UPDATES - Jan. 31, 2014 - Christmas Challenge Ends

by **chrisbishop** » Mon Nov 11, 2013 7:10 pm

Hello everyone!

The Halloween Challenge is now completed, and yet again, we had a successful year of stories submitted to our website.

Today is Remembrance Day, and it's time we launched the most awaited CHRISTMAS FAN FICTION CHALLENGE.

The rules are quite similar to the Halloween Challenge... except that, instead of writing a Captain Scarlet story with an Halloweeny/horror feel to it, the participants must write a Captain Scarlet story with a Christmas feel to it, or set during the holidays season. You can write either about the classic series, or the New Captain Scarlet series.

You can read the full rules and conditions of the Christmas Challenge by going to the Christmas page. Please also check our submission guidelineswhich you might find useful for the writing of your story.

The challenge closes at the end of January, so to give enough time to the participants to produce their stories. Also, please allow sufficient time for beta-reading, when requested!

You're all welcomed to participate!

by **chrisbishop** » Wed Dec 18, 2013 2:28 am

Hello everyone!

We're starting the Christmas Challenge a bit late this year but fortunately, this is Captain Scarlet's birthday (Happy Birthday, Paul!) and so, this is a perfect opportunity to post our first stories.

First, a brand new story from Caroline Smith:

INTO THE LIGHT
In a story set in the past, Magnolia Jones - the future Melody Angel - celebrates a very lonely Christmas. ff 540

And secondly, a reposting, in celebration of Captain Scarlet's birthday. And not just any story, but the very first story that was posted in celebration of the good captain's birthday, back in 2005, and written by Marion Woods:

MOONLIGHT SHADOWS
Sharing a furlough with Rhapsody Angel in Chelsea, Captain Scarlet has a strange encounter. ff 257

Both stories can be found on the Christmas Fan Fiction page as well as on our Christmas stories page where you can also find the list of our upcoming stories as well as the links leading to all the stories posted in the previous years!

You can all participate to the Christmas Challenge. Just check the rules on the Christmas page of what you need to do (basically, you submit a Captain Scarlet and Christmas related story), and write us with your submission at spectrum_hq@hotmail.com. We would love to hear from you!

In the upcoming weeks, new stories will be posted on this website and of course, on December 31st, you'll be offering you our unofficial but traditional Captain Scarlet calendar for the upcoming year!

Stay tuned for more!

by **chrisbishop** » Wed Dec 25, 2013 3:46 pm

Merry Christmas to all!

On this Christmas Day, for the Christmas Challenge, we have a brand new story to present you (offered by yours truly), and one repost, which originally dates from 2003:

CUPID AND THE ANGEL
by Chris Bishop. In the middle of a terrible blizzard, Melody's Angel craft has crashed in a remote area in Lapland. Could rescue reach her in time... And if not, who will save her from certain death? ff 541

TO HEAR THE ANGEL SING
by Tiger Jackson. An emergency call from the RAF makes Rhapsody Angel's Christmas Eve watch less dull than she'd expected. ff 149 Originally posted December 8, 2003

As always, both stories are accessible through the Chrismas Page where you can also find the rules of participation, should you want to participate to the challenge as well (The Christmas Challenge lasts until the end of January).

The stories are also listed on the Christmas stories page, where you can find ALL the stories from previous years. They can also be found through the individual page of each author, as well as on the archives pages.

Stay tuned for more! Next week we'll be posting our traditional Captain Scarlet calendar. Be sure not to miss it!

by **chrisbishop** » Tue Dec 31, 2013 7:37 am

Happy New Year and welcome to our third posting ofr the Christmas Challenge this year!

This week, we have two postings for you.

First, a reposting:

THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS
by Alan J. Porter. When the Mysterons threaten to destroy 'the Spirit of Christmas', Spectrum must discover what target hides this new riddle. Cameo appearance by Joe 90. ff 84 (First published in Comicopia #74 - December 2002.) Originally posted December 1st, 2004

Alan J. Porter is a writer of comic books, fiction books and reference books on pop-culture reference books. In 2004, he gave Spectrum HQ permission for posting his Captain Scarlet fan fiction.

And second posting: our much awaited Captain Scarlet unofficial calendar!

SPC: SPECTRUM'S PET COMPANIONS
A Captain Scarlet Calendar for 2014, by Chris Bishop, from a concept and an idea by Caroline Smith. Christmas Challenge. ff 542

Unfortunately, the usual creator of the calendar, the much-talented Caroline Smith, wasn't available this year. So to break with tradition, I took up the challenge and decided to create the calendar myself, based on her concept and idea.

Both story and calendar can be found on the Christmas Challengepage, as usual.

The online version of the calendar can be accessed through The Mysterons, plc page, where you can view the page one by one, for each month of the year. You can also download your own copy of the calendar, in any of the three available downloadable formats: PDF, Word, and Powerpoint Presentation. You can print these copies if you want, and display your calendar on your desk or your wall, if it pleases you enough!

This year being the 10th edition, the calendar is now made available not only to members of this forum, or to people who would write us to ask for it, but to everyone who would visit the site! The download page is accessible from The Mysterons, plc page, by clicking the ad banner.

The year might be nearly finished, but the challenge is not! It'll last until the end of January! So come back soon for more. And if you have some story you want to share with your fellow Captain Scarlet fans, don't be shy! Contact us and submit it to us! See the Christmas Challenge page for details.

by **Elentari** » Tue Dec 31, 2013 11:28 am

The calendar was very nteresting. I liked the quotes too.
Hopefully the Colonel won't mind all that white cat fur on the non-white parts of his uniform.

Dr Fawn however.....um....sorry Chris but the 'Australian Shepherd' is an American created dog breed.

Perhaps the good doctor might like an Australian Cattle Dog (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Cattle_Dog) or is he fancied something smaller and possibly more suited for Cloudbase there is always the Australian Terrier (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_terrier) or the shorthaired Mini Fox Terrier - also known as the Tenterfield Terrier (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenterfield_Terrier) to list a few suggestions. These dogs all have UK/early settler origins.

Then there's the Dingo (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dingo) which is certainly the earliest dog breed to reach Australia, but a Dingo would be a very controversial pet as in some areas they are considered vermin and should not be kept as pets. Also the purity of the breed has diminished due to cross breeding.

I have a favourite cat quote that kind of reminds me when watching the episodes whether the next person a Spectrum Captain might meet is a Mysteron or not:
One is never sure, watching two cats washing each other, whether it's affection, the taste or a trial run for the jugular. - Helen Thomson :grin:

by **chrisbishop** » Tue Dec 31, 2013 4:25 pm

Thanks, Elentari! Good to hear from you!

Yes, I discovered that the Australian Shepherd dog was an American creation. However, it was the beauty of the dog (especially the blue merle one!) that got me, which was one of the reasons I chose it to put with Fawn... Okay, that and the 'Australian brand' attached to it... And also, I had to find a picture of a dog that was fit to be pasted onto the original picture of the carrier.

The dog that was in the bag was a long-haired mutt-type dog, with a face that looked like the Australian Terrier, but with legs obviously longer. Nice-looking dog, that reminded me of one I had a long-time ago... but mine was black, with a large white collar. However, I didn't want to keep the original dog in the picture, so had to cover it with another one. The Australian Shepherd had long hair as well, so I could mix bit of the original picture into the pasted portion. That was quite a bit of work, but quite a bit of fun too!

Ah... have you noticed the cap Fawn has on his head? :grin:

That wasn't originally on either... and curiously enough... gave me even more trouble than the putting a new dog in!

by **chrisbishop** » Wed Jan 08, 2014 1:55 am

For this first week of 2014, we have something for the New Captain Scarlet fans out there!

First, Adam Blue comes back with a fifth story, her second Christmas story:

HERE'S LOOKING AT A WHITE CHRISTMAS
In London, Captains Scarlet and Blue investigated the mysterious disappearance of three scientists who have created a new, inventive technology. ff 543

And secondly, a reposted story from 2007, by Skybase Girl:

A TWISTED TRINITY
A family Christmas in the Canadian Rockies forces Scarlet and Destiny to confront their inner demons. Meanwhile, an old adversary has some shocks in store. R rated. ff 345. Originally posted December 25, 2007.

Both stories could be accessed through the Christmas page.

The Christmas Challenge continues until the end of January! There are still a few stories to post, and you still have time to submit your own project as well. Just read the information on what is required froma Christmas Challenge story on the Christmas page, and contact us at spectrum_hq@hotmail.com if you wish to participate!

See you again soon!

by **chrisbishop** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 1:14 am

On this second week of 2014, we're still within our Christmas Challenge. And this week again, we have a new story to present you, as well as a reposting from many years ago!

First, VMR's second story on this website, and her contribution to the Christmas Challenge:

X-MISS?
An order from Colonel White causes four of his Captains not to be on Cloudbase over the Christmas season. Will there be any Christmas cheer for them? ff 544

Secondly, the reposting of a story from Polly Amber, dating from 2003:

BLACK CHRISTMAS
The Mysterons threaten to destroy the 'home of a Christmas Legend'. ff 155

Both stories can be found, as usual, on the Christmas page:

http://www.spectrum-headquarters.com/christmas.htm

Comments, on all Christmas stories, are welcomed.

There's only 15 days left for the Christmas Challenge and there might be time for you to submit your story and participate to this year's challenge! As you know, you can find all the informations you need about the rules for submitting your story for the Challenge, on the Christmas page - and of course, if you have OTHER stories, which are not related to Christmas, you are also welcomed to submit them to us!

Just contact us at spectrum_hq@hotmail.com and we'll be glad to answer you and see what you have to offer!

Come back soon for more updates!

by **chrisbishop** » Thu Jan 23, 2014 4:01 am

Hi there, and welcome again to a new week of posting for our Christmas Challenge, 2013/2014 edition.

This week, we have another new story for you, from your truly, as well as a reposting dating from the very first Christmas Challenge in 2003! Both stories have a couple of characters in common!

ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS
by Chris Bishop. It's Christmas Eve, and Captain Scarlet tries to tell a bedtime story to his daughter. ff 545

THE GIFT
by Lezli Farrington. In the lead-up to Christmas, Captain Indigo thinks that her fatigue is all due to overwork, but then she receives the gift she thought she'd never have... ff 96

Both stories can be found on the Christmas page:

http://www.spectrum-headquarters.com/christmas.htm

The ending of the challenge is growing very near, and soon, we'll be closing it. So if you do have something you'd like to submit for this year's Challenge, now's the time - or you will have to wait until December!

Come back soon for other updates!

by **chrisbishop** » Fri Jan 31, 2014 3:56 pm

This is the last posting for January, folks - and the last posting of this 2013/2014 edition of the Christmas Challenge!

Again, we have two new posting this week, with one new story, and a reposting from the earlier years of the Challenge.

First, the new story, from Marion Woods:

RELATIVE DANGER
In the build up to Christmas, Captain Scarlet discovers that Heaven is missing an Angel. ff 546

And secondly, our reposted story, from Clya Brown, which previously was posted in December 2003:

WASHING DAY
When Mrs Muriel Tippett's washing machine is repaired in time for Christmas, the technical expertise comes from a rather unusual source. ff 151

In total, six new stories were submitted and posted this year for the Challenge, plus our traditional calendar, and a novelty for this year, seven reposted stories, one for every week.

All stories are available all year long, on the Christmas page, or any of the archives pages of the website (all accessible through the Fan Fiction Main Page). Each author also has his or her own page, where all his/her stories are listed.

So... The Christmas Challenge is finished for this edition, but it'll be back next December! In the meantime, if you have a story to submit to the website (it doesn't have to be part of a Challenge), you can contact us with it at spectrum_hq@hotmail.com. It'll be our pleasure to read you!

See you soon for other updates!

by **Marion** » Sat Feb 01, 2014 10:45 am

Many thanks for the wonderful presentation, Chris. I always look forward to seeing the presentation of the new stories as much as I do to reading them - you are such a magician!

by **Skybase Girl** » Sun Feb 02, 2014 9:37 pm

Great story, Marion!

Clever references to Joe 90 - I would never have thought of that. Loved the idea of the Scarlet-teenies too!

Reminded me of the Minions from "Despicable Me".

So glad you got this finished and thank you for the kind endorsement - but I have no doubt you would have got it done, anyway. My involvement was minimal!

You are so talented, please keep the faith. No one writes as well as you do.

Delighted also to have an opportunity to re-read "Washing Day". Funny, quirky, unusual; we don't see enough of Clya Brown's unique fiction. Fans of NCS as well as the original series should be directed towards "Chips in the Night" which is a very interesting amalgam of the two.

It's been a good challenge this year; maybe fewer stories, but a triumph of quality over quantity. Looking forward to what the rest of 2014 will bring. I will do my best to finish something, at least. Best of luck to everyone else out there!