Fiction:

A derelict transport ship, one of Sunrider’s BFF-1 Bulk Freighters presumed lost after the Hab-5 crash, is discovered deep in the City’s Abyssal depths by engineers handling maintenance on one of the massive mining drills. Banging is heard from inside and when the ship’s crew is brought aboard for medical treatment, it is revealed that they are carrying a dangerous pathogen found to be highly contagious but selectively lethal—whileother species act as carriers, it only and specifically kills Sephi.

It is clear that this was meant to be an intentional act of bio-terrorism aimed at destabilizing the city, one of the rival noble houses, or even the Conclave itself. Such a weapon found on a Tythas City starship, should the word get out, would certainly put all sorts of pressure on Sunrider. Not revealing it, however, could put more people at risk when the bio-weapon is released somewhere else, on unsuspecting citizens.

Whatever plan there was, if there even was such a thing, has now put the Abyssal mining operation at risk. There are Sephi among them, and the shifts may not change, and no one on the Abyssal mining rig may leave until either a cure is found or some other alternative shows itself.

Hard choice:

This competition will include a Hard Choice, designed to challenge your character’s morals and as an additional challenge for you as a writer. The Hard Choices are:

• Search for a cure and release it to the public: A morally clean choice, however it will start inquiries into House Sunrider, the existence of the bio-weapon, and how it came to be on their ship. No good act goes unpunished.
• Weaponize it and keep it as Plan B: A day may come when the pathogen will become necessary leverage against other noble Houses.Weaponizing it, developing a cure, and keeping it for ourselves ensures Sunrider’s position.
• Make it look like an accident: The risks are too great. This brings too much attention to a fledgling Sunrider and our developing domain. Purge the Abyssal rig of everything biological, miners, ship crew and all and cover it up as an accident. Sunrider’s future will be assured, at the cost of many lives.

Competition details:

• The only story limitation in this competition is that you must choose one of the Hard Choices detailed above and write the story with that in mind
• Entries must meet a minimum of 500 words for participation.
• Entries will be graded according to the Fiction Grading Rubric 3.0
• Placing entries may be canonized in House Fiction, after Summit and author approval.