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#iamwriting

9 posts7 participants1 post today
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rdm

Doctor Anderson woke up to her phone pinging. Careful not to disturb her husband she checked it, and saw that it was a new supernova. She slipped out of bed and went to the kitchen, where she logged into the observation database.

Almost at once she could see something wrong. The report only came from the visible light observatories. None of the radio telescopes - not even the wide-field one - had reported anything.

By morning it was clear that this was not any sort of object that was normally her field of interest. It was, however, not one she was going to stop studying. For starters, it was clearly inside the solar system - well inside the orbit of Jupiter. For another, it was accelerating - at about 1.5G if the repeat observations were correct. It was also getting brighter - a lot brighter, almost as if it were getting bigger.

Her husband found her staring at her laptop in the morning, a half-empty and stone cold cup of tea next to her.

"We have to get the kids up for school."
Without looking up "Can you? I've got something here" she replied.
He looked over her shoulder. "Um, that's not an FRB. Or a supernova," he paused, clearly doing maths in his head "That's a powered trajectory."
"Yep. It's not heading for us, we don't think. It looks like it is planning a slingshot."
"So how come you're heading it up?"
"I spotted the anomalous behaviour first."
"And by anomalous, that it was accelerating."
"And getting brighter. We're re-pointing a couple of the orbital scopes."
"I'll get the kids ready."
"Thanks - you're a wonder."

By the time breakfast was over, she was able to show her family a picture - a flower-shaped object, with a dark core, and fourteen bright petals around it. She printed three of them off, so that the kids and her teacher husband could take them with them.

"Our initial estimate is that it is about two hundred metres across. And it is holding a constant 1.5g acceleration. That is an insane amount of energy."

By tea time, there had been no response to radio transmissions, and there had been no change in the trajectory. The following morning brought a dramatic change, though. Overnight the acceleration had changed to a deceleration.

"It will stop just inside the Mars orbit around about midnight tomorrow. We've got a good look at it now, though."

The petals now appeared bluish, and the dark core now appeared to be a grey colour.

The following night, after getting the family up, all four of them clustered around the laptop watching the feeds from the telescopes as the craft finally slowed to a constant velocity. As they watched, the petals suddenly folded back. A few minutes passed - a sudden burst of violet light - and it was gone.

"Mummy where is it?" the youngest asked.
"I don't know, sweety. I just don't know."
"Did it explode?"
"There's no sign of debris, so no" It had vanished completely..
"Maybe they were recharging their engine."
"Maybe. Maybe."

#SF#SFF#microfiction
The Doctor (Open for Commissions)

Does the demon manage to make a human friend? Or does she end up getting reprimanded by a superior? This story is available for members (free tier) on Patreon #WritingCommunity #IAmWriting #FlashFictionFriday

RE: https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:36h6ttx2g23zqr4accilbvo7/post/3lrfrz2ykls2w

Bluesky Social · The Doctor is Looking for Work (@lucidillusions.in)I finished writing another story, and since I am not sure where to send it to, I've shared it on @patreon.com Check it here https://www.patreon.com/posts/dear-imprudence-131298555 Imprudence, An anxious demon who wants to befriend a human. #ShortStory #WritingCommunity #IAmWriting https://www.patreon.com/posts/dear-imprudence-131298555?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link
*
rdm

"Get a load of the freak and the losers!" Hitomi flinched and her wings twitched as the voice echoed across the bar. Estelle looked furious, and started to get up.
"Don't 'Stell. I know you could break his arm, but he's not worth getting busted over," said Tannis, putting an arm on her shoulder. "Besides, I want you all on your game for tomorrow's trials."
Ava spoke up "We need to do something."
"I put up with it all my life, Ava. It won't change anything" Hitomi unconsciously brought her wings in closer as she spoke.
"I know what will," Tannis grinned, and started to draw on a coaster.
The other three gathered closer to look. After a few moments, Hitomi spread her wings out and around their table, giving them privacy.

The next morning, after the briefing, the teams walked out to the waiting aerospace craft.

"Hey, Jarrad?" Tannis called out, "Want to make some easy cash?"
"What, you're giving up now, are you?" he shouted back, his team snickering.
"Nope - but I tell you what, you win this bout, I'll give you this month's pay."
"Sure, no problem. What's in it for you?"
"You'll transfer to logistics."
"Why the hell would I do that? I'm easily the better pilot!"
"Then you've got nothing to be afraid of, do you?"
"Ok, Ok, you're on!"

The ground crews looked at each other.

The scenario was simple enough. Get the fighters past a set of defences, and tag a target point. The team that completed the scenario with the least losses won.

Jarrad's flight was epic, following the nape of the earth to minimise the time the ground defences had to fire. As it was, he lost one plane (simulated), and had two damaged (also simulated). But there was no sign of Tannis and her team. He'd seen them take off, but lost track of them while concentrating on his own mission.

He landed, and saw the other four fighters sitting right where they had started, they must have given up and circled back.

He and his team were grinning as they entered the briefing room.

Tannis, the freak, and the other two losers, were sitting with their heads down, but everyone stood to attention as the commander came in.

"Sit, at ease, all of you. We've analysed the footage and the effects. Jarrad - nape of the earth was what we were expecting for this scenario."
Jarrad grinned.
"Which is why we had the defences set up to intercept low fast targets."
His face fell.
"We were not expecting someone to jump in over the target, and then depart out the back. Tannis, you had one plane get a glancing hit to a wingtip. You win the exercise."
"Thank-you Sir! Hitomi ran the calculations last night. We would not have been able to do it without her. And we'd like to name the team, Sir."
The commander raised an eyebrow.
"Chimera Flight."
"Very well. Also, Jarrad, I expect to see your application by tonight. You will honour the bet, understand?"
"Yes, Sir." came the reply as Jarrad's head dropped into his hands.

#CerianAndVaranWar #SF #IAmWriting #SFF #MilSF #tootfic

Part of rdmasters.lympago.com/p/cerian

rdmasters.lympago.comCerian and Varan War - A story in developmentThe setting (from several hundred thousand light years away) An Explanation Through late 2022 and most of 2023, an author, E.W.Paris , on t...
rdm

Chimera Flight were halfway to their fighters when Ava's headset chimed.
"Ava, go."
"Acting Flight Leader, you're being reassigned. Please return to ops."
"Hitomi! Estelle! Back to ops. We've got a new assignment."
Shaking her head, Ava led the others back to the ops room.
The commander was waiting for them.

"Chimera Flight? We have a new assignment for you. Your fighters are being reprogrammed as we talk."
"What's the mission, Sir?"
"One you'll like, I'm sure. We have coordinates for Tannis' bird. Your job will be to fly into that airspace and jettison some cargo pods."
Hitomi excitedly broke in "Supplies for Tannis! You want us to do a supply run for her!"
"Correct. We want you to drop two pods each, they'll have parachutes and beacons, so you don't have to get too close and give them an excuse to get alarmed."
Ava nodded, "Right sir. "
"I want you in and out, fast. As tempting as it might be, no loitering."
All three pilots responded "Sir!"
"Right then, get in the air. Dismissed!"

They jogged back to their aerospace fighters as the cargo pods were being fitted, the ground crews getting clear as they reached them.

Getting their clearances, Chimera flight took off, and vanished into jump.

#CerianAndVaranWar #IAmWriting #tootfic #SF #SFF #SciFi #MilSF

Part of the on-going rdmasters.lympago.com/p/cerian

rdmasters.lympago.comCerian and Varan War - A story in developmentThe setting (from several hundred thousand light years away) An Explanation Through late 2022 and most of 2023, an author, E.W.Paris , on t...
Replied in thread
rdm

@SFFMagazineCovers

Alise and Brenda ran towards the transporter interceptor as the figure tried to release himself from the robotic tentacles. One of them had already ripped the smouldering object from his mouth.

Just as Alise was about to yank the weapon from his hand, Brenda hit the "Tighten" control, and the tentacles immediately gripped harder, and immobilised him.

Alise carefully plucked the weapon from his hand, and then went through his pockets as one of the tentacles gagged him.

"He's from something called 'The Interstellar Confederation of Planets'. He's supposed to be a diplomat."

"Not very diplomatic not sending a message first."

"Mmmhmhmhmh!" said the man.

"You call that a diplomatic message? You stated that you were going to take care of us, and we would never have to do anything other than raise our families" Brenda replied, disgusted.

"Mmmmhmhmhmhhmmh!"

"No," said Alise, "I don't think we'll let you go. I think we'll send you back. Just let me make a few adjustments." She got out a laser-cutter.

----

On board the orbiting courier, a figure appeared out of thin air. A cigar dropped to the ground next to him. His clothes were in rags, and there were words burnt into his forehead. "Sexist Jerlc Jerk". The word "Jerlc" had been crossed out.
He groaned "I should have stayed still..."

#SF#SFF#microfiction
rdm

Augustus finished chanting and poured the sacrificial blood into the rune-carved circle. There was a bright flash, and an eldritch figure appeared in a gust of foul vapours.

"Now Satan, I command you!"

The figure looked around and picked its nose. "Again? I've had it with this rubbish." It drew forth an obsidian crystal.

"Silence Devil! I..." The figure held up a hand.

The creature spoke into the crystal "Yeah, it's me. Look, I've got some joker here who stuffed up the incantation again. Yeah, another wrong bloody number. " It looked around. "Really bloody, this time. Yeah, nah, look just send me back again and do your bleeding job, OK?"

"You shall not..." Augustus started again and the figure vanished, this time replaced by a huge horned and goat-footed form.

"Shall not what?" it boomed.

----

"Hi guys, sorry about that, there was a wrong number. Don't worry, Stan the Dork Lord has his phone on silent now, so let's get this raid underway!"

#SFF#SF#microfiction
*
rdm

The maker fair had not been going well for Marcus. He'd shifted almost none of his pre-printed knickknacks, and printing on demand was everywhere this year. Even with the large crowds he was not even going to break even.

So he was a little bit grumpy when someone knocked over one of the bins of toys.
"Oi! Watch where you're going you idiot!" he yelled. With all the noise in the hall he was honestly surprised she could hear him, but she'd turned, glared, and waved one of those gesture triggered remote controls. And given him the bird.

Nicole on the next stand had shaken her head "That was dumb, Marcus. She'll talk."
"Don't care. This fair is already a bust for me."
Then she stared past him - and pointed. He looked back, and at his printer. The print-in-place duck that it just finished was flapping its wings and opening and closing its bill.

It took Marcus and Nicole a little while to sort out what was happening. The duck did not have enough strength to break free from the build plate, but once he'd broken it off, it tried to nibble him to death. Then someone came by, saw what was happening, and offered a fifty for it. So he sold it, and the guy went off with the duck perched on his shoulder silently quacking.

A Benchy print did nothing. An articulated dragon tried to bite him, but seemed content to sit around Nicole's shoulders, head raised up and looking like it was hissing at him whenever he got near. So he printed another. A cool hundred bucks, and a happy customer went off.

"Marcus, I think your printer is cursed. "
"Cursed? That's crazy. Magic..." the dragon on Nicole's neck tried to bite him again "...might just be real?"
"I think that lady you yelled at was an actual witch. You'd better find her and apologise."
"Why would I want to do that? So she removes the curse? That curse has made this the best fair ever for me!"
"All the same. I'll ask around. Just in case."

Later, Nicole had handed him a business card "Madame Hexe. Witch." There was an email address, a phone number, and a post office box. Marcus looked at it, and hummed. "Maybe I should do something."

TBC

#SF#SFF#tootfic
Replied in thread
rdm

@SFFMagazineCovers

Sandra cursed as the roc grabbed Hank's parachute behind her. Hank was supposed to be a distraction, but he was supposed to be in front of her by this stage, and she'd be hard pressed to turn quickly enough. As it was her twin implanted maser turrets still only had a one-eighty degree arc of fire, and she could not get a bead on the huge bird yet.

There was a cut off scream as it bit off Hank's head.

It would be coming for her next, so she spilled air from her parachute in an attempt to both turn and gain speed.

As she came around she saw the roc's head coming straight towards her, and then suddenly explode in a cloud of cooked bird brains. As the debris cleared, she could see her sister, Claire on the far side of the now falling avian, her own turrets glowing with heat.

Through the rushing wind, she could hear her shouting "Still the better shot!"

Damnit. She was right, too.

#SF#SFF#microfiction
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