages. He knew he stunk.
Fortunately this bar was used to Hutton Truckers.
He chuckled at the irony - Explode a fuel rat, get stranded in the middle of nowhere.
A small voice piped up "What happened to your leg mister?"
"Follow me - I'll show you littleun" Silver replied to the 45kg lump of child.
....
"What is it?"
"Hop in, its state of the art is what it is"
"What does it do?" The door closed.
"Oh, it converts anything containing carbon into fuel"
05 - Thirstybadger - Fuel
You can’t scoop from a T-Tauri. Yet he had and filled up quick too. But something was wrong with it. His baby wasn't right. Banging sounds deep in the ship.
“Gotta dump this fuel. Call the rats” he said, swinging round to his co-pilot.
Empty, How long had the chair been empty? He checked comms, nothing, the panel was dead, no calling the rats either.
Floating down the corridor to quarters the lights and engine died. In his dark glide liquid collected on his suit and face. He recognised the taste, the acidic burn of an H2 leak and blood.
06 - moose666- Its getting hot in here
"FIRE!"
"Where?"
A finger pointed out of the observation window.
"F@&$!"
Pad 25 was merrily blazing away, with a cloud of firefighting limpets coming down upon it.
A hologram of the station was called up, a red line extending from the docking bay down into the bowels of the station
"Christ, that's the primary fuel supply line damaged, did we get an impatient buckyballer in an Anaconda taking off before the line was detached?"
"Sir, I've issued an evacuation order for the lower quadrant, shall I advice docking control to deny all incoming?"
"Do it, then call the station overseer."
07 - Frank- Yo Ho Ho And a Bottle of Hydrogen
The Anaconda Galleon loomed over the stricken Sidewinder, and then... nothing.
In the bridge the high-pitched voice of the Captain broke the inky silence, "What the hell happened!?"
Safe in the knowledge the captain wouldn't recognise him, a sarcastic voice squeaked "From the sounds of things I'd guess a fuel leak."
"I've got a cigar lighter here. At least we'll be able to see what we're doing."
A bridge-full of squeaky voices yelled in unison "No! Don't!.."
The Sidewinder pilot was blinded by the blast. He watched the billowing cloud of burning hydrogen dissolve the massive ship. Oh the humanity!
08 - cleonymus - Theres no fuel like an old fuel.
Cleonymus was confused. The last thing he had expected was to pick up a weak signal source this far out. His senses and sensors on high alert he approached with weapons deployed and his finger on the run-away button.
The sensors confirmed a non metallic object, and he stared in disbelief as it grew to fill the view in his forward canopy.
"It's a spaceship" But the material it's made of looks like.... wood. How can that be? Then, as the impossible ship slowly rotated, he got his first glimpse of the chimneys that were powering it through the void.
09 - T.j - Why U.....U..... Colonial U!!!!
The ship sat silently except for the steaming pile of resentment boiling over in the cockpit.
Kow stared at Erik's shamefaced expression with a contempt that was encompassing in it's withering exasperation.
'So......... The next time I ask you to message the crew to refuel the ship, what are you going to do?
Eric mumbled a sullen reply. Don't remove the U in all the words.' he paused then spoke again enthusiastically 'I sppose yo cold call the fel rats to resce s?
Kow's brain flipped out, ripping the ships toilet U bend he brandished it menacingly.
'COME HERE U!!!!!'
10 - CMDR Texas Stu - Fuel For Thought
My mission allowed too much time to think. Thoughts morphed into ideologies and comparative assessments.
It occurred to me how much different we are now compared to how we were in the past.
As a people we inhabited terra firma and we gazed to the stars and dreamed of traveling to the stars.
Now many of us inhabit space and gaze at the worlds and dream of settling down but never quite make the transition.
It used to be that water was free and fuel was at a premium.
Now fuel is essentially free and water is at a premium.
11 - Listeri69 - The Lonely Planet...
My fuel ran out in orbit around an earthlike
a thousand suns or more from home
I let my momentum pull me towards the atmosphere
the leaves fell with my ship as it burnt down the trees
some strange looking creatures ran in panic
some stayed never seeing a human life before
and probably will never see one again
it took me a week to walk to the rocky shore
surviving on depleting food cartridges and strange blue fruit
that grew carefree on an unpopulated world.
and I cried into the oceans waves knowing I would never see home again.
12 - Missileman - A rude jester
'You're an idiot' Gareth pointed at his crewmate as if he needed to ascertain who was the idiot
'well you should be more clear with your instructions then' Dennis looked hurt
'How could I be any clearer I said I'll get the cargo you get the fuels and fill the hold to the brim'
Gareth took another look in the hold. He shook his head
'and now we're stranded here waiting for the fuel rats because of your blind incompetence'
'look i'm sorry ok'
'Only you Dennis could go to a cargo market and fill the cargo with 100 fools'
13 - insanephoton - Oh Be A Fine Girl...
Not another brown dwarf. I've got enough fuel for one more jump but that's it. If I don't find a scoopable star I'm stuffed. Better check before jumping. If I get it wrong even the fuel rats won't be able to save me.
The old mnemonic from flight school was 'Oh Be A Fine Girl and Kiss Me' for all of the scoopable classes of star. I'm in luck There's a B class just in range.
Exiting hyperspace I hear the 'Main fuel tank drained' warning followed by the sound of my fuel scoop engaging. That was a close call.
14 - Rascon - Hydrogen, Treason and Plot
He had been at Grabe Orbital for weeks collecting food, medicines and fuel for what he claimed would be a long distance exploration trip.
The Pirates running the station asked no questions as long as he kept them in booze from his cargo runs.
He activated the timer, above him he could hear the sound of drunken laughter and the voice of the man who had killed his brother for failing to drop his cargo.
His Asp boosted away, 2 minutes later 100 tonnes of fuel ignited and turned the station into worthless scrap.
"Thanks for the idea Mr Fawkes".
15 - Darkoba - An Old Conundrum
The Anaconda "Dear_Liza" settled onto the cradle.
"How can we be out of fuel?" the Commander yelled.
"There's a hole in the fuel-tank" said First-Mate Henry.
"Then fix it, Henry."
"With what?"
"With a patch."
"The patches are too large."
"Then CUT one!"
"How shall I cut it?"
"With a plasma-blade, Henry!"
"Its battery is too low."
"Charge it!"
"With wha..."
"Try the generator!!!" the Commander interrupted.
"There's no fuel in the Genny!"
"Then RE-FUEL it!!!"
"Where'll I get the fuel?"
"From the fuel-tank!"
"But the fuel-tank is empty."
"Then fill it, Henry!"
"But there's a hole in the fuel-tank."
16 - Sneevus - Some Men Just Want To Watch The Galaxy Burn
I knock and wait outside the Imperial hospitality suite.
The door opens and I wheel the trolley inside.
"Senator, there's a problem with your order I'm afraid."
"Oh?"
"Seems it includes an attempt on your life."
The shocked look on his face is made permanent by two shots to the heart.
Removing the gun's owner from the bottom of the trolley, I arrange the late Federation
agent into a suitable pose, and return it to him.
The firearm responsible for his death I place gently in the senator's hand.
They'll be found by the morning, more fuel for the fire.
17 - Goose4291 - Rookie Mistakes
The Sidewinder, badly beaten and clearly second hand was parked at pad one on Al-Din Prospect, and visible from the outposts small convenience store’s viewport where it’s young pilot approached the counter clutching some small snacks.
The clerk scanned the sugary treats and worked the till, making small talk as she did “So, where are you headed?”
The rookie pilot smiled nervously “Hutton Orbital, there’s a lot of call for that new mug they’re selling within high Imperial society.”
The Clerk wished him well, beginning to snicker once the Sidewinder left for it’s destination: The pilot hadn’t bothered to refuel.
18 - Alien - Few L
Each week we do this show
This week a poem read by Kow
I can't say what I want to say
The words in my brain won't go away
Shinrarta Dezhra is my home
I'm not anywhere, that's where I've gone
The Founders are there, you can see
It suits me fine and they serve tea
No Cymraeg are there, something is banned
Twenty five characters, but one is canned
I've defended my home and seen it pure
To make this rhyme there is no cure
Many things we are, but never cruel
in this drabble there are few L
19 - Galactic Midden - No Fuel for a Fool
The security officer tapped into his armscreen before carefully opening the door, "so commander" he said heavy with sarcasm, "just how was this an accident".
Looking over the inspector's shoulder Commander Dumtucker stared at the carnage inside his Type-7's hold where high over head a mangled eagle dangled bum exposed between the bulkheads.
"Well I was in need of fuel you see, so I called for help on my rat phone and when the refueller arrived I fuel scooped it up. The idiot was incompetent though. Three scoops and still no fuel."
"Uh, ok sir, mind blowing into this tube?"
20 - MrMogadon - A Totally Transparent and Obvious Tale
In a booth, a conversation was becoming heated.
Commander Silver, caught the words “You ain't gonna get me scooping no sun” as one of the booth's quartet rose, heading for the bar.
Silver noted the man's muscled physique. Mmmm 105kg he estimated, smiling inwardly, waiting.
The inevitable question soon came.
Silver and the stranger left to see Silver's matter convertor.
After several minutes, there was the sound of screaming which stopped too suddenly to be good news.
The stranger re-entered, shrugging his crumpled jacket straight, heading boothwards, mumbling
“A pity the man who tries to make a fuel outta me”.
21 - Edith_The_Hutt - It keeps me going
Hydrogen raced into the reaction chamber, accelerated to speeds where time almost lost meaning, it collided with a burst of ionized matter traveling in the opposite direction. Fused and transformed it was struck again, whereupon it became Helium, again and it formed an alpha particle before being ejected as waste gas.
Energy released by the fusion pushed through a hundred thousand conduits for a myriad of uses: Propulsion, avionics, air scrubbing, boiling water...
Commander Grey cradled his tea cup with a satisfied sigh and turned to his first officer,
"It's the simple things I really enjoy out here," he smiled
22 - psykokow - The little Engine that Would
The anaconda paraded out of Zolanda dock, it’s crew of 40 fresh faced officers tasked to make sure this experimental bio-drive power plant succeeded.
Designed to break down organic matter into energy, it needed thorough testing to iron out issues.
A crew of 40 meant a lot of organic waste ideal to keep her running, well until they reached 3500ly.
One after another a crew member headed to engineering, never returning but succeeding in getting a little more power. But now no one would volunteer to go.
“We’ve run out of fools”, the Captain grimaced “time to make some sacrifices”
23 - azdour - A different Type of Fuel:
Cmdr Rossan was running low on fuel, he had been all day. He struggled on hour after hour hoping to get to his destination or find a place to refuel.
But time caught up. Out of fuel he found himself in the middle of no where.
In desperation, with time running out, he hit the distress button.
With the call to the Rats transmitted, all he could do was wait.
Minutes later his saviours arrived. Refuelled, he thanked them for saving him.
Satisfied he left, allowing the Gruel Rats to leave and help another poor Cmdr who forgotten their breakfast.
Fly safe and thanks for voting
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