Between civilian recovery operations across Selen and trying to consolidate military power in and around Dajorra, more than a few Collective elements have slipped through our notice. Crash sites that should have been secured the day they went down have only recently been scoured. Unsurprisingly, they are all devoid of activity. The survivors have moved on, and we’re not sure where to or to what end. Choose your mission and execute it as you see fit; do the recon and let the DDF do the grunt work, or take on the risk and responsibility yourself. Just make sure you don’t get in over your head. We’ve allocated DDF troops to assist as you see fit: up to a platoon from the line companies on Selen and a LAAT/i platoon for transport.

Operation Mockingbird

We’ve gotten several reports of ghosts in the communications network — anomalies in the frequency-hopping algorithms that are supposed to keep the lines secure. While the specific location can’t be pinned down, there is enough evidence to suggest one of our terrestrial relay stations just west of Naruba has been hacked or worse: taken over. Investigate the site and rectify this breach.

Operation Nighthawk

There’s rumor of a large group of Collective troops moving toward Estle from the south, potentially ranging from a company to a battalion in size. They have evaded outright detection thus far, though that could be due to the lack of regular patrols. Find out where they are, how they’re arrayed, and what they’re doing.

Operation Ysalimir

There is a literal storm raging in the vicinity of Fort Blindshot, and while the rain is falling heavier than a rancor’s poodoo, we’ve got reliable intelligence of a Collective platoon holed up on a small island to the southeast. Despite being marooned there since the battle over Selen, they’ve spent the interim fortifying their position; only now we’ve picked up chatter suggesting they have an evacuation planned. We can’t wait for the weather to clear and lose this chance. Go get them.

Details and Grading

• In a minimum of 500 words, write a story of how your character tackles one (or more) of these objectives, successfully or unsuccessfully.
• Preferred submission is PDF format, but Word docs and text-box submissions will also be accepted. Google Doc links will NOT be accepted.
• Grading will be done in accordance with the Fiction Grading Rubric.
• Use of other people’s characters is permitted, but make sure you have their permission to do so.
• Adult content is permitted, but do NOT publish the submission if it includes such content.
• Fourth Level Crescents will be available to the top three placements, and Clusters of Ice will be applied in accordance with individual word counts.