Competition: [Parabellum Cycle 2: Phase II] Fiction - Above and Below

Finished
[Parabellum Cycle 2: Phase II] Fiction - Above and Below
This competition is in the [Parabellum Cycle 2: Phase II] Fiction Bin.

Participation Type: Low Impact

Sitrep

The threat the Quantum Shadows bring remains looming overhead. While the Brotherhood now knows of them and where they operate, there is still the matter of stopping them before the Brotherhood is put into the spotlight.

But while we know of them, they now know we are on Coruscant and actively trying to stop them. The gang has split, some running for the city’s surface and a way off-world, and others for the planet’s ground level too stubborn to leave their home.

Options

Participants must use one of the following prompts to craft their entry:

Operation Jetpack: A splinter group of the Quantum Shadows led by Ce’celia Lathos have decided to abandon their criminal allies. They are working their way to the top levels of the city, hoping to escape. Hunted by their betrayed former allies, you may opt to aid, or stop this ground from leaving.

Operation Deep Dive: The fracturing Quantum Shadows have split into two camps. Bhoc Vedmat has led his group down further than they ever have before, Level 0. Undeterred by the stories of ghosts, monsters, and deadly viruses, this group looks to bunker in to survive the coming onslaught of Brotherhood forces. Lead an expedition down to deal with this faction of the Shadows before they can continue to deal more damage to the Brotherhood’s image.

Rules

  • Entries must be submitted as a static file (e.g. .pdf, .txt, .docx) or using the submission box on the Brotherhood website. Google Docs links and other ‘live’ documents that can be edited after submission will be ineligible for placement.
    • 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
  • Entries must be a minimum of 500 words. Any entries that are under 500 words will be ineligible for placement.
  • Your story must be centered on your main character or one of your alternative characters. Wikipedia NPCs, or other characters that you create or invent to tell your story are encouraged. However, your narrative should focus around either your main character or alternative character.
  • You must select and submit a snapshot of your main character or alternative character with your entry.
  • This competition will award up to four (4) bonus Clusters of Ice at a rate of 1 per 500 words, in addition to the normal clusters awarded for fiction competitions

Grading

Submitted entries will be graded using the Voice Fiction Rubric

Competition Information
Parent Competition
Season 1: Parabellum - Cycle 2 - Fiction Pillar
Organized by
Lord Idris Adenn, Lord Dacien Victae
Running time
2025-06-29 until 2025-07-27 (29 days)
Target Unit
Entire DJB
Competition Type
Fiction
Awards
First Level Crescents and regular and bonus Clusters of Ice as per VOICE guidelines
Participants
44 subscribers, of which 19 have participated.
Results
1st place
Duchess Jenni
Member
Duchess Jenni
File submission
Into the Depths.pdf
Placement
1st place
Member
Lord Muz Ashen Keibatsu
File submission
Operation Jetpack.pdf
Placement
2nd place
3rd place
Legend Wally
Member
Legend Wally
File submission
C2 Fiction-Marick.pdf
Placement
3rd place
Member
Knight Remalia Manvar
File submission
End of the Line.pdf
Placement
4th place
Member
Envoy Zuza Lottson
File submission
Deep down... - Barafu.pdf
Placement
5th place
Member
Ashia Kagan Keibatsu
File submission
Above and Below.pdf
Placement
6th place
Member
Adept DarkHawk Sadow
File submission
Above and Below .pdf
Textual submission

Here is my submission for this fiction entry.
I had my childhood friend Dennis Mansfield, former editor of the Crawford County Avalanche assist with proofing.

Placement
7th place
Member
Dr. Lexiconus Qor
File submission
Operation Deep Dive.pdf
Placement
8th place
Member
Grand Inquisitor "Aequitas" Anderson
File submission
Dead Man.pdf
Placement
9th place
Member
Mandalorian Malodin'Tater
File submission
Operation_ Jetpack.pdf
Placement
10th place
Member
Thran Occasus-Palpatine
File submission
Into the Night.docx
Placement
Participation only
Member
Furios Morega di Plagia
File submission
furios_fiction_2025-7-23.pdf
Placement
No placement
Member
Ranger Revs
Textual submission

Coruscant, lower levels.

“Yes sir…..understood we will move out immediately.” The dark haired Miraluka pocketed his comlink and ran his fingers through his hair. Revs and his small team had been sent to Courasant to help perform damage control and take out a gang that was impersonating members of the Dark Brotherhood. So far the operation was making progress the gang was scattering and breaking apart. The Brotherhood Forces were preparing to make the final push.

Revs turned around to face his team. A younger female Miraluka sat cross legged on the floor playing with a BD unit. Long black hair flowed over her small frame. Starlynn was Revs younger sister, and his complete opposite. Trained by the Jedi she acted as the units healer, and kept the other two on a tight leash when it came to moral issues.

Against the wall say an Ewok eating a field rations pack. Revs best friend Logan, his roll was as a demolitions expert and pilot. He had managed pull the Miraluka out of more hot situations than Revs liked to count

“Alright get up. We got new orders “ Revs barked causing the other two to look up from what they were doing. “Looks like the ops have split in two. Some are making for the upper levels, and we are to hunt them down and take anything that could be tied back to the Brotherhood.

Coruscant, level 5127 Transportation yard.

Revs leaned against a shipping crate and leaned his head back. “What's going on?”

A quick jibber of Ewokiese came from on top of the crate. After finding a small, well armed group of the Shadows, the trio had decided it best to follow them and wait for an opportunity to strike. Upon arriving at the transportation yard, Revs had tossed Logan on top of the crates to keep eyes on the target.

“What did he say?” Starlynn sighed sounding like she was done with this entire job.

Revs tilted his head up to the top of the crates. “He said they approached a larger group….but drew their weapons on them. The hell?”

Peaking around the crates he could see the two groups. The larger group had their hands up in the air seeming to not wish to escalate the situation further. Revs signaled for the other two to follow him, and started to move between the boxes making sure to stay hidden. As they approached the edge of the crates they were using of cover, the Arconans could hear the two groups arguing.

“We can leave all of this behind us! We can get out alive!” A small Twi’lek woman was pleading to the group that Revs had originally been following.

“We all swore to stick by each other. Weather you disagree with Bhoc doesn't change that!” A rather muscular human shouted as he pointed his gun at her

Whatever else was said Revs didn't hear because he immediately quit listening as he saw his opening. He leaned back and turned to Logan. “Hey. You still got any of those frag grandes?” The Ewok smiled and nodded his head as he started digging through his equipment bag

“What no!” Starlynn hissed as she grabbed Logans wrist. “If they are trying to retreat we can't just kill them.”

Revs eyebrows raised up, “Who's we?” He made sure to put emphasis on the word we.

Starlynn bit her tongue to stop from snapping, choosing to keep her voice low. “It's not the Jedi way.”

Revs stared at his sister for a split second. “What do you propose we do them Mrs. Jedi?”

“Starlynn thought about it for a second before standing up. “I'll go see if I can talk them into handing over the weapons.” She said as she started to walk out out from behind the crates

“Like hell you……” revs never got to finish the sentence before she walked out. The Assassin snatched his lightsabers off his belt and hissed at Logan. “Get a flash bang ready.” The Ewok started rummaging through his bag again pulling out the grenade.

Revs watched as his sister cleared what cover they had walking up to the two groups, her hands raised to shoulder hight. Both groups of the Shadow gang members shifted to her. The larger group kept their hands in the air while the smaller all turned their blasters to her.

Revs shifted his feet read to jump. “Get that flash bang ready.” He growled at Logan.

“Don't shoot.” Starlynn spoke calmly as she slowly stepped forward. “There are others with me who will not spare you if this turns violent.”

Both groups of shadows started to shift nervously, eyes darting into the shadows of the surrounding crates for any hint of movement. “We just want the weapons, and anything you have that may be tied back to our group. If you hand them over I promise we will let you go.” Starlynn kept her low and gentle as she spoke.

“Like hell you will! The second we put down the blasters we are all dead!” The human who was leading the armed group raised his weapon to his aim down the sights.

“I swear as long as I'm here that won't happen.” Starlynn made sure to keep her hands by her head. “Please just give us the blasters.”

The Twi'lek woman shifted nervously again. “Come on Wolfgar….just put them down. We can get out of this.” She pleaded.

Revs gritted his teeth as he watched the scene before, time seemed to stand still. His knuckles were white from how tightly he gripped his lightsaber. The Miraluka could feel the emotions flowing through the air. Starlynn trying to control her shaking hands, Wolfgar’s group kept readjusting their grip on the blasters. The larger group of gangsters kept shuffling their feet as if to run. Logan's fingers twitching near the grenade pin. One emotion flowing from every individual……fear.

Revs felt as if his heart was going to break his ribs if it were to beat any harder, seconds ticked by like minutes. He raised his hand to signal Logan to throw the flash grenade. Suddenly a voice broke the tension. “Frank it! If you let us go I'll do it.” a zeltron man spoke as he slowly lowered his blaster pistol and set it on the ground.

“Me too. I'm getting out of here with Ce’celia.” Another one said, tossing his gun to the ground. Revs released his breath and dropped to his but as the remaining members of the Shadows gave way and tossed their weapons to the ground. The only one who didn't follow was Wolfgar, who stood looking as if he would panic at any moment.

“Frak all of you!” Wolfgar tossed his rifle to the ground and ran. Revs watched the man disappear between the crates before standing up and heading out into the open. The Shadows were gathering together, trying to find spots among the cargo to stow away.

Revs signaled for Logan to help him start picking up the guns. Starlynn walked over and started to help them, “bubba…..I told you we didn't have to kill them.”

“Yea…..yea you did good.” Revs refused to turn and look at her. She had done the right thing but such a gamble had scared the Force out of him. “Don't ever do it again.”

Placement
No placement
Member
Master Selika Roh di Plagia
File submission
2632 - Above and Below.pdf
Placement
No placement
Member
Golden Envoy Abbey Atty Attiter Ann
File submission
Jetpack Operation.pdf
Placement
No placement
Member
Malisane Sadow
File submission
Above & Below 6169.pdf
Placement
No placement
Member
Lieutenant Colonel Narman Losa
File submission
Operation Jetpack_NarmanLosa.pdf
Placement
No placement
Member
Sage Cassandra Oriana Taldrya
Submission
Sage Cassandra Oriana Taldrya opted out of publishing her submission.
Placement
No placement
Member
Adept Xantros
Submission
Adept Xantros opted out of publishing his submission.
Placement
No placement