Amph Writing Contest FIVE. The Authors Strike Back. (Week 3 writing)

I think two weeks for writing might be better. I had to miss the last two because I couldn't make the deadline in time. One week I was half way through with plans to finish it on the Saturday but was too ill to do so. I have a feeling this next month will be a very busy one for me, I have two lots of group coursework to do plus the usual lectures and stuff.

 

Hopefully with two weeks, everyone will be able to write more.

 

Hopefully. I'm thankful that there's no writing this week, it turns out that I have a big assignment due in on Monday, there's no way I could do both and work comes before play.

 

I think two weeks would be good. Technically we don't even have a full week right now. It's close, six days and a few hours, depending on where you live. And I'd count the few hours as going toward reading the winning entry. Not that it takes that long, but some might go over it a few times to help get ideas and what have you.

 

Real Life has killed my free time badly this week so results for the next round will have to go up at the weekend.



Is the general consensus to extend the writng time to two weeks then? If so I have no problems with that at all

 

I hope two weeks will work out better for people.

 

Right now I have a bazillion assignments for college so having an extra week to write something would be really helpful. Thanks.

 

Two week writing limit now.



Due to the fact that their were only two entries last time I'm going to runChapter three again.


This means that the prior two entrants get a chance to refine AND improve (should they wish) their initial entries OR write something new altogether.


Eitherway both the entrant from the last round will get some points credit towards their overall score due to the fact that they managed to get entries in.


So without further ado we restart Chapter 3




Thw last winning chapter was

CHAPTER TWO

Ten minutes later Fren and Jauna escorted Erika into the conference room at the far end of the base. Drake was still in the infirmary ward, for the wounded were many and some of the injuries were quite severe. Erika was more than glad that Drake had had to stay behind, relieved in fact, though she hardly would have admitted it.

The conference room was small but more than adequate. Only about a dozen people were present (the Council of Officers) and all were seated, their somber eyes locked on Denise Laran.

Laran (Erika's second-in-command) was a beautiful, toned woman. She wore dark greens that commemorated her rank, and her brown hair was held loosely behind her. Laran stood at the head of the room behind a podium, addressing her subordinates.

?So this has been a tragic day for our Unit and also for the whole Western Army, but I needn't tell you that. You were there, leading our valiant men and women onward. I commend you all. Today's defeat??

Laran fell silent when she saw Erika and the others out of the corner of her eye.

With a slight smile Denise flagged them forward and added, ?Well, perhaps this day has been slightly less tragic than we feared.?

Laran saluted Erika. The two shook hands and the crowd applauded. When the glad sound subsided, the commander spoke in a voice that even Fren and Jauna had to strain to hear.

?It's so good to see you well. Every other Unit involved in today's battle has lost their captain.?

?Fren told me,? Erika said, but all the while she found herself thinking, Is Laran glad that I'm all right? Really? She has wanted my position since before we even met, and what's more, she's never made any qualms about hiding it.
Erika quickly pushed those thoughts away. They were paranoid and hardly professional. Perhaps Laran was a little disappointed, but it didn't show. Besides, what did it matter? Nothing could be done about it.

?Chopping off every head?so to speak?is a sinister tactic,? Denise continued, paying no heed to Erika's momentary distance. ?But the organization of it.... It seems that the Anarians have made use of their Dark Magic yet again.?

?Hmm...?

Erika knew that was most likely true. The enemy, whenever desperate or extra bloodthirsty, relied less on their technology and more on their most ancient and damnable rights. This sorcery seldom failed the Anarians.

?There's a print out on the podium. It's an order from General Vargas.? With a slight gesture Laran added, ?You should read it and relay the facts to everyone. After all, you're still the Captain.?

Erika swore she heard a touch of bitterness in the commander's voice.

Oh, just stop it! Erika chided herself.

Before she took to the podium, she gestured for Fren and Jauna to sit alongside their comrades, and as Erika stepped forward, she also nodded to Laran and quietly asked Denise to stand adjacent to the podium.

Even without reading it, the General's order looked intimidating as well as important. The body of the work was typed in bold caps, and near the bottom of the print out, in jagged script, was Vargas's signature, larger than she had ever seen it. Erika ingested every word before speaking.

?Friends and comrades, I'm glad to be able to speak to you again.? Another round of applause swelled up, and Erika paused until the sound began to fade. ?As much as celebration might be in order, we haven't the time. General Vargas has issued a mandate, which requires our immediate attention.

?To quote

 

Two weeks to revise? It wasn't my best, but I'll have to really think on what else I can do with it. Maybe even start from scratch, if I suddenly find time to do that. With two weeks, I might.

 

I'll try again, I wasn't happy with it the last time I tried.

 

Life threw me the biggest curve on April 6 so I apologize for not even coming on here until today. I was fully expecting this to be on chapter 5 by now. But I will see what I can do to complete an entry for the extended repeat for Chapter 3.

 

I hope we got a decent number of entries this time around. I think it was a great idea to have chapter 3 run again.

 

Raven and I have talked about this and consulted Fatburt. There have been few to no entries lately, and this contest is sinking like the Titanic. We've decided that it would be best to end this now and hold off on any future writing contests for a while. Thank you to all who participated, and especally to Master-FatBurt for hosting