Change of plans guys. We are going to postpone the squad meeting, not sure until when, but we will let you guys know.

I'm going to be on IRC if you do come around and have any questions.

Keep up the good work (Nice job on all the Spec's I see posted) and donuts in the break room.

Alright kids, here’s the deal-e-o. The competition is one, thanks to Havock [and maybe Joamer] for brining a wonderful idea to my mind. Give them love, because this in-squad competition is going to be a blast. It’s all writing. But it’s still going to be fun. Doing this will surely help you in fleshing out your character to a point where you will understand him/her much more, and you might even develop a better sense for and of writing. Don’t worry though; it won’t be difficult in any way shape or form. Below you are going to find instructions, small examples and your other needs for the competition. Be sure to read through all of thoroughly. I expect you all to be able to understand this easily, considering how again… It won’t be hard. But I am always open for questions. Havock is as well. Okay. Time to get down to bidness.

This Competition is all about learning, and having fun. It will entail getting an exercise that you will complete by doing what it says to do. No, this does not mean you will get something that says 'JUMP UP AND DOWN LIKE A CRAZY FLYING MONKEY!!!!!! HURRHURR!'. All of them have to do with some sort of writing. Easy. Anyways. Keep reading for more info.

!Rules!
'Boo-hoo! Rules? Why rules?! You meanie-head!'

Don't complain. We all need rules. Especially for something as epic as this is going to be. The rules will be simple. They are subject to change through the competition as Havock or I see fit, so no complaining. Or we shallnsmite you down with the Strill of doom and destruction.

ONE
This Competition is for fun and relaxation. So don't get all tied up in th actual competition part of it. It's meant to be fun and educational. If I see anybody getting too into this thing, It will be over. No warning given. In order to keep this fun, the scoring system will not be made public.

TWO
Exercise responses will be posted on one single post. Meaning, your first response will go on your first post. Then when you are ready to post your second response, you will edit your first post and ADD your second one to the first one. This saves the scrolls through a shit load of posts, and make sit easier for Havock and I to look through those who have finished their responses.

THREE
There is supposed to be a time limit of five minutes for each exercise. But here's the thing. We are on the interwbes. A five minute time limit is rather hard to keep up with. So instead of five minutes: EACH RESPONSE SHOULD BE HANDED IN WITHIN 24 HOURS OF CHOOSING WHICH EXERCISE YOU WISH TO DO.

FOUR
Please, please, PLEASE stay on the topic of your chosen exercise. Do not randomly switch one you have chosen which one to do. That is not allowed. If Havock or I find that you have done that, you will not be able to turn on a response in for that round.


FIVE
HAVE FUN!!! For the love of Thrawn! This is supposed to be funnnnnnnn! SO HAVE IT! OR... Or... OR ELSE!

-------

!The System!
'Pfffffft! Screw the system!'

I'll kill you, dammit. Ahem. We all need a system for this. Other wise it's going to run amok for those who decide to read our coolawesometastic competition of doom. So nyaa~ The system is simple.VERY simple.There really is no way to mess it up. Ever for Joamer and 'Credi. [I love you guys. No offense]

+The Hand Outs+
Each trooper, including Havock and I, are going to receive two options of exercises. Once you receive these two options, you are going to chose the one you wish to do, them PM both Havock and I your choice, then set to work on the one that you chose. From the time we receive the PM saying which one you chose, you will have 24 hours to complete it. [If there is a good reason for time extension, it will be given. But let us know first.]

+The Choices+
As stated above, you will be given two choices. Choice A and Choice B. If you choose Choice B, Choice A will move onto your second set of options, meaning that your second set will now be Choice C and Choice A.

+Completing Your Exercises+
Once competed, you will post your finished exercise on the same post you make. So, if you post your first finished one, then finish your second one, go back and edit your first post [that has your first finished exercise on it] to include your second on. So on and so forth.

See? It's easy.

-------

!It Begins!
'....Shiiiizzzzzzz'

Yup yup. Time to start. The rounds will be placed here, along with the exercise handouts organized by troopers. Follow the rules. Have fun. Please guys. I worked hard on this stuff. So did Havock [and maybe Joamer] with helping me come up with the idea.

ALL OF THESE ARE RANDOMLY CHOSEN!

Oh. If it says to write about a certain character [Fred] replace them with characters from the VE/RAIDERS squad. If it says to write about yourself, write about your VE character. Save for a select few. I will mark those that cannot be changed to a VE character.

~ROUND ONE~

OOC:

STARFRUIT

Choice A
"Clarice"
Use this as your opening line:
Clarice was the kind of kid who picked out the soft insides of the bun.

Choice B
"Flying a Kite"
Describe a person flying a kite.

OOC:

HAVOCK

Choice A
"Letter of Complaint"
Your character, who is odd (either somewhat or extremely), writes a letter of protest to the manager of his or her local grocery store. Write the letter.

Choice B
"Textures"
This exercise is to heighten your awareness of fine detail. Take each and every item of clothing you are wearing right now and describe its texture. What is it like? How is it different from the others? What does it remind you of?

OOC:

JOAMER

Choice A
"Passive Agressive Grocery Shopping"
Fred has high blood pressure. But Linda brings home some items from the grocery store that are not so good for Fred. Write the scene with dialogue.

Choice B
"The Last Piece of Pie"
Write the first paragraph(s) of a story that begins:
She would not give him the last piece of pie.

OOC:

BACREDI

Choice A
OCD"
Your character is an obsessive compulsive. Describe his or her morning. Do not use the words "obsessive compulsive." (Show don't tell.)

Choice B
"Falling Mattresses"
"They had been waiting, umbrellas up, for the falling mattresses." Take this as the first line of your story and start writing.

OOC:

KARASH

Choice A
"Lulu & Sandra Make Salad"
Lulu and Sandra are sisters. Lulu is jealous of Sandra. Sandra thinks Lulu is bossy. They are in Lulu's kitchen preparing a salad. Write the scene with dialogue.
[Cannot be changed to VE characters]

Choice B
"Grandpa Is Backing Out..."
Grandpa should not be driving. But no one dares to hide the car keys. What happens this time? Write the scene.

OOC:

FERRIS

Choice A
"Falling Snow"
With specific detail that appeals to all the senses--- sight, hearing, taste, touch, smell--- describe falling snow.

Choice B
"Airplane"
This is an exercise about generating specific sensory detail. On a typical flight, what are:
5 things you might see; 5 things you might smell; 5 things you might touch;
5 things you might hear; and 5 things you might taste?

OOC:

GRAHIM

FREE FROM ROUND ONE

OOC:

Jodirt
Story1 - Choice B
"The Last Piece of Pie"
Write the first paragraph(s) of a story that begins:
She would not give him the last piece of pie.

She would not give him the last piece of pie. He had tried begging, pleading, threatening, but nothing. She only sat there smiling, torturing him with the last piece.

Joamer watched her with the last piece of pie in her hand, the tip of it barely clinging to the edge of the fork. He drooled as he looked at the deep red cherries, you could almost smell the flavor from across the room.

"Come on girl. I'm stuck here, the least you could do is give me that last piece." He pleaded, she only remained smiling, the piece dangling inches from her mouth.

"You know it's been twenty eight years since I tasted cherry cobbler, don't you think you could least give me a single bite?" His voice was starting to sound manic towards the end, her unending smile was beginning to get to him.

He could feel himself slipping slightly, he could feel that dark place well up, he knew soon he would loose control.

She did not help or move one inch, only stayed in one spot, he stared at her a long moment, he hated her now. That single luscious bite still hung inches from her gaping maw, he wanted her dead. She was mocking him now.

He tried to move but was restrained, he fought against the straps but failed. He ignored the sound of alarms suddenly going off, he wanted that piece of pie more then any stupid alarm right now.

"Give me that pie!" He shouted.

A man walked into the room then, wearing a white lab coat. A syringe in one hand and a clipboard in the other.

"Who are you talking to?" The Doctor said quietly, he turned and looked at the wall poster. The girl kept smiling, never changing, never moving. He turned back around to stare at the limbless form of Joamer laying restrained on the hospital bed.

"I know losing both your arms and legs is traumatic, but I didn't know you would loose touch with your sanity while healing." The Doctor said almost to himself.

He let his mind go back over the past few months. He had been found in a old abandoned storage room in the depths of Coruscant, his frozen form had been shipped to some off world medical facility. He lost track of long how he had been here, he thought it might be six months now.

Joamer sank back into the pillows and glared at the woman on the wall, when he could walk again he was going to destroy her. She had his pie.

OOC:

Choice A
"Passive Agressive Grocery Shopping"
Fred has high blood pressure. But Linda brings home some items from the grocery store that are not so good for Fred. Write the scene with dialogue.

Cake, no pie. Yes pie. No, cherry cobbler, yes that's what I want. She better buy it, or this is the end. Joamer was reclining in his expensive leather chair. His feet were propped up and some random show was on the holoscreen.

He was waiting for Havock to return from the store. He had given her a list of things he wanted, it was her turn to buy things. He would do it next time, the squad took turns, it was only fair.

He heard the door open and he rushed to help with the groceries. The others were oddly absent, and Havock only had two bags with her.

"I'll get the rest." Joamer said as he walked towards the door.

"No need, this is all there is." Havock said quietly, there was an odd quality to her voice.

Joamer suddenly had a sinking feeling she had found his doctors note, something about high blood pressure and he should only eat certain things. He peaked in the bags and snarled under his breath.

"You had no right to go rummaging through my stuff!" Joamer shouted, "That doctor was a quack and knows absolutely nothing about what a trooper should eat!"

Joamer paced the kitchen angrily, he had had his sights set on a nice piece of cherry cobbler, but all he saw in that bag was green, and a lot more green.

"Karash is not a quack." Havock said softly "He is only looking out for what's best for you."

Joamer ignored her and continued his pacing "I wanted pie, and cake, and a medium rare sirloin. Not that green garbage you try feeding us. We need meat and protein, not plants."

"They are getting that, you need your blood pressure down. So you will eat this." Havock said firmly, she was using the voice of command this time.

"Like hell I will. I will go to the store and buy the biggest steak I see. Then I will eat it rare if I want. You can't do anything to stop me!" Joamer shouted as he paced toward the door, his voice was at his loudest and his eyes were almost popping out of his head.

He had ignored the sweat on his forehead, and his numb left arm. The room began to sway sickeningly, the last thing that went through his head was to wonder why the floor was rushing up to meet his face.

OOC:

Zhar Bacredi
Choice B
Obsessive COmpulsive Disorder

Zhar Hoover Wilson Bacredi woke up in his makeshift Tadath apartment located in Sianat City. The sound of his alarm—which was at spurts of three beeps per second and sounded to the same pitch every time. He got out of bed quickly and his curtains—which were delicately placed in the center of the windows—began to open and show the sunlight. They moved seven feet each towards the left and right, which put them into the same shape. Bacredi began to make his bed—which was the same colour all around. He folded the first blanket and set it on the edge of his bed, folding it and them measuring it with a ruler that was placed on the side of his desk drawer. One was an inch off the other, and he corrected himself and made it right.

“Hello, sir.” The TC-model protocol droid came through the door that opened automatically for the droid. It then closed behind it, making sure that the lines on the door measured up before coming fully into the room. Bacredi had programmed TC-5K8 to serve Bacredi coffee every morning, in the same cups (he had bought 24 of the same cups) and the same dish for sugar (he had bought 24 of those as well). The coffee was to be at 300 degrees, and allowed to cool for five minutes each day. While there should be three sugar cubes on the side-dish, made into a “triangle”-like formation. Zhar wouldn’t respond to the droid as he made his bed, but TC would put the coffee on the bed-table. Bacredi went back to making his bed as the coffee-cooling timer went back to counting…4:30…4:20…the ticks of the clock sounded in Bacredi’s ears, just like every other morning.

Zhar—once finished with placing the ten pillows on the bed perfectly (three large ones in back, two more large ones next, three smaller ones, and then two smaller ones than the other smaller ones) all in perfect measurements. He then continued to adjust everything on the coffee tray until it met perfection (he aligned the two plates up with the ruler as well). After he did that, he took a sip of the coffee, placed it back down and began to un-wrinkle the boxers that he was wearing. He moved into his closet and opened it up—there were eight suits, twenty ties, and six pairs of shoes—all aligned in perfect order. Half of the closet was designated for the suits and the other was for his shoes/ties/watches etc. Zhar took one of the suits out and immediately spaced out all the other suits perfectly with his remaining hand. He moved into the other bathroom after closing the closet door and choosing a tie and watch plus shoes and socks. Closing the bathroom door, Bacredi made sure the lock’s turning-mechanism ligned up with the wall perfectly.

The sparkling clean bathroom was filled with everything from toothbrushes to paintings. Bacredi began by hanging his suit up on the door—making sure that while it was hung, it looked good. He de-clothed himself and placed the clothes (after ‘ironing’ them with the ruler) into the square hamper. He then closed the hamper’s hatch (as it went down to the laundry vent). He entered the shower after running it for thirty seconds (from the moment the shower turned on, a timer started), and began to bathe the same way he did every day. The timer for being in the shower shut off and bleeped, shutting off the shower and Bacredi was just finished…like every other morning. He exited the shower and took one of the perfectly placed towels on the wall and dried himself. He put on his shirt, making sure all the buttons aligned.

---

OOC:

Zhar Bacredi
Choice B
Rollercoaster Ride

Everyone sat into the rollercoaster—the entire grade of St. Patricks Middle School. John Walker and Abigail Metcalf sat in the front row of the first car, Abigail was timid and John was ecstatic. The rollercoaster set off into the first loop, picking up speed and pushing Abigail’s hair back, while John’s hair (a solid buzz cut) wasn’t affected. Ten miles per hour, twenty, thirty, forty, the entire track shook as forty-three students flew on it. As the first car entered the first loop, John’s stomach sank and Abigail began to scream, shivering and holding on to the side-rail for dear life. Abigail’s eyes began to soar due to the force that she was putting on them to keep them shut. They exited the loop and everyone kept a shiver up, everyone being equally freaked by the first loop.

The second loop loomed like a nearby hurricane, causing everyone to push their backs farther into their chairs and hold onto the rail harder. Everyone’s knuckles and fingers turned chalk white. Walker and Abigail both began to shudder as the car met loop—sending everyone’s hair into the air. Shrieks shattered the dead silence and were met by an even louder volley of screams when they turned upside down. They began to rock back and forth, almost as if to make the rollercoaster come to a quicker end. But the best part wasn’t there, yet! They still had to make it through the last loop—two hundred feet up and two hundred feet wide, this marked the largest roller coaster in the metro Seattle area.

Twenty seconds, ten seconds, five seconds—they were on it! The car hit the tracks once again, moving up with a shriek and the pleas of help. The tracks pulled slower and slower up the ride’s hill until it let out a huge burst of speed, sending many people forward—some nearing vomit. The speed picked up to a solid thirty-five, many people began to feel their stomach’s churn almost as if they were going to throw up. The wind brushed into the mouths and past the hair of many, suddenly, they went over the loop for ten seconds and all the stomachs lurched to a direct halt. They had stopped. The rollercoaster’s main ploy was to screw with it’s passengers, making sure that no one would ever feel safe. John let out a hail of vomit onto the tracks below, as did Abigail and three other passengers in the same car. Just as they vomited again, the tracks set out and they went on their way. The roller coaster lurched to a stop, the passenger’s being pale. They un-hooked their seat belts and ran off, many vomiting on the ground.

OOC:

Story One
Choice B
"Flying a Kite"
Describe a person flying a kite.

A sort of giddy giggle of excitement drifting form the lips of the girl as she felt the tug on the string that coiled around her wrist, held firmly in her lithe digits. Those bright blue eyes were pure happy glee as she watched the paper drift and twitch and squirm about up in the sky. She had decided to keep her hair down today, the medium length, light brown tresses gently caressing her curved face as a smile pulled each and every one of her beautiful features together. The wind continued to blow, the soft and gentle zephyrs tugging endlessly on the thin piece of paper that so elegantly flew above the girl, casting a shadow down to the deep emerald grass every time it passed over the view of the sun. It was such a simple day. Such a fun day. Ayme continued to smile, her cheeks flushing from the constant expression, as she felt the kite tug at the string it was attached to. The gentle wind playing with the piece of imaginative paper catching the air pockets and warm currents of air.

RAIDERS Update

Alright guys, the objectives are up for the Elite Squad Comp: Clicky here: http://comnet.imperialnetwork.com/topic/12656

Or looky here:

Quote:Orders: Raiders will travel to the Sentinel with Iron Horse. Once the boarding parties have landed, Raiders will steal a ship and fly to the Inexorable. There they will start by taking out the shield gens.

Opposition: Up to Thirty (30) Active-Duty Security Squads (9-man)

NPC Support:

    * Five (5) Squads of Star Corps Troops (Marines)
    * One (1) Squad of Commandos (Spec Forces)

Max Posts: 15

So remember you get to bring 1 of your personal weapons, JUST ONE JOAMER! You can find the standard outfit for RAIDERS on the wiki: http://www.vastempire.com/wiki/index.php?title=Raiders_Squad. We are in standard armor as well which is Shadow Suits.

FYI Commandos are wearing Storm Commando armor and Star Corps are in regular Storm Trooper Armor. Also I would say that nobody (allies or baddies) are cannon fodder and should be slightly difficult to defeat. Clickah ---> http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Imperial_Marines and clickah ---> http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Storm_commando

We need to coordinate our posts guys. Star or I will post the first post by tomorrow. If you are posting next just a quick heads up on the Squad Topic (that would be here peeps) and a few sentences about what you are going to do, please.

Lets make the posts count guys, we only have 15. If anyone is on IRC have them proof-read your post BEFORE posting it. You have no idea how helpful it can be for another set of eyes to read your posts.

As for the mini-comp and Chillax story. Consider them still open, they are going to take the far back burner but until Star says they are closed they are still open. Feel free to post on them IF you do not need to post in the Comp.

Remember you can also do gaming and graphics. Anyone who needs a refresher on GIMP just let me know.

Alright that is all for now, dismissed and stuff.

Seeing as how I am the SL around these parts, I will be posting after Havock posts tonight. Then Joamer and Ferris can go ahead and post. As for the information that Havock has provided, thank you for that. I'm sure we all needed it to refresh our minds. Guys, we really do need to make this count. We were able to pull out well on Hrail, I'm sure we can do it again. No... I'm POSITIVE we can do it again. Let's work our asses off and get those dammed Blood Red Armor sets!

We have this, RAIDERS. We just have to pay attention, let other proof read our posts before actually posting and make sure every post counts. Kicks ass on CA, work your ass off on the graphics. JUST DO IT. It's fun, it's work, it's great.

This has been your squad service announcement from your wonderful Squad Leader, Jaenna Caldwin. Have fun.

The VE's all-female squad grows one chickadee larger:

Private First Class Kestrel has returned to duty and placed in Raiders

Welcome, Kestrel.

Just a friendly reminded guys, we haven't seen anything in the graphics department yet, remember you can score points there as well!
Waiting with great excitement for some graphics from you guys, Goodluck in the Competition people!

I expected you all to be able to get this without me telling you, but I guess not.

THERE ARE TWO SHEILD GENERATOR DOMES ON A VICTORY-II CLASS STAR DESTROYER. Christ. Angel even gave us the external specs of the damn thing. Look at it. We have TWO sets of shield gens to take out. Not just one. So for whoever posts this next, fix that little mistake. Also, PM YOUR POSTS TO OTHERS SO THEY CAN PROOF READ. That is now a REQUIRMENT. I don't care how confident you are with your posts. Get them proof read.

Star is posting next.

Grahim, got your graphic. Dante I havent seen anything from you in our mailbox.
Then I have one Raider who email us graphics with the following email adress Cyn612. Sam had requested for a reply with your callsign since we need to allocate the points to someone.

Please do so, until than Raiders cannot earn points for this individual's graphics.

Star is on leave for a day or so. Hav is leaving shortly, she will be back Sunday. So that means I am in charge.

I posted the beginning of objective 2, Hav is posting shortly before she leaves.

If you post, you MUST get on irc and talk to me about it. We need to work together to have a shot at winning this. If I see a post I have not proof read or been told about consequences may ensue.

Being elite means we work together, not separately. So please just follow orders and talk to me first.

Objective 2 is complete, don't believe me, go read the story. Now we are waiting for Objective 3 to be posted, until then there are GRAPHICS, GAMING, oohhh so much to do! You can also post on Chillax or even do a spec! woot! Now get to work!