“Hitting them hard and fast is probably our best option,” Ijaaz said after a moment’s thought. “We don’t have the partisan presence in that sector to hide a slow build-up of troops, especially cyborgs with the Collective emblem branded into their foreheads. The main difficulty will be dealing with Taldryan’s ground forces. Their dedicated security units only reach battalion strength, but they have three regiment-strength formations in the area, plus static defences. Unless…”

“Unless?” Osul steepled his fingers together, waiting.

“If we go ahead with stoking civil unrest, it’s likely that Taldryan will deploy their troops to help the CSF maintain order in other areas of Chyron. That should thin out their presence on the ground enough to let our troops punch through and capture the Taldryan Citadel,” Ijaaz said.

Submissions for Phase 1 of the Unsteady Ground competition closed Wednesday. I meant to have the fiction update done before announcing the winners, but Rise of Skywalker came out. :P EDIT: The fiction thread has now been updated, and can be seen here: https://discourse.darkjedibrotherhood.com/t/unsteady-ground-fiction-thread/2243/4 . Anyway, on to the results!

Competing Narratives (Graphics):

• 1st: Agate Gua'lara
• 2nd: Rian Taldrya
• 3rd: Nihlus Vexrii

Knives Out (Fiction):

• 1st: Bale Andros
• 2nd: Appius Wight
• 3rd: Dev'err Malren

Shadow War (Cluster Race):

• 1st: Atra Ventus
• 2nd: Rulvak Qurroc
• 3rd: Bentre Kairn'tel Sadow

Wonderputt (Flash Gaming):

• 1st: Justinios Taldrya Drake
• 2nd: Rian Taldrya
• 3rd: Bentre Kairn'tel Sadow
• Honourable mention to Arvalis Raith for suggesting this event.

Congrats to all the winners, thanks to all who participated, and we'll see you in January for Phase 2!