This is a cross-genre fiction opportunity: Star Wars & Halo.

In the aftermath of a successful raid against the Iron Throne, we have acquired new intelligence pertaining to the location of Grand Master Pravus. Imperial Intelligence has been able to decrypt secure communications between the Dark Council and the Grand Master. You have been dispatched immediately to the indicated coordinates in a Lambda-class shuttle accompanied by four soldiers from the Imperial Legion. When you arrive, you discover a strange world that has - according to our records - never been documented before. Metal and organic life intertwine as if by design. It creates a beautiful, captivating landscape from the forward view of your shuttle.

As your ship descends towards a large structure nestled between two cliffs, you feel something is ‘off’. You debark the shuttle, flanked by Imperial troopers, and march towards an apparent entrance into the large structure. Hesitantly, you enter the facility in an attempt to ascertain the whereabouts of the Grand Master and map the unknown location. Your search, however, is soon cut short by alien-like creatures known as The Flood. They begin to attack and, presumably more sinisterly, attempt to infect you and the troopers.

Write a story where your character and the Imperial Troopers and/or members of Tacitus Athanasius attempt to survive the onslaught against The Flood. Do you escape? Do you press forward to find more information on the Grand Master? Will you make it out alive with your group intact or will you or others fall to the Gravemind’s control? The story is in your hands.

Grading: The Voice Fiction Rubric

Entries must be a minimum of 500 words with no maximum word count.