Competition: Galeres - Trouble on Gethsemane - Week 3 - Fiction

Finished
Galeres - Trouble on Gethsemane - Week 3 - Fiction

Several prompts possible this week: Any scene detailing the discovery of the survivors on Gethsemane, the search and rescue operation, your character as the Nighthawk starts to shift from cleanup to triage of survivors, the arrival of the Wrath of the Dawn in orbit to assist in the operation, or anything related to these activities.

Details:
- Minimum of 500 words, no maximum amount.
- Entries must be submitted in .pdf or .txt format or using the submission box on the Brotherhood website. No GoogleDoc links or .DOC files, please download as a .pdf using "File" -> "Download as" "PDF Document (.pdf)" and submit through the website.
- If your entry is not PG-13, please make sure to hide your entry by unchecking the “Allow people to view your submission after the competition has been judged” box
- AI assistance is not allowed and will result in disqualification.
- Grading per VOICE grading rubric

Competition Information
Parent Competition
Galeres - Trouble on Gethsemane - Week 3
Organized by
Supreme Chancellor Ood Bnar, Sivall Tenbriss Ya-ir Zoria
Running time
2024-01-22 until 2024-01-28 (7 days)
Target Unit
House Galeres
Competition Type
Fiction
Awards
Fourth Level Crescents and Clusters of Ice as per VOICE guidelines
Participants
3 subscribers, of which 2 have participated.
Results
Member
Master Ruka Tenbriss Ya-ir
File submission
gal week 3.pdf
Placement
1st place
Member
Ghost Luka Zarkot
Textual submission

Survivors. Vreva's heart fell into her stomach as she looked to the burning wreck of the starliner. A thousand people could be within the pods littered about the ship. That changed things completely.

"Alright, we're heading in," Vreva said as she made her way down the ramp of the Nighthawk. The frozen air of Gethsemane's winter bit at her cheeks and nose, and whipped her long braids into a frenzy. A part of her was looking forward to the warmth of the hot metal debris. She pressed a few buttons on her comlink and brought up Paumgon's info. "Paum-paum? Relaying you the info on the pods. Think you can get the ship close enough to triage?"

"Haummmm... Not sure. Storm's starting to pick up. Can land, but I'm not sure when we'll be able to pick back up again."

Vreva scowled as she pushed through the drifts of snow. "Don't chance it, then. Keep near the Nighthawk and bring the gear around to me. Gonna need saws to get through all this durasteel." After an affirmative harumph from the herglic, the call disconnected. Time to get to work.

The zabrak picked through the wreckage, careful not to touch the blazing red durasteel. Sweat dripped from her brow as she affixed her goggles and mask. She did not want to breathe in whatever was coming off the ship components. The durasteel was superheated red in some parts, barring her path. She avoided these sections and used an amplified leap here and there to reach the broken core of the ship. The hologram at her wrist led the way to the first pod, a solid monolith among the twisted ribs of the starliner.

With a snarl of effort, Vreva shoved a sheet of alloy away from the pod door. A few tries to key in the code provided no reaction. The lights on the keypad flickered and dimmed before shutting down completely. That was not a good sign.

"Hey Paum, what do I do if the keypad don't work?" she asked as she held her comm to her mouth. Static came in response. No doubt the storm was causing interference. Just what she needed.

She slammed her fist into the keypad and broke off its front panel. The wires inside proved a futile puzzle as she zapped her fingers a few times trying to disconnect them. Okay, Plan C. Brute force.

Kicking the door down was not the best plan, but it was a plan. She regretted it immediately, however. Pain shot up her leg and she swore in Zabraki. Thankfully heavy footfalls signaled the appearance of her herglic companion with supplies. "Umm... Brought tools." Paum lifted the crate between his hands.

Placement
2nd place